Edge soars above Manhattan, Aman launches new brand, and Frank Lloyd Wright School of Architecture at Taliesin reconsiders closing. All this and more in this week’s five.
Edge crowns Hudson Yards
Located more than 1,100 feet above Manhattan, Edge has debuted as the tallest outdoor sky deck in the Western Hemisphere, writes Curbed. The new attraction expands nearly 80 feet from the 100th floor of 30 Hudson Yards and spans about 7,500 square feet. Kohen Pedersen Fox (KPF) designed the tower and sky deck, while Rockwell Group spearheaded the interior design of the 100th and 101st floors. The latter is also home to Peak restaurant, a new dining concept from Hospitality Group RHC.
Aman introduces new brand, Janu
Aman has announced plans to launch a new sister brand, Janu. Conceived as a soulful counterpart to the luxurious Aman, Janu will seek to foster more purposeful connections among guests. The brand is set to launch in 2022 in three global markets: Montenegro, Saudi Arabia, and Tokyo. Elastic Architects and Yabu Pushelberg will collaborate on the design of the Janu Montenegro, while London-based architect John Heah will craft the Janu Al-Ula Saudi Arabia. All three properties will feature a contemporary aesthetic that maximizes space and light. Expansive accommodations and wellness facilities will be housed onsite as well.
Musée d’Orsay to move forward with renovation
The Musée d’Orsay in Paris has received an anonymous $22.3 million gift from an American donor that will allow it to move forward with its redesign plans. The New York Times reports that the institution plans to overhaul 13,000 square feet of administrative offices into new galleries and centers for education and international research. The plan will position the entire museum for public access. The project is slated for completion in 2026.
Architecture School at Taliesin may remain open
Following the announcement last month that the board for the Frank Lloyd Wright School of Architecture at Taliesin was set to close, the board has now revealed plans to keep it open. According to USA Today, the school board reversed its earlier decision after securing new funding sources to keep the 88-year-old school operational. The board must now await the responses of the foundation that oversees the dual Taliesin properties in Arizona and Wisconsin.
WOHA teases new university campus in Dhaka, Bangladesh
Singapore-based architecture firm WOHA has revealed renderings of its 5.3-acre proposal for a new BRAC University campus in Dhaka, Bangladesh. Developed in collaboration with the university, the plan will overhaul 950,000 square feet of polluted or flooded wasteland into a sustainable inner-city campus and public park, ArchDaily reports. The project, which has been under construction since 2017, is expected to wrap in 2021.
The forthcoming campus will comprise an elevated canopy of education facilities and a public Campus Park on the ground level. Equipped to host more than 10,000 students, the campus will include spaces such as an auditorium, multipurpose hall, public gallery, and a rooftop that will be home to the University Green, a recreational field, swimming pool, and running track beneath a large photovoltaic solar canopy. Green exteriors will also be crafted with sunshading fins and vertical green walls to address solar heat gain across open and airy floorplans.
