MAD Architects pulls inspiration from the clouds, New York’s oldest museum expands to include an LGBTQ+ museum, and the possible repercussions of this summer’s scorching temperatures. All that and more in this week’s Five on Friday.
New-York Historical Society to add LGBTQ+ museum
Rendering courtesy of Alden Studios for Robert A.M. Stern Architects
The New-York Historical Society’s expansion plan is here and it’s queer. A $140 million expansion will yield a new museum dedicated to LGBTQ+ history and culture in the U.S. Led by Robert A.M. Stern Architects, the project will comprise more than 70,000 square feet of space for new classrooms, study areas, subterranean library storage, and additional exhibition space, the Art Newspaper reports. The American LGBTQ+ Museum will occupy the entirety of the museum’s new top floor. Home to two galleries, it will also be equipped with offices, storage, and access to the onsite roof garden. The first phase of construction will begin in 2022.
It’s just too darn hot
Just how prepared are our infrastructures for rising global temperatures? This summer’s extreme heat may reflect an ominous forecast, with a heat dome in the Pacific Northwest pushing temperatures in the U.S. and Canada to historic highs. Lytton, British Columbia has reached the same all-time heat record as Las Vegas at a sweltering 117 degrees Fahrenheit, while 108-degree heat warped power cables along the Portland Streetcar system in Oregon and forced the transport network to shut down last week. This week, the Atlantic grimly considers not only our lack of preparedness to grapple with new and mounting extremes, but also what kind of unanticipated changes may be in store. From increased electricity use during summer months to new legislative tactics, higher temperatures are poised to continue testing all aspects of life as we once knew it.
Renting clothes isn’t so sustainable after all
It’s not easy being green, and a new study from Finnish researchers confirms a misconception consumers have about sustainability and shopping for fashion. The new study published in the journal Environmental Research Letters found that renting clothes from platforms like Rent the Runway or ThredUp has the highest climate impact compared to resale, recycling, and other methods of owning or disposing of clothes. The transportation involved in the rental process was cited as a key factor in determining the “global warming potential of the practice, according to Fast Company. Recycling was also found to generate a high number of emissions, further casting doubt on the effectiveness of the circular economy. Researchers ultimately posited that the most sustainable way to consume fashion is to buy fewer articles and keep them in rotation for as long as possible. Hopefully you’re not yet sick of your quarantine sweatpants.
MAD Architects proposes a cultural center in the clouds
Rendering courtesy of MAD Architects
MAD Architects has unveiled its design of a new mixed-use venue in Qinhuangdao, China inspired by clouds. Located along the Beidaihe coastline in northeastern China, the proposed 40,000-square-foot Aranya Cloud Center would house a theater, conference room, exhibition space, and café across two structures. According to Dezeen, the building will be crowned with an amorphous, overhanging roof clad in white-stained glass that captures an ethereal quality. Beneath a swirling, grooved ceiling, column-free interiors will maintain sightlines to surrounding gardens via angled and glazed walls.
Lixil’s Stephanie Weston details the company’s spectrum of bath and kitchen options
This week, HD associate editor Matt Dougherty sat down with Stephanie Weston of Lixil Water Technology Americas. Drawing upon years of industry experience, Weston now serves as director of project sales hospitality for the diverse, far-reaching company. Here, she discusses the latest hospitality offerings from Lixil’s portfolio of brands, including Grohe, American Standard, and DXV. Watch the exclusive Partner Spotlight video interview here.
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