Visionary architect Ricardo Scofidio passes away at 89, social media reshapes architectural photography, and an immersive art experience takes root in Thailand’s Khao Yai Forest. All that and more in this week’s Five on Friday.
Remembering architect Ricardo Scofidio
The Bloomberg Building at Hudson Yards, which houses the Shed arts center, designed by Diller Scofidio + Renfro in collaboration with Rockwell Group; photo by Anne Czichos, courtesy of Adobe Stock
Ricardo Scofidio, the visionary architect and cofounder of Diller Scofidio + Renfro, passed away last week at the age of 89, The New York Times reports. A pioneer in merging architecture with art and performance, Scofidio helped redefine urban spaces with projects like New York’s High Line, the Shed, and the transformation of Lincoln Center. Founded in 1979 with Elizabeth Diller, his wife of more than three decades, the firm grew from an East Village studio into a global force, shaping destinations from London’s Victoria & Albert Museum branch to an ambitious “company town” in Guangdong, China, and the 32-acre Zaryadye Park in Moscow—which features a striking, cantilevered promontory over the Moskva River. Scofidio challenged architectural conventions, leaving an indelible mark on the built environment and its relationship with culture and community.
Escape into art at Thailand’s Khao Yai Forest
Louise Bourgeois’ Maman (1999) installed at Khao Yai Art Forest in Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand, 2024. ©The Easton Foundation/VAGA at ARS, NY; photo by Krittawat Atthsis and Puttisin Choojesroom
A new creative retreat is taking shape in Thailand’s Khao Yai forest, offering an immersive experience through art and nature. The 161-acre site, the brainchild of philanthropist and art patron Marisa Chearavanont, features open-air installations that are embedded directly into the landscape, according to. Artnet. Highlights include Maman, Louise Bourgeois’ towering spider sculpture nestled on the edges of dense woodland, and Fog Forest by Japanese artist Fujiko Nakaya, which blankets rolling green hills in an ethereal mist. Chearavanont has been a driving force in Thailand’s art scene, which will welcome two new museums in Bangkok this year.
The Instagram effect on architectural photography
The 42-story Xadia Hotel in New York; rendering courtesy of Marin Architects
Social media is reshaping architectural photography, with vertical framing increasingly influencing how spaces are captured. As platforms like Instagram and TikTok favor portrait-oriented images and videos, Architizer’s Kalina Prelikj poses food for thought: “If the way we capture architecture is shifting, could that eventually influence the way we design it?” While architects have long considered online engagement—crafting spaces with Instagrammable moments in mind—could verticality become a driving factor? “This isn’t just a question for architects; it’s a question for how architecture is valued,” writes Prelikj. “If what gets seen gets remembered and what gets remembered gets prioritized, then how architecture is photographed matters more than ever.”
Staffing remains hospitality’s biggest challenge
Photo courtesy of Adobe Stock
Staffing remains hospitality’s biggest challenge, according to a new study from Expert Market reported on by Hotel Business. Surveying more than 400 U.S. accommodation businesses, the study found that nearly half (48 percent) cited staffing shortages as their biggest operational risk over the next year, followed by rising labor costs (34 percent) and increasing maintenance expenses (27 percent). Housekeeping roles remain the hardest to fill, with 38 percent of businesses struggling to hire cleaning staff, followed by desk clerks (14 percent) and maintenance/janitorial staff (13 percent). To address the issue, operators are turning to higher wages, expanded training, and retention incentives—while others are embracing automation and self-service technology to bridge the gap.
Time is running out! HDAC Awards of Excellence nominations close next week
HDAC board members with Groom Guy cofounders Matthew Sears and Darius Davie (center) at the 21st annual HD Awards ceremony; photo by PWP Studio
The deadline for Hospitality Diversity Action Council’s (HDAC) fifth annual Awards of Excellence program has been extended to Friday, March 21st. The program honors individuals and companies across the hospitality industry—from ownership and management to design, branding, and vendors—who are driving progress through the promotion of diversity, inclusion, and equity. Selected by a jury of current HDAC board members, the winner will be recognized at the 21st annual HD Awards on May 6th at the Bellagio Hotel & Casino during HD Expo + Conference. Don’t miss the chance to highlight industry changemakers—submit your nomination today!
