A disused Italian prison is being transformed into a museum, the Met announces $500 million renovation, and two New York hotels advocate for afternoon naps. All that and more in this week’s Five on Friday.
BIG unveils birdhouse-wrapped hotel room
The latest bold design proposal from Bjarke Ingels Group (BIG) envisions an intimate new accommodation for Treehotel in the Swedish Lapland. Known as Biosphere, the 365-square-foot concept will afford guests a panoramic bird’s eye view while suspended above the Harads pines. The treetop hotel room is born from a collaboration with Treehotel and Swedish ornithologist Ulf Öhman to create 350 birdhouses that will wrap the exterior of the hotel room, writes Dezeen. The addition of the nests will help combat decreasing avian populations and encourage guests to do the same at home. Proposed as the eighth accommodation at the Treehotel outpost, Biosphere will feature a resilient external materiality of locally sourced wood and stone, while richly dark organic materials will adorn the interiors.
Walker Hotels encourages New Yorkers to nap
Walker Hotels recently introduced a midday Nap Pod membership program at its two New York properties as an incentive for those heading back to the office after two years of remote work. Through the end of April, guests can stop by the Greenwich Village or Tribeca location for a productivity-boosting siesta between noon and 4 p.m. Monday through Thursday. Members can sign up for four 90-minute nap slots for $149, while non-members can sign up for a $75 one-time nap. Additional perks include monogrammed robes, bedtime teas, eye masks, CBD treats, and other sleep-enhancing goodies. Access to onsite fitness facilities is also available.
Italian prison to be reborn as a tourist destination
The prison on Italy’s Santo Stefano island
A former prison from the days of Emperor Augustus on the Italian island of Santo Stefano is set for a rebirth as a tourist destination. ArchPaper reports that the Italian government will begin accepting redesign submissions this June to transform the 336-cell structure into an open-air museum like Alcatraz Island in San Francisco. The adaptive reuse project, which is expected to total $86 million, will overhaul the original onsite residence of the prison director into a hostel as well. The museum is slated to open in 2025.
Frida Escobedo to lead expansion at the Met
Mexican architect Frida Escobedo will spearhead $500 million renovations for the modern and contemporary wing of the Metropolitan Museum of Art (The Met) in New York. The forthcoming project will establish 80,000 square feet of galleries and public space dedicated to this temporality for the first time. According to ArchDaily, the design will aim to foster a bond with Central Park, as well as the rest of the Met’s facilities. “This new wing will provide not only an ideal pathway, but a more open building structure, with galleries of varying heights, scales, and light exposures,” says Met director Max Hollein. “At a time when museums like the Museum of Modern Art are rethinking the presentation of art, including providing multiple perspectives and juxtaposing various genres, the new wing of the Met will also seek to expand the narrative: our presentation of art will be cross-cultural.”
HD Expo + Conference speakers revealed
The DesignWell Pavilion will return to HD Expo + Conference 2022; photo by PWP Studio
The full conference schedule and speakers for HD Expo + Conference 2022 have been revealed on hdexpo.com. Opening day on April 26th kicks off with an economic forecast from Bruce Ford of Lodging Econometrics and continues with HDAC Series: Culture as Catalyst, led by Marquise Stillwell of Openbox. The list of industry veterans and professionals includes Erik Johansen, Stylt Trampoli; Adriana Marianella, Fotografiska | NeueHouse; Heather Holdridge, Lake Flato; Aliya Khan, Marriott; Victor Body-Lawson, Body-Lawson Associates; Helen Jorgensen, Host Hotels & Resorts; Markus Schreyer, Proper Hospitality; Paul McElroy, Highgate; Damon Lawrence, Homage Hospitality; Kavitha Iyer, IHG; Aaron Anderson, the 26 Co.; Bashar Wali, This Assembly; Staci Patton, DLR Group; Greg Keffer, Rockwell Group, and more. The show wraps up on April 28th focusing on all things Vegas, with UNLV: Emerging Talent Envisions the Future of Hospitality and a conversation with Sin City’s gaming and design leadership at Viva Las Vegas, moderated by Mark Boekenheide of Las Vegas Sands. It’s three days of programming that you won’t want to miss. You can see the full conference schedule here.
Use promo code LUCKY25 for 25 percent off your Expo, Full Conference, or Experience Pass through Wednesday, March 23rd. Register now.
