Hotelier Adrian Zecha’s next act begins on a Japanese farm, inside the year’s most immersive Oscar-nominated worlds, and the market for private bunkers surges. All that and more in this week’s Five on Friday.
A look at the Oscars’ favorite movie sets
A scene from “Frankenstein”; photo by Ken Woroner/Netflix
On Sunday, Guillermo del Toro’s “Frankenstein” took home the Oscar for Best Art Direction at the 98th Academy Awards for theatrical and sculptural set designs that stewarded audiences from a Gothic English laboratory to a cargo ship in the Arctic. But its win was hardly guaranteed in a year of distinctive, standout production designs. Wallpaper rounds up this year’s nominees, which also included fan-favorite “Sinners,” whose Southern Gothic backdrop anchored audiences firmly in the horror of reality even with fantastical accents. “Hamnet” further defined itself with a sense of place, including a historic recreation of Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre. Worldbuilding was equally effective for “Marty Supreme,” a dizzying odyssey through the claustrophobia of postwar New York to the theatrical athletic theaters of Japan. “One Battle After Another” achieved the unique distinction of reinterpreting our present day (or not so distant future) across a nearly three-hour spectacle. Sadly, there was no Oscar love for the meticulous recreation of Linda Rosenkrantz’s Manhattan loft in “Peter Hujar’s Day.” Maybe next year.
DLR Group linked to ICE detention center
Photo courtesy of Adobe Stock
DLR Group is facing backlash after Mother Jones reported the architecture firm’s role in the conversion of a Watonga, Oklahoma prison into an ICE detention center. According to Dezeen, DLR employees learned through public sources that the studio had served as subcontractor for the overhaul of the Diamondback Correctional Facility despite contradictory internal messaging. Although DLR previously launched a service arm dedicated to criminal justice design, the practice has committed to no longer work on the design of ICE detainment or deportation facilities moving forward. The firm agreed to donate $300,000 from profits for the Oklahoma project as well.
Adrian Zecha to launch luxury farm resort
Adrian Zecha
Adrian Zecha is going back to the basics. The Aman founder and Azumi Japan have partnered with the East Japan Railway Company to launch a new luxury resort brand. Slated to open next month in the Iwate Prefecture, Azuma Farm Koiwai will celebrate agrarian life across the historic 20-acre Koiwai Farm, Hypebeast reports. Home to 24 villa-style guestrooms lined with wood interiors, the tranquil resort will feature a design from Kyoto-based architect Shiro Miura of Rokkaku-ya that emphasizes the rustic charm of Japanese craftsmanship.
Yay! Bunkers are relevant again!
Photo courtesy of Adobe Stock
Blame it on the housing crisis, blame it on societal collapse, blame it on climate apocalypse—either way, bunkers are on the rise. From billionaires fancying themselves pharaohs to a regular lady in Virginia illegally mining a tunnel underneath her house, the urge to expand upon the models of Cold War fallout shelters has led to a 1,000-percent boom in residential bunker sales since 2018. Dwell dives into the surging marketplace of companies building and selling bunkers as well as those eager to take shelter. This writeup by Angella d’Avignon even explores Vivos xPoint, the “largest survival community on earth,” where 575 concrete-and-steel bunkers span a swath of South Dakota nearly the size of Manhattan. One bunker in this outpost can be yours for a cool upfront payment of $55,000 and $1,091 in annual rent. Oh, and there’s also the estimated $250,000 you’ll need for a full fit-out, but why spare any expense when designing your dream bunker home?
Finalists announced for the 22nd HD Awards
Jumeirah Marsa Al Arab in Dubai, a 2026 HD Awards finalist in the Luxury Hotel Public Space category
Hospitality Design has revealed the full list of finalists for the 22nd annual HD Awards. Dual judging panels meticulously evaluated more than 1,000 total entries to choose finalists across 34 project and 15 product categories. The 2026 winners will be announced during an event on May 5th as part of HD Expo + Conference in Las Vegas. Purchases tickets to the awards ceremony today!
