Hawaii’s Haiku stairs are officially being removed, Airbnb is offering themed stays in its new Icon collection, and a new installation blooms in New York. All that and more in this week’s Five on Friday.
New York’s Genesis House unveils physical-meets-digital floral installation
Jeff Leatham’s floral installation BLOOMTANICA at Genesis House in New York; photo courtesy of Genesis House
Designed in partnership with Jeff Leatham, Genesis House—Hyundai’s New York showroom, event space, and fine dining restaurant—has launched an immersive floral installation BLOOMTANICA. The display in the Meatpacking district space is the first digital work by the celebrity floral artist, who has crafted stunning designs for hotels and events around the globe. Melding nature and technology, the multi-floor journey is inspired by Korean heritage and Seoul gardens, calling on hues of deep purple, lavender, and plum accented by bright orange tones that nod both to the Korean night sky and Leatham’s signature Vanda Orchid. “Blurring the lines between nature and technology was an exciting new challenge for me,” says Leatham, “and I’m beyond proud of the world we’ve created together combining the beauty of our floral designs with the rich cultural ambience at Genesis House.” BLOOMTANICA is on display through June 9th.
Hawaii’s Haiku Stairs are being removed because of bad tourist behavior
The Haiku Stairs, also known as the Stairway to Heaven in Oahu, Hawaii; photo courtesy of Adobe Stock
The Haiku Stairs, an Oahu landmark built by the US Navy during World War II, are being removed by the local government. Despite being closed to visitors since 1987, the so-called Stairway to Heaven—which offers stunning views of the island—has continued to attract tourists, some of whom traverse through private property to get there, reports CNN. “This decision…was predicated upon our respect for the people who live in and around the entrance to the stairs, our respect for our ʻāina [land and sea], and our respect for both the future and the past history of the culture of the Haʻikū community,” said Mayor Blangiardi in a statement. The Honolulu city government began demolition in April, inspiring some tourists to attempt one last visit to the site. On April 23rd, five people were arrested and charged with first-degree trespassing, while police gave out 60 warnings to hikers over the weekend of April 20th. The six-month removal process will cost the city $2.5 million and requires one 700-foot section of the stairs be taken away at a time via helicopter.
Airbnb launches new themed collection
Among Airbnb’s themed Icon stays is the house from Pixar’s Up movie; photo by Ryan Lowry
Airbnb’s new collection, dubbed Icons, will launch with 11 options with experiences centered around art, music, film, TV, sports, and more, according to Travel Weekly. Among them are a racing-inspired stay at the Ferrari Museum in Maranello, Italy; a Minneapolis home, once owned by Prince and used in filming Purple Rain; and a chance to spend the night in Paris’ Musée d’Orsay’s clock room. Guests can also get access to celebrity hosts via Icons, such as a VIP speakeasy visit with actor Kevin Hart, an overnight with Bollywood star Janhvi Kapoor, or a living room performance courtesy of pop artist Doja Cat, among others. Featured on Airbnb’s homepage with a countdown to when the experiences will be available for booking, most of the Icons stays will be free, with others costing less than $100 per guest.
A $10,000 per month wellness social club leans on science
The Continuum Club will launch in New York on May 15th; photo courtesy of Continuum Club
Continuum Club’s initial 250 members will start their journeys with a biometric scan and sleep analysis once the private club opens in Manhattan, writes Clio Chang for Curbed New York. Results will be analyzed by the company’s proprietary AI to create custom training plans, all in an effort to jumpstart “the journey to becoming the ideal version of oneself,” according to company press materials. Housed in a Romanesque Revival-style building in Greenwich Village that has been home to Crunch Fitness, David Barton Gym, and a Peloton Tread studio, the space will be elevated with bespoke walnut stumps serving as tables and custom plaster elements. Continuum Club will offer a hyperbaric chamber, IV-therapy station, infrared bed, a float tank, plus massage therapists and saunas in the 25,000-square-foot flagship. Leadership doesn’t think members will balk at the $10,000 monthly price tag. “We’re looking at a price as a feature,” chief revenue officer Tom Wingert told Chang.
It’s a wrap! Top highlights from the 2024 HD Expo + Conference
The HD Expo + Conference show floor was abuzz for three days in Las Vegas; photo by PWP Studio
A whirlwind three days in Las Vegas has wrapped for this year’s HD Expo + Conference, where some 700 exhibitors showed off their latest and greatest and informative conference sessions inspired attendees on the tradeshow floor. Spanning topics including wellness, the branded residence boom, and community-focused design, day one kicked off with conference sessions, followed by the 20th HD Awards ceremony at the Four Seasons Hotel Las Vegas that evening (check out the winners!). Day two featured more inspiring panels touching on environmental impacts, nightlife trends, and the luxury guest, along with the announcements of the winners of both the Best Booth and HD/IIDA Product Design Awards competitions. And ICYMI, the HD Expo issue of Hospitality Design magazine is available now!
