URB announces Africa’s largest sustainable city, Charles Gaines’ Moving Chains opens in New York City, and the Museum of London adds a “nightclub-in-residence”; All that and more in this week’s Five on Friday.
Sculptor Charles Gaines’ Moving Chains lands on Governors Island
Photo by Timothy Schenck
After eight years in development, sculptor Charles Gaines’ behemoth artwork, Moving Chains is now on view on New York’s Governors Island. The boat-like African Mahogany structure, which is 110 feet long and 17 feet high, supports chains weighing in at 1,600 pounds that rattle overhead at various speeds—eight at the pace of the nearby currents, and one at the speed of a ship. According to Brooklyn Magazine, the kinetic sculpture is the second entry in his three-part series, “The American Manifest,” which explores the history of enslaved people in America and the concept of Manifest Destiny. The location, just off the coast of Manhattan, is as much part of the piece as the work itself. Next to the harbor, which was part of a transatlantic trade route of enslaved people, it sits in view of the Statue of Liberty, gifted by France as a celebration of the abolition of slavery. Moving Chains will be on view through June 2023.
URB announces THE PARKS, Africa’s largest net-zero city
Following the announcement of the URB-designed plans for XZeroCity, a forthcoming, self-sufficient city in Kuwait, the Dubai-based firm that offers master planning, landscape, and architectural services, has unveiled the renderings for THE PARKS. Planned for a region in east South Africa, the 4,200-acre site will be home to 150,000 residents and will produce its own energy, water, and food, making it Africa’s largest sustainable city. The development will span 12 residential districts without segregation for income levels, and several mixed-used hubs featuring retail, entertainment, and education. The car-free community will connect via a series of trails and parks to encompass many forms of transportation including running, walking, cycling, horseback riding, and electric buggies. URB CEO Baharash Bagherian says, “THE PARKS is designed to promote social sustainability and an active lifestyle, which permeates throughout the public realm of the city.”
The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection finally sets sail
Rendering courtesy of Christopher Cypert
Ritz-Carlton has entered the luxury cruise business. Architectural Digest reports the project was supposed to launch more than three years ago but hit a snag due to supply chain issues. The first ship in the collection, Evrima (named after the Greek word for discovery) set sail from Spain earlier this month on its maiden voyage. The 149-suite vessel contains six restaurants, six bars, the self-explanatory Champagne Bar, and the Humidor, where guests can enjoy hand-rolled cigars. Each guestroom comes with a private balcony, personal concierge, and open-concept floorplans. Continuing Ritz-Carlton’s brand of exclusivity, experiences on the cruise will be one-of-a-kind with stops for truffle hunting in Croatia or private tours of the Picasso Museum in Barcelona. The fleet’s other two ships, Ilma and Luminara, will launch in 2024 and 2025, respectively.
Museum of London boasts world’s first nightclub-in-residence
Are nightclubs a form of art? The Museum of London thinks so, officially designating beloved London nightclub, fabric, its (and the world’s) first “nightclub-in-residence.” A recent article by Artnet details that the museum and nightclub will be across the street from each other beginning in 2026, when the museum moves to its new location at West Smithfield. The partnership will start prior to the move, with fabric and the Museum of London collaborating to celebrate the nightclub’s 25th anniversary in 2024, and on a curated festival in 2025. Cameron Leslie, co-founder of fabric, says, “As well as communicating fabric as a core cultural space, we’re also on a mission to promote electronic music as an art form.”
BDNY and the Platinum Circle Awards Gala are just around the corner
Past and present honorees at the 2022 Platinum Circle Awards gala
We’re just two weeks away from some of the industry’s biggest events. On Friday, November 11th, HD’s 33rd annual Platinum Circle Awards gala will fête Ronnie Bray and Elise Whaler, Bray Whaler; designer Ken Fulk; Neil Jacobs, Six Senses; Sheila Johnson, Salamander Hotels & Resorts; and Barbara Parker and Miriam Torres, Parker-Torres Design at Gotham Hall in New York. Reserve your tickets to the event that’s been called the party of the year! After a glamorous evening celebrating these industry’s luminaries, BDNY returns to the Javits Center November 13-14th with dozens of panels, social events, and hundreds of exhibitors showing off their latest in nearly every product category. Register for BDNY here.
