A former Birkenstock campus in California will be transformed into an Eames museum.
The Eames Institute of Infinite Curiosity plans to convert a former Birkenstock campus in Novato, California into a museum dedicated to art, design, and the legacy of Ray and Charles Eames. Originally designed by modernist architect John Savage Bolles, the mid-century site will be reimagined by Herzog & de Meuron and EHDD to include exhibitions, educational programs, and public gathering spaces. The museum will also house a permanent Eames Collection drawn from the family’s archives.
Following devastating landslides, Rancho Palos Verdes City Council could ban new construction.
Rancho Palos Verdes officials are considering a permanent ban on new construction in areas affected by ongoing landslides, including the long-active Portuguese Bend. The proposal would replace a temporary moratorium set to expire in 2025 and revoke existing building permits, though it would still allow repairs and rebuilds on original home footprints. The plan has sparked pushback from residents concerned about property value, insurance gaps, and overly broad boundaries that include lots with no recent damage. Meanwhile, the city has begun using federal hazard mitigation funds to buy back vulnerable properties and convert them to open space.
The All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club wants to expand Wimbledon with 39 courts.
A UK court has cleared a proposal from the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club (AELTC) to expand Wimbledon with 39 new courts, including an 8,000-seat show court. The $292 million project would increase the tournament’s daily capacity and bring qualifying rounds onsite. The campaign group Save Wimbledon Park had challenged the planning approval, arguing it violated earlier land-use agreements, but the court dismissed the claim. A separate legal case concerning the land’s status remains pending.
Tate’s director has attributed a 27 percent fall in foot traffic over five years to Brexit and Covid.
Tate director Maria Balshaw attributed a 27 percent drop in attendance at Tate Modern and Tate Britain since 2019 to the combined effects of Brexit and the pandemic, citing a sharp decline in visits from Europeans aged 16 to 24. While domestic visitor numbers have nearly recovered, international attendance lags significantly. Critics have pointed to curatorial choices and questioned whether free entry remains viable, as the institution also moves to cut 7 percent of its workforce. Tate has not announced targeted strategies to win back young European visitors, though recent late-night openings have shown promise.
The U.S. Commerce Department may charge fees of up to five percent to patent holders.
The U.S. Commerce Department is considering a plan to charge patent holders a fee of one to five percent of their patents’ value, a sharp departure from the current flat-fee system. Officials say the move could raise tens of billions in new revenue—potentially used to reduce the federal deficit. Critics argue the change would function like a tax on intellectual property, stifle innovation, and make the U.S. an outlier among global patent systems. Business groups are expected to oppose the plan, and legal challenges may follow, especially as the Patent Office’s authority to set fees nears expiration.
Today’s attractive distractions:
Diller Scofidio + Renfro recently completed a contemporary women’s mosque in Qatar.
Anish Kapoor has listed his Tribeca apartment for a cool $17.75 million.
Here’s how everyone is actually affording their “Euro summer” exploits.
When it comes to real estate, a rising generation is embracing co-buying.
