DESIGN DISPATCH

10 Corso Como’s New Gallery and Theater Dazzles in Milan, and Other News

Our daily look at the world through the lens of design.

The project room at 10 Corso Como. Image courtesy of 10 Corso Como

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10 Corso Como’s New Gallery and Theater Dazzles in Milan

The gallery-bookstore-fashion concept shop may have bid arrivederci to New York some four years ago, but Milan’s denizens are rather more fortunate than those of us on this side of the Atlantic. In January, a new gallery and project room designed by 2050+ opened its doors in the Italian fashion capital. The futuristic, whitewashed gallerie opened with “Happy Birthday Louise Parker,” an exhibition of photography by Alessandro Rabottini and curated by writer Roe Ethridge.

The show defies easy categorization; Rabottini’s wide-ranging works obliterate genre divides with a mix of fashion photography, still lifes, portraits, and landscapes. Meanwhile, the project room hosts “Pietro Consagra. Ornaments,” a show of the sculptor’s jewelry that is exhibited alongside collectible design objects, art books, vintage photos by Ugo Mulas, and glossy magazines from around the world. Together, they’re exactly the kinds of poignant shows that would motivate New Yorkers to schlep down to 10 Corso Como’s former home in the South Street Seaport—but as Design Week approaches, maybe Milan isn’t so out of the way after all. —Jenna Adrian-Diaz

The Spring Green Restaurant at Riverview Terrace designed by Frank Lloyd Wright in Wisconsin. Photography by Emilene Leone, courtesy of Taliesin Preservation

Frank Lloyd Wright’s only restaurant is added to the National Register of Historic Places.

The Spring Green Restaurant at Riverview Terrace, a Frank Lloyd Wright–designed eatery in Wisconsin, has been listed on the National Register of Historic Places, joining other iconic Wright creations such as Fallingwater and the Guggenheim Museum. Originally conceived as a seasonal haunt in 1953, Wright later expanded his plans to include a year-round restaurant, although construction didn’t commence until 1957 and remained incomplete upon his death in 1959. Today, the restaurant, now owned by Taliesin Preservation, serves as the Frank Lloyd Wright Visitor Center, embodying the luminary’s vision of architecture harmonizing with nature and serving as a cultural and educational hub for visitors and locals.

Nike’s trademark lawsuit against Bape is moving forward in New York federal court.

A New York federal judge’s refusal to dismiss Nike’s trademark infringement lawsuit against Bape sets a significant precedent for design protection. Nike’s allegations, filed this past January, claim Bape copied various sneaker designs, including Air Force 1, Air Jordan, and Dunk iterations. Founded by Tomoaki Nagao, known as Nigo, in Japan in 1993, Bape expanded to the U.S. a decade later, with its popular Bape STA style under scrutiny in the lawsuit. The decision has broader implications, indicating the necessity for clarity and specificity in trade dress claims and reminding designers of the importance of precision in both verbal and visual aspects when seeking trade dress registration.

J.P. Morgan’s Library at the Morgan Library & Museum. Photography by Graham Haber, courtesy of the Morgan Library & Museum

The Morgan Library & Museum receives two significant gifts to celebrate its centennial.

To celebrate its centennial, New York’s Morgan Library & Museum has received two significant gifts totaling $15 million. Longtime trustee Katharine J. Rayner has pledged $10 million, earning the naming rights for the museum’s directorship for 25 years, while the Jerome L. Greene Foundation has contributed $5 million for future exhibitions. These contributions bolster the museum’s long-term financial health and support its Centennial Campaign, aiming to raise $35 million for its endowment and $15 million for essential facilities and technology upgrades. With previous donations from entities like the Sherman Fairchild Foundation, the Morgan is already halfway to its fundraising goal, ensuring its continued cultural impact within New York City.

Spanish police reportedly dismantle a syndicate that was forging Banksy artworks.

Catalonia police have announced the dismantling of a scam ring producing counterfeit Banksy artworks, which were then sold throughout Europe and the U.S. for up to €1,500 ($1,641) each. Two individuals were arrested in Zaragoza, where the alleged forgeries were made, and two others were apprehended for facilitating sales. The group is believed to have distributed at least 25 fake Banksy pieces, accompanied by falsified certificates linking them to Banksy’s Dismaland project. The scam netted more than €10,000 ($10,944), with some buyers reportedly paying €1,500 per piece. Banksy, known for his elusive identity and provocative street art, has become one of the world’s most sought-after contemporary artists, prompting the establishment of Pest Control, his authentication company, in 2009. Police collaborated with Pest Control to confirm the artworks’ inauthenticity, with investigations ongoing and the possibility of further arrests.

Construction kicks off on two skyscrapers slated for the site of the former Chicago Spire.

Construction on the long-delayed 400 Lake Shore skyscraper in Chicago has resumed after years of revisions and setbacks, with American developer Related Midwest leading the project. The 72-storey tower, designed by SOM, is being built on a site originally designated for The Spire, a megatall skyscraper by architect Santiago Calatrava that was abandoned due to financial and logistical issues. The new design features two skyscrapers, with the northern tower currently under construction and expected to open in 2027. Adjacent to the site, DuSable Park, once neglected but now revitalized, is set to undergo further development as part of the project.

The Anti Public Library. Photography by David Boureau

Today’s attractive distractions:

Science suggests otherwise, but this comet strike theory is gaining momentum.

In Glasgow, activists spray-paint a four-letter-word onto busts of Queen Victoria.

This rare loon somehow made its way into the Bellagio Fountains in Las Vegas.

Books, vinyls, and fetish all converge in Henri Levy’s new “Anti Public Library.”

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