“Abundance” by Adam Nathaniel Furman at Paddington. Photography by Gareth Gardner…
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An Origami-Inspired Art Wall Revives a Dreary London Transit Hub
One of London’s most critical transit hubs, Paddington station connects the capital city to the far reaches of everywhere from Heathrow to the countryside. Until recently, the station has looked every bit as utilitarian as one might expect of a vital piece of infrastructure, but a new wall art installation by Adam Nathaniel Furman is brightening things up. Inspired by kinetic artist and architect Carlos Cruz-Diez, Furman harnessed high-vis hues of lilac, bubblegum pink, and neon green to color the construction-grade sheet metal used throughout. Titled Abundance, it speaks to Furman’s objective to bring “sensual delight” to public works—two words few would have likely associated with the station’s once-dreary exterior. —Jenna Adrian-Diaz
“Pomme de Londres,” one of the Lalanne classics up for sale at Sotheby’s. Image courtesy of Sotheby’s …
This autumn, Sotheby’s Paris will present nearly 20 sculptures by French sculptors Claude and François-Xavier Lalanne, known for blending decorative arts with natural forms and surrealism. The couple’s works were thought to have been sold after Claude’s death in 2019, but a hidden set of designs was discovered in their home near Fontainebleau, including pieces like a Ginkgo bench and Pomme de Londres sculpture. These newly found works will be available to collectors and exhibited to the public from Sept. 30–Oct. 3, with the auction taking place on Oct. 4 at Sotheby’s Paris.
The U.K. government has introduced regulations to limit gender-neutral toilets in non-domestic public and private buildings, aiming to “protect single-sex spaces.” Architectural groups have criticized the move as a “backwards step” that could threaten the safety of the LGBTQ+ community. The new rules require new public buildings to provide separate single-sex toilets for men and women, with gender-neutral toilets only allowed when space is limited. The regulations, which have alarmed groups like the Architecture LGBT+, are set to be implemented following a technical consultation that closes on Oct. 8.
Rendering of Speed Outdoors at the Speed Art Museum and the University of Louisville. Image courtesy of Reed Hilderbrand Landscape Architecture…
The Speed Art Museum in Kentucky is transforming three acres of its Louisville campus into a public sculpture park and community gathering space called The Speed Outdoors. Designed by Reed Hilderbrand Landscape Architecture, the park will feature 13 large-scale pieces from artists including Zaha Hadid and Sol LeWitt, and will offer year-round programming such as concerts, yoga classes, and outdoor learning activities. The revamped museum grounds, which aim to address the need for public green space in central Louisville, will be free and open to the public 24/7, expecting to receive up to 500,000 visitors annually. Construction is expected to conclude in late 2025, with a $22 million capital campaign to fund the project.
The Cape Cod Modern House Trust has initiated a campaign to raise $1.2 million to buy and preserve Marcel Breuer’s holiday home in Cape Cod from potential demolition. Designed by Breuer in the 1940s, the house is considered one of Cape Cod’s most significant modernist buildings. The Trust plans to restore the house and transform it into a center for preservation and residences for its fellowship, emphasizing its historical importance as a meeting place for designers and artists. The campaign has until spring 2024 to raise the necessary funds.
Hollis Taggart is expanding its Chelsea gallery, nearly doubling the first-floor exhibition space to 1,585 square feet, a move seen as a commitment to the New York neighborhood despite other galleries moving to Tribeca. Scheduled to open on Sept. 7, the expanded space will primarily showcase work from the gallery’s historic division, allowing for two simultaneous shows or larger exhibitions. The inaugural display will feature works by artists such as Ralph Iwamoto and include six early-1950s drawings by Jackson Pollock.
