DESIGN DISPATCH

Gaetano Pesce Gets Honored at Design Miami Basel, and Other News

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Gaetano Pesce's Broadway 931 dining table. Photography by Alexis Narodetzky

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The late Gaetano Pesce will be honored across two showcases at Design Miami Basel.

Two different showcases will honor the legacy of Italian architect and designer Gaetano Pesce, who died in April at age 84. Paris-based Pulp Galerie will feature rare, experimental pieces by Pesce, including the Sick cabinet and the first two Greene Street chairs, while Galerie Gastou will display his works alongside those of Japanese designer Shiro Kuramata, highlighting their use of plastic. Pesce’s influence spanned art, design, and fashion, with notable works like the Tramonto sofa and the Up 50 armchair.

The Centre Pompidou’s years-long renovation project is facing major budget shortfalls.

Doubts are surrounding the Centre Pompidou’s ability to complete a major renovation that will close the Paris site for five years starting in 2025. A report by France’s Cour des Comptes highlights significant risks in cost and deadline overruns, with the project currently underfunded by €168 million ($181 million). Chairman Laurent Le Bon has raised only €39 million ($42 million) of the needed additional funds and is seeking more from American and Saudi sponsors, but the auditing body criticizes the center’s leadership, strategy, and overreliance on public subsidies, complicating the renovation’s prospects.

The Albergo dei Poveri. Image courtesy of ABDR

A mega-museum at Albergo dei Poveri is being planned as part of Naples’ renaissance.  

Italy has begun renovating the Albergo dei Poveri in Naples, transforming it into a major cultural hub that includes a new space for the National Archaeological Museum of Naples (MANN). The project, costing €147 million ($158 million) and scheduled for completion by mid-2026, will also create teaching spaces, student dormitories, and a new site for the National Library. This ambitious renovation aims to boost Naples’s cultural heritage and will be supported by increased tourism and significant government investment.

Oklahoma City approves plans for Legends Tower, a nearly 2,000-foot-tall skyscraper. 

The Oklahoma City Council has approved plans for Legends Tower, a nearly 2,000-foot-tall building that will surpass New York City’s One World Trade Center as the tallest building in the United States. Designed by California architecture studio AO and developed by Matteson Capital, the tower will feature luxury apartments and a hotel. Despite concerns about affordable housing commitments, the project will proceed, marking a significant addition to Oklahoma City’s skyline and positioning Legends Tower as the tallest building in the Western Hemisphere and the sixth tallest in the world.

Victoria Feldman and Tomas Berzins are permanently closing their Victoria/Tomas label.

Victoria Feldman and Tomas Berzins are closing their Victoria/Tomas label, which has shown at Paris Fashion Week since 2017, due to market challenges and a desire to focus on creative projects. Their Paris atelier will also close as they shift towards collaborations with existing brands. Founded in 2012, the label faced significant setbacks post-pandemic, including retail closures and a shrinking wholesale market, leading to the decision to shutter.

An ancient sacrarium in Pompeii. Image courtesy of the Italian Ministry of Culture

Today’s attractive distractions:

New research illuminates why ancient people made charcoal art in caves

This blue painted shrine is the latest discovery in a Pompeii “treasure chest.”

From Miu Miu to Pharrell, pearls are undergoing a fashion-fueled revival.

In Buenos Aires, Yiyo el Zeneize has been collecting fernet for a century.

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