DESIGN DISPATCH

A Dune-Like Building by Zaha Hadid Architects, and Other News

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

Beeah Group headquarters in Sharjah by Zaha Hadid Architects. Photography by Hufton+Crow

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Zaha Hadid Architects unveils a dune-like headquarters for Beeah Group in Sharjah. 

“Zaha Hadid Architects took visual cues from undulating desert dunes when creating the sinuous headquarters for environmental management company Beeah Group in Sharjah, United Arab Emirates. Designed by the late architect Zaha Hadid, the long-awaited Beeah Headquarters takes the form of a series ‘of interconnecting dunes’ that echo its Al Sajaa desert surroundings.” —[H/T Dezeen]

A major artist-led campaign will urge climate action across billboards in California.

“Climate-themed marketing and exhibitions are to be expected as Earth Month is observed in April, but a new art campaign seeks to make environmental activism the norm. Called A Cool Million, the artist-led initiative is turning climate-related pieces by 14 artists into large-scale public works on billboards and other public spaces, and will also support the conservation of one million acres of biodiverse landscape. Created by the art collectives For Freedoms, Art + Climate Action and Art into Acres, the campaign pairs one artist with each participating California art institution and will be installed across the state throughout April, with an official launch on Earth Day.” —[H/T The Art Newspaper]

Mural by Nina Chanel Abney at Worldcenter Miami. Photography by Oriol-Tarridas

A new public art initiative will bring a Nina Chanel Abney mural to downtown Miami.

“A new $5 million public art initiative will bring major commissions by world-class contemporary artists to downtown Miami. First up is a monumental mural by Nina Chanel Abney. The work is a joyful mashup of graphic figures, bold color planes, and musical notes that was inspired by Overtown, a historic Black neighborhood in Miami. It spans the length of a passageway under a property within the mixed-used development called Worldcenter, a self-described ‘city within a city.’” —[H/T ARTnews]

FedEx will test cargo delivery using autonomous drones carrying up to 500 pounds.

“FedEx plans to test a different method of moving goods between depots starting next year, which could speed up the delivery process. The company has teamed up with Elroy Air, which is developing a vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) cargo drone, to transport packages between sorting centers via autonomous flights. Elroy Air unveiled the Chaparral C1 drone in January. The company claims the hybrid-electric system has a range of up to 300 miles and can carry a load of up to 500 pounds in its cargo pod (so FedEx would need a lot of them if it wants to eventually replace planes). The drone has 12 electric motors and 12 propellers.” —[H/T Engadget]

Angels Landing in Downtown LA. Rendering by Handel Architects

Angels Landing, a major development in Downtown LA, secures a key city approval. 

“Victor MacFarlane and R. Donahue Peebles have devoted years to Angels Landing, a $1.6-billion hotel-housing-retail complex that would change the city skyline. The Bunker Hill development’s highest tower at 63 stories would be among L.A.’s tallest buildings.  The developers said Monday that city planning officials approved Angels Landing’s so-called entitlements to build, a major hurdle the project had to clear on the way toward completion before the 2028 Olympics. The developers have secured environmental approvals to build, made affordable housing commitments and completed deals with labor leaders, they said — all key elements required to proceed.” —[H/T Los Angeles Times]

StockX responds to Nike’s lawsuit saying that NFTs don’t qualify as “digital sneakers.”

“StockX has issued a public response to Nike’s NFT lawsuit against the resale platform. While claiming that the lawsuit is “without merit,” StockX insists that its NFTs “are absolutely not ‘virtual products’ or digital sneakers.” The company points to fair use and nominative first sale doctrines in trademark law to argue that its selling of NFTs based on Nike sneakers is lawful.” —[H/T Input]

The needle-free drug delivery tool by NovaXS

Today’s attractive distractions:

Clowncore” is the latest ridiculous (and fun) aesthetic that’s slowly taking over TikTok. 

Alamo’s Drafthouse has revived Kim’s Video, an erstwhile Manhattan purveyor of VHS.

Crocs have emerged as an unlikely canvas for high-concept, high-fashion experiments.

A startup is making headway at creating a tool that makes injection therapy needle-free.

All Stories