Art Basel's inaugural edition in Doha has arrived, bringing with it new collectors and galleries seeking institutional interest. The event has prompted Doha's museums to stage significant exhibitions that emphasize historical depth and architectural legacy, rather than catering to fleeting market trends.
The Eames House, designed by Charles and Ray Eames in the late 1940s in Los Angeles's Pacific Palisades, has reopened after a six-month closure due to smoke damage from the January 2025 wildfires. The property was saved from destruction partly because hundreds of surrounding trees were removed in 2024. The restoration has expanded visitor access, opening the studio for the first time, which will host exhibitions on the house's evolution and contemporary design influences. The first exhibition may focus on community rebuilding after the fires.
Peter Zumthor, the Pritzker Prize-winning architect, discusses the making of the Los Angeles County Museum of Art's (LACMA) new David Geffen Galleries in an interview. He explains his rejection of overly slick, corporate architecture in favor of a raw, handmade concrete structure, describing the building as a "concrete sculpture." Zumthor details his collaboration with LACMA director Michael Govan, who encouraged him to incorporate "American roughness" into the design, a lesson Zumthor says he has brought back to his European practice.
Kengo Kuma : « La première fois qu’une architecture m’a ému, c’était celle d’une église »
Renowned Japanese architect Kengo Kuma discusses his design philosophy and his recent intervention at the Angers Cathedral in France. He emphasizes a "dialogue with the place" over architectural ego, focusing on topography, local materials, and the Japanese concept of wabi-sabi, which finds beauty in the aging of materials over time. Kuma reflects on how his first emotional encounter with architecture occurred in a Christian chapel as a child, an experience that continues to inform his use of light and verticality.
Elin Kling and Karl Lindman, the Swedish couple behind the womenswear brand Toteme, discuss their design philosophy and the opening of their first flagship store in mainland Europe, located on Rue du Faubourg Saint-Honoré in Paris. The article, accompanied by photography from Mikael Jansson, details how the brand has resisted trends like "quiet luxury" and minimalism labels, instead focusing on precision, restraint, and timeless essentials. The Paris store, designed by Stockholm-based Halleroed, features art-gallery-white walls, Italian limestone floors, and works by Marc Newson, Lucie Gottlieb, and Jansson, reflecting the brand's serene, uncluttered aesthetic.
Bobby Rogers, a graduate of the Minneapolis College of Art and Design, has been appointed as the head of design and editorial at the Minneapolis Institute of Art (MIA). In this role, he oversees the museum's visual identity, exhibition design, and marketing, aiming to make MIA a more engaging and innovative space for visitors. Rogers previously worked as head photographer at the Walker Art Center and as a senior art director at Target.
The article explores the aesthetic philosophy of embracing untidiness and natural decay within domestic spaces as a form of beauty. It presents the idea that a home's character can be enhanced by allowing it to remain "ungroomed," challenging conventional norms of interior design and order.
An exhibition titled 'The Eames Houses' opened at Triennale Milano during Milan Design Week 2026. It offers a comprehensive look at the residential architecture of Charles and Ray Eames, featuring scale models of eight house projects, archival materials, and two full-scale pavilion structures built using a modular system developed with Kettal. The show runs from April 20 to May 10 and is accompanied by a newly published volume on the Eames' residential work.
Apple is launching iOS 26, its first-ever cross-platform design update, featuring a new digital material called Liquid Glass. This translucent interface element refracts light like real glass and responds to touch, created by Apple's Vice President of Human Interface Design Alan Dye and his team in collaboration with the industrial design studio. The article includes reflections from artists Alice Bucknell and P. Staff on how Apple's technology and design philosophy intersect with their own practices.
The New York Times explores the enduring influence of Shaker design on contemporary artists and designers, highlighting how its principles of simplicity, utility, and spiritual integrity resonate in today's world. The article features creators like furniture maker Thomas Moser and ceramicist Mary Law, who draw directly from Shaker aesthetics of plainness, proportion, and honest craftsmanship.
The article examines the Nintendo Museum in Kyoto and the company's 137-year history, tracing its evolution from hanafuda playing cards to global video game dominance. It highlights how the museum curates nostalgia through interactive exhibits and preserved artifacts, framing Nintendo's journey as a sequence of applying technology for fun and profit.
ArchDaily published a project profile of the OCAT-B10 art museum in Shenzhen, China, designed by Meng Yan of URBANUS. Completed in 2022, the 6,109-square-meter museum is conceived as an "opened white box," featuring a flexible, minimalist gallery space. The project team includes principle architect Meng Yan, project architect Rao Enchen, and numerous collaborators across architecture and landscape design. The client is Shenzhen OCT Properties Co., Ltd.
Cosima Ungaro and Austin Feilders, who run the creative agency Concept, have taken over the restoration and operation of Domaine de La Cavalerie, a 12th-century Knights Templar compound in France that was acquired by Emanuel Ungaro in 1985. The estate, which includes the original La Commanderie building, a 17th-century Bergerie, and 160 acres of land, has been updated with geothermal power, 1,000 additional olive trees, and a hospitality concept for stays and events. The article highlights the library as a key example of Ungaro's design philosophy, blending medieval roots with Italian antiques and artworks.
German architect Ole Scheeren is designing the Róng Museum of Art, a beehive-like cultural complex set to open in 2027 in Shenzhen's Houhai Hybrid Campus. The museum represents his latest major architectural project in China, following his iconic work on Beijing's CCTV headquarters and other landmark structures across Asia.
Yves Behar, founder and CEO of fuseproject, participated in a breakfast salon at Mission Rock in San Francisco as part of Tishman Speyer's series "The Cultural Index: The Future of the Connected Experience," in partnership with Genesys. During the event, Behar and entrepreneur Tina Sharkey discussed how creativity, design, and AI could reimagine urban infrastructure. Following the salon, CULTURED interviewed Behar about his design philosophy, the ethos of San Francisco, and his notable projects like the Samsung Frame TV and Snoo bassinet.