Aman CEO Vlad Doronin sits down with The Wall Street Journal, Kartell’s iconic chair designs get the Barbie treatment, and Amsterdam issues a sweeping hotel ban. All that and more in this week’s Five on Friday.
Eight artists represent Nigeria at its second-ever Venice Biennale pavilion
Light Cream Pods (Excerpt) by Fatimah Tuggar, shown in the Nigeria Pavilion at the Venice Biennale; photo by Marco Cappelleti Studio and courtesy of MOWAA
The Venice Biennale opens to the public on Monday. Among its extensive cultural exhibitions, the 60th edition of the event includes Nigeria’s second-ever pavilion, titled “Nigeria Imaginary” and curated by Nigerian-British art historian Aindrea Emelife. A recent New York Times article details what goes into developing a pavilion and what’s in store at “Nigeria Imaginary.” (This year, 13 African countries are presenting pavilions, up from nine in 2022.) “[The pavilion] will explore the many Nigerias that live in our minds, curated to capture a sense of optimism imbued in inherited and collective cultural history,” says Emelife. “Articulated through different perspectives and constructed ideas, mediums, and disciplines, nostalgias for Nigeria and visions of the Nigeria that is yet to be, Nigeria Imaginary is a restless investigation of the legacies of the colonial past in today’s post-independence nation and a defiant imagining of a hopeful, youth-driven future.”
Come on Barbie, let’s go…buy a Kartell chair
Photo courtesy of Kartell
Barbie’s reign continues. In celebration of the doll’s 65th anniversary, Mattel Creations has teamed up with Italian furniture company Kartell to create a pink collection of collectible toys and furniture pieces, Fast Company reports. Barbie x Kartell, which debuted at Milan Design Week, comprises five of the manufacturer’s recognizable chair designs in both doll- and full-sized versions. “Our iconic Kartell chairs have always been seen as symbols of design and innovation, much like how Barbie has been a fashion icon for generations,” says Lorenza Luti, marketing and retail director at Kartell. “The recent Barbie film highlighted her enduring appeal, further solidifying her status as a role model. By merging our two brands, we are able to offer a fresh interpretation of Kartell design, transforming our chairs into playful toys for fans of all ages.”
Amsterdam bans new hotel construction
Photo courtesy of Adobe Stock
Amsterdam, the capital—and most populous—city in the Netherlands, is actively fighting mass tourism, reports Reuters. Earlier this week, the local government issued a statement that it would no longer allow new hotels to be built. “We want to make and keep the city liveable for residents and visitors. This means: no over-tourism, no new hotels, and no more than 20 million hotel overnight stays by tourists per year,” the announcement reads. Specifically, a new hotel can only be created in Amsterdam if the following three points are met: Another hotel closes; the number of sleeping places does not increase; and the new hotel improves on what existed before (i.e. is more sustainable).
The man making Aman into a global brand
Vlad Doronin pictured at Aman Venice; photo courtesy of Aman Resorts
A new interview by reporter Candace Taylor in The Wall Street Journal peels back the curtain on Vlad Doronin, the Russian-born billionaire who purchased Aman Resorts for $358 million from founder Adrian Zecha in 2014. A decade later, the company is reportedly valued at $3 billion and owns $1.5 billion in real estate. Doronin owns residences located in London, Ibiza, Miami (which he bought from NBA legend Shaquille O’Neal for $16 million in 2009), New York, and outside of Moscow. The Russia property is one of the only private homes late architect Zaha Hadid, who dubbed Doronin “the Russian James Bond,” ever designed. Under Doronin’s leadership, Aman has opened in Tokyo and Manhattan, with projects in the works for Miami Beach, Beverly Hills, Mexico City, and Bangkok. The slightly more affordable Janu brand—which has a recently launched Tokyo location and plans for a dozen more—has also been added to the Aman portfolio. “When Vlad wants something, he gets it,” says architect Jean-Michel Gathy, who has worked on a number of Aman projects, including Aman New York.
HD Expo + Conference is 11 days away!
The Flack Studio- and Atelier Ace-designed Ace Hotel Sydney; photo by Anson Smart
As you prepare to head to Vegas for three days of connection and inspiration (or four if you are attending HD University!) at HD Expo + Conference 2024, get a head start by reading up on—and listening to—some of the 150 thought leaders who will lend their expertise during conference sessions held on the show floor. Spiegelworld founder Ross Mollison will participate in Experience and Awe: Immersive Experiences on May 2nd; Lori Horvath of JLL will join both Radical Candor 2.0: Can Project Teams Please Talk? on April 30th and the HD | IHSP Owners Roundtable on May 1st; and Ace Hotel Group’s Brad Wilson will take part in the Leaders Talk: CEOs on the State of the Industry panel on May 1st. See the full conference schedule and register today!
