Five on Friday: August 13th, 2021

Hotel-branded condos are growing in popularity, the restaurant industry has permanently changed, and the Shanghai Astronomy Museum debuts. All that and more in this week’s Five on Friday.

Brands are finding they don’t need a hotel to sell condos

Rendering courtesy of the Four Seasons Resort and Residences Cabo San Lucas at Cabo Del Sol

The popularity of luxury residences attached to five-star properties has climbed, but developers have found that easy access to hotel amenities may not be the key driver of their success, reports the Wall Street Journal. For example, President Eisenhower’s one-time London headquarters for the U.S. Navy was transformed into Four Seasons’ first private residence-only property in 2019. With 37 homes going for above-market rates, only a few remain unsold, even given the pandemic. Mandarin Oriental will follow suit with standalone residences in New York, Southern California, and Barcelona expected to be up for sale before the end of 2021.

Former restaurant owner says industry is forever changed

In an op-ed for the New York Times, New York-based chef and former operator of Savoy and Back Forty Peter Hoffman argues that the way we dine out is never going to look like it did before COVID-19 hit. Amid a historic staff shortage across the industry, Hoffman says restaurants will need to hire more staff than before, pay them more, and increase prices to create a sustainable yet healthy business for them and their workers.

Frank Ocean unveils his first luxury brand

Five years since the release of his critically lauded album Blonde, ever-elusive singer/songwriter Frank Ocean returns to the public eye with Homer, a luxury brand sure to make waves on the market with a debut collection of 25 pieces of fine and high jewelry. According to the Financial Times, the collection takes inspiration from the work of Takashi Murakami and pop art and graphics of the 1990s club scene. The new line is only available in stores.

World’s largest astronomy museum completes construction in Shanghai

Photo by ArchExists

Boasting a unique shape that plays with shape and geometry, the Shanghai Astronomy Museum recently opened in China. New York studio Ennead Architects embraces curvilinear forms for the building, which is part of the larger Shanghai Science and Technology Museum. Inside, Dezeen reports, is a circular opening to the sky clad in gold panels above a reflecting pool. On the summer solstice, the opening reveals a circle on a black platform in the plaza.

HD announces design firm and hotelier of the year honorees

At this year’s HD Awards ceremony, AvroKO partners William Harris, Kristina O’Neal, Adam Farmerie, and Greg Bradshaw will be honored as the 2021 Design Firm of the Year, and Ave Bradley of Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants as Hotelier of the Year. They will be celebrated alongside the project and product finalists and winners of the 17th annual competition on September 21st at Cipriani South Street in New York. Click here to purchase tickets.

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