Ace Hotel Kyoto Uses Traditional Japanese Materials in Unconventional Ways
Kengo Kuma and Commune Design have completed Ace Hotel Kyoto, the brand’s first location in Asia.
Mikki Brammer
Mikki is the editor at large for Metropolis Magazine. She strives to always have visited as many countries as years she’s lived, and has worked extensively as a writer, editor, and photographer in Australia, France, Spain, and the United States covering hospitality, travel, design, and cities. She is also on the marketing committee of the Metro NY Chapter of the United States National Committee for UN Women.
Articles
The Melbourne Conservatorium of Music Strives For Openness
Designed by John Wardle Architects, the new home of Australia's oldest music school breaks way from the monastic model of the conservatory.
This Hotel in Brisbane Blends Brutalism and Tropical Splendor
Architecture firm Richards & Spence avoided local stereotypes at The Calile Hotel in Brisbane by taking its cues from the climate.
David Chipperfield Designs a Stark, Minimalist Store for SSENSE in Montreal
Thanks to its diverse programming, the new store is as much a much a cultural venue as it is a commercial space.
In D.C., the Line Hotel Transforms a Neoclassical Church into a Design Sanctuary
New York–based Sydell Group led the design, which incorporates 60-foot vaulted ceilings, grand copper entry doors, intricate millwork, and ornate brass detailing.
Japan's Two New Moxy Hotels Aim for Laid-Back Hospitality
The Moxy brand, owned by Marriot, seeks to appeal to the “next-gen” traveler, doing away with traditional amenities in favor of a budget-friendly, design-focused experience.
The Ace Hotel Chicago Uses Art to Channel Mies van der Rohe and the Bauhaus
The hotel collaborated closely with Volume Gallery, a creative local art space with a strong emphasis on emerging designers, artists, and architects.
How Iceland's Designers Are Staying True to Their Roots Amidst a Booming Tourism Economy
Iceland’s booming hotel industry welcomed two million visitors in 2016 alone, though the country’s design community is working hard to retain its authenticity.
Studio Tack Fuses Alpine Modern and the American West for the Anvil Hotel in Jackson, Wyoming
The hotel–previously a two-building roadside motel–includes a restaurant, fireplace, lounge, café, and general store.
Allied Works Renovates the World’s Best Restaurant, Eleven Madison Park
Architect Brad Cloepfil, working with co-owners Will Guidara and Daniel Humm, drew from both nature and the restaurant's past to revamp the world-renowned culinary destination.
New Exhibition Showcases the Future TWA Hotel and the TWA's Past
All the items in the TWA Lounge at World Trade Center 1 will be on show in the TWA Hotel’s on-site museum when it opens.
New Talent 2017: Studio Gorm's Perfect Balance of Aesthetics and Function
An appreciation of the beauty in an object’s true function drives the work of Studio Gorm.
Singapore's Hotel Mono Is A Minimalist's Paradise
Singapore-based studio Spacedge Designs took a masterfully monochromatic approach to the interiors of this trendy 46-room hotel.
Jersey's New "Jenga Tower" Boasts Hotel-Like Homes
The Jersey City Urby, a new 69-story residential tower, seeks to attract residents by invoking the feel of a boutique hotel.
Post-Truth and Politics Are on Show at the New 21c Nashville
The boutique hotel brand inducts its newest property with a topical art exhibition.
A Café to Kiss In: BCJ Designs Latest Blue Bottle Café in San Francisco
Design plays an important role in all of Blue Bottle Coffe's 34 locations. Its latest San Francisco cafe features a pared-down aesthetic and plenty of intimate nooks.
Three Women Designers Blasting Through NASA's Glass Ceiling
As these three female NASA alums prove, the space agency is a breeding ground for urban planning, product design, and architectural ideas.
Egg Collective Exhibition Features, Empowers Female Designers
Architects would do well to take note of how female designers, like the founders of Egg Collective, are organizing to promote each other’s work.
Raf Simons Champions "Feminine Fabrics" for New Kvadrat Collection
For the fourth iteration of fashion designer Raf Simons’s collaboration with Kvadrat, things have taken a decidedly whimsical turn.
Grupo Habita's New Hotels Embrace Chicago, Inside and Out
Grupo Habita’s second and third properties in the United States bring two unique personalities to Chicago’s Wicker Park and Bucktown neighborhoods.
Beachside Hotel Brings Design to a Sleepy Stretch of Paradise
Troncones, one of Mexico's best kept secrets, is a small beach town lacking the glitz and allure of the larger tourist traps. Businessman Rafael Skewes seeks to transform it into a modernist architectural masterpiece.
Arlo Crams All NYC Has to Offer Into Their Newest Micro-Hotel
When it comes to square footage, new micro-hotel brand Arlo favors quality over quantity.
Hospitality’s New Wave: Five American Studios to Watch
These five emerging studios are reshaping the hospitality industry in the United States.
A Tearoom in South Africa Takes on 2016's Trendiest Color
Dusty pink and copper tones create an air of calm at Yswara's outlet in Johannesburg.
Workstead Studio Puts a Southern Twist on Modernism
With many celebrated New York projects under its belt, the lighting, furniture, and interior design studio Workstead sets its sights on the South.
The ASID's New Offices Help Employees Stay Healthy
In its new headquarters, the American Society of Interior Designers tackles the next big challenge for workplace design—helping office-goers stay healthy.
Why Creatives Are Moving to Austin, NOLA, and Other Southern Cities
Supportive local initiatives and tight-knit creative communities are increasingly attracting young architects and designers to America's Southern cities.
Design Hotels' Latest: A Rustic, Chic Community Retreat in Ibiza
The newest Design Hotels project in Ibiza is an unlikely union of pastoral respite and ideas exchange.
A Flying Drone Hotel, and Other Visions for the (Near) Future of Hotel Design
At the 10th annual Radical Innovation Awards, two worthy finalists presented their visions for the hotel of the future—including an idea for a flying drone hotel.
Scribner’s Catskill Lodge Puts a Twist on Classic Ski Chalet
Designed by Studio Tack, Scribner's new boutique hotel in the Catskills is a thoughtful take on the classic ski lodge.
This Traditional New York Social Club Was Given The 8-Bit Treatment
"Squares" puts a clever twist on the idea of the traditional New York social club.
Didier Gomez Redefines Parisian Chic for Marriott's Renaissance République
For its latest boutique hotel, Marriott tapped famed interior designer Didier Gomez, who designed the hotel as "a vision of another Paris."
A Conversation with Buckminster Fuller's Daughter, Allegra Fuller Snyder
Metropolis editor Mikki Brammer sat down with Buckminster Fuller’s daughter to discuss what Bucky would think of the world today.
Phoenix's Camby Hotel Embraces Southwest, Avoids Clichés
One of Phoenix’s newest boutique hotels, the Camby embraces its southwestern roots without delving too far into cowboy territory.
Everlane Pulls Back Curtain on Business Model and New HQ
Digital fashion retailer Everlane pulls back the curtain, both on its business model and its new headquarters.
Perennial Champions Sustainability in Its Menu and Design
Two hip San Francisco restaurateurs turn their focus toward sustainable fine dining.
San Francisco Design Week Stays Local, Strengthens Networks
An annual design event in San Francisco seeks to strengthen the bonds and relationships within its thriving creative networks.
An Erstwhile Brewery, Hotel Emma Balances Grit and Glamour
In San Antonio’s newest historic district, a strikingly renovated hotel allows some grit in its glamour.
West Elm Local Bets on America's Makers, Letting Them Sell Goods in West Elms Nationwide
The furniture retailer is inviting local artisans to curate a collection of their own goods for sale in West Elm stores.
Copenhagen's "Patient Hotel" Seeks to Reduce the Stress of Hospital Stays
A new hotel concept in Copenhagen seeks to reduce the stress of hospital stays.
Flexing Their Muscles: Retailers Redesign Fitness Experience
Many established brands are finding that there are creative business opportunities at the intersection of fitness and retail.
The Apartment by The Line Takes up Residence in L.A.
The Apartment by The Line takes up residence in Los Angeles.
Jack Erwin Finds Redeeming Qualities in Midtown Manhattan
A New York City shoe brand is enhancing its customers’ walking experience in more ways than one.
Paris's Le Pigalle, A Grand Hotel With the Charm of a Friend's Place
A Paris hotel opens its doors to its neighborhood and the colorful creatives who work there.
Q&A: Lowline Founders Dan Barasch and James Ramsey
The duo discuss the merits of crowdfunding, the challenge of growing plants underground, and the importance of cool.
A Century After the Canal, Panama City Dives Into Design-Led Development
A century after it opened its namesake infrastructural marvel, Panama City is starting to broaden its cultural reach.
Crasset and Herkner Partner With Zimbabwean Basket Artisans
A unique collaboration saw designers Matali Crasset and Sebastian Herkner partner with Zimbabwean basket weavers.
Arne Jacobsen’s Series 7 Chair Gets Splash of Color
One of Arne Jacobsen’s most popular creations, the Series 7 chair from Fritz Hansen, gets a splash of color to mark its 60th anniversary.
Design Is Like Making Soup, Says Naoto Fukasawa
The celebrated Japanese designer muses on the similarities between design and soup making, the enduring relevance of "Super Normal", and the power of observation.
Q&A: Jan Gehl on Healthy Cities and the Real Meaning of Architecture
The architect-planner discusses the ideas, influences, and concepts that have informed his philosophy and practice.
