Need To Know
02 : 06 : 21

Venice – Algae could play a vital role in the future of urban architecture, according to the latest exhibition from design practice EcoLogicStudio.

On show at the Venice Architecture Biennale, the studio’s Bit.Bio.Bot exhibition invites visitors to grow their own algae and consider future use cases for the biomaterial in urban design. Having worked with the resource for the past decade, EcoLogicStudio is further experimenting with the architectural applications of algae – presenting the idea of ‘living cladding’ that allows walls to become air purifiers, and vertical gardens for algae farming.

‘Bit.Bio.Bot contributes to questioning and redesigning… which led us to the current health crisis,’ explains Claudia Pasquero, co-founder of EcoLogicStudio. ‘If we, collectively, daily and locally, will contribute to transforming air pollutants and water contaminants into highly nutritious aliments, there will be fewer opportunities for unbalanced viral ecologies [to] cause us harm.’

By highlighting the multiple use cases of algae in architectural design, this exhibition points to an urban future imbued Air-purifying Algae.

US – The streaming platform is collaborating with luxury label Halston on a capsule collection as a form of cross-promotion for both brands.

Created in line with the release of Netflix’s new biopic of the designer, the 10-piece collection will include gowns inspired by archival Halston designs featured in the series. The garments are the result of a partnership between Robert Rodriguez, chief creative officer at Halston, and Jeriana San Juan, the Netflix series' costume designer, with both creatives recognising the opportunity to ‘…bring back iconic gowns that Halston himself created, but re-interpret them to make them more modern.’

Through this collaboration, Rodriguez hopes to connect the brand with new and younger audiences. He says: ‘Netflix has such enormous reach that the show is going to introduce a younger generation to the brand that did not know Halston. It will bring the Halston name back.’

To discover more about the ways in which luxury brands are experimenting with media partnerships, delve into Luxtainment.

According to research by YouGov, drivers in the UAE show the highest demand for new vehicles when compared with Australia, Germany, Britain and the US.

Two in five drivers based in the UAE plan to buy a new car in the next 12 months, while in Britain and Germany, fewer than one in 10 people are looking for a new vehicle.

Interestingly, almost a quarter (23%) of UAE drivers would like to buy a second-hand car in the next 12 months. This percentage is similarly high in Australia, where 19% are seeking second-hand vehicles, but just 8% of Britons and 7% of Germans report the same mindset.

While the UAE is less commonly associated with pre-owned products than other regions, the automotive sector has the potential to drive new behaviours in second-hand purchasing. With this in mind, brands have an opportunity to court these new car-buyers with engaging automotive retail concepts.