Soho House Throws Open the Doors to Casa CDMX, and Other News – SURFACE

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Soho House Throws Open the Doors to Casa CDMX

Mexico City’s status as a vibrant hub for art, restaurants, and culture is no secret, making Soho House’s newest property in the city’s Colonia Juárez neighborhood one of its most anticipated additions yet. The members’ club transformed a sprawling private estate into an elegant clubhouse complete with a library, music room, courtyards, a 20-yard pool, and multiple bars. In-house designers preserved the estate’s original finishes and intermingled Soho Home furnishings with vintage pieces and contemporary art by the likes of Claudia Peña Salinas, Clotilde Jimenez, and Dexter Dalwood. Across the property’s cafés, restaurants, and bars, patrons can expect top-notch menus courtesy of Chef Christopher Kostow, who has a James Beard award and three Michelin stars to his name. There’s one catch: for now, non-locals will have to jockey for keys to the property’s four guest bedrooms—though the company hints at more to come. —Jenna Adrian-Diaz

WilkinsonEyre has unveiled plans to convert London’s Kingsway Exchange Tunnels into an experience center, revealing its history as a WWII shelter and Cold War communications hub. Located 131 feet below High Holborn street, the tunnels will be restored and equipped with digital screens, interactive sculptures, and scent-emitting technology. The 86,000-square-foot space, which inspired Ian Fleming’s James Bond novels, will also host events in science, art, and entertainment. The main entrance will be on Furnival Street, with an exit on High Holborn. Subject to planning approval, the project is set to open in 2027.

Claude Cormier, a pioneering Canadian landscape architect, has died at 63. He was known for his audacious and playful public spaces that often stirred initial skepticism but eventually became city landmarks. In Montreal, he defined the convention with his Lipstick Forest, a collection of 52 concrete tree trunks lacquered in bright pink, and in Toronto, he designed whimsical fountains adorned with life-size bronze dogs and cats. His work extended to urban beaches like HTO and Sugar Beach in Toronto, inspired by art and local industry, featuring yellow and pink umbrellas respectively. Cormier, who passed away at 63 due to complications from a rare genetic condition, leaves a lasting impact on Canadian cities, transforming public spaces into areas of delight and engagement.

Construction on Japan’s soon-to-be tallest skyscraper, the Torch Tower, is underway, with completion targeted for March 2028. The 1,280-foot tower is a key element in the major redevelopment of Tokyo’s historic Tokiwabashi district, a project led by Mitsubishi Estate and designers featuring Mitsubishi Jisho Sekkei and Sou Fujimoto. The multi-use tower will house a luxury hotel managed by the Dorchester Collection, a 2,000-capacity entertainment hall, office spaces, and a rooftop observation deck. The entertainment and retail sections will occupy a base plinth that extends from one below-ground floor to a sixth above-ground floor. The tower aims to serve as a symbolic “torch” that represents Japan’s light to the world.

The Art+Design Salon fair in New York is expanding its offerings by introducing a dedicated jewelry section in its upcoming 12th edition, scheduled for Nov. 9–13 at the Park Avenue Armory. This marks a departure from previous years, where the fair had only sporadically featured jewelry brands. The new section aims to showcase a range of unique and vintage pieces, including works from early 20th-century independent jewelers as well as heritage labels like Cartier and Van Cleef & Arpels. Executive director Jill Bokor believes the inclusion of well-designed jewelry complements the fair’s existing focus on furniture, ceramics, and lighting, and will serve as a “refresh” that broadens the event’s overall appeal.

New York City’s recent law targeting short-term rentals has led to a drastic 80 percent reduction in Airbnb listings, dropping from 22,434 in August to just 3,227 by October. Only 417 of these have been officially registered with the city. This has given rise to a “black market” for rentals on less regulated platforms like Facebook and Craigslist, according to Lisa Grossman of Restore Homeowner Autonomy and Rights (RHOAR). The law has also impacted small landlords who feel unfairly targeted and are lobbying for changes to the legislation. Data from AirDNA shows that 94 percent of Airbnb’s current listings in the city are now advertised as long-term rentals. Despite the regulations, many listings on Airbnb still appear to skirt the rules, either by claiming exemptions or by not providing any registration information. The shift in policy has led Airbnb to pivot away from New York City, focusing instead on other markets and services like long-term rentals and car rentals.

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