Author: AU News Bureau

Richard Tubb, owner of signature interior design studio, Richard Tubb Studios situated at Birmingham’s Pepper Place recently announced that he will close at the end of the year. Tubb, 80, said he plans to “travel and do other things” after more than 50 years in design. “It’s just time,” he said. Tubb started his business at Cobb Lane Flowers and Design, with his business partner Bill Whisenant. Tubb came from two generations in Birmingham’s furniture business, but he studied design under the late Clarence Brooks. I’ve had so many fine clients,” he said. “I think I’m a pretty good designer,…

Japanese architect and humanitarian Shigeru Ban has been named the 35th Laureate of the Praemium Imperiale Award for Architecture. Established in 1988 by the Japan Art Association, the annual award seeks to recognize exceptional achievements in Painting, Sculpture, Architecture, Music, and Theatre/Film. Shigeru Ban’s contributions to architecture have been significant, not only for the distinctive design aesthetics but also for the innovative use of materials, particularly in the context of emergency interventions and humanitarian work. Born in Tokyo in 1957, Shigeru Ban’s early interests were not in architecture, but in carpentry, due to his childhood belief that carpenters were responsible…

Toilet solutions and water management manufacturer Fluidmaster has announced its partnership with Virtual Worlds, a VR( Virtual Reality) bathroom design experience provider. The collaboration will offer the opportunity for designers and consumers to experience the brand’s popular toilet mounting systems and water management products. As part of an immersive bathroom experience, retailers can visualise how hidden WC mounting products help to facilitate a contemporary bathroom design. Fluidmaster focuses on the innovation and provision of high-quality toilet and water management solutions. The brand’s portfolio includes leading products for toilet specification, installation, repair, maintenance, and water management including a full range of…

Media Partner STIR shared an exclusive preview of the top design participants at this year’s inaugural trade event in India, highlighting furniture, lighting, art and accessories. Positioning itself as “the first contemporary design show in India with an international perspective,” and set to unfold at the Jio World Garden from November 6 – 9, 2024, Design Mumbai promises to be a juried celebration bringing together the finest stakeholders in the global and Indian design scene. As a media partner, STIR is poised to offer an exclusive preview of the distinguished design brands, designers and manufacturers that will add lustre to…

The Boston Society for Architecture (BSA) recently announced that they will host the Designing Just Futures Summit: Collaborative Practices for Spatial Justice in Boston from September 19-20, 2024. The summit will explore and promote equitable design practices and spatial justice. It will be structured around four key themes, contextualized within Greater Boston: legacies, infrastructures, ecologies and practice. “By bringing together thought-leaders, professionals, and community advocates, we hope to foster meaningful dialogue, share innovative solutions, and inspire systemic change in the design of our built environments throughout Greater Boston,” said Rebecca Berry, Chair of the BSA Foundation. “We look forward to…

WZMH Architects recently launched Giraffe, an independently owned software company for the architectural-engineering-construction sectors. Giraffe operates as a separate entity with its own state-of-the-art software suite with an aim to enhance efficiency, sustainability, and collaboration in building design and construction. It integrates practical architectural and construction knowledge with advanced AI and digital twin technology. WZMH Architects, which was founded in 1961, has established a legacy of landmark design. In 2017, the firm expanded its focus on technology by establishing sparkbird, a research and development lab for driving innovation in IoT (Internet of Things), design efficiency, modularity, and sustainability. “At WZMH…

The Goods and Services Tax (GST) Council at its 54th meeting in New Delhi recently decided to bring renting of commercial property by an unregistered person to a registered person under Reverse Charge Mechanism (RCM), in order to prevent revenue leakage. Under the RCM, the liability to pay GST will now shift from the supplier, that is the landlord, to the recipient or the tenant of the commercial rental services. “Renting of commercial properties brought under reverse charge mechanism,” said revenue secretary Sanjay Malhotra. The 54th meeting of the Goods and Services Tax Council chaired by finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman…

The International Union of Architects (UIA) has announced the theme for World Architecture Day 2024, which will be observed on the first Monday of October, coinciding with the United Nations’ World Habitat Day. World Architecture Day, celebrated in conjunction with World Habitat Day, focuses on the global efforts in urban development coordinated by the architectural community. The 2024 theme, “Empowering the Next Generation in Participatory Urban Design,” underscores the vital role young architects play in shaping urban planning and development. The UIA encourages emerging architects to engage in participatory design processes, bringing fresh perspectives essential for sustainable urban growth. This…