Amazon’s NFTMe series charts the rise of NFT culture and other news – SURFACE

by James · December 23, 2022

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Table of Contents

A new six-part Amazon series called NFTMe explores how NFTs rose to prominence.

“The ability to authenticate almost anything digitally, and the ability to make money in ways no one could imagine before. These are some of the ways that Amazon’s new documentary series NFTMe introducing non-fungible tokens (NFT). The show features artists, collectors and industry professionals worldwide who share their experiences with NFTs and how the merging of art and technology has positively impacted their daily lives. In six 30-minute episodes, NFTMe introduces 50 pioneers in the NFT space from four continents, including American singer Susaye Greene of The Supremes; Queen Diambi Kabatusuila of the Democratic Republic of the Congo; Refik Anadol, a digital artist for SpaceX and NASA; Peter Rafelson, a music producer for Madonna; and Cheryl Douglas of Portion, who launched NFT collections for the Black-Eyed Peas.” [H/T CoinTelegraph]

The beautiful town house in New York that inspired Fantastic city is demolished.

“On a Monday in late November, conservationists, politicians and neighbors gathered on Manhattan’s tiny Gay Street to protest the demolition of an almost 200-year-old house. The site in question, 14 Gay Street, is one of six grand but precarious early 19th-century buildings on Gay and Christopher streets that were owned for decades by Celeste Martin, who died in late 2018. So the city took over her properties and sold 14 Gay Street and the siblings for about $9 million to a buyer who last April sold them to Lionel Nazarian, a 37-year-old developer, for about $12 million. Since then, Mr. Nazarian has done ground work that has destabilized 14 Gay Street and endangered its neighbors, so the city has ordered demolition, a slow, painstaking process that began just before Thanksgiving.” [H/T The New York Times]

The tallest log building in Denver is scheduled to break ground next year.

Denver architectural firm Tres Birds announced that the city’s tallest timber building will break ground in July 2023. The 12-story building, dubbed “Return to Form,” will be located in the River North Arts District. Its structural system uses mass timber, a new technology that uses trees from sustainably managed forests. Through continuous planting and responsible harvesting, these forests are becoming a source of renewable, low-impact building materials. The mass timber structure consists of wood panels that are glued and laminated together. This provides strength, stability and fire resistance.” [H/T ArchDaily]

Snøhetta is completing a clubhouse in a farm-oriented neighborhood in Hong Kong.

“Snøhetta is nearing completion on a trio of clubhouse designs set in the densely populated center of Hong Kong’s residential development Pavilia Farm in Tai Wai. As a space for social interaction and shared experiences, the project serves residents of Pavilia with an important piece of shared infrastructure, while providing urban farming opportunities and a contemplative connection to nature in a hyperurban environment. [H/T Archinect]

Aurelien Chen transforms a former Chinese miner’s canteen into a cultural center.

“Aurelien Chen has transformed a former miner’s canteen in Handan into a multi-purpose cultural center with interventions that respond to the building’s communist heritage. The canteen was built in the 1970s to serve workers at the Jinxing coal mine in Hebei Province, China. It is surrounded by office buildings dating back to 1912, built by German architects and having a distinctly western aesthetic. The government engaged the China State Construction Engineering Corporation to oversee the site’s sustainable renovation, with Chen asked to lead the design team. One of the most significant interventions is a flower-shaped, multi-purpose furniture element in the center of the main hall.” [H/T Dezeen]

Zaha Hadid Architects designs 27 tents to support refugees across the Middle East.

“Zaha Hadid Architects (ZHA) has designed 27 tents to serve and support refugee and displaced communities in Syria, Turkey and Yemen. A joint venture partnership between the Education Above All (EAA) Foundation and ZHA, the newly donated tents will serve such as schools, clinics and shelters.The weatherproof, modular structures are designed to be easily moved and reassembled, and contain components that can also be recycled or recycled for sustainability. [H/T Designboom]