Design titans honored at the annual Sir John Soane Gala
On October 22, a starry crowd including Tory Burch, Lord and Lady Sassoon, and other members of the glitterati flocked to the University Club of New York to attend the Honors Awards for the Sir John Soane’s Museum Foundation. The annual gala is held in celebration of both the museum and legacy of 19th-century English architect John Soane, who designed iconic British landmarks like the Bank of England. This year’s esteemed honorees were renowned architect Jeanne Gang of the AD100 Studio Gang and the celebrated design journalist Hamish Bowles. Throughout dinner and dancing, the two were recognized for their visionary eye and contributions to the field.
AD PRO Hears…
…New York designer Robert Stilin has launched an online shop. Mirroring the AD100 talent’s interiors—like his Red Hook abode—the collection of furniture, lighting, artwork, and accessories exudes elegance and warmth. Look out for beauties like a glazed ceramic table lamp that takes the form of an ancient amphora and vintage finds such as Pierre Chapo’s modular T22 table.
…Vaughan, the British maker of furniture, decorative lighting, and accessories has tapped Nicholas Hodson-Taylor as creative director. Most recently design director for Guy Goodfellow, Hodson-Taylor previously worked at David Collins Studio and Nicky Haslam’s NH Design, so he’s bound to draw from his portfolio of swank interiors.
…The Créateurs Design Awards has named AD100 Hall of Famer Norman Foster as the recipient of the 2025 Andrée Putman Lifetime Achievement Award. Foster, who founded the London-based architecture and design firm Foster + Partners in 1967, has been at the forefront of sustainable and urban design. This ethos has been magnified in projects like the revamped Reichstag in Berlin, London’s pedestrian-only Millennium Bridge, and Calgary skyscraper The Bow.
… The Institute of Classical Architecture & Art has announced the winners of the 2024 McKim, Mead & White Awards for Excellence in Classical and New Traditional Design. Recipients included AD100 honorees Robert A.M. Stern and Ferguson & Shamamian, as well as Directory members Hendricks Churchill and Janice Parker.
Openings
British design goes beyond clothes at Burberry’s NYC showroom
On October 5, the Burberry flagship reopened its doors on 9 East 57th Street, which is its oldest location in America. To celebrate, creative director Daniel Lee invited esteemed guests including Cher and Tyra Banks for an evening soirée on the Upper East Side. Post-renovation, the three-story flagship is an ode to British design: Limestone flooring evokes historic English institutions, as does the wrought-iron balustrade on the spiral staircase, which, on the first floor, is crowned by horsehead-shaped finials. Replicas of Burberry’s gabardine and war-era trenches are on view in a circle of mannequins, which perch on an organic camouflage rug designed by British contemporary artist and frequent Burberry collaborator Tom Atton Moore. Guests can learn more about other historical styles from the brand via accompanying plaques displaying educational QR codes.