In 2025, the Palace of Westminster—the storied 11th-century structure along the Thames that houses the British Parliament—is slated to begin extensive renovations and fireproofing. During the years-long revamp, the House of Commons will need to temporarily relocate. Enter Norman Foster, the prolific founder of Foster + Partners, which has proposed a monumental glass-clad structure that features distinct nods to the erstwhile Crystal Palace, where London hosted the Great Exhibition in the mid-1800s.

Foster + Partners envisions a soaring glass-domed pop-up structure that would rise at the Horse Guards Parade, a sprawling public square nearby, and eventually be deconstructed and rebuilt elsewhere. Sheathed in bullet- and bomb-proof glass, the building could be fully assembled and made operational within two and a half years. When complete, it will contain committee rooms, 650 offices, a dining facility, public areas, and a roof garden.

Foster first pitched the $390 million concept in 2017, but the plan was shelved due to security concerns. If approved this time around, members of parliament may start moving in as early as 2023. “Everyone regards the relocation of parliament as a huge problem, but it also presents an incredible opportunity,” says Foster. “Rather than a costly embarrassment, there’s potential here to create a uniquely great British solution.” Though he admits to not seeing downsides to his proposal, some have compared it to a giant jelly mold.

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When: Aug. 29–30

Where: Hudson Valley, New York

What: For those seeking a creative fix this weekend, look no further than the Hudson Valley. More than 20 creative spaces within the region, including Dia Beacon, Magazzino Italian Art, and Storm King Art Center, are collaborating to present Upstate Art Weekend, a curated road map for a self-guided art tour. Organized by Helen Toomer of Stoneleaf Retreat, the event showcases works by artists who have, and will, participate in Stoneleaf’s residency program. One highlight includes an installation by Johanna Goodman, pictured above, presented by the Female Design Council. “Community, collaboration, art, and the outdoors are essential to our well-being,” says Toomer. “Upstate Art Weekend is a combination of all of these.”

In George Byrne’s forthcoming monograph, Post Truth (Hamilton Press), the Australian artist documents the past five years of his life in L.A. with a series of captivating, if not melancholy, abstract street scenes depicting the lonely corners of the sprawling metropolis. From a desolate gas station on Route 66 and French artist Vincent Lamouroux’s white spray-painted palm tree in Silver Lake to the mint–hued Grand Motel on La Cienega Boulevard, Byrne applies his signature eye to L.A. by finding beauty in the mundane.

Ian Volner, a Surface contributor, captures the essence of the retrospective, out this October, in his opening essay: “What Byrne manages to induce is an eerily familiar mental state, an encounter with the city bound to send a chill down the spine of anyone who has spent a lonely afternoon in Las Palmas, or the eastern reaches of Chinatown, or drifting up North Gower at five o’clock, under the spreading darkness of the hills.” Last year, on the occasion of his solo exhibition at Olsen Gruin, Byrne spoke to us about his creative approach.

Thomas Burberry’s monogram has been at the forefront of the brand’s design aesthetic since creative director Riccardo Tisci took the reins in 2018. For its latest campaign, Burberry tapped Nathaniel Alapide, a multidisciplinary, self-taught artist from Dubai, to etch the historic logo into the endless Al Faqa desert landscape, located within the eastern region of Abu Dhabi. Accompanying the large-scale, sand-art installation was an array of hot air balloons, which flew across the skies of Wuhai in inner Mongolia, and sailboats cruising along the Shenzhen Harbour in China, sporting the heritage monogram print. Perhaps it forecasts where Tisci plans to take the brand next: uncharted territory. ⁠⠀

Tom Dixon designs, develops, and sells eye-catching objects and spaces for everyday use. The latest chapter of his design journey began in 2002, when he left corporate life to create his own eponymous brand as a platform for new adventures in the design of products and interiors. Nearly two decades later, Tom Dixon is a celebrated global design force with hubs in New York, Hong Kong, London, and Tokyo.

Surface Says: Tom Dixon’s housewares, often adorned with metallic finishes, have become a mainstay in the homes of stylish design enthusiasts worldwide. With a product line ranging from candles to tables to pendant lamps, there are near-infinite ways to incorporate the brand’s prized aesthetic into your favorite spaces.

The late painter Bob Ross receives his own happy little edition of Monopoly.

Ikea’s ingenious new Lego storage system also doubles as a play structure.

Ronald Rael captures hypnotic views of irrigation systems from above.

Google’s new AR may bring prehistoric creatures inside your home.