New York’s Open Restaurants offered a major lifeline for the city’s 25,000 restaurants and bars, most of which have faced closures or furloughed staff due to Covid-19. Mayor Bill de Blasio introduced the program, which allows restaurants to offer outdoor dining by setting up tables on sidewalks, streets, and other public spaces, back in June. Though the program was slated to expire on October 31, it proved wildly popular—locals praised newly reinvigorated street life while restaurateurs have been able to generate at least some revenue during a period otherwise marked by loss (though many still can’t pay rent).

Now, the program will become a permanent fixture of New York City life. “Open Restaurants was a big, bold experiment in supporting a vital industry and reimagining our public space—and it worked,” said de Blasio on the Brian Lehrer Show. “As we begin a long-term recovery, we’re proud to extend and expand this effort to keep New York City the most vibrant city in the world. It’s time for a new tradition.” The announcement shortly follows the citywide return of indoor dining at 25 percent capacity, which officially starts on September 30.

Though permanent alfresco dining is a major win for an embattled industry, many questions remain. Temperatures are falling; how restaurants will keep diners warm outdoors during snowy New York winters is unclear. Though popular elsewhere, the commercial use of propane heat lamps was illegal in New York until last week. They’re also hard to come by—local suppliers don’t carry them yet, and far-flung home improvement stores are in short supply. Fully enclosed spaces, which are optimal for heat, will need to be kept “more open” to allow enough airflow. Regardless, the new policy will ensure that thousands of restaurants survive the winter—and help New York’s streetscape maintain its newfound energy and vibrance.

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So why now? Much like the world at large, the design industry has been turned upside down over the past year. Design fairs, often the premier stage to launch new products and collections, face an uncertain future. COVID-19 has ushered in a new normal, forcing us to fully embrace remote experiences. Interest in home design is surging as people rethink their living arrangements and adjust to the remote work paradigm shift. The e-commerce revolution has entered an exciting new phase, but with it comes the perils of fast-consumerism. Design Dose will take a more thoughtful approach, one that reflects our core values at Surface: provide intel to our audience, delight the senses, and—above all else—champion great design.

Operating as both a strategic consultancy and industrial design studio, Jorge Diego Etienne’s Monterrey practice brings a global perspective to projects at every scale and scope. His latest feat, the Magna furniture collection for Quadro, balances the majesty of Mexico City’s historic buildings with a poetic language marked by gentle curves and refined materiality, embodying his longtime ethos of designing memorable experiences.

When: Until Nov. 14

Where: The FLAG Art Foundation, New York

What: Never restricting himself to one medium, the Ethiopian multi-hyphenate debuts a body of photo-based works, sculptures, drawings made from incense smoke and ash, and short films that provide a counter-narrative to the historically westernized discourse of African and African American culture. Throughout the show, which features expropriated and commodified Aethiopian artifacts, Erizku maps a constellation of ideas—a new paradigm that transcends accepted narratives, Eurocentric gatekeepers, and the monolithic treatment of Africa.

Ian Schrager is no stranger to West Hollywood—his 1996 Mondrian hotel opening was key in revitalizing the neighborhood, which had long since lost its rock ‘n’ roll edge from the late ‘60s. He once again delivers nearly a quarter-century later, this time in the form of the West Hollywood Edition, an urban resort with a high-wattage scene and sundry hospitality offerings that officially reopens October 1.

Architect John Pawson’s first stateside hotel is kissed with his signature minimalist touch. The lobby is dramatic yet calming, marrying oversized proportions with crisp neutral materials. Husky cedar doors open to the three-story, open-air space lined in white travertine slabs and adorned with Los Angeles artist Sterling Ruby’s sprawling ceiling mobile The Scale, an industrial contrast to the contemporary aesthetic.

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Lee Broom’s celestial lighting fixtures can be seen around the world in environments ranging from hospitality to retail. Before founding his studio, in 2007, Broom studied women’s fashion design at Central St. Martins and designed the interiors of London bars and clubs. His first furniture collection, a line of mahogany pieces enhanced with neon lights, helped launch his career as a creator of elegant, pared-down objects. More recent collaborations, including projects with Kanye West and Selfridges, speak to his ability to seamlessly move between mediums while keeping his signature aesthetic intact.

Surface Says: Prolific in not only the products and spaces he creates, but also the awards he garners for them, Lee Broom is bound to be a future classic.

This evocative new photo series juxtaposes affluent homes with the unsheltered.

TeamLab will open a permanent installation inside a Shanghai nightclub.

Ilse Crawford refreshes Aino and Alvar Aalto’s Savoy restaurant in Helsinki.

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