Five Things We Love: OCTOBER 2026

1. Spiritland × Barbican

Why we love it:
The art of being present.

Constant notifications and digital distractions, there's something wonderfully refreshing about a space that simply asks us to listen. Spiritland's new home at London's Barbican celebrates music as an experience in its own right, with exceptional sound, carefully curated records and hospitality designed around the moment. It's a reminder that the most meaningful experiences don't always need more stimulation. Sometimes, they just need our undivided attention.

2. IKEA - Instructions for Surviving New York

Why we love it:
Life doesn't come with instructions. Until now.

iKEA has taken one of its most familiar brand assets, the humble assembly manual, and turned it into a brilliantly playful guide to surviving New York. From tiny apartments to everyday city frustrations, oversized instructions transform the construction hoarding of its new SoHo store into an entertaining piece of street-level storytelling. What makes it so clever is the simplicity. No complicated messaging, just a recognisable brand language applied in an unexpected way. It's witty, culturally relevant and proof that the best advertising ideas are often hiding in plain sight.

3. Design Museum Gent

Why we love it:
What if buildings could give something back?

The newly reopened Design Museum Gent challenges the idea that sustainable architecture is simply about doing less harm. Its ambitious transformation brings together historic restoration, innovative materials and a new extension that explores how the built environment can become part of the solution. From experimental building components to inventive uses of waste, the project shows how environmental responsibility can inspire creativity rather than restrict it. It's an exciting glimpse of a future where good design isn't just measured by how a building looks or performs, but by the positive impact it leaves behind.

4. Otherwander - Soho, London

Why we love it:
Less space. More experience.

Who says great hospitality needs a generously sized room? Otherwander challenges conventional hotel thinking by transforming compact sleeping pods into a desirable, design-led proposition. With expressive interiors, thoughtfully designed communal spaces and a seamless digital guest journey, the experience prioritises what a new generation of travellers actually values: location, affordability, privacy and connection. What we love is the confidence to question the traditional hotel model. It's a reminder that innovation doesn't always mean adding more. Sometimes it's about understanding what matters most and designing everything else around it.

5. Gregor Becker - The Art of the Human Hand

Why we love it:
The irreplaceable human hand.

In an age when artificial intelligence can create an image in seconds, Gregor Becker's work reminds us of the extraordinary value of human creation. His intricate artworks are built from thousands of individually hand-painted paper fragments, carefully assembled into mesmerising compositions that can take months to complete. Every piece carries the patience, instinct and physical intelligence of its maker. There's something profoundly beautiful about that commitment to craft. It reminds us that creativity isn't simply about the finished image. It's about the human imagination, emotion and time invested in bringing it to life. Some things are worth waiting for.