Occupying a 19th century brewery site, the Pfefferberg project in Berlin is testament to Germany’s reputation for spearheading avant-garde concepts. The innovative venture, conceived in 1990, was sparked by the desire of local residents to converge in the same arena where social, cultural and commercial activities take place. Today, more than thirty years after the project broke ground, it’s one of the city's most fashionable spots.

Crunch the numbers of Sydney’s latest cloud-reaching tower proposal and you’d be forgiven for thinking you’ve read it all wrong. Planning documents submitted to City of Sydney council, which are being exhibited until February 2, illustrate the $35.6 million Pencil Tower Hotel at only six metres wide, 110 metres tall and with 33 levels of hotel rooms. 173 of them, to be exact. Each totalling around 13 square metres in size.

Set against the Mile City skyline in China’s Yunnan Province, the silhouettes cast by a grouping of red brick towers are equal parts distinctive, otherworldly and alluring. Created by artist Luo Xu, the cluster-like buildings are collectively named 50% Cloud for their resemblance to a half cloud floating in the sky. Bystanders also comment that their whimsical spires are reminiscent of colossal termite mounds, bursting from the red earth below. Hidden behind a section of the building’s brick armour, the 50% Cloud Artists Lounge was created by Hong Kong-based architecture studio Cheng Chung Design (CCD).

Longing for a slice of paradise? Resort operator Soneva has announced the launch of Soneva Jani Chapter Two in the Maldives. Ready and awaiting luxury-seeking guests when global travel resumes, Chapter Two expands upon Soneva Jani’s portfolio of spectacular water villas, and introduces a fine spread of world-class dining venues in breathtaking settings. The property’s 27 new over-water villas are accessed via a winding jetty off the southern tip of the resort’s main island, carefully positioned to maximise privacy and create a true sense of seclusion. Surrounded by sparkling seas, the villas offer uninterrupted views from sunrise to sunset.

Designed by local creative studio Roman and Williams in collaboration with the effervescent Atelier Ace, the 287-room Ace Hotel Brooklyn is set to form a new chapter in the hotel brand’s love affair with New York when it opens to guests from mid-2021. “We've been building toward Ace Brooklyn for years,” says Brad Wilson, president of Ace Hotel Group. “The entire city has reimagined itself several times over since we started. That's exactly the spirit we've worked to mirror in every corner of our new home – the inexhaustible ingenuity that stands as the borough's only constant.”

Melbourne-based developer Tim Gurner, the founder and director of eponymous property group Gurner, has recruited an all-star design team to compose the company’s first luxury hotel. Architect Ed Glenn of Powell and Glenn will spearhead the sustainability-focussed design, working in close collaboration with Jerry Wolveridge of Wolveridge Architects. Landscape architect Myles Baldwin is onboard to cultivate the property’s lavish tropical gardens while Tim’s wife, stylist and interior designer Aimee Gurner will guide the direction of the project’s sumptuous interiors. “It has been inspiring watching my wife Aimee, Ed Glenn, Jerry and Myles put together this incredible creation," says Tim. “Something I know people will fall in love with.”

Rig up the mirror ball, slip on your sequin-bedazzled bell bottoms and cue the best hits of the 1970s – interior designer Greg Natale has released disco-inspired glassware to partner up with a summer of boogie nights at home. “I love a Studio 54 design moment,” says Greg, who has channelled the late 70s vibe into the sexy silhouettes of his ‘Rubell’ highball and tumbler sets. “Named after one of the co-owners of the New York club, they will bring a little disco to your dining room.”

Regent Street in Sydney's Redfern corrals an effervescent mix of eclectic establishments. Boozy boltholes await discovery alongside offbeat knick-knack shops while towering new-builds bookend a Vietnamese bakery of somewhat cult status. The latest addition to the sizzling strip is Atomic Beer Project, an epic brewpub from the folk at Gage Roads Brewing Company. Hailing from across the Nullarbor, the makers of fine ales, lagers and ciders have set up shop in a red brick warehouse at number 158, marking the label’s first combined microbrewery and taproom on the east coast of Australia.

From well-dressed watering holes to exquisite fine-diners, Australia’s most beautiful establishments have been singled out by the 2020 Eat Drink Design Awards. Organised by Architecture Media, the illustrious program sets its sights on venues where aesthetics is as highly regarded as the bites and beverages they serve, presenting design-led awards across eight categories including Best Restaurant, Best Cafe and Best Bar.

The first restaurant in New York City for both chef Alain Verzeroli and interior designer Joseph Dirand, Le Jardinier attracts local New Yorkers alongside gourmet travellers from all corners of the globe, each with a penchant for sophisticated style and thoughtful cuisine. As we look forward to a world that returns to some sort of normality, Karine Monié bumps this designer destination to the top of our must-visit list in 2021 and beyond.