I have come to the realization that I don't get nearly enough emails throughout the day (sarcasm), and so I've just subscribed to Overview's daily post.

Overview is a company that uses satellite and aerial imagery to show how humans and natural forces are shaping the earth. In addition to a daily post, their work includes stories, books, prints, and various other projects and collaborations. It's pretty cool stuff.

One example of a partnership is this one here with ArchDaily, where they look at urban block patterns around the world. Everywhere from Barcelona to Belo Horizonte. I think many of you will enjoy flipping through these aerials.

And if you're interested in this topic (you know, urban morphology), you may also enjoy this book by Ildefons Cerdà called, The General Theory of Urbanization 1867. Cerdà, and his work, were instrumental in shaping Barcelona at a time when the word "urbanization" didn't even really exist.

Photo by Kaspars Upmanis on Unsplash

Surface Magazine just republished this 2016 interview with Arne Sorenson. Sorenson was CEO of Marriott, but sadly passed away this week after a battle with pancreatic cancer.

One of the questions he was asked in the interview was about the rise of Airbnb. This is how he responded:

"It’s fascinating. I hope we’re not as exposed to this as the taxi industry is right now.  Taxis in many cities are awful and hard to find. So here comes Uber with a better product. In the hotel business, I still think we can deliver better service, so we don’t have quite the same risk. Airbnb is fascinating. Increasingly, it’s less personal, and there are more dedicated units. The more they get into that space, they become a competitor. The story isn’t over, but we’re set up to compete well."

Taxis were awful and that business model is done for good. But how do Sorenson's comments about Airbnb hold up today?

Marriott ended up launching its own home sharing platform in 2019, but it's comparatively small as I understand it. There are also no shortage of bull cases for Airbnb (and just look at its market cap).

But there are also headwinds. Barcelona, for example, is looking to permanently ban people from renting out private rooms on a short-term basis (< 30 days). This is even if the rest of the home remains owner occupied.

So what use cases remain? Only extended stays?

If I look at my own pre-pandemic travel record, I am largely in the hotel camp. I like the consistency and I like certain brands. But maybe that's just me getting older. What do you all think? Leave a comment below.

Side Gallery opened up a new 700 square meter exhibition space in Barcelona last month that is worth showcasing. It's a beautiful space. Designed by Spanish architect Guillermo Santomà, the space sits within an old 19th century factory that used to house an Italian pasta company. It's minimal and stark white, but the architecture of the former factory still comes through. There's also a prominent greenhouse featuring flora that is local to South America. Fitting given that the gallery focuses on Latin American design. Have a look.

I also love these images from the architect, which (I think) use light to completely transform the space.

All photos via Side Gallery and Guillermo Santomà