Coinciding with the re-opening of the National Portrait Gallery in London on 22 June, and forming part of their Portrait Mode program, this summer Sotheby’s will host a celebration of portraiture with a season of exhibitions and events, complementing the traditional marquee auctions of fine art.

“Less is more.” That was the edict of one of modern architecture’s patron saints, Ludwig Mies van der Rohe, and is still a guiding principle for many contemporary practitioners. Geometric shapes, a lack of ornamentation, open, efficient floor plans, and seamless indoor-outdoor living are hallmarks of modern masterpieces. But above all, materials—glass, steel, and concrete—shape the designs.

Bulgari recently opened a state-of-theart Shanghai hotel, a new addition in its stable of seven properties that have helped expand the high-end jewelry company’s footprint. But Bulgari isn’t the only luxury brand getting into the hospitality business. Baccarat, Armani, and Versace all have hotels with their names on them. And prepare yourself to see more: Bulgari reportedly has plans for another 15 additions—with future outposts in Moscow, Tokyo, and Paris—joining a list of locations that includes Dubai, Bali, and London in addition to the original Milan hotel.