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Showing posts from October, 2010

Designed as a direct descendent of French architect Jean Nouvel’s Parisian landmark Arab World Institute building, his new 23-storey residential tower overlooking the Hudson River is nearing completion. Previously known as 100 11th, the tower has now been named Nouvel Chelsea in admiration of the architect’s prestige but the architect himself has called it his ‘vision machine’. Nouvel’s own input in the luxury condominium block has been felt to the very last detail, from bathroom fixtures to the clever light enhancing technique of adding an extra layer of nearly imperceptible transparent gloss under the windows to boost incoming sunlight. Almost 1700 individually sized colourless glass panes are set at unique angles and torques to create a glimmering pixilated façade and frame some of the most spectacular views in the city, making each of the 72 residences distinctive from the next. Some windows reach as much as16 ft tall or 37 ft across.

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Connecting the upper 4 floors of the Sperone Westwater gallery on Manhattan’s Bowery is a beguiling, bright red 12 by 20 foot moving room, part gallery – part elevator. The centrepiece of Foster + Partners‘ elegant micro-skyscraper, elegantly wedged between the existing buildings of this busy street, is completely visible from the exterior – offering an utterly unique façade, its leisurely speed offering stark contrast to the traffic below. The gallery itself is light, airy and belying its compact proportions, especially in the imposing street-level double height, 27-foot high space. Opening with an exhibition of paintings by Argentinean artist, Guillermo Kuitca – that runs until 6th November – this new space looks set to heighten the Bowery’s credentials as Manhattan’s next art hotspot, whilst becoming an architectural icon all of its own…

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ARTIST.....?

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There has been a lot of speculation and rumor about just who is buying into   egolicious   artist Julian Schnabel's   pinky   red behemoth in the West Village, a controversial and ornate building that Your Mama happens to love not for it's missing beauty marks, but simply because it flips the proverbial bird at all the lovely but ubiquitous glass towers that have and continue to sprout all up and down the far West Side of Manhattan. What a nice change of pace to get something loaded with pizazz and personality versus one of these banal   Costas   Kondylis monstrosities or yet another gorgeous, sleek and minimalist glass things by Richard Meier or   Winka   Dubbeldam .
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When you look at pills, they look so perfect, so pure. It’s hard to believe that each one comes with a list of side effects as long as your arm. --Damien Hirst

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Apart from the horn hair pieces that looked like spatulas sticking out from the models’ tiny heads, this was the most real-world collection we’ve seen in a while from Rick Owens. Working with a fine cotton (that looked like silk taffeta), Owens dropped his skirt hems flat to the ground where they swept the floor in sophisticated dignity. Tops, sliced from the American designer’s signature paper-thin leathers, had arches cut into their hems and were positioned as if part of a big sartorial puzzle. This architectural layering, in which each piece seemed to fit in the cracks of the next, continued even with the shorter length skirts, as well as the sleeveless stiff coats that gave off the regal drama of a space invader ice queen. Let’s welcome the new romantic Rick.

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Holy Moly. Karl Lagerfeld went positively spotty at Chanel this morning, burning what looked like giant cigarette holes into the House's precious tweed jackets and poking small dots into washed black denim jeans. That started a graphic game of black, blue and white, as the black or navy pierced garments allowed stiff white cotton shirts or dresses to gleam through the darkness. Though the tattered tweeds and jeans, not to mention platforms that looked like boat-barges, gave the proceedings a youthful flair, there were still plenty of pieces for Chanel's established ladies of all seasons. Take for example the mid calf cocktail dresses fashioned out of stiff black crinoline or the black sheer dresses, which sprouted dramatically long, feathered collars and shoulders. And as for the tweed hot pants paired with cropped metallic trimmed jackets? Well let's just say that they'd suit any woman with a killer set of bronzed legs.

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Just before the start of Jean Paul Gaultier's swan song at Hermès, the curtains of the Halle Freyssinet were pulled back to reveal a paddock where eight gleaming stallions were trotting and sidestepping underneath a ceiling of crystal chandeliers. It was a perfectly pitched backdrop to a collection that was as effortlessly elegant as it was true to the haute and horsey legacy of the French brand. The models wore increasingly sophisticated variations on riding outfits, including skin-tight riding pants, billowing silk shirts and belted jackets in leather or silk chiffon. The pants were tucked in to either flat or high-heeled riding boots – an Hermès staple – when not paired with open toed booties. Each look, including long jersey dresses with chiffon capes, was rendered in a muted earth tone and was the essence of pared-down sophistication. Riding crops and flat Spanish matador hats, meanwhile, gave the collection a subtle frisson of sex.

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There is so much to love at a Lanvin show that we are forced with the unwelcome problem of how to discuss all of the magic in these brief few lines. We will confine our enthusiasm to the beginning and the end, which is really where designer Alber Elbaz made the most buzz this season. The first looks took themes of sport and couture to dizzying new heights. Elbaz used a compact, sporty material for racer backed tank tops with leather harness detail that were affixed to goddess silk skirts that flowed behind the models as if powered by an air machine. Our second skin tingling moment was his African power queen posse: 5 striking black girls stalking the runway in leaf printed silk outfits

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Sophisticated 5 bedroom full-floor residence in Bond Street’s most discreet and exclusive new building. 7300+/- SF of living space highlighted by the 90'+/- Living Room with hand-finished Venetian bronze sliding window wall and wood-burning fireplaces at both ends. All of the bedrooms have Southern exposure and en suite baths. The Master Bedroom Suite boasts a huge walk-in closet, dressing room, soaking tub, steam shower, wood-burning fireplace, balcony and private office. Large corner bedroom contains the 4th fireplace, balcony and could be used as a library. Gorgeous hardwood floors throughout. For the Art lover there is ample wall space for even the largest pieces in your collection. The pristine Balthaup designed performance kitchen, with 2 of everything, is perfect for entertaining. The beautiful bronze elevators provide direct access to the apartment and also to the basement garage; includes 2 parking spaces. NoHo’s finest boutique Condominium

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TOM FORD

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D.V.

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Courage, Gallantry, Beauty, Honor: the standards of the eighteenth century always remained in view- through war, revolution, evolution, intrigue, and dishonesty- with etiquette and order the people's companion and guide. Everything was a form of exultation and triumph... Trumpets, bugles, fanfares, and banners... Splendid architecture... Escutcheons and trophies on palace walls and on rooftops... Graceful interiors filled with objects designed to be as useful and as beautiful as the craftsman could make them... Spreading gardens scented with the fresh smells of nature before petrol and pollution... Fountains like huge jets of crystal... Barges floating down canals beneath the stars, with musicians serenading pretty women... The language of the streets, the language of scholars. Everything was emerging and growing- the whisper and murmur of change were everywhere. Villages were becoming towns, towns were becoming cities, cities were dominating nations.  The eighteenth-century woman ...
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. Aveleda´s House is a villa designed to accommodate the light as a source of inner experience of housing. The basic idea of the project, parts from the concept of being located near by the old Roman city of “Bracara Augustae”, where the ancient Roman houses, the Domus, were built around an internal square. Hence all the subtlety of the house is achieved with a careful distribution. In other hand, it was searchable to provide all 6 senses of life. “We tried to take the most of the land to create a connection with the interior of the building, leaving a view of the valley and the square that exists between the two bodies housing”, highlights Manuel Ribeiro, architect and author of the project responsible for its implementation. The main body which houses the social functions of the house is situated at the same elevation of the square, assuming the sloping ground with the Hall higher, comparatively to the social part and creating a view of all from this; the social area involves open spaces, living and dining room without doors to the kitchen, and bathroom service is disguised within. Down below the architect created a space for a gym and an office, supplied by the natural slope of the terrain. The private area with 4 bedrooms (1 suite and 3 rooms) and a large bathroom facility support is at the elevation of the entrance hall, raised highly in comparison of the external square, without losing the visual field. The suite room is also a closet, and a large bathroom, where there is a division between the uses (bath, sanitary and sinks). On the square that is outside, we can find the pool that reminds us the Roman “compluvium” of a “Domus”, centered on between two areas of housing. Uniting all construction towards the valley and enhanced with the Sun´s circuit along with the glass façade. The engine room, the locker room and a support kitchen area in a under elevation of the square, as a support for the outdoor activities. “The plasticity of the object HOUSE (purpose built) will always be overridden by the phenomenological aspect, giving identity and character to the building and so, it’s able now to provide a center of life, functional and familiar at the same time that explores the pleasure of landscapes, spacious zones and materials. This will not be only a “home”, but always a Domus. All the project intends to explore the human being as well as it senses: touch, sight, smell, hearing, taste and passion. These are aspects that never been neglected. On the contrary, they are always present”, he conclud

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Located only 90 minutes from New York City, Southampton is easily accessible by luxury bus liner, the Long Island Railroad and Expressway and Connecticut ferries. Southampton real estate offers easy access to the historic village, with many fine restaurants and boutiques and home to world-class golf facilities such as the Shinnecock Golf Club and the National Golf Links. An active cultural roster includes events sponsored by the Parrish Art Museum, Southampton Hospital and the Southampton Cultural Center. Summer highlights include local fireworks displays, a rich list of well-planned social events and open-air concerts at Lake Agawam. Ocean beaches are among the best in the world, while deep open bay waters are ideal for competitive sailing.

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