Le Cercle # 10

10

Watch in white high-tech ceramic set with diamonds (~1.6 carat). Self-winding mechanical movement. 42-hour power reserve. Water-resistant to 200 meters.

www.chanel.com

DP J12 blanche double diamants 420x270 Le Cercle MO.indd 1 24/02/12 12:05

Watch in white high-tech ceramic set with diamonds (~1.6 carat). Self-winding mechanical movement. 42-hour power reserve. Water-resistant to 200 meters.

www.chanel.com

DP J12 blanche double diamants 420x270 Le Cercle MO.indd 1 24/02/12 12:05

www.georgeschakra.com

Sprin

g Su

mm

er 2

012

Edition (Le Cercle 42x27cm).indd 1 2/20/12 3:10 PM

www.georgeschakra.com

Sprin

g Su

mm

er 2

012

Edition (Le Cercle 42x27cm).indd 1 2/20/12 3:10 PM

Big Ben giant wall clock

by Marcel Wanders for Moooi

publisher:

City News Privilege

on behalf of Le Cercle Hitti

editor in chief :

Anastasia Nysten

managing editor:

Helen Assaf

graphic design:

Genia Kodash

printer:

RAIDY | www.raidy.com

contributors:

Owen Adams

Dan Bratman

Miriam Dunn

Louis Parks

Paul Cochrane

Alia Fawaz

Shirine Saad

Fernande Van Tets

advertising:

[email protected]

t: +961 3 852 899

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ThiS iSSue iS Le CerCLe’S tenth, a milestone we felt was worth celebrating. What better way to do that than to return to the bare essentials and be at one with nature in a special ‘Back to Basics’ section? Spanning the globe, we visit a farm in South Africa where guests are invited to join in the harvesting and tasting of a vast array of home-grown produce. in Tunisia, Dar Hi by Matali Crasset is a beautiful example of growing interest from renowned designers in eco-lodges. Japan’s minimalistic culture, Finland’s melding of environment and design, and many more examples from Beirut to Sri Lanka make up the rest of our special section. This issue we also celebrate the summer season by checking out the hottest designs for leisurely outdoor days and take a tour of some of the coolest new hotels around the world. Closer to home, we revisit some of the capital’s most iconic architecture. While the city is ever-evolving, four striking examples of 20th century modernism continue to show that decades ago international names in design already had their eye on Beirut. All this and plenty more await in the following pages. enjoy the experience.

10

Big Ben giant wall clock

by Marcel Wanders for Moooi

PARK VIEW BUILDING, BOULEVARD DU PARC - BEIRUT T. +961 1 99 21 16 CHARLES MALEK AVE., ELLIPSE CENTER - ASHRAFIEH, LEBANON T. +961 1 20 00 01

WWW.WSAL A MOON.COM

wss_earrings_21x27_wss_earrings_21x27 8/22/11 3:02 AM Page 1

mooDS

THe SuMMerwiShLiST

re-TrouvéPATriCiA urquioLA

Curled up iron rod.

Comes in six fashionable colors

w. 66 x d. 60 x h. 78cm

eMu

Tree vASeVAneSSA MiTrAni

Blown glass

h. 32cm

VAneSSA MiTrAni

ArCenCieLeMu grouP

Painted steel

w. 42.5 x d. 43 x h. 81cm

eMu

eSTeBAnSous les feuilles

refillable scented decorative candle

eSTeBAn PAriS

goes window shopping for

some of this season’s must-have purchases.

mooDS

eLySéePierre PAuLin

w. 90 x d. 77 x h. 70cm

Monocolor model upholstered

in fabric or leather.

Ligne roSeT

DAnDeLionriCHArD HuTTon

Ø 80 x h. 55 cm

Laser-cut powder-coated aluminum

Moooi

PALeTTePASCAL Mourgue

w. 65 x d. 34.5 x h. 35cm

Moulded enamelled ceramic

Ligne roSeT

Vin-TAgeLuiSA BoCCHieTTo

Ø 20x h. 40 cm

Handmade silk-screen printing with silver

egiziA

DorSeTeriC JourDAn

Ø 35 x h. 60 cm / Ø 60 x h. 173 cm

Structure in turned wood, chintz shade

Ligne roSeT

PiCniC gAMFrATeSiV

w. 60 x d. 37 x h. 71cm

Black-stained ash

Ligne roSeT

BLoomHiroSHi KAWAno

Ø 55 x h. 150 cm

Shade in sculpted foam

Ligne roSeT

mooDS

WHiTerhinoScented candle

h. 16 cm, burning time 150 hrs

BAoBAB

BiDumLAeTiTiA FLorin

Ø 47/66 x h. 40 cm / Ø 80 x h. 50 cm

Sprung steel, each covered

in a strip of cotton

Ligne roSeT

hyBriDenoé DuCHAuFour-LAWrAnCe

w. 235 x d. 98 x h. 63/87cm

Fabric, brilliant-chromed base

Ligne roSeT

CuTeCuTXXmCeDriC rAgoT

w. 235 x d. 98 x h. 63/87cm

resin, polyester and fiberglass lacquered

roCHe BoBoiS

mooDS

genevASounDSySTem Model XL

w. 55 x d. 37 x h. 81 cm

Wood cabinet, floor stand in

satin chrome aluminum finish

geneVA SounD

rABBiTLAmPFront

Ø 28.5 x h. 54 cm

PVC/cotton shade, polyester base

Moooi

okumiSTuDio CAToir

w. 86 x d. 83 x h. 72.5 cm

Structure & base in solid wood,

seat cushion in polyurethane

Ligne roSeT

MASKLAmPSTeFAno gioVAnnoni

w. 32.5 x d. 19 x h. 75 cm

3D pressed oak veneer, chrome base

Moooi

gooDieMAriA JegLinSKA

Ø 33.5 x h. 39.5 cm

Seat in polyurethane foam, uniform fabric

Ligne roSeT

BeePoTVAneSSA MiTrAni

h. 20 cm

Blown glass and metal

VAneSSA MiTrAni

TuFTy-TooPATriCiA urquioLA

Fabric, removable covers

Modular sofa, varies in size

B&B iTALiA

JeLLyfiShSet of 7

w. 40 to 60 x h. 25 to 50 cm

Cotton and silk

VAneSSA MiTrAni

mooDS

MADAgASCArvAniLLAScented candle

h. 16 cm, burning time 150 hrs

BAoBAB

MonSTerBArSTooLMArCeL WAnDerS

w. 41 x d. 51 x h. 93 cm

Fire retardant synthetic leather on

foam upholstered steel frame

Moooi

oVerSCALefLAmeSJeAn MArie-MASSAuD

Structure made of metal profiles,

natural wax candle, pure cotton wick

Three sizes from h.20 to 50cm

B&B iTALiA

DeLfTBLue1MArCeL WAnDerS

w. 18.5 x d. 11.3 x h. 41 cm

Ceramic

Moooi

mooDS

DoyLgABrieLe & oSCAr BurATTi

w. 48 x d. 53 x h. 79.5 cm

Leather

B&B iTALiA

noLimiTLong vase

h. 32 cm

blown glass

VAneSSA MiTrAni

BeAu-TyLuiSA BoCCHieTTo

Ø 12 x h. 35 cm

silk-screen printing with enamel and silver

egiziA

oBLiqueMArCeL WAnDerS

w. 105 x d. 6 x h. 286 cm

Solid oak stained and lacquered

in 4 different colors

Moooi

BrAveneWworLDLAMPXLFreSHWeST

w. 93 x d. 130 x h. 270 cm

Solid oak frame and cast iron weights

Moooi

A STriking eXAmPLe of PoST-wAr BAuhAuS

design, Hazmieh’s Dar al Sayad building is one of

Beirut’s most intriguing landmarks. Designed by Karl, or

Karol, Schayer, a Polish architect who immigrated to

Lebanon during World War Two, Dar al Sayad is perhaps

Beirut’s clearest example of the tenants of this iconic

school.

Sitting upon raised columns and including

a latticework façade, Dar al Sayad was completed in

1954 and remains an example of clarity of thought and

the concept of designing while eschewing precedent.

utterly functional, at once modern, Dar al Sayad was a

clear example of how forward thinking design should,

indeed must, incorporate the latest technology

wherever possible.

Schayer and his team, interior designer

Fritz gotthelf, architect Wassek Adib and engineer Bahij

Makdissi went on to create a number of other Beiruti

landmarks including the AuB Alumni Club and the Shell

Building in raouche. none, however, has endured as

well as Dar al Sayad, a prime example of clarity of

design in the heart of Beirut.

W o r d s : L o u i S P A r K S

Being LABeLeD “The fATher of The ShoPPing

mall” is something most of us would cringe at, and so it

was with the designer of the gefinor Center, Victor

gruen. However, gruen’s meticulous attention to detail,

urban planning and a keen appreciation for the flow

and movement of people helped to create a most

modern, architecturally fascinating building in the form

of Hamra’s gefinor Center.

An American legend when it came to

creating commercial areas, gruen brought his talents to

Beirut in 1970 when this famous complex was built.

Featuring outdoor plazas, a rarity in today’s city,

through roads that compliment the building’s design,

and with unity in design linking the five blocks together

in a harmonious whole, the gefinor Center is an oddity

within the city, a visually pleasing commercial center.

At 55,000 square meters of office space,

and made up of a twenty-story tower, three six-story

buildings, and a three-story block, gefinor somehow

compliments the nearby AuB, a feat for which gruen is

rightfully lauded.


The ShoPPing CenTer mighT Seem An ouTDATeD

concept, but in the 1950’s these all-in-one

arrangements were a new concept. Designed by Swiss

firm Addor & Julliard in 1956 and completed by 1961,

the Starco Center was the first self-contained shopping

center in Lebanon and was at the forefront of design.

Divided into several levels, the lowest two being

devoted to shops and travel agencies, the center

features a 22-story tower used as office space.

A mix of covered and open-air

walkways and a central plaza linking the four buildings,

created a sense of open space that was, and largely still

is, absent from traditional shopping areas in Beirut. The

idea that a commercial center could also be a social

environment was clearly at the forefront of the design

as space for a theatre was incorporated early on.

easy access, in terms of two main

vehicle entrances and a generous 10,000 square meter

underground car park set Starco apart from its

contemporaries. Set between the burgeoning Hamra

district and Beirut’s Downtown, Starco hinted at the

future and was a clear predecessor of the modern mall.


LoCATeD AT The Beginning of BeiruT’S fAmouS

Hamra Street sits an extraordinary piece of architectural

design, Centre Sabbagh. Famous as the home of Bank

Audi in this bustling commercial area, the Centre

Sabbagh is something of a landmark. Designed by

architects Alfred roth, from Switzerland, and Alvar

Aalto, of Finland, in 1970, alongside Swiss firm Addor

and Julliard, the building features an innovative double

façade. Depending on the angle from which the

building is viewed, Centre Sabbagh boasts two entirely

different facades, making use of the building’s

orientation and the angle of the sun at varying times of

the day. Amid Hamra’s nondescript commercial and

residential structures, Centre Sabbagh sits as reminder

that inspired design can be married with practical

applications.


AN NAHAR BLDG, +961 1 971 444/555 ZOUK HIGHWAY, +961 9 217 744/55 RING HIGHWAY, +961 1 971 573 555




ArmAnicomes homeW o r d s : o w e n a d a m s

THoSe WHo CHooSe To WeAr giorgio ArMAni oFTen Do So BeCAuSe THey LoVe THe SuPreMe quALiTy, THe eLegAnT DeSign, THe CoMForT, THe SLeeKneSS – uTTer reFineMenT AnD gooD TASTe WiTHouT MAKing A FLAMBoyAnT STATeMenT. THe SAMe PrinCiPLeS APPLy To THe iTALiAn DeSign guru’S LATeST VenTure: THe ArmAni hoTeL in HiS HoMe CiTy oF MiLAn.

accommodation, in deluxe,

signature and presidential suites, ranges

from 45 to 200 square meters, in natural

hues of creamy brown, green, mother-of-

pearl and armani’s own ‘greige’. facilities

such as minibars, cupboards and high-tech

amenities are discreetly hidden, reflecting

the stylist’s love of unfussy, non-cluttered

order and space.

privacy is also a prime

component – with even the smallest rooms

including a vestibule.

all furnishings carry the

armani/casa signature, but have been

devised in a range of finishes to reflect the

period atmosphere of the building and

milanese palazzo culture. armani casa

linens and fabrics abound, with custom

Opened last november in the

heart of italy’s fashion

capital, it’s a sequel to his

resort within 39 floors of the

world’s tallest skyscraper –

the Burj khalifa in Dubai - which opened

in 2010, the first of at least three resorts

and seven luxury Armani hotels to be

created in association with Dubai’s emaar

Properties.

where better to concentrate

on his second hotel venture than his home

town? giorgio armani made it his personal

labor of love – intricately designing all the

interiors, including each of the 95 rooms

and suites.

armani and emaar chose a

1937 building designed by enrico a griffini,

topped with a distinctive ‘glass hat’. the

austere rationalist-style architecture –

grand with no frills - was perfect for armani

to realize his stated goal of “concentrating

all my efforts on delivering my personal

aesthetic vision within a precisely defined

ambience of total comfort”.

the absolute armani

experience is one which strives for total

harmony, an exquisite sanctuary where

nothing can puncture the sublime calm.

furniture, such as fabric-clad linear sofas

and backlit wooden bed-heads, in harmony

with the architecture.

the presidential suites are on

two floors, and include internal staircases to

rooms, with small entrance halls.

the bathrooms are designed

for use by two people, but the luxurious

showers have one-way glass, making them

opaque from the outside. each bathroom’s

floors and walls have a deliciously smooth

asian limestone finish named silk georgette.

unlike many hotels, the

communal areas – including the gourmet

restaurant, Bamboo lounge, business center,

spa with six treatment rooms and a suite for

couples, fitness gym and pool – are located

within the top two floors, the ‘glass hat’,

with panoramic views taking in the nearby

cathedral and La scala opera house, as well

as the main fashion shopping street – with

sunscreen walls to repel over-bright light.

in every fine detail, the most

serene grandeur is assured by the man

himself, giorgio armani.

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Any ViSiTor To THe SWeDiSH PorT CiTy oF goTHenBurg WiLL FinD iT iMPoSSiBLe To MiSS THe neW CLArion hoTeL PoST. SiTuATeD neXT To THe CenTrAL TrAin STATion, THe 1920S-BuiLT neo-CLASSiCAL ForMer PoST oFFiCe CAn’T FAiL To MAKe A grAnD iMPreSSion. iT’S THe FLAgSHiP eLeMenT in A PoST-inDuSTriAL CiTy THAT’S Been reVAMPeD AS THe norTHern euroPeAn CenTer oF ALL THAT’S CooL AnD HiP.

B&B iTALiA BringS iTS SignATure DeSign To SWeDenW o r d s : o w e n a d a m s

On 26 January 2012, 10,000

people witnessed the opening

of a new chapter in the

building’s history – a

spectacular 4D multimedia

projection extravaganza with

orchestration and fireworks to mark its

phoenix-like rebirth as a luxury 500-room

hotel, the largest in the norwegian chain’s

portfolio.

Local architects semrén &

månsson ensured the historical features of

the building were preserved, while adding a

modern central block at the rear built in

symphony with the existing facades, from

copper and slate, capped by a luxury suite

with an outdoor swimming pool and sun

lounge.

the firm’s ceo, and professor

of architecture, magnus månsson, said his

designers used “classical and imperial colors

that radiate the impression of splendor,

luxury and light”, to neatly contrast with the

black, white and gray flooring in stone,

ceramic materials and textiles.

the rooms have been furnished

throughout by world-feted brand B&B italia,

dipping into its collections and also providing

custom-made pieces for its first

scandinavian hotel venture, with norway’s

anemone wille våge designing the interiors.

scattering modern art works

throughout the vast building, he chose dark,

warm colors to represent the new

gothenburg – a hotbed for creativity in

architecture, fashion and technology rising

from the former transport and

manufacturing powerhouse – and to

complement B&B italia’s modern furniture.

the result is a cosy, welcoming atmosphere.

the hotel reflects a “jeans and

tweed” rather than super-elite, image;

modern, funky and functional but not cold

and minimalist. it’s all aimed at creating a

central meeting point, a giant ‘lounge’, for

gothenburgers and visitors to the city alike.

primarily designed as a business hotel, there

are no less than 17 spacious rooms available

for conferences and public events such as art

exhibitions and fashion shows, including the

old letter-sorting room.

guests will recognize many of

the features of the original post office

preserved, such as the cathedral-sized post

hall with its soaring decorative ceiling and

high windows. in the spacious atrium lobby,

the red panels of a post van are mounted on

to the wall above the elevators act as a

further reminder of the building’s heritage,

while B&B italia furnishings, a calculated

mismatch with slanting bookshelves, adorn

the creatively inspiring post Bar.

the beds in the rooms are

scattered with cushions and pillows,

continuing the atmosphere of leisurely

luxury, laissez-faire comfort and

convenience, with flat-screen tvs, ipod

docks and internet access all within easy

reach of the beds, which – like everything

here – are generally king-size.

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Dori hiTTi BringS ATMoSPHere To An

eXCLuSiVe ABoDeW o r d s : L o u i S P A r K S

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Overlooking Beirut’s

stunning new waterfront,

marina Towers is one of the

city’s most exclusive

residences. With sweeping

vistas of the Mediterranean and Downtown

alike, the location proved inspiring for Dori

Hitti when he was commissioned to create

a bespoke family apartment.

As ever, Hitti approached the

project with clear goals, “The client was

looking for purity, harmony and a light

atmosphere,” he said. Hitti’s clean,

minimalist style led him to create a sharp,

modern interior, bathed in white light

enhanced by the straight lines and sharp

edges of the interior detailing. “We

introduced a white ambiance to the

apartment, lines give harmony and purity

to the atmosphere, and a clean overall

environment,” he said.

This natural, simple elegance

is balanced by the breathtaking views of

the Mediterranean, providing a stunning

backdrop to this most sophisticated of

apartments. “The view of the Marina and

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the seafront helped us to realize the

design. We usually seek peace and

harmony in our projects, and the

combination of the fireplace on one side

and the sea view on the opposing side

and the earth beneath you, gives a sense

of harmony for people sitting in this

area,” said Hitti of the central sitting

area. The fireplace itself is an example of

fine detailing; gray stone and a modern

take on a natural fire catch the eye,

intriguing yet not overdone.

By far the most striking part of

the residence is the lighting; the entire

apartment is bathed in a warm, inviting

light and much of that, according to Hitti,

is down to the attention to detail paid to

the lighting fixtures themselves. “The

existing height we had in the apartment

contributed to our creativity to

suspensions and large scale ceiling

fixtures,” he said. The use of mirrors

allowed Hitti to play with the available

space, creating the illusion that it was

larger, and the wide, flowing rooms

allowed light to pour through the entire

apartment, he said.

The simple, elegance of the

apartment leaves room for personal

touches such as the antique chest at the

entrance, or the quotes written on the

walls by the door, welcoming guests and

the family into their home. Married with

Hitti’s traditional, simple approach to

minimalist design, these small touches add

individual flair to this, obviously very

personal, apartment.

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inSuLABy SAiFi ATTiCS

W o r d s : a L i a f a w a z

eXquiSiTe HoMeS THAT Are

ConCePTuALizeD AnD DeSigneD

To BeneFiT SPACe AnD To SuiT your neeDS

Insula is a new contemporary

housing development in gemmayze

with a difference. it is a state of the

art residential building which will

provide its clients with an added

option of interior design culminating in an

investment that literally delivers a complete

home; ready to move into.

An in house design consultant

is a relatively new concept in Lebanon as

home buyers usually involve a third party

and commission them separately. insula

has developed four stunning design options

suggested and executed by its own

internationally recognized and respected

design consultant, Karen Chekerdjian.

Keeping it harmonious with

the architecture, the finishing and

furnishings offered are of the highest

standard all with a modern and timeless

twist. Four apartment units on the second

floor will come fully furnished while the rest

of the units can be furnished upon request.

There is no obligation to buy them

furnished.

“insula is unique in that it

offers a variety of different sizes ranging

from 90 m2 up to 1400 m2. “unlike ten

years ago property prices have risen so

much that most people cannot afford a

500 m2 apartment s in Beirut anymore,”

explains Chekerdjian. “This is why we want

to show clients that a 170 m2 is actually a

livable space for a family.” Changing the

Lebanese mindset that less can be

adequate, insula’s smaller four furnished

units will be decorated in the different

themes whilst showing how space can be

cleverly maximized.

“We are taking risks to do so

many different apartment sizes. They are

tailor made like a made to order dress,” she

explains. These size options ultimately cost

more for the developers, but give clients

the flexibility to choose what suits their

needs and budgets.

Modern and entirely

inspirational, here are the different interiors

that can come with insula

‘in the moment’ is literally for

those who wish to be living in the present

when it comes to design practice. Home

becomes a contemporary and edgy

sanctuary with this option. Contrary to zen,

colors and shapes are contrasted to create

an unexpected ambience. Furniture is new

and entirely original.

‘Forever simple’ keeps the tone

low key yet undeniably luxurious.

Appropriately described as understated

elegance, it is more modern mainstream. it

is defined by straight lines, nice fibers and

smooth colors. The theme that Chekerdjian

feels will appeal to most people in

Lebanon.

‘At a standstill’ offers a zen

domestic style where tranquility and purity

is the objective. The key is balance. Light

wood is selected versus dark and the

furniture pieces are consequently sourced

from Scandinavia and Japan.

‘Time and again’ is where

success stories from the design world of

the 50’s 60’s, 70’s and 80’s inspire the

setting. The mood is high-end with pure

comfort in mind. Timeless classics are

featured giving the home a familiar

richness. Here furniture can be reminiscent

of the big maestros like Franco Albini, 50’s

American dream team Charles and ray

eames or even a Charlotte Perriand known

for her trend-setting chairs.

With its striking innovative

architecture, tailor made approach and

forward thinking interior design offering,

insula is sure to set the pace for more

developers to start thinking outside the box

and produce iconic residences that mark

the new Beirut.

A Tale of Istanbul...Rixos Pera IstanbulThe story, set within the historical peninsula and Golden Horn,is coming alive once more. Magnificent history meets with contemporary comfort and well-known gourmet venues, at Rixos Pera Istanbul.

www.rixos.com Kamerhatun Mah. Meşrutiyet Cad. No:44 Tepebaşı TAKSIM - ISTANBUL / TURKEY T: +90 212 373 01 00

THe TeMPerATure’S riSing AnD THAT

SuMMer FeeLing iS in THe Air. Join Le CerCLe AS iT

BringS you THe FreSHeST

SerVing oF THiS SeASon’S HoTTeST

ouTDoor STyLe

dedon

emu

B&B itaLia outdoor

Ligne roset outdoor

p56

p58

p59

p60

A Tale of Istanbul...Rixos Pera IstanbulThe story, set within the historical peninsula and Golden Horn,is coming alive once more. Magnificent history meets with contemporary comfort and well-known gourmet venues, at Rixos Pera Istanbul.

www.rixos.com Kamerhatun Mah. Meşrutiyet Cad. No:44 Tepebaşı TAKSIM - ISTANBUL / TURKEY T: +90 212 373 01 00

Design: Norbert Beck

If you listen to your senses,

you’ll experienceall that’s beautiful and exhilarating

in this world.Rolf Benz MIO, where i feel good.

FOR AN ALL-ROUNDGOOD FEELING.ROLF BENZ 582.

Design: Joachim Nees

BACK To BASiCS

For Le Cercle’s 10th

anniversary, we wanted to go

back to the basics; the basics

of great design, the classic

shapes which have endured,

and the lasting inspiration that nature

can be. From classic garments like the Little

Black Dress, a staple in any woman’s

wardrobe for timeless elegance, to the

design of the Fifty chair which was inspired

by a shape the designer found comfortable

when lying on a sandy beach.

We also explore ways that

people are choosing to return to a basic

way of living; in South Africa, Babylonstoren

allows you to farm the food you eat,

appreciating what nature gives back to

those who work the land. This idea of

giving back to nature is also central to the

Dar-Hi eco-lodge in Tunisia, which offers a

sustainable experience in beautiful

surroundings.

Lastly, we appreciate the

quality of natural forms of design. This

includes exploring the traditional handcraft

techniques of Japanese design, which are

often inspired by nature’s solutions; a hot

stone bath for example. But we also turn to

covetable, natural fabrics created in a

sustainable way by Sri Lankan communities

and a new natural line of beautifully

packaged soaps which have become

available in Beirut.

BACkW o r d s : f e r n a n d e v a n t e t s

to

BACK To BASiCS

finLAnDDeSign

norDiCLighTS

W o r d s : S H i r i n e S A A D

hAkku kähönen

industrial designer Hannu

Kähönen creates “design for

all,” emphasizing accessibility

and environmental impact. His

birch plywood 2F Folding Chair

(2005) unfolds backward and

forward, in two different colors.

why is finnish design so

deeply linked to nature?

Most Finns live in a close

relationship to nature and

have great respect for it.

Finnish design naturally reflects

those values.

how is your work ecological?

As a designer i feel that the

best way of influencing the

environment positively is to

design products that can be

used for a long time. i try to

design products that are

made of local materials and

by local people.

how can design create a

better world?

The designer has one

responsibility: to promote

values by which we can live a

better life by designing things

that are enjoyable for all

and improve everyday life but

don’t harm anyone or nature.

iLkkA SuPPAnen

ilkka Suppanen’s studio works

in interior, product and concept

design and architecture. His

pendant lamps for Tikau were

made in the village of orissa in

india, where artisans wove local

bamboo into organic basket-

like shapes.



in Finland nature is pure,

untouched. We all spend time

in nature during our holidays.


it is long lasting and

meaningful. So people won’t

throw it away.


better world?

i believe that design is actually

an action where the world can

be a better place.

FinLAnD’S STArK nATure HAS ALWAyS

inSPireD iConiC FinniSH DeSignerS

SuCH AS ALVAr AALTo AnD eero

SAArinen. ToDAy, AS THe CounTry

CeLeBrATeS iTS noMinATion AS WorLD CAPiTAL

oF DeSign, A neW generATion

oF DeSignerS reFLeCTS on THe

LinKS BeTWeen THe enVironMenT AnD

PeoPLe.

SAri AnTTonen

Award winning architect and

interior designer Sari Anttonen

is also a trained cabinetmaker.

in 1996, she created the Tubab

project in Senegal, working with

metal and wood craftsmen to

produce a line of recycled

furniture.



Finnish lifestyle and Finnish

design have a very direct

connection with nature. nature

is part of our everyday life and it

is deeply linked to everything

we do.


Customers are more and more

aware of ecological issues. in

furniture design i am seeking

long lasting and adjustable

solutions and smart structures

and materials. in interior design

it is always possible to favor

more ecological materials,

fittings and products.


better world?

good design creates smart

solutions, consumes less

natural resources and produces

little waste.

AnSSi LASSiLA

The two partners of this

architecture firm, Anssi Lassila

and Teemu Hirvilammi, work in

Aalto’s spirit, favoring

ecological designs and pure

lines. Their churches are

minimalistic and stark havens

for contemplation, with solid,

organic shapes and wooden

interiors.



Finns are allowed to hike in

nature and pick berries and

mushrooms regardless of who

owns the land.


i often include local expertise

and materials into my design

and try to find the most natural

and suitable solution for each

place. At its best, this means

that the building is built using

local timber and all the useless

elements are discarded.


better world?

Functional, aesthetic and

reasonable design considers

people and the environment.

Seiji Lukkala, globe hope

globe Hope transforms

recycled materials into clothes,

bags, jewels and laptop covers

using army material, clothes,

tent covers, navy sacks, sails,

seat belts or advertising

banners.



nature has always been very

important to the Finnish

people. Today, while Finnish

society has become very

technologically oriented and

the economy relies more and

more on businesses of

technological expertise, the

role of nature has become

even bigger.


All my work is based on

ecology, ethics and aesthetics.

All our products, clothes, bags,

accessories, are made from

recycled material. All our

working processes are as

ecological as possible. We

consider ecology and ethics in

all we do.


better world?

Design is an efficient way of

influencing society. We want to

give people an opportunity to

make sensible decisions.

BACK To BASiCS

mATALiCrASSeTorienTALiSTDreAmSW o r d s b y : S H i r i n e S A A D

Rising in the desert,

the eco-lodge

consists of eight

ochre structures

housing simple bedrooms

with panoramic views. The

sand colored walls, palm wood

furniture, traditional cotton bed

covers and flashes of acid

colors create an atmosphere of

organic modernity reminiscent

of the Star Wars décor, which

still thrones in the nearby

desert. When entering the

majestic hotel, one removes

their shoes and wears leather

babouches. The smell of fresh

lamb couscous from the

kitchen fills the lounge area

with warmth and spices.

Frédérique grasset Hermé, a

chef and the ex-wife of pastry

master Pierre Hermé,

supervises the menu, making

light, tasty dishes using

exclusively local ingredients.

outside, there are beds to read,

chat or lie on in the desert sun;

a saltwater pool and a state of

the art hammam. Here, life is

simple and healthy, and it

mirrors the traditions of the

city’s habitants. oFTen euroPeAnS FALL in LoVe WiTH

THe MySTerieS oF THe eAST

AnD iTS SenSuAL TrADiTionS AnD

LAnDSCAPeS. For MATALi CrASSeT,

one oF THe STArS oF FrenCH DeSign

AnD A PHiLiPPe STArCK ProTégée, THe DAr hi hoTeL ProJeCT in neFTA,

TuniSiA WAS An oPPorTuniTy

To CreATe A DiALogue WiTH

THe SurrounDing DuneS, PALM groVeS AnD

PeoPLe. noT your TyPiCAL reSorT

This fluid, grassroots approach is

a signature of the Hi hotel chain,

which Crasset has created with

hotel entrepreneurs Philippe

Chapelet and Patrick elouarghi.

Together they work on creating

unique contemporary hotel

experiences that reflect local

values. “The Hi hotel wasn’t

meant to be duplicated,” says

Crasset. “it has been conceived

as a laboratory that is not

duplicable.” every guest creates

their own experience depending

on their needs and tastes, such

as expeditions in the deserts, a

visit to date factories, spa

treatments and yoga classes.

“Dar Hi is not a hotel or a

classical spa,” says elouarghi,

“but a place where you can

experience withdrawal and

benefit from a spiritual

thalassotherapy a few hours

away from Paris and in the

middle of the desert.”

from rurAL To urBAn

Crasset often credits her rural

background for this fresh

approach to design, where shapes

are fluid and in touch with our

surrounding environment. Born in

Châlons-en-Champagne in a

family of farmers, she studied

marketing before discovering a

calling for design. After graduating

from the ecole nationale

Supérieure de Création industrielle

she worked for Denis Santachiara

then Philippe Starck. in 1997 the

city of Paris awarded her the

grand Prix du Design; the

following year Crasset launched

her own agency.

hi-mATiC

For those not able to travel to

Tunisia, Crasset has recently

opened a Hi hotel in Paris, in the

hip east Bastille area, an urban

eco-lodge inspired by the

Japanese riokan, the youth hostel

and the country B&B. each room

is built like a cabin and is entirely

adaptable to the guest’s needs;

the bed turns into a sofa, the

room turns into an office, a dining

space or a relaxing haven. in the

lobby, essential oils and music by

german label Kompakt create a

warm, friendly atmosphere.

guests mingle there or at the

restaurant. And for those who

need guides or cds, the Hi matic

shop in a vending machine offers

everything you need. The main

idea: total freedom.

BACK To BASiCS

To THe JADeD ConTeMPorAry TrAVeLer,

WeSTern CounTrieS CAn Be LiKeneD To A

BoX oF CHoCoLATeS. SHAPeS AnD FLAVorS

MAy CHAnge, BuT THe CoMMonALTieS ouTWeigH

THe DiFFerenCeS: you oFTen KnoW WHAT you Are going To geT. THe SAMe CAn APPLy To THe

LeSS DeVeLoPeD PArTS oF THe WorLD, WHiCH

WHiLe HAVing WonDerFuL SCenery AnD inTereSTing HiSToriCAL SiTeS uSuALLy

LACK THe DeLigHTS oF HigH CuLTure THAT

giVe A “VALueD-ADDeD” eXPerienCe.

Filling that gap for

the exotic, the

traditional, the

modern and the

unexpected is Japan, a place

that revels in attention to

detail and has plenty of

quirks to turn the head of the

“seen-it-all-before” traveler.

Take green Kit-Kat chocolate

bars and ice cream made from

wasabi (horseradish), the

cornucopia of candies that line

store shelves, or sushi bento

boxes carefully displayed at

train stations. indeed, from a

culinary point alone Japan

offers a smörgåsbord of tastes

and flavors, with dishes varying

from one province or city to

the next.

High culture is

equally in abundance at

museums and galleries in

Tokyo, or out in the inland Sea

at naoshima, an art island that

boasts a collection ranging

from Claude Monet to Andy

Warhol to Japanese artist

Kusama yayoi.

For the design

enthusiast, there is little need to

venture from Tokyo, where

certain districts offer a glimpse

of what a futuristic metropolis

looks like, while stores stock

cutting edge design and

graphics. innovative use of

space is a further curiosity,

developed out of necessity in a

mega city where close to 13

million people live in an area of

2,187 square kilometers,

equivalent to just 0.6 percent of

Japan’s landmass. Such

innovative design ranges from

cubicles for sleeping in to

automated parking lots that

fLAvorof TheeASTW o r d s b y : P A u L C o C H r A n e

© paul cochrin

store cars and bicycles in

underground cylinders.

The visitor in

search of the more historical

Japan will have to travel away

from the capital, ideally on a

high-speed bullet train, to the

World Heritage sites of Kyoto

and nara, and the island of

Miyajima close to Hiroshima.

But venturing beyond the

“tourist triangle” of Tokyo,

Kyoto and Hiroshima shows

another side of the country.

Down in the far

south on the Satsuma

peninsula lies Sakurajima, an

active volcano that has minor

eruptions throughout the day

that covers the island in fine

gray dust. out of the core of

the island springs forth hot

sulphuric water, ideal for a foot

bath or a visit to an onsen – a

public bath - where you can

soak in 40 degree plus waters.

Further along the coast in

ibusuki is an onsen with a twist.

right on the

shoreline, bathers change into

a thin cotton kimono and go

down to a dark gray sandy

beach to lie down. There two

women shovel on hot volcanic

sand, with the weight of the

sand piling up until you cannot

move. Some 15 minutes later

the “sand bather” emerges

soaked in perspiration. An

alleged de-toxifier and blood

purifier, the sand soak is

followed up with a dip in the

onsen and can be topped off

with a local delicacy - raw

chicken sashimi. Chocolate

anyone?

© paul cochrin

BACK To BASiCS

A nATurAL eSCAPeW o r d s b y : H e L e n A S S A F

BAByLonSToren PreSerVeS THe BeST oF

CAPe FArMing TrADiTionS

A trip back in time as well as

through the glory of nature is

what you get with a visit to

Babylonstoren, which lies 45

minutes from Cape Town international

Airport. This farm is one of the best

preserved of those in the Cape Dutch

tradition and was founded in 1690. Today it

offers a gloriously natural escape from the

hustle and bustle of life, either for day

visitors or staying guests. The latter can

choose from stylishly designed suites

whose whitewashed exteriors and thatched

roofs recall those of the 17th and 18th

century Cape Colony farm buildings. With a

nod to the mythical garden of Babylon,

Babylonstoren’s own garden is more than

impressive, spanning eight hectares and

integrating a formal structure. over 300

varieties of edible plants are grown and

harvested here year-round for use in the

onsite restaurant, where an extensive wine

list featuring wines grown on the

surrounding Simonsberg mountains can

also be sampled. guests are free to join in

the harvesting of vegetables, berries and

fruits, picking their own salad should they

desire, or simply enjoying a guided

educational tour of the garden. Further

afield walks past wild olives and oaks, or

thousands of clivias in spring bloom

alongside the bubbling stream, add to the

idyllic ambiance that reigns throughout this

peaceful resort.

www.babylonstoren.com

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Each Barefoot item is

individually made

with genuine

passion, in an ethical

setting that means the end

consumer can hold their head

up high. rather than corralling

women into work, Barefoot

brings work to women’s

homes, many in villages with

centuries-old weaving

traditions.

Without any need

for brand promotion and

advertising campaigns, Barefoot

products have been much-

coveted and desired by the Sri

Lankan elite since the 1970s,

their high prices justified by the

artisan quality, careful selection

and vibrant designs. even

through new generations of

management, the pursuit of

profit has remained secondary

to dissemination of the

company’s high moral values

and approach to continuing

craft tradition and continuing to

think local.

initially selling

fabrics and finished clothes and

other textiles from her home in

a quiet residential street in

Colombo, Barefoot then moved

into a retail space in the city,

and began producing home

furnishings, bags, soft toys and

sarongs – eventually for tourists

as well as the upper echelons

of Sri Lankan society.

While mass

production for global apparel

trades is the norm in Sri Lanka,

Sansoni’s vision has ensured

bespoke pieces made to

commission by traditional

craftspeople in their villages

travel to an exclusive clientele

across the world. Barefoot has

deliberately expanded slowly to

ensure the brand wouldn’t

compromise on artisan quality,

gradually reaching tentacles to

trusted outlets, sympathetic to

Barefoot’s people-centred

ideals.

Carousel Design

represents Barefoot in Lebanon,

as well as retailing other fabric

and home items, carefully

selected for their color and

elegance, from Japan to italy.

Carousel’s collaboration with

Barefoot is one important

episode of a continuously

evolving adventure, respecting

trends and hailing innovation,

while celebrating life

surrounded by top-flight design.

BArefooTfinDS iTSfooTingin BeiruTW o r d s : o W e n A D A M S

neVer MenTion THe WorD

‘FACTory’ To BArBArA SAnSoni:

THe ArTiST-FounDer oF

BArefooT HAS SPenT THe PAST

48 yeArS SingLe-HAnDeDLy BuCKing

THe TrenD For ASSeMBLy-Line

MACHinATion in TeXTiLeS WHiLe

SAVing Sri LAnKAn rurAL HAnDiCrAFTS

FroM eXTinCTion.

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His aim is to transform the

elemental power of the wind

into something that seems like

a living being, one perhaps

normally found while in a

dream state. The creator sees it

as more than an art work, but

as an ephemeral tool.

Matsumura

explains: “This tool hasn’t a

concrete practical utility for

daily life, but we can wake up

to the daily microscopic things

around us if we use this. it’s

important to become

conscious of the unconscious.

This tool is designed to

communicate with nature and

to get back the primitive

conception of nature.”

The work made its

debut at the iMAginATure

exhibition at Milan’s Post

Design gallery (Memphis),

moving on to the italian city’s

Fuori Salone space in April. The

Voice of Winds comes in the

wake of a range of work also

heavily dipped in naturalistic

impulses – furniture shaped like

traditional boats, and a

department-store installation in

Tokyo of transparent fabric

strips suspended to form a

virtual misty pine forest.

Matsumura’s new moniker,

Firm., has presumably been

chosen to signify his aim to

create industrial, urban

applications of the primitive,

dream-based otherworld which

came before the consumer

age; rediscovered roots

through unprecedented new

tools.

The voiCeof winDSwhiSPerSDeSire ToreTurn TonATureW o r d s : o W e n A D A M S

in JAPAneSe AnTiquiTy, THe

WinD WAS SACreD, AnD WinD-

WorSHiPPerS LiSTeneD

CAreFuLLy To THe noiSeS iT MADe,

AnD inTerPreTeD THe SounD

ACCorDingLy.

The voice of winds, a

dreamy visual and

audio sculpture

produced by Tokyo

designer kazunori

matsumura’s newly

established firm.,

encompasses those ideas with

an urgent desire to get back to

nature, to rediscover the

natural phenomena he revelled

in during a childhood spent in

Hokkaido.

earthenware pipes

arranged in shapes to form a

two-meter wide, one-meter

deep, and one-meter-high tree

branch, with a blanched-white

look suggesting the bones of

animated beings, who each

channel a soundtrack of winds

digitally captured in the indian

desert last year by Matsumura.

BACK To BASiCS

As an added

tribute, Chanel recently held an

exhibition in Tokyo, which

showcased 113 of the

beautifully-taken photos across

two floors. The opening of the

exhibition, which was attended

by Lagerfeld and roitfeld,

featured a star-studded guest

list including some of the

Chanel ambassadors who

appear in the book such as

Vanessa Paradis, gaspard ulliel

and Sarah Jessica Parker.

The range of

celebrities photographed is as

diverse as one would expect

from the creative genius that is

Lagerfeld, taking in yoko ono,

Jane Birkin, Sofia Coppola,

Claudia Schiffer and uma

Thurman. Male models,

including Waris Ahluwalia and

Kanye West, show us that the

jacket is as unisex as it is

timeless. Look out for roitfeld

who features in the book

dressed in tribute to the queen

of French fashion herself, Coco

Chanel.

See the photos at: http://

thelittleblackjacket.chanel.com/fr

LAgerfeLDreviSiTSA ChAneLCLASSiCW o r d s : M i r i A M D u n n

CeLeBriTieS Join DeSign LegenD

To PAy TriBuTe To THe LiTTLe BLACk

JACkeT

What better way to

celebrate a

Chanel classic

than by inviting a

diverse mix of world famous

celebrities to give the

garment their own, individual

stamp and then pose in it for

the camera?

you would expect

no less from the design guru

Karl Lagerfeld who has revisited

one of the luxury line’s most

iconic pieces – the little black

jacket – and shown us just how

versatile it can be by

photographing a long list of

celebrities, ranging from actors

and musicians to models,

wearing it.

The stunning black

and white photos will now

feature in a book which marks a

fascinating collaboration with

the former model and once

editor-in-chief of Vogue Paris,

Carine roitfeld. Aptly named

‘The Little Black Jacket:

Chanel’s Classic revisited by

Karl Lagerfeld and Carine

roitfeld’, the book’s photos

capture the individuality of each

model, all of whom were styled

by roitfeld, allowing their

personality to shine through

while also highlighting just how

wearable and adaptable a

Chanel staple is.

BACK To BASiCS

This show-stopping

piece incorporates

a lounger, coffee

table, stool and

magazine rack in one flowing

object, the shape recalls

Bauhaus and other early

20th-century avant-garde art

movements, while the

materials echo Lebanese

tradition.

A dark wooden

frame supports rattan panels

traditionally used on sidewalk

cafe and trottoir seats in

Lebanon, while its detachable

embroidered cushion echoes

the lhaf – the quilt used in

Lebanese mountain houses

during winter.

Living Space iii

transcends the boundary of

untouchable exhibition

installation to laidback furniture

by sanding down sections of

the black wood, especially at

the head and feet, for an

inviting, lived-in appeal.

it was initially

designed as one of an

international range of limited-

edition commissions for the

pop-up Corwan gallery’s recent

Design Days Dubai show. The

stylistic fusion of contemporary

and traditional Middle eastern

and german-modernist

coincides with the assertion

made by Corwan founders’

Pascale Wakim and nicolas

Bellavance-Lecompte, that

Beirut has changed from being

the Paris to the Berlin of the

Middle east, in terms of the

city’s thriving underground

culture and vibrant art, design

and haute couture scenes.

LivingSPACeiiiW o r d s : o W e n A D A M S

on FirST iMPreSSion, iT

HAS THe LooK-BuT-Don’T-

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or eVen An ArCHiTeCTurAL

MoDeL, BuT KAren CHeKerDJiAn

HAS DeSigneD Living SPACe iii AS

SoMeTHing you FuLLy inHABiT.

committed to high-quality

craftsmanship and respect for

the environment.

All raw ingredients

are of the highest quality; the

wax is mineral and non-oily and

is of the most superior quality

and purity anywhere. The

fragrances are elaborated by a

well known ‘nose’ in grasse,

the temple of the perfume

industry. And the entire

packaging process is created by

hand, from the vase down to

the label on the box and the

finishing touch of a black

ribbon tied lovingly around the

product. The company

encourages recycling of the

containers, as a glass, vase or

even a champagne bucket!

Baobab candles

are available globally in 500

select retailers, one of which is

Le Cercle Hitti.

BAoBABCoLLeCTioninSPireDBy AfriCAW o r D S B y : F e r n A n D e V A n T e T S

THe BAoBAB CoLLeCTion HAiLS FroM THe STePPeS

oF TAnzAniA, AnD THiS AFriCAn HeriTAge CAn Be

SenSeD THrougH THe BeWiTCHing FrAgrAnCeS oF

iTS HAnDMADe PerFuMeD CAnDLeS.

Baobab has a large

collection of

decorated candles

presented in

transparent and colored

glass vases, which are all

blown by craftsmen, or

stainless steel holders. There

are five different sizes, the

largest of which, the ‘Maxi Max’,

weighs an astonishing ten kg

and burns for almost a

thousand hours.

The candles have

been created in Belgium since

2004, and the brand is

BACK To BASiCS

The Copenhagen-

based designers

took as their

template the 1950

flag halvard Chair of hans

wegner, a recliner chair in

metal and cord. The eminent

designer dreamt up the

concept while lying on the

beach on holiday at the Danish

seaside town of Aarhus, a chair

that replicated the indents he’d

made in the sand to relax his

back and arms; legend has it he

began weaving by hand 240

meters of cord for the seat

while on the same beach. He

attached it to a stainless-steel

frame, and thus fused futuristic

minimalism with supreme

comfort. Also known as the

PP225, the chair still represents

the pinnacle of Scandinavian

furniture design, and is still

sought after by anyone wanting

comfort and timeless chic.

The Dogg &

Amved collaboration married

their two interests in traditional

craftsmanship and new

techniques, materials and

textures, to hand-weave for the

seat 350 meters of

polypropylene cord, available in

dyed tobacco or black – treated

with anti-uV material to stop

deterioration, synthetic

materials in organic form,

contrasted by the minimalist

black-lacquered steel structure.

They elaborated on Wegner’s

classic design so Fifty is equally

suited to indoor and outdoor,

and for the most flexible use.

The pair designed

a straight backrest suitable for

watching TV, reading or resting,

with woven ears on either side

of the headrest to create a

feeling of intimacy. The

optional footrest can be applied

for total relaxation.

Fifty, whether

placed in the sun lounge, in the

living room or on the beach

itself, has a mighty sculptural

presence, as well as being

designed for long life.

fifTy:An uPDATeTo A CLASSiCDeSignW o r d s : o W e n A D A M S

DAniSH MoDerniST FurniTure

DeSign HAS Been DrAggeD 60 yeArS

ForWArD inTo THe PreSenT TiMe

WiTH THe fifTy ChAir By Dögg

guDMunDSDoTTir AnD rüTzou

AMVeD.

BACK To BASiCS

Founded initially in

france as a

bentwood walking-

stick manufacturer

in 1860, from 1936 onwards

Ligne roset moved into

upholstered furniture and

other items, until it created

an entire lifestyle range with

global appeal, and continues

to sign up the foremost

european designers and

rising stars to stay one step

ahead in both innovation and

elegant aesthetic.

Dutto’s playful yet

practical designs are inspired

directly by sounds and moving

images, both close at hand and

far off; she specializes in trying

to turn wild imagination into

grounded reality. La Secrète is

a much-warranted update on

the classic elegant secretaires

of times past, and influenced

equally by French comic titan

Jacques Tati and the fictional

secret service agent James

Bond.

The designer

made the walnut and chrome

combo piece as part of her

graduate show Cabinet.

Containing a drawer to conceal

trinkets, and a space to stow a

small laptop with a facility

through which to feed the

cable, as well as other recesses

for documents and other

valuable items, the strut-

mounted flap lid can be used as

a writing surface when shut.

Mounted on four

solid walnut legs, with brilliant-

chrome crosspieces and

balance rail, the walnut-

veneered MDF structure

extends to a folding document

tray and drawers. Although

petite, La Secrète is capable of

containing a great many

secrets. yet the bold statement

it makes in a room is a

tantalizing opaque window into

the unknown.

reveALingThe SeCreTSBehinDLA SeCrèTeW o r d s : o W e n A D A M S

LA SeCrèTe iS BoTH PoeTiC AnD

FunCTionAL – THe MuLTi-PurPoSe

SeCreTAry DeSK iS THe WorK oF A grADuATe FroM

FrAnCe’S enSCi (nATionAL SCHooL

oF inDuSTriAL DeSign), PHiLiPPine

DuTTo. iTS STriKing inDiViDuALiSTiC

DeSign WAS ConSiDereD WorTHy oF

inCLuSion in THe LATeST Ligne roSeT

CoLLeCTion: THe SHoWCASe oF

SHoWCASeS For FrenCH DeSignerS.

BACK To BASiCS

shower, to bars, luxury paste

and even massage oils.

With no heat

involved in the crafting process,

the soaps retain the valuable

properties of their ingredients,

including the wonderfully

healing powers of botanical

herbs, resulting in a

moisturizing and long-lasting,

yet beautifully mild product.

Ambrah’s soap

bars, with their trademark,

rustic cut, are available in a

wide range of fragrances,

including rose, camomile,

green tea, lemon and cedar.

Created using natural olive oil,

honey, and natural herbal and

floral extracts, they gently

cleanse the skin, making them

ideal for everyday use for

hands, face and body.

The soaps, which

along with Ambrah’s other

products are environmentally

friendly, chemical and

preservative free, and not tested

on animals, are available at the

company’s concept boutique in

Badaro.

Ambrah Concept Boutique,

Badaro, Beirut

Tel: (961) 3 757 455/(961) 3 859

575/(961) 3 555 349

TreASureD reCiPe CreATeS

BACK-To-nATure BeAuTy in A BAr

AmBrAhSoAPSW o r d s : M i r i A M D u n n

Nestled in the north

of Lebanon is a

company which is

proudly keeping

alive the fast-disappearing

tradition of crafting entirely

natural soaps by hand from

cold-pressed olive oil.

Ambrah Soaps

uses a simple, yet treasured

recipe dating back to 1875

which has been lovingly passed

down through the generations

to create a delightful range of

soaps, ranging from large,

rustic spheres which recreate

the hammam experience in the

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When two iconic

italian brands, both

known for their

design prowess and

quality

craftsmanship, join forces, the

result can only be spectacular. This

is certainly what happened when

Maserati and Fendi came together to

design the Maserati gran Cabrio

Fendi, which made its debut at the

Frankfurt Motor Show in 2011. A range

of distinctive features set this model

apart – such as the 20 inch alloy

wheels featuring Fendi’s iconic double

F logo, or the use of a specially

developed shade of gray with a

unique iridescent gold effect. Fendi’s

selection of the finest leather and

wood for the interior brings an even

more luxurious feel to the exclusive

interior.

This special design

collaboration has its roots in a

book, The Whispered Directory of

Craftsmanship, A Contemporary

guide to the italian Handmaking

Ability Vol. 1, which paid homage

to italian craftsmanship. noting

the common values of Maserati

and Fendi, the idea grew to

collaborate on an exclusive

Special edition Maserati gran

Cabrio Fendi designed by

Silvia Venturini Fendi which

would be the vehicle of

choice for an italian

grand Tour voyage. This

would be no ordinary

grand tour, however,

as the journey was

filmed resulting in a

four-part

documentary.

TWo iConiC BrAnDS TAKe To THe roAD

WHen

fenDiMeT W o r d s : H e L e n A S S A F

each episode reveals some of

the workshops and laboratories

featured in the volumes of The

Whispered, which were visited

along the way.

This spring the

Maserati gran Cabrio Fendi

went on sale in a limited

production series of 50, each

numbered and no doubt

destined for a select number of

auto aficionados around the

world. For those that miss out

on the chance to own one of

these exclusive autos, there is

some consolation. Fendi and

Maserati extended their design

collaboration to a special travel

kit, featuring a range of items

that includes eyewear, holdalls,

a pashmina scarf and even a

leather jacket. Bearing the

quality and craftsmanship

synonymous with these two

brands, the collection ensures

that everyone has the

opportunity to travel in

spectacular style.

www.phoeniciabeirut.com

Phoenicia 50th Union 21x27.indd 1 3/18/11 8:08 PM

A fusion of delicate glass

and robust metals with

intriguing finishes, her

work is a blend of the

fragile and the robust, a

paradox that somehow comes together

to create some of the most intriguing

works on the market today. Mitrani’s

vases, glasses and lamps, to name but a

few of her creations, cradle fine, hand

blown glass within, occasionally industrial,

metal frames. The result is a contradictory

marriage of sharp metallic lines and

whimsical glass curves.

For over a decade Mitrani has

worked with some of the world’s most

famous design houses. She first worked

with Ligne roset in 1999 and continues to

do so to this day having recently completed

a new collection for the distinguished

brand. As with all of her work, the new

pieces are hand crafted with care and

precision.

Pushing the envelope in terms

of creative glass design, Mitrani’s limited

edition pieces created for roche Bobois are

truly eye catching. The two-piece series,

Bird on the Wire, features a fine, glass lamp

and a vase pierced by metal perches, atop

of which sit rows of glass birds, gazing out

through the sides of the pieces.

Winter, a collection including a

vase and six glass mugs, lives up to its

name; silvered birds sit upon wintry

branches, evoking a sense of chilly style

and stirring memories of snowy landscapes.

Perhaps the thought of the cold birds tugs

at the heartstrings, but Winter at once

seems as delicate as Bird on the Wire,

despite the slightly more substantial rests

upon which the birds perch.

While Winter and Bird on the

Wire are clear examples of Mitrani’s skill at

working with fine detail and delicate

materials, the collection titled no Limit is a

an example of her playful side. Vases with a

difference, porcelain fish jump and swim

through the blown glass, in playful takes on

the fishbowl. Full of life and fun, these

pieces are at once a playful distraction and

a demonstration of Mitrani’s talents, fusing

the ever-present blown glass with the

altogether solid appeal of porcelain.

Taking cues from no Limit,

oxygen, a one-off narguile, injects a shot of

humor into the traditional water pipe.

Featuring the same blend of ceramics and

blown glass, oxygen is comprised of three

bubbles sitting atop one another; from the

bottom bowl a spirited porcelain fish

attempts escape as the, imagined, bubbles

of air flow over it.

Mitrani’s appeal lies in her

ability to fuse elements together, creating a

blend of air, water and earth in a single

piece. Her flowing glasswork stands in

direct contrast to the, often comparatively

imposing, metallic elements while fresh

takes on classic porcelain create a range of

work that is not only the result of extreme

skill, but whose success lies in the wit of

the creator.

FrenCH inTerior DeSigner,

VAneSSA MiTrAni iS CreATing

WAVeS WiTH Her CoLLeCTionS

FeATuring PieCeS MADe FroM

BLoWn gLASS AnD MeTAL. HAVing

originALLy TrAineD in FurniTure

DeSign, MiTrAni’S LATeST

CoLLeCTionS LArgeLy FoCuS on CoMBining

SeeMingLy DiSPArATe gLASS

AnD MeTAL eLeMenTS.

ConSCiouS &unConSCiouS

Bourgeois artistic expressions.

A survey of her life’s

achievements, including pieces from the

1940s and 50s, through to just before her

death in 2010, are now on display for the first

time in the Middle east. The show, entitled

“Conscious and unconscious,” is at the qMA

gallery in Katara Cultural Village until June 1.

Philip Larratt-Smith, who worked

as Bourgeois’s literary archivist for eight years,

curated the 32 pieces in the exhibit, which

range in media from sculpture, gouache, and

fabric pieces, to installation. “Bourgeois

worked in a variety of media well before this

became common among artists,” he says,

adding that the pieces in the collection were

chosen to convey the “fundamental

DoHA HoSTS A LouiSe BourgeoiS reTroSPeCTiVeW o r d s : o M A r C H A T r i W A L A

A massive 30-foot-high

bronze spider dominates

the open space in the new

qatar national Convention

Centre, serving not only as a

tribute to Louise Bourgeois’ mother, as

the introspective sculptor intended, but

also to the late french-American artist

herself.

Likely her best known work,

Bourgeois has explained that the sculpture

“Maman” represents her mother as a “dainty

and clever” weaver. growing up in France,

her parents ran a workshop for tapestry

restoration, and in her later years as an artist

in America, fabrics and frail family ties

continued to play important roles in

01

ConSCiouS &unConSCiouS

whose waterways flowing together symbolise

not just a couple joining together but also

timelessness, as the liquid weaves around the

sculpture in a figure eight, the symbol for

infinity.

Bourgeois’s psychological self-

analysis led her to adopt spiral motifs in her

works, including two nest-like hanging

aluminium sculptures on display. To her,

spirals turn both in on themselves and

outwards toward the world, representing her

“attempt at controlling the chaos” of her

emotions. Later in life, the artist - who lived

almost a century - incorporated her own

clothing into her works as a way of preserving

some of the memories around them.

importance of the dynamic between

conscious and unconscious in her work.”

For Bourgeois, creating art was

a deeply emotional experience, and she

found the process to be both agonising and

therapeutic. explains the curator: “[There are]

binary oppositions that animate all of

Bourgeois’s work: male and female, abstract

and figurative, active and passive, maternal

and paternal, murder and suicide, rational and

irrational, etc. in Bourgeois’ work these

polarities are not mutually exclusive but

constituent parts of the same continuum.”

This is little better demonstrated

than in the exhibit’s opening piece “CeLL XV”.

The installation of aluminium, steel, glass,

mirrors and water, features a double fountain

02 03

05

04

01_____Louise Bourgeois

CeLL XV (For Turner),

2000 Steel, aluminum,

mirrors, glass, metal &

water 274.3 x 304.8 x

172.7cm. Collection

Louise Bourgeois Trust,

courtesy Cheim & read

and Hauser & Wirth

Photo: Christopher Burke


SPiDer iV, 1996

Bronze, wall piece 203.2

x 180.3 x 53.3 cm.

Collection Louise

Bourgeois Trust, courtesy

Cheim & read and

Hauser & Wirth

Photo: Peter Bellamy


unTiTLeD, 2004

Aluminum, hanging piece

166.4 x 106.7 x 63.5 cm.

Collection Louise

Bourgeois Trust, courtesy

Cheim & read and

Hauser & Wirth



ConSCiouS AnD

unConSCiouS, 2008

Fabric, rubber, thread and

stainless steel 175.3 x 94

x 47 cm. Collection

Louise Bourgeois Trust,

courtesy Cheim & read

and Hauser & Wirth


05_____LouiSe

BourgeoiS, 2003.

Photo: Nanda Lanfranco

PAuSeFor THougHT

W o r d s : A L i A F A W A z

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how was the reaction to your exhibition

visual ritual by the Lebanese audience?

The reaction was great - in particular the

wall art. This type of art is relatively new for

Lebanon. it encourages critical thinking and

this is beginning to emerge more in

Lebanon which is great to see aesthetics

advance more.

you started as an artist of oil painting.

how did you decide to add more

mediums and also work with objects?

i studied fine arts at St. Martins in the uK.

There they teach you about history of art in

a deep informed way. They teach you to

advance, make people look at things in a

new way in a modern context. Paint has

already been explored to the ninth degree.

The modern art world is about presenting

painting with new materials. i try to

introduce new ways of painting with steel

and glass and in a multi dimensional way.

your wall paintings are very unique.

They are outlined by metal behind

polished glass surface. why did you

decide to give them this presentation

rather than just a plain canvas?

i love working with steel and glass. For

example Mondrian was presenting squares.

i use metal, glass and concentric lines as a

new aesthetic, with humor and emotions

thrown in.

The wall paintings have an eclectic

collection of styles and imagery. yet

they all have a common feature, like an

animation figure with exaggerated

facial expressions.

When humans are given a field of picture,

they naturally look to the face. When we

are born we look at our mother’s face. We

are quick to identify eye and mouth. in

these pieces you see a collection of visual

devices which are all assembled together

to create an overall rhythm.

Let’s talk about a few of your furniture

pieces. i will start with the stool. you

give it such a contemporary look and

make it playful, yet not changing how it

functions.

A stool is a primitive chair. it has humor. it’s

cute. it’s affectionate. it’s a beginning.

Beginning with something random

challenges your conventions.

The moustache desk is really playful and

striking - a bit surreal.

What is surreal? it’s something that

activates something inside. you can’t say it

in words. This piece is making fun of

people who think they can hide behind a

moustache. yet they stand out! Blatant anti-

covering up.

which artists do you admire?

De Kooning -the modern abstract

expressionist of the 50’s, renoir and

raphael. What they all have in common is

that they are all absolute masters of their

style. i admire how dedicated they were.

They also happen to be the most expensive

selling artists in the world.

Did your parents encourage you to

pursue art?

not really, i found my way. i think my mom

(of Lebanese descent) had an aesthetic

tendency and that made an impression on

me. it seemed to suit my interest growing

up and becoming an artist.

MeeT roBerT hAmmonD THe BriTiSH ArTiST WHo BringS neW AeSTHeTiCS AnD A neW PerCePTion To ArT. DeFying ConVenTionS & CHALLenging THe WAy We See eVeryDAy THingS, HiS CoLLeCTion ViSuAL riTuAL iS CurrenTLy on DiSPLAy AT THe SMo gALLery in BeiruT.

what’s next? will your next piece(s) have a

connection to visual ritual?

Visual ritual is a soft start. it will be more avant

garde with a little controversy. Stuff to rub

people up the wrong way!

Are any of your pieces for sale?

They all are. All small furniture is under $1000.

The paintings go for much more.

is there any medium/material that you

wish to use that is new to you?

i love to work with modern art where

everything is potentially a new medium.

what other interests do you have outside

of creating art?

i like family get togethers. My wife and i

recently had a baby and it’s such a humbling

experience. i love time with friends, family and

spending nice moments together.

what do you do if you get stuck in a rut?

Say like a writer getting “writer’s block?”

i have a cure for them! The expression that

goes, you do your best thinking in B.B.B. Bed

(when you get up in the morning), Bath (in the

shower), Bus (commuting to work). When i

get stuck in the studio i just give up. Just put

yourself in a position to drift away from it.

Do you have any advice for young students

wanting to pursue an art career?

Well, you don’t need to be gifted to be a

great artist. it’s a wrong preconception. it’s

about practice and perseverance. real

artists did not do their best work until the

age of 40 and beyond. if you create

something brilliant before 30-35 it’s likely to

be a fad or luck really.

T H e C o M P L e T e W o r K S

There are few artists who

inspire such a sense of

mystery and outright

controversy as Caravaggio.

undisputedly a genius,

Caravaggio was an italian painter living in

the late 16th century. Famous well before

his death in 1610, the artist was the subject

of intense debate during his own lifetime.

A master of the school

of naturalism, Caravaggio advanced the

portrayal of the human form with his

incredible attention to detail and

understanding of the human form. His

ability to create links between the viewer

and the story the artist wished to tell was

Caravaggio’s strong suit. intensely detailed

and rich, Caravaggio’s works have only

recently been subject to scientific study.

Thanks to science’s

relatively recent ability to create large, high

definition prints, art scholars are revelling in

the incredible levels of detail in

Caravaggio’s work. Masterpieces that have

been studied for years are suddenly

revealing new details, and scholars are

uncovering aspects of Caravaggio’s style

that they were only able to guess at

previously. Caravaggio: The Complete

Works offers an insight into this remarkable

man and is a must for any serious fan of

classical art.

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This season's coffee-table

book selection is available

instore from Le Cercle Hitti.

ArChiTeCTure now! VoL. 8

BuiLDing THe FuTureW o r d s : L o u i S P A r K S

An encyclopedic look at the

latest cutting-edge

designs, Architecture

now! 8 gives the reader an

insight into current builds

the world over. Serving as a guide to the

most exciting projects and recently

completed buildings, Architecture now! 8

introduces readers to the best

contemporary architects and their latest

works.

From Joshua Prince-

ramus, to Thom Mayne of Morphosis, to

Japanese architect Sou Fujimoto and

Burkinabe Diébédo Francis Kéré,

Architecture now! 8 captures the spirit of

the latest generation of great designers and

architects. A global “who’s who” of the

architecture world, this book is a must for

anyone serious about building design.

An easy-to-navigate

reference, Architecture now! 8 contains

everything you need to know to about the

most inspiring architects in business today;

concise biographies, lists of their current

and completed projects and links to their

websites enable the reader to get a

comprehensive understanding of what’s

going on in architecture today.

This season’s coffee-table

book selection is available

instore from Le Cercle Hitti.

www.porschebeirut.com

Porsche Centre Lebanon s.a.l.Telephone 01 975 911, 03 901 911

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