Innholdsfortegnelse for April 2016 (Issue 14) i OBJEKT South Africa

THE INNATE CREATIVE intelligence, elegance of design, originality and superior quality synonymous with “Made-in-Italy style” is what makes Italy unique among all others. Nothing quite exemplifies this powerful phenomenon and the very essence of Italian luxury quite like the latest collaboration forged by Smeg and Dolce&Gabbana. Smeg and Dolce&Gabbana – arguably two of the most iconic Italian brands of our time, distinguished globally as key representatives of Italian style and rightly celebrated as iconic symbols of style all over the world. By going beyond their respective creative sectors, the famed duo has teamed up, skilfully combined eras, different specialties and sensibilities to reinvent the conventional and create a new concept that completely banishes preconceptions and functional expectations - to become something so much more. The result: a bespoke collection of…

 THE REGION of the Italian city of Modena is the motoring center of the world of supercars and it is home to illustrious brands like Ferrari, Maserati, Lamborghini and Pagani. It is also the location of two Ferrari Museums that tell the story of Enzo Ferrari. The cars on display pay testament to the adventures of the man who gave the brand its famous name, charting Enzo’s life as a driver in the 20s, Scuderia master of ceremonies in the 30s, and manufacturer of iconic racing and sports cars. From the beginning, the museums were obliged to rely on the equity of private collectors from around the world for exhibitions of historical models and memorabilia. Enzo Ferrari did not like to dwell on past successes or keep any of the…

IN THE NEW part of the building lies a sake bar and lounge which has a flat roof of galvanized steel and a black monolithic concrete front. On the interior, the brick of the original building is exposed as a foundational texture for the space onto which PDLab has overlaid additional layers and textures throughout. The shogun-style restaurant and bar uses juxtaposing floor patterns as well as oversized pendant dome lighting to create the illusion of intimacy within the open-concept dining space. These rich, natural materials also distinguish the dining area from the supersized sushi bar. The main room is a harmonious collage of rich and contrasting materials and colours. Every individual element in the space is custom-designed and combines traditional craftsmanship with new-age technology synonymous with the PDLab name.…

IN THE SICHUAN province of southwest China, MGM and the Chinese organization Diaoyutai developed their first ever Diaoyutai Boutique hotel with luxury residences. Diaoyutai MGM Hospitality is a joint venture between Diaoyutai State Guesthouse, the Chinese Foreign Ministry’s venue for hosting heads of state, as well as and MGM Resorts International, which is a top global luxury hotel and entertainment group. The hotel is located in the stylish scenic spot, Kuanzhai Xiangzi, in the historic heart of the city. The two buildings are both former pagodas with dragon-scale roofs and gray brick walls, surrounded by shops, teahouses and private gardens with courtyards and transitional spaces. Diaoyutai MGM Hospitality asked Bruno Moinard and his studio to design all architectural and decorative aspects of the project. Moinard’s concept for this project was…

THE PAST few years however, has seen a complete turnaround with curtains becoming less and less popular. This isn’t only happening in homes, but also in the hospitality industry where anything other than creative window treatments were frowned upon. We now find that even the most conservative hotels, restaurants and guest houses are moving towards blinds as an alternative to the age old tradition. One of the biggest trends at the moment is a move towards simplistic design and decor and when it comes to windows, there is no better way to achieve this simplicity than with blinds. Recent years has seen the roller blind take the world by storm and Luxaflex are one of the world leaders and producers of amazing blinds. Roller blinds are available in a wide…

 FLORIAN WEITZER was drawn to the Ringstrasse and said, “I had long desired to add a glamorous hotel to Vienna’s scene. Our four other hotels had already proven that we could playfully combine a historical foundation with good ideas to create a contemporary composition, and the magnificent boulevard has been home to illustrious names in the hotel business since the 1873 World Exposition. Now, the Grand Ferdinand by Weitzer Hotels happens to be the only Austrian-run hotel directly on the Ringstrasse.” The transformation from an office building to a hotel was designed by Atelier Heiss and marked the second collaboration between Weitzer Hotels and the architects. The massive reinforced concrete building, whose sandstone and black granite facade and red marble vestibule are landmarked, dates from the 1950s. Although the building…

AS FAR AS colour goes, Pantone announced a softer take on colour for 2016. For the first time, the blending of two shades – Rose Quartz and Serenity are chosen as the Pantone Colour of the Year. I don’t see this as revolutionary as this colour combination has been used in past years in both the textile and wallpaper industries, but I do look forward to seeing how these develop in other areas of interior and decor design. The two colour directions that I see as more important is, firstly, the use of brown and black together with either copper or brass being used as an accent colour with this combination. Secondly, white on white broken only by neutral wood. This combination also works well with off-whites and will be…

 EVEN THOUGH VIEWS out were paramount this needed to be carefully balanced with the required privacy from within. The living areas were to be open plan – their poetry used to enhance everyday life. The architecture needed to take on a more “spiritual” approach – focusing on creating a contemporary, uncluttered and sculptural building. “Working with a relatively steep site and the fact that the southern boundary is shared with a National Park, the design took on a sensitive approach. The secondary spaces were positioned at the lower levels with care taken to limit excavation. From the road these levels are concealed by a large north-facing landscape wall, and its customised angular design achieves a natural result. Strategically positioned penetrations within the landscape wall permit natural light and ventilation to…

THE DRAKE Devonshire takes its aesthetic cues from the British country inn and the Hampton style from the summer camps and southern Ontario’s farmhouses and cottages. It’s a tapestry of historical layers and styles, practical ad-hoc renovations, readily available building materials, and mismatched furnishings. With the help of Toronto based ERA Architects as well as specialists in heritage and conservation; John Tong who is the creative director and designer of +tongtong removed a series of additions made to the original foundry. They added new structures such as a barn-like pavilion, a Douglas Fir dining hall, a modernist special events space, a Glass Box and an outdoor bar. The latter features a masonry chimney and double-sided fireplace, and cedar bleachers that cascade to the Devonshire’s waterfront. The public areas are now…