Innholdsfortegnelse for January 2016 (Objekt 13) i OBJEKT South Africa

There are a couple of options as a tourist, depending on your particular taste. Hotels range from traditional Dubai architecture that will take you on a journey through “old Dubai,” still not neglecting any of the creature comforts the luxury traveller would want. Then, of course, there is the flagship of the group, the Address Downtown. The Address Downtown Dubai - For anything to be a brand’s “flagship,” in a place where excess and the “wow” factor are a part of daily life, it has to be something remarkable, and that is evident on the proud smiles of the people that greet you as you enter the big, glass doors, and look at the mesmerising array of flowers, mostly fresh orchids. The reception area was designed with space and a…

Few automotive companies have been as active over the last five years as McLaren, and the fact that this progression comes from a bespoke and exclusive super car manufacturer is more astounding. Now browsing through the extensive list of models, there is a McLaren for every need and every purpose, but each one bonded by the same philosophies and values one would associate with such a rich pedigree. Recently, McLaren took the decision to categorise its models across three distinct tiers. Sport Series is the introduction to the McLaren experience, with a strong focus on everyday usability. Above that sits the edgier and sharper Super Series, which this McLaren is assigned to, while the Ultimate Series is reserved primarily for track use and McLaren’s hybrid technology. By any means a…

THE RECENTLY RENOVATED , contemporary house is located in California, U.S. From the pool deck, it has unobstructed views of the Riviera Golf Course. It’s not small, on the contrary, besides its large, open ground floor, it consists of 5 bedrooms, 7 bathrooms, and two separate upper wings. And don’t forget the custom-made Downsview kitchen, the state-of-the-art theatre with seating for twenty, and the bar with climate-controlled wine storage for over 800 bottles. The master suite, on the ground floor facing the large deck, has a spacious walk-in closet, bathroom, and a space for a spa, or gym. The upper west wing features two large guest suites, one of which includes a private kitchenette. The upper east wing also contains two guest suites, each with separate lounge areas. The outdoor…

If we take into consideration how many brands battle to last for 5 years, it is incredible in this high paced age of innovation and technology when brands are able to weather the storm and survive. It is even more impressive however when brands are able to evolve and remain relevant in the current age that we live in. An ever changing consumer landscape in today’s economically uncertain times has seen many a brands crumble and disappear. SMEG has shown otherwise with real staying power that comes from being exceptional across the board as well as a passion for perfection that has remained constant for over 65 years. The brand boasts a rich history of technical innovation in the development of products that don’t merely exceed expectations – they transform…

THE RESIDENCE , with 5 bedrooms and 5 bathrooms, is very light. Natural light is channelled into the interior through the large windows, illuminating the open-plan ground floor, and the bedrooms on the upper floor. It emphasises the careful use of contrasting materials, directly visible in the entrance with its variety of approaches adopted towards the colours and surfaces. Entering the modern Los Angles home, designed by Amit Apel Design, the bold and contrasting colours and materials directly catch your eyes. Amit, “Colours and contrasting materials invite you to cleanse your mind’s eye, and explore the artful display of lines, shapes, and mass, integrated into a warm abode. As you pass through the grid-glass entry door, you witness the openness of a space you can dwell in, with well-defined areas…

WITH SPECTACULAR , panoramic views over the historic city of Lucerne, Lake Lucerne, and the mountains, Château Gütsch is situated on one of the most beautiful locations for any hotel anywhere. A hotel has stood on the site for over 100 years. It was originally built in 1888 by architect Emil Vogt, as a private residence with a connecting hotel and restaurant facilities. The architecture was inspired by the Bavarian castle, Neuschwanstein, and Vogt wanted to create a fairy-tale, Belle Epoque palace. Château Gütsch has been reconceived by Martyn Lawrence Bullard to honour its rich history, and important standing in the history of Lucerne. The grand public spaces have been brought back to their original scale, with careful attention to the historic decorative details, including the plasterwork, wood carving, fine…

JOSPEH on the kitchen, “I was commissioned to design and furnish the original kitchen some 20 years ago, when the house was under construction. The design, layout, appliances, colour, and finishes were then completely different from the current design. Cabinets in a white, lacquered finish, with grey-coloured, granite countertops covered the entire long wall, ending at sliding doors leading to the balcony overlooking the ocean. They had open shelves to display the owners’ art collection. During the design phase of the new kitchen, I presented an alternative concept by separating the kitchen from the family room, and incorporating a dining room table with 12 chairs as an integral part of the island. This enlarged the feeling of space enormously.” The white house is right beside the ocean, not far from…

Research shows that rug weaving is an ancient art that reached its pinnacle with the hand-loomed oriental and Persian rugs of 16th-century Turkey, Persia, and central Asia. By the 17th and 18th centuries, French and English rug designers were producing a variety of innovative styles and textures. The impressive European rugs were woven by hand until 1841, when Erastus Bigelow introduced the power loom. While some rugs are still hand woven, most contemporary rug producers utilise modern machinery and equipment. The last few years have seen a dramatic change in interior design, with a revolt against too much ornamentation and classical elements, and a focus on a truth to materials. We rarely see the classical treatments of interior spaces like we did through the ‘80s and ‘90s, and even elaborate…

BASED IN THE NETHERLANDS , with roots dating back to 1849, Feadship is a world leader in the field of custom superyachts. Each Feadship is defined by its superb craftsmanship, and sets the standard in every aspect of design, engineering, and construction. These bespoke motoryachts are created in partnership with owners who wish to invest in a wonderful building experience. Superyacht Como highlighted Feadship’s pioneering use of glass. The client requested large windows in the hull, and a wealth of glass in her superstructure. Following on from other recent launches that emphasised the art of glass, such as Hampshire II, Musashi, and Venus, thoughts now turned to the next logical, but seriously complex innovation, namely using glass structures to support structural loads from the decks above. According to its builders…

THE FOUNDATIONS of many a museum collection are created by passionate, private art collectors. Everyone is familiar with the names of distinguished and wealthy collectors, such as American industrialist Henry Clay Frick, Dr Albert C. Barnes, gallery owner Peggy Guggenheim, German manufacturer Peter Ludwig, Van Gogh collector Hélène Kröller-Müller, and the Saatchi family in London. They all have one thing in common, their passion for the visual arts, which has meant that the collections they have assembled over the years often form the bedrock of museum-quality presentations. However, private collectors with more modest means have also succeeded in making a name for themselves as pioneering art lovers, proponents, and collectors. That is certainly the case with Dirk Hannema (1895-1984), from the Netherlands who has, over the years, with an extraordinary…

“IN SOME PLACES ON EARTH , there’s not enough land to get inspired from, but the Turkish city of Bodrum is definitely not one of those places. The rich culture and geographical context, the local values, materials, and architectural heritage, cannot be overlooked when designing a house in this region. While the Mandarin Oriental’s architect came up with a run-of-the-mill modern design that would blend into any modern city, Ofist chose the local atmosphere of Bodrum. Within this context, we came up with a plan for an interior that would blend in the local situation.” Yasemin Arpac and Sabahattin Emir are clear in their opinions. “Our goal was to gather natural materials like wood, iron, stone, and combine them in a way that would fulfil the contemporary needs of a…