October 2011 - Design & Lifestyle Blog

A-Cero Design The Ultimate Dream House | Residential Design

This has to be the most spectacular villa I have ever seen so far, of all the magnificent works out there, A-Cero outdid themselves with this beautiful project. I think I am over excited posting this, but I couldn’t help my enthusiasm, I am actually calling it my dream home.

This residence belongs to none other than Spanish architect Joaquin Torres himself, and is located in La Finca, a residential area near Madrid, Spain with a total area of 1700m2. It has two levels, ground floor and first floor.All the rooms are decorated with items designed by A-cero, alternating with classic designs, antiques and works of art.

The house is accessed from the outside by a door 5 meters high, flanked by two wooden blinds in the center, a rim of Jerez well, dating from the seventeenth century of Marita Segovia, handmade carpets from Turkey, orange-white and black picture of Mercedes Rodriguez Parrizas. On the right pedestal, So-fha sculpture from the Thailand gallery of Antonio Martin. The decorations in the home are in an open dialogue between classic and contemporary.

The living room window of 15 meters, lies on the floor automatically, leaving open to the terrace.

The living room is the most public place of the house where the client receive the guests, a large space with a considerable height. The decoration carried out by the department of interior design of A-cero, as throughout, features pieces of their own design that coexist with more traditional elements:

A-cero designed the sofas, executed by Manama, upholstered in white silk. Coffee tables design by A-cero, made by Herranz Brothers in DM with high gloss and white lacquered sheet steel for the inside.

Two Mies Daybed, Barcelona model in white. India silk white carpet of Naim.

The kitchen is also designed by A-cero, executed by Aries kitchens in high gloss lacquered with DM in white, gray and countertops of graphite and gray Corian . A large central island of white Corian, which ends in a flight of 5 meters serving as a dining area /office. Appliances are from Siemen.

On their blog, A-Cero describe the details and the process of the works on this beautiful work of art. You can check photos as well of the work process.

28 Oct ’114 Nov ’11

Salvatore Ferragamo New Jewelry Line With Gianni Bulgari | Fashion

Ferragamo’s latest jewelry project is a creative collaboration with Gianni Bulgari, with three collections that represent the brand’s iconic symbols: the Ferragamo buckle, the Gancino clasp, and the futuristic label featured on all of the maison’s shoes. The Futuristic line, inspired by the famous label commissioned by Ferragamo and created in 1930 by Futurist painter Luciano Venna, comprises ridged bracelets, earrings ad pendants in sterling silver. The graphic lines were etched onto the metal using a new method the house evocatively dubbs the Spider Web

The Vara line, meanwhile, echoes the famous Ferragamo buckle, which is emblazoned onto bracelets and silver cabochon rings, as well as more luxurious versions in white gold and diamond. The Gancino line fetes the hook uses as a purse closure by incorporating the motif into yellow and pink gold pieces that come with diamonds and semiprecious stones. All three lines, of course, can be mixed and matched in endless permutations, depending on your mood and outfit.

The Ferragamo jewelry collection will be available from late October in a limited number of stores in Europe, the United States, Japan and APAC.

Photos and Info Source: The Luxury Insider

28 Oct ’114 Nov ’11

Karim Rashid Designs An Origami Kitchen | Interiors

Karim Rashid designed a new unusual kitchen island concept inspired by the oriental art of folding paper. The shape is sculptural and looks like its just there for display. But since it is made entirely of DuPont Corian, it is functional as well. It manufactured by the Egyptian producer Amr Helmy.

Its base can expand into a large worktop, which is divided into three zones: the cleaning area with an integrated sink, the cooking zone, and a snack area. Moreover, the island comes with a large wall cabinet with plenty of storage space.

Gotta love it …

25 Oct ’114 Nov ’11

The New Manila Trump Tower to be Furnished By Hermès

“I’ve always loved the Philippines. I think it’s just a special place and Manila is one of Asia’s most spectacular cities. I know that this project will be second to none.” Donald Trump- Chairman & President of the Trump Organization

Owned by Century Group, the Trump Tower in Manila Philippines), the most luxurious building in Manila, features high-rise condos with public areas (lobbies, libraries, pools) and apartments decorated by Versace, Missoni. Hermès was approached to design the public spaces of the building complex and, surprisingly, they accepted, making it the very first Hermès interior design for a public project. Despite the fact that Hermès has recently launched an extended home collection, including carpets and furniture, the French maison remains deeply focused on its core product range emanating from their exceptional craftsmanship.

The project is estimated to cost $150 Million and will include 244 residential units. It will rise at Century Properties Flagship Development, Century City.

From a grand lobby that celebrates your arrival, en route to a marvelous hallway that draws your inner effervescence. Amidst a wide array of lavishly designed amenities. Leading to your exclusive living space with sweeping city views.Trump Tower Manila’s emphasis on elegance, quality and craftsmanship will be evident in its amenity spaces. The building will use a selection of Hermès home collections for its amenities and common areas.

At Trump Tower^TM Manila, units are carefully designed to adhere to the Trump brand’s superior design and development standards.The Trump Tower^TM Manilla consists of 3 types of units:

Downtown Soho:

At Trump Tower^TM Manila lends Downtown Soho’s unique sophistication through ebony wood flooring, pristine white walls with linear paneling and white natural stones in smooth matte finish. Downtown Soho is the ideal interior theme for the upwardly mobile citizen with a contemporary taste in design.

Fifth Avenue:

Trump Tower^TM Manila brings glamorous Fifth Avenue’s classic design aesthetic through art deco in light wood veneer floors and walls, marble and granite natural stones in creams and browns. Fifth Avenue is the perfect interior finish for those who want to enhance and showcase their artwork collections like paintings, sculpture and art installations.

Park Avenue:

Trump Tower^TM Manila echoes Park Avenue’s transitional style using traditional moldings on walls and cornices, contemporary wenge wood flooring, lacquered high gloss finish for doors and door jambs, marble and granite natural stones in cream, white and black. Park Avenue is best suited for those who want the best of both worlds – fusing contemporary and classic in interior finishes.

The Trump ® brand now encompasses projects across the United States, Panama, Canada and Turkey and is renowned for representing the highest level of excellence and luxury in residential, hotel, office, retail and golf properties.
Trump branded projects have always been associated with the world’s premier real estate. Trump buildings are known for their spectacular views, prime locations, luxurious amenities and discerning owners. The existing clientele of Trump includes global CEOs and celebrities. The experience of owning a Trump branded property and living in the Trump lifestyle is unparalleled.
Superior Quality, Detail and Perfection are standards that Trump demands of all properties bearing its name. The exclusive touch of the Trump brand is present in every aspect of their properties, from the design driven, cutting edge façades created in collaboration with the world’s best architects, to the flawless interiors designed specifically for each market to the world-class service. No detail is overlooked. With each of its developed and branded properties, the Trump brand continues to raise the bar of super luxurious living consistently.

For information, please contact:
(632) 818 -90 41
(63) 917-555-5274
www.trumptowermanila.com
customersupport@century-properties.com

22 Oct ’11

1001 Nights Villa By A-Cero | Residential Design

There usually isn’t a long interval between posts about A-Cero’s projects. I am a big fan and in love with their vision of volumes. Many might find them bulky and “dry” since they heavily rely on concrete and grey stones for their finishes. Scroll down to check out the remaining photos and enjoy the effects the architecture reveals when accompanied with beautiful lighting and an enormous swimming pool.

A-cero is a Spanish architecture firm which has recently completed the 1001 Nights House project. This 22,600 square foot contemporary concrete residence is located in Madrid, Spain.

1001 Nights House by A-cero:

“A-cero presents one of its more recent projects in single family properties.

It is a single family house located in a development in the outskirts of Madrid. Over a plot of 7000 m2 the building, with 2100 m2, rises with a high standard design answering the owners’ requirements.

The access, through the development walkway, is placed on a higher level. Here is the property, partially hidden by many curved walls that seem to elevate from some water sheets over a stone covering in white, grey and black shades, placed on purpose as a part of the landscape in this area of the plot. Besides its sculptural features, typical of the A-cero style, this side of the facade expects the integration of the building in the surrounding environment. A wide stone path, with water sheets on both sides, lead us to a huge black glass door that gives us access inside the property. In the garden, following the wishes of the owners, there are palms, pome granate trees and Middle East vegetation.

The rear facade of the house, the most visible, makes the most of the slight slope of the plot, where there is the porch, a pool and the garden. Almost all the views from the different rooms of the property are focused here, as the views of the lakes in the common areas of the development.

All the building is dressed in “black villar granite stone”. In this part of the property big windows, with hidden woodwork, are opened, achieving a lot of light for the inside space. In the porch, the window in the main living room, of 10 meters, is automatically hidden, connecting indoors and outdoors.

The passable area is made of white marble, the vase in the pool of blue gressite. The outside furniture is from the Rest collection by A-cero In.”

21 Oct ’11

Godiva Opens In New York With Its New Global Design | Shop Design

Godiva reopened their New York 5th Avenue flagship boutique designed by New York based design firm d-ash design. It is the first shop in the U.S. featuring Godiva’s new global redesign.

The opening of this flagship store marks the highly anticipated return of the chocolatier to 5th Avenue, as the first Godiva boutique in the U.S. opened on the same avenue in 1972. The 1,024 square foot shop features a stunning street level window that suggests the degree of detail one can expect both in Godiva’s decadent Belgian chocolate confections as well as in the décor of the flagship boutique that houses them.
The d-ash design team (led by David Ashen) partnered with Linda Lombardi, Godiva’s Vice President of Global Store Design & Visual Merchandising, to create the new concepts, which brings a more luxurious, immersive retail environment to the company’s worldwide operations. Together, Lombardi and Ashen have fashioned an eye-catching aesthetic that pays tribute to Godiva’s venerable Belgian heritage while presenting a fresh face to the world, with clean, modern interiors where as Ashen puts it “chocolate is the star.”
The interiors are characterized by handsome wood accents and bright creams, rendered in an array of rich materials, and an elegantly backlit Lady Godiva emblem overlooks the shop from behind the cashier’s wall, an homage to the brand’s tradition.

ABOUT d-ash design
d-ash design is a New York-based interior design firm that combines innovative design with functionality. Their portfolio of work includes hotels, restaurants and retail stores, among others. David Ashen, President, is sought out for his unique ability to extend a brand, embrace a concept and make it come to life. Global brand leaders in major Fortune 500 companies have relied on d-ash design to analyze cultural nuances and regional behaviors to design visionary spaces throughout the world including the U.S, Japan, Korea, Hong Kong, Singapore, Taiwan, France, England, and Brussels. He has been the recipient of the “Wave of the Future” award by Hospitality Design, “Rising Star in Interior Design” award by the Fashion Group International, and was named “One of Ten to Watch” by New York Magazine. Current work includes projects in New York, Washington D.C., Charlotte, and Istanbul.

17 Oct ’11

Louis Vuitton Flagship Island | Architecture

Designed by Peter Marino who designed all 12 of Vuitton’s Maisons worldwide, this flagship store in Singapore enjoys a different flare and thus allows a unique experience to its luxury seeking clients. Visitors can access the flagship by bridge, ‘traveltor’, or by a private boat.

The lower areas have their floors covered in shipbuilding timber . An angular staircase with a nautical balustrade cuts across the place, Marino maximized the use of the beautiful scenery and made everything visible all around.

The aim of this luxurious setting is to allow the customers the comforting state of mind they deserve while shopping, as if being among Louis Vuitton bags and jewelry wouldn’t be enough to to that! Lucky shoppers of Singapore, enjoy!

Via Wallpaper*

16 Oct ’11

Earth-Scraper: A 65-Story Building Which Plunges 300 Meters Below Ground | Architecture

Architecture firm BNKR Arquitectura, have designed an incredible 65-story ‘earth-scraper’ which plunges 300 meters below ground in Mexico City. The upside down pyramid will house10 stories each for homes, shops and a museum, as well as 35 stories for offices, and a cultural center.

A glass floor covers the massive 240m x 240m hole in the city’s main square to filter in natural light from the world above. The earth-scraper is flooded with natural lighte and will have many green areas, to act as a “run-to” area from every day noises. This has to be one of the most creative and beautiful architectural projects one could come across.