Celebrity Life

Situated in Central with views overlooking the heart of Hong Kong, an opulent private clubhouse designed by Kelly Lo is filled with designer furniture and retro colours. We visit the space and find out what was the source of her inspiration behind the interior design.

Taking up one floor of an office building in Hong Kong’s Central district and occupying some 1,700-square feet, a luxurious private clubhouse by designer Kelly Lo is a comfortable, cosy space in which her client can entertain friends and business partners. According to Lo, she “designed the space with an assortment from various brands that specialise in different materials and furnishings”, all of the latter being sourced from Italy.

For example, the main sofa in a plush teal green is from Meridiani; the brass side tables and acid-etched bronze shelves are from Henge, and the floating gold-leaf pendants that make up the main lighting above the dining table are from Catellani & Smith. In keeping with her usual style, Lo has also included a customised Tai Ping carpet to ground the space – in varying shades of blue with asymmetrical edges, it’s placed under the two-tone marbled coffee tables in front of a flat-screen TV.

“I love layering different materials and textures, as they make a space so much more interesting and helps move the eye around the room,” says Lo. “I actually designed this entire clubhouse around this bronze cherries sculpture by Surinamese sculptor Vigelandzoon Lothar, which my husband and I discovered while in Megève, France.” Made of cast bronze, the sculpture was then patinated to give the cherries their luscious colour and depth – and it was love at first sight for Lo, who called the client immediately to see if they were interested in buying it, even before even knowing exactly where it was going to go. It eventually wound up in the private clubhouse, where it became a starting point for Lo’s interior design.

“All the colours and textures used in the clubhouse were chosen to accentuate and support this sculpture,” she says. “The teals and watery blues of the wall upholstery and furniture provide a background of contrast for the cherries to really pop. The bronze of the sculpture is also referenced throughout the space in the form of side tables, shelves and small details in hardware.”

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Bronze cherries aside, Lo was also going through a blueish teal colour phase when this project began; prior to this, most of her projects were centred around warm shades, such as burnt orange and burgundy. She wanted a change in her own work and it so happened that the textiles and wallpapers she was considering at the time displayed the most gorgeous effects in teal and blue colour compared to other colourways. “It was meant to be,” she muses.

Indeed, Lo’s penchant for bold colour usage is heavily influenced by her previous boss, Jamie Drake of Drake Anderson in New York City, who’s known as the King of Colour. Just like him, she’s not afraid to use bold colours for the interior she designs, insisting that “colours give life and personality to a space”.

Lo’s extensive travels around the world have also highly influenced the way she designs interiors. “There’s endless inspiration out there from colours, patterns, textures, textiles, history, architectural forms … there’s always something new,” she says. “Travelling is the greatest source of stylistic inspiration and I miss it.”

According to Lo, whose eyes light up whenever she talks about it, the most special piece of furniture in the clubhouse is the dining table. A limited-edition UFO table from Emmemobili, it features a perfectly matched Nero-Portero marble top and as well as a lazy Susan, with a flawlessly curved shiny brass base and an under top for a floating effect. It took eight months to make and, in their quest for perfection, the craftsmen changed the table-top marble slab three times to give Lo an optimal book-matched pattern. Moving and assembling the table to its current location was also a daunting task for Lo and her team, as the table weighs almost 2 tonnes.

Although the space Lo has designed is a clubhouse, it’s still rather cosy and liveable. Asked whether this was her intention, Lo says, “Most definitely. The time for rigid formal spaces is over. Overall, clients nowadays prefer informal spaces that are luxuriously flexible. In fact, they prefer subtle glamour over grandiose opulence, like traditional heavy gilding and moulding. Subtlety is key.”

She also stresses that she always designs her interiors to reflect how she’d like to feel in a space, considering that people are invariably at their most comfortable in their own homes. For this clubhouse, it was paramount to create a sumptuous space that’s like a home, inviting and welcoming to the client’s guests – a space, in fact, that anyone would like to linger in, even after formal business is complete.

The post Inside the Sumptuous Central Clubhouse Designed by Kelly Lo appeared first on Prestige Online - Hong Kong.

In the market for property in Asia? See below for the most impressive luxury homes we've seen this month.

Whether it's a winter holiday home in one of Japan’s most prestigious ski villages, or a luxury abode in the world’s tallest apartment building complete with sky car porch, there is plenty of luxury property to found in Asia, and then some. With that in mind, we've gathered some of the best properties we've seen for that new home or property investment you're looking for. In fact, here's six of them.

1. Luxury Condominium in Bangkok

This ultra-luxe condominium is part of a wider residential development at the heart of Bangkok, by local real estate developer SC Asset. Located just across the way from stunning Lumpini Park, this one-bedroom unit boasts uninterrupted views of the surrounding Silom financial district; with tenants also having access to the complex’s club, rooftop pool and fitness facilities. Saleable area for this property comes to a total of 613 sq. ft., making it an ideal bolthole for the frequent business traveller.

Where: Saladaeng One, Bangkok

What: 1 bedroom; 1 bathroom

Asking Price: HK$3.65 million

2. Good Class Bungalow in Singapore

Designated by Singaporean authorities as a Good Class Bungalow (one of the city-state’s most desirable residential property classifications), Ford Avenue is a slice of resort-style living that remains close to the heart of affluent District 10. At 15,600 sq. ft. there’s ample room for a family of six or more, with carport space and a suitably lengthy 23-metre pool to match.

Where: Ford Avenue, Singapore

What: 5 bedrooms; 5 bathrooms

Asking Price: HK$166.4 million

3. Hotel-like Private Residences in Bangkok

Part of a luxury complex exclusively made up of corner apartments along the banks of the Chao Phraya River, this Four Seasons-administered property is the Canadian hotel group’s first waterfront residential concept in all of Asia. The 3,830 sq. ft. space is taken up by four bedrooms (each with their own freestanding bath), making this an ideal permanent base for affluent property owners who prefer a touch of hospitality in the home.

Where: Four Seasons Private Residences, Bangkok

What: 4 bedrooms; 4 bathrooms

Asking Price: HK$40.1 million

4. Getaway Home in Ashigarashimo

Less than two hours drive from Tokyo in western Kanagawa Prefecture, Galleria Costa promises to be a getaway home unlike any other. Consisting of 8.5 acres of pristine oceanfront real estate (including a two-storey guest house), the property offers breathtaking, unparalleled view of Sagami Bay; with each room possessing an ocean view. The outdoor pool and baths (rotenburo) have been intentionally designed to give the impression of an infinite horizon; and when you finally manage to pick your jaw off the floor, there’s no shortage of amenities indoors (i.e. a gym, tennis court, karaoke, and golf simulator) with which to keep yourself entertained.

Where: Galleria Costa, Ashigarashimo

What: multi-level estate with saunas, Jacuzzi, outdoor pool, gym, home theatre, tennis court and more

Asking Price: HK$165.3 million

5. Glasshouse in Niseko

Nestled atop a tranquil woodland escarpment, this bespoke glass, concrete and steel build is one of the most stylish lodges to retreat to after a day spent skiing down the slopes of Mt. Yotei. The Glasshouse is the brainchild of award-winning architect Hikohito Konishi, and incorporates traditional Japanese building elements, such as an indoor spa handmade using Hinoki wood, into the otherwise contemporary two-floor layout. It’s great as a permanent retreat during ski season, or failing that — to rent for your next excursion to Niseko.

Where: Abuta, Hokkaido

What: 6 bedrooms; 4 bathrooms

Asking Price: HK$50.4 million

6. Moon Shadow Villa in Phuket

Located in Phuket’s affluent, resort-heavy neighbourhood of Kamala, Moon Shadow is a stupefyingly large private villa, with six bedrooms and a saleable area totalling 12,366 sq. ft. Incredible views of the Andaman Ocean are to be had at quite literally every angle throughout the house — excluding the wine cellar — with standout features of the project including a waterfall feature, double-wide terrace and peripherally connected private terraces.

Where: Kamala, Kathu, Phuket

What: 6 bedrooms; 7 bathrooms

Asking Price: HK$6.36 million

As of the publishing date of this article, any aforementioned properties were available for sale. As such, we cannot guarantee that these properties will be available for sale indefinitely, so please check the respective listings for the most up-to-date information.

This article was first published on Luxe Living Asia

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Selecting the picture perfect movie set is just as important as casting the right actors and actresses to tell the story.

From the whimsical landscapes of Wes Anderson’s The Grand Budapest Hotel, and the gothic beauty of Gotham City in Batman, to the pastel avenues of suburbia in Edward Scissorhands, these movie sets, and many more, are not just spaces where the action occurs. They contribute to the action.

With Bong Joon-Ho’s movie Parasite sweeping the Oscars 2020, the attention paid to film sets has never been more prevalent. In particular, the house, where the award-winning Korean film unfolds, is so intricately constructed that it is every viewer’s second-best takeaway from the movie — naturally, the characters and plot twists take first place.

So, as Parasite enters the cinematic hall of fame for set design, we offer a retrospective at other recognisable homes that make the movie it features in more memorable. Most of the houses, which have since shed their film fame, have become private properties, too.

Parasite (2019)

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When we first see the Park’s lavish estate in the film, the housekeeper introduces the modernist building as one designed by star architect Namgoong. Namgoong is of course fictional, so in reality, credit for this impressive set goes to production designer Lee Ha Jun, who built the house from scratch to director Bong Jun Ho’s specifications. There were numerous aspects to factor in the design, from camera angles to the manipulation of natural light to enhance the mood in certain scenes. The home was built solely for the film in an outdoor lot of a studio, so, unfortunately, it is not a liveable space, but this fact makes the detail of the set all the more impressive.

A Star is Born (2018)

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The rockstar character, famously played by Bradley Cooper, Jackson Maine in A Star Is Born has a beautiful home in which action with Ally, played by Lady Gaga, takes place. The house was revealed to be a real home, housed in the Monte Nido neighbourhood of Calabasas. Designed by Douglas Rucker, this estate in the outskirts was recently sold for US$2 million (approximately HK$15.5 million).

Django Unchained (2013)

[caption id="attachment_208332" align="alignnone" width="1585"] Image: Wikimedia[/caption]

Quentin Tarantino’s films may court controversy, but there’s one thing that garners unanimous approval when it comes to his body of work: excellent set designs. Django Unchained is a prime example thanks to Don Johnson's character Big Daddy’s house, revealed to be a historic sugarcane plantation known as the Evergreen Plantation in Louisiana that dates back to 1790. The facade of the house was designed in the Greek Revival style, with the sprawling staircases from the verandah curving out to the lawn as the most memorable element. Parts of the film were shot here, along with some of the 36 other buildings on-site.

Twilight (‎2008–2012)

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Regardless of your opinion on teen cult movie Twilight, what is not terrible about Stephanie Meyer’s ode to sparkling vampires is the house where the vampire characters, the Cullens, call home. The leading vampires flaunt excellent taste in architecture, though all real-life nods ought to go to Skylab Architecture. Known as Hoke Residence, the property is located on the border between Portland and Oregon’s forest park, designed to show the interplay between the elements and interior drama — an adult treehouse, if you will.

The Lake House (2006)

[caption id="attachment_208336" align="alignnone" width="1589"] Image: The Lake House[/caption]

As much as we all love Keanu Reeves, the American romantic drama The Lake House is forgettable. It is in actual fact, a remake of Il Mare, the Korean original, which is far better in our books. What we do remember from the Hollywood copy though, is the lake house of its namesake. A glass house reinforced by beams that suffused the building with serene light in the day. Architectural styles referenced include the Regency period from the 1800s in England. The house was built entirely for this film in ten weeks, but later torn down and replaced with a fishing dock as it did not fit certain building codes.

Diamonds Are Forever (1971)

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Famed American architect and pioneer of the Googie style, John Lautner, is the man behind this famous house from the classic Bond film. The futuristic villa is called the Elrod House, and is the site for billionaire Willard Whyte’s holiday home in the film. Designed in 1969, the space spans a staggering 9,000 sq. ft. and has five bedrooms. It has changed hands since its cinematic debut, and was last sold in 2016 for US$7.7 million (HK$59.6 million) — slashed by almost half from a previous US$13.89 million (HK$107.6 million) price tag in 2009.

The Godfather (1972)

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There are many impressive houses in Francis Ford Coppola’s The Godfather, but Jack Woltz’s mansion is the cream of the crop. This palatial abode spans 50,000 sq. ft., with 18 bedrooms and 29 bathrooms, and has a whole laundry list of famous comings-and-goings outside of Coppola’s masterpiece. Built in 1927 by Gordon Kauffmann, who would later go on to design the Hoover Dam, the Beverly Hills home was famously owned by publishing tycoon William Randolph Hearst. The property later became the honeymoon destination for John F. and Jackie Kennedy, and is now looking for a buyer. A cool US$125 million (HK$969 million) is all it takes.

Ferris Bueller’s Day Off (1986)

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Ferris Bueller’s Day Off is a teenage comedy classic that will go down in history for two things: the story, obviously, but also the Ben Rose House, the family home to his sidekick Cameron Frye. The glass-walled estate is designed by A. James Speyer, protégé of Mies van de Rohe. The house was briefly slated to be demolished until it was bought for US$1.06 million (HK$8.2 million) in 2016, and then renovated, complete with a new garage that can house not one, but two Ferraris.

This story first appeared on Lifestyle Asia Singapore.

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Coravin, the wine lover's dream device that lets you pour wine without uncorking, is back with brand new models.

As fans of the smart wine preservation system, we have observed Coravin for some time and seen the brand expand with new technology every year. Now, they have extended their product lineup with the launch of new systems -- Models Three and Six. What's more, all new and existing models have been equipped with SmartClamps™, which, prior to the launch, was only available on Model Eleven. The new easy-on and easy-off clamps are designed to go over the neck of the bottle and push down firmly on the handle in one fluid motion, making the system even easier to use.

Coravin's wine access technology is all down to the hollow needle that is inserted through the cork, before the system pressurises the bottle with Argon (an inert, colourless and odourless) gas, to pour the wine out. Once poured, and the Coravin is taken off the bottle, the cork reseals naturally -- allowing wine to stay fresh for months on end, and years if needed.

The new systems also comes with a Coravin Screw Cap which allows users to enjoy new world wine (with screw caps) the same way as old world wine (cork) bottles, preserving them for up to three months.

So, with four Coravin Models in total, Model Three, Five, Six and Eleven, which model is the right one for you? Well, let's find out shall we.

Coravin Model Three

Details: Model Three is an upgraded version of Coravin's Model One and features a clean and simple, user-friendly and functional design in matte texture.
Perfect for: the everyday wine drinker.
Price: HK$2,080

Coravin Model Five

Details: Model Five is not available for retail as it has been made specifically for trade. The design is simply elegant but durable.
Perfect for: those in the industry who favour classic design with metallic accents.
Price: email for trade price

Coravin Model Six

Details: Model Six is the upgraded version of the popular Model Two Elite edition, it also features vibrant colours with chrome accents.
Perfect for: luxury style and fashion lovers.
Price: HK$3,580

Coravin Model Eleven

Details: Model Eleven is the smartest device of the Coravin family. It is the first bluetooth connected and fully automatic system. It comes with LED display, glass pour optimisation, and connection to the Coravin Moments app, which tracks system statistics and advises on wine pairings with food, music and more.
Perfect for: technology and gadget enthusiasts who love a varied wine experience.
Price: HK$6,880

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Hong Kong's ever-changing dining scene is constantly evolving.

So much so, that it can get a little difficult to keep track of it all, let alone remember to book and try the new restaurants that have caught your eye. From brand new concepts to fresh venues and additional locations, here is our guide to seven of Hong Kong's most promising new restaurants to try right now.

Well, what are you waiting for...

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Hong Kong's ever-changing dining scene is constantly evolving.

So much so, that it can get a little difficult to keep track of it all, let alone remember to book and try the new restaurants that have caught your eye. From brand new concepts to fresh venues and additional locations, here is our guide to seven of Hong Kong's most promising new restaurants to try right now.

Well, what are you waiting for...

The post Come Home to an LA Hideaway Fit for a Prince appeared first on Prestige Online - Hong Kong.

Hong Kong's ever-changing dining scene is constantly evolving.

So much so, that it can get a little difficult to keep track of it all, let alone remember to book and try the new restaurants that have caught your eye. From brand new concepts to fresh venues and additional locations, here is our guide to seven of Hong Kong's most promising new restaurants to try right now.

Well, what are you waiting for...

The post A Quintessentially British Address appeared first on Prestige Online - Hong Kong.

A space worth coming home to.

With many of us spending a fair bit of time at home recently, there has been one main outcome: a need for home improvements. Whether you're looking to upgrade your home theatre, spruce up the home office, or simply rolling out new wallpaper, making small or big changes to your home can really revive your living space and in turn, refresh your mind space too. In order to provide a little interior inspiration, we've rounded up our favourite interior designers and their Instagram accounts, so you can get a full mix of beautiful spaces and style sensibilities to model your home after.

Jonathan Adler

 

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"If your heirs won’t fight over it, we won’t make it," goes the Jonathan Adler brand philosophy. In 1999, Jonathan Adler kickstarted his home furnishing line after he debuted a ceramics collection five years prior. He was a star in the making, and now he has over 25 brick and mortar stores all over the world, 1,000 wholesalers, and a thriving online business. Known for his luxe and liveable style, his Instagram is a bright, and eclectic ode to colourful glamour. Adler, in particular, has a penchant for geometric accents.

Justina Blakeney

 

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A post shared by 🌿Jungalow® (@thejungalow) on Mar 26, 2020 at 7:09am PDT

Any fan of bohemian decor will be well-acquainted with Justina Blakeney. The Instagram account of the founder of Jungalow — a design movement that combines colours, patterns, and plants — resembles a visual celebration for the eyes. For maximalists, the clashing prints, mish-mash of global accents, and bright array of colours is a godsend. But if you're not a fan, the least that Blakeney's interiors will inspire you to do is bring plants and memoirs of your vacations into your living space.

Pierre Yovanovitch

 

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Contemporary art and handmade interiors are the two main hallmarks of Pierre Yovanovitch's designs. The French interior designer began his illustrated career after a menswear design stint at Pierre Cardin. Today, Yovanovitch channels his haute couture learnings into his interiors. His works are defined by voluminous proportions, curves, and 20th century influences.

Joanna Laven

 

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A post shared by Joanna Lavén (@joannalaven) on Oct 10, 2019 at 11:54am PDT

Swedish interior designer Joanna Laven doesn't believe in trends, she creates them. Her Scandinavian style is defined by a clean and balanced colour palette. For Laven, vintage furnishings are a must. Simple, timeless, and tasteful, Laven's works, along with the design inspiration she posts, are like a soothing balm for chaos on your feed.

India Mahdavi 

 

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The first thing you should know about India Mahdavi is that she designed Sketch's Gallery restaurant, which remains an Instagram sensation for its distinct blush pink decor and eclectic artwork. The Iranian-French designer's Instagram is a wonderland of colours, both royal and pastel, with rich combinations of textures, and putting together sumptuous fabrics with a playful irreverence.

Scandinavian Homes

 

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Minimalism, simplicity, and functionality — along with the heavy use of natural, organic materials — make up the backbone of Scandinavian design. Scandinavian Homes is a soothing space and Instagram account for anyone in love with clean aesthetics, and white near-empty spaces decorated with a muted touch.

Ryan Korban

 

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Ryan Korban is a familiar name in the fashion industry, as he has worked on several high-profile projects for luxury labels such as Balenciaga and Alexander Wang. Korban describes his aesthetic as "classic luxury, old-world romance, and urban cool". His signature style takes on a modern and sleek approach accented with wow moments. As a millennial, photographs of his interiors are deliberately shot with the Instagram generation in mind. Think striking symmetry with eye-catching details.

The post The 7 Interior Designers You Should be Following on Instagram appeared first on Prestige Online - Hong Kong.

If your idea of winter-time heaven involves heading for the pistes, then you may well be in the market for a luxurious Alpine eyrie. We scour Europe’s ritziest mountain resorts to find five prime properties.

The house-hunter battle cry of “location, location, location” is especially pertinent when selecting a luxury alpine ski property, and can be heard echoing off snow-dusted slopes from Kitzbühel to Cortina d’Ampezzo. A property’s price and potential rental return, as well as lifestyle factors (shopping, dining out) to be enjoyed while in residence, can vary greatly with country and resort.

According to the 2019 issue of the industry-respected International Report on Snow & Mountain Tourism, the number of annual “ski visits” globally has been relatively stable for almost two decades, hovering at about 330 million. The figure has been on a gradual upward trajectory in recent years, in no small part driven by a growth in interest in skiing from China.

While the United States attracts more skiers than any other country (with close to 20 percent of the global total), the most favoured region is consistently the European Alps, with the “big four” nations of Austria, France, Italy and Switzerland together capturing an impressive 44 percent of all ski visits. That popularity makes the Alps an attractive destination for ski-property investment.

[caption id="attachment_206902" align="alignnone" width="1523"] A modern chalet in France's Val d'Isère resort area[/caption]

This is especially true in what real-estate giant Savills calls the "prime" market (defined as piste-side properties values at more than €750,000). The global firm's winter 2019-2020 edition of The Ski Report states: “Many resorts in the Alps have seen prime property prices increase over the past 12 months, with the prime market generally seeing larger rises in value than the mainstream market.”

Savills describes the top 25 percent of prime properties as “ultra- prime”, and The Ski Report continues to explain in statistical detail that prices and potential returns on investment depending on location.

Savills says the American town of Aspen currently ranks as the global ski resort with the highest ultra-prime prices (equivalent to €44,500 per square metre), with Vail (€32,900; also in the state of Colorado) taking third position. Both Aspen and Vail are most popular with domestic buyers.

All other locations in the 2019-2020 ultra-prime top 10, however, are in the European Alps, with the French resort of Courchevel 1850 (in the reliably excellent Les Trois Vallées skiing region, and named for its altitude, which averages at 1,850 metres above sea level) currently placed second (€33,400).

Courchevel 1850’s most luxurious chalets are favoured by international buyers, notably from Switzerland and Russia. They come not only for perfect snow but also for the exceptional choice of Michelin-star restaurants, including acclaimed Le Chabichou by Stéphane Buron, Le Kintessence, Baumanière 1850, Le Montgomerie, Le 1947 and Sarkara; and designer shopping courtesy of Louis Vuitton, Hermès, Valentino, Loro Piana, Prada, Cartier, Fendi, Dior and the likes.

[caption id="attachment_206903" align="alignnone" width="1360"] Chalet Alaska at Courcheval 1850[/caption]

Val d’Isère (€29,300), also in France and similarly always in high demand due to its well-earned reputation for luxury, is placed fourth, swiftly followed by Switzerland’s St Moritz (a smidgeon under €29,300) and Verbier (€27,600), and then Courchevel (including the sister towns of Courchevel 1300, Courchevel 1550 and Courchevel 1650), Megève (France), Andermatt (Switzerland) and Méribel (France).

Most owners don’t live in their ski properties but use them as occasional winter boltholes, and so potential rental return is often a smart investment consideration.

In Courchevel 1850, for example, a top-tier luxury chalet (defined by Savills for this comparison as a detached, 4,000-square-foot, newly furnished property with six bedrooms, six bathrooms, valley or mountain views and spa access) might cost €12 million to buy. In the skiing high season, it could achieve a rental return of €100,000 a week.

[caption id="attachment_206904" align="alignnone" width="1450"] Chalet living room at Six Senses Kitzbühel Alps[/caption]

In Austria’s Tyrol, a similar chalet costing half that might pull in just €10,000 for the same peak-season rental period. That said, the medieval Tyrol village of Kitzbühel has long been fashionable with the jet set. Potential buyers here benefit not only from a wide choice of stylish, sought-after chalets regularly coming to market, but also numerous gourmet restaurants, exclusive boutiques, alluring nightlife and other après ski diversions on the doorstep.

Finally, investors in ski properties are advised to consider "resort resilience", using five ket metrics – snow quality, snow reliability, season length, altitude and temperature – to gauge the consistency of a resort's skiing offering.

Over the past three years, the same six resorts have topped Savills’ Resilience Index. In order of their ranking for 2019-2020 they were Zermatt (Switzerland), Saas-Fee (Switzerland), Breuil-Cervinia (Italy), Vail, Aspen and Obertauern (Austria).

It’s also worth noting the speed at which Andermatt, in central Switzerland’s picturesque Ursern Valley, appears to be racing up the Resilience Index, from 45th place in 2017 to its current seventh position.

[caption id="attachment_206905" align="alignnone" width="1355"] Chalet Fleur des Neiges, Villars, Switzerland[/caption]

Bordering the protected Austrian nature reserve of Hohe Tauern – the largest reserve in the entire Alps – the exclusive resort community of Six Senses Kitzbühel Alps  is billed as the first sustainable, zero-waste luxury hotel and residences development in the region, with chalets priced from around €5.1 million.

Projected to be completed this year, and already proving a hit with green-minded buyers, the village-style resort will include 13 private chalets, 45 condominiums and a 77-room hotel, all designed by celebrated Italian architect Alberto Priolo with interiors by Sweden’s Martin Brudnizki fusing regional authenticity and local stone and wood with contemporary flair.

The resort's 13 four or five-bed chalets – ranging in size from 3,800 to 4,300 square feet – are heated via geothermal and solar energy, with water supplied directly from an onsite spring. And while luxuriating in the warm glow of the eco-virtuous, owners can enjoy a host of Six Senses perks, from a three-storey spa to pillow menus and private chefs and nannies on call.

What’s more, each chalet comes with a limited-edition Porsche Taycan, the car brand's first zero-emission electric model, itself worth about €170,000. Only 18 have been produced, especially for Six Senses.

[caption id="attachment_206906" align="alignnone" width="1499"] Chalet Alaska in Courchevel 1850[/caption]

Smaller with three bedrooms but no less comfortable, Chalet Albert (for sale by Alpine Marketing at €3.6 million) nestles within walking distance of Kitzbühel’s buzzing, metropolitan centre and enjoys magnificent views of the nearby peaks of Hahnenkamm, Wilder Kaiser and Kitzbuehel Horn. Built in the typical Tyrolean style with a widely projecting roof to protect wooden balconies, the chalet also benefits from open kitchen, a double garage and a huge terrace with plentiful sunshine.

In the sought-after Quartier Nogentil of upmarket Courchevel 1850, Knight Frank is offering a rare package of two beautiful, neighbouring chalets at €15.6 million. Built in traditional Alpine style and sumptuously decorated with warm, extensively wood-panelled interiors, Chalet Alaska (living area 3,900 square feet) and Chalet Anchorage (3,000 square feet) each boast five bedrooms and five bathrooms, deliver exceptional views of the majestic Sommet de la Saulire and surrounding peaks, and are just a leisurely stroll from the much-favoured Pralong piste.

Alaska’s indoor spa with heated indoor swimming pool, sauna and hammam (Turkish bath) will help ease aching muscles after days of high-octane adventures on the slopes. Anchorage’s master suite has its own private jacuzzi. Guests can also recharge batteries courtesy of the chalet’s wellness area with its own chromotherapy jacuzzi and steam room. Both properties feature large dining and living areas with magnificent stone fireplaces, as well as spacious terraces for off-piste entertaining.

In the heart of the popular Swiss skiing destination of Villars-sur- Ollon (generally known simply as Villars), Savills is offering the chalet Fleur des Neiges at 8.95 million Swiss Francs (about HK$71.5 million). Set in 2,000 square metres of private landscaped grounds, this substantial (6,350-square-foot) residence overlooks the Rhône valley from an altitude of 1,258 metres.

[caption id="attachment_206907" align="alignnone" width="1381"] Chalet Albert in Kitzbühel[/caption]

With seven bedrooms and six bathrooms, the recently built chalet is ideal for entertaining, with spacious reception rooms, luxurious living areas, lavish bedroom suites, sun-filled balconies, large terraces and wooded gardens. The creative layout enables the property to be configured as a six-bedroom chalet and a studio apartment, or a five-bedroom chalet and a one-bedroom apartment. There's also a garage for two cars, as well as magnificent views from all three levels of the nearby Dent du Midi mountains.

Popular with families, Villars offers a good range of skiing for all levels, two international boarding schools, an abundance of summer activities and Geneva airport just over an hour away.

Also on sale by Savills, at €9.35 million, Chalet Kiliminjaro in Val d’Isère is a convenient, quintessentially Alpine chalet in the resort’s popular La Legettaz area. It offers easy access to more than 300km of groomed pistes, plus a wealth of challenging off-piste runs.

Spread over four levels and totalling 4,198 square feet, the ski-in, ski-out chalet is traditional in design, incorporating locally quarried stone and harvested timber. It boasts five large bedrooms and five bathrooms (three en suite), meaning it can easily accommodate 10 guests. It also benefits from a sauna, a generous terrace with jacuzzi, and a semi-professional kitchen.

The open-plan dining-and-living space has cathedral ceilings, a fireplace, balcony and huge bay windows delivering breathtaking views of spectacular surrounding geography. The third-floor master bedroom also has a large balcony.

The post 5 Luxurious Ski Chalets in Europe to Call Home appeared first on Prestige Online - Hong Kong.

To Filippo Gabbiani, “sustainability” can mean many things. “It could be in the materials you use, renovating an existing building or the economic sustainability of a space. It could be the strategic redevelopment.”

Since landing in China two decades ago with business partner Andrea Destefanis, the two Italian-born architects and founders of Kokaistudios have worked on some of the country’s most interesting projects, including the sympathetic renovation of Shanghai’s neoclassical column-fronted Bund 18, a pioneering project that lasted two years and remains a monument to a movement that’s swept the city’s skyline.

When I call Gabbiani in Shanghai, he’s just about to prepare dinner for the family, and his son can be heard running around in the background. With two days left of his 14-day home quarantine during the COVID-19 crisis, the architect is eager to get back to business. China’s largest city is slowly returning to normal.

[caption id="attachment_206872" align="alignnone" width="1551"] The Bund 18 Building on shanghai's historic waterfront[/caption]

As much as their award-winning practice has carved a niche for meticulous, elegant historical renovations, much of Kokaistudios’ work is radically challenging the “sociality” of their spaces. Although the studio was established in Venice in 2000, it relocated just two years later to Shanghai, where it’s emerged as a champion of this approach in Asia. And no matter whether the building is old or brand new, that idea – combined with the immense scalability and speed offered in Asia – it can make architectural work utterly transformational. “When Andrea and I finish a project, we hide inside the space and watch how people experience it for the first time” Gabbiani says. “We stay there for hours.”

“When you renew a stuffy former bank and make it into a new lifestyle space in Shanghai, the result can be incredible. That’s reenergising the space with a society. When you redesign a an old factory that used to house 1,000 workers into a design centre on Shanghai’s Jianguo Lu artery, as we did some years ago – the first project of this kind in the area – it’s also super-sustainable.”

Winning the international competition to design the prestigious Tsinghua University Law Faculty Library in Beijing was an immense coup. Finished last year, the building’s graphic rectangular exterior evokes traditional printing blocks and the national capital’s signature hutongs. The circular skylight atop a central three-level atrium streams natural light into the building. Soothing light wood interiors, offices, walkways, ramps and stepped seating spiral around the central void, and windows allow for striking views across the campus.

[caption id="attachment_206878" align="alignnone" width="1490"] Four Seasons Hotel Kyoto[/caption]

The duo’s work has taken them from august institutions to clever F&B concepts like the Brasserie at the Four Seasons in Kyoto, luxury stores and innovative retail interiors for Shanghai’s Reel Mall and Hong Kong’s K11 Art Mall. But smaller-scale projects remain here and there, such as intimate residences and the revamp of a 1930s villa for a Shanghai couture house.

Investing in the renovation of beautiful but often dilapidated European style architecture all over Shanghai, the studio promotes a sense of sustainability through preservation of this history. The old can blend seamlessly with the new sometimes, and turning the messy combination of blocks at 769 Huahai Lu into the Richemont Group’ new sleek Shanghai Headquarters is just one example. The revamped Xintai Warehouse along Suzhou Creek is another.

Maintaining a sense of history while bringing life back to these once derelict areas “boosts the social engine of the space, connecting people on a urban scale”, Gabbiani says. And trust the Italians to be so adept at injecting that warm, human touch to spatial interactions.

Visually, their style has a fantastic range. Just look at the holistic attitude to their design of Social House by Xintiandi, a two-floor space mixing retail, F&B and lifestyle, inside Shanghai’s Xintiandi Plaza central business district. Designed with a soothing, relaxing feminine aesthetic, this is a space for openness, exchange and vital socialising. Meanwhile, one can see in the fluid forms of the Altlife Bookstore in the eastern port city of Ningbo a lovely example of how organic geometry in architecture can encourage people to be curious and move around. “We created a place for people to linger and spend time in,” Gabbiani says of this lifestyle destination.

[caption id="attachment_206871" align="alignnone" width="1587"] Anting Town's Refurbished Central Square[/caption]

Contrast that with the Tsinghau Law Library or the much heralded five-star Capella Hotel hospitality project in Shanghai, a stone’s throw from my own apartment in the city. I would often cycle by the formal red-bricked property on Yongjia Lu, admiring the traditional Chinese shikumen building typology that I knew lay inside.

After living in the Chinese metropolis for 18 years, it’s no surprise that Kokaistudios has so many projects in and around Shanghai. But farther-flung cities such as Dubai, Tokyo, Paris, Singapore, Kuwait, Moscow and Kuala Lumpur have also come calling.

“Kyoto was an unbelievable project,” recalls Gabbiani of the restaurant finished in 2016. “I loved it, we were working in the middle of a UNESCO temple area and it was just amazing. “At the Kyoto Four Seasons Hotel and Resort’s ‘Brasserie’, Kokaistudios took a bold leap in combining a strong architectural approach and interiors with an original use of materials and light. Referring Japanese material philosophies of interaction between nature and human design, they managed a rather seamless interplay between the 5-star Brasserie Lounge and Restaurant that faced onto a centuries-old Japanese garden and pond.

Kokaistudios recently moved to big urban planning and design projects like the newly imagined Anting New Town Centre, completed last year. Beyond pure architectural design, projects like this are shaping how people interact in their towns. Covering 50,000 square metres, the urban renewal project in Anting (a satellite town 60km from Shanghai) upgraded and redesigned its Central Square, which included an elevated “twisted sail”-like canopy, while extending its four axes. The work transformed an under- used, ill-equipped space” into a vibrant hub with areas to sit and socialise around a pavilion for events or games (there’s a basketball court and playground) and simply hanging out.

[caption id="attachment_206874" align="alignnone" width="1468"] Co-founders Andrea Destefanis and Filippo Gabbiani[/caption]

Gabbiani and Destefanis have this habit of soaking in their handiwork through watching the physical and emotive reactions of others in the new spaces – a sort of spy-like observation after each job is one. The feeling is one of partial accomplishment. “Why partial? A lot of architects are never really satisfied by what they do. We do have a perfectionist nature,” Gabbiani explains. “We always say that we should design for the people, the social experience, to see how the space is lived ... and sometimes architects are designing more for themselves.”

So what attracted Gabbiani to architecture in the first place? Was it growing up Venice, one of world’s most famous architectural wonders? Or perhaps being raised in a family of designers, artists, art dealers and famous glass craftsmen from that ancient waterborne city?

“I’ve been drawing since I was 10 years old, but originally I wanted to be an industrial designer, even after I studied architecture at university,” he says with a laugh. During his studies, he and some classmates invented a new type of solar cell that was transparent like glass (poetically linked to his own family’s glass art background in Venice). But lacking the capital to bring those ideas to market left them with no choice but sell the patent to American buyers who used the technology to create solar shields used in space by Nasa.

[caption id="attachment_206875" align="alignnone" width="1564"] Jianyeli West Wing Capella Shanghai[/caption]

Selling the patent allowed Gabbiani to buy his house, and start Kokaistudios with Destefanis at the age of 30. But it would be many years before he landed in China. He lived and worked for firms in Canada, the US, and then Denmark – consulting with big architecture and design companies on projects. One of those projects drew him to Hong Kong, where he soon met Ailing Chang, the art lover and entrepreneurial owner of Shanghai’s famous Bund 18 building. The Kokaistudios co-founders were the first to land in the heritage edifice, and once they’d agreed to take on the project, it quickly evolved to a team 33 people working on it full time for two years.

“I’ll never have another experience like Bund 18 in my life, because we really ran everything from the start,” says Gabbiani wistfully. It’s clearly the project that has most emotional resonance even today. Arguably this was the big turning point of his career and life, allowing him to form more solid roots after years of globetrotting.

[caption id="attachment_206877" align="alignnone" width="1451"] Kunming Repurposed Rubber Factory[/caption]

Completed in 1923, the former neoclassical building was the China headquarters for the Chartered Bank of India, Australia and China, and has unparalleled panoramic views of Pudong’s famous financial skyscrapers and the Huangpu River. It remains one of the city’s hot spots, a personal haunt when I’m in Shanghai, and home to Hakkasan, Mr and Mrs Bund, L’Atelier de Joel Robuchon, and the notorious Bar Rouge. Having set a new standard for heritage revitalisation in the city through a meticulously researched approach to restoration, the results won a 2006 Unesco Asia Pacific Award of Excellence for Cultural Heritage Conservation.

“Transforming it was just amazing,” Gabbiani says, pausing, almost taken aback by the flood of memories. “I mean ... can you imagine?

The post Filippo Gabbiani of Kokaistudios on Sustainable Architecture and Radical Renovations appeared first on Prestige Online - Hong Kong.

According to island property broker, Farhad Vladi, few people can withstand the longing for their own private piece of land in the midst of vast oceans or an idyllic lake, far from the confinement of the rest of the world.
And he should know. For 40 years, Vladi has been the go-to deal-maker for movie stars, football heroes, tycoons and other well-heeled clients in search of their water-bound paradise, either permanent or temporary. He can even help them sell when they tire – or are forced to retire – from the castaway crew. Over the years, Vladi has sold more 2,650 islands.

[caption id="attachment_206807" align="alignnone" width="1643"] Pumpkin Key, Florida; Vladi Private Islands[/caption]

The quote above is taken from the opening lines of the Vladi Private Islands’ website, which is dedicated to this specialist corner of the realty sector. The Hamburg-based company also has offices in alifax, anada, and Wellington, New Zealand – both locations are close to significant numbers of desirable island properties.
There are several other companies that specialise in obinson rusoe getaways, notably Toronto- headquartered Private Islands Online, whose gorgeously illustrated catalogues are a sheer joy to browse. International auction houses hristie’s and otheby’s also have less extensive island sites with useful information and stunning pictures.
Acquiring an island, especially in a foreign country, is not for the faint- hearted, but fortunately the digital domains of reputable brokers provide extensive, well-written information on necessary legal, financial and common-sense considerations, which inevitably differ vastly from one country to the next.
Vladi has even devised a 12-point list of crucial factors to consider, which he says enables clients to “enter transactions with their eyes wide open”. The emphasis, he says, is on habitable private islands.

[caption id="attachment_206806" align="alignnone" width="1749"] Lataro Island, Vanuatu[/caption]

Each factor is worth two points, for a maximum of points. f the score comes to less than 18 (66 percent), Vladi doesn’t recommend proceeding. If they total 12 points or less, then the property won’t even be listed on the ladi site. Briefly summarised, the most important factors are:

ONLY CONSIDER UNENCUMBERED FREEHOLD TITLE

This is one criterion where there’s no compromise, Vladi says. As the buyer, you should insist on receiving an unencumbered freehold title for the entire island against the purchase price, though sometimes the existence of a small property – such as a lighthouse – held by a third party can be acceptable. Freehold means that you own the property 100 percent.
Leasehold means that somebody else owns it, and you only have the right to use it for specific purposes and for a specific time. Moreover, you can’t insure your island against expropriation, as you don’t own it.

THERE MUST BE MEDICAL SERVICES WITHIN A 90-MINUTE RADIUS OF THE ISLAND

You should not consider buying an island from which a hospital, clinic or medical-service station cannot be reached within 90 minutes, or, even more preferable, one hour.

FAUNA AND FLORA

Buyers often underestimate the consequences of mosquitoes and sand flies. n some areas, mosquitoes need to be sprayed with chemicals, which is not good if you are allergic to the sprays. ome islands, like many in Australia, are home to highly venomous snakes. However, as only about four people die from snakebite each year Down Under, anywhere within 24 hours of a hospital is acceptably safe. Plants can present their own dangers some are toxic and others can cause allergic reactions. And yes, falling coconuts can be deadly.

[caption id="attachment_206808" align="alignnone" width="1736"] Kaulbach Island, Nova Scotia, Canada[/caption]

FOREIGN INVESTORS ARE SUBJECT TO THREE POSSIBLY LEGAL SYSTEMS:

Free market: foreign investments can be made in the country without restrictions. One can sell and buy as much as one wishes. This applies to the nited tates, anada, ermany, rance and reat Britain, to name a few. Free markets pose little concern for reselling, but investors should consult a local chartered accountant on tax issues.
Restricted market: foreigners can buy only with a government sanction, such as providing jobs. There are two groups of countries with restricted markets. For example, witerland, ew ealand and Australia have their own local market where foreigner sellers can expect to receive market prices for the property. Other countries, such as Tahiti, renada and the eychelles, require government permits for selling the property. If these are denied, sellers are often restricted to the lower prices offered by local markets.
Foreigners banned from buying: in countries such as the Philippines, Indonesia, Malaysia and others in the Asia-Pacific region, foreigners are not permitted to buy freehold land, including islands. In such countries, people are better off renting an island for their holidays and awaiting government policy to change in their favour before making an acquisition.

[caption id="attachment_206810" align="alignnone" width="1839"] Ideally, islands should be easily reachable by boat[/caption]

ACCESS

Reaching the island in all seasons and all weather is as important as being able to leave the island. heck whether the island has a natural anchorage or a small protected bay where a boat can be moored, and preferably where a path from the bay to the house can be built. Don’t consider islands subject to rough seas where no anchorage is possible (even if only for a few days each year).

[caption id="attachment_206809" align="alignnone" width="1719"] Kaulbach Island, Nova Scotia, Canada[/caption]

INFRASTRUCTURE

Your island should offer fresh water, a legal sewage system, and electricity, telephone and internet (you could perhaps do without telephone and internet, even power, but not water!).
If there’s no water and the groundwater table has sunk too deep, then a desalination system will be required (and cost up to US$50,000). Islands with their own water supply fall into a much more valuable category.

BUILDING PERMITS

Islands are in two types: developed with existing homes and undeveloped. Buyers should ask if homes were built legally and if a building permit is available to inspect. Where there’s been no building, buyers should find out whether permits are available. We strongly advise that they consult professionals, such as architects and surveyors.

THE PERFECT VILLIAN'S ISLAND

Given Vladi’s long and broad-ranging experience in island-hunting, we asked him only half in jest if he’d ever visited one that would be perfect for James Bond or a supervillian. Without pausing he suggested Dark Island, located just inside the New York State side of the St Lawrence River that forms the border with Canada. The sprawling and imposing granite othic-revival castle was built in the early 1900s by the Frederick Gilbert Bourne, the fifth president of the Singer Sewing Machine Company. The eccentric Bourne had tunnels and passageways built into the walls from where, it’s said, he could eavesdrop on his dinner guests after excusing himself from the table. Today, Singer Castle is a popular tourist destination.

The post What to Consider Before Buying an Island of Your Own appeared first on Prestige Online - Hong Kong.

In super-pricey Hong Kong, upgrading to a larger home isn’t always an easy option. We hear three managers at Altfield Interiors that giving your home a fresh new look can boost its value too.

[caption id="attachment_206756" align="alignnone" width="787"] General Manager Clifford To, Marketing Manager Victoria Cheung and Showroom Manager Agnes Lee[/caption]

The post How to Give Your Home a Value-Added Makeover According to Interior Experts appeared first on Prestige Online - Hong Kong.