Upload
city-news-publishing
View
230
Download
3
Tags:
Embed Size (px)
DESCRIPTION
Le Cercle magazine is for those that ooze unique, world-class style and design.
Citation preview
publisher:
City News Privilege
on behalf of Le Cercle Hitti
editor in chief :
Anastasia Nysten
managing editor:
Helen Assaf
editorial assistant
Susan Wilson
graphic design:
Peter Korneev
printer:
CHAMAS
www.3achamas.com
contributors:
Alia Fawaz
India Stoughton
Louis Parks
Lucy Knight
Miriam Dunn
Owen Adams
Susan Wilson
advertising:
t: +961 3 852 899
n e w s h o o t s , f r e s h d e s i g n ideas and surroundings of lush
greenery – this edition of Le Cercle is immersed in all the joys of springtime.
What better time to see some of the world’s most dynamic new eco-architecture in its full glory? In this issue we explore the most amazing treehouses, as well as Stefano Boeri’s tree-clad urban high-rise, and a villa enveloped in a cascading Thai forest.
Delft blue and Dutch orange colors figure predominantly in the Andaz Amsterdam, where designer Marcel Wanders has melded his own panache in a respectful homage to past masters.
We take stock of the true zeitgeist at Maison et Objet – the latest Paris expo concentrates on “vivant” (living) – and also B&B Italia’s strikingly minimalist award-winners in Cologne, Design Days Dubai and the rising stars brought into focus by Beirut’s super-innovative Starch boutique.
Living isn’t living without some incredible scents, rooted in nature – and we explore the making of the deluxe Baobab candles that fill your home with exquisite fragrances.
We also pay homage to the wondrous Togo and Michel Ducaroy, the creator of Ligne Roset’s most enduring furniture, 40 years on from the squishy modular seating’s conception.
Are you sitting comfortably? Then we’ll begin.
0102
0304
0506
07080910
1112
13Shopping 14
151617
1819
20 21
News 222324252627
28293031
323334353637
38394041
Architecture 424344454647484950
Living 5152535455565758596061626364656667686970717273747576777879 80
818283848586878889
Design In Beirut 90919293949596979899100101
Art 102103104105106107108109110111
112
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
accessories
the springwishlist
AquAriusbottleBlown glAss And metAl
h. 38 cm
VAnessA mitrAni
gOeS WInDOW ShOPPIng fOR
SOMe Of ThIS SeASOn’S MuST-hAve PuRChASeS.
delftblueno.01mArcel wAnders
ceramic
w. 18.5 x d. 11.3 x h. 41 cm
moooi
eggVasemArcel wAnders
unglazed porcelain outside,
white glazed inside
Ø 9 cm x h. 14.5
moooi
upsideDownchristiAn ghion
mouth-blown glass
Ø 30 x h. 29 cm
ligne roset
BigbenmArcel wAnders
fiberglass with powder coated
aluminum hands
Ø 180 cm
moooi
liGhtinG
contAinerbyBenjAmin huBert
matt enameled ceramic base and shade
w. 16 x d. 32 x h. 40 cm
ligne roset
nonranDom BertjAn pot
fiberglass soaked in epoxy resin, powder
coated aluminum cap, reflector:
shiny anodized aluminum
Ø 48 x h. 54 / Ø71 x h. 70 cm
moooi
laDycedric rAgot
Black, beige or brick-red lacquered
tubular base. double lampshade.
h. 168cm
roche BoBois
chiwawaVincent olm
set of 3 lamps with epoxy black or
white lacquered metal structure
with touch dimmer.
w.8 x d.13 x h.12 cm
ligne roset
luGanopierre duBois & Alme-cecil
light gray and white ceramic.
white cotton lampshade
h. 78 cm
roche BoBois
lunArossaAntonio sironi
rusted surface, white lacquered
steel dome with led lights
Ø 80 x h. 40 cm
ligne roset
seatinG
Gothic chairstudio joB
polyethylene
w. 44.5 x d. 46 x h. 90 cm
moooi
toriinoe duchAufour-lAwrAnce
structure in beech. seat and armrests
in foam. fully removable covers.
Armchair: w.68 x d. 55 x h.70
footstool: w. 50 x d. 45 x h. 40 cm
ligne roset
nilsdidier gomez
fabric or leather upholstery
medium settee:
w. 186 x d. 102 x h. 62/64 cm
ligne roset
thibault DesombreBase in natural solid ash, whitened
or with black or ash gray stain
w. 44 x d. 60 x h. 84 cm
ligne roset
serpentineeleonore nAlet
quilted ‘lumps’ interwoven
with a delicate metal structure
w. 78 x d.58 x h.74 cm
ligne roset
FolkBenjAmin grAindorge
structure, seat and back slats in black
solid ash with a satin finish.
w.42 x d. 54.3 x h. 83 cm
ligne roset
elizabethnAthAn Yong
structure in black-stained ash. cushions
may be upholstered in different fabric.
settee: w. 126 x d. 103 x h. 95.5 cm
ligne roset
seatinG
teatimemuller wulff
Brilliant chromed structure.
exterior of top in sawn natural oak;
interior in satin pink lacquer.
w. 57.7 x d. 64 x h. 35 cm
ligne roset
nemesisligne roset
panels of particle board finished in natural
or black-stained oak veneer. Base in epoxy
lacquered steel with slightly grained finish.
w. 174/292 x d. 100 x h. 74 cm
ligne roset
itisyphilippine lemAire
natural solid oak, sawn. gray lacquered
metal ball joints. legs in solid oak.
w. 110/186 x d. 110/54 x h. 75 cm
ligne roset
poppy pattersonnumero 111
sawn natural oak veneer.
silk gray lacquered interior.
w. 90 x h. 95 x h. 24.5 cm
ligne roset
ballsBertjAn pot
oak veneer on honeycomb
panel top, solid beech legs with
powder coated steel fixings.
w. 100 x d. 24o x h. 75 cm
moooi
aoyamanoe duchAufour-lAwrAnce
Blue-colored toughened fused glass
w.112 x d. 81 x h. 37 cm
ligne roset
tables
manGroVemArco fumAgAlli
particle board structure in pmmA
with tinted oak marquetry
cladding, solid oak legs
4 door sideboard:
w. 220 x d. 50 x h. 73 cm
roche BoBois
et ceterapAgnon & pelhAître
structure finish is white,
argile or elephant satin lacquer.
lacquered or oak veneer fronts.
Various dimensional possibilities
ligne roset
element 005jAime hAYon
epp body upholstery in divina melange
w. 72 x d. 28 x h. 40 cm
moooi
elements 006jAime hAYon
solid wood top, epp base upholstered
in divina melange storage space inside
w. 50 x h. 45 cm
moooi
altDeutsche cheststudio joB
solid pine and pine veneer
w. 135 x d. 50 x h. 190 cm
moooi
alFreDnuméro 111
Ash or natural oak. divina acier.
wood frame: w 52,
upholstery section w 74 x h. 170 cm
ligne roset
l’art de vivreby roche bobois
See www.roche-bobois.com for collections, news and catalogues
Phot
o: M
iche
l Gib
ert.
Spec
ial t
hank
s: P
ierre
Sté
phan
e Du
mas
– w
ww.
bubb
letre
e.fr;
ww
w.m
oaro
om.c
om fo
r Bos
kke
Sky
Plan
ter;
ww
w.ge
r or
.com
.
BEIRUT DOWNTOWN 33 rue Weygand Tel: +961 1 986 888/[email protected]
Large 3-seat Blogger leather sofa, design R. Tapinassi & M. Manzoni.Cute Cut cocktail tables, design Cédric Ragot.
European Manufacture
l’art de vivreby roche bobois
See www.roche-bobois.com for collections, news and catalogues
Phot
o: M
iche
l Gib
ert.
Spec
ial t
hank
s: P
ierre
Sté
phan
e Du
mas
– w
ww.
bubb
letre
e.fr;
ww
w.m
oaro
om.c
om fo
r Bos
kke
Sky
Plan
ter;
ww
w.ge
r or
.com
.
BEIRUT DOWNTOWN 33 rue Weygand Tel: +961 1 986 888/[email protected]
Large 3-seat Blogger leather sofa, design R. Tapinassi & M. Manzoni.Cute Cut cocktail tables, design Cédric Ragot.
European Manufacture
PUMPKIN armchair. Design: Pierre Paulin.Catalogue: www.ligne-roset.com
A subsidiary of the pan-Arab Web
Awards, the Lebanon Web
Awards brings together and
encourages the innovative spirit
and skills of web designers in
the country. Judged on its creativity, ease
of use, content, aesthetics and interactivity,
Le Cercle Hitti’s website rose to meet the
challenge and was recognized with gold for
its collaboration with Softimpact designs.
Reflecting the high standards
in design, innovation and style for which Le
Cercle Hitti is renowned, the website can be
viewed at www.cerclehitti.com
Le CerCLe Hitti was Honored at tHe Lebanon web awards witH its newLy designed website winning tHe goLd for tHe furniture Category.
Wo
rds:
su
sa
n w
iLs
on
PUMPKIN armchair. Design: Pierre Paulin.Catalogue: www.ligne-roset.com
W o r d s : S u S a n W i L S o n
0102
0304
050607
0809
1011
1213
Shopping 141516
1718
1920
21News 22
232425
2627
28293031
323334353637
3839
4041
Architecture 424344454647
484950
Living 5152535455565758596061626364656667686970717273747576777879 80
818283848586878889
Design In Beirut 90919293949596979899
100101
Art 102103104105106107108109110111112
B &B Italia has come out
triumphant as a winner in the
renowned Interior Innovation
Awards 2013 at this year’s Imm
Cologne for two of its designs.
The first, the Orione storage units and
consoles, were designed by award-winning
italian furniture designer antonio Citterio,
and form part of Maxalto’s orione Lux
Collection. The second is the small
armchair, Theo, designed by Belgian
minimalist designer Vincent Van Duysen.
Both designs will now be displayed
prominently at a special installation of the
interior innovation award 2013, organized
by the German Design Council.
The brand also came out on
top, winning the interior innovation award
– Selection for the Tobi Ishi table. Designed
by one of this year’s designers of the year at
Maison et objet 2013 – British designers
Edward Barber and Jay osgerby – the
design was honored for its special quality.
EDWaRD BaRBER ET JaY
oSGERBY CREaTEuRS
noW DESiGn a ViVRE
Tobi ishi
©B&B italia
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.
PossibLy tHe worLd’s most astute barometer of design trends, tHe twiCe annuaL giant
exPo maison et objet returns to Paris witH sPring and summer’s tHeme: vIvANT - LIvINg.
W o r d s : o W E n a D a M S
MAISON et OBjeT
0102
0304
050607
0809
1011
1213
Shopping 141516
1718
1920
21News 22
232425
2627
28293031
323334353637
3839
4041
Architecture 424344454647
484950
Living 5152535455565758596061626364656667686970717273747576777879 80
818283848586878889
Design In Beirut 90919293949596979899
100101
Art 102103104105106107108109110111112
I n many ways, the design
tendency, evaluated by an
observatory of experts, is a
continuation, or a culmination
perhaps, of the themes of ecology
and nature identified last year.
it’s a state of being where art
imitates life, the result of “our
dematerialized, virtual world… searching for
a harmonious lifestyle that is more
anchored in reality.” The analysts say: “We
are rediscovering the primal force of
original fodder.”
BARBeROSgeRBYone of the three Maison et objet’s noW!
Design à Vivre Designers of the Year were
the British duo Edward Barber and Jay
osgerby. The industrial designers create on
a diverse scale – from bespoke one-offs to
mass-produced objects, such as a new two-
pound coin. “We’re actually making money,”
marvels Barber.
They were chosen to design
the 2012 olympic torch. The 8,000
perforations in the torch reflected the 8,000
people carrying it in an 8,000-mile relay.
“We are interested in doing
things that are more inclusive,” says
osgerby. They have a crazy dream to marry
sculpture and architecture for a bridge
stretching from Britain to France.
01_____ EDWaRD BaRBER
and JaY oSGERBY
CREaTEuRS, noW DESiGn
a ViVRE,
Tab Lamp White, © DR
02_____ EDWaRD BaRBER
and JaY oSGERBY
CREaTEuRS, noW DESiGn
a ViVRE Poppins-DB, ©David Brook
03_____ EDWaRD BaRBER
and JaY oSGERBY
CREaTEuRS, noW DESiGn
a ViVRE PoRTRaiT,
©Linda Browlee
01
03
02
jOSePH DIRANDMaison et objet’s interior designer of the
year comes from the same city as the grand
expo. Dirand is inspired by the changing
Parisian skies which he watches from his
lofty office. architecture and design is in his
blood – the son of an interiors
photographer, he developed a fascination
with Le Corbusier, the gardens of Versaille
and india as a child.
“i do not consider myself an
inventor,” he says, “more a translator.” The
materials are vital. “i started using marble
with veins and suddenly i had opened the
field to an incredible range of new living,
poetic materials,” he enthuses.
01_____ JoSEPH DiRanD
CREaTEuR, SCEnES_D_
inTERiEuR_Distrito_
Capital-© adrien_Dirand
02_____ JoSEPH_
DiRanD_CREaTEuR_
SCEnES_D_inTERiEuR_
artcurial-
© adrien_Dirand
03_____ JoSEPH_
DiRanD_CREaTEuR_
SCEnES_D_inTERiEuR_
Emilio_Pucci-©adrien_
Dirand
04_____ JoSEPH_
DiRanD_CREaTEuR_
SCEnES_D_inTERiEuR_
Rick_owens-©adrien_
Dirand
05_____ JoSEPH_
DiRanD_CREaTEuR_
SCEnES_D_inTERiEuR_
PoRTRaiT_©adrien_
Dirand
01
05
02
03
04
ODILe DeCQFrench architect odile Decq is named as
Maison et objet’s Designer of the Year.
Having reached such a pinnacle is a
particular feat for a female designer. “i don’t
know if imposing one’s creations is what is
hardest for a woman,” she ponders.
She lives up to her ideal of a
woman who makes “things of great scale
and great power” – her current projects
include a museum in China and three
wholly glass houses in Brittany, France – but
is also a prolific sculptor, and has designed
everything from lamps and doorknobs to
silverware. “Through architecture you can
express things that allow human beings to
live well… Through art you can speak
politically,” she muses.
06_____ oDiLE DECQ
MaCRo TERRaSSE nuiT
©Roland Halbe
07_____ oDiLE DECQ
GuZZini FooD DESiGn
BREaD BaSkET 2010
08_____ oDiLE DECQ
CREaTEuR Mo
©oDBC LYon ext
09_____ oDiLE DECQ
CREaTEuR Mo Portrait
©markus deutschmann
06
07
09
08
01_____ nourritures
Premières by elizabeth
Leriche, geKe wouKers_
vegetables,
©geke woukers
02_____ nourritures
Premières by elizabeth
Leriche, spalsh, ©jean
jacques PaLLot milk
factory
03_____ nourritures
Premières by elizabeth
Leriche, baked table,
©andere monjo
04_____ terra Cota by talia
mukmel, © talia mukmel
05_____ nourritures
Premières by elizabeth
Leriche , mgx by
materiaLise dragonfly,
© mgx by materiaLise
02 03
01
0504
W o r d s : i n D i a S T o u G H T o n
0102
0304
050607
0809
1011
1213
Shopping 141516
1718
1920
21News 22
232425
2627
28293031
323334353637
3839
4041
Architecture 424344454647
484950
Living 5152535455565758596061626364656667686970717273747576777879 80
818283848586878889
Design In Beirut 90919293949596979899
100101
Art 102103104105106107108109110111112
“M iddle eastern design is still
the last virgin territory in
the design world,”
announces Cyril Zammit,
director of the fledgling fair
Design Days Dubai (DDD), which opened
its doors to the public for the first time
last year. “We all know american, asian,
European design, but not many people
know about Middle Eastern design, so it
gives us an extra plus.”
now in its second year, DDD is
the only design fair in the world to
showcase contemporary design from six
continents. Like art Dubai - also part of
Dubai’s multifaceted art Week, which takes
place in late March every year - the fair has
an international outlook, but retains a
unique character of its own due to its
regional slant, with nine of the galleries out
of the 29 participating in 2013 hailing from
the Middle East. Zammit prefaced this year’s
edition by giving a lengthy series of talks
with artists, collectors, galleries and press in
now in its seCond year design days dubai Has aLready suCCeeded in forging its own identity amid a PLetHora of internationaL art and design fairs, more of wHiCH seem to sPring uP eaCH year. fair direCtor CyriL Zammit sHares some seCrets to tHe fair’s suCCess.
01_____ industry Gallery
Tom Price Bronze Chair
02_____ industry Gallery
antonio Pio Saracino
Molecular Chair
03_____ Broached
Commissions Chen Lu
Dream Lantern 4
04_____ BC Trent Jansen
Briggs Family Tea Service 2
05, 06_____ Carwan Marc
Baroud_1
01 03 05
02 04 06
Lebanon, Saudi, kuwait, Qatar, Dubai, abu
Dhabi, Berlin, Paris and London.
“it’s important for us to have an
understanding in the region about what
we’re doing,” he explains, “because when
we mention design, a lot of people are
thinking about design as an end-of-line
piece, more interior design... we don’t
necessarily want to be seen as a furniture
shop. of course you’ll see pieces that are
chairs and tables, and we have the
functionality of design, but we are a very
artistic aspect of it, which is like a new form
of art.”
Many galleries these days are
blurring the lines more and more when it
comes to what constitutes art and what
constitutes design, but Zammit sees the
distinction as something that ultimately
stems from the buyer, rather than the artist.
“i think it’s up to the person who says what
they want to do with the piece,” he says.
“Let’s say you take a chair... it depends how
you want to use it, if you want to use it like a
decorative piece - almost like a sculpture -
or you decided to potentially use it... it’s up
to you to do what you want with a piece
you are buying.”
Zammit has an egalitarian
approach to the fair when it comes both to
sellers and buyers, refusing to impose
restrictions on who can participate, or to
cater only to the ultra-rich. a range of
pieces priced between 5,000 and half a
million dollars makes DDD more accessible
than many fairs for young collectors on a
budget, while young galleries are also
welcome to exhibit. “You never normally
show in a fair if you’re less than three years
old,” says Zammit. “For me it’s not
necessary... if you’re a young gallery, you
probably have less collection to show than a
more established gallery, but if you’re good
you’re good.”
01_____ Stilwerk Moto oV
by sgrollvidal 2009
02_____ Stilwerk oskar
Zieta Plopp Standard
copper family 2009
03_____ art factum gallery
marilyn massoud rasha
nawam buildings
01
02 03
Con
cept
and
Sty
ling
Col
lage
Stu
dio.
Pho
to F
abriz
io B
erga
mo.
LE CERCLE BEIRUT - AN NAHAR BLDG DOWNTOWN
MARTYR SQUARE T.+961 1 971444 555
ZOUK HIGHWAY T. +961 9 217744/55
MAXALTO IS A B&B ITALIA BRAND. COLLECTION COORDINATED BY ANTONIO CITTERIO. [email protected] WWW.MAXALTO.IT
Con
cept
and
Sty
ling
Col
lage
Stu
dio.
Pho
to F
abriz
io B
erga
mo.
LE CERCLE BEIRUT - AN NAHAR BLDG DOWNTOWN
MARTYR SQUARE T.+961 1 971444 555
ZOUK HIGHWAY T. +961 9 217744/55
MAXALTO IS A B&B ITALIA BRAND. COLLECTION COORDINATED BY ANTONIO CITTERIO. [email protected] WWW.MAXALTO.IT
0102
0304
050607
0809
1011
1213
Shopping 141516
1718
1920
21News 22
232425
2627
28293031
323334353637
3839
4041
Architecture 424344454647
484950
Living 5152535455565758596061626364656667686970717273747576777879 80
818283848586878889
Design In Beirut 90919293949596979899
100101
Art 102103104105106107108109110111112
Scenes ofgreeN
With land Scarce and the
environment under threat, a number of
today’S deSignerS are putting
SuStainability at the heart of their
projectSW o r d s : m i r i a m d u n n
T he difficult challenge countries face in
finding a balance between protecting
the environment and driving new
development is one that often grabs the
headlines, stirring up emotion among
both green lobbyists and business
leaders.
yet, while discussions rage on about how
we can preserve the world’s natural beauty while
encouraging economic growth and housing a growing
population, a wave of developers are already flying the
flag for sustainable development, ensuring projects fit
perfectly into their surroundings and are eco-friendly,
helping to bring a little of the countryside to the city.
e’terra, ontario, canada
lavender labyrinth in the
middle of the cedar forest
photographer clay dolan
The mouNTAINouS TerrAIN of The rockIeS
certainly meant voorsanger architects had their work cut out
for them when they took on the challenge of creating a
sustainable project in aspen at an elevation of 9,200 feet. yet,
the Wildcat ridge residence has proved to be a major
success, offering its guests maximum views of the mountains
while slotting in perfectly on the glorious landscape through
the use of large expanses of exterior glass.
the design includes a dramatic, folded plate
roof, together with an immense moss rock wall that marks
the division between the east and west wings of the
building. by cleverly following the longitudinal parallel of
the crest of the mountain, the design never competes with
the scale of the mountains, but instead complements
them. guest bedrooms have an eastern orientation, with
views of the receding mountain ranges.
the decor includes exquisite black walnut finish
for the floors, walls and ceilings, while the exterior uses local
sandstone and stucco. geo-thermal wells and a generator
provide the house with sustainable energy, heating the
driveways, pool and house during the cold winter months,
while cooling the space during the summer.
“I hAveN’T DeSIgNeD A TreehouSe SINce my
childhood, let alone built a restaurant in one... now that
it’s completed, i’m really proud of the way it’s turned out.”
So said peter eising of pacific environment
architects, after designing the yellow treehouse
project, which is located on a site north of auckland.
the yellow treehouse concept came
about through a competition launched by advertising
giant yellow to build a working restaurant ten meters
high in a redwood tree. raised above an open meadow
and meandering stream on the edge of the woods, the
treehouse has a fairy-tale feel to it, which will delight
diners. it exudes an affinity with nature, thanks to its
timber-trussed, pod-like shape, which is wrapped
organically around the trunk but never dominates its
setting, giving off a welcome glow in the evening but
remaining semi-camouflaged during the day. the
finishing touch is a delightful ‘juliet’ deck opposite the
entrance, which offers amazing views down through
the valley. access is via a 60m tree-top walkway, which
is described as an adventure in itself.
PLANNerS hAve LoNg recogNIzeD The merITS
of building upwards rather than outwards to avoid
encroaching further on the countryside, but
maintaining a green and scenic skyline while doing so
has proved to be something of a challenge. the
innovative bosco verticale towers, designed by Stefano
boeri architects, not only address this issue but also
introduce a means of promoting urban biodiversity,
which could help ensure the environmental survival of
modern cities.
translating as vertical forest and
located in central milan, bosco verticale takes the
form of two residential tower blocks 80 and 112
meters tall, which also hold over 700 trees and
thousands of plants and shrubs. the urban ecosystem
is expected to create a vertical environment,
which will eventually become home to birds and
insects, helping to encourage the recolonization
of the city by vegetation and by animal life.
as well as providing a restful and relaxing
home environment, the towers optimize, recuperate
and produce energy, absorbing co2 and dust particles,
while generating oxygen.
WhAT BeTTer WAy To eNSure vISITorS Are
completely at one with their ambience than creating a
residence that envelops and embraces its
surroundings? villa amanzi, which is located in the
exclusive cape Sol on the West coast of phuket, does
exactly that. a stylish, yet relaxed getaway, the luxury
villa has been built into the world-famous granite rock
face along the north boundary, which serves as a
unique and spectacular natural wall to the dwelling.
guests will certainly feel they’ve left the
hustle and bustle of city life behind them, thanks to the
winning combination of ultra-modern contemporary
design, stunning ocean views and natural forest that
covers the location’s Kamala headland.
the villa boasts six en-suite bedrooms, all
offering unobstructed panoramic sea views, while the
lower level has a massage area and adjacent jacuzzi
bath. a sloping tropical garden and 15m infinity-edge
swimming pool are two additional delightful features,
with the former providing a stairway down to the
expansive sea.
DeScrIBeD IN equAL meASure AS AN
environmental eco travel destination, a private getaway, a
wellness retreat, and a spiritual hideaway, e’terra has clearly
touched its many visitors in a variety of ways.
nestled amongst the white cedar trees of the
niagara escarpment World biosphere reserve at the tip of the
bruce peninsula, the luxury villa estate, which champions an
environmental holistic design and prides itself on its small
ecological footprint, has been crafted from salvage timbers
and stone.
the estate is set on 700 feet of georgian bay
shoreline, offering visitors the luxury of an ancient coral reef,
alongside the wonders of its plentiful wildlife, which come
right up to the residence, and famous walking trails.
central to the concept of e’terra is its mandate
of mental, sensual, physical and spiritual wellness.
the estate includes superb dining options,
together with plenty of ways to relax, including a vast library,
massages and holistic treatments, which are offered by local
registered practitioners. visitors will also love the seasonal salt
water pool reservoir cloaked in waterfalls, which provides an
alternative to the natural waters of georgian bay and owes its
trapezoid shape to the glacial scour in which it was designed.
Photographer Clay Dolan
Entrance surrounded
by stone walls
W o r d s : S u S a n W i l S o n
V ery few 70s cult pieces
can be said to have
stood the test of time,
but Michel Ducaroy’s
1973 sofa design, the
Togo, has done just that.
a true bête de mode that
this year celebrates 40 years as a style
icon, the Togo was launched the same
year as the launch of the brand ligne
Roset. it won the René-Gabriel Prize for
‘innovative and democratic furniture’ in
1973 and has gone on to be produced
in a quantity of 1,280,000 pieces
worldwide that have sold in 72
countries.
Ducaroy’s vision for the
Togo has unusual yet fitting origins for a
piece so democratically designed,
being described as, “a tube of
toothpaste folded over on itself like a
stovepipe and closed at both ends.” and
“Since 1973, Togo has already wor ked its magic on t wo generat ions: t he t hird doesn’t have t o wait eit her ! ”
RE
nÉ
- G
aB
RiE
l P
RiZ
E,
1973
GR
an
D P
RiX
DE
l’a
PP
M,
20
04
a S
EV
En
TiE
S C
ulT
PiE
CE
TiM
ElE
SS a
llu
RE
1 2
80
00
0 P
iEC
ES
PR
oD
uC
ED
Wo
RlD
WiD
E
Co
nST
Ru
CT
ED
FR
oM
3D
iFFE
RE
nT
DE
nSiT
iES o
F Fo
aM
6 H
ou
R P
Ro
Du
CT
ion
TiM
EFo
R a
la
RG
E S
ET
TE
E i
n
lEa
TH
ER
a B
uT
To
nE
D S
ilH
ou
ET
TE
Ma
DE
FR
oM
8 D
iST
inC
T
Cu
T P
iEC
ES
CH
oiC
E o
F 8
99
Co
loR
So
F Fa
BR
iC a
nD
lE
aT
HE
R
alS
o a
Va
ila
BlE
in
a
CH
ilD
RE
n’S
VE
RSio
n
“A t ube of t o ot hpaste f o lded over on itse l f Like a st ovepi pe and c l o sed at bot h ends.”
Miche l Ducar oy
so the Togo’s distinctive squished down
signature look was born.
Part of the Togo’s enduring
appeal lies in its ability to be customized
to suit every home. not just in color, of
which there are 899 choices in fabric
and leather, but also in layout. The Togo
comes in seven modules: large settee,
small settee, settee with arms, fireside
chair, mini-togo fireside chair, corner
seat and footstool. Each of these
modules can be used as independent
seating, or arranged together as corner
seating, a u shape or indeed any layout
you desire.
These handcrafted
modules – the upholstery process for
the large settee takes four or six hours
for fabric and leather respectively –
allow the Togo to fit into any home and
style, keeping the 40 year-old sofa
timeless and universal.
Comfortably supreMeTHE Togo ConTinuES iTS REiGn oF STylE
Taking pride of place at the latest Maison
et objet was a 40-year-old design icon, a
chaise updated in alcantara upholstery
with a digital houndstooth pattern –an
enduring classic of sublime desire, more
than 1,280,000 sales down the road. The Togo
represents a supremely comfortable revolution that
has cradled successive generations.
Michel Ducaroy first teamed up with
walking sticks and chair manufacturers Ligne Roset
in 1954, but it was in 1973 that he – and Ligne Roset
- truly arrived with the Togo, an all-foam settee with
quilted cover. The pleating formulated the pleasure
principle – between three and five different densities
of polyether producing the frame, allowing
ergonomic shape and comfort - and the supreme
modular seat cushions have adorned the living
rooms of the elite ever since.
Ducaroy was born into a family of
designers, and loved to experiment with new
materials since he struck out on his own in 1952. His
fusion of savoir-faire with dynamically new industrial
technology chimed with the Ligne Roset ethos.
Ducaroy died aged 84 in 2009, 20
years after receiving the ultimate French honor, the
National Order of Merit. In his 32-year career with
Ligne Roset he designed many other significant
pieces, starting with the Adria in 1968, one of the
first modular chairs shaped entirely with foam, then
the Kashima, Marsala and Safi. But his name will
always be synonymous with the 1973 Togo, the apex
of modernism and the synthetic age. Unlike many
other 1970s creations, post-modern condescension
has never consigned the Togo to the kitsch-ironic
drawer – and polyester remains queen of quilting.
In 2007, Ligne Roset miniaturized its
best-selling classic to create the Mini Togo for
children, and shrunk the low-rise seating further for
babies and toddlers. Togos for all ages come in an
ever-expanding range of colors and designs, from
the fireside chair for one, loveseat for two, to sofa/
settee with or without arms, corner seat and
ottoman. Ducaroy remains the high priest of
laidback leisuredom.
W o r d s : O w e N A D A M S
l’art de vivreby roche bobois
See www.roche-bobois.com for collections, news and catalogues
Phot
o: M
iche
l Gib
ert.
Spec
ial t
hank
s: T
ASCH
EN
Correspondances storage system.Mah Jong modular sofa, dressed in fabrics, design Hans Hopfer.Domino rug, design for Roche Bobois.
European Manufacture
BEIRUT DOWNTOWN 33 rue Weygand Tel: +961 1 986 888/[email protected]
l’art de vivreby roche bobois
See www.roche-bobois.com for collections, news and catalogues
Phot
o: M
iche
l Gib
ert.
Spec
ial t
hank
s: T
ASCH
EN
Correspondances storage system.Mah Jong modular sofa, dressed in fabrics, design Hans Hopfer.Domino rug, design for Roche Bobois.
European Manufacture
BEIRUT DOWNTOWN 33 rue Weygand Tel: +961 1 986 888/[email protected]
-
Geneva reproduces recordings exactly as their Grammy andOscar-winning creators intended.
Great sound and design with no complications.
Distributed by
GENEVA SOUND IS “FURNITURE MUSIC” – A RENEWED FUSION OF HOME ENTERTAINMENT AND HOME DÉCOR THAT BRINGS TECHNOLOGY AND DESIGN FULL CIRCLE.
SIZES: XS, S, M, L and XLMODEL FINISHES: Hand-lacquered wooden cabinets in Red, White, Black, or Walnut.
Geneva All-In-One Entertainment System
SIMPLICITYSOUNDSBETTER
Visit LCH to experience Geneva sound products.
SHOWROOM:LCH, Martyr Sq. Downtown. An Nahar Bldg. Beirut, LebanonT: +961 1 971444/[email protected]; www.cerclehitti.com
Changingrooms
Feel like a spring revival? CheCk out le CerCle’s stylish ideas For ways to
ring the Changes in your home.
Changingrooms
Feel like a spring revival? CheCk out le CerCle’s stylish ideas For ways to
ring the Changes in your home.
010203
04050607
08091011121314 Shopping 1516171819202122 News2324252627282930313233343536373839404142 Architecture434445464748495051 Living52535455565758596061626364656667686970717273747576777879808182
8384858687
888990 Design In Beirut
9192
9394
959697
9899
100101
102 Art 103
104105
106107
108109
110111
112
6
2
5
7
11
3
7
1
4
1_____ Felt by delo lindo for
ligne roset
2_____ desa by pierre
Charpin for ligne roset
3_____ Contours by didier
gomez for ligne roset
4_____ Bloom by hiroshi
kawano for ligne roset
5_____ Felt by delo lindo for
ligne roset
6_____ Contours by didier
gomez for ligne roset
7_____ elysée settee by
pierre paulin for ligne roset
8_____ elysée pedestal table
by pierre paulin for ligne roset
9_____ trépied by normal
studio for ligne roset
10_____ mortaise by yota
kakuda for ligne rose
11
12 15
16
8 10
13
14
18
17
7
9
11_____ elysee by pierre
paulin for ligne roset
12_____ gavrinis by pierre
paulin for ligne roset
13_____ ploum by ronan &
erwan Bouroullec for ligne
roset
14_____ mobidec by pierre
Charpin for ligne roset
15_____ mixte by mauro
lipparini for ligne roset
16_____ ami de Jean by
gabriela Chicherio for ligne
roset lamp
17_____ Folk by Benjamin
graindorge for ligne roset
18_____ Créneau by elia gilli
for ligne roset
1
2
8
6
7
5
3
4
1_____ icone by Cédric
ragot for roche Bobois
2_____ voiles by maurice
Barilone for roche Bobois
3_____ mangrove by marco
Fumagalli for roche Bobois
4_____ Focus by philippe
Boux for roche Bobois
5_____ impresario by
roberto tapinassi &
maurizio manzoni for
roche Bobois
6_____ precious by Cédric
ragot for roche Bobois
7_____ reverb by Cédric
ragot for roche Bobois
8_____ monster chair by
marcel wanders for moooi
andaz hotel - netherlands,
amsterdam, design by
marcel wanders,
photography by peer
lindgreen
16
9
10
1315
14
1211
9_____ mah Jong bed by
hans hopfer for roche
Bobois
10_____ Cute cut by Cédric
ragot for roche Bobois
11_____ alster by emmanuel
dietrich for ligne roset
12_____ lantern by mathias
hahn for ligne roset
13_____ arobase by Cédric
ragot for roche Bobois
14_____ ponyo by Cédric
ragot for roche Bobois
15_____ waterline by Cédric
ragot for roche Bobois
16_____ extension chair by
sjoerd vroonland for moooi
the galeries - australia,
sydney, the uncarved
Block, John Collings
W o r d s : l o u i s p a r k s
P h o t o s : m a n s o u r d i B
a homeFor all seasons
L e Cercle’s latest project by
Dori hitti, a stunning
chalet in Faqra, provides
the perfect example of the
designer’s minimal style
and attention to detail.
designed to make the most
of lebanon’s long summers as much as the
stunning scenery we enjoy at this time of
year, the chalet is a bespoke, year-round
family home.
the ground floor comprises a
kitchen with hidden storage units, cleverly
kept out sight behind detailed panels that
open when pressure is applied; a wide
living room featuring a five-meter long sofa,
a television that turns into a mirror when
turned off, and a stunning, narrow fireplace.
the guest bathroom features a stand-alone
washbasin where the
waterspout hangs from the
ceiling to create a truly unique
feature.
a striking storage
system for wine bottles starts at
the floating bar and progresses
onto the second floor, where
hitti envisages it being used to
display books in the family
room above. made from metal
with a dark finish, this ingenious
system shadows the floating
staircase leading to the second
floor, providing subtle lighting
and privacy for those heading
upstairs.
the family areas
on the second floor are typical
dori hitti, clean lines and clever
use of space though further
hidden storage units underline
the modern, fresh feel of the
residence. private, yet also
personal, the space includes a
bedroom for two children, a
master bedroom, bathroom
and a communal area.
hidden by the
snow, the outside decking area
leads onto a landscaped
garden, allowing the family to
enjoy the stunning mountain
views in the summer time.
exuding modern, clean lines
throughout, this Faqra chalet
embraces the very best of
modern, minimalist design
principles, while remaining a
warm, family-oriented space.
AmsterDAm ahoy
I n the very center of
Amsterdam, on the site of a
former public library, now
stands the Andaz Amsterdam,
the latest addition to a global
hotel family. located on the
prinsengracht, a unesCo world
heritage listed ring of canals, the interiors
purposefully provide a reflection, not only
of the surrounding city as it currently
stands but also of its history.
the design for the interior
of the hotel was left in the hands of
famed and ubiquitous designer
marcel wanders, who has exhibited
at the museum of modern art in
new york, and the v&a museum in
london. wanders is not only a
local but also an expert in sleek
and modern portrayals of traditional
designs. the theme of the hotel is travel
and wanders has tackled this through
representations of the nautical, navigation
and adventure.
taking such a neoteric
approach has created a hotel not only with
the vibe of an old city but with the
sleekness of the 21st century. there are 117
artistically designed guestrooms and five
suites, each containing a representation of
holland’s cultural heritage, with
associations such as dutch delft Blue,
tulips and the color orange, wallpaper in
blues and white, avant-garde orange
armchairs, and probably the most futuristic,
the ‘Connected polarity’ images appearing
on each room’s back wall. For these images
wanders has taken two inanimate and
W o r d s : l u C y k n i g h t
0102
0304
050607
0809
1011
1213
Shopping 141516
1718
1920
21News 22
232425
2627
28293031
323334353637
38394041
Architecture 424344454647
484950
Living 5152535455565758596061626364656667686970717273747576777879 80
818283848586878889
Design In Beirut 90919293949596979899100101
Art 102103104105106107108109110111112
aBove right:
andaZ lobby
right:
andaZ Canal view king
AmsterDAm ahoy
unrelated objects that can be joined
symmetrically with the three x’s of
amsterdam’s flag: a spoon and fish, a brush
and fish, a vase and fish, all sitting
contentedly side by side – a representation
of creativity and tolerance.
the crowning glory is the
tribute to travel that can be found in the
ancient navigation technique of following
the stars in the hotel’s ‘observatory’, which
consists of an array of large, low-hung, lit
baubles and chandeliers. sumptuous blacks
and grays, deep blues, velvets and glass, are
all set to inspire a guest, whether in the bar,
restaurant, lounge or just the lobby.
the andaz amsterdam offers a
unique experience and thus will delight the
palate of even the most jaded and world-
weary traveler searching for that elusive
something different.
aBove: andaZ lounge
right: andaZ observatory
Get the free App!available after the 1st of Maywww.citynewspublishing.info
magazine now on ipad
Interview modular sofa, design Sacha Lakic.Features integrated USB port and digitallycontrolled position memory feature for independent control of the seats and backrests.Vador low tables (4 shown), design Carlo Zerbaro.
l’art de vivreby roche bobois
See www.roche-bobois.com for collections, news and catalogues
Phot
o: M
iche
l Gib
ert.
Spec
ial t
hank
s: P
ots
ww
w.se
rax.
com
; TAS
CHEN
European Manufacture
Features integrated USB port and digitallycontrolled position memory feature for independent control of the seats and backrests.
BEIRUT DOWNTOWN33 rue Weygand Tel: +961 1 986 888/[email protected]
Interview modular sofa, design Sacha Lakic.Features integrated USB port and digitallycontrolled position memory feature for independent control of the seats and backrests.Vador low tables (4 shown), design Carlo Zerbaro.
l’art de vivreby roche bobois
See www.roche-bobois.com for collections, news and catalogues
Phot
o: M
iche
l Gib
ert.
Spec
ial t
hank
s: P
ots
ww
w.se
rax.
com
; TAS
CHEN
European Manufacture
Features integrated USB port and digitallycontrolled position memory feature for independent control of the seats and backrests.
BEIRUT DOWNTOWN33 rue Weygand Tel: +961 1 986 888/[email protected]
E ach and every one of
Baobab’s candles is a
unique creation. the
handmade perfumed candles
are the work of expert
craftsmen who pour the hot
colored wax into distinctive
vases blown by glassworkers, and
fashioned pristinely straight through cold
cutting and hand polishing. the raw
materials of the candle are chosen to the
highest of standards, with fragrances
from a grasse perfumery, mineral and
non-oily wax, and wicks made of egyptian
cotton.
the candles are available in
a selection of five sizes – including the
“maxi max” candle, a stunning 40 cm high
and 10 kilo masterpiece that will produce
its light and perfume for a thousand
BAoBABColleCtionthe making oF Candles
W o r d s : s u s a n w i l s o n
hours. the wicks of the candles are placed
in glass, colored glass and stainless steel
holders with the hot wax poured into each.
a wooden beam placed across the top of
the candle holder then keeps the end of
the wick out of the cooling wax. once
cooled, each container has a label placed
on it, and a black ribbon tied around the
holder, both by hand.
to complement this
minimalistic decoration, each candle is
then placed in the distinctive Baobab black
box, designed by a Belgium craftsman and
enclosed with buckram paper.
with its origins in the african
landscape of tanzania back in 2002,
Baobab since moved its base of production
to Belgium in 2004, and, with almost a
decade to its name, Baobab is now leading
the way in the production of elegant, richly
perfumed decorative candles.
GrAvitylampsan artFul approaCh to lighting
W o r d s : l o u i s p a r k s
Designed with nature’s forces
in mind, Dori hitti’s Gravity
Lamps seem to teeter on the
edge of possibility.
resembling a tower of boxes
just about to collapse, the
gravity lamps are as much a
piece of sculpture as a source of light.
where the inspiration came from, hitti isn’t
quite sure, perhaps a set of boxes about to
fall, perhaps the soaring, contemporary
towers of the uae, wherever the genesis
lies, the result is a striking piece of art.
envisaged as a sculpture rather
than a light, the gravity lamps are an
inspiring line, perfectly blending form and
function and something hitti is justifiably
proud of. the idea that gravity holds the
world together, yet also creates limits, limits
that must always be tested, enabled the
designer to create something truly unique.
available in three sizes and
color combinations, from chrome to a dark,
brushed steel and finally red, the pieces are
a limited edition, and each one is signed and
numbered. sure to appeal to the art lover in
all of us, the gravity lamps are at once eye-
catching pieces of art and a contemporary
lighting solution.
Designers ofsubstancesTArCH unveils iTs new bATCH of Homegrown CreATive TAlenTW o r d s : A l i A f A w A z
I t’s a pioneering fashion/design project in
Lebanon with a name that represents a
white, odorless substance. However,
starch is anything but dull as it is arguably
the single biggest supporter of emerging
creative talent in the country, started by
renowned fashion designer rabih Kayrouz
and Tala Hajjar five years ago, in collaboration with
solidere.
for this 2013 fashion year the starch
foundation showcases some of the most promising
new talent each with their signature style. The new
candidates (they are rotated each year) are guided
through the process of developing their collections as
well as promoting them through communication and
marketing while being given retail experience, thanks to
the use of a store in the heart of beirut’s vibrant art and
culture district - saifi village.
like the name of the foundation, the
designers behind it represent the qualities of the
chemical substance it stands for: a hardening or
Designers ofsubstance
010203
04050607
08091011121314 Shopping 1516171819202122 News2324252627282930313233343536373839404142 Architecture434445464748495051 Living52535455565758596061626364656667686970717273747576777879808182
8384858687
888990 Design In Beirut
9192
9394
959697
9899
100101
102 Art 103
104105
106107
108109
110111
112
bonding component in the textile industry.
metaphorically, the designers symbolize the
component parts and creative agents for the
burgeoning fashion and design industry in lebanon.
This year the creative brat pack is led
by stephanie Moussallem, a product designer by
profession, who helped re-design the boutique
giving it an industrial edge. she took inspiration
from a local beer factory (961). using a large
wall panel as the backdrop, she recreated the
same metal pipes as the brewery to protrude
from the life-size picture and continue
throughout the store doubling as railings for
the clothes.“i wanted to contradict the idea
of what a boutique should look like, but
while making it practical and aesthetic as
possible,” she explained. This design
philosophy is also apparent in her
beautiful collection of magnifying
glasses and marble and brass desks
produced for the store.
bashar assaf brings an eclectic range of
ladies ready to wear that is inspired by
geology. “i’m really interested in the
metamorphism of rocks,” he tells us. This
passion was developed into customized
prints, giving his collection a somewhat
sci-fi flair. Assaf, who also works as a stylist
for production houses in lebanon and
saudi Arabia, wants to focus more on prints
next season and begin his first menswear
collection.
striking with the strongest commercial
appeal is Hussein bazaza’s first ever
collection, which features plenty of
elaborate pieces in dramatic cuts
using velvet, knit crochet and even
brocade in rich colors. bazaza also
teaches the craft at esmoD – the
country’s leading fashion school.
Perhaps the most experienced of the
crew is sevag Dilsizian, having worked
in jewelry making for two decades. He
launched his first collection of unisex
statement rings titled DAs, which means
“to give” in his native Armenian. The
rings are all made with brass as the main
metal then mixed with gold and black
rhodium. each ring comes with a name
and a small story, making the bearer
feel special with the poetic themes
and intricate handcrafted designs.
Another designer also with Armenian
heritage is celine Der torossian who
could easily pass for a model. she
produced a successful fashion installation
and collection launched at the smo gallery
last year. for her first starch collection, she
drew upon art deco and geometrical
references and created shapes from
neoprene fabric (commonly used for scuba
gear) pressed onto various beautifully
tailored black jersey wardrobe separates.
Clearly the members of the starch team
bring their unique stories with their dazzling
creations. To view this design team’s
spring/summer 2013 and second
collection, visit sTArCH boutique located
at 1051 Quartiers des Arts, saifi village
(www.starchfoundation.org).
010203
04050607
08091011121314 Shopping 1516171819202122 News2324252627282930313233343536373839404142 Architecture434445464748495051 Living52535455565758596061626364656667686970717273747576777879808182
8384858687
888990 Design In Beirut
9192
9394
959697
9899
100101
102 Art 103
104105
106107
108109
110111
112
T he brainchild of friends Dalia
Dogmoch and Racil chalhoub,
the concept boutique was
designed to feel like home.
The successful venture in beirut
provided the launching pad for
the Kitsch Cupcake bakery in
Dubai, expanding the concept beyond
lebanon.
Here in beirut Kitsch is definitely
a place to visit, not just to explore all they
have to offer in terms of fashion but also for
delicious home-cooked fare. breakfast,
brunch, lunch, tea, coffee, cakes and an
early dinner are all on offer at Joanna’s Table
in the Kitsch boutique. The restyled space,
with bright white tables, was designed by the
talented Joanna Debbas, to provide a light
and comfortable space for people to sit and
enjoy her delicious home cooking.
still the place to come for a
cupcake – the nutella cupcakes are a
particular favorite – Joanna also provides
delicious traditional lebanese foods, along
with pastas, burgers, seafood and more in a
constantly updating and refreshed menu.
Her mantra: always use the freshest
ingredients.
she even sells healthy snacks,
dried fruit and herbs, and has recently
collaborated with Chef Karim Haidar and
boutique wineries of lebanon creating a
special menu for meat and seafood lovers at
the Kitsch boutique.
To keep abreast of the delicious
food on offer and the special menus, follow
the updates on www.facebook.com/
KitschConceptstore, and make sure to head
down to Joanna’s Table for whatever tickles
your fancy.
Joanna’sTAble
W o r d s : s u s A n w i l s o n
P lan beY produces
publications and objects in
limited runs through its
work with local artists,
designers and artisans.
These works, created primarily
by beirut or berlin-based artists
- where they have a sister boutique called
b/b multiples - are produced in ways that
would be too expensive for large scale
manufacturers, and are sold exclusively in
the boutique. working with various hand-
printing techniques - such as manual press
printing with photo-engraved plates,
silkscreen and wooden stamps - the
boutique is one of the few places in beirut
where you will come across such artisanal
production.
equally impressive, they also
employ various hand-binding techniques
on their ‘Pictogram’ line and other artist
publications. These manual techniques, in
limited runs, produce end products that are
more personal and artistic in keeping with
Plan beY’s philosophy.
An on-going project “les
Tiroirs des Photographes” comprises the
work of young professional and amateur
photographers, creating the chance for
these artists to engage with the public in a
limited run of one-off images. This is
complemented by Astray, which was
launched in september last year, featuring
work from more established photographers
in beirut, berlin and Copenhagen – the
latter being the location of another sister
boutique, Korridor no. 33 – which is
available at each of the boutiques.
A chance to immerse yourself
in a cultural concept boutique in the heart
of beirut, Plan beY is a place not to miss.
Find out more at www.plan-bey.com
A musT-see in mAr miKHAel is PlAn beY, beiruT’s CounTer To THe rise of mAss ProDuCTion in ArTisTiC worK.
PlAnbeY
W o r d s : s u s A n w i l s o n
PrussiAnbLue
Located in Mar Mikhael,
Prussian blue, a natural
beauty product boutique,
will be one year old this
March. gorgeously designed
in part by owner Yasmine
ghandour, the boutique houses
products from lebanon and around the
world with local organic soaps Ambrah
and scotland’s Arran Aromatics just a few
of the brands represented. All its beauty
items are natural with most of their brands
organic and every beauty product stocked
in the boutique - from lebanon, france,
Jordan, scotland and Denmark - free
from animal testing. not to worry though,
Prussian blue has tested each and every
product on family and “they seem fine.”
every beauty product you could
desire for the body and face is available at the
boutique: creams, scrubs, salts, masks,
serums, shower gels, soaps, hand wash, hand
cream, mud masks, body milk, oils, sun
cream, contour des yeux and more. it is also
a great place to visit if you are looking for a
gift for that special someone, with ceramic
plates and baskets that can be filled with
whatever you desire or gift cards for those
not quite brave enough to pick out beauty
products themselves.
open monday to friday, 10am
to 7pm and saturday from 11am to 7pm, the
boutique will soon be moving online at www.
prussianblueshop.com. in the meantime get
down to Ashrafieh and enjoy perusing all this
charming boutique has to offer in person.
W o r d s : S u S a n W i l S o n
B orn in Al Ghazieh, Chafa
Ghaddar studied Visual
Arts at ALBA before
embarking on a freelance
career in wall painting.
Her most recent work,
Spectrum, was exhibited
during Exposure 2012 at the Beirut Art
Center from November 15, 2012 to January
23, 2013.
The city of Beirut and her
childhood home form the focus of
Ghaddar’s work. During her years of study
at ALBA, Ghaddar moved from a focus in
painting to the discovery of photography,
though as she says of herself, “I cannot say
I am only a photographer nor only a
painter, I’m a fine artist that works with
both mediums.”
In February last year she
attended an intensive course on fresco and
traditional painting techniques in Florence,
prior to the creation of her own fresco in
Beirut Art Center’s recent exhibition.
Ghaddar, who is “extremely fascinated by
the fresco technique,” sees it as a homage
or extension of some of the first acts of
artistic discovery. “The very first humans
used raw natural color pigments,” says
Ghaddar, explaining her fascination with
the technique’s anthropological history and
her own effort to project it onto
contemporary times.
It is also a process. It took
Ghaddar nine days to execute this 80
square meter fresco, and she worked at it
from seven in the morning to almost
midnight every day. The fresco technique
involves a mural painting on freshly laid lime
plaster which acts as a vehicle for the
pigments. In Ghaddar’s case she used
mineral charcoal and ashes to evoke the
memory of the fire that raged through her
childhood home back in 1985, and red and
black iron powders to echo the erosion.
The mix of the wet mortar and the air that
dries the pigments in turn produces the
scent of mould.
That process is part of what led
Ghaddar to utilize the buon fresco technique
in her latest work. Her concept, this strive to
regenerate and capture the fleeting reality of
her home in the face of ongoing
degradation, is well suited to the nature of
the fresco process. Speaking on fresco
Ghaddar says, “I believe it is a very organic or
living material … something that lives with
the space in a very engaged way …
everything ages with time and is [subject] to
degradation but the fresco is a process while
it’s being built until the final, the end of an
execution, it’s a process that keeps living and
creating itself constantly.”
Her fresco in Spectrum
represents the ongoing degradation
and shifting reality of her childhood
home but the concept behind it is one
Ghaddar intends to invoke across the
city of Beirut, transcribing it onto a
bigger scale and wider audience.
SHooTING THE
W o r d s : : I N D I A S T o u G H T o N
and other artistic absurdities
Lebanese painter, sculptor and
urban artist Nadim Karam has
been making waves
worldwide with his sculptural
urban art for decades. It is no
surprise then that Ayyam Gallery
chose Karam to represent art
from the region during Ayyam’s inaugural
exhibition in London, its first location
outside the Middle East. In many ways
Ayyam and Karam seem made for each
other. “Ayyam is pushing the limit like I do,”
says Karam, with a laugh. “The more I do
challenging things the more I find that
they’re doing the same... it’s by both of us
pushing in different directions that we’re able
to strengthen and move forward.”
For Ayyam’s grand opening
Karam put together a collection of his
whimsical, child-like paintings, in which
cheerful colors and simple, outlined shapes
are contrasted with adult themes such as
war and death. “I’m trying to show the way I
grew in the region,” the artist explains. “I see
lots of things happening around me - war
and other things - as being absurd. They just
repeat themselves - we are not able to get
beyond them.”
The resulting paintings are
engagingly surreal, stimulating the viewer’s
imagination. “Hold Your Tears” shows a
genderless white figure in front of a
featureless khaki background. on his hairless
head a tiny black elephant - a recurring motif
in Karam’s work for many years now - is
perched precariously, as though about to
slide off. From his eyes two enormous
protrusions, like sacks full of grain, extend
forward on narrow stalks before ballooning
out and down. one impossibly long arm
holds these expansive teardrops aloft, just
above the ground.
Another piece, “Planting the
Dream,” explores the absurdity of war, as a
hunched figure extends one arm to pick a
bunch of flowers, oblivious to the tank
driving relentlessly up his long, white limb, its
gun emitting a blast of smoke into his face.
“The title of the exhibition is ‘Shooting the
Cloud,’” Karam explains. “If you try to shoot a
cloud what do you get? The bullet goes
through - you can’t break our dreams....
Whatever the trials, I think that the dream will
continue - especially through creative people
like myself and others around us in the
region.”
The opening, on January 24,
was a resounding success, attracting over
700 visitors who formed a queue extending
along New Bond Street as they waited for
their chance to see Karam’s work. With
overwhelmingly positive reviews in the British
and international press, both Ayyam and
Karam seem to have made their mark on the
uK art scene within the space of a few hours.
NAdim KArAm’s SoLo SHoW AT AYYAM’S NEW LoNDoN GALLErY ExPLorED THE ABSurDITIES oF LIFE, LovE AND WAr.
The ArT of phiLANThropy
FroM BruSSELS THE BoGHoSSIAN FouNDATIoN rEACHES ouT To THE WorLD
W o r d s : L u C Y K N I G H T
F or those familiar with the
world of fine jewelry, the
Boghossian name is a classic.
Lebanese jewelers of Armenian
descent, their family has a story
to tell that many can relate to.
Having left Armenia after the
genocide of 1915, for Lebanon, and then,
due to civil war there having to move to the
next welcoming city, they found
themselves in Brussels. The family has
continued to thrive in the jewelry business
and with a heritage cultivated through
migration and struggle, it seems to have
been a natural progression for the
Boghossians to give aid to those in need. It
was the 1988 earthquake that devastated
parts of Armenia which acted as the
catalyst for their extensive humanitarian
work in Armenia, Lebanon and Syria - in
1992 the father robert and his two sons
Jean and Albert, created the Boghossian
Foundation.
Based in the 1930s villa
Empain in Brussels, since 2006, the
foundation has, through a series of
projects, both practical - portable
water projects for isolated villages,
renovation of Yerevan’s only
remaining public park - and
aesthetic - art and design prizes,
exhibitions and lectures - worked
to contribute to the artistic and
cultural dialogue between East
and West through activities, in
Belgium and abroad.
The focus on art
is also not just confined to
the projects or the jewelry
making - Jean Boghossian
has been practising his
craft for nearly 30 years,
010203
04050607
08091011121314 Shopping 1516171819202122 News2324252627282930313233343536373839404142 Architecture434445464748495051 Living52535455565758596061626364656667686970717273747576777879808182
8384858687
888990 Design In Beirut
9192
9394
959697
9899
100101
102 Art 103
104105
106107
108109
110111
112
oPPoSITE: Cecchini
ABovE:
Jean Boghossian
and for the last three has been working on
a concept using fire. Already exhibited in
Beirut, South Korea and Brussels,
Boghossian was inspired by the element, a
key tool in the jewelry making process. “I’m
captivated by the way fire can change the
colors, shape and material of an object,” he
says. “You just have to take a welding torch
and you’ll get so many complex results.”
using art to improve the world,
as well as create his own, Boghossian is
now in preparation for his next exhibit –
having previously treated canvasses and
paper with flames, he will now be using the
same techniques on books.
As is described in the mission
of the Boghossian Foundation, art is a
universal language, going beyond
boundaries. “It opens ways of
communication that have no aggression,”
says Boghossian. “A link between East and
West that is not impeded by religion and
politics.”
For more information on the
work of the Boghossian Foundation, visit
their website www.villaempain.com
Jean Boghossian will be
exhibiting at the Bibliotheca Wittockiana:
Museum of Book Bindings and Book Arts, in
Brussels, 20 June to September 2013.
01_____Maruyama
02_____Hydrasphere
03_____Chevalier
03
01 02