AW² unveils its latest five-star luxury hotel project - Silversands in Grenada
Silversands in Grenada opening early 2018
The Silversands Grenada designed by international architecture and interior design firm AW². They have succeeded in establishing an outstanding new benchmark in the luxury resort experience through the creation. A unique destination hotel where authenticity, nature, luxury, and modernity come together. The pivotal elements – or the Key Words – that have driven AW²’s design in order to give guests the best - and truest - possible lifestyle and luxury experience in the Caribbean.
W² carefully designed the villas to create a series of both inside and outside areas that offer a unique outdoor living experience, either on the beach or facing the sea. In architecture, in all its simple forms and materials, defines an identity for this new community, which establishes itself with a strong sense of luxury and modernity.The layout is primarily organized to take advantage of the stunning sea views, yet the hotel also ensures the utmost degree of privacy, while simultaneously providing unique spaces for sharing and meeting others.
The exterior spaces are crucial to AW²’s design, as they continuously interpret modernity through its gardens, courtyards and water features. The terraces, day bed areas and pools are all designed to blend seamlessly with the architecture itself. The hotel’s spa mellifluously lulls its guest’s right down to the rhythm of the island – and in the pursuit of ultimate luxury with only one option: to unwind. Teetering on the brink of the hot white sands of Grand Anse beach with all its attendant wild beauty, stands the hotel. In support of this stunning location the view lines are organised, spaces are arranged and places for enjoying the surroundings are laid, all in such a way as to offer the best possible discovery of the site, the hotel and luxury itself. Merging nature with exquisite design, AW² has created an oasis of luxury for its guests to unwind and relax in the Carribean’s last secret hideaway.
ABOUT AW²
In 2012 and 2014, AW² won the mipim award for best hotel and was nominated twice at the AFEX (French architects overseas) Grand Prix d’Architecture in France. International projects form an important part of the practice’s workload. Indeed, AW² has worked in 25 different countries and develops new projects across the world every year. This strong presence at the international level has led to establishing a partnership with an architectural office in Ho Chi Minh City in Vietnam.
In 2017, AW² continues to innovate with its projects including a private villa in Corsica, five-star hotel Silver Sands Hotel in Grenada, renovation of the Maison Krug in France, Park Hyatt in Vietnam, luxury beachside resort Banyan Tree in Bodrum, boutique hotel and
For more information, please visit: www.aw2.com
The Definition of Simplicity - Bridged House
What is the definition of simplicity and minimalism to you? “Bridged House” is a project designed by Ida & Billy Architects, Hong Kong. The conceptualization of the execution of the “Bridged House” project which was to join two existing houses of different ages and styles as one, spatially, aesthetically and spiritually, while maintaining the individual identity of the two houses as well as functionality for two generations of the family who own the properties. One of the major challenges faced was joining the two houses whilst there were two areas of segregation: the first horizontally by the already existing long swimming pool, and vertically by a 3m level-change between the two properties’ living-room floors.
To solve this challenge, landscape plinths were demolished to form a spacious Middle Garden stretching the site’s depth. The existing swimming pool, with all enclosing walls taken down, then overflows to form a backdrop for the Middle Garden. To connect the two houses, a floating steel bridge was installed which provides a “daily path of meeting” for the inhabitants and along with the Middle Garden and the pool, form the focus of the new house.
“Bridged House” - The middle garden and the water-flow stretch the full depth of the site, forming the focus of the two houses.
Externally, a neutral palette was selected with the timber parapet tops and big rectangular windows bringing in the outside inside and also providing a source of natural light. This is also reflected in the concrete wall encasing the building one first encounter before entering.
Fair-faced concrete is used throughout the external areas of the building in a variety of forms and textures from the plank-style slab topping the penthouse to the external fence wall. Once again emphasizing the neutral palette. Inside, light-grey stone flooring stretches across the whole length of the house up to a backdrop of flowing water providing a perfect place for entertaining and dining.
Beyond the bridge is a cozy garden. The flowing water through the big window forms a backdrop for dining.)
About the Living spaces
A gallery of form and light” is how the stairs were described in the building. Continuous lines and areas of the form are created by blending the existing structures with new balconies and window openings. Tailor-made handrails encourage people to grab and touch. Above, the skylights are specially designed to hide the glass frames which help to blur the boundary between the inside and outside. The owners’ love of nature is shown throughout the building through neutral palette choices, the Middle Garden, timber highlights including the timber flooring on the second floor and the water feature.
For more information, visit http://www.idabilly.com/
Meteor Cinema
Meteor Cinema is designed by One Plus Partnership Limited. One Plus is an award-winning Hong Kong-based design firm established in 2004 by directors Ajax Law and Virginia Lung.
The project of Meteor Cinema is a 2-storey cinema located in a shopping mall in Guangzhou. Meteor is an astronomical observation where a bright trail of light appears in the night sky when a meteoroid enters the Earth’s atmosphere. This beautiful scene only appears in the sky for a very brief moment, and then vanishes without leaving any trace behind. Stunned when we walk into the lobby, a large-scale meteor shower in front of us. In the lobby, long rectangular-cuboid decorations extend from the ceiling, mimicking the motion of a meteor shower streaking through the sky.
One Plus described: To enhance the three-dimensional vibrant atmosphere, the rectangular cuboids point in two directions. The designers had to adjust both on the computer and on set to make sure every piece is displayed at the right angle for the best overall effect.
To adopt an earth color scheme for design. Instead of using wood, which would inflict fire regulations, used aluminum in creating the decorations. These aluminum plates are coated with wood patterns and two different shades of brown to create a wood-like effect. The edges of the cuboids are slightly slanted; the meteor looks as if they are falling very quickly on this sharper edge, creating a dramatic contrast between the fast movement of the meteor and the fact that it’s frozen and motionless in real life. Apart from the meteor shower in the ceiling, other features in the cinema, such as the signage and tiles on the wall, are also slightly slanted to match with the massive ceiling decoration.
When going up on the second floor by the escalator, you can enjoy the best view of the whole meteor shower. It is an interesting experience to get closer and closer to the ceiling feature as if you are heading into the meteor shower. Walking through the corridor to reach the theater, you’ll find yourself walking in another form of meteor shower. The “meteor shower” transforms itself into flat rectangular shapes made out of stone, which look as if they are growing from the ground. The designers used this new object shape to illustrate another possible configuration of the meteor shower in a dynamic fashion.
The concept of meteor shower continues through the auditorium. In each of the auditorium, the designers have created a different portrayal of meteor shower, enabling the audience to have a new experience when they watch the movie in different auditoriums.
Through the design of the Meteor Cinema, the designers have created a sanctuary for the audience to get away from reality; from the moment they step into the cinema, they are in a completely different space. The cinema acts as a prelude to their experience with the movie, to prepare the audience for immersing themselves entirely in the movie world.
OnePlus mentioned: Rectangular decorations are installed on the wall to imitate shooting stars radiating in the night sky. In another auditorium, instead of going in a diagonal direction, the trails of the meteor shower are horizontal. There is another auditorium where regular seats are replaced by beds, enabling the audience to lie down comfortably and enjoy the meteor shower before the movie starts.
For more information, please visit: www.onepluspartnership.com
Le Refuge created by Marc Ange
During Milan Design Week, Designer Marc Ange presented his design collaboration with Wallpaper magazine at the first piece of his own collection: Le Refuge. This outdoor daybed, sheltered by enormous colored palm leaves, is inspired by his childhood dreams and by his new life in California.
Marc-Ange was born in the Holy City of Rome, under the terror of the Red Brigades, in a rootless family with a surreal story, torn between art, religion, and madness. His childhood marks his universe and his creations, eternally balanced between the real and the unreal, both perfection and mistake, harmony and chance.
It is in Paris, the city where he grew up, that Marc Ange develops his work as a Designer. His designs include objects for high-end luxury brands, furniture pieces, cars, and interiors. His recent work includes the new Classique and Le Mâle by Jean Paul Gaultier, the concept Peugeot Avenue already open on the Champs Elysées in Paris and on QianMen street in Pékin and Chimère, a collection of unique furniture for pets.
Marc-Ange is currently developing concepts for hotels, restaurants, boutiques and private residences from both his studio in Paris and Los Angeles. He continues to create furniture pieces and bottles of perfume for high-end brands, and he is finalizing the second piece that will accompany Le Refuge within his collection.
Information about this piece:
Le Refuge, Flamingo Pink - Outdoor / Indoor Daybed-Sofa
- Limite Edition of 3, made in Italy
- Light Pink Powder Coated Metal Leaves & Stalk
- Teck Wood Base and Pots
- Outdoor Light Pink Fabric
- Stainless Steel Structure
- Water Proof / Sun Proof / Wind Proof
First Mandarin Oriental Residences on Bali
“The routing is magnificent and the concept is brilliant, you don’t need four or five hours. You just need two.” - Jean-Michel Gathy
Exclusive villa collection an exquisite feature of Jean-Michel Gathy’s
artful masterplan for Bukit Pandawa Resort & Golf
The Residences at Mandarin Oriental, Bali, a remarkable real estate offering taking shape on a naturally accommodating clifftop where the group’s inaugural hotel in Bali is also in development. Set within the confines of budding Bukit Pandawa Resort & Golf on Bali’s southernmost tip, The Residences will eventually comprise 91 standalone villas conceptualized by acclaimed international architect Jean-Michel Gathy, who took inspiration from a traditional Balinese farming technique in imagining the layout.
“The topography lends itself beautifully to a series of tiers that is really reminiscent of the terraced rice paddies you see all around Bali,” said the lead designer at Kuala Lumpur-based Denniston Architects, which has conceived many of the world’s most exclusive resorts built in the past 25 years. “So even from the villas at the very back of the complex, you have these unobstructed, 180-degree views of the ocean.” To enhance the views for all residents and their guests, each villa will possess a flat roof dressed with an array of exotic grasses, shrubs and palm trees, a design flourish that also serves to create a seamless connection with the surrounding environment.
"This is not London or Singapore or anywhere else,” said Gathy, a Belgian who has spent 35 years in Asia. “It's Bali. We took that into account every step of the way. But we didn’t go overboard. And that’s an important distinction to make. Because sometimes designers go too far in that respect. Homage has been paid as well to the spirit of Balinese architecture, in that no villa will exceed the height of a typical coconut tree, no matter how many rooms it has.
“These homes are the ultimate expression of luxury living,” said Djie Tjian An, president/director of PT Bali Ragawisata, Bukit Pandawa Resort & Golf’s developer. “I’ve been here for more than three decades, and I can tell you Bali has never had anything like this."
Together, the Mandarin Oriental hotel and residences will occupy approximately 5 percent of the 150-hectare piece of property that makes up Bukit Pandawa Resort & Golf, which Gathy masterplanned and that will eventually include another super-luxury hotel designed by him, a Waldorf Astoria and a Swissôtel. When finished in mid-2018, the 88-room hotel will include an 88-meter-long swimming pool along the edge of the clifftop, a private beach club steps from the ocean, a cantilevered gourmet restaurant, a state-of-the-art fitness center and a 1,725-square-meter spa with eight treatment rooms.
Blueprints also call for a 2.2-kilometer “eco trail” that runs across the cliffside and leads to three sacred Hindu temples and a new amphitheater where traditional cultural performances are conducted on a nightly basis.
Final phase of Kennedy Town Swimming Pool
The second and final phase of the Kennedy Town Swimming Pool, designed by Farrells, has been opens on Feb 7, 2017. It includes two new indoor heated pools, measuring 50 and 25 metres’ length respectively, as well as a jacuzzi. The swimming pool’s first phase, comprising a 50 metre outdoor pool and an outdoor leisure pool, opened to the public in May 2011.
The swimming pool’s completion is the capstone of the Kennedy Town MTR station project. The original site chosen forKennedy Town Station was the Forbes Street Playground. But construction would a affect a number of 120-year-old Banyan trees growing on historic stone walls. To protect the trees, the station box was shifted eastward, onto Smith eld and the site of the former Kennedy Town Swimming Pool.
A new pool had to be opened before the existing one could be demolished. The site chosen was a surface car park that boasted an uninterrupted sea view but had lain derelict since the land was reclaimed in the 1990s. To draw residents to this neglected corner of an otherwise vibrant neighbourhood, the site demanded a memorable icon.
Likened to a futuristic spaceship by the South China Morning Post, the new Kennedy Town Swimming Pool owes its distinctive shape to the streets and historical tram line that de ne the triangular site. Inspired by a shell, the building addresses the experience of arrival to Kennedy Town by tram or road from the east. The low-lying form of the building respects the panoramic views that nearby residents enjoyed prior to the development and draws inspiration from its proximity to the harbour.
During construction of the MTR West Island Line, the site adjacent to the rst phase of the swimming pool was home to a shaft for the removal of underground spoil. After the railway line opened in 2014, construction on the pool’s second phase began.
The new Kennedy Town Swimming Pool has won awards and citations including Large Project of the Year 2016, awarded by the New Engineering Contract (NEC) of the UK’s Institution of Civil Engineers.
For more information, please visit: www.farrells.com