OUTSIDE SAO PAOLO

A Weekend Home in the Open Sky

When long-time clients of Ali Behnam Bakhtiar expressed a desire to build a weekend escape just outside of Sao Paolo, Brazil, the initial plan to build at the base of a lovely hillside soon evolved into a decision to look to the sky and build closer to the top.

Choosing to positively use the height required immense structural support and beaming, including integration of the surrounding rock and working with suspension. To make sure the foundation was solid and seismic, the team used strong natural materials such as concrete, titanium and high quality bronze throughout, not just as a design choice but also as a functional necessity.

Highlighting the stunning landscape, the house is designed to be as versatile and open as possible, with large water features and a super convertible roof. Being able to hear the sound of water, smell the fresh air and see the open sky within the house, gives the home a connection to nature rarely found in properties this size. The multiple swimming pools together form a fountain, with the upper swimming pool leading into the master’s private swimming pool and then again into the main swimming pool, which serves the guest house and pool house. curated vegetation further envelops the house with conscious green, and the outside fireplace and all-round natural colour palate complete the holistic sense of balance. The home lives and breathes nature. This extends to power and water use as the property is built to be off the grid with solar panels, internal soil heating systems and water filtration systems supplying the house and gardens.

“My clients had a multi-functional vision for the property; a party space, a business arena and a private family home. So, the rooms were designed to be easily transformed, divided and merged. The dining room, for example was fitted with soundproof sliding doors, to host the option of a confidential conference room,” said Ali Behnam Bakhtiar, who previously designed homes for the owners in Geneva, London, St Moritz and Saint-Jean-Cap- Ferrat.

The high tech subterranean garage space not only makes parking a futuristic experience, it also makes it reclaimable as a private night club. Strategically placed LED lights in the rocks and walls lead to underneath the house where a dual purpose room allows cars to be elevated away, bars to unfold, a dance floor to come through and in-built hydraulics to provide an instant lounge area. The transformation from garage to night club is easy, fun and fully in-line with the owners’ wish for malleability. The entertainment

“As a designer, I believe the house turned out so well because we never compromised on excellence. Everyone and everything involved in the project was the best we could find. It created not just a magnificent house, but also a unique home. The unification with, and celebration of nature paired with hyper modern comfort, makes for a divine experience of simultaneous relaxation and excitement,”

- Ali Behnam Bakhtiar.

area includes a cinema, billiard room, pool room and library – all luxuriously furnished for comfort. Every room has its own story to set it apart, providing some entertainment in and of itself.

From a technology point of view, the whole property is systemized, perfectly engineered and motorized to work specifically for this house and to be fully automated to suit the owners’ personal preference. This includes a centralized oxygen machine that constantly measures, enhances and purifies the oxygen throughout the house, a high-end built in sound system, and adaptable smart lighting. Naturally, all windows are bullet proof and soundproof for privacy and security purposes.

Everything is understated and discreet, yet of the utmost quality. The designer used the best craftsmen and experts from around the world, commissioning Italian rock sculptures, French concrete specialists and countless artisan products. From the cutlery, to the linens and the crockery, everything was especially created or tailored for this house. The ‘house perfume’ was developed by Delmona, an independent French luxury house, who created a unique scent for the house with matching beauty and body products.

“As a designer, I believe the house turned out so well because we never compromised on excellence. Everyone and everything involved in the project was the best we could find. It created not just a magnificent house, but also a unique home. The unification with, and celebration of nature paired with hyper modern comfort, makes for a divine experience of simultaneous relaxation and excitement,” said Ali Behnam Bakhtiar.

ASTON MARTIN DEBUTS DBX

as its First-Ever SUV

If you’re yearning for a fast and stylish sports car but require the comfort and convenience of an SUV, be sure to check out the Aston Martin 2021 DBX – the company’s first-ever SUV.

BASE PRICE FOR THE 2021 ASTON MARTIN DBX IS $192,986.

With 700 Nm maximum torque, 550PS maximum power and the ability to go from 0 to 62 mph in 4.5 seconds, the DBX exudes the famous Aston Martin style made famous by James Bond and others. It drives like a sports car yet features the latest safety features and technology combined with luxury throughout. Its architecture is based on a new platform the company designed especially for the new SUV with the company’s signature lightweight aluminum body to ensure strength and toughness.

Aston Martin describes the new DBX as “polite and cultured, but with a sting in its tail.” Active all-wheel drive with variable torque distribution, height adjustable air suspension, double wishbone front suspension combined with a multi-link rear axle, powertrain and suspension developed by the finest engineers, and electronic adaptive damping on every wheel distinguish it from rival SUVs and position the DBX in a class all its own.

Its interior features modern dark wood contrasted with Obsidian Black and Ivory as well as fine, soft leather and a microsuede headliner. Customizable ambient lighting, three-zone climate control, and heated front and rear seats are standard features. Popular options include ventilated front seats, heated steering wheel, and upgraded luxury cabin materials. The DBX is roomy – even for adults – with ample cargo space including 22 cubic feet behind the rear seat and 54 cubic feet with the rear seats folded. Technology features include Apple CarPlay, built-in navigation, a 14-speaker audio system, and USB and 12-volt charging outlets.

Flying in High Style

Private Jets for Discriminating Travelers

“Clients are not looking for anything outrageously luxurious, golden and showy. On the contrary, they call for some simplicity, which in the end is indeed the true luxury,” said Yves Pickardt, head of Alberto Pinto’s aircraft interior design department.

Private jets are not just flying homes or flying offices. They are much more than simply a travel experience. Today’s discriminating family offices have extremely high standards when flying private, seeking comfort and elegance above all else, and demanding only the best from their designers.

Typically, every private aircraft is completely personalized from the upholstery, bed linens, fabrics, and carpets to the soundproofing, lighting systems, telephony, galley, bathrooms, live TV and Internet connection, tableware, and uniforms. All of these elements combine together to change a cabin into a fullfledged living space, uniting a network of varied skills. Interior work is performed from the moment the order is placed to the moment the plane is delivered, including locating the completion center where the plane is transformed. The process requires two-three years on average. Design drawings must include every detail required for technical approval since certifications and tests in this sector are especially restrictive and performed twice. The

final step – installation – requires optimal quality control. Alberto Pinto, a Paris-based aircraft interior design firm, believes these challenges inspire it to execute at its peak level of creativity and is an example of a sought-after design firm working with family offices around the world. The firm prides itself on complete and total precision and the 30+ aircraft interior projects it has completed since 1998 reflect its dedication to the high standards that high net worth and family office clients demand. “Clients are not looking for anything outrageously luxurious, golden and showy. On the contrary, they call for some simplicity, which in the end is indeed the true luxury,” said Yves Pickardt, head of Alberto Pinto’s aircraft interior design department.

Designing luxurious aircraft interiors requires more than simply selecting fine furnishing, fabrics, colors and fittings. Due to airline industry rules and regulations, a designer must respect the extreme technical constraints and severe regulations of an industry where everything must be done to the letter. Aeronautical officials must approve all decorative additions, there is limited space, and materials selection is critical. This presents opportunities for a designer to execute at their peak level of creativity due to the limited availability of space and the crucial choices in best materials of woods, carbon fibers, carpet, leather and metals. “The most infinitesimal architectural and decorative details must be finalized even before the plane sees its ultimate assembly. Every element must be customized, calculated to the millimeter and made entirely on a small, or even one-off, scale. Inventiveness is

Our vision of flying on a BBJ MAX 7 is a perfect balance of modernity and comfort design and our philosophy is more or less always the same - a full contemporary design or soft and modern. The idea of comfort and elegance is primordial. Typically, clients seek a “Super Chic French Touch,” which is mainly handmade using the best French, Swiss and Italian suppliers. Our designers create a relaxing and comfortable atmosphere by selecting furnishing, fabrics and fittings in a color palette of warm beiges and creams to evoke a sense of well-being.”

the very essence of this sector,” Pickardt explains.

For example, the Airbus A320 Neo is able to welcome 19 passengers in an open-plan forward lounge, a mid-cabin conference and dining room and at the back, an en suite master bedroom that includes the first large rectangular shower installed in an ACJ. The Airbus A319 is divided into four parts - the master bedroom with en-suite bathroom, dining area, main lounge, and private lounge. There is also an area where the crew of the plane may rest along with two galleys.

“Our vision of flying on a BBJ MAX 7 is a perfect balance of modernity and comfort design and our philosophy is more or less always the same - a full contemporary design or soft and modern. The idea of comfort and elegance is primordial. Typically, clients seek a “Super Chic French Touch,” which is mainly handmade using the best French, Swiss and Italian suppliers. Our designers create a relaxing and comfortable atmosphere by selecting furnishing, fabrics and fittings in a color palette of warm beiges and creams to evoke a sense of well-being,” Pickardt said.