GG Magazine 02/24 (US)

THE ISLAND ISSUE

THE ISLAND ISSUE

The magnetic allure of islands and the personalities who know how to present them in a whole new context

The magnetic allure of islands and the personalities who know how to present them in a whole new context

SIR RICHARD BRANSON

SIR RICHARD BRANSON

The multi-entrepreneur and his latest hotel on Mallorca

The multi-entrepreneur and his latest hotel on Mallorca

SLIM AARONS

SLIM AARONS

The bygone glamour of Capri, Sardinia & Mustique

The bygone glamour of Capri, Sardinia & Mustique

JOHN DEMSEY

JOHN DEMSEY

A visit to the beauty connoisseur in his Manhattan home

A visit to the beauty connoisseur in his Manhattan home

No. 2/24

No. 2/24

LUXURY FOR ME IS DREAMING TO THE OCEAN‘S HORIZON

VIKI

For many years, Mallorca has been my second home. I enjoy life on this Balearic island just as much as ever and I’m always happy to return to my finca. Mallorca has also played an important part in the history of Engel & Völkers: We opened our first office outside Germany there in 1990, a milestone on the road to global expansion and many more E&V offices all around the world. The company is now represented on a good number of islands, both in the Caribbean and in the Mediterranean. I’m particularly fascinated by Corsica and Sardinia, where quite different cultures can be found in close proximity. The two islands are only about 12 kilometers apart, but one offers French savoir-vivre in concentrated form while the other exudes Italian dolce vita. This is just one reason why both islands are popular ports of call for boats and yachts. The mountains of Corsica are a hikers’ paradise and Sardinia beckons with gorgeous sandy beaches.

L ast summer I had the opportunity to visit a number of Greek islands, including Corfu and Paxos in the Ionian Sea. In the Aegean, I traveled among the Cyclades, from Santorini to Mykonos – each island displaying its very own, individual charm. I can easily identify with island life and find myself drawn to spots that have so much to offer despite their obvious geographical limitations. So here’s my advice: Treat yourself to a change of perspective and take a boat trip! Islands reveal their natural beauty in very different ways when viewed from the water. No matter which part of the world appeals to you most, this issue will offer ample opportunity to dream and get inspired.

I wish you an enjoyable read!

Sincerely,

Christian Völkers

PHOTO: CHRISTIAN SCHOPPE

Islands in the Sun …

Have you seen the Netflix documentary “Live to 100: Secrets of the Blue Zones”? After having the pleasure of spending a day with Sir Richard Branson on the occasion of the opening of Son Bunyola, his new hotel in Mallorca, I’m convinced that the 73-year-old multi-entrepreneur follows every single tip for a long, healthy life. Our day was filled with nonstop activities: swimming, biking, tennis in the afternoon (with real pros like Tommy Haas. Guess who won the match? Of course – Richard Branson!), and a big meal after sundown. What impressed me most was his unlimited interest in others, which resulted in lots of questions from his side, rather than just talking about himself. Which is rare when meeting famous personalities who often enjoy talking about themselves. I was also particularly intrigued by his advice on how to turn big dreams into reality (see the full interview on page 30). No one has captured island glamour more aesthetically than the legendary photographer Slim Aarons. Find out why the elegant jet set of the ‘60s and ‘70s fascinated him so much, starting on page 40. John Demsey, who made his mark on the global beauty world during his 30 years at Estée Lauder, lives on the island of Manhattan and is a maestro when it comes to colorful interior design. We naturally jumped at his invitation to pay him a visit at his cheerful townhouse. And if you find yourself yearning for solitude and super exclusivity, travel with us to Indonesia, where the stunning Bawah Reserve is now offering the entire island of Elang to guests who prefer unspoiled privacy.

Enjoy your read!

Michaela Cordes

“Behind the Blue Door,“ with photographs by Douglas Friedman, is the perfect book if you’d like to see more of John Demsey’s home. Right: A selfie of Richard Branson and myself, taken during a short break while biking around his new Mallorcan hotel.

PHOTOS: CHRISTIAN SCHOPPE (1), COURTESY OF VENDOME PRESS (1)

BACKBONE CAN BE RECOGNIZED BY LOOKING AT THE WRIST.

The Iron Walker from Wempe is the essence of a timelessly modern yet sporty watch. Reduced to the essentials and uncompromising in terms of quality and workmanship, it meets the highest standards because it is manufactured at a place that stands like no other for fine German watchmaking: Glashütte in Saxony.

THANK YOU

Víctor Chito

The Mallorcan photographer, who normally specializes in covering weddings, had to be quick to get in his shot of Richard Branson during the busy opening weekend of his newest venture, Son Bunyola, on Mallorca. The British entrepreneur’s latest hotel is set in the beautiful landscape of the Tramuntana mountains and includes stunning views over the island’s west coast.

Riccardo Di Loreto

The team leader of the Engels & Völkers Market Center in Rome is the representative brokering the sale of the private villas at the five-star Verdura Resort belonging to the Rocco Forte Group in Sicily (For Sale section, page 70). Riccardo studied international relations as well as finance and real estate, and is a polyglot. He speaks Italian, German, English, French and Portuguese.

Gabriela Nöller

After working in fields as varied as tourism, radio and newspaper publishing, Gabriela joined GG six months ago and now supports the advertising team as an administrator. Gabriela grew up in Argentina. She earned a communication degree in the northeastern city of Posadas.

Maria Mundt

This issue is the last for our longtime art director after nearly a decade with GG. What started as an internship in 2014 ended with a position as head of design. Maria is taking some well-deserved time off before turning her creative mind to new projects, one of which might combine food preparation with design. Stay tuned at www.ma-mood.de

PHOTOS: THERESA MARIA PRIEWE (1), KLAUS RIEMENSCHNEIDER (1)

PLAYGROUND

14

16

Art & history – the Venice Biennale

its 60th anniversary this year.

Furniture, accessories and lighting concepts: Bright ideas for golden moments at home.

18 INTERVIEW Rubbing elbows with rock stars and royals: Basil Charles talks about his legendary Basil’s Bar on Mustique.

20 ENGEL & VÖLKERS NEWS Trends in the real estate market.

22 WOMAN Inspirational items for a splendid start to spring.

24 MAN Add a little shine and sparkle to your life!

26 BOOKS Odes to islands: Three books to set you dreaming.

162

Modular solutions for living on the water.

AT HOME

30

40

Venice is always worth a trip, this year more than ever. In 2024, the Art Biennale celebrates its 60th anniversary.

PLAYGROUND

COOL CITY HOUSE INTERVIEW ENGEL & VÖLKERS NEWS WOMAN MAN BOOKS

PHOTO: BELMOND

Eternal Grandeur

As the 60th anniversary of the Biennale approaches, Venice is once again transforming into an international art hub. Its historic heritage and cultural riches are the lifeblood of the lagoon city.

BY Merle Wilkening ILLUSTRATIONS: Asia Orlando

Treasures of Venice

1 RENOWNED The Peggy Guggenheim Collection is housed in the Palazzo Venier dei Leoni, the former art collector’s residence on the Grand Canal. 2 MAGNIFICENT Golden mosaics decorate the dome of the spectacular St. Mark’s Basilica. The original church burned to the ground during riots in 928; the current basilica was inaugurated in 1071. 3 ARTISTIC The family enterprise Ca’ Macana has been producing Venetian masks since 1984. It also offers mask making workshops to ensure the craft’s survival.

In Venice life plays out surrounded by water, on the water. You sense this special ethos the moment you arrive. Venezia, the capital of the Veneto region in northern Italy, is built on more than 100 islands in the middle of a lagoon in the northern Adriatic. The city’s six historic districts, or sestieri, are linked by countless bridges. The Ponte della Libertà, for instance, leads from the center to the Mestre and Marghera boroughs on the mainland. The railroad bridge runs parallel to it. Gondolas, boats and vaporetti (waterbuses) ferry locals and visitors to magnificent residences and apartments. The Grand Canal, a waterway almost four kilometers long, is the main thoroughfare. Cars, scooters and bikes are totally banned in the lagoon city.

Having been the mightiest trading power in Europe during the Middle Ages, today Venice is one of the most popular travel destinations in the world. During the peak season there can be as many as 100,000 overnight guests here at any given time, as well as tens of thousands of day-trippers. But mass tourism and the water are taking their toll on this unique city. Built on sandy subsoil, the islands’ historic architecture is in danger of sinking into the lagoon. Venice subsides by several millimeters every single year.

Several times every winter, when high tides push the water into the lagoon, residents and visitors get to witness the acqua alta phenomenon. The Piazza San Marco –the lowest point in Venice – is first to be flooded. In the meantime, however, the city has a flood protection system and has undertaken numerous measures to save both the natural environment and its historic heritage.

In 2024 the city is celebrating a major anniversary: The Venice Biennale, the world’s oldest art event of its kind, is being held for the 60th time. This year, the influential cultural event revolves around the theme “Stranieri Ovunque – Foreigners Everywhere” and is under the artistic direction of Adriano Pedrosa, the first Latin American to hold the position. Starting in April, Venice will live and breathe art for seven months. Besides the international exhibition at the Arsenale, a former shipyard in the east, and the central pavilion in the Giardini, a host of national contributions and accompanying events will also be vying to attract artists and art enthusiasts.

All year round, the city awes visitors with its monumental architecture and museums in magnificent palaces that testify to its past riches. In the Dorsoduro district, renowned institutions like the Gallerie dell’Accademia, Palazzo Cini and the Peggy Guggenheim Collection line the Museum Mile. The famous Museo Correr in San Marco showcases Venetian history, art and culture, and the winding lanes are dotted with galleries like Patricia Low Venezia, which features a program of international artists.

If you have the chance, make sure to visit the island of Murano, famous for its centuries-old glassmaking industry, or enjoy some spaghetti alle vongole surrounded by the colorful houses that line the streets of Burano. And in the stores of traditional footwear brand Piedàterre Venezia, handmade slippers await. What better way to round off a day in Venice than to jump, light-footed, into a waiting gondola and head for the evening sun!

Would

Punta della Dogana & St. Maria della Salute

Peggy Guggenheim

Gallerie dell'Accademia

Scuola Grande di San Rocco Basilica di San Marco

Palazzo Ducale Rialto Bridge

FLEXIBILITY WRIT LARGE T he “Phoenix” model by German upholstered sofa manufacturer Koinor swivels and tips and slides and turns up to 360 degrees, transforming your comfy couch into a designer lounger in a heartbeat.

FULL OF CHARACTER

The German furniture maker Janua is committed to timeless quality, honest workmanship and sustainability. Everything they make is produced together with local partners in Bavaria. The result is furniture with real character, conceived for contemporary living in line with traditional values. The table series “Basket” was created by the designer duo Birgit Hoffmann and Christoph Kahleyss. Their table top with rounded edges, reminiscent of a boat, is a tribute to the port of Hamburg in Germany’s far north.

SMOKIN’ HOT

If you need an ashtray, it should probably be this one: A further fantastic creature courtesy of L’Objet Haas Brothers, this handmade porcelain ashtray decorated with 24-karat gold is bound to draw admiration as well as cigarette butts. Also available in matcha green.

Golden Moments

Promising products for cozy hours at home.

ONE-OF-A-KIND The boutique design label

Hamimi from Marrakesh collaborates with local artisans to create lamps, jewelry and bags. The sculptural shapes are inspired by everyday items such as tajines and baskets. Each of the beautiful lamps in the “Malika Crochet Lamps” collection was handmade by one of the women from a small village community outside Marrakesh. The aim of the collaborative effort is to preserve traditional handcrafts and help the artisans support themselves and their families.

POETIC LIGHTING In 1994, the Italian designer Mario Nanni founded Viabizzuno in order to realize his dream of showcasing architecture by casting it in the perfect light. One example of his art is the stunning pendant ceiling lamp “Sempre Mia.” Visit www.viabizzuno.com/en for more Italian design.

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Managing Director Janine Baaima

King of Mustique

Basil Charles is the man behind Basil’s Bar, a legendary celebrity watering hole in the Caribbean since the 1980s.

You were born and grew up on the neighboring island of St. Vincent. What was Mustique like when you started working there?

When I arrived in 1971, there wasn’t much happening on Mustique, it was a very isolated place. No roads, no electricity, no places to go. In the 1980s, things began to improve. People starting spending money and Colin Tennant, a friend of Princess Margaret, bought the island. In the beginning I worked at the Cotton House, which was the only hotel on Mustique at the time. In 1976, when I took over the beach bar, I was the only local on the island who owned their own business. Once the royals starting visiting regularly, lots of other

people followed, and things got much busier. Over the years, the bar became the place to be.

Which celebrities did you meet there?

Mick Jagger, Kate Moss, Michael Douglas and Catherine Zeta-Jones, Denzel Washington, Morgan Freeman and many, many others. People are happy to be able to leave their yachts, go on land and have a good time. When they come to the bar for a drink they can forget about everything and just have fun. There were many wild nights at the bar back then, people were dancing into the middle of the next day. If you find a place like that you come back again and again. Mustique is a safe place.

But you never intended for Basil’s Bar to be an exclusive celebrity haunt, you wanted locals to feel welcome too. Why was this always so important to you?

I wanted everyone to feel welcome, from the superstar to the gardener. They all came to the barbecues and danced together afterwards. Excluding certain groups of people wouldn’t have worked on a small island like Mustique.

What characterizes a good host?

I think you should be able to contribute to making a good party. If you feel comfortable in your skin and are in a good mood, you pass

this feeling on to your guests. It’s important to create a place where it’s easy to have fun, easy to be happy. Satisfied guests will always come back for more.

What’s your favorite drink? There were so many. In 1979 we had Hurricane David, it was a very bad storm. I created a drink I called Hurricane David in memory of that. It consisted mainly of dark rum and vodka, and it was very strong – we used to say it was guaranteed to blow you down!

You sold the bar a couple of years ago.

I had been thinking about it for a while, and in 2017, I sold the bar back to the Mustique Company, of which I’m a shareholder. I still own a general store on Mustique and a villa called Buttercup House. In addition to opening the Basil’s Bar Kingstown on St. Vincent, I also founded the Basil Charles Educational Foundation to help young people who didn’t have the money to finish high school.

How often do you go to Basil’s Bar?

Almost every day. Many of my staff still work there. I also run the Mustique Blues Festival for Basil’s, just as I’ve been doing for nearly 30 years.

Would you like to know more?

WORDS: MERLE WILKENING; PHOTOS: BASIL CHARLES

Island Bliss in Sicily & Sardinia

The allure of the Mediterranean has consistently captivated the hearts of travelers and nature enthusiasts. Beyond its enchanting landscapes and rich historical tapestry, Sicily and Sardinia, the two largest islands in Italy, have emerged as compelling destinations for real estate investment in recent times. What makes them enticing for buyers?

The natural beauty of Sicily and Sardinia is one of their outstanding features. From the dramatic cliffs of Taormina in Sicily to the pristine beaches of the Costa Smeralda in Sardinia, these islands offer breathtaking scenery wherever you turn. The crystal-clear waters and majestic mountains create a picturesque backdrop that makes properties on these islands highly sought after.

Thanks to their mild Mediterranean climate, both of these islands are an ideal year-round destination, ensuring a consistent stream of rental income for property owners here.

Sicily and Sardinia are also steeped in history. Ancient ruins like the Valley of the Temples in Sicily and the unique Nuragic stone towers in Sardinia not only attract tourists but also increase the value of properties in locations near historic towns and interesting landmarks.

Unlike some other European islands, which remain heavily dependent on tourism, Sicily and Sardinia have succeeded in developing more diversified economies. Wine and olive oil production are just two of the sectors contributing significantly to their economic stability. In addition, both islands are continuously investing in infrastructure to reduce their seasonal dependence on tourism. Both Sicily and Sardinia have well-developed transportation networks, including international airports and ferry ports. The excellent accessibility options encourage both property owners and tourists to visit the islands from major European cities. Thirty-five percent of our buyers for Sardinian property come from Germa ny,

Austria and the United Arab Emirates.

Real estate in Sicily and Sardinia still delivers good value compared to what is available in some other European destinations. The potential for capital appreciation is strong, particularly in sought-after areas.

Investors looking for a mix of rental income and long-term growth are very well served. Some excellent examples of exclusive locations in Sardinia are the Costa Smeralda in the northeast of the island, which the Aga Khan developed and renamed in 1962, and the town of Porto Cervo. The entire coastal area is regarded as a premium location and is popular with second-home buyers.

Porto Cervo, with its first-class marinas and luxury facilities, has proven particularly tempting to yacht owners. The island’s hills contain extensive parcels of land and magnificent country estates that command prices as high as €18 million. CEO of Engel & Völkers Italy, Tomaso Aguzzi, says: “We are confident that Sicily will remain one of the most popular regions for premium Mediterranean vacation properties over the long term.”

Whether you’re looking for a quiet retreat in the country or a buzzing apartment in a historic town, Sardinia and Sicily offer a wide range of property options to suit different tastes. The islands’ livability is greatly enhanced by the Mediterranean cuisine, hospitality and relaxed way of life.

In summary: if you’re an investor looking for more than mere financial gains, these Mediterranean paradises present a unique opportunity to own a piece of the idyllic island lifestyle.

The islands of Sardinia and Sicily offer long-term investment opportunities –both on the coast and inland.

FUN FACT

THE SMALLEST INHABITED ISLAND IN THE WORLD IS IN ALEXANDRIA BAY, NEW YORK. ITS SIZE – SLIGHTLY LARGER THAN A TENNIS COURT – HAS EARNED IT THE TITLE OF “JUST ENOUGH ROOM ISLAND.“

THE WORLD’S TEN MOST POPULAR ISLANDS IN 2023

1 GREAT BARRIER REEF ISLANDS, AUSTRALIA

2 MALDIVES

3 BALI, INDONESIA

4 MADEIRA, PORTUGAL

5 PHUKET, THAILAND

6 SKYE AND THE HEBRIDES, SCOTLAND

7 KOH SAMUI, THAILAND

8 DOMINICA, LESSER ANTILLES, CARIBBEAN

9 LANGKAWI, MALAYSIA

10 BORACAY, PHILIPPINES

Paul Gavriani has been with Engel & Völkers since 2018 and leads one of New York City and the Hamptons’ most successful advisor teams for sales and rentals. Paul has run over 150 marathons – in all 50 U.S. states, on all seven continents and in 85 countries around the world. Paul is also active as a producer in the New York theater world, having been involved in 12 Broadway shows, including the new musical “Harmony” currently playing on Broadway.

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@engelvoelkers.global @evamericas

VISIONARY CONCEPT

Sponge Cities have emerged as a trend in contemporary urban planning. These cities use innovative strategies to optimize water usage and integrate natural areas into the urban space. Green roofs, rainwater management and permeable pavements reduce the risk of local flooding and improve the quality of life of residents. Sponge cities are a visionary concept with the potential to transform our cities into sustainable and thriving urban environments

The Turks and Caicos are two groups of islands in the Caribbean that are popular with celebrities and travelers from around the world. Comprising about 40 islands, they are located southeast of the Bahamas. Oceanfront residences with pools, gyms and spas are highly sought after, as are exclusive residences that combine privacy with resort amenities and services. Particularly popular are the luxury properties on Grace Bay on Providenciales, known to the locals as “Provo,” which is the economic center of Turks and Caicos. It’s also where the local Engel & Völkers office is located.

In its annual World’s Best Awards survey, Travel + Leisure magazine asks readers to rate, among other things, islands. Nearly 165,000 people took part last year, basing their choices on criteria such as natural attractions/beaches, activities/sights, restaurants/food and people/ friendliness. Source: www.travelandleisure.com/best-islands-in-the-world-2023-7551678

On cloud nine

All you need is a little white magic to get you skipping footloose and fancy-free toward spring!

1 READY TO WEAR Perforated lace meets flowing silhouettes in the Elie Saab spring/summer collection, POR. 2 UNIQUE Shaped like an exotic mushroom: Ronan Bouroullec’s “Lampes Sèvres” (available in different heights) are a collaboration between the designer and French porcelain manufacturer Manufacture de Sèvres, POR. 3 VERSATILE For a spring in your step: Leather sandals with ties that come in different colors.

SoSUE, € 198. 4 HAPPY FACE Add a touch of lightness to your home with a cushion that smiles back at you! “Anna” is a set of two, one white, one black. TWELVE by Britta Becker, € 149 5 CONSTANT COMPANION Ideal for holding all your stuff while traveling or out and about: The chic “Canvas Shopper Bag” sports the Juvia logo, approx. € 180. 6 IBIZA CALLING For her design of the “Marina Backgammon Set,” Alexandra

Llewellyn took inspiration from Ibiza’s shimmering azure waters. A limited-edition collaboration with Mr. Porter, € 7,650. 7 STAY YOUNG The “Instant Facelift V-Shape“ ampoules by Remescar contain active ingredients and microneedling technology to firm up your jawline. Five ampoules for approx. € 20. 8 BEAR HUG Once settled in the “Mama Bear” chair by Pierre Yovanovitch, you’ll never want to get up again, POR.

Let it shine!

Add a little sparkle to your life and create some truly golden moments. It doesn’t take much!

1 BRIGHT OUTLOOK Sagaboi’s 2024 spring/ summer collection “Fresh Off The Boat” is rooted in the Caribbean. Its vivid colors celebrate the meeting of different cultures, POR. 2 EARTHY Joss sticks “Thé Russe No. 75 Incense” bring the invigorating scent of Japanese incense into your home. L’Objet, € 70. 3 HIGHLIGHT USM Haller’s classic modular system is now available in bright yellow, pink and blue. “NYC Tower C (Forward)” is

a limited edition by Ben Ganz, approx. € 4,900.

4 ILLUMINATING Is it a lamp or is it art? “Mirror Ball Burst Chandelier Gold” was inspired by space flight. Tom Dixon, € 13,165. 5 LIFE IS A BEACH Paddle ball is called “frescobol” on the beaches of Rio. The “Trancoso Beach Bat Set“ from Frescobol Carioca was made by hand using scraps from the Brazilian furniture industry, € 275.

6 DECORATIVE Sporting a pattern of inter-

twined lines and leaves and hand-knotted in India from 100 % wool pile: Runner “Bresle” from Soho Home, approx. € 3,200. 7 FUN STUFF What a great item for your bathroom sink! Liquid soap dispenser “Mr. Cold” by comic drawer and illustrator Massimo Giacon for Alessi, € 40.

8 ONE OFF Seth Rogen loves ceramics. Here: ashtray “Gloopy” from his Houseplant label. Available via Mr. Porter, € 275.

Extraordinary moments happen on ordinary days. Let’s set the stage for the extraordinary to happen every day.

Travel Series

Iceland

Travel the world from the comfort of your home and dream your next trip into being: These Travel Series coffee table books published by Assouline celebrate some of the world’s most beautiful islands: Ancient legends from Sicily meet delicious Mediterranean cuisine and delightful hotels on the coast. They pay tribute to Greek hospitality in the Aegean and the Cyclades, recount tales of mythology and provide tips from local insiders on Santorini and Mykonos. There’s also a book on Bali, the “island of the gods,” full of stunning photographs of temples, volcanoes and black sandy beaches. Each beautiful book captures the essence of the place it describes.

Assouline, € 105 each

A lifelong love for and fascination with Iceland has shaped her artistic oeuvre: New York-based artist Roni Horn visited the Nordic country for the first time as a young woman on a fellowship from Yale, only to return repeatedly throughout her career. The craggy landscape, omnipresence of water and changeable weather alternating between storms and sunshine, were an important source of inspiration to her. Horn has created many photographic works and produced books while in Iceland. “Mother, Wonder,” a book of photographs, is number eleven in the To Place series that the author initiated in 1989.

Roni Horn, Steidl, € 65

Nordic Islands

Iceland, Greenland, Norway and the Faroes – the islands of the north draw travelers from all around the world. Over 14 years, prominent Swiss nature photographer Stefan Forster made 80 trips to this part of the world to document the region’s unique beauty. The stunning photographs, which reveal Forster’s fascination with natural phenomena, transport readers to well-known but also lesser known places throughout the North. They feature animals that manage to defy the hostile climate, foaming waterfalls, shimmering Northern Lights, icy glaciers and rivers winding their way through mighty mountain landscapes.

Stefan Forster, teNeues, approx. € 40

WORDS: MERLE WILKENING; PHOTOS: © 2020 STEFAN FORSTER (1), ASSOULINE.COM (4)

MORE COLORS. MORE FEATURES. MORE FREEDOM.

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Flagships: Berlin Dortmund Dresden Düsseldorf Frankfurt Hamburg Köln Leipzig München Nürnberg Stuttgart Budapest Paris Wien

ISLAND LIVING

From Mallorca, where Richard Branson has just opened the hotel Son Bunyola, to Bawah in Indonesia and back to the glamorous times captured in the ‘60s and ‘70s by legendary photographer Slim Aarons.

PHOTO: OWEN BUGGY

His employees like to call him “Doctor Yes.” Sir Richard Branson in front of his new hotel Son Bunyola.

MEETING MR. YES!

To mark the opening of his new hotel Sir Richard Branson invited GG to meet him on Mallorca. A day with the founder of the Virgin Group, multi-entrepreneur, fearless adventurer, employer of over 30,000 people in 30 countries and pioneer who refuses to stop making the world a better place.

BY Michaela Cordes

The scorching sun beats down from a cloudless Mallorcan sky. Despite the added boost from my electric bike, beads of sweat form on my forehead. I gasp for breath, struggling to match the pace of the figure ahead, who grows smaller with each passing minute. The man effortlessly gliding through the undulating landscape on his racing bike, as if weightless, is none other than Sir Richard Branson! Two days from now, Virgin Galactic, his space company, will be launching the first commercial flights; recent announcements have also been made that Jennifer Lopez is joining Virgin Voyages, Branson’s adults-only cruise line, as Chief Celebrations Officer. Despite his packed schedule, the 73-year-old multi-entrepreneur has carved out time to jet off to Mallorca, determined to be present for the inauguration of his latest venture: Son Bunyola, his newest luxury hotel. After barely setting foot on the ground, the energetic businessman plunges into the hotel’s expansive 28-meter pool with exuberance. Only a few minutes later he proposed a spontaneous bike ride to explore the surroundings of his latest endeavor.

Nestled at the base of the enchanting Tramuntana mountains, the estate comprises a hotel building – a former ruin – and three distinct villas, resting in the midst of an unspoiled stretch of coastline on Mallorca’s western shores near Banyalbufar, surrounded by 15,000 ancient olive trees. “Over 25 years ago, I stood here for the first time and toured this spectacular estate,” recounts Richard Branson as we sit down for an interview on the terrace at sunset after our bike ride, with a beautiful view onto the vast, glistening Mediterranean below us. The journey, I have to admit, is worthwhile for this view alone!

When Branson acquired the estate back then, he already owned a small luxury hotel in Mallorca, which he transformed from a ruin near Deià into the five-star hotel La Residencia in 1987, now operated by the Belmond Group. “Originally, I came to Mallorca chasing a lost love,” the adventurer continues, chuckling, “that was a very long time ago when I was a young man in my twenties.”

“The woman I lived with back then, whom I was madly in love with, ran away and moved in with another man in Mallorca. I never did

PHOTO:

The hotel at the foot of the Tramuntana mountains boasts 26 rooms and three villas.

“The brave may not live forever, but the cautious do not live at all.”

SIR RICHARD BRANSON

The perfect hotel for a real retreat.

The 28-meter pool and one of Son Bunyola’s 26 rooms (facing page).

The Son Bunyola Hotel on Mallorca is part of a UNESCO World Heritage site. The finca consists of a restored 16th-century building and three villas set amid almond, olive and lemon trees.

Richard Branson flew in personally to attend the inauguration of his new hotel. Beside him: Vincent Padioleau, the general manager. Below: Branson maintained the traditional aesthetic of fincas on the Balearic Islands when he furnished the hotel.

PHOTO: JAIME REINA / COURTESY OF VIRGIN LIMITED

“Seeing my dream come true gave me almost as much of a thrill as going into space.”

SIR RICHARD BRANSON

get the relationship back but one day she rang me and told me about a very special place she had found, a delightful piece of land. That’s where I later opened La Residencia.” The story of Son Bunyola is even more fascinating and almost symbolic of all of Richard Branson’s endeavors. What unites them is the unwavering determination of the entrepreneur behind them, a man who simply refuses to give up.

After acquiring his second property in Mallorca in 1994, Branson tried for several years to develop it, but faced continuous setbacks. Ultimately, in 2002, he made the decision to sell it as the required planning permission he sought kept getting denied. Redirecting his focus, Branson channeled his energies into the expansion of the globally operating Virgin Hotels Group and the creation of the more exclusive Virgin Limited Edition, a collection of luxury hotels located in Switzerland, South Africa and the Caribbean.

In 2015, the buyer approached him and inquired if Branson would consider repurchasing the 520-hectare estate at the same price he had originally sold it for. Branson was more than willing to do so. By then, the Mallorcan government had shifted its stance, showing enthusiasm for supporting the development of premium, sustainable hotel concepts. With the planning department on his side, Branson seized the opportunity and successfully navigated through the bureaucratic hurdles in record time.

How does it feel, after all these years, to have finally accomplished two goals that once seemed so elusive? Building your own space tourism company and securing this hotel project that holds a special place in your heart?

(Branson chuckles, takes a moment to reflect. Then his demeanor becomes more serious.)

“It’s truly remarkable. It was over 25 years ago that I first walked on this property, around the same time that we launched Virgin Galactic, our spaceflight company. Seeing this place finally open for business today, I feel a similar sense of exhilaration as I did a few months ago when I first floated in space. Just witnessing my dream come true.”

One of many dreams you’ve turned into reality. Can you describe what it feels like, going into space for the first time?

“It was the most thrilling day of my life. And the culmination of a dream. My children were there, my grandchildren, and surprisingly, there wasn’t a moment of fear. I wanted to savor every single moment of that day – every single extreme, even reaching speeds of three and a half thousand miles per hour. Then suddenly, the roar comes to an end, and you find yourself floating in the wonderful silence of

space, looking back at Earth. In that moment, I thought: Surely, I’ll wake up soon and think I just had an incredible dream.”

Risky adventures are, so to speak, your specialty. How do you respond to critics who like to point out the significant dangers of such endeavors?

“My motto has always been: ‘The brave may not live forever, but the cautious do not live at all!’ One must not forget, the world needs pioneers. Because the more space missions are conducted or the deeper the oceans are explored, the more we learn. It becomes safer only through these experiences. Essentially, it’s those who do these things for the first or second time who must push the world forward, even if it can be painful.

His wife, Joan Templeman, and his children –daughter Holly and son Sam – have endured a lot and often worried about the adventurous husband and father. Holly is increasingly becoming the face of the Virgin Group as the Chief Purpose and Vision Officer. Sam is a musician and filmmaker. The five grandchildren (aged between three and seven) also play a significant role in Richard Branson’s life. You get a sense of how closely connected the entrepreneur is to his family on Instagram, where almost five million people follow him. When the conversation turns to his grandchildren, Branson laughs and proudly takes out his phone, playing voice messages that he exchanges with them daily.

However, the greatest influence on his life, daring spirit and entrepreneurship seems to have been his mother, Eve. She passed away in January 2021 at the age of 96 due to Covid-related complications. Before that, she had followed every extraordinary business or adventure idea of her son’s with enthusiasm. In the latest HBO documentary about his life, the physical resemblance between mother and son is unmistakable. “BRANSON,” the title, annoys the entrepreneur to this day: “What a boring name! I wanted them to call it ‘Son of Eve.’” Symbolically, the first Virgin Galactic spaceship carrier or “mothership” is named VMS Eve. “As a young woman, my mother was hardworking, trying to run her own company. In many families it’s the father who has the most influence on the son, but in my case it was my mother’s restless and curious personality that rubbed off on me. She was very understanding about my dyslexia, which wasn’t even diagnosed as that back then – and showed me a lot of compassion. She also supported me when I said I wanted to leave school at 15 because I was a hopeless case. Both my parents did, in fact.”

Continued on page 66

1 Richard

Joan and daughter

Virgin Atlantic flight on June 22, 1984. 2 Virgin Trains, a rail operator. 3 The jumbo jet Branson wanted to use to launch satellites into space 4 Branson in the first Virgin Records studio. 5 In November 2023, Branson crossed the Atlantic for the first time on a plane fully powered by biofuel. 6 The first Virgin Records store. 7 The Virgin Voyages fleet comprises three cruise ships. 8 Branson established Virgin Galactic in 2004. The first commercial flights took off into space in the summer of 2023. 9 Never without his family! In March 2000 Branson was knighted by the Queen.

Branson with his wife

Holly on the first

EyeLANDS

Isles of the Blessed

When the jet set and royals escaped to places like Mustique, Slim Aarons was often there with them.

For more than 50 years, the American photographer enjoyed unique access to the powerful and privileged, capturing the art of elegant idleness in his immortal images.

BY Steffi Kammerer PHOTOS: Slim Aarons

STOCKING ISLAND belongs to the Bahamas and is only five kilometers long. Slim Aarons’s photograph from 1964 shows people swimming in front of the ketch sailboat Traveller II – and reveals the best way to approach the tiny island.

HAWAII A rare photo of Slim Aarons himself (facing page) during the filming of the John Ford movie “Mister Roberts” in 1955. This page shows a more frequent motif: Women by the pool, enjoying a siesta under the Italian sun in 1974.

The passion Slim Aarons showed when designing his carefree compositions is all the more extraordinary when you consider that he spent six years as a war photographer during World War II. Returning home after witnessing the devastation of Europe, he turned his back once and for all on the horrors of war, settled in Hollywood and began to focus on the sunny side of life.

His new approach, as he himself succinctly put it, was “photographing attractive people doing attractive things in attractive places.” For over half a century, as he and his camera sought out the crème de la creme, he traveled from St. Barts to Acapulco and the Bahamas, to Antigua and Sardinia and the French Riviera.

Islands are a recurring motif throughout his life’s work. The thing about islands that makes ordinary life seem even further away is that you usually need at least a ferry to bridge the distance between the pool you’re currently reclining by and your regular responsibilities back home. At least this used to be the case before the internet enabled people’s work to follow them wherever they went (not that work

or effort of any kind appeared to play a role in Aarons’ photographs). The smaller, more remote and more private the island, the better the escape from paparazzi, other uninvited guests or day visitors.

Mustique, Capri and Mykonos owe their worldwide fame in part to Aarons’ iconic images, which captured the glamour of his age. Women were among his most frequent subjects and he photographed them in bright dresses, a bikini or nothing at all. “I don’t do fashion,” he said, “I take photos of people in their own clothes and that becomes fashion.”

Slim Aarons’ pictures are immediately recognizable. His is an opulent aesthetic and his protagonists, who almost seem to populate a dreamscape rather than an actual place, are always at leisure and effortlessly good looking. When Aarons died in 2006 at the age of 89, the scenes in his photographs already looked like vestiges of a bygone era. No one was holding a cellphone and preparing to pose for a selfie in the soft evening light. Nor was anyone talking on the phone, checking for messages or scrolling through timelines. What people did do back then were have all kinds of affairs and wild parties that went on into the wee hours. And they sunbathed endlessly without giving a thought to skin cancer or sunscreen factors. AIDS wasn’t an issue yet either in the early Slim Aarons pictures, there was plenty of experimenting, and flirtations were the norm.

What you see are people interacting with each other, playing backgammon by the pool, laughing, talking, napping. Of course real life wasn’t nearly as harmonious, but in Slim Aarons’ idealized images, life was one long, lazy summer afternoon.

The effortlessness that his pictures exude often make them look like snapshots, but that’s all part of the photographer’s art. In reality, every shot was composed down to the last detail, each scene designed like a theater set. There’s often a dog in the picture, or a car, or a carriage. And there are props: His subjects hold a coconut with a straw, or at the very least a cocktail, a martini or a cigarette in their attractively tanned hands.

PHOTOS: SLIM AARONS/GETTY IMAGES

MUSTIQUE Slim Aarons visited this most glamorous Caribbean island several times over the years. He photographed Princess Margaret and Mick Jagger there, along with lots of other attractive people poolside.

CAPRI Soaking up the sun in charming company with fine views of the majestic Faraglioni. On the terrace of Il Canile, the villa belonging to Italian costume designer Umberto Tirelli, in 1980.

ST. BARTS The whitewashed walls of this Caribbean residence are worthy of Santorini. Slim Aarons composed the scene on the roof as carefully as that of the trio on a private island in the Philippines (r.).

Slim Aarons invariably worked alone, preferring to use no stylists, makeup artists or even artificial lighting. One time, when a woman arrived for a photo shoot freshly styled from the salon, Aarons asked his assistant to please wash out her hair in the sink, which she promptly did. Aarons could afford to do things like that.

For decades, his photography was published in LIFE, Town & Country and other magazines. Nobody before him and nobody since has managed to depict the upper echelons of society as naturally as he did. His winning smile inspired trust and opened doors that were otherwise shut; provided access to the enclaves of the rich and famous hidden away behind tall hedges. He entered the Bath and Tennis Club in Palm Beach, palaces and chalets, watched Marilyn Monroe sort her fan mail dressed in only a negligee and spent time with Princess Margaret on the Aga Khan’s yacht.

Always immaculately dressed and very discreet, Aarons was soon accepted into the inner circles of the elite. What nobody knew was that he had engaged in a small deception – one he knew was essential if he wanted to succeed –

by claiming to be a New England farm boy and otherwise keeping silent about his background and upbringing.

Ten years after his death, in a documentary called “The High Life,” it came out that George Allen Aarons – his real name – wasn’t a country boy at all, but the son of Jewish immigrants who had grown up poor and in difficult circumstances on the Lower East Side of Manhattan. Not even his wife and daughter had known this about him.

After high school, in the summer of 1939, Aarons joined the army – his ticket to the big wide world. He started out taking photos for the military academy on the Hudson River at West Point. Then he met Robert Capa, the future co-founder of Magnum Photos, who recruited him as a photographer for a new U.S. Army weekly called “Yank.”

Aarons was stationed first in London, then in Cairo; he documented the war on the front line in North Africa and the Middle East. In Italy, he was nearly killed by a hand grenade, received a Purple Heart, was present with his camera at the liberation of Rome and Paris in the summer of 1944 and, almost a year later, photographed what was left of Hitler’s bunker in Berlin.

After the war he went to Hollywood, where he took what may be his most famous photo on New Year’s Eve of 1957. Known as “The Kings of Hollywood,” it showed Clark Gable, Van Heflin, Gary Cooper and Jimmy Stewart, all four of them in evening dress, smoking and drinking at the bar, united by laughter and camaraderie. Aarons still occasionally took black and white photos back then, but he would soon be one of the first to switch entirely to color. Today, his work is exhibited in large museums and collections all around the world. Interior designers and influencers have also discovered Slim Aarons and his work, and many a fashionable theme party has taken place in his name – poolside, of course.

Would you like to know more?

There are many books of Slim Aarons’ photography. “The Essential Collection,” which came out a few months ago, is the most complete.

THE MAXIMALIST

After 30 years at Estée Lauder, the former group president made an unexpected pivot. Now he’s back – with a new job, the support of his friends and a book that explores his singular style and philosophy on life.

By Michaela Cordes PH OTOS: Douglas Friedman

“The inspiration for the blue started with some Louboutin boots of a dear friend of mine.”

JOHN DEMSEY

Much of the art on the walls is the work of artists John Demsey has collaborated with over the years.

JOHN DEMSEY

“Back when I didn’t have a dollar, I would buy movie posters and go to flea markets.”

A passion for collecting meets unbounded creativity. Shades of red dominate Demsey’s bedroom.

It’s a clear morning, and the sky over Manhattan wears the same blue as the front door of the man who had to start over at 67. “I was cancelled!” says John Demsey a few minutes later as we sit in his colorful living room over coffee. “It was a terrible experience. But now I’m back!”

For over 30 years, John Demsey was a highly regarded businessman, extending his influence far beyond the United States. During this time, the son of a painter and an industrialist from Ohio transformed the originally very classical and conservative image of the Lauder company with provocative beauty projects, especially with the MAC brand and later Tom Ford. He made diversity-promoting pop stars such as Lil’ Kim, Missy Elliott, and RuPaul celebrated brand ambassadors. As Group President, he achieved staggeringly high revenues, propelling the company from a mid-sized family business to a publicly traded global conglomerate, temporarily valued at over $100 million. John Demsey became a star in the beauty industry and was also a frequent and welcome guest in private circles. As Chairman of the MAC AIDS Fund, he raised a total of more than $500 million for AIDS assistance.

When the COVID lockdowns began, the divorced father of a 15-year-old daughter started reposting amusing memes on his private Instagram account, gaining 73,000 followers. “It quickly became a large community. People from all over the world approached me and said, ‘Thank you! You made me cry, laugh, and

feel.’” Until the day in February 2022 when he thoughtlessly reposted a comic image. “A meme that I didn’t fully understand was online for a few hours.”

Due to fallout from the meme, the top executive of Estée Lauder first took a leave of absence and later announced that he would be leaving the company. “The irony is that my career was built on inclusion and diversity,” Demsey says, “I have done more for people of different skin tones and genders than anyone else in the beauty industry.” In the 18 months that followed, his six-story townhouse became a saving refuge. He suddenly turned persona non grata, lost 15 kilograms and experienced additional drama in his private life. “Both my parents became very ill. My father passed away during that time. My mother also went through a very difficult phase, but I was able to bring her to New York, where she is thriving at 91. My daughter was also negatively affected, with cyberbullying and online issues.”

But John Demsey didn’t give up; he started as Senior Advisor at L. Catterton, a private equity firm connected with LVMH, and embarked on an unusual book project with Vendome Press after being persuaded by his friends, interior photographer Douglas Friedman and fashion journalist Alina Cho. The plan: a coffee-table book about his unique life, aesthetics and philosophy. “My friend Douglas said: ‘Your house has been seen in Architectural Digests around the world, but no one has really captured the personality behind it. You – who understands the art of collecting like no other and wants to live creativity without boundaries.’”

The photo production lasted 17 days. Together with Dutch stylist Mieke ten Have, Demsey showcased his masterfully decorated house. “The project became almost a physical manifestation of who I am, a creative passion project,” he recalls. The work “Behind the Blue Door – A Maximalist Mantra” was published just over six months ago. A glamorous book party in his house last September marked Demsey’s reentry into New York’s society: “I had a lot of support from the fashion world.” Demsey also highlights the exceptional friendship and mentorship of Leonard Lauder in our conversation, saying: “He remains a positive force in my life.”

John Demsey continues to run his Instagram account. Today he has 2.1 million followers. The advice from his crisis manager helped. Demsey: “When I asked him at the time if I should cancel my account, his answer was:

‘Absolutely not. The 0.01% who hate you will do so forever. But you have to stay optimistic. Don’t look back, only forward.’”

Would you like to know more?

Even the gym looks like part of an art gallery. Above: view into the collector’s living room.

A Glimpse of Paradise

Imagine an island where you can enjoy true solitude, picnics under palm trees and sundowners around a campfire followed by fine dining. Welcome to Elang, part of the Bawah Reserve. It belongs to the Anambas archipelago in the South China Sea, a cluster of 250 islands between Malaysia and Borneo far off the beaten tourist track. BY Irina von Gagern PHOTOS: Bawah Reserve

The only distraction from the yoga class is the flying fish that pop out of the water around us.

Touch the ocean: The panoramic view from the yoga pavilion on Elang is absolutely stunning.

Castaway chic: With lots of bamboo, driftwood and linen, the villas could almost be a Robinson Crusoe design.

Elang island is roughly the size of 14 soccer fields and covered in jungle greenery.

Plenty of privacy! Each villa on Elang has its own secluded private terrace that’s entirely hidden from view.

The experience is quite unique and feels more like being the guest of an exceedingly generous host – one who has ever so kindly given me permisson to stay on his private island with its stunningly beautiful villa. It not only includes a butler, but also a personal yoga instructor, gourmet chef, masseuse, facialist and the captain of his sizable fleet of boats.

Welcome to Elang. My absent host is Tim Hartnoll.

The British businessman, who lives in Singapore and made his fortune in container shipping, discovered the main island Bawah and its five neighboring islets 16 years ago during a long and leisurely sailing trip. What makes this archipelago so enticing is the lagoon around which the islands are grouped, providing the perfect landing place for seaplanes and making the cluster supremely accessible for low-impact luxury tourism.

Hartnoll spent six years building on Bawah to the highest eco standards, hiring Sim Boon Yang, an architect and designer from Singapore who specializes in sustainable building projects. He carefully integrated the 35 villas into the surrounding landscape and built them using sustainable regional materials.

In 2020, six additional villas were added on the tiny island of Elang. Originally, Tim Hartnoll intended to use this as a private holiday retreat for himself and his family, but during the pandemic he changed his mind and decided to make the island residence available as an exclusive buyout for groups.

and breakfast terrace, the saltwater pool, the spa, and a breezy yoga pavilion.

I have hardly any responsibilities in this idylic place. All I’m expected to do is decide when, where and what I want to eat and pick a time for my choice of the many spa treatments on offer. From there on, everything else is expertly taken care of by Danu the butler.

On my first evening I take a sunset cruise to explore the six islands of Bawah. As the sun sinks languidly into the South China Sea, I nibble on an appetizer and sip a glass of chilled wine. Then it’s off to a candlelight barbecue on the beach. Back at my villa, I fall into a deep sleep with the soothing soundtrack of the jungle in the background

Next morning starts with a yoga session in the open-sided pavilion on a flat rock in the sea. My South African yoga instructor Philippa guides me through an energizing yoga flow. The only distraction is the flying fish that pop in and out of the water around us.

Lunchtime brings the next highlight: A boat takes me to Coconut Beach, a remote beach on the main island Bawah. As we approach, I take in the literally picture-perfect idyll: Gleaming white sand, graceful palm trees, turquoise water and not a soul in sight. The only thing here is a temptingly laid table, a couple of sunshades and a cooler box packed full of delectable food. After my picnic, I have a swim and immerse myself in the deluxe ambiance of my Robinson Crusoe experience.

The days fly by as I spend my time snorkeling with schools of colored fish and sea turtles, paddling across the lagoon from island to island in a kayak, and marveling at the blue and red corals visible in the water beneath me.

BOOKING: Elang Private Residence (Elang island) is available to book exclusively for groups; rates for up to ten guests start from $18,000 per night. The island can accommodate up to 19 guests; at maximum occupancy the price per night starts from around $28,500 including meals and non-alcoholic drinks as well as one spa treatment per day for each adult, yoga, Pilates and meditation classes.

HOW TO GET THERE: Take the ferry from Singapore to the island of Batam. From there, the flight to Bawah-Elang takes just under 80 minutes. On your return journey stay at Raffles Hotel in Singapore. The legendary grand hotel (built in 1887) is ideally located for exploring the city and is the best possible way to ease back into the inhabited world.

The landing is spectacular. The pilot of the seaplane, who flies barefoot, treats us to an extra circuit of the six islands. I spot palmthatched roofs, long stretches of pristine sandy beaches, turquoise water through which corals shimmer before the plane touches down on the calm water of the lagoon and we glide smoothly towards the jetty on the plane’s floats.

I am welcomed by manager Raymond Saja and my butler Danu, before being whisked off to a motorboat and over to Elang, an island that is roughly the size of 14 soccer fields and covered with thick jungle vegetation.

My bright and airy villa, beautifully furnished with natural materials, perches on a cliff top with spectacular views over the ocean. The jungle starts directly behind the house; a path connects the villas with the sandy beach, the clubhouse with its spacious dining room

In the evening the Canadian head chef Michael Pataran pampers me with multi-course fine dining menus created with local products. He serves fresh, locally caught fish, produce from Bawah’s lush vegetable plots, meat and dairy products from the neighboring islands.

Pampering is writ large here: Every day, I enjoy a spa treatment, which is included in the stay at Elang Private Residence. The first few days, my treatment takes place in the Kayu Spa on Elang, then I move to the main island Bawah where the treatment space is in a luxurious treehouse surrounded by dense jungle.

My personal highlight is the Batu Tokong Spa Explorer treatment: A boat picks me up and takes me to a flat rock jutting out into the ocean close to Coconut Beach where I am massaged into pure bliss by my spa therapist Dayu.

When I finally open my eyes, I drink in the endless horizon with its myriad shades of blue and think to myself: This is what paradise must be like.

Would you like to know more?

Continued from page 37

“I remember walking in the garden with my mother and father, and in the end, she simply said, ‘You know what you want to do.’” In the documentary, when her son steps into a hot-air balloon bent on circumnavigating the world, you can clearly see her excitement and get the feeling that the former stewardess would have loved to join her son. “I think trying to balloon around the world was my most dangerous adventure. No one had succeeded in doing this before,” says Branson and takes a sip of water. “The balloon flies wherever the wind takes it, you have very little control. Clouds and storms can rip it to pieces. I was young and foolhardy at the time and I think we were pulled out of the sea on four or five different occasions. But we did it. We were the first to cross the Atlantic and then we were the first to cross the Pacific. To do that, we took off in Japan, heading for Los Angeles. But we missed L.A.

by 2,318 miles and landed in the Arctic. That just goes to show. The unpredictability! Going into space is far safer. We spent 20 years building our spaceships and in the process, learned all about where you can go wrong.”

You are, in the truest sense of the word, an entrepreneur, and were knighted by the Queen for it in 2000. To this day, you have founded, among other things, a record label, an airline, a radio station. You have ventured into the hotel business, space travel, and most recently, into cruise shipping. How do you manage to turn so many great visions into reality?

“Another motto of mine is: Do it! I am incredibly curious, love to learn, to create, and surround myself with people who are better than me. I want to create the best. It sounds simple, but it’s easier said than done. I started out with 200 British pounds that my mother gave me in the form of a necklace as initial capital. The reason I say this is: It’s possible to work your way up, even if you have no money. I was a young, dyslexic guy who left school at 15 with no money and yet I managed to survive. You can achieve great things by somehow getting the money for everything you do in advance. I’ve learned from my mistakes and have often been very, very close to bankruptcy. But somehow, I persevered. If you don’t try, you’ll definitely not succeed, that’s for sure. Here’s my advice: Try! Try in a small way, be inquisitive, surround yourself with great people and have a blast along the way!”

You are 73 years old but still have the energy of a restless child. Is that another secret of your success? That you’ve always kept your inner child alive? “One should never take oneself too seriously! And I love April 1. I’ve pulled off some funny April Fools’ pranks. Once I flew over London in a UFO. When we landed on a foggy field outside Gatwick, just like in E.T., the door opened slowly, dry ice billowed out, and we had a person with dwarfism on board who was the first to disembark. They called out the army and six police forces. We were surrounded, and met by an English bobby with a truncheon. When I stepped out I was arrested for wasting the policeman’s time – hilarious!”

Towards the end of our conversation, Branson becomes somewhat reflective: “You know, sometimes I lie in bed in the morning and think: My whole life has been one incredible dream. I am very aware of the life I am privileged to live, everything I’ve learned, all the wonderful things that have happened and all the adventures I’ve come back from. Not everything I did worked out, but I am still with the same lady – and have been for 45 years!”

Would you like to know more?

INTERVIEW: MICHAELA CORDES; PHOTO: JAIME REINA

He did it! Richard Branson celebrates the opening of his new hotel Son Bunyola on Mallorca.

One of the four options is Villa Agata with three bedrooms, a private pool and sensational Mediterranean views.

Sicily at its Finest

The Rocco Forte Private Villas enjoy the utmost privacy and greatest conceivable comfort. Owners are treated to the five-star service of the “Verdura” hotel resort.

TEXT: Merle Wilkening PHOTOS: ROCCO FORTE HOTELS

“I believe good design should be comfortable, practical and memorable.”

OLGA POLIZZI

Rugged linens, modern sofas, earthy tones and local stone all reflect the particular way of life on Sicily.

OLGA POLIZZI

“The architecture of the villas is inspired by the natural beauty of the island.”

The villas with their expansive terraces and private pools boast unforgettable views.

“Our Verdura Resort is one of my favourite retreats. It is all about unadulterated luxury with a touch of the wild.”

SIR ROCCO FORTE

ight in the south, at the very tip of Italy‘s boot, lies the largest island in the Mediterranean: Sicily. Olive trees and citrus groves as far as the eye can see, and white sandy beaches that set the scene perfectly for la dolce vita. Expertly envisaged by Sir Rocco Forte, the exclusive fivestar Verdura Resort awaits on the island’s south coast. Set within the sprawling 230-hectare estate, the luxury hotel group has now created its first residences on Sicily, with 20 private villas to date.

From London to Rome, and St. Petersburg to Sicily: the Rocco Forte hotel group currently operates 14 luxury hotels and resorts, several of which can be found on Italian soil. Some of the most elegant hotels in the whole of Europe now fly the flag of the family business, including the “Villa Igiea” in Palermo, which resides in a beautiful 19th century palazzo, and the iconic “Hotel de Russie” in the Italian capital Rome. The British hotelier Sir Rocco Forte founded the company back in 1996 with his younger sister Olga Polizzi, who oversees the aesthetic philosophy of all hotels as Director of Design. Sir Rocco’s two daughters and son have since also come on board at the prestigious company.

The opening of the “Verdura Resort” in 2009 marked the group’s first foray into Sicily. The private villas, being brokered exclusively in the DACH region by Engel & Völkers, also mark a brand new chapter for the hotel group: “This is our first venture into villa accommodation and we have carefully studied the market to ensure we deliver the highest standards of design and service,” Sir Rocco says. There are four different varieties of villa, compromising three or four bedroom suites respectively, and each treating owners to bespoke and uncompromising comfort in every respect. Residents benefit too from all the resort’s amenities and five-star service: bars and restaurants, the award-winning Irene Forte Spa, the Kyle Phillips 18-hole golf course, tennis and padel courts, and the kids’ club are all just minutes away from the

residences – and easy to reach by golf buggy, e-bike or taking a leisurely stroll through the verdant grounds. Other such exclusive extras include a private butler or personal chef ready to provide their services on request whenever the whim takes guests.

The villas were designed by the renowned Italian architecture firm ASA Studio Albanese, together with Olga Polizzi. “When working on the villas, it had to be an extension of what we achieved with the Verdura Resort, where we worked with the genius architect Flavio Albanese,” says Polizzi. “His attention to design and space planning is second to none. He has a feel for the land and the island, and understands the terrain and landscape.” Architecturally, the villas are inspired by the island’s outstanding natural beauty and incorporate the features that the region is known for such as the beams, flat roofs, outside stairways, and floor-to-ceiling windows that allow abundant light in.

The two-storey structures appear very much in keeping with their surroundings, while the gardens offer the utmost privacy and a sense of vibrancy in the landscape. Local tuff stone that is typical of construction in the region is the main material used in the villas. The furnishings too are regionally sourced and remain true to the location on the southern coast of Sicily: “We opted for fabrics and materials that resemble this special island,” Polizzi reveals. “Rough linen, rather comfortable contemporary sofas, earthy colours combined with brightly accented kitchens, and local stone throughout. We are lucky that we have great connections with local artists in the area so we use their works as much as possible in the villas and for inspiration. Much of the pottery used decoratively throughout is from the local village of Sciacca. Unique Italian designer pieces by Meridiani round off the interior furnishings, along with sophisticated lighting and individual design by L’Interno and C&C Milan.

A private sandy beach is reserved for villa guests only, ensuring absolute seclusion and tranquillity. A range of watersports are also available on the resort’s main beach. This includes such memorable treats as a trip around the nearby Sicilian bays on the 18-metre “Verdura” yacht. One special highlight too is the fact that guests can enjoy the convenience of touching down here in just 20 minutes by helicopter from Palermo Airport.

Sicily, Italy

Price from EUR 2.658 mill.

Interior approx. from 287 m²

Hotelier Sir Rocco Forte (2nd from right) with his sister and Director of Design Olga Polizzi. Left: the children Lydia, Irene and Charles.

Majorca

Unique Country Estate Ideal for Horse Lovers – Between the Sea & Sought-After Santanyi in Southeast Majorca

Balearic Islands, Spain

Price on request

ENGEL

Tel.

E-mail

Interior approx. 1,800 m²

Land approx. 46 ha E&V ID W-02SU1C

Como

Unique Lakeside Mansion Directly on Lake Como Embodying the Essence of Luxury, Elegance & Comfort

Lombardy, Italy

Price on request

ENGEL

Tel. +39 031 51 30 99

E-mail lagodicomo@engelvoelkers.com

Interior approx. 1,650 m²

Land approx. 6,250 m²

E&V ID W-02TM36

Finest Italian Estates S.R.L. – Via Regina, 43 – 22012 Cernobbio / Real estate company – Licence Partner of Engel & Völkers Italia S.r.l.

& VÖLKERS Cernobbio (IT)

Heiligendamm

One of a Kind – Baltic Sea Haven with an Enchanting Blend of Architectural Splendour & Natural Beauty

ENGEL & VÖLKERS Berlin Mitte MMC (DE)

Contact Elena Roth

Tel. +49 30 23 32 00 02 03 E-mail elena.roth@engelvoelkers.com

Commission fee split between buyer and seller in accordance with new legislation from 23.12.2020.

Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, Germany

Price EUR 40 mill.

Interior approx. 1,484 m²

Land approx. 4,449 m²

E&V ID W-02TTB5

Engel & Völkers Berlin Mitte GmbH – Charlottenstraße 4 – 10969 Berlin / Real estate company

Licence Partner of Engel & Völkers Residential GmbH

Baden-Baden

La Vie en Rose – Exclusive Residences in Enchantingly Beautiful Surroundings

ENGEL & VÖLKERS Baden-Baden (DE)

Tel. +49 7221 97 08 60

E-mail baden- baden@engelvoelkers.com

Commission fee split between buyer and seller in accordance with new legislation from 23.12.2020.

Immobilien

– Kreuzstraße 4 – 76530

Baden-Württemberg, Germany

Price on request

Interior approx. 60 – 260 m²

No. of rooms 2 – 5

E&V ID W-02U03C

Pamina

GmbH

Baden-Baden / Real estate company

Licence Partner of Engel & Völkers Residential GmbH

ENGEL & VÖLKERS Missoula (US)

Contact Dawn Maddux

Tel. +1 406 550 4131

E-mail dawn.maddux@engelvoelkers.com

Montana, United States of America

Price USD 9,789,000

Interior approx. 8,999 square feet

Land approx. 27.79 acres

E&V ID AM-274264

Hamilton Masterpiece of Design & Craftsmanship with Stunning Views

Fort Myers

ENGEL

Contact Nadja

Tel.

239 738 9058

E-mail nadja.eisenkeck@engelvoelkers.com

Florida, United States of America

Price USD 4,599,000

Interior approx. 552 m²

Land approx. 2,043 m²

E&V ID AM-5000012

British

Vernon Elegant Country Estate

Contact

E-mail

Regina Beach

Family Home at the Lake 30 Minutes from Regina

Saskatchewan, Canada

Price CAD 639,900

Interior approx. 1,511 square feet

Land approx. 4,974 square feet

E&V ID AM-5004713

ENGEL

Contact Angelique Hansen Tel. +1 306 550 1166

E-mail angelique.hansen@engelvoelkers.com

Engel & Völkers Regina

Regina Beach, SK S0G 4C0

ENGEL & VÖLKERS Ottawa South (CA)

Contact Christopher Lacharity

Tel. +1 613 240 8609

E-mail christopher.lacharity@engelvoelkers.com

Ottawa

A Perfect Fusion of Old-World Charm & Modern-Style Living

Ontario, Canada

Price CAD 3,688,000

Interior approx. 4,208 square feet

Land approx. 1.72 acres

E&V ID AM-3204865

Lanaudière

Québec, Canada

Price CAD 1,199,900

No.

Land approx. 81,964 square feet

E&V ID AM-3200559

Engel & Völkers Montréal Rive-Nord – 3055 Saint-Martin Ouest, Unit T140 – Laval, QC H7T 0J3

estate

Licence Partner of Engel & Völkers Canada Inc.

ENGEL & VÖLKERS Outaouais (CA)

Contact Jeremy Spilkin & Louis-Philippe Pidgeon

Tel. +1 613 858 2322 & +1 819 744 0807

Lac-Sainte-Marie

Luxury Ski-In/Ski-Out Chalet at the Base of Mont Ste-Marie

E-mail jeremy.spilkin@engelvoelkers.com & louis-philippe.pidgeon@engelvoelkers.com

Québec, Canada

Price CAD 2,198,000

Interior approx. 2,230 square feet

Land approx. 11,443 square feet

E&V ID AM-3203797

Inc.

Hunts Point

Architecture, Refined Materials & Breathtaking Views

Nova

Price

Interior

ENGEL

Tel.

E-mail campsbay@engelvoelkers.com

Cape Town

Exceptional Property Overlooking Atlantic Ocean in Llandudno

Western Cape, South Africa

Price

Interior approx. 720 m²

Land approx. 1,375 m²

ENVOLK TRADING, S.L. – Puerto deportivo de Sotogrande Edificio D, local 5 – 11310 Sotogrande / Real estate company

Licence Partner of Engel & Völkers Residential GmbH

Cádiz, Spain

Price EUR 3.6 mill.

Interior approx. 421 m²

Land approx. 10,000 m²

E&V ID W-02SGLU

Tarifa

Stunning & Unique Property with Sea Views

Marbella

Exquisite Living in the Finest Location

ENGEL & VÖLKERS Marbella West (ES)

Tel. +34 952 07 42 42

E-mail marbellawest@engelvoelkers.com

Málaga, Spain

Price EUR 4.9 mill.

Interior approx. 1,034 m²

Land approx. 3,534 m²

E&V ID W-02TJTB

Mazal Realty, S.L. – C.C. Guadalmina 4, Local 13 – 29670, San Pedro de Alcántara (Málaga) / Real estate company

Licence Partner of Engel & Völkers Residential GmbH

Torrevieja

Valencia, Spain

Price EUR 495,000

Interior

No.

E&V ID W-02THIV

Alicante Sureste Immobiliaria S.L. – Calle Azorín 5

Torrevieja

Real estate company

ENGEL

Tel.

E-mail

Porto

Apartment with Stunning View of the River Douro

Porto, Portugal

Interior approx. 310 m²

No. of bedrooms 5

E&V ID W-02U3KB

Price EUR 2.48 mill.

Comporta,

Interior

Land

E&V

Círculo Comum - Mediaçáo Imobiliária Lda. – Avenida 18 de Dezembro, 7 – 7570-779 Carvalhal / Real estate company

Licence Partner of Engel & Völkers Residential GmbH

ENGEL & VÖLKERS Portimão (PT)

Tel. +351 282 07 11 31

E-mail portimao@engelvoelkers.com

Ferragudo

Breathtaking Villa with Panoramic Ocean Views Close to the Beach

Algarve, Portugal

Price EUR 4.75 mill.

Interior approx. 347 m²

Land approx. 1,440 m²

E&V ID W-02UATK

Soho Algarve, Lda. – Praça Visconde Bivar – 8500-544 Portimão / Real estate company – Licence Partner of Engel & Völkers Residential GmbH

Historic

Kifisia

Athens, Greece

Price EUR 12 mill.

Interior approx. 1,280 m²

Land approx. 4,000 m²

E&V ID W-02TW78

ENGEL

Mansion in Athens

ENGEL

Tel. +41 33 655 65 05

E-mail gstaad@engelvoelkers.com

Gstaad

Cosy Apartment with Mountain Views in Saanenmöser

Bern, Switzerland

Price CHF 2.25 mill.

Interior approx. 104 m²

No. of rooms 4.5

E&V ID W-02SMLS

Two Dream Homes for Three Generations on the Outskirts of Basel

Solothurn, Switzerland

Price CHF 4.63 mill.

Interior approx. 527 m²

Land approx. 2,221 m²

E&V ID W-02U44Z

ENGEL &

Arlesheim (CH)

Tel. +41 61 745 10 10

E-mail arlesheim@engelvoelkers.com

VÖLKERS

EV Arlesheim Immobilien AG – Bahnhofstrasse 1 – 4144 Arlesheim / Real estate company – Licence Partner of Engel & Völkers Wohnen Schweiz AG

Gempen

ENGEL & VÖLKERS Lugano (CH)

Tel. +41 91 980 42 60

E-mail lugano@engelvoelkers.com

Ticino, Switzerland

Price CHF 8.9 mill.

Interior approx. 356 m²

Land approx. 2,046 m²

E&V ID W-02TOCM

Ticino Premium Properties SA

Lugano

Real estate company

Licence Partner of Engel & Völkers Wohnen Schweiz AG

Price

Interior

Land approx. 10,668

E&V ID W-02TG8B

Styria, Austria

EUR 3.39 mill.

approx. 435 m²

m²

Martich Beteiligungs-GmbH – Joanneumring 20 – 8010 Graz / Real estate company – Licence Partner of Engel & Völkers Residential

Majestic Property with Castle-Like Flair

Mondsee

Modern Feel-Good Chalet Enjoying a Unique Panorama

Salzkammergut, Austria

Price EUR 5.5 mill.

ENGEL & VÖLKERS Salzburg (AT)

Tel. +43 662 20 90 06

E-mail salzburg@engelvoelkers.com

Interior approx. 411 m²

Land approx. 1,118 m²

E&V ID W-02SKG0

EV Salzburg GmbH – Neutorstraße 22 – 5020 Salzburg / Real estate company – Licence Partner of Engel & Völkers Residential GmbH

Price

Interior

Land

E&V ID W-02TA6E

South Tyrol, Italy

Bolzano

Historic Reiseggerhof in Prime Location

ENGEL & VÖLKERS Cernobbio (IT)

Tel. +39 031 51 30 99

E-mail lagodicomo@engelvoelkers.com

Menaggio

Exquisitely Elegant Villa with Breathtaking Views over Lake Como

Lombardy, Italy

Price EUR 22 mill.

Interior approx. 1,085 m²

Land approx. 8,000 m²

E&V ID W-02TI0O

Finest Italian Estates S.R.L. – Via Regina, 43 – 22012 Cernobbio / Real estate company – Licence Partner of Engel & Völkers Italia S.r.l.

Charming

Noble

ENGEL

Tel.

E-mail

Lombardy, Italy

Price EUR 4.8

Interior approx. 2,080

Land

E&V ID W-02QKKW

Aeolian Islands, Italy

Price EUR 930,000

Interior approx. 351 m²

Land approx. 1,500 m²

E&V ID W-02QN2S

Deux Real Estate S.r.l.

Porto Turistico Capo

Capo

Real estate company

Licence Partner of Engel & Völkers Italia S.r.l.

Salina

Exclusive Villa with Vineyard in Malfa

Sicily

Tel.

E-mail

Sicily, Italy

Price EUR 1.6 mill.

Interior approx. 573 m²

Land approx. 3.5 ha

E&V ID W-02U8AN

Historic Sicilian Mansion with Vineyard on the Slopes of Mount Etna

Mougins

Contemporary Property in the Heart of a Prestigious Area

Côte

Price EUR 8.9 mill.

Interior approx. 703 m²

Land approx. 2,700 m²

E-mail

E&V ID W-02TO0C

Oldenswort Historic Thatched Property on the North Sea

Schleswig-Holstein, Germany

Price EUR 1.3 mill.

Interior approx. 191 m²

Land approx. 28,212 m²

E&V ID W-02TLNM

ENGEL

E-mail

Tel.

Garding

Turn-of-the-Century Elegance on Eiderstedt Peninsula

ENGEL & VÖLKERS St. Peter-Ording (DE)

Contact Philippe van Taylor

Tel. +49 4863 970 90 10 E-mail st.peter-ording@engelvoelkers.com Commission fee split between buyer and seller in accordance with new legislation from 23.12.2020.

Schleswig-Holstein, Germany

Price EUR 2.25 mill.

Interior approx. 390 m²

Land approx. 16,457 m²

E&V ID W-02TMRD

EuV Wohnen GmbH – Badallee 3 – 25826 St. Peter-Ording / Real estate company – Licence Partner of Engel & Völkers Residential GmbH

Bordelum

Contemporary Dream Home on the West Coast

Schleswig-Holstein, Germany

Price EUR 610,000

Interior approx. 160 m²

Land approx. 886 m²

E&V ID W-02TQME

ENGEL & VÖLKERS Niebüll (DE)

Contact Manuela Myer

Tel. +49 4661 956 94 50 E-mail niebuell@engelvoelkers.com Commission fee split between buyer and seller in accordance with new legislation from 23.12.2020. EuV Wohnen GmbH

Hamburg

Spectacular Penthouse with Alster Views in Eppendorf

ENGEL & VÖLKERS Hamburg Alster (DE)

Tel. +49 40 46 86 31 20

E-mail alster.stadtvillen@engelvoelkers.com

Commission fee split between buyer and seller in accordance with new legislation from 23.12.2020.

E+V Hamburg Immobilien GmbH – Eppendorfer Baum

Hamburg, Germany

Price EUR 10.5 mill.

Interior approx. 433 m²

No. of rooms plus kitchen/living space 5

E&V ID W-02TX32

– 20249 Hamburg / Real estate company – Licence Partner of Engel & Völkers Residential GmbH

Hamburg

Unique Luxury Home with Historic Charm in Marienthal

Engel

Hamburg, Germany

Price EUR 2.2 mill.

Interior approx. 250 m²

Land approx. 380 m²

E&V ID W-02TPZR

ENGEL & VÖLKERS Hamburg Marienthal (DE)

Contact Oliver Schmidt

Tel. +49 40 370 86 00 11 E-mail marienthal@engelvoelkers.com Commission fee split between buyer and seller in accordance with new legislation from 23.12.2020.

PHOTOS:

Bremen

Impressive Family Home in Highly Sought-After Location

ENGEL & VÖLKERS Bremen Oberneuland (DE)

Tel. +49 421 25 80 97 70

E-mail bremen@engelvoelkers.com Commission fee split between buyer and seller in accordance with new legislation from 23.12.2020.

Bremen, Germany

Price EUR 1.49 mill.

Interior approx. 380 m²

Land approx. 1,900 m²

E&V ID W-024D2R

Thorsten W. Michels Immobilien GmbH – Mühlenfeldstraße 11 – 28355 Bremen / Real estate company – Licence Partner of Engel & Völkers Residential GmbH

Lower Saxony, Germany

Price EUR 3.4 mill.

Total floor space approx. 562 m²

Land approx. 2,243 m²

E&V ID W-02SYNM

Gifhorn

Unique Architecture & Absolute Luxury

Engel & Völkers Braunschweig

ENGEL & VÖLKERS Braunschweig (DE)

Tel. +49 531 213 69 00

E-mail braunschweig@engelvoelkers.com Commission fee split between buyer and seller in accordance with new legislation from 23.12.2020.

Immobilien GmbH – Steinweg 28 – 38100 Braunschweig / Real estate company

Licence Partner of Engel & Völkers Residential GmbH

Penzlin

Castle in Marihn in the Mecklenburg Lake District

ENGEL & VÖLKERS Waren (DE)

Contact Carsten Scholz

Tel. +49 171 337 43 05 E-mail carsten.scholz@engelvoelkers.com

Commission fee split between buyer and seller in accordance with new legislation from 23.12.2020.

Müritz Maritim Immobilien EuV GmbH – Lange Straße 57 – 17192

Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, Germany

Price EUR 2.95 mill.

Interior approx. 890 m²

Land approx. 75 ha

E&V ID W-02TTZ1

Waren (Müritz) / Real estate company – Licence Partner of Engel & Völkers Residential GmbH

Berlin

Unique Design by Architect Hans Scharoun at Prime Dahlem Address

Berlin, Germany

Price EUR 5.3 mill.

Interior approx. 330 m²

Land approx. 2,116 m²

E&V ID W-02RO4R

Engel & Völkers

ENGEL & VÖLKERS Berlin Hohenzollerndamm MMC (DE)

Tel. +49 30 203 46 15 00

E-mail berlin-brandenburg@engelvoelkers.com Commission fee split between buyer and seller in accordance with new legislation from 23.12.2020.

Immobilien Deutschland GmbH – Hohenzollerndamm 114 – 14199 Berlin / Real estate company

Licence Partner of Engel & Völkers Residential GmbH

PHOTOS:

Berlin

The Schwanenhof on Schwanenwerder Island

ENGEL & VÖLKERS Berlin Hohenzollerndamm MMC (DE)

Tel. +49 30 203 46 15 00

E-mail berlin-brandenburg@engelvoelkers.com Commission fee split between buyer and seller in accordance with new legislation from 23.12.2020.

Berlin, Germany

Price EUR 9.8 mill.

Interior approx. 480 m²

Land approx. 2,687 m²

E&V ID W-02SIFW

Engel & Völkers Immobilien Deutschland GmbH – Hohenzollerndamm 114 – 14199 Berlin / Real estate company

Licence Partner of Engel & Völkers Residential GmbH

Berlin, Germany

Price EUR 1.75 mill.

Interior approx. 146 m²

No. of rooms 4

E&V ID W-02T1AY

Berlin

Luxurious Hideaway in Historic Building on Famous Kuʼdamm

ENGEL & VÖLKERS Berlin Mitte MMC (DE)

Contact Jessica Paul

Tel. +49 30 20 37 80 E-mail jessica.paul@engelvoelkers.com Commission fee split between buyer and seller in accordance with new legislation from 23.12.2020.

ENGEL & VÖLKERS Berlin Mitte MMC (DE)

Contact Jens Schröder

Berlin

Dream Living Above the City Rooftops

Tel. +49 30 20 37 80 E-mail jens.schroeder@engelvoelkers.com

Commission fee split between buyer and seller in accordance with new legislation from 23.12.2020.

Engel & Völkers Berlin Mitte GmbH

Lennéstraße 3

10785

Berlin, Germany

Price EUR 3.25 mill.

Interior approx. 298 m²

No. of rooms 6

E&V ID W-02SZZC

/ Real estate company – Licence Partner of Engel & Völkers Residential GmbH

Berlin

Elegance & Space: City Apartment with Panorama

Engel &

Berlin, Germany

Price EUR 3,195,000

Interior approx. 308 m²

No. of rooms 4 E&V ID W-02S9YK

ENGEL & VÖLKERS

Berlin Mitte MMC (DE)

Contact Robert Zöller

Tel. +49 30 20 37 80 E-mail robert.zoeller@engelvoelkers.com Commission fee split between buyer and seller in accordance with new legislation from 23.12.2020.

Sommerfeld

Splendid Home with a Magnificent Garden in the Berlin Region

ENGEL

Contact Wolfgang Friedrich

(DE)

Tel. +49 3301 681 81 00 E-mail oranienburg@engelvoelkers.com Commission fee split between buyer and seller in accordance with new legislation from 23.12.2020.

Brandenburg, Germany

Price EUR 795,000

Interior approx. 222 m²

Land approx. 1,483 m²

E&V ID W-02RZAW

Luxurious

Kemberg

Country House in a Peaceful Setting

Saxony-Anhalt, Germany

Price EUR 649,000

Interior approx. 300 m²

Land approx. 4 ha

E&V ID W-02TXM3

ENGEL & VÖLKERS Halle (DE)

Contact Desireé Knoll

Tel. +49 345 470 49 60 E-mail halle@engelvoelkers.com Commission fee split between buyer and seller in accordance with new legislation from 23.12.2020.

EuV Immobilien Sachsen GmbH – Hansering 14 – 06108 Halle / Real estate company – Licence Partner of Engel & Völkers Residential GmbH

Leipzig

New Life in Historic Landmark

ENGEL & VÖLKERS Leipzig (DE)

Tel. +49 341 910 49 80

E-mail leipzig@engelvoelkers.com

Commission fee split between buyer and seller in accordance with new legislation from 23.12.2020.

Saxonia Metropol GmbH – Dittrichring 2 – 04109

Saxony, Germany

Price EUR 1 mill.

Interior approx. 173 m²

No. of rooms 4

E&V ID W-02SBEX

Leipzig / Real estate company – Licence Partner of Engel & Völkers Residential GmbH

Eschwege

Luxury Meets Nature – Grand Home Set in Park-Like Garden

Hesse, Germany

Price EUR 1.45 mill.

Interior approx. 367 m²

Land approx. 5,152 m²

E&V ID W-02Q3MH

ENGEL & VÖLKERS Eisenach (DE)

Tel. +49 3691 787 90 54

E-mail eisenach@engelvoelkers.com

Commission fee split between buyer and seller in accordance with new legislation from 23.12.2020.

Gotha / Real estate company – Licence Partner of Engel & Völkers Residential GmbH

Frankfurt

Luxury Eight-Room Apartment in Westend

ENGEL & VÖLKERS Frankfurt City (DE)

Tel. +49 69 24 44 49 49

E-mail frankfurt@engelvoelkers.com

Commission fee split between buyer and seller in accordance with new legislation from 23.12.2020.

Engel & Völkers

Hesse, Germany

Price EUR 4.5 mill.

Interior approx. 313 m²

No. of rooms 8

E&V ID W-02THRE

Immobilien Deutschland GmbH – An der Hauptwache 7 – 60313 Frankfurt / Real estate company

Licence Partner of Engel & Völkers Residential GmbH

Rhineland-Palatinate,

Diamond

Boppard

The Templerhaus – A Home Steeped in History

ENGEL & VÖLKERS Minden (DE)

Contact Leon Rösler

Löhne

Perfect Blend of Modern Architecture & Unbridled Nature

Tel. +49 571 88 91 19 10 E-mail minden@engelvoelkers.com

Commission fee split between buyer and seller in accordance with new legislation from 23.12.2020.

North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany

Price EUR 1,095,000

Interior approx. 215 m²

Land approx. 3,104 m²

E&V ID W-02SEOF

Andreas Schneider Immobilien e.K. – Hufschmiede 9 – 32423 Minden / Real estate company – Licence Partner of Engel & Völkers Residential GmbH

Düsseldorf

Modernism Meets Aesthetic Beauty in Ludenberg

North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany

Price EUR 3.58 mill.

Interior approx. 311 m²

Land approx. 1,346 m²

E&V ID W-02S6DW

ENGEL & VÖLKERS Düsseldorf Oberkassel (DE)

Tel. +49 211 557 18 88

E-mail duesseldorfoberkassel@engelvoelkers.com Commission fee split between buyer and seller in accordance with new legislation from 23.12.2020.

Engel & Völkers Immobilien Deutschland GmbH – Dominikanerstraße 6 – 40545 Düsseldorf / Real estate company

Licence Partner of Engel & Völkers Residential GmbH

ENGEL & VÖLKERS

Tel. +49 221 57 77 99 80

E-mail koelnlindenthal@engelvoelkers.com

Cologne

Magnificent Estate Close to Municipal Forest

Commission fee split between buyer and seller in accordance with new legislation from 23.12.2020.

Engel

North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany

Price EUR 14.5 mill.

Interior approx. 1,795 m²

Land approx. 4,573 m²

E&V ID W-02337Q

Krefeld

Grand Bauhaus Living Next to Woodland

North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany

Price EUR 3.95 mill.

Interior approx. 342 m²

Land approx. 1,081 m²

E&V ID W-02T88L

ENGEL & VÖLKERS Krefeld (DE)

Tel. +49 2151 78 29 60

E-mail krefeld@engelvoelkers.com

Commission fee split between buyer and seller in accordance with new legislation from 23.12.2020.

EuV Niederrhein Immobilien GmbH – Uerdinger Straße 577 – 47800 Krefeld / Real estate company – Licence Partner of Engel & Völkers Residential GmbH

Stuttgart

Dream Home in Class of its Own

ENGEL & VÖLKERS Stuttgart Mitte (DE)

Contact Tanja Knauer

Tel. +49 711 22 7 24 70 E-mail stuttgart@engelvoelkers.com

Commission fee split between buyer and seller in accordance with new legislation from 23.12.2020.

Stuttgart Immobilien Kontor GmbH – Eberhardstraße 2 – 70173

Baden-Württemberg, Germany

Price EUR 3.95 mill.

Interior approx. 376 m²

Land approx. 818 m²

E&V ID W-02SNXT

Stuttgart / Real estate company – Licence Partner of Engel & Völkers Residential GmbH

Wendelstein near Nuremberg

Architect-Designed Home on Standalone Plot with Barrier-Free Ground Floor

Bavaria, Germany

Price EUR 2,475,000

Interior approx. 389 m²

Land approx. 2,636 m²

E&V ID W-02TQXO

ENGEL & VÖLKERS Schwabach (DE)

Tel. +49 9122 99 99 60

E-mail schwabach@engelvoelkers.com

Commission fee split between buyer and seller in accordance with new legislation from 23.12.2020.

EV Schwabach Roth Immobilien GmbH – Rosenberger Straße 13 – 91126 Schwabach / Real estate company

Licence Partner of Engel & Völkers Residential GmbH

Reichertshausen

Contemporary Living with Recording Studio in North of Munich

ENGEL & VÖLKERS Pfaffenhofen a. d. Ilm (DE)

Tel. +49 8441 788 28 12

E-mail pfaffenhofenanderilm@engelvoelkers.com

Commission fee split between buyer and seller in accordance with new legislation from 23.12.2020.

Bavaria, Germany

Price EUR 2.1 mill.

Interior approx. 398 m²

Land approx. 1,355 m²

E&V ID W-02PTPS

Christian Bäck - Handel mit Immobilien – Löwenstraße 15 – 85276 Pfaffenhofen / Real estate company – Licence Partner of Engel & Völkers Residential GmbH

Penzberg

Bavaria, Germany

Price EUR 3.3 mill.

Interior approx. 342 m²

Land approx. 2,380 m²

E&V ID W-02S35P

ENGEL & VÖLKERS Weilheim i. OB (DE)

Tel. +49 881 41 85 90

E-mail weilheim@engelvoelkers.com Commission fee split between buyer and seller in accordance with new legislation from 23.12.2020.

Bernd J. Kugel Immobilien – Admiral-Hipper-Straße 12 – 82362

Weilheim / Real estate company – Licence Partner of Engel & Völkers Residential GmbH

Idyllic Property Set in a Beautifully Mature Garden

Rottach-Egern

The Little Chalet on the Lake

ENGEL & VÖLKERS Am Tegernsee (DE)

Contact Christian Diepold

Tel. +49 8022 70 41 80 E-mail christian.diepold@engelvoelkers.com Commission fee split between buyer and seller in accordance with new legislation from 23.12.2020.

Tegernseer Tal Immobilien GmbH – Seestraße 14 – 83700

Bavaria, Germany

Price EUR 3.05 mill.

Interior approx. 106 m²

Land approx. 188 m²

E&V ID W-02TUNL

Rottach-Egern / Real estate company – Licence Partner of Engel & Völkers Residential GmbH

Unique

Interior

Land

E&V

Görisried

ENGEL & VÖLKERS Füssen (DE)

Contact Kilian V. Platz

Tel. +49 8362 926 94 55 E-mail fuessen@engelvoelkers.com Commission fee split between buyer and seller in accordance with new legislation from 23.12.2020.

Bavaria, Germany

Price EUR 1.8 mill.

Interior approx. 335 m²

Land approx. 1,681 m²

E&V ID W-02S7HM

Platz Immobilien GbR – Luitpoldstraße 5 – 87629 Füssen im Allgäu / Real estate company – Licence Partner of Engel & Völkers Residential GmbH

WELCOME

EDITORIAL page 8

NETFLIX, www.netflix.com

PLAYGROUND

COOL CITY page 14

CA’ MACANA, www.camacana.com

ST. MARK’S BASILICA, www.st-marks-basilica.com

PEGGY GUGGENHEIM COLLECTION, www.guggenheim-venice.it

HOUSE page 16

HAAS BROTHERS X L’OBJET, eu.l-objet.com

HAMIMI, www.hamimidesign.com

JANUA, www.janua-moebel.com

KOINOR, www.koinor.com

VIABIZZUNO, www.viabizzuno.com

INTERVIEW page 18

BASIL CHARLES, www.basilcharles.com

BASIL’S BAR, www.basilsbar.com

WOMAN page 22

ALEXANDRA LLEWELLYN, www.mrporter.com

ELIE SAAB, www.eliesaab.com

JUVIA, www.juvia.com

MANUFACTURE DE SÈVRES, www.sevresciteceramique.fr

PIERRE YOVANOVITCH, www.pierreyovanovitch.com

REMESCAR, www.remescar.com

SOSUE, www.so-sue.com

TWELVE, www.twelveshop.de

MAN page 24 ALESSI, www.alessi.com

FRESCOBOL CARIOCA, www.frescobolcarioca.com

HOUSEPLANT, www.mrporter.com

L’OBJET, eu.l-objet.com

SAGABOI, www.sagaboi.com

SOHO HOME, www.sohohome.com

TOM DIXON, www.tomdixon.net

USM HALLER, www.usm.com

BOOKS page 26

ASSOULINE, eu.assouline.com

STEIDL, www.steidl.de TENEUES, www.teneues.com

AT HOME

RICHARD BRANSON page 30

SON BUNYOLA, www.virginlimitededition.com/ son-bunyola/the-hotel VIRGIN www.virgin.com

SLIM AARONS page 40

GETTY IMAGES, www.gettyimagesgallery.com/collection/ slim-aarons

JOHN DEMSEY page 50

ESTÉE LAUDER, www.esteelauder.com

VENDOME PRESS, www.vendomepress.com

BAWAH page 58

BAWAH RESERVE, www.bawahreserve.com

RAFFLES HOTEL, www.raffles.com

PERSONAL page 162

MAST, www.mast.dk

1 Sofa “Yeti,” € 10,560, www.galerie-philia.com

2 Chic socks, € 160, www.gucci.com

3 Vase “Mermaids and Figs,” $ 410, www.guniaproject.com

4 Chronometer “Moon,” € 19,800, www.qlocktwo.com

5 Mirror “Sitiera,” $ 1,800, www.tulestefactory.com

6 Cute pouch, Loewe + Paula’s Ibiza, € 680, www.mrporter.com

MASTHEAD

is published four times a year by GRUND GENUG Verlag und Werbe GmbH PUBLISHING COMPANY

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International & Local

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Contributors to this issue

Uta Abendroth, Martin Berger, Paula Bremer, Víctor Chito, Alison Du Bovis, Irina von Gagern, Stephen McLuckie, Asia Orlando, Fiona Sangster

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ISSN 0941-5203, GG · No. 2/24 · 36th year

MANAGEMENT

Jawed Barna and Princess Bettina Wittgenstein

The next issue of GG comes out May 31, 2024 www.gg-magazine.com

Island Life

An innovative, modular and climate-friendly system for building on water.

Are floating, organic, off-grid communities the future of urban development? How might new living environments be built on oceans and lakes, and what exactly might they look like?

Land on Water, a project designed by the Copenhagen-based studio for maritime architecture MAST and supported by Austrian

construction industry magnate Hubert Rhomberg and venture studio Fragile, is a new, sustainable and flexible approach to building on water.

Easily transportable flat-pack modules serve as the floating foundation for buildings, parks and other infrastructure. The modules are constructed according to the gabion principle (usually metal “cages” filled with various types of debris, often used in civil engineering and to prevent land erosion), but in this case, the “cages” are made of reinforced plastic and contain lightweight, upcycled floatation material, which nevertheless forms a solid and extremely strong foundation for what will be built on

top. The first prototype has reached the final phase of development and early modules have already been built and tested.

The Danish architecture firm is constantly on the lookout for different ways to create climate-resilient and sustainable solutions around the world, ranging from floating saunas in Copenhagen harbor to villas in the Maldives and new public spaces in Milan and London. The idea behind these floating projects is to connect cities more strongly with water, create a healthy marine environment and new opportunities for people to develop and interact.

WORDS: MERLE WILKENING; PHOTO: MAST/KVANT-1