THE Stylemate Magzine, ISSUE No 01/2020, wabi-sabi / english

THE NEWS ABOUT LIFE, STYLE & HOTELS ISSUE N o 01 | 2020 thestylemate.com

Stylemate wabi - sabi

Photo: Yayoi Kusama

T H E S T Y L E M AT E .C O M

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THE Stylemate Issue No 01 | 2020

IN THIS ISSUE

Essentials Page 3 From sumo stables to yuzu baths Pages 4 – 7 Interview with Megumi Ito: magical moments Page 6

LIFE:

Itadakimasu: three recommendations for Japanese cuisine in Europe Pages 8 – 10 Pearls from the misty lagoon Page 11 Franzobel Page 12

STYLE:

Kamikatz Page 13 Cities of Design Kobe and Nagoya Pages 14 – 15 New in Town: Kyoto’s latest hotels Page 16 Cosmic Nature Page 17

HOTELS: LIFESTYLEHOTELS selection:

Hotel Collect Page LH 01 The Kaltenbach Pages LH 02 – 03 Sportresidenz Zillertal Page LH 04 Alpinlodge & Spa Page LH 05 New Member: Designhotel Laurichhof Das Max Gästehaus Krenn Hotel Collect Pages LH 06 – 07 Bergland Design and Wellness Hotel, Sölden Page LH 08 Hotel des Balances Page LH 09 Art & Business Hotel Page LH 10 La Petite Ivy Page LH 11

Lost in fashion Pages 18 – 20

Hotel Stein and Hotel Goldgasse Pages LH 12 – 13

Column

by Helder Suffenplan: Japan my Love!

Page 21

Geinberg5 Private Spa Villas Page LH 14

Record-breaker Pages 22 – 23

Hotel Lemongarden Page LH 15 Directory lifestylehotels Page LH 16

Wabi-sabi, finding beauty in imperfection, is a Japanese concept of aesthetic values that we really like and wish to embrace. This issue of THE Stylemate is dedicated to all things Japan and we have put together a selection of many beautiful things for you to enjoy, some of which are virtually perfect, while others are so interesting that that could be deemed as their version of beauty. The reason for orienting our focus on Japan and the Japanese culture is that this summer will see Tokyo playing host to the Olympic Games. Our cover is more unusual than sporty, but we think it is the perfect example of the concept of wabi-sabi. Successful Japanese artist Yayoi Kusama is known for her polka dots that have the capacity to put us into an almost trance-like state and convey the feeling of obsession, and this spring will be presenting a huge show in The New York Botanical Garden. Information and photos that have already been released to the press indicate that it will be something quite extraordinary. So we’re not just looking at Japan in Japan, but also at Japan around the world.

In this respect, we have chatted to Vienna resident and lighting designer Megumi Ito, and asked an Austrian jeweller to show us some exciting Japanese pearls. We write about how we in Europe can be inspired by unusual culinary delicacies from Japan, and which designers and fashion stores in Tokyo you absolutely have and visit. Helder Suffenplan, a publicist living in Berlin, talks in his column about fragrance and his love of Japan – he will also report in future issues on the world of olfactory delights.

And of course, we have the usual selection of hotels that are sure to inspire you to get out and travel.

Thomas Holzleithner & Hardy Egger EDITORS

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IM PRIN T Media owner and publisher: Prime Time Touristik & Marketing GmbH, Schmiedgasse 38/1, 8010 Graz, Austria Editors: Thomas Holzleithner & Hardy Egger Editor-in-chief: Nina Prehofer Managing editor: Christin Maier-Erlach Cover photo: Yayoi Kusama Layout: VON K Brand Design Writers: Franzobel, Hedi Grager, Nora Palzenberger, Helder Suffenplan Copy editor: Katherine Nussey, Lisbeth Wild Advertising: office@thestylemate.com Printed by: Medienfabrik Graz, 8020 Graz Published in: Graz Publication: 3 x yearly

Photo: Heldentheater

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THE Stylemate Issue No 01 | 2020

essentials T OKYO S T O OL

MARUTOMI SAKE SET

Multi-award-winning design studio Drill Design was founded in Tokyo in 2001 by Yusuke Hayashi and Yoko Yasunishi, and they have since produced designs for big names such as Muji, Canon, Mercedes-Benz and Camper. The small Tokyo Stool is a direct reference to the national stadium in Tokyo, which was built for the 1964 Olympic Games. By using the old seats that would otherwise have ended up as waste, the stool embodies the heritage of the former stadium and the history behind it. The elegant wooden legs elevate the stool to become a fitting memorial. The 350 limited-edition pieces were made by Karimoku.

Urushi craftsmanship has been practised in Japan for almost 6,500 years and enables high-quality utensils to be made out of wood. Even today, urushi, a 100% natural lacquer derived from the sap of the Japanese urushi tree and processed by means of a unique and arduous traditional technique, continues to be extracted in Japan.

The aim of the project by f/p design entitled Real Japan was to present this traditional Japanese craft to a wide audience and diversify it by means of modern designs.

drill-design.com, approx. €250

f-p-design.com

GENESIS TRIPLE Axel Arigato’s success story tells of a rapid rise to fame, with the Swedish online label transforming into an internationally recognised brand within a very short period of time. Minimalist Japanese aesthetics have had a strong influence on the brand run by Creative Director Max Svardh and CEO Albin Johansson. It’s all about the attempt to achieve more from less, and it’s something they succeeded in doing with their range of sneakers. The new Genesis Triple sneaker, with white leather base, cremino sole and contrasting tab, has an upper that draws inspiration from retro silhouettes but is set on a modern streamlined sole to create the perfect fusion of retro and contemporary. axelarigato.com, €205

F O R T H I S

E D I T I ON

AKARI BY VITRA Japanese-American artist and designer Isamu Noguchi started creating the Akari Light Sculptures in the 1950s.

He chose the name “akari”, a word that means “light” in Japanese, connoting both illumination and physical lightness. “The harshness of electricity is transformed through the magic of paper back to the light of our origin – the sun – so that its warmth may continue to fill our rooms at night,” explained Noguchi. Each Akari Light Sculpture is meticulously crafted by hand in the Ozeki workshop, a traditional family-run company based in Gifu, Japan. In a first step, bamboo rods are stretched across the original wooden forms designed

by Noguchi to make the framework that determines the object’s shape. Washi paper, derived from the bark of the mulberry tree, is cut in strips and glued to the bamboo ribbing. After the glue has dried, the wooden form is removed and the shade can be folded.

SOUTH SEA DREAMING These earrings by jewellery brand Gressl have got us in the mood for summer. The carved South Sea mother of pearl evokes images of white sandy beaches, while the fine chalcedony drops are reminiscent of the glittering blue-green of the sea. The jewellery is proof of goldsmith Barbara Gressl’s love of exceptional gemstones. The white gold earrings with brilliant-cut white stones will go just as well with a shirt, jeans and trainers as with a delicate, softly flowing dress.

vitra.com, €789

gressl.com, €3,950

Photos: Karimoku / Axel Arigato / f-p-design / Gressl / Louis Vuitton / Vitra

LOUIS VUITTON BAG What would Japan be without eccentric accessories?

The perfect accessory for a trip to Japan is the Louis Vuitton Video Cassette clutch in calfskin with its strap in monogram canvas. You can always rely on designer Nicolas Ghesquière to bring out an “it” accessory every season. Following in the footsteps of the futuristic Archlight trainers in 2018, the monogrammed handbag that looks like a small UFO and the Wallabee shoes comes the clutch that looks like a video tape from the 1980s.

We love it! louisvuitton.com, €4,200

THE Stylemate Issue No 01 | 2020

F ROM S U M O

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STABLES

YUZU BY NINA PREHOFER

B AT H S

Photo: shutterstock.com, Dr. Gilad Fiskus

TO

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THE Stylemate Issue No 01 | 2020

THE OLYMPIC TORCH IN GREECE WILL BE LIT ON 12 MARCH. AFTER THIS, IT WILL EMBARK ON A JOURNEY THROUGH JAPAN BEFORE THE OLYMPIC GAMES OPEN IN TOKYO ON 24 JULY. HERE WE PROVIDE A BRIEF INSIGHT INTO THE ISLAND COUNTRY’S SPORTING TRADITIONS, ANCIENT RITUALS AND NEW CUSTOMS.

D OHYŌ T H E R I NG WH E R E T H E F IGH TS AR E H E L D.

SUMŌ

A FORM OF WRES T L I NG ORIGI NAT I NG I N JA PAN.

Photo: shutterstock.com, Dziobek

A F IGH T T YPICA L LY L A S TS A ROUN D T EN SECON D S .

The Olympic Games captivate people.

Competing, getting faster, higher, further; the emotions, the sweat, the tears … they’re all part of this major sporting event. The Summer Games in Tokyo this year have been described by the organisers as the Reconstruction Olympics, and will serve as a reminder of the nuclear disaster in Fukushima, where an earthquake caused several nuclear meltdowns. There are some incidents that we just can’t forget. And nor should we. Another such event is the devastating aftermath of the Americans dropping two atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. The bombs were given the seemingly harmless names of “Little Boy” and “Fat Man”, yet they brought horror to an entire nation. No, to the entire world. How strange, then, that we seem to think nothing of overlooking thoroughly unsettling images of “Little Rocket Man” Kim Jong-un with his finger on the button.

Back to sport – traditional Japanese sport.

Have you ever been to a sumo stable? No? Me neither, because it’s not that easy to get into one if you don’t speak Japanese. The sumo wrestlers’ accommodation is actually called a stable, or beya. It’s the name of the team the wrestlers fight for and is training centre and accommodation all in one.

If you looked at it kindly, you could call it a residential community for men, but in reality it’s more like a bootcamp. Training starts early in the morning – warm up, stretch, wrestle. A strict hierarchy is in force, with the youngsters having to make breakfast, do the shopping and clean.

The practices are archaic in accordance with the 2,000-year-old tradition. Ancient rituals are still followed to this day, and before a match starts, a lot of time is devoted to religious ceremony. The same can be said for kyudo, the Japanese art of archery. The impressive thing about this is the unbelievably slow sequences of movements that make it seem like a zen ritual. The bow and arrows are made out of the most intricately crafted bamboo.

Kyudo, judo, kendo, sado, shodo – all of them names of sports that end with “do”, meaning “path” or “way”. All traditional Japanese “master” training is linked to meditation – you walk a path that you must first find, then master.

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THE Stylemate Issue No 01 | 2020

Designer Megumi Ito makes unique light sculptures that illuminate hotels, bars and shops. She grew up in the historic town of Kamakura in Japan, but since completing her studies at the University of Applied Arts in Vienna, it’s here that she now lives and works.

magical To what extent does your heritage shape your way of working?

I am never hectic when I work; I’m always very deliberate. What I do is meditative, and I have to create the right meaning behind everything. I love imperfect perfection. I try not to push my clients in a particular direction, nor to be too restrained. I always wait for the right moment to come.

The lights you create are all one-off pieces.

Would you not like to produce your designs on a larger scale?

moments You like to work with Japanese materials like kimono fabrics and paper. What’s so magical about these materials?

With kimonos, I’m fascinated by the patterns and colour combinations, and the fact that the quality is so good you can easily reuse the material. But it’s also the way in which we wear the kimono that I like so much. When it’s raining outside, we wear a fish pattern, for example; at a summer party we might have a hare and the moon. Japanese paper, on the other hand, just infuses a room with an unbelievably soft light and also seems to “purify” the air. When I work with bamboo, it makes me think of building a nest, like a bird would for its chicks. So a lamp made out of bamboo gives off a very emotional light. All of these materials are part of my memories of my childhood that I want to carry around with me always. I experience magical moments when I work with them.

What qualities does a material need to have in order for you to enjoy working with it?

It needs to be pure – synthetic materials make us and nature sick and broken. I like trying new things and usually work with something for as long as I need to in order to really know and understand it. That makes it sound as though I’m talking about a partnership …

In the Hotel Sacher in Vienna, a five-metretall chandelier glitters with crystals that you applied individually by hand. How long did that take you?

We applied the 4,000 crystals in a couple of days. I started early in the morning and spent the day and most of the night standing on a ladder. But it was a wonderful experience, and I had the best team in BWM Architekten and the Sacher.

How do you work when you’re at home or in your studio?

I mostly work in silence. I don’t have the radio or the TV on. It’s only when I’m totally alone that I can hear the stories of the great philosophers. My hands are busy, therefore so is my mind. It’s incredible when I see what can be created in a day.

Which parts of growing up in the town of Kamakura will you never forget?

The horizon, the sea, where I always went with my dog, and the fresh fish. I studied kendo for seven years and we all had to clean the dojo, the training room, before we started the class. I often had to spend a long time kneeling on the floor until it was my turn.

Which elements of Japanese culture are also present in your new home in Vienna?

Art nouveau has many Japanese influences and was strongly inspired by Japanese art, and I’ve studied and been shaped by both. Vienna is extremely beautiful and fairly small. The music is great and the appreciation of art and culture is just as important in Japan as it is in Vienna. I find that very comforting.

ito-megumi.com

Photos: Hervè Goluza

I’ve never had the opportunity to go into production, and no company has ever approached me to do so. Until recently, that is! I’m currently working on a range called MITO, from the Greek word “mythos”. It’s been like stepping into a new phase of my life, before which I asked myself what my current situation was – am I still really Japanese or have I become a bit more European? I realised that I am both and that my sense of self has evolved.

Both cultures are also expressed in my work, and that’s what I’ve incorporated into the new range.

But the reason I love the individual pieces so much is that I want to create the best light for each specific environment. That’s what I’m good at.

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THE Stylemate Issue No 01 | 2020

H I N KA K U WHAT SUMO WR E S T L E R S HAVE TO DI SPL AY. I T M E AN S DIGN I T Y. I T M E AN S NO T CE L E BRAT I NG WH EN YOU WI N, AN D NO T COM PL A I N I NG WH E N YOU L O SE .

But the “path” doesn’t only need to be followed in sport – you even have to go down it for tea. Introducing sado, the prestigious tea ceremony and ritualised preparation of powdered green tea, or matcha, in the presence of guests. A tea house is always surrounded by a garden that you have to walk through and forms part of the ritual. The ceremony involves many steps and strict processes that need to be observed, including cleaning the mouth and hands to wash away all evils before entering the minimalist tea house, and stooping through a low entrance doorway to show humility. The tea master prepares all of the utensils in a way that aids the harmonious execution of the processes. It’s not only tea that will finally be handed out, but small dishes of food as well.

Kyuto-Ryu is a newly established, modern type of tea ceremony that can be held in an office kitchen or a shop during a lunch break. You still kneel on the floor, but the crockery you use is much less valuable – normally an everyday office coffee cup.

Despite this, the pared-back variation still offers the opportunity to relax during the hectic working day and provides a caffeine hit for the afternoon ahead.

Photos: shutterstock.com: 2630ben / lusia83

CHAN KONABE A S T EW F OR SU MO WR E S T L ER S T HAT I S H IGH I N PROT EI N AN D FAT, T H ER E BY PRO MOT I NG WEIGH T GA I N. I T CON TA I N S ON LY T WO -L E G GE D AN I MA L S , T H E I DE A BE I NG T HAT SUMO WR E S T L E R S SHOUL D A LWAYS BE ON T WO F E ET AS WE L L .

SEN IOR WR ES T L E R S C AN P OL I SH OF F UP T O T E N L ARGE PL AT E F U L S I N ON E LUNCH SI T T I NG. Japan has such an abundance of traditions, rituals and customs that you could probably spend an awfully long time looking into all the details. They also offer a great number of opportunities for you to put your foot in it when you’re there visiting. Space in Japan is divided up according to what is clean and what is not. The house is classed as clean, the outside is not, meaning you must always take your shoes off before going into someone’s home. The only room in a house that isn’t clean is the bathroom – toilet slippers are provided for this purpose.

Just never make the mistake of forgetting to take them off when you come out.

Or bowing incorrectly in greeting. There is a hierarchy to observe – older above younger, guests above hosts, men above women. Remember not to bow too low to hotel employees, as they will then have to bow even lower the next time they see you.

And if you’re wondering why there’s no room number four, it’s because it brings bad luck. If you’re eating with others, don’t help yourself to another drink, but rather wait for a companion to serve you one, otherwise you could be seen as a drunk. If you’ve had enough, leave your glass half full.

YOKOZU NA CHONMAGE T H E T RADI T IONAL JA PAN ESE M EN ’S HA I RCU T. PREVIOU SLY FAVOURED BY SAM URA I S , NOW A L MO S T E XCLUSI VELY WORN

BY SUMO WRES T L ERS .

I T I NVOLVES COVERI NG L ONG HA I R WI T H C HAMOM I L E OI L AN D T YI NG I T UP WI T H A WAX B AN D I N A FORWA RD FACI NG P ONY TA I L .

Even while living in Vienna, lamp designer Megumi Ito still follows rituals from her native Japan. “I only start working once my space, the kitchen and the bathroom are clean. I scatter salt in the corridor and in the corners of the rooms to keep bad energy at bay.” In addition to this, Ito cleanses the rooms in the morning with incense sticks and spends every evening in the bath. The most important bath, though, is the one before the winter solstice, or touji. On this night, it is tradition to take a bath with slices of yuzu, a fruit that is similar to the lemon but which tastes slightly sweeter. It has been recognised for its health-promoting properties for centuries and is packed with vitamins. “During this bath, we soak up the powers of the citrus fruit and remain healthy throughout the winter months. Yuzu has a cleansing effect and the fragrance is very strong and lasts a long time, so the body stays fresh and free of bacteria,” explains the designer.

Internalised values are just as important to Megumi Ito as the rituals – how to be thankful and show gratitude, how to be gentle and be able to listen and respond, and knowing which words to use, as every word has its own power.

YORI K I R I, O SH I DASH I AN D HATA K I KOM I DI F F EREN T WAYS OF WI NN I NG A F IGH T. T H ERE A RE 82 DI F F EREN T WAYS I N TOTA L .

Just one more thing – if you’re not happy with the outcome of a sumo fight, you can throw your zabuton cushion into the ring.

Just for fun.

T H E H IGH E STRAN KI NG SU MO WR E ST L E R .

HAS TO SHOW I M M E N SE ST R E NGT H I N C OM BAT. WE AR S A H E AVY ROPE , OR TSU NA , AS A SYM B OL OF H IS RAN K .

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THE Stylemate Issue No 01 | 2020

Life expectancy in Japan is remarkably high, and that could have something to do with Japanese cuisine.

ITADAKIMASU*

M I L AN

iyo.it

I YO

Precious materials, clean lines and custom design features characterise this restaurant, where Japan is given an original and unconventional new twist.

The IYO AALTO is a Japanese restaurant in Milan that was designed by Italian architect Maurizio Lai. It’s the second restaurant to be opened by the group following the IYO Taste Experience, the only Japanese restaurant in Italy to have been awarded a Michelin star.

The furniture was developed exclusively in collaboration with Poliform Contract, and the resulting subtle traditional references, contemporary and clean design language, and the interplay of materials and light create a sense of excitement.

At the sushi counter, sushi master Masashi Suzuki demonstrates his vast knowledge of edomae sushi – an ancient technique that is rarely found outside Tokyo. The name is derived from “edo”, the former name of the Japanese capital, and “mae”, which roughly translates as “style”.

In this method of preparation, the fish is marinated for a couple of days in soy sauce, salt or vinegar and preserved, rather than being served fresh.

Delicious!

Photos: Maurizio Lai

A A LT O

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THE Stylemate

Luckily it’s also possible to enjoy delicious Japanese food outside of Japan. Here are three recommendations.

Issue No 01 | 2020

VI E N NA

kikko.at

K I K KO

Photos: Sandra Jedliczka

B Ā How could you possibly imagine Vienna without Japanese restaurant Mochi? For many years, it has delighted the taste buds of its guests, and tables are still highly sought after – the Falter newspaper recommends visiting out of peak times.

But there’s good news – the Mochi has now introduced a new member of the family! With the opening of Kikko Bā, the restaurant’s own Kikko sake, which has long been a regular on the menu of the original restaurant, has found a new home in the Fourth District of the city.

The sake and wine bar, which also offers a varying selection of snacks and natural wines from around the world, was originally planned as a pop-up, but it’s now been decided that it’s here to stay. Creative Japanese fusion dishes are whipped up in a tiny kitchen, including the ever-popular sandos (top-notch Japanese sandwiches), crispy fried octopus with mojo rojo made out of grilled peppers, garlic and olive oil, and particularly spicy patatas bravas: potatoes that are crispy on the outside, fluffy on the inside, and accompanied by Japanese curry sauce and mayo.

Finally, you can wash it all down with carefully selected natural wines, perfectly mixed drinks, beer or sake.

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THE Stylemate * The word “itadakimasu” is roughly equivalent to the French “bon appétit”, or something like “let’s eat” in English, and is said before every meal with your hands together as if in prayer. It can be translated as “I humbly receive” – a lovely example of the spiritual side of Japanese culture. Incidentally, at the end of the meal, you say “gochisousamadesu” in thanks for the delicious food.

Issue No 01 | 2020

GRA Z

yoshida.at

“Beauty, perfection and passion – that’s all you need to understand about the Japanese way of living,” says Margarethe Yoshida, who lived in Japan for 16 years and learnt the art of reducing everything down to the essential. For some time now, she has been passing on her knowledge of all things related to Japanese cuisine through various cooking courses at her home on Ruckerlberg in Graz, Austria. Here you can learn about the authentic preparation of butajiru, onigiri, tamagoyaki and many other dishes. Yoshida grows specific plants like shiso or myoga (the ginger flower bud) in her garden, and stocks up on organic wine in the fridge. If you don’t feel like doing the work yourself, you can devote yourself to listening and watching.

Individually tailored cooking courses can be enjoyed by up to eight people at a time.

The Gault-Millau website describes Margarethe Yoshida’s kitchen as “perhaps the best Japanese restaurant in Austria, although strictly speaking it’s not actually a restaurant”. If that’s not a compliment, we don’t know what is!

Photos: Jule Müller / Robert Rieger

YO S H I DA

THE Stylemate

ADVERTORIAL

Issue No 01 | 2020

Pearls from the misty lagoon BY HEDI GRAGER

Barbara Gressl has established herself as a diamond and gemstone consultant with a 24-carat reputation stretching far beyond the borders of Austria. She has been a specialist member of the Austrian Gemmological Association since 1995, and in 2019 was nominated for a Schmuckstars award. Gressl discovered her love for rare stones and pearls at a young age, as her parents ran a specialist jewellers in Köflach in eastern Austria. For the last ten years, she has run her own studio on Stempfergasse in Graz, where she displays selected pieces of her goldsmithing work.

In specialist circles, Gressl is considered an expert on Kasumigaura pearls, a Japanese cultivated freshwater pearl. “‘Kasumigaura’ means ‘misty lagoon’ and it’s a lake around 55 miles north-east of Tokyo,” she explains to me during my visit to her studio in Graz. “I discovered this rare type of pearl

by accident a few years ago at a Japanese dealer in Munich. They are only available in small quantities, and even then not on the open pearl market.” Gressl gets hers from Japanese pearl cultivator Kazuhisa Yanase, who will only hand them over to selected dealers with many years of experience of working with pearls. “That I can get them at all is a reward in itself,” comments the pearl expert with a proud smile. “The main characteristic of these pearls is their intense metallic lustre, which delicately overlays their natural pink and peach tones.” She reveals a few more interesting details: “Very rarely do you find a perfectly round pearl. Cultivators implant a nucleus bead into the oyster, which is lowered back into the lake in a basket and regularly pulled up and cleaned of any plankton. Because of this constant up and down, the bead isn’t able to grow

Gold- and silversmith Barbara Gressl is globally renowned as an expert on Kasumigaura pearls, a Japanese cultivated freshwater pearl. She displays precious pearl items in her studio on Stempfergasse in Graz, Austria, as well as other special pieces of jewellery. steadily and uniformly, so after two or three years you get these baroque-style pearls.”

Akoya cultivated pearls are also beautiful.

They are one of the oldest known types of pearl and stand out because of their perfectly round shape and brilliant lustre. Their colours range from cream to pinkish-white to champagne. While only 32 kilos of Kasumigaura pearls can be harvested each year, with a diameter of up to 16 millimetres, the white Akoya cultured pearls have a yield of around 14 tonnes and a diameter of between 2 and 12 millimetres.

Photos: Gressl

Barbara Gressl is also proud that she once had the chance to meet cultivator Kazuhisa Yanase. “He came over to me because he had seen one of my rather different jewellery pieces. I had a perfect and stunning pearl with a pink, almost purple shimmer to incorporate in a piece of jewellery that would then be presented at a big international jewellery trade fair.

I created a large platinum pendant in which the pearl appeared to float freely.

It really was a huge honour,” smiles the likeable jewellery designer. Gressl particularly likes combining the stunning Kasumigaura pearls with the warm tones of rose gold. “Any woman can wear this flattering warm shade. But it doesn’t always have to be gold – I think the pearls go just as well with natural materials such as buffalo horn or Macassar ebony, and of course with sumptuous gemstones like champagne diamonds or pink tourmaline.”

Barbara Gressl is bursting with creative ideas. “I have far more ideas than I could ever possibly make,” she grins, continuing: “I also get great joy from responding to the demands of individual customers.”

Her concluding piece of advice: “I believe there will be fewer and fewer high-quality pearls in future due to environmental factors, so it is important to make sure you are buying absolutely perfect pearls.” gressl.com

THE Stylemate Issue No 01 | 2020

chasing

LIFE

His great historical adventure novel “Das Floß der Medusa” (published by Zsolnay) was awarded the Bayerischer Buchpreis (Bavarian Book Award) 2017 and was on the shortlist for the German Book Prize 2017.

Apparently, in Japan you can go and watch sumo wrestlers training then have breakfast with them afterwards.

FRANZOBEL That was something I wanted to experience.

Of course, I should have been suspicious when I asked my Japanese friend about it and they said it would be better to do that in spring, but by that point my flight was already booked.

Tokyo is overwhelming. Modern glass architecture and enormous skyscrapers tower above narrow twisting alleyways. At street level it smells of rice cakes. People in uniform are smiling at you everywhere you turn, bending at a precisely defined angle, arigato gozaimasu, even at the bottom of escalators – as if they want to thank you for trusting the contraption. The food is unlike anywhere else: cooked fish eggs, crab foetuses, lotus roots, fermented soy beans, leaves, algae, fish heads stuffed with ginger, and much more, but no sign of the sumo wrestlers.

When can I meet them? You’d be better off trying Kyoto.

Japan is clean. No trace of graffiti. Not a hint of vandalism, no words of wisdom scrawled on the toilet walls. The public toilets have heated seats.

And the trains – oh, the trains! The front of the locomotive looks like a bobsled, they arrive bang on time and a delay of even 15 seconds requires a written report – a one-minute delay leads to a newspaper article, and three minutes will have the driver wanting to commit harakiri. Youngsters roam about Kyoto in bizarre outfits. Manga festival! And what about the sumo wrestlers?

You’d be better off trying Kobe.

The people are short, slim and decidedly elegant.

Their tiny noses make them look a bit like fish.

They all adore their work. Even if a member of their family dies, work takes priority. A birth should also preferably take place outside of working hours. It goes without saying that you should arrive before your boss, leave after them and not use up your holiday allowance. Kobe is famous for its beer-massaged cattle, who spend their days listening to Mozart. I meet Mr Takanake, who will help me. While we’re eating, he accidentally touches the hot food warmer on the table. Beads of sweat start

to form on his forehead, he bites his tongue but tries not to let his pain show. Discipline is everything. Never lose face. He spends the rest of the evening cooling his hand on a damp napkin. I discover that the Meriken harbour area is named after an epic love story between Mary and Ken – or is it based on a poor understanding of the word “American”?

And what about the sumo wrestlers? You’d be better off trying Hiroshima.

Like all other cities, Hiroshima, which was once totally destroyed by the atomic bomb, also has a huge red Ferris wheel. I meet Mrs Kagamura, whose look resembles a tadpole. She invites me to try a regional speciality, okonomiyaki, which is a type of cabbage pancake. As for the sumo wrestlers, they should be in Nagoya.

There I meet Mr Mitsura, who invites me to a baseball game. There’s nothing you’d really class as action in the four-hour game, but the crowds are still beside themselves, holding the mascots of the various hitters high in the air.

And what about the sumo wrestlers? I’m sent to Kagoshima. From there I travel on to Osaka, Atami and Sapporo, where I finally realise that while the Japanese are incredibly welcoming people, there’s just one thing they can’t manage: saying no. And what about the sumo wrestlers?

They’re currently on a promotional tour in Europe. I learn this from an Austrian judoka I meet on the return flight, and what he tells me is far more fascinating than any sumo wrestler.

But that’s another story.

sumos in japan

Photo: Dirk Skiba

Franzobel is an Austrian writer. He has published numerous plays, works of prose and poems. His plays have been produced in countries including Mexico, Argentina, Chile, Denmark, France, Poland, Romania, Ukraine, Italy, Russia and the USA.

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LIFESTYLEHOTELS LIFESTYLEHOTELS.NET

Selection

01 | 2020

Photo: Hotel Collect

Developed for couples looking for a glamorous city break or as a second home for business travellers and urban adventurers, the Hotel Collect in Budapest boasts a contemporary design and a timeless feel. The people behind the hotel are also the owners of a home décor store and love to share their passion for design. The hotel is their dream project, and it’s thanks to their passion that unique furniture pieces and artworks from their private collection can be found in the hotel – iconic pieces that elegantly complement the modernist styling and French influences.

H O T E L C O L L E C T, B U D A P E S T R E A D M O R E O N PAG E L H 0 7

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Issue No 01 | 2020

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Stephan Haas spent more than two decades working in senior management at a bank before leaving it all behind and becoming a hotel owner.

The result is The Kaltenbach, which offers the perfect combination of much-needed privacy and luxury.

the ultimate THE K A LT E N B A C H

How do you know when you've done everything right as a hotel owner?

When guests no longer know which day of the week it is – they’re in true holiday mode and can really switch off.

daydream

You built The Kaltenbach from nothing in the middle of the countryside. What were you looking to achieve?

What is the best thing about nature for you, and how do you maintain your connection with the natural world?

A unique new hotel concept with the perfect combination of much-needed privacy and the luxury of an upmarket four-star hotel. The result is like a typical Tyrolean mountain village, characterised by fascinating architecture and placed right at the heart of nature – we call it our power place. We’ve received several awards for it.

A passion for the mountains runs in the family – my great-grandfather used to make a living as a renowned mountain guide in the Tyrolean Alps. My soul lights up when I wake up in the morning, look out the window and can see the unparalleled mountain landscape and the Zillertal countryside right in front of me. What's particularly interesting about our location to those who don't enjoy the hot weather is that we border the forest. In the summer, this helps to maintain a comfortable temperature, to the point where we don’t need air conditioning in the rooms. That in turn makes a substantial contribution to our efforts to operate more sustainably.

A power place allows you to achieve calmness, gain strength or expand your consciousness. You live in a power place.

What is so special about this location?

It’s not just that it’s a power place it’s the symbiosis of architecture, design and being the perfect starting point for activities in and around the mountain village, as well as cultural city excursions and sightseeing. Our motto “Feel right at home” is something our guests also experience – we’re not just saying that, it’s proven by the fact that they come back time after time.

As a hotel owner and host, when do you get to go on holiday yourself ?

I get asked this question a lot by our guests.

The answer is quite simple. Whenever I go on a hike in the Tyrolean mountains – either with other mountain enthusiasts or on my own – it feels like a proper holiday experience. The recreational value is huge and it allows me to really recharge my batteries for everyday life. People are often rather taken aback when I tell them during a mountain tour that it feels like I’m on holiday in that moment.

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Issue No 01 | 2020

AUSTRIA T Y R O L / H O C H Z I L L E R TA L

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rooms, apartments and suites 5,000 m 2 nature garden lifestylehotels.net

What are your five favourite places in and around the hotel?

It’s natural to have favourite places that you’re drawn to because they radiate some kind of special energy. But now that I’ve started thinking about it, I’m finding it hard to choose. As a mountain guide with many years of experience, I would say that there is a really special moment when you reach the top of a mountain – you see the cross at the summit, in varying shapes and conditions, marked by the weather and the climate. That never fails to be a defining experience. You take a moment to pause and be thankful.

What do you daydream about?

Even though it’s also the most popular image of the Zillertal on Instagram, the view from the suspension bridge at the Olperer Hut is really something spectacular, above the turquoise lake and with the enormous mountains in the background.

Guests always feel the special atmosphere when they go there, as well. Joy, inner peace and glittering eyes are always proof for us as hosts and friends that they’re in the right spot in the world.

Which experiences should absolutely not be missed during a stay in the Ziller Valley?

That’s one of the most difficult questions because I find it almost impossible to choose. There are many reasons why Zillertal is one of the most active valleys in the world, bursting as it is with destinations that will provide unforgettable experiences for the whole family – for example the Spruce Tree Castle in the Zillertal Arena, or the birds of prey display at the Adlerbühne in Mayrhofen, which is ideal for nature enthusiasts. Nature’s Ice Palace at the Hintertux glacier is a guaranteed adrenaline rush and an incredible adventure.

Mountain lovers yearn for many different things, but one thing is certain: those who stay with us at The Kaltenbach enjoy maximum holiday time.

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THE Stylemate

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Issue No 01 | 2020

04

Sport, sport and more sport! The Zillertal in Austria’s Tyrol region is a real sporting paradise, so it’s fitting that the Sportresidenz should offer the best in working the body and calming the mind. The cuisine will also keep you on your toes, with a new six-course menu every day.

hole in one SPORTRESIDENZ Z I L L E R TA L * * * * S

GOING FOR GOLD Also keeping active is head chef Willy, who offers a new six-course menu every day in the Genusswerkstatt restaurant.

He cooks predominantly using ingredients from the region and turns them into local dishes with international influences, and it’s these dishes that have already earnt the ambitious chef an award. Everything from the abundant and inviting breakfast buffet and afternoon snacks to the gourmet evening meals can be made to take into account any allergies or intolerances, and vegan or vegetarian options are also available. Those who like a sense of routine even on holiday will appreciate being able to keep “their” table in the restaurant throughout their stay so that no one else is able to sit there.

MORE SPACE, FEWER PEOPLE What makes a stay at the Sportresidenz even more enjoyable is that despite its size, there are only 33 rooms and suites, meaning you can really feel at home here and benefit from a warm and personal service.

The high-quality construction makes for a cosy, intimate and relaxing atmosphere.

AUSTRIA T Y R O L / Z I L L E R TA L This cosiness begins as soon as you get into your room with its own infrared sauna, or private traditional sauna if you’re in a suite. Anyone wanting to venture a little further will find plenty of space in the Cloud7 wellness area, which caters to all requirements. Whether you’re in the sauna, the steam room, the relaxation room, the hot tub or on one of the terraces, you are guaranteed to find a quiet moment to yourself and become aware of just how extensive the Sportresidenz is with so few rooms. In the heated infinity pool on the roof, you can allow the day to fade away and think about the following day, which will once again offer plenty of opportunities to work the body and calm the mind.

33 rooms

On the golf course lifestylehotels.net Photos: “BECKNAPHOTO” / Thomas Eberharter.

The right setup, the right grip, a graceful swing and the little white ball is sent flying high over the lush green fairway. It’s not just the Zillertal that keeps you active – the Sportresidenz Zillertal boutique hotel certainly also lives up to its name. The hotel sits right on the edge of an 18-hole championship golf course, which is sure to delight amateurs and professionals alike.

And for anyone who still wants more after an arduous game, there’s the opportunity to watch other golfers reach the island green from the hotel. But sport doesn’t only have to mean golf. Those who like to keep it simple can explore the countless hiking and mountain biking trails, get a lungful of fresh mountain air and marvel at the panoramic views. On the other hand, if you want to show off your adventurous side, there are more extreme activities like rafting, canyoning and paragliding.

Winter, of course, sees both aspiring and experienced skiers and cross-country skiers quenching their sporting thirst.

Providing enrichment for the body, mind and soul are the yoga, Qigong, Pilates and meditation sessions that form part of the comprehensive activities programme at the Sportresidenz. Or you could go for aqua aerobics or a fitness class. If you haven’t yet tried singing bowls for relaxation, it’s a real must. When the tone of the bell vibrates through the body, you feel every single wave. It’s surprising how cleansing a treatment using sound can feel.

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Issue No 01 | 2020

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Set amidst the spectacular Engadin mountain landscape on the sunny side of the Samnaun valley, you will find the design hotel Alpinlodge & Spa*****.

Claudia and Hansjörg Kolednik have been its owners and hosts for over ten years, but their biggest success has been the 27 years as owners of architectural firm artis plan ag, which has made a name for itself on many national and international projects.

architecture that evokes emotions ALPINLODGE & S PA * * * * *

You are the hosts of luxury five-star apartments and owners of architectural firm artis plan ag. What are the best things about the two worlds?

Claudia Kolednik: Thanks to the direct contact we have with our guests at the Alpinlodge, we can take on board their needs and suggestions and feed them straight into the plans we’re working on, allowing for cross-fertilisation between the two worlds. A major advantage for us is that we stay up to date with design trends because we move through life with our eyes wide open and draw constant inspiration from our travels and attending international trade shows.

Which type of design do you prefer?

Hansjörg Kolednik: Contemporary, uncomplicated architecture combined with a corresponding interior design concept that takes into account our Alpine location. We endeavour to open up spaces with lots of glass and to highlight features in the best possible way with customised lighting solutions. Through the use of natural materials like wood, steel, stone and glass, we create cosy yet open rooms that promote a sense of wellbeing. This has been confirmed to us in extremely positive feedback from our guests. As a guest recently said: “You were way ahead of your time!” That gives us real motivation for the future.

They say that people should always be the focus. How is that expressed in architecture and design?

HK: We accommodate the needs and desires of people. What do we need in order to experience wellbeing? That’s what we measure ourselves against. What’s more, we connect with each project on an individual level so that everything is tailored to that specific set of requirements.

Every building has a unique selling point that sets it apart from the rest and that’s what makes it a one-of-a-kind solution for customers and guests.

First an architectural firm, then luxury holiday apartments – why did you want to become hosts?

CK: My parents had a guesthouse, so even when I was a child I was dealing with guests and I am a passionate host.

What did you place particular emphasis on when designing and planning the Alpinlodge?

HK: The surroundings and the landscape had to take centre stage to bring the associated emotions into the interior totally unfiltered. The rooms are flooded with light and the materials possess an Alpine charm.

What knowledge and experiences of hotel projects for other clients were you able to bring to the Alpinlodge?

HK: Actually, it was the other way around!

We tried out a lot of new things at the Alpinlodge so we could see how it might work with customers. In our building we used materials like reclaimed timber in the bathroom areas to find out whether it would be suitable for use in a hotel environment.

The Alpinlodge is celebrating its tenth anniversary this year. Which of its assets would you identify as being the most important?

CK and HK: Definitely our alpinSpa with the panoramic infinity pool on the third floor and the magical view of the mountains. Going for a swim there is like being in a warm mountain lake. Other things that have proved popular are the high ceilings like those in turn-of-the-century stately homes.

Which artistic details in the Alpinlodge still make you smile after ten years?

CK: I couldn’t possibly choose – everything!

The wealth of details is always appreciated by our guests, and this feedback gives us incentive and motivation.

What’s the main philosophy of the Alpinlodge?

CK: The enjoyment of relaxation. As a small but luxury design hotel, we want to make sure our guests enjoy an unforgettable break.

An anniversary is always an occasion to look towards the future. What do you see in store for the architectural firm and the Alpinlodge?

CK and HK: It’s important to us to evoke positive emotions and to surprise our guests and customers. To put it in the words of Charles Eames: “The role of a designer is that of a very good, thoughtful host who anticipates the needs of their guests.” This is our ultimate goal.

SWITZERLAND S A M N A U N / R AV A I S C H

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Photos: Alpinlodge & Spa

exclusive apartments Alpine spa with infinity pool artisplan.com alpinlodge.ch

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LH

Issue No 01 | 2020

NEW MEMBER

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D E S I G N H O T E L L AU R I C H H O F

Have you ever been to Pirna? Where is it, you ask?

It’s in the Saxon Switzerland region of Germany, of course!

You don’t know where that is either? Then it really is time for a trip to the Laurichhof design hotel to meet the Seidel family.

“Creativity never sleeps. If you let it in, if you live by it, you will see what joy people can experience when they give in to abstract thinking. You will want to take it by the hand and be led into a dream world.

We are capable of so much more than simply experiencing the day to day and clinging on to the obvious and what has always been,” believes owner and interior designer Annette Katrin Seidel. And that’s exactly what pushed her and her son Franz Philip Seidel, an architecture student, to conceive the Laurichhof in Pirna.

home suite home

GERMANY SAXON SWITZERLAND / PIRNA

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individual suites Rooms that tell a story lifestylehotels.net

A HOTEL THAT DOUBLES AS A SHOWROOM Stemming from the family love of design and architecture – her husband Uwe is an architect – Annette has created a place that aims to be as inspiring as a showroom and as comfortable as a beautiful home. Each of the suites tells a different story, brings a different style to life, and every last detail, right down to the plug sockets, has been carefully considered. Take the Big in Japan suite – the bamboo-effect wooden flooring and the bathroom tiles that look like origami join forces to pay homage to the Japanese way of life. Guests that like their suites so much that they want to take them home are in the right place: everything you find in the suites, from individual pieces of furniture to entire Laurichhof concepts, can be replicated within your own four walls. Those who manage to leave their suite, or the Laurichhof in general, which offers delicious meals in its Lazy Laurich restaurant, will discover the stunning and idyllic beauty of its location right on the banks of the Elbe between the cultural hubs of Dresden and Prague. The Saxon Switzerland National Park is sure to calm the soul thanks to its rugged sandstone cliffs, bubbling streams and sandy trails.

At that point you won’t just know about Pirna, you’ll love it.

DA S M AX

“Do more of what makes you happy” – that’s the motto of the dasMAX hotel in Seefeld. You can feel the vibe, and that’s why dasMAX makes us happy too.

FREEDOM, INDIVIDUALITY AND A HEALTHY DOSE OF MODERN DESIGN dasMAX now offers a combination of both a typical Alpine destination and modern urban design. The stylish BoConcept rooms provide everything you could possibly need and only lack the things you don’t. Different materials, shapes

and colours have been styled together to create a “happy” ambience. The spa area and roof terrace invite you to sit back and chill, while at the 24-hour honesty bar guests can mix up their drinks around the clock, as the name suggests. Arrival is simple, check-in is uncomplicated and flexible. Seefeld itself has a lot to offer for nature enthusiasts and city lovers in equal measure, with cool bars and restaurants demonstrating the benefit of being in a popular destination. And for those who still love the traditional side of things, you can find that too.

AUSTRIA TYROL / SEEFELD

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rooms in prime location Stylish roof terrace with sauna lifestylehotels.net

urban. rural. max Photos: Hotel Max: Archiv Marcati / Hotel Laurichhof: www.seidelstudios.de

Speak to any Austrian about Seefeld in Tyrol and they’ll probably all have a similar image in their heads. Nestled on a plateau between the Wetterstein and Karwendel mountain ranges, it was used several times as a venue for the Winter Olympics, evoking images of classic winter tourism, idyllic Tyrolean mountain landscapes and quaint chalets. Architect Alexander Meissl has a couple of other words in mind when he talks about his home town: “For a long time, I felt it was just a tourist destination with an overload of chalets in a too-obvious traditional regional style, with a smattering of Bavarian-baroque elements, and they seemed like caricatures of architecture in my eyes. Considering the hotel industry is the future, I didn’t want anything to do with that image.”

Luckily times have changed and provided an opening for a hotel like the dasMAX boutique hotel developed by Meissl.

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Issue No 01 | 2020

07

G Ä S T E H AU S K R E N N

fall in love with pürgg The delightful, small, charming district of Pürgg totally stole my heart, and the view of the Grimming mountain range took my breath away. But the fact that I lost my heart to Pürgg wasn’t just down to the wildly romantic surroundings; it was mostly thanks to the Gästehaus Krenn and Valerie and Theresia Graf, who along with their team nurture constant interaction with their guests. The way they have styled the interior of the guesthouse makes for a charming mix of detailed pieces just waiting to be discovered.

Modern and linear items are paired with more traditional pieces and hand-picked antiques for an effect that is not forced but rather homely. Designer vases stand

I have to say, rarely have I arrived somewhere as beautiful as Pürgg im Ennstal in the Styria region of Austria. Who would have thought?

AUSTRIA alongside hand-woven baskets, butchers’ blocks next to sumptuous velvet wingback chairs. The bedding and towels are made out of linen and create both a traditional and contemporary feel. The garden level of the guesthouse provides an impressive and grand open-plan living space that resembles an extended living room, and from here you can move into the fabulous garden and the covered loggia.

In the library, guests can expect to find a good selection of literature, crime novels and magazines that you can grab and take with you into the garden. The love of the written word is accompanied by the same sentiment towards art, with the walls bedecked with works by young artists.

I could spend between now and forever daydreaming about the mouth-watering meals at the guesthouse, which encouragingly included vegetarian dishes and were complemented by homemade bread and fresh regional ingredients, handmade mustard creations from Senferei AnnaMax, delicious organic muesli from Zagler Müslibär and pesto products from Taschler im Glas in the grocery store. I simply don’t have the room on this page to tell you more. The premise of any guesthouse is that “You arrive as a guest and leave as a friend” – nowhere is this more true than in the unremarkable-sounding district of Pürgg and the Gästehaus Krenn.

E N N S TA L / P Ü R G G

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double rooms

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suites

From a grocery store to e-bikes lifestylehotels.net

HOTEL COLLECT

Budapest is known as the Paris of the east, and not without good reason. The hugely diverse city on the Danube is unexpected. The best starting point for your voyage of discovery? The new Hotel Collect.

Photos: Gästehaus Krenn: Armin Walcher / Hotel Collect: Hotel Collect

HUNGARY

an eclectic mix

If you find yourself on the chain bridge as the sun’s setting, you’ll be rewarded with a truly spectacular ambience.

A pastel-coloured sky extends across the Danube, which runs through the middle of the city, and if you wait until it’s dark, the lights from the houses and the bridges start to dance on the surface of the water.

Beyond the western bank lie the hills of Buda, which look down on medieval cobblestones and the brightly coloured Matthias Church. On the other side of the river in Pest, elegant 19th-century houses line up next to one another and today play host to a vast array of shops, bars and cafés.

For a city break, you’re best off at the Collect boutique hotel, which gets guests in the mood for such a cool city with its blend of eclectic modernist styling and French influences. Ideally situated next to the Károlyi Garden and only a short distance from the highly recommended Hungarian National Museum, the Collect is the perfect hangout for culturally refined design enthusiasts. You feel as though you have lost all sense of time, as everything seems to take on a timeless quality in this atmospheric space. The rooms showcase a variety of designs, with furniture in

BUDAPEST

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rooms/suites Modernist luxury with a French influence lifestylehotels.net

modern colours such as petrol blue, ochre and rust combined with expansive mirrors and bold stone elements to stunning effect. The bathrooms are limited to black, white and grey. The small courtyard features an interplay of Moroccan and French influences, while the lobby bar provides the perfect setting for sipping on a glass of Prosecco before you head out.

Anyone who feels the need for a TV when they visit this city should be ashamed of themselves … But there are TVs in the rooms, and they even have Netflix.

THE Stylemate

LH

Issue No 01 | 2020

slow ageing

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Too many thoughts whizzing around in your head?

Had enough of the noise of the city? Leave your stresses behind and join us at the Bergland Design and Wellness Hotel Sölden, where you can take it slow on your way to achieving total relaxation and a fresh glow.

BERGLAND DESIGN AND WELLNESS HOTEL SÖLDEN

NATURAL BEAUTY FOR EVERY SKIN TYPE In the Sky Spa at the Bergland, they know just how to help their guests achieve this feeling of slow ageing, offering relaxing and nourishing wellbeing packages using the hotel’s own Natural Alpine range of products. Why not try a deeply moisturising and refreshing arnica salt peel to soften and clear the skin of dead skin cells?

Or how about a hayflower bath so you can soak up the power of nutrient-rich grasses and meadow flowers, or a zeolite head massage using a dense ball of sheep’s wool for an incredible feeling of deep relaxation?

However, it’s not just the approach to self-care that is slowing down these days.

Those who manage to make their days as balanced and as stress-free as possible will not only achieve a greater sense of relaxation, but also a more radiant skin.

It’s especially easy to enjoy a day without stress at the Bergland – set amongst nature, surrounded by tasteful décor, there’s no option but to float your way blissfully from morning to night.

ANCIENT KNOWLEDGE, NEW GLOW The origins of the hot stone massage can be traced back more than 2,000 years.

Now, in the Ötztal Alpine valley, the ancient practice has been studied in depth and reinterpreted afresh at the Sky Spa. “We complement the traditional lava stones with the power of local granite and arnica oil in order to both fully activate

and strengthen the body’s own self-healing capabilities,” comments Julia Keimling.

In the Sky Spa, you experience a commitment to the regional and the sustainable through the application of carefully selected natural beauty products and extraordinary treatments, meaning the skin and the soul have everything they need.

If you require a bit of “fast” after all the “slow”, pay a visit to the Electric Mountain Festival in spring and show off your new-found spa glow. But don’t go to bed too late! There are scientists who claim to have discovered that skin cell renewal occurs at around 11pm, and it will only happen if you’re already asleep by that time. But no matter what time you snuggle down in your hotel bed, even sleep feels more restful here at the Bergland.

AUSTRIA TYROL / SÖLDEN

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rooms/suites FIS Alpine Ski World Cup location and Sky Spa lifestylehotels.net

Photos: eye5.li // Christoph Schöch

“I think that people should be considered as a whole being, and that we are all unique in the sense of our body, mind and soul.

For this reason, our approach is to offer treatments that strive to meet the individual needs of each guest,” explains Julia Keimling, Spa Manager at the Bergland Design and Wellness Hotel in Sölden in the Austrian Tyrol region. This is the perfect complement for the new “slow ageing” lifestyle trend, which isn’t a case of not growing any older – what a nightmare! – but rather living as your best self at every age. At the heart of it is positive thinking, avoiding stress and an overall good feeling.

Products that can give you a glowing complexion while limiting their impact on the environment play a supporting role in this.

THE Stylemate

LH

Issue No 01 | 2020

09

take a walk on the cultural side

Peter E. Büsser has been successfully running the Hotel des Balances in picturesque Lucerne for over thirty years. And who can blame him for not wanting to leave when the city is so rich in culture, including his own historic building?

HOTEL DES BALANCES

It’s not just the Hotel des Balances that’s steeped in history – the city of Lucerne simply oozes tradition. What are your own cultural and historical highlights?

The Hotel des Balances has a truly rich heritage stretching all the way back to 1199. At that time, an inn stood on this spot, then later the nobility would meet here for tea, and in the 1960s renowned Swiss cabaret artist Emil Steinberger began his stage career here. The building itself is also famous for its façade murals painted in the style of German renaissance artist Hans Holbein, and it is one of the most-photographed spots in Lucerne.

Today, the Hotel des Balances displays the ultimate harmony of historical structure and contemporary design.

In more recent history, the development of KKL Luzern, the city’s culture and congress centre, is a milestone that really puts Lucerne in the international spotlight.

It’s not just the architecture by Jean Nouvel that draws people in – the acoustics of the Concert Hall also attract prominent artists from around the world year after year. It is both an architectural and a cultural asset for the city and for our guests.

Photos: Hotel des Balances, Lucerne

Guests at your hotel can expect a complementary programme of events, from jazz piano to talks by female speakers. What can they look forward to this spring?

We will mainly be spoiling our guests with a culinary assortment of spring delicacies.

Our pianist will also be playing in the bar and lounge every week. Then we have an interesting selection of female speakers here once a month to discuss some hot topics, and the events are always well attended – even by men.

What will be important in the future?

You yourself have been at the Hotel des Balances for many years. What have you always placed the most emphasis on?

You’re located on the banks of the Reuss with views of the Jesuit Church, the Chapel Bridge and the mountains in the background. Why would you even need to leave the hotel?

The location in the centre of Lucerne’s old town, right on the Reuss, is certainly unique. From the rooms and suites or from the restaurant terrace, you can enjoy a simply breathtaking view of the mountain landscape, the Chapel Bridge – the landmark of the city – and the Jesuit Church. But ultimately it is the whole package that sets our hotel apart from the rest: the stylish décor, the charm of the building, the cosy atmosphere, the creative culinary offering and particularly our personal service. All of Lucerne’s most famous sights are within a short walk of the hotel. A stroll through the quaint old town is always worth it, as is a visit to the weekly market on the edge of the Reuss. Or why not head to the theatre, out on a boat or take a trip up Pilatus or Rigi? It’s all on our doorstep.

The details and the quality of service.

I want to offer our guests an enjoyable and decadent experience that they won’t forget in a hurry. That includes creating a pleasant atmosphere in which both guests and employees feel comfortable, an atmosphere where you can meet and chat with people informally. I attach great importance to employees who love their job and who love people. I have run the hotel with a high degree of trust and respect for over thirty years now, and it’s thanks to my incredible team that I can hand over authority and responsibility without reservation – it’s a method that’s proved itself successful for many years.

An undamaged environment – we do our bit to take care of it, and we also try to encourage our guests to be more aware of how they use resources. In addition to that, I want to increase the use of the Hotel des Balances as a venue for meetings and other events. Our stunning rooms are perfect for this purpose.

SWITZERLAND LUCERNE

56 rooms

Situated on the Reuss in the heart of Lucerne’s old town lifestylehotels.net

Which moment will always stay with you?

There are two: first of all, the fire on the Chapel Bridge in 1993. We could see the flames from up close in the hotel – that was a tragic moment. Then in 2005 we spent over a million francs on renovating our restaurant. Just two months later, there was a flood and we were knee-deep in water. We had to start the renovations all over again.

PETER E. BÜSSER

THE Stylemate

LH

Issue No 01 | 2020

10

Do you travel for business three or more times a month? If so, all the more reason to find a place that makes your stay as comfortable as possible, and perhaps even a bit more.

BUSINESS HOTEL

“When guests stay with us, they will find a cleanly designed space with a feel-good vibe and pleasant atmosphere. Ultimately, when you’re travelling on business and are away from your family, it’s important to feel welcome,” believes Stephanie Hirschfelder from the family-run art & business hotel in Nuremburg. What else can guests expect? “Aesthetics, aspiration, comfort, functionality and of course a high level of professionalism.” Surveys show that business travellers have very clear requirements. At the top of the wish list are flexible check-in and check-out times, and a room with a desk where they can get their work done. No less important is their appetite for healthy, balanced meals, and particular attention is paid to this last point at the art & business hotel.

GERMANY NUREMBERG

49 rooms

art and wine lifestylehotels.net

A CHEERY “GOOD MORNING” SETS YOU UP FOR THE DAY

INDIVIDUALITY AND RELAXATION

Get your day off to a great start in a lightflooded room with a view of the art garden, with an open and cheery “Good morning” and dishes made on the premises from the finest ingredients. Jams, pastries, confectionery, salads, desserts, antipasti, fruit yoghurts, porridge, muesli, different types of bread, homemade gluten-free bread and much more pile up on a table that threatens to sag under the weight.

The best bit? Almost all of it has been made at the hotel. The meat products come from a gourmet butcher, some of the cheeses come from a master cheesemaker in Erlangen. The eggs are delivered from a farm, the vegetables come straight from the surrounding Knoblauchsland region.

Gluten-free or vegan dishes are readily available. With everything appetisingly laid out in small individual portions, guests are able to enjoy a stress-free start to the day.

The art & business hotel is an easy twominute walk from the main train station and located on the edge of the historic old town of Nuremberg, making it practical and a real time-saver. But despite all the practicalities, it’s important not to forget individuality and a need for relaxation.

“We only display original artworks by regional Franconian artists.” There’s even a whole wall that’s a work of art – the gold leaf concrete wall, which was created back in 1972. Sculptures line the hotel corridors and its cosy garden. A kinetic wind chime

by Hans Karl Busch exerts a soothing pull. Anyone wanting to brush up on their knowledge of wine should attend one of the wine tastings that take part throughout the year and cover a range of themes.

Because the opportunity for a little time out from work should never be missed.

Photos: Uwe Mühlhäuser

business not as usual

ART &

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LH

Issue No 01 | 2020

11

With the opening of boutique hotel LA PETITE IVY, Martin Ho has fulfilled a lifelong dream.

Art-loving guests visit the haven in the Wachau region of Austria to indulge in peace and contemplation.

LA PETITE IVY

ho-tel

room, with its freestanding bath and private balcony with panoramic view, pays tribute to artist Nobuyoshi Araki.

GEARED UP TO WIND DOWN

Photos: Studiomato

MODERN ART WITHIN ANCIENT WALLS What does a relentless businessman buy himself for his 32nd birthday? With galleries, restaurants and clubs already in his portfolio, Martin Ho was still missing something: a hotel. He had always wanted to join the ranks of hoteliers, although when he was younger it was more an idyllic treehouse in Sapa, Vietnam, on the border with China that he had in mind.

But the newcomer to the hotel scene has now found a similar sense of tranquillity in Wachau in Lower Austria. In autumn 2018, just in time for his birthday, he opened LA PETITE IVY in the historic Trenninghof building. The boutique hotel promotes itself as a place of relaxation and deceleration away from the big-city hustle and bustle of Vienna, and brings together all of Ho’s passions under its 717-year-old roof: cuisine, individuality, design and art.

The entire hotel is devoted to modern art, and there are countless pieces from Martin Ho’s private collection on display not just on the walls, but also as little surprises in between. “Even at the entrance to the hotel, I’m greeted by one of Erwin Wurm’s sausage sculptures, which always brings a smile to my face,” reveals the art collector. The effect on the guests is much the same when they are surrounded by works by Andy Warhol, Jeff Koons, Daniel Richter and Jonathan Meese, to name but a few, during their stay beneath the vaulted gothic ceilings. Each of the five individually designed guest rooms is also dedicated to a theme, art movement or artist – for example, the Pop room follows the principles of pop art, the Copenhagen room is inspired by designer and architect Arne Jacobsen and the deluxe Bukkake

That being said, it’s not just boasts of art and design that entice guests to visit this countryside gem. In addition to the impressive sculpture park, nestled amongst the idyllic hills of the Wachau region those seeking relaxation will also find a pool, an in-house bar and a library.

In the colder months, it’s best to withdraw to the small, exclusive spa area with its steam and infrared saunas. Alternatively, you could flick through a good book by the cosy fireplace, lost in thought, allowing your gaze to wander to the spectacular Wachau landscape, which is all the more captivating when covered with snow. Even better with a glass of exquisite regional red wine in your hand, which can now be found on the menu at all of the proprietor’s restaurants.

LA PETITE IVY is also dedicated to Ho’s wife Ivana and their daughter Ivy Kim, who both contributed to making Martin Ho’s latest birthday wish come true: rest and relaxation with family. And where better to do just that than in his own little slice of paradise in peaceful Mühldorf.

AUSTRIA LOWER AUSTRIA / WA C H A U / M Ü H L D O R F

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THE Stylemate Issue No 01 | 2020

of the salzburg festival

100

LH

12

years

HOTEL GOLDGASSE

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Salzburg Festival-themed rooms One of the city’s best restaurants lifestylehotels.net

PAYING HOMAGE TO THE ARTS Much older than the Salzburg Festival is a stone building in a charming little alleyway called Goldgasse. It is 700 years old and now home to one of the city’s most stunning and individual hotels: the Goldgasse, a boutique hotel with just 16 rooms that have all been designed around the theme of the Salzburg Festival. They pay homage to this enormous production, this event that turns the entire city into a stage – a notion that even director Max Reinholdt wished to express from the outset. The rooms in the Goldgasse are a stage in themselves for modern features and contemporary design objects. And just so you know – this small-but-perfect retreat doesn’t just provide cultural inspiration, it also offers exceptional cuisine.

To mark the centenary of the festival this year, there will also be a state exhibition that will see the museum transformed into a stage. For six months, the Neue Residenz will become a forum in which to discover the rich history of the Salzburg Festival and its performers, presenting art interventions, enactments of stories and film screenings. “The state exhibition is the launch event to celebrate the 100-year anniversary of the Salzburg Festival.

We are optimistic that this display will offer both the citizens of Salzburg and guests from all over the world fascinating retrospectives and glimpses of the future,” says festival president Helga Rabl-Stadler.

Photos: Luigi Caputo / Catalin Cucu

AUSTRIA SALZBURG

The production of Jedermann was staged in the famous Cathedral Square in Salzburg for the first time in 1920. The play about the death of a rich man was directed by Max Reinhardt who, along with the play’s author Hugo von Hofmannsthal, was a co-founder of the Salzburg Festival. The character of Jedermann was played by the most famous actor of the time in the German-speaking world, Alexander Moissi, while Jedermann’s lover Buhlschaft was played by Johanna Terwin, Moissi’s wife in real life.

Over the last 100 years, there have only been a handful of occasions when Jedermann has not been performed at the Salzburg Festival. From the very beginning, the event has included operatic productions and concerts, and this programme has expanded every year since.

The main highlight is definitely still the traditional rendering of Jedermann, which was based on several medieval mystery plays. To see it enacted on the steps in front of the cathedral, or in the festival hall during bad weather, never fails to be an unforgettable experience.

THE Stylemate

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Issue No 01 | 2020

These charming boutique hotels in Salzburg’s old town are worth a visit at any time of year. But during the Salzburg Festival, the Hotel Stein and the Hotel Goldgasse set the scene for an even more profound experience.

BLUE SKIES OVER THE BLUE LAGOON Guests from across the globe with an affinity for art are sure to be found at the Stein boutique hotel, situated right on the Salzach river in the old town. The hotel underwent an extensive makeover in 2018 and has since followed the concept of “Salzburg meets Venice”, evidence of which includes the chandeliers and other pieces

by Venetian glass manufacturers Barovier & Toso, a company that is also owned by the hotel proprietor. Then there are the fabrics by Rubelli, which certainly wouldn’t look out of place in a Venetian palace. Even from outside, directly in front of the hotel,

HOTEL STEIN

you will be mesmerised by a work of art

by Austrian artist Brigitte Kowanz, who in 2016 represented Austria at the Venice Biennale and also showcased her works there in 2017. Her pieces lead you into the interior and create a stylistic connection between the inside and the outside.

The colour blue dominates the décor, representing both the colour of the sky and that of the lagoon in Venice.

When you stroll back from Cathedral Square, be it to the Goldgasse or the Stein, you can be sure that you are in the perfect place to recharge your batteries after an intoxicating performance and to let the experience of the epic productions last a little longer.

AUSTRIA SALZBURG

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Photos: Edmund Barr / Catalin Cucu

Incredible view across the city lifestylehotels.net

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Issue No 01 | 2020

GEINBERG5 P R I VAT E S PA V I L L A S

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Feel reborn in a Far Eastern paradise: after experiencing fairy-tale treatments and hammam rituals in the Oriental World at the Geinberg5 Private Spa Villas, you’ll be a new person.

one thousand and one nights

AUSTRIA

INNVIERTEL / GEINBERG

21 suites

Private butler service lifestylehotels.net

TAKE A FLYING CARPET RIDE TO INNER PEACE I opt for the Rose from Marrakech, a 75-minute oriental cleansing ritual using an exclusive black olive soap combined with a nourishing body peel. After I have been covered in oil from head to toe, I receive a traditional full body massage that frees my body of any aches and pains and clears my mind. After an extended bath and a visit to the deep-cleansing serail mud chamber, I am drawn to the CHAI Oriental Tea Bar, where tea is served alongside dried fruits. It’s a fitting end to this day of oriental bathing. Any stressful thoughts have long since been whisked away on a flying carpet and I feel pleasantly light. I stretch out on a lounger and doze off.

A VILLA, A NATURAL BATHING POOL AND A SAUNA – JUST FOR ME The luxury Geinberg5 Private Spa Villas are the perfect retreat for anyone who prefers to keep their spa experience to themselves.

All 21 of the stylish suites and villas, the biggest of which is 300 m², benefit from their own private wellness area with a Finnish sauna, steam bath, outdoor hot tub with 36-degree thermal water, and an open fireplace. After spending time in the sauna, you can dive off the large terrace straight into your own private bay in one of the two 3,300 m² natural bathing pools – that’s my day tomorrow sorted. There’s also a team of butlers on hand to tend to the personal wellbeing of a small number of guests, meaning you can enjoy the award-winning

cuisine from the Aqarium restaurant in the privacy of your own villa. You can of course do the same for your breakfast.

Even those who don’t want to leave their villa will not want to miss out on the Oriental World. While it may not be possible to get there by flying carpet, you can glide there in an electric car – in line with the “green thinking” attitude of the Geinberg5.

Photos: Robert Maybach / Matthias Witzany / Gregor Hartl

The water trickles soothingly from ornate taps while I doze on the 40-degree hot stone in the centre of the room, with comforting scents of amber, rose and verbena blossom evoking images of the Orient and stirring my nose and my senses. The steam surrounding me makes everything hazy, like a dream from one of the stories in One Thousand and One Nights. Even back in the time of the ancient sultans in their palaces, they swore by the cleansing effect and benefits for body and soul of the traditional hammam, a ritual that offers the ultimate in warmth, cleansing and pure relaxation.

The Oriental World at the Therme Geinberg is a sensory retreat and therefore the ideal place to unwind and escape the everyday. Following the warmth of the steam bath and the richness of the olive oil soap, stress quite literally slips away from my body. Later on, the hammam master reveals to me his knowledge of secret rituals and oriental bathing culture, while I succumb to the enchantment of the Orient still further. The selection of Turkish and Moroccan treatments on offer is remarkable, and their names hint at something quite spectacular: Emerald of the Sultan, Ritual of the Sultan, Rose from Marrakech or A Day in the Desert.

All treatments are carried out in accordance with modern European standards.

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Issue No 01 | 2020

silent flow

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What don’t you mind hearing amongst the silence?

The roar of the sea, the twitter of birds, the chirping of crickets … At Hotel Lemongarden on the Croatian island of Brač, the silence is something quite special.

HOTEL LEMONGARDEN

The sun glitters through the tops of the trees, the waves crash gently onto the pebble beach and the soft breeze wafts past the end of your nose. I experience all of this in the new yoga pavilion on the private beach at Hotel Lemongarden, from which the beauty of the natural surroundings can now be appreciated all the more intensely. A programme for the first yoga retreats at the Lemongarden has been put together with the help of Ben Rakidzija.

The yoga teacher practises Silent Flow, a free interpretation of Hatha yoga, Vinyasa Flow, Yin yoga and Qigong. There are also fascia training exercises and other forms of movement. But why make it silent?

All of the classes take place in silence and so offer the opportunity to really be at one with yourself, no matter whether you’re a beginner or an experienced yogi.

C R OAT I A Photos: Hotel: Christian Husar / Portrait: Ben Rakidzija

S U T I VA N / B R A Č

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YOGA, MEDITATION AND POETRY Ben Rakidzija isn’t just a trained yoga teacher. He is also an educated philosopher and historian, composes prose and poems and organises the Lit.Eu literature festival in Opatija, which authors Marie Gamillscheg, Markus Orths and Franzobel have all attended. “The aim of my lessons is to promote a strong body and a clear mind. Every class is different, every day is new. I don’t force my students and try to find a balance between strength and relaxation,” says Ben, who in the evenings doesn’t need much encouragement to share stories about his many yoga experiences.

TRANCE-INDUCING LOUNGER Between the morning and evening yoga sessions and a refreshing dip in the sea, it makes sense to spend plenty of time in the private spa. Guests can enjoy the Finnish sauna made out of cedar, a steam room boasting a combination of light and aromatherapy with lavender, lemon, lime and orchid fragrances, and an experience shower. Those who haven’t yet laid on one of the ergonomically designed, blue illuminated AlphaSphere loungers really must.

Developed by the Viennese artist known as SHA, the lounger transports users into a trance-like state thanks to a sea of tiny vibrations, gentle electronic sounds and changing coloured lighting inspired by chromotherapy. Afterwards, you feel as though you have been in another world, where everything is beautiful and pink.

Luckily it is still beautiful when you come round, only now it’s not pink but turquoise.

It’s recommended that you stumble your way straight to a Lemongarden aromatherapy session and enjoy a relaxing massage on a lounger using lemon and orange essential oils. In this deeply relaxed state you go to yoga again, then curl up in bed afterwards with the blissful realisation that the next day you will wake up feeling just as good as when you went to sleep.

Whoever can’t make the Lemongarden yoga retreats in May should absolutely book them for September!

THE Stylemate Issue No 01 | 2020

DIRECTORY LIFESTYLEHOTELS

AU S T R I A

CHINA

Wildkogel Resorts Alpslodge Life.Style.Hotel.Fiss FÜGEN Alpina Zillertal family.lifestyle.hotel GASCHURN Montafon Lodge Luxury Lodgehotel und Spa GEINBERG Geinberg 5 Private Spa Villas GRAZ Augarten Art Hotel GRAZ Lendhotel GRAZ Roomz Graz GROSSARL Hotel Nesslerhof HALLSTATT Hallstatt Hideaway KALS AM GROSSGLOCKNER Gradonna Mountain Resort KALTENBACH Das Kaltenbach KITZBÜHEL Alpenhotel Kitzbühel am Schwarzsee LÄNGENFELD Naturhotel Waldklause LEOGANG Puradies MARIA ALM Hotel Eder MARIA ALM Hotel Sepp MAYRHOFEN ElisabethHotel Premium Private Retreat MELLAU Sonne Lifestyle Resort MÖSERN Nidum Casual Luxury Hotel MÜHLDORF LA PETITE IVY NAUDERS Aparthotel Arabella OBERGURGL Hotel The Crystal OBERTAUERN Hotel Panorama Obertauern SAALBACH HINTERGLEMM Alpin Juwel SALZBURG CITY Hotel Goldgasse SALZBURG CITY Hotel Stein SALZBURG CITY Hotel & Villa Auersperg SCHLADMING Stadthotel Brunner SEEFELD Das Max SERFAUS Alfa Hotel SÖLDEN Bergland Design and Wellnesshotel Sölden STAINACH-PÜRGG Gästehaus Krenn TURRACHER HÖHE Hollmann am Berg UDERNS Sportresidenz Zillertal VIENNA Hollmann Beletage VIENNA Hotel Das Tyrol VIENNA Hotel Schani Salon VIENNA Hotel Schani Wien WAGRAIN Sensum Suites Design Hotel ZELL AM SEE Eva Hof Lakeside Suites ZELL AM SEE Seehotel Bellevue ZELL AM SEE Senses Violett Suites BRAMBERG

NANJING

I TA LY

Kayumanis Nanjing Private Villas & Spa

Casa Angelina Relais Blu BRIXEN Hotel Pupp CALABRIA Praia Art Resort CAMAIORE Locanda al Colle TIROLO NEAR MERANO Der Küglerhof ISSENGO Gourmet & Boutiquehotel Tanzer LAZISE Quellenhof Luxury Resort LIMONE SUL GARDA EALA My Lakeside Dream MERANO Suiteseven Stadthotel Meran/o MERANSEN Hotel Gitschberg MONTEFOLLONICO Follonico RIMINI i-Suite SICILY Monaci delle Terre Nere TRIESTE Hollmann Trieste AMALFI COAST AMALFI COAST

FISS

C R OAT I A SUTIVAN – BRAČ

Hotel Lemongarden

F RA NC E PARIS

Hollmann Paris

GERMANY

Das Graseck art & business hotel PIRNA Laurichhof SANKT ENGLMAR Berghotel Maibrunn STUTTGART V8 Hotel STUTTGART V8 Hotel Classic TIMMENDORFER STRAND SAND TIMMENDORFER STRAND Hotel Seehuus GARMISCH-PARTENKIRCHEN

P O R T UG A L

NUREMBERG

Sublime Comporta Country Retreat & Spa Vila Valverde ALGARVE Vila Vita Collection CASCAIS The Oitavos MADEIRA Quinta da Bela Vista ALENTEJO ALGARVE

S PA I N GREECE

Lavida Hotel Convent de la Missio MALLORCA Fontsanta Hotel Thermal Spa & Wellness MALLORCA Hotel Can Simoneta MALLORCA Hotel Glòria de Sant Jaume MALLORCA Pleta de Mar GIRONA

SANTORINI SANTORINI

Myst Boutique Hotel Saint Santorini

MALLORCA

H U NG A RY BUDAPEST BUDAPEST

Hotel Collect Lanchid 19

S R I L A N KA DICKWELLA SOUTH

UTMT – Underneath the Mango Tree

SWITZERLAND

Hotel des Balances Alpinlodge & Spa ZERMATT Hotel Matterhorn Focus LUCERNE

SAMNAUN

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THE Stylemate Issue No 01 | 2020

Photo: Koji Fujii / Nacasa and Partners Inc.

ka mika tz

KAM I KATSU.

public

STYLE

It’s around eight metres tall and is made exclusively out of materials that were no longer needed following the demolition of other houses: introducing the Kamikatz Public House in the Japanese town of Kamikatsu. Designed by architects Hiroshi Nakamura & NAP, this building isn’t the only innovation the town has to offer.

Over the last few years, its residents have

devoted themselves to avoiding waste, and in doing so have achieved a recycling rate of over 80 per cent. In 2020, all reusable waste should be put back into circulation, and any remaining household waste will be separated into 45 different categories.

The Kamikatz is home to a pub with a small brewery.

house

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THE Stylemate Issue No 01 | 2020

cities

N AG OYA

E R I KO E S A KA

How would you describe Nagoya’s creative scene?

What’s the most recent design piece to catch your attention?

creative-nagoya.jp

First and foremost, as a design city we have three goals: supporting the next generations, respecting the environment and creating a link between different cultures.

Nagoya boasts many art, design and architecture universities, as well as industrial companies that operate on a global scale – but hardly anyone knows about it! We don’t promote ourselves anywhere near enough and even the people that are here aren’t aware of it. This is what we’re trying to counteract, and we’re working more and more with students and researchers in order to establish a new mindset when it comes to design in our society.

Bouillon is a design studio led by Shunya Hattori and Hiroki Nasu (design-bouillon. jp), and I’m really impressed by their work.

They are interested in local manufacturers and the history behind our region’s industry, and they create simple yet utterly beautiful products in their own distinct style.

ERIKO ESAKA is Program Director of the UNESCO City of Design Organizing Committee in Nagoya.

What’s so special about design in Nagoya?

Nagoya is a city of “monozukuri”, or “making things”. The origin of this creative spirit is the Nagoya Castle, which was built over 400 years ago by Ieyasu Tokugawa, founder of the Tokugawa shogunate. At that time, the city was a melting pot of talented engineers, technicians, painters and architects from across the country, and it is their particular skills and works that established Nagoya’s cultural heritage and formed the basis of our regional crafts. This spirit has been maintained throughout the generations in our understanding of design.

Eventually, it resulted in the opening of the International Design Center Nagoya.

What are your favourite design hotspots in Nagoya?

The Toyota Municipal Museum of Art (8 Chome-5-1 Kozakahonmachi, Toyota, Aichi 471-0034, museum.toyota.aichi.jp) – the architecture is just spectacular! I think the Nagoya Innovators Garage (3 Chome-18-1 Sakae, Naka Ward, Nagoya, Aichi 460-0008, garage-nagoya.or.jp) is also pretty good.

And I love the city’s design, art and craft markets, like the one along the Endoji shopping street (6 Nagono, Nishi Ward, Nagoya, Aichi 451-0042), the one in Hisaya Park (3 Chome-6 Marunouchi, Naka Ward, Nagoya, Aichi 460-0002) or the one near the International Design Center (Design Center Bldg., 18-1, Sakae 3-Chome, Naka-ku, Nagoya 460-0008, idcn.jp).

There’s also the Yaba-cho/Osu area, where you’ll find clothing that follows the trends of Japan’s subculture, like decora, goth, visual kei and other alternative shops.

Photos: Honmaru_omotesyoin: Nacasa & Partners Inc. / Nagoya, UNESCO City of Design / shutterstock.com, TokyoSky / Masami Fujii

The Japanese cities of Kobe and Nagoya are part of the international UNESCO Creative Cities Network – and rightly so!

Eriko Esaka and Kenji Kondo give us an insight into their creative cultures.

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of

KO B E

design

K E N J I KON D O

What does the Design and Creative Center Kobe have to offer?

The Design and Creative Center Kobe is located near the port in Sannomiya, in the city centre. The building was constructed between 1927 and 1932 and has now been converted from its original purpose as a former testing centre for raw silk. It is in paying homage to the original function of this building – checking the quality of raw silk – that the name KIITO came about, as the word means “raw silk” in Japanese. We develop many programmes using the title “+Creative” as a method of resolving the social issues facing our communities. As part of this, we introduce new ideas that challenge preconceived design concepts.

These activities are described as “social design” in Japan, meaning that the world’s social problems are being approached through creative strength.

What unites the creative scene in Kobe?

In Kobe, lifestyles based on an open and liberal cultural footing are encouraged, meaning the assimilation of foreign cultures, manufacturing processes and crafts is actively supported. The process of rebuilding the city following the Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake in 1995 taught the city to strengthen deep interpersonal connections, the spirit of helping each other and other human affections.

It highlighted the fact that the city’s traditional, inherent characteristics – creativity through design – brought people together, kindled hope for the future and aided the rehabilitation of the city. Design plays an important role in daily life and makes topics such as environmental protection and emergency management, crime prevention, welfare and education, which are all very close to home, more visible, easier to communicate, more relevant and more likely to inspire action.

Photos: Shunsuke Ito / Hiroki Ando

How does the City of Design Kobe work?

With collaboration and participation.

My view is that design has a broader meaning that doesn’t just encompass visible shapes and colours, but also planning and mechanisms for the formulation of design, as well as purpose and ideas that lay the foundations for design. Great designs can attract and motivate people.

City of Design Kobe is a city where all residents that make the most of the benefits of the city can together create new design attractions through collaboration and participation in order to build a strong community – a community that’s

worth being a part of and a community that makes a stand for sustainable development.

What’s your favourite museum?

The Kobe Fashion Museum (2 Chome-9-1 Koyochonaka, Higashinada Ward, Kobe, Hyogo 658-0032, fashionmuseum.or.jp)!

It’s the first museum in Japan to specialise in fashion, and is also an information and cultural hub with three main functions: museum, library and exhibition space.

Four or five times a year, the museum plays host to special exhibitions, while items in the permanent collection are displayed in themed galleries. The library is home to high-quality magazines and books on the topic of fashion both in Japan and around the world, and is open to the public as well as those students, creators and businesspeople who are active in the fashion industry. The exhibition space in the Orbis hall is open to the public for a diverse range of exhibitions.

What’s your favourite design hotspot in Kobe?

The Takenaka Carpentry Tools Museum (7 Chome-5-1 Kumochicho, Chuo Ward, Kobe, dougukan.jp), which is the only museum of its kind in Japan. Its aim is to collect and preserve traditional carpentry tools that are no longer used as a piece of cultural heritage, and to pass them on to the next generation through research and exhibitions. The museum keeps alive the spirit of making things that has been so valued by the Japanese since ancient times.

Here you can enjoy typically harmonious Japanese architecture, which isn’t symbolic or assertive, but rather demonstrates the subtle connection between people and nature.

Where’s the best place to go shopping?

I would have to say Transit., which sells items for the home with a focus on unique light fittings, as well as imported goods.

They have three stores in Kobe, two in Osaka and two online shops, and their original light fittings have featured in many TV series. All of their products have been designed by Tatsuo Konno, the director of upmarket interior design studio ARTWORKSTUDIO (artworkstudio.co.jp).

He explains that “lighting isn’t a tool but more like a partner that adds flair to your life”. He is inspired by the interesting shapes, materials and colours he encounters on his travels.

kiito.jp

Which design piece caught your attention recently?

KENJI KONDO works at the Design and Creative Center Kobe.

The items made out of Kobe leather

by Shinichi Yamauchi and his Kuli-Kuli studio. He won first prize in the SaloneSatellite Awards at the Salone del Mobile Milano 2019 for his Kobe Leather (kobeleather.or.jp) designs called Shadow, Feeling of Warmth and Shape of Memory. Cowhide from the Kobe beef industry, which would normally not be suitable for the manufacture of leather goods, was repurposed by Yamauchi to form an entirely new range of three products: Shadow, a wallet that displays an uneven surface; Feeling of Warmth, a coin purse that changes colour with changes in temperature; and Shape of Memory, a bag made out of leather that remembers its shape. In addition to design and functionality, these items are examples of the type of upcycling that is possible thanks to the technical sophistication of Japanese manufacturing. These products aren’t just visually appealing – the design involved in the manufacturing process is impressive in itself.

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THE Stylemate Issue No 01 | 2020

new in

Golden temples that glitter in the sun, Shintō shrines, zen gardens and seeing a geisha – that’s what summarises Japan’s former imperial capital Kyoto. The latest news is that the Ace Hotel group is opening its first location in Japan!

Also new on the scene is Hotel The Mitsui Kyoto, which celebrates the beauty of Japan.

T H E AC E U P I T S S L E EV E

town

Kyoto is one of the most famous cities in the world and is admired for its unparalleled social, creative, cultural and architectural dynamics. For many decades, it has been, and remains, an attraction and a retreat, but also a muse for stars such as David Bowie, John and Yoko, David Byrne and Steve Jobs, Haruki Murakami and Akira Kurosawa.

The Ace Hotel Kyoto will open in spring 2020 and is looking to further contribute to this fertile and creative spirit for future generations, while at the same time paying homage to the rich imperial heritage of the city.

The hotel ties in with the existing buildings of the former Kyoto telephone exchange, which were designed by renowned architect Tetsuro Yoshida.

“The idea was to create a hotel that has a connection with Kyoto and is open to the local area. That first meant creating a lush garden that linked the local community with the guests,” says architect Kengo Kuma about the project. The collaboration between like-minded artists and craftspeople is a token of love from the Ace Hotel Kyoto to the city. acehotel.com/kyoto

The location of the Hotel The Mitsui Kyoto is not far from the site of the Nikō Castle.

The hotel aims to breathe new life into the historic setting, but not without taking its past into consideration. The former Kajii-no-Miya Gate, built in 1703, has now been restored and repaired to serve as the entrance to the hotel, and to provide a contrast with the contemporary aesthetic of the building, which has been designed by architect Akira Kuryu: “It’s about respecting the grace and dignity of Kyoto, but also being able to express it using modern techniques.”

Renowned Hong Kong-based interior designer André Fu and the team at his AFSO design studio developed the concept for the interior of the hotel’s main public areas, including the lobby and the guest rooms and suites. Drawing on the theme of “Heritage reinvented”, Fu showcases the authentic beauty of Kyoto and the old town, and gives them a contemporary twist using his own perspective and design vocabulary. The result is a journey for the senses through Kyoto’s traditions, heritage and culture, with a touch of international flair. The lobby mimics a poetic wooden pavilion with intricate folded elements, and is reminiscent of Kyoto’s bamboo forests. In the centre, a ceramic statue by Japanese sculptor Yukiya Izumita looks down over the space. hotelthemitsui.com

Photos: Hotel The Mitsui Kyoto / Mitsui Fudosan Co., Ltd.

H E R I TAG E R E I N V E N T E D

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Yayoi Kusama spent her childhood in the greenhouses and fields of her family’s Nakatsutaya seed nursery, and this served as the breeding ground for her lifelong fascination with the natural world, which is revealed in this exhibition. Through this show, Kusama makes a virtual return to the city of New York, where she lived between 1958 and 1972 and produced her most prominent works. “This once-in-alifetime presentation will stand apart from previous exhibitions of Yayoi Kusama’s work because it is rooted in the artist’s profound and enduring exploration of nature and its countless manifestations that evoke meanings that are both personal and universal. Kusama often cites plant life – specifically, a repeating pattern of flowers – as the mythic origin of her concepts of obliteration, infinity and eternity she explores in her practice.

By integrating horticulture and her art, our exhibition will illuminate the powerful role of nature that pervades Kusama’s dynamic oeuvre,” says Carrie Rebora Barratt, President of The New York Botanical Garden.

Photos: Yayoi Kusama / ALONE, BURIED IN A FLOWER GARDEN, 2014, 76-3/8 x 76-3/8 in., Acrylic on canvas Collection of the artist, Courtesy of Ota Fine Arts, Victoria Miro, and David Zwirner / Summer Flower, 1988, Acrylic on canvas, 45.5 x 53 cm, Collection of the artist

POLKA DOTS AMONGST THE MEADOW GRASSES

Multiple installations will be on display as part of the comprehensive show, including signature pieces such as her mirrored environments and organic forms, colossal polka-dotted sculptures, mesmerising paintings of plants and flowers and their diversity of colours and patterns. Several of these pieces have been newly created and will be displayed alongside archival works that have never been publicly exhibited.

The installations will be complemented by spectacular indoor and outdoor displays created by the garden horticulturalists that change with the seasons – tulips and irises in spring will give way to masses of pumpkins and autumn flowers. Kusama’s plant-inspired polka dot sculptures will engage in conversation with meadow grasses, bluebells, water lilies and other plants. Guest curator Mika Yoshitake is delighted: “It is especially gratifying to realise a Kusama exhibition of this scale at The New York Botanical Garden, one of the world’s premier museums of living plant collections. For Kusama, cosmic nature is a life force that integrates the terrestrial and celestial orders of the universe from both the micro- and macrocosmic perspectives she examines in her practice. Nature is not a mere source of inspiration, but integral to the visceral effects of Kusama’s artistic language in which organic growth and the proliferation of life are made ever-present.”

STYLE KUSAMA: C O S M I C N AT U R E On display between 9 May and 1 November 2020 New York Botanical Garden nybg.org

Yayoi Kusama Museum (Tokyo) Museum of Contemporary Art honours Yayoi Kusama yayoikusamamuseum.jp

cosmic

T H E FAMOUS P OL KA D O T S USED BY J APAN E SE A RT I S T YAYOI K USAMA WI L L BR I NG A SPL ASH OF COL OU R T O T H E N EW YOR K B O TAN IC A L G ARDE N F ROM MAY, WH E N B OT H ICON IC AN D N E W PI E C E S

BY T H E CE L E BRAT E D A RT I S T WI L L BE WA I T I NG T O BE DIS C OVE R E D I N A DISPL AY EN T I T L E D K USAMA : CO SM IC NAT UR E.

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The Four-Eyed 1F PAREDORU Kabukicho Bldg. 2-8-2 Kabukicho, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 160-0021

BY NORA PALZENBERGER

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Dover Street Market Ginza Komatsu West 6-9-5 Ginza Chuo-ku, Tokyo 104-0061 ginza.doverstreetmarket.com

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Restir 9-6-17 Akasaka Minato-ku, Tokyo 107-0052 restir.com

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Arts & Science 4-23-11 Minami-Aoyama Minato-ku, Tokyo 107-0062 arts-science.com

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Uniqlo

1st floor to 12th floor of Ginza Komatsu East Building, 6-9-5, Ginza, Chuo-ku, Tokyo 104-0061 uniqlo.com

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Yohji Yamamoto 5 Chome-3-6 Minami-Aoyama Minato-ku, Tokyo 107-0062 yohjiyamamoto.co.jp

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Junko Shimada Matsuya Ginza 4F, 3-6-1 Ginza, Chuo-ku, Tokyo 104-0061 junkoshimada.com

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Issey Miyake 3-18-11 Minami-Aoyama Minato-ku, Tokyo 107-0062 isseymiyake.com

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Yohei Ohno 10F Atelier C 23-21 Sakuragaokacho Shibuya-ku, Tokyo 150-0031 yoheiohno.com

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Chika Kisada 7F, 1-1-2 Hatagaya Shibuya-ku, Tokyo 151-0072 chikakisada.com

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DressedUndressed UNIT4 3-8-19, Seijo Setagaya-ku, Tokyo 157-0066 dressedundressed.com

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Akikoaoki Harajuku Royal Building 6B, 3-38-11 Jingumae Shibuya-ku, Tokyo 150-0001 akikoaoki.com

fashion

Photos: Go Itami / Kazumi Kurigami / PR

In the early eighties, western fashion revolutionised the deconstructivist creations of the Japanese avant-garde. Today, the legacies of Yamamoto, Miyake et al. have long since emerged from the shadows of their predecessors. THE Stylemate took a look around the metropolis of Tokyo and showcases here several of the most renowned designers, the most exciting new labels and the coolest concept stores in the Japanese capital.

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THE Stylemate Issue No 01 | 2020

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Issue No 01 | 2020

GINZA

01 Tokyo’s red light district Kabukicho isn’t really known for being a hotspot of the fashion scene, but Keisuke Fujita had a good reason for opening his finely curated store The Four-Eyed here in 2016: when his customers entered the shop, he wanted them to have the feeling that they had discovered something special, like they were on a treasure hunt. After all, who would expect to find one of the city’s hottest boutiques behind a brothel?

Together with fashion journalist Maiko Shibukawa, the former photographer has assembled a collection of Charles Jeffrey, Y/Project, Stefan Cooke, Eckhaus Latta and Martine Rose – a mix of international labels and fresh indie Japanese brands. The Four-Eyed has now also established itself as a platform for Tokyo’s creative fashion scene: the shop’s Instagram feed features as many self-written articles and as much content as a fashion magazine.

UNIQLO

05 When talking about Japanese fashion, you can’t let Uniqlo go unmentioned.

The textiles giant can look back on an almost unparalleled success story, which started back in the 1970s. At the time, founder and chief executive Tadashi Yanai was working for his father’s tailoring business, then in 1984 opened a shop in Hiroshima that sold reasonably priced clothing – he called the shop Uniqlo, a name derived from the English words “unique clothing”. Since then, the Japanese fashion chain has experienced rapid growth and now has around 2,000 stores across the globe.

The Uniqlo store in Ginza is one of the international flagship stores and boasts retail space of around 54,400 square feet spanning 12 floors. Uniqlo calls its democratic fashion “LifeWear”, offering functional clothing for women, men, children and babies that is based on Japanese values such as simplicity, high quality and durability, and which can be individually styled to suit the wearer. The Japanese retailer regularly collaborates with international design legends such as Jil Sander, Philip Lim, Alexander Wang, Christopher Lemaire and JW Anderson to reinterpret the intellectual yet nevertheless realistic Uniqlo aesthetic in their own unique way.

YO H E I OHNO

09 The designer: Yohei Ohno started his career by studying at the Bunka Fashion College in Tokyo, where his creations were strongly influenced by his fascination with design greats such as Nicolas Ghesquière and Christopher Kane. He first discovered his very unique style when he left the Japanese capital and went to study at Nottingham Trent University in the UK. Back in his home country, the designer launched his namesake label in 2014, and three years later won the Tokyo Fashion Award.

The label: The “exploration of materials and shapes” is the founding idea behind the up-and-coming label.

Yohei Ohno’s aesthetic is guided by art, architecture and the use of technical materials.

The result? Minimalist and sculptural silhouettes that offer the perfect balance between artistic demand and modern wearability.

The passion: Yohei Ohno is considered to be one of the most promising Japanese designers, and as well as creating fashion pieces also creates handmade art objects: “I’d like to continue doing this, bit by bit, and give them a longer lifespan than my fashion.”

02 The enormous art installations alone are worth a visit: Comme des Garçons designer Rei Kawakubo had the original concept of “beautiful chaos” in mind when she opened her first Dover Street Market store in London, and it is now expressed alongside sculptures, photographs and other works of contemporary art at the only Japanese outlet of the legendary high fashion department store. Several times a year, the store is redesigned by the labels and designers themselves, with every section looking totally different and disregarding the rule book on conventional interior design. An eclectic mix of Comme des Garçons’ own labels, other luxury brands, up-and-coming designers and streetwear is arranged over seven floors, while the musical backdrop has been produced especially for the store by a New York sound artist. It’s not only fans of modern art and avant-garde fashion that should pay a visit, but also those with a leaning more towards the gastronomical: the chic yet unpretentious Rose Bakery, an import from Paris, has a café on the top floor.

YO H J I YA M A M O T O

06 The designer: He may only be 1.6 metres tall but he is one of Japan’s most prominent fashion designers.

Yohji Yamamoto was raised by his mother and applied to study law as a way to help them both, but he instead took up an apprenticeship at a family-owned tailoring business and eventually went on to study fashion at the famous Bunka Fashion College in Tokyo.

The label: Yohji Yamamoto sees himself as more of a tailor than a maker of fast fashion.

He debuted his first prêt-à-porter collection under his own name in Paris in 1981. As part of the Japanese avant-garde of the 1980s, the “architect among fashion designers” created artfully draped voluminous clothing, thereby producing abstract and asymmetrical silhouettes that disguised the body rather than accentuating it. He bases his preference for black on the fact that his mother always wore black following the death of her husband during the war.

The passion: The Japanese designer started learning karate at the age of 45, and now has a black belt.

CHIKA K I S A DA

10 The designer: Fashion-enthusiast friends passed on the fashion bug to Chika Kisada, a former professional ballerina. Before launching her namesake label in 2014, she established Japanese fashion brand Rekisami. She was presented with the Tokyo Fashion Award in 2017.

The label: Feminine elegance paired with punk attitude: Chika Kisada loves that her creations combine opposites such as rough and smooth materials, or playful and minimalist details. Her designs take inspiration from tulle and tutus and are worn by cosmopolitan women who are always on the move and looking for a new definition of high quality.

The passion: You’d think it would be more likely to see the delicate Japanese designer on the stage than on the catwalk: Chika Kisada has practised ballet since she was a child and received many honours for her performances. Today, her designs reflect her passion for the dance style.

RESTIR

ARTS & SCIENCE

03 When Hiroaki Takashita opened Restir in 1987, he had a clear vision of the perfect clothing store. These days, it’s no longer just about selling clothes for the veteran of the Japanese fashion industry: “We want to inspire our customers from around the world through our take on fashion.”

Anyone that steps foot in the flagship boutique in Tokyo’s upmarket Akasaka district will think they’ve entered a cool museum inside a huge black container. An exclusive selection of luxury brands is showcased over three floors – from renowned designers like Raf Simons, Stella McCartney and Maison Margiela to international newcomers such as Off-White, Palm Angels and Rokh. Collaborations with fashion houses and art galleries make for an ever-changing curation of pieces and a one-of-a-kind shopping environment.

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“I wanted to open a shop that only sold the things I love,” says owner Sonya Park about the idea behind Arts & Science.

“Our lives today are overrun with options. But the real luxury is choosing only those designs that truly suit your tastes and style,” she continues. Her first shop opened in 2003 in Tokyo’s trendy Daikanyama district and the stylist filled it with antique mirrors, chandeliers and vintage pieces she had found in Europe, before expanding her offering with pyjamas and towels she had designed herself. Sonya Park, who was born in Seoul and grew up in Hawaii, now owns seven stores in Tokyo and another four in Kyoto: “We want to make the search for clothing, shoes, jewellery and other beautiful items much easier and far more pleasant. Each Arts & Science shop is a place where consumers can learn in depth about who made the products and where they come from.”

J U N KO S H I M A DA

07 The designer: The lady with the graceful figure and loosely tied silver-haired bun could well be the most French of all Japanese women. Following her studies at the Sujino Gajen Dressmaker Institute in Tokyo and a trip to Paris, the designer moved to the French capital and worked for the Cacharel fashion house.

She then founded her own brand in 1981 and opened her first boutique on rue Étienne Marcel in 1984.

The label: Junko Shimada has a timeless yet extravagant style. Bold prints, oversized jumpers and transparent shirts blend to create her signature avant-garde look.

The passion: Shimada describes herself as “unassuming and humble like any well-behaved Japanese woman, but also independent and spirited like a Parisian Amazon”. The designer values her independence greatly: her label is one of the few that doesn’t hide behind a much larger enterprise.

DRESSED UNDRESSED

11 The designer: Takeshi Kitazawa was 24 years old when the owner of a second hand shop asked whether he wanted to open a new shop with him. Although he had no experience at all of the fashion industry, he said yes and ultimately started designing some of the clothing himself. Once the young Japanese designer had decided he wanted to launch his own label, he spent some time living in London, where he found not only the necessary inspiration but also the courage to move forward with it.

The label: Takeshi Kitazawa has devoted himself to creating minimalist unisex collections, as he has found dividing his fashion into genders and sizes to be too stereotypical for his label.

Opposing concepts like masculine and feminine, traditional and modern or subtle and extravagant go head to head in his creations.

The passion: Evidence of Takeshi Kitazawa’s love of contrasts can also be found in his taste in music. Even here, the designer is somewhat contradictory – he likes both classical music and punk rock.

ISSEY M I YA K E

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The designer: Satoshi Kondo has been a member of the Issey Miyake design team for 13 years. Born in 1984 in Kyoto, he went to the Ueda College of Fashion in Osaka, then designed for the brand’s Pleats Please Issey Miyake line before taking over from Yoshiyuki Miyamae as artistic director of women’s fashion in autumn 2019.

The label: The eponymous founder of the Issey Miyake label reinterpreted traditional Japanese folding techniques and created clothing out of crease-resistant polyester pleats that resembled sculptures. Satoshi Kondo has now catapulted the designs into the future and given the label a fresh new image. During his forward-looking spring/summer 2020 show, he dressed his models both on the catwalk and suspended from the ceiling using parachute-like material. For the finale, brightly coloured pleated dresses floated down onto the models, who then started to dance happily. “I wanted to express the joy of clothes and the joy of movement,” said the designer of the idea behind the performance.

The passion: Satoshi Kondo drew constantly as a child. His mother, an apprentice dressmaker, also created clothing out of paper, and this had a huge influence on her son.

A K I KOA O K I

12 The designer: Being able to approach fashion from different perspectives was one of the reasons why Akiko Aoki signed up at the Joshibi University of Art and Design, a private women’s art school in Tokyo, before moving on to study at Central Saint Martins in London. After returning to Tokyo, she worked for several years as a design assistant and in 2014 launched her own label. Four years later, she was one of the semi-finalists for the LVMH Prize.

The label: For the 33-year-old Japanese designer, fashion is an attitude, so she has made it her goal to change the social role of designers as mere producers of clothes. Deconstructed cuts, experimenting with gaps in the fabric and masculine silhouettes with a feminine twist are characteristic of Aoki’s noteworthy, often surprising creations.

The passion: Scents have a particularly strong significance for the designer, “because all of my memories are linked to very specific smells”.

Photos: Frédérique Dumoulin / Monica Feudi / Kazuya Sudo / PR

D OV E R S T R E E T M A R K E T

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THE Stylemate Issue No 01 | 2020

japan,

I owe my love of Japan to a pack of incense sticks and Richard Chamberlain.

The land of the rising sun also eschews excess in its approach to fragrances. So in the same way a Japanese person typically makes a point of wearing a respiratory mask when they have a cold so as to avoid passing it on to other people, so would they find it unthinkable to poison the air with strong perfume in close quarters with other people.

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Photos: Portrait: Holger Homann / Flakon: Floräiku

I R E C E IVE D S OM E I NCENSE S T IC KS A S A S OU VEN I R F ROM OU R N E IGH B OU R FOL L OWI NG A T R I P T O A SIA . I WA S EIGH T YE A R S OL D AT T H E T I M E AN D T H E Y SE E M ED I N F I N I T ELY PR E C IOU S T O M E . T H EY SM ELT DI F F E R E N T T O AN Y T H I NG I ’D E NC OU N T E R E D UP UN T I L T HAT P OI N T, AN D S O ON T H E WHOL E L I N E N C U PB OA R D WH ERE T H EY WE R E PU T SM E LT T H E SAM E, E NC HAN T I NG AN D EXOT IC.

HELDER SUFFENPLAN is an independent journalist and creative consultant from Berlin, and has had a particular passion for perfumes since he was a child. With his successful 2013 launch of SCENTURY.com – the very first online magazine for perfume storytelling – Helder has become a recognised authority in the global world of fragrance.

STYLE

Several years after receiving the incense sticks, the Shōgun TV series was shown on German TV, and alongside Richard Chamberlain’s character of a shipwrecked sailor from the 17th century, I discovered the reserved island nation of Japan with its different way of living, thinking and feeling. Despite the incredibly awful dubbing and the poor image quality, I was fascinated by the typically Japanese mash-ups of sparseness and opulence, poetry and violence, and by the creative force seen in even the smallest details.

During my design studies, I finally found myself a book of traditional Japanese patterns: cherry blossom, waves and cranes. I particularly liked the miniature maple leaves that looked as though they had been scattered totally at random, but which at the same time appeared in absolute harmony with each other. This book became my source of inspiration for countless projects.

Yes, there is the tradition of burning incense sticks and the international presence of Shiseido as a mainstream perfume brand. But the market has always been particular, demanding refined yet subtle fragrances. Sophistication can even be found in the supermarket: while global shampoo brands sell their products with the same scents almost everywhere in the world, specific fragrances are developed for Japan. It is only in the last few years that Japanese consumers have discovered tentatively more intense and daring fragrances.

Japanese aesthetics have inspired a whole raft of perfumes in recent years.

Ramon Monégal, Dior and Floris have all celebrated the Japanese cherry blossom sakura, and Japanese-born Miya Shinma has opened her own perfume house in Paris.

But no other brand celebrates the theme like Floraïku: the bottles are reminiscent of a Japanese Shinto priest’s headdress and are presented in what resembles a bento box, perfume names like Between Two Trees or The Moon And I sound as if they’ve been taken from a Haiku poem, and my beloved traditional patterns can be found on the

I travelled to Japan for the first time in 2013. The streets of Kyoto, with their age-old shops selling paper, vintage fabrics and tea, felt so familiar it was as if I had come home, for the Japanese were as crazy in their love of detail as I was. It was only later that I realised how often a Westerner like myself can feel like an uncivilised barbarian in this highly sophisticated culture, simply because we don’t know the rules. And rules are important in Japan!

In the Saihō-ji temple, I rediscovered my maple leaf. The temple garden emulated a dream landscape composed of trees and over 100 different types of moss. And at the edge of the pond, under a bare bush, there it was waiting for me: a little red maple leaf on a green cushion of moss.

A symbol of the connection between the greatest refinement and the love of the seemingly incidental, never arising from chance but rather the precise observation of chance and its consequences – that’s Japan for me!

He has been on the jury for events such as The Arts & Olfaction Awards in Los Angeles and the Prix International du Parfumeur Créateur in Paris. As a writer, he combines his passion topic of fragrances with a range of fields such as contemporary art, popular culture, literature, film and geopolitics.

beautifully decorated bottle lids. These lids can then be turned into a travel bottle in the blink of an eye thanks to the vial included, another very Japanese feature: transforming an object into something else in just a few movements. Think rice paper screens that can be used to divide a room according to your needs.

My absolute favourite in this range is In The Rain, which has captured my heart with its clear bergamot, cedar and woody musk notes. It reminds me of the gentle spring rainfall that comes down on the pond in the Saihō-ji moss garden – and a bit of Richard Chamberlain. scentury.com

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STYLE

record-breaker An auction often gives rise to dramatic headlines, with stories of record prices fascinating not just collectors, auctioneers and buyers, but the wider public as well.

The im Kinsky auction house currently holds 27 world records, as well as offering a range of prestigious services.

In 1993, five art dealers, each of them a recognised expert in paintings, antiques and art nouveau, founded the Wiener Kunst Auktionen (Vienna Art Auctions), which became the im Kinsky auction house in 2000 following its relocation. Between 2010 and 2018, Michael Kovacek and Dr Ernst Ploil ran the company as managing partners, but after 25 successful years, the end of 2017 saw a change of ownership: Christoph la Garde took over a majority share in the company and its management.

From the very beginning, im Kinsky has set new standards in terms of quality, research and personal service, and established itself as one of the leading auction houses in the German-speaking world. The regular offering is made up of six categories: first of all, art by the Old Masters, paintings from the 19th century, classic modernism and contemporary art. There are also antiques, with a focus on glass, porcelain and silver, covering a diverse range of arts and crafts across all artistic periods. And finally, there are art nouveau pieces predominantly from the Wiener Werkstätte (Vienna Workshop), and it is in this category that the auction house has undoubtedly positioned itself as a top name.

O L D M A S T E R S , N EW R E C O R D S In addition to the 27 world records already mentioned for artists such as Richard Gerstl, Kolo Moser, Max Oppenheimer and Franz Sedlacek, im Kinsky has also set 39 Austrian records for works by Gustav Klimt and Egon Schiele. The Prozession oil painting by Egon Schiele was auctioned off at im Kinsky in 1998 for €4,240,000; before that, a hammer price of €3,500,000 was the record for a painting on the Austrian market. Since then, the auction house has guaranteed top prices and record results, for both Austrian and international artists.

The opposite of sensational auctions are private sales: “The ‘non-public’ nature is what makes private sales so interesting. It offers the chance to carry out a sale invisibly and discreetly yet still taking advantage

of the brand confidence inspired by an auction house. The importance of private sales for auction houses has shot up over the past few years,” says managing director and owner Christoph la Garde. Customers of im Kinsky appreciate its professional attitude and discretion, and benefit from global and close access to private and institutional collectors and collections.

Discretion is also part of Monika Uzmann’s job as a broker at im Kinsky. “In my role as broker, I give my name to the nameless.

The fascination that art inspires combined with my clients’ drive derived from their passion for collecting ignites a spark in me, and has me shaking with nerves for them and with them during the auctions.”

It is this passion that, even if it doesn’t

make you shake, will still have you joining in the excitement, and turns every record price into a front-page story.

U P C O M I N G AU C T I O N 12–13 May 2020 Old Masters – Paintings from the 19th century – Antiques – Art nouveau & Design imkinsky.com

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YOUR VISIT, A THOUSAND YEARS IN THE MAKING Allow us to transport you for a moment. You’ve just touched down in Tokyo with Japan’s largest 5-Star airline*. You’ve arrived and are bursting at the prospect. The sights, sounds, mix of ancient tradition, cool innovation, mouth-watering food and spellbinding aromas. You could pinch yourself.

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