LO NDO LO NDO N NE N W NEYO W RYOR K MI K LAN MI LAN MU N MU I CN HI CMAN H MAN C H ECST H EEST R EGRLASG G LASG OW OW
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THEMACALLAN.COM P L E A S E S AV O U R R E S P O N S I B LY
21/09/2015 13:09
issue no.
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COVER STORY: Jumbo WilD
NO V E M B E R 2 0 1 5
contents
Patagonia outdoor clothing has joined forces with conservationists and extreme sports enthusiasts in the short film Jumbo Wild
p16
on the cover 22
Raising the Bar As the nights grow longer, our man-about-town Nick Savage clubs his way through the capital to find its best new venues
25
A Class Act The City Magazine meets Hugh Jackman as he swaps claws for swords in his latest role as the fearsome Blackbeard
60
Style Stalwarts Mr. Porter unveils The World’s Best Shoes campaign, with over 90 brands featured on the site across 13 categories
66
Brunello Cucinelli Josh Sims talks family, style and ethics with the moral compass of Italian high-fashion
74
On Top of the World Camilla Davies meets the British man Sir Ranulph Fiennes calls the greatest Alpine climber of his generation, the aptly named Kenton Cool
82
Car Candy The City Magazine gets its hands on three new motors making waves across the continent
100 Taste the Difference Europe’s top chefs convene in Switzerland to go tête-àtête at The Dolder Grand
88
46
REGULARS
16 18
38 42
52 70
90 94
48
66
104
City Life: The Edit The commodities and consumables raising our interest rates this month The Social The City Magazine gets a lively taste for Spitalfields’ brand new industrial Italian kitchen, Canto Corvino Collection: Shape Shifter Following the release of the newest Clé de Cartier, we take a closer look at the brand’s most ergonomic model Written in the Stars As her family’s company celebrates its 120th birthday, Nadja Swarovski relives some of the brand’s key designs Style: Fashion: measure for measure A weekend away in Shakespeare Country requires tailoring of the most raffish kind Grooming: Hair to Stay Products designed to help you keep your hair on Out of Office: Tech Talk Intricate 4K HDTVs, electronic surfboards and watches that weigh an ounce: the devil’s in the detail Arts & Interiors: Frances Stark We introduce another artist that should appear on your agenda Travel: Go tell it on the mountain A luxurious train journey through the Canadian Rockies is an experience you’ll never forget, writes James Lawrence
Homes & Property
16
160
90
South Quay Plaza The Berkeley Homes venture is set to become the UK’s tallest residential scheme
issue no.
97
NO V E M B E R 2 0 1 5
Contributors
E d i t o r - in-Chi ef Lesley Ellwood
E d i tor Richard Brown
D E P UT Y Editor tiffany eastland
M o t o r i n g Editor Matthew Carter
C o l l ect i on Editor Annabel Harrison
S ta f f Writer MELISSA EMERSON
E d i t o r i al int ern
Dominic Nicholls
Jack Watkins
Jennifer Mason
Dominic has shot a wealth
Jack is a freelance journalist
Jennifer started out in luxury
of fashion, advertising and
who has been published in The
fashion marketing and has since
celebrities – Anthony Hopkins
Independent, The Guardian and
worked as a writer in the UK and
and Rod Stewart to name drop
The Daily Telegraph. Ahead of
Dubai, specialising in motoring,
a few. This month, during a
a National Maritime Museum
travel, lifestyle and local
weekend away in Shakespeare
exhibition on Samuel Pepys,
features. On page 78, Jennifer
Country, Dominic captures
he delves into the life of the
jets to Monaco (by helicopter
tailored looks that would
celebrated writer and bon viveur
via Nice) to enjoy the festivities
stand up to the Bard’s exacting
to find the man behind the
on the final day of the
standards (p. 52).
diaries (p. 31).
Monaco Yacht Show.
david taylor
Se n i o r Des ign er LISA WADE
B RAND C ONS ISTEN CY Laddawan Juhong
Ge ne r a l Manag er Fiona Fenwick
P r o duc tion Hugo Wheatley Oscar Viney Alice Ford Jamie Steele
P r oper t y D irec tor Samantha Ratcliffe
E x ecu t i ve D irector Sophie Roberts
M a n a g i n g D ir ector Eren Ellwood Wool Milano blazer, £175, Jaeger, jaeger.co.uk
Portrait of Samuel Pepys (1633-1703), Sir Godfrey Kneller, 1689, National Maritime Museum, London, rmg.co.uk
Intrecciato leather loafers, £495, Bottega Veneta, net-a-porter.com
Published by
RUNWILD MEDIA GROUP
One Canada Square, Canary Wharf, London, E14 5AX T: 020 7987 4320 rwmg.co.uk
Josephine O’Donoghue
Josh Sims
Mark Westall
Based in the Cotswolds, Josephine
Josh is a freelance writer
Mark is editor-in-chief of online
has worked as a writer and editor
contributing to the likes of
art and culture magazine FAD,
for seven years, specialising in
The Financial Times, The Times,
creative director of FAD Agency
Members of the Professional Publishers Association
lifestyle, travel, culture and local
Wallpaper, The National and The
and our regular source of
features. For our November issue,
Rake. For The City Magazine, Josh
information about interesting
she looks at the rich history and
talks to Italian fashion magnate
artists. Turn to page 94 to find
responsibility for unsolicited
innovative future of luxury leather
and passionate philanthropist
out more about Californian artist
submissions, manuscripts and
brand Belstaff (p. 62).
Brunello Cucinelli about his
and poet Frances Stark’s deeply
brand and the importance of
personal and open body of work.
Runwild Media Ltd. cannot accept
photographs. While every care is taken, prices and details are subject to change and Runwild Media Ltd. take no responsibility for omissions or errors.
ethics in fashion (p. 66).
We reserve the right to publish and edit any letters. All rights reserved. Subscriptions A free online subscription service is available for The City Magazine. Visit the subscriptions page
Elspeth Jacket, £1,550, Belstaff, belstaff.co.uk
Grey unstructured herringbone blazer, £2,230, Brunello Cucinelli, mrporter.com
Poster for ‘Put a Song in Your Thing’, 2011 performance, Frances Stark, francesstark.com
on our website: rwmg.co.uk/subscribe
Untitled-1 1
20/10/2015 12:27
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issue no.
NO V E M B E R 2 0 1 5
f r o m t h e E D I TOR
I
n a month that took on a decidedly Canadian tinge – the media lusted over the country’s newly elected leftie PM and Justin Bieber acquired the taste for a pint in Holborn’s The Square Pig and Pen – we take our cover image from that purveyor of ethical outerwear Patagonia.
Shot deep in the wilds of British Columbia, the picture captures the beauty of Jumbo
Valley, a cherished part of alpine backcountry that’s under threat from being turned into a year-round ski resort. Aboriginal Canadians, conservationists and skiers have been fighting the proposed large-scale development “The trek to Everest
for more than two decades. Patagonia has now thrown
base camp is wonderful,
its weight behind the campaign. You can too by signing
it should really be on
the petition at keepitwild.ca (p. 16). To discover more about the type of landscape that’s
everyone’s to-do list”
Kenton Cool, p. 74.
in danger, turn to page 104, where James Lawrence takes a train from Vancouver to Banff, retracing the historic
Canadian Pacific Railway route. Without WiFi, it was the country’s stunning scenery and captivating wildlife that charmed James during the unforgettable trip. From one mountain to another ; Kenton Cool (real name, we promise), has climbed Mount Everest more times than any other Brit. He was the first person in history to reach that mountain’s three peaks in one climb, and has been described by Sir Ranulph Fiennes as the greatest alpine climber of his generation. “The mountains are a wild place,” says Cool. “No matter how great we think we are as a human race we will never tame them.” But we can save them. Start by signing the Patagonia petition.
Richard brown, editor
Other titles within the RWMG portfolio
On the cover Image by Christian Pondella, courtesy of Patagonia. Read about Patagonia’s ‘Wild Jumbo’ campaign on page 16.
A website. A mindset. A lif est yle.
w w w.luxurylo ndon. c o .uk
SAY IT WITH HARRODS
Corporate Service at Harrods specialises in celebrating, motivating and impressing the people involved in your
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culinary delights from the world’s specialist artisan suppliers. Contact corporate.service@harrods.com or
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17/09/2015 10:47
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THE LATEST ISSUE OF THE CITY MAGAZINE DELIVERED TO YOUR DESK FOR FREE EMAIL YOUR NAME, ADDRESS & the company you work for to citydesk@rwmg.co.uk
City Life
NOVEMBER 2015
STAR OF SHAD THAMES Renowned French restaurant Le Pont de la Tour REOPENS FOR BUSINESS Employ Russell Sage Studio – creators of Dishoom, the new Quaglino’s and a string of Jason Atherton restaurants – to refurbish one of London’s most-loved eateries, then bring in Frederick Forster, previously head chef at Shoreditch hotspot Boundary, and what d’ya get? A gloriously lavish dining space with a suitably sumptuous, French-leaning menu to match, that’s what. Welcome to the newly reopened Le Pont de la Tour, where the food is excellent and the star of the show might just be the sleek and sexy cruise-liner-like bar that greets guests as they enter. Live music enhances the experience every Thursday to Saturday. Rousing views of Tower Bridge are provided all year round. 36d Shad Thames, SE1, lepontdelatour.co.uk
the wish list
Ascot sunglasses, £245, Barton Perreira, mrporter.com
the BOOK QUIETER QUARTERS Six years ago, a group of friends created an online project to inspire their own homebuilding. The result? Cabin Porn – a hugely popular Tumblr site, and now a hardcover book showcasing breathtaking photography of rural escapes for those in search of a different kind of existence. ‘Cabin Porn’, £13, Particular Books, amazon.co.uk
t i d e e th
Wool bomber jacket, £425, Shinola + Golden Bear, shinola.co.uk
ife] [City L
mab onsu c d n nth es a oditi es this mo m m o The c erest rat nt our i
les ra
Ranger Moc II boots, £185, Bass Weejuns, stylonomy.co.uk
ising
Cashmere Donegal jumper, £350, Johnstons of Elgin, johnstoncashmere.com Cotton-canvas backpack, £195, Club Monaco, mrporter.com
the MOVEMENT
JUMBO WILD
Outdoor clothing brand, Patagonia, has joined conservationists, backcountry skiers and snowboarders in the fight against a proposed large-scale ski resort deep in the Purcell Mountains of British Columbia. In conjunction with Sweetgrass Productions, Patagonia has captured this story in a short film entitled Jumbo Wild. The Jumbo Glacier Resort is a year-round ski resort that was first proposed 24 years ago, and despite overwhelming opposition, has continued to move forward. Jumbo Wild is yet another attempt to preserve 6,000 hectares and four glaciers for future generations. keepitwild.ca
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THE CITY MAGAZINE | November 2015
Small Architecture Now!, £23.79, Taschen, amazon.co.uk
Leather football, £130, Shinola, shinola.co.uk
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| news |
the kit
the photography
YOU BET YOUR BOOTS
capturing cuba
Serious piste and all-mountain skiers take note, the 2016 Atomic Redster Pro 120 ski boots (bottom left) boast added 4mm replaceable grip pads for good traction and longer life. Memory Fit Technology offers a completely personalised shell, cuff and liner in minutes, while the ultra-stiff Carbon Spine allows you to lay the power down and carve precise, aggressive turns. Find them at Hawx Magna ellis-brigham.com. Waymaker Carbon 120, £330
130, £320
Redster Pro 120, £400
the toy
On New Year’s Eve 1958, Burt Glinn, a young Magnum photographer, flew to Cuba where corrupt Cuban dictator, Fulgencio Batista, was rumoured to be preparing to flee for his life. Glinn’s most iconic work, along with unseen photographs that capture the Cuban Revolution as it unfolds can be viewed in Cuba, 1959: Photographs by Burt Glinn, alongside an exhibition to coincide with the book release. The exhibition will be held at Serena Morton II, 345 Ladbroke Grove, from 28 October to 20 November 2015. serenamorton.com; ‘Cuba 1959: Photographs by Burt Glinn’, £40, published 31 October 2015 by Reel Art Press, reelartpress.com
all aboard
Skipper, step aside and make way for a revolutionary concept in the power boat market. Specifically designed to take the hassle out of launching and retrieving a boat, this quirky Kiwi company has been the official marine partner of the All Blacks since 2010. The super smart Sealegs system consists of motorised, retractable and steerable wheels that offer the ease of driving down a boat ramp or beach and straight into water – no occupant has to touch water again. sealegsrecreational.com Image courtesy of Janez Martincic
© Burt Glinn / Magnum
the architecture
Move Mountains
OFIS architects has collaborated with a group of students from the Harvard University Graduate School of Design, constructing a shelter for climbers of Slovenia’s Skuta Mountain. Engineers from AKT II were called upon to ensure the structure would withstand the challenges presented by the site, including strong winds, heavy snowfall, and treacherous landslides. The space has been programmatically divided into three modules which feature robust, triple-glazed windows offering breath-taking panoramic views of the valley and adjacent mountain range. ofis-a.si
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© Burt Glinn / Magnum
THE CITY MAGAZINE | November 2015
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saturday sessions Enjoy unlimited drinks including prosecco and mimosas for £15 when you book in for The Botanist’s bottomless brunch on Saturdays between 10am and 5pm. Starters like soft shell crab benedict with jalapeno hollandaise and a chorizo and spring onion hash with double fried eggs lead into heartier mains – and are best enjoyed with the live music on offer from 1-4pm. Playing in November are saxophonist Stevie Jones and guitarist Jak Chantler, before a DJ takes over from 6pm. Broadgate Circle, EC2M, broadgate. thebotanistlondon.com
l a i c o s city
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the ZES WITH Y CRA ished r u CULINAR o n nd icure hes a he ep aunc t l t s ING e t KEEP e’s La re mil squa
once upon a christmas at harrods Christmas celebrations officially begin this month at Harrods when its colourful puppet and performer themed Christmas windows are revealed on 6 November. The festivities will hopefully inspire you to get started on that unavoidable Christmas shopping. The store’s gift guide offers plenty of foodie products, while for those who like to get handy in the kitchen there’s the Sage by Heston Blumenthal ice-cream maker, a Kai Wasabi chef ’s knife and Mill & Mortar 20-spice chest on offer. Traditional gifts range from a luxury nutcracker to whisky, Champagne and truffle gift sets, while the food and drink hampers, varying in size, are the ones to really impress someone with. And not forgetting, a little assistance from the expert gift wrapping and concierge services could never go amiss. For something more personal, the Tea Counter offers custom blended tea, with the option to have your preferences filed for future visits. Alternatively, take advantage of the services of an expert meat carver, who will accompany and serve at your dinner party or work event on the purchase of a whole Ibérico ham from the Food Hall. harrods.com
Get your skates on at Broadgate Ice Rink London’s longest running outdoor ice rink returns to the City this month, along with a brand new rinkside bar. Shelter in the cosy cabin or watch all the icy action from the safety of the heated outdoor terrace as you enjoy a warming ‘Hot Choctail’ and indulgent cheese or chocolate fondue. With new drinking and dining hub Broadgate Circle just around the corner, why not make a day of it with friends and family, or arrange a festive get-together with colleagues? The rink will be open from Monday 16 November and close on 25 February 2016 so there’s plenty of time to brush up on your skating skills. Tickets are now available at broadgate.co.uk/ice
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| news |
farm food delivery Exclusive to London, Farmdrop delivers an online farmer’s market to your door. Using technology to cut out the supermarket middlemen, the site connects shoppers directly with more than 50 local farmers and food producers. The City Magazine liked the results. Choose from the wide range of products individually or opt for pre-selected packages such as the barbecue meat bundle. Free delivery on orders over £25, farmdrop.co.uk
THAI TWIST
For a brunch without eggs benedict in sight, try Busaba Eathai’s authentic dishes like pandan pancakes – infused with coconut milk and topped with palm sugar caramel – and the spicy Busaba Bloody Mary. 11am-3pm at weekends, 36 Bethnal Green Road, E1, busaba.com
RESTAURANT REVIEW
An industrial AFFAIR
W
e started out in the large open bar area on our evening at the newly opened Canto Corvino – meaning song of the raven – chatting to head barman Junior about east London’s taste in cocktails. So far, less sugary varieties with more refreshing ingredients like cucumber, kiwi and lime juice have been the bestsellers, and are something he is adapting his recipes to after previously serving west London’s sweet tooth. From the team behind Italian eatery Manicomio, which has outposts in Chelsea and St Paul’s, the restaurant sits in Spitalfields, close to Liverpool Street Station. The area’s industrial past informs much of the interior design. The project was seen through the whole way – which we were told can be rare – by awardwinning B3 Designers, also responsible for the interiors of Michelin-starred Indian restaurant Gymkhana and Charlotte Street’s Roka and Bubbledogs. Although there is some booth seating
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Words: MELISSA EMERSON
in the bar area, a dark steel frame with interspersed mottle glass panels marks a separation from the larger dining area. The 140-cover restaurant, with a definite hint of barbecue in the air thanks to the open kitchen and Josper grill, was impressively lively for a Tuesday evening. The brunch menu has also been bringing in 100 plus guests at weekends – I’ve already decided I’ll be ordering the lemon and ricotta pancakes when I come back for this, but first there was dinner to tackle. We opted for a mix of dishes from the seven small sections of the menu, and first up was a plateful of thickly sliced Bresaola punta d’anca, lamb ribs with smoked aubergines and sesame. The blu di bufala salad with purple figs, caught just at the end of their season, also deserves a mention if you’re a cheese aficionado, as it goes well with everything. Don’t be too tempted to fill up on the focaccia in between plates – it’s too easy to get charmed by the more-thana-decade-old recipe.
The wine list, with its charming sketches, helpfully lists the region and grape of each wine you order, and after my guest and I received a top-up of Prosecco and Chianti – our glasses being empty was rightfully declared a tragedy – we moved into what was the highlight for me, the pumpkin cannelloni with walnuts and smoked provola. The crispy, crunch texture beat any kind of pasta bake I ever tasted. We admittedly fought over the last piece, before the arrival of the pork T-bone caused a diversion and I triumphed. Overall, the time it took for each dish to arrive could do with a little improvement but we’d rather it be a victim of its own success and learn to cope with the numbers than the food not be the high standard that it was. With the combination of sharing dishes on offer, and the fact that the restaurant has a private, 24-seat dining room downstairs, Canto Corvino is one to keep in mind for any seasonal celebrations. 21 Artillery Lane, E1, cantocorvino.co.uk
THE CITY MAGAZINE | November 2015
19
RAISE A GLASS During the 1800s, Parisian innovators of science, art and entertainment were celebrating their triumphs with a glass of cognac. Courvoisier has revisited the glamour of the Belle Époque with the launch of a new expression words: Hannah Lemon
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THE CITY MAGAZINE | November 2015
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| PROMOTION |
H
eritage brands often revisit their rich histories in order to showcase exquisite craftsmanship. Over the last few years, Jaguar has celebrated 80 years of sports cars, Cartier has honoured a century of the panther and Smythson has marked more than 120 years of luxury stationery. Next in line is Courvoisier; two centuries have passed since the luxury cognac brand’s inception. Founded by the mayor of Bercy, Louis Gallois, and Emmanuel Courvoisier in 1809, the business flourished and it was subsequently named official supplier to Emperor Napoleon III’s Imperial Court. The reputation of Courvoisier continued to blossom and it became synonymous with the decadence of the Parisian Golden Age, a time that has provided inspiration for the company’s glamorous new redesign.
Courvoisier became synonymous with the decadence of the Parisian Golden Age Scientific innovations, technological breakthroughs and the artistic elite transformed this era into a celebration of optimism, which suited the ethos of Courvoisier. The Lumière brothers pioneered cinema; the term haute couture was coined; cabaret came to the Moulin Rouge; Folies Bergère prospered with the advent of electricity; and the Renault brothers and André Citroën spearheaded the rise of the French automobile industry. In 1889, the Eiffel Tower was built for the World’s Fair and became a symbol of the joie de vivre and rich cultural expansion of the Belle Époque. At the opening of this landmark, guests from around the world came together in celebration, including inventor Thomas Edison, actress Sarah Bernhardt, the Prince of Wales and Gustave Eiffel himself. And the tipple of choice for such an illustrious occasion? You guessed it – Courvoisier. Now, more than a century later, the cognac brand has revisited the Eiffel Tower to commemorate this exciting era with the launch of the limited-edition Célébration Sensorielle gift sets. Taking cognac lovers on an aromatic expedition through Paris, they feature one of two expressions: the Courvoisier Initiale Extra, which combines flavours of old port wine with truffle and hot fruitcake, and the Courvoisier Initiale XO, which harmonises vanilla and crème brûlée notes with candied orange and iris flower. The former comes with two scented candles and the latter with two scented cones, both of which have been crafted to complement and enhance the notes of the cognac and act as an unforgettable sensory experience. Courvoisier called on scent technician Ericka Duffy and perfumer Euan McCall to create fragrances that capture 24 hours in Belle Époque Paris: Brise de Vincennes (the breeze from Vincennes) and Nuit Débordante (heady night). Each has in its heartnote a cognac accord that binds the concept back to Courvoisier. “It was extremely important to not only capture the spirit of moments of the Belle Époque era,”
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explains Duffy “but also to pay respect to the cognac itself.” Thanks to in-depth research around the period, Duffy managed to capture historical elements of smell and taste to complement the cognac samples. “For the daytime scent, for example, we looked at the rise of café culture, expositions, world fairs and more. We looked at the new aromas that would have been infusing the era – such as coffee beans, tobacco, exotic flowers and leather luggage.” The scent draws on all the aromas that made Paris so charming in the daytime, when locals would meet in outdoor cafés to sip cognac and watch the world go by. With dusk descending, the second fragrance conjures up the glamour and intrigue of the city after dark. “For the nighttime scent, we looked at aromas of tobacco, candied orange and patchouli.” Set on making the redesign as authentic as possible, Courvoisier’s creative team undertook immersive visits to Paris in order to help shape the brand’s new direction. Reflective of the creativity of the Parisian Golden Age, the team uncovered design inspiration throughout the city. Details taken from architecture of the era, including the unique steel structure of the Eiffel Tower, are gracefully intertwined to produce striking packaging. It doesn’t stop there. As part of Courvoisier’s transformation, the brand is launching signature cocktails and a bespoke tour through Paris. The latter takes guests past some of the French capital’s most famous landmarks, including the Pont Alexandre III, the Lavirotte building and SaintGermain-des-Prés. It provides cognac enthusiasts with the chance to explore the influential art, architecture, innovation and science of the late 1800s, as well as Courvoisier’s role during the period. But if a trip to Paris is not on your agenda this festive season, you will be just as contented with a journey to somewhere equally glamorous – Courvoisier’s Golden Age. A swig of cognac and a scent of Paris is all it takes. Célébration Sensorielle Initiale Extra, RSP £397, is available at Harrods, Harvey Nichols and Hedonism. Célébration Sensorielle XO, RSP £190, is available at Harvey Nichols and Hedonism. Pricing will vary, check with retailer for details.
THE CITY MAGAZINE | November 2015
21
| lifestyle |
BON VIVEUR
Our man-about-town, Innerplace’s Nick Savage, gives you the insider lowdown on London’s most hedonistic haunts
O
queens of clubs a big chandelier hanging in the vestibule resembling a gramophone horn and there’s similar pendant lighting above the main dancefloor– laid out in a grid-like pattern so it appears as if an army of trumpeters are playing into the club. Overseen by Grammy Award-winning producer Dallas Austin, you can bet that there’s a powerful sound system – in this case from D&B Audio Teknik.
ver the past decade, nearly half of Britain’s nightclubs have closed, leading certain sectors of the media to proclaim the death knell of the industry. Whilst it is true that Britons might be getting their kicks in other ways, anyone who takes a stroll through Mayfair late on a Thursday evening will see that nightlife in the United Kingdom is in rude health, if a bit trimmer than before. The following have been the biggest launches of 2015, the majority of which opened this autumn.
Drama Drama is a sensory explosion – stepping across its threshold is like walking into a kaleidoscope. Take the bathrooms, for instance, clad in scratch-and-sniff wallpaper. Or the bar, over which performers in nylon throw shapes on an ersatz mezzanine stage. One alcove resembles the Milk Bar from A Clockwork Orange, the next might be aquamarine blue, and the next a brilliant carmine red – each one with edgy artwork displayed in a glass case. Before you reach the end of the dancefloor you may be blasted by CO2 or a confetti cannon. If you were, you’d just be able to make out the Gold Room though the haze, in which shiny golden surfaces glimmer in the half light and VIPs kick back with gilded bottles of Ace of Spades. Launched by Nick House (Mahiki, Whisky Mist), and Tom Berg and Ryan Bish (Cirque le Soir) just off Park Lane, this is their most grown-up project to date. Tape LONDON Tape London is one of the most innovative venues to arrive on the scene this autumn. It comprises a private members’ club and recording studio (Little Tape) complete with restaurant, guitars and a Baby Grand piano, as well as some nice little artefacts such as McCartney’s contract for Live or Let Die, Cobain’s vest and a poem penned by Presley. Guests entering Tape London from Hanover Square will notice
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Charlie Project and Toy Room have established themselves as heavy hitters in London’s club scene and Charlie, launched by the same people, looks likely to do the same. Located on Berkeley Street, the nightclub draws inspiration from silent film maven Charlie Chaplin, with an array of Warhol-esque pop art adorning the walls depicting icons like Prince Charles, Ray Charles, Charlie Sheen and Charlie Brown. You may have noticed a trend. The club smacks of 1970s glamour, with discofriendly black and white flooring, slick spearmint green and navy blue button back banquettes, wavy leather wall panelling, and top-of-the-line lighting. Innerplace Bonbonniere Nothing says is London’s personal decadence like a Fabergé egg, lifestyle concierge. Membership and it just so happens to be the provides complimentary access totem at Joe Fournier’s Orchard to the finest nightclubs, the best restaurants and top private members’ Street club Bonbonniere, clubs. Innerplace also offers priority which launched earlier in the bookings, VIP invitations and year and has already proven insider updates on the a must-hit. The DJ booth is set latest openings. innerplace.co.uk
lead images, l-r: Drama; Bonbonniere above, from top: Drama; Charlie; Tape London
in a giant egg, there’s an array of glass cases along the walls displaying the ornate ovoids, and when the dynamic LED lighting system along the ceiling is lit up, the room is crosshatched in the Russian Imperial manner. Also, anyone interested in enjoying actual eggs can repair upstairs to Bonbonniere’s sister restaurant, Hotel Chantelle, which is open until 3am.
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Wireless speakers that make a statement
| interview | FEATURE |
a class act
As he transforms from mutant to mutineer for his latest role, the ever-affable Hugh Jackman talks musicals, muscles and how he will always be a family man Words: Karen Anne Overton
Imagery courtesy of Montblanc, montblanc.com
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from left Imagery courtesy of Montblanc; Jackman with Montblanc CEO Jérôme Lambert at a gala dinner in Hong Kong; Imagery courtesy of Montblanc
“I’m very disciplined and I will always put the work in that I feel is
necessary to look the part”
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“S
hall we make a new rule of life from tonight: Always try to be a little kinder than is necessary?” wrote the late, great JM Barrie in The Little White Bird, the first of his novels to mention a mischievous and magical boy named Peter Pan. It is delicious irony then that Hugh Jackman, aka the nicest man on Earth, stars as nefarious swashbuckler Captain Blackbeard in the fantasy Pan, a rich and colourful reimagining of Peter’s beginnings. “I was really excited about Pan,” says Jackman, who is no stranger to the fantasy genre, having made the X-Men’s Wolverine his own. “This is the prequel to Peter Pan and it’s a very smart film with a lot of heart and of course it takes place in Neverland. Joe Wright is a fabulous English director who’s done films like Anna Karenina and Atonement, and he has a brilliant visual sense. He’s a great storyteller.” Though Pan is more light-hearted and family-oriented than Wright’s previous offerings – Hanna, for example, features Saoirse Ronan as a vicious, cold child assassin – his flair for sumptuous settings and long tracking shots (with the help of his go-to cinematographer, Seamus McGarvey) gives Pan the edge over the usual family-friendly fare. Starring fellow Aussie Levi Miller as the impish young runaway who finds himself transported to the fantastical Neverland, the plot is unusual in that Pan is actually befriended by future foe Captain Hook (known only as James Hook at this point) in a bid to usurp the evil Blackbeard. “My character is drawn from one line in the original book by JM Barrie that mentions that Hook once worked as a boatswain for Blackbeard,” explains
Jackman. “This is the kind of dastardly dashing villain that you revel in playing. Blackbeard is a larger-than-life kind of pirate who loves the sound of his own voice and enjoys being his wicked self.” Given the physical demands of playing Wolverine, one might imagine there is little that could faze Jackman, but even he was surprised by how strenuous life on the high seas was. “I get to do plenty of sword fighting and I can tell you that it’s as much of a physical workout as you’re ever going to get when you’re training to do swordfights,” he says. “You have a lot more respect for fencers and their athleticism when you’ve been through a film like this!” Jackman is almost unrecognisable as Blackbeard, pale and receding with bloodshot eyes and rotten teeth, a million miles away from his usual look, and the effect is incredibly menacing. Even more impressive though are the now confirmed rumours that he will return to super mutant form in X-Men: Apocalypse as the ripped and immortal Wolverine, if only in a cameo role. It’s a role which requires a strict diet and intense training six days a week – a feat of endurance for anyone, but especially when you remember that Jackman is 46, an age at which most of his peers consider a round of golf to be a rigorous workout. While admitting to not being thrilled at the prospect, the rewards ultimately outweigh the sacrifices. He jokes: “As I’ve gotten older, it starts to get boring after a few months of training and eating a million chicken breasts. But I’m very disciplined and I will always put the work in that I feel is necessary to look the part and be convincing to audiences. That’s your duty as an actor.” One of the joys of Jackman as a performer is his ability to transform himself into these big, bold men who are larger-than-life and charismatic,
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| interview |
“I grew up falling in love with musical theatre and once you have that in your blood you love playing roles which have this theatrical quality. It’s a chance to let yourself go completely and step into these fantastic characters who transport you and the audience into a different reality. I love the sense of spectacle and wonder of all that.” A fantastic example of this was his turn as Jean Valjean in the musical masterpiece Les Misérables, a role which earnt him an Academy Award nomination, a Golden Globe win and where his extensive theatre experience finally had a chance to shine on the big screen. But in reality, the actor says he couldn’t be further from these fantasy characters. “I’m lucky that I’m a fairly boring person in real life,” he smiles. “When I’m not working, I’m with my family. That’s my life.” Jackman’s familial priorities and grounded nature are rooted in a childhood where he learned the importance of respect and chivalry from his father. His mother leaving Australia to return to England, where they were both originally from, naturally had a great effect on Jackman, for whom being a good husband and father is paramount. “I’ve always valued the notion of being a gentleman,” he says. “My father is a very proper Englishman and he taught me the value of respect and having a sense of honour.” Jackman has been married to former actress Deborra-Lee Furness for 19 years. The couple have two adopted children – Oscar, 14, and Ava, nine – and have said in the past their strict rule of never spending more than two weeks apart is the secret to their successful relationship. While so committed to his wife offscreen, his roles frequently see him filling the shoes of the ladies’ man: as Wolverine
we’ve seen him romp with Dr Jean Grey, played by Dutch stunner Famke Janssen, in the original X-Men franchise and Lynn Collins (better known as playing a Martian warrior princess in sci-fi extravaganza John Carter) as love interest Kayla Silverfox in X-Men Origins: Wolverine. Pan too is not without its lovely leading ladies, though it is unlikely any of them will be eloping with Captain Blackbeard. Rooney Mara stars as Tiger Lily and supermodel Cara Delevingne, who recently made her acting debut in indie romantic drama Paper Towns – a performance for which she was highly praised, plays an ethereal mermaid. It is a testament to the kind of man Jackman is that after all his phenomenal success he refuses to get caught up in the more shallow aspects of fame. “I’ve never wanted to be the biggest star on Earth,” he says. “I love acting and I’m interested in the work and the kind of stories I’m able to help bring to audiences.” It shows: those stories have each given Jackman a chance to shine. He has starred in every single one of the X-Men franchise films; he is one of the most accomplished and respected theatre actors, having won two Tony Awards; and is incredibly popular among his Hollywood peers – his co-star Rooney Mara remarked that “he’s one of the nicest people I’ve ever met in my entire life”. Ultimately, though, Jackman would say his greatest role is as a father: “It’s better to tell your kids that they are driving you crazy and being impossible than to yell at them. Repressing the urge to yell at your kids when they’re driving you crazy – that’s where my greatest acting skills come into play!” Hugh Jackman stars in Montblanc’s new advertising campaign and has been a Montblanc ambassador since 2014; ‘Pan’ is in cinemas now.
CLOCKWISE FROM BOTTOM LEFT Jackman in X-Men, © 2009 Marvel Characters, Inc. and © 2009 Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation. All rights reserved; New York screening of The Wolverine, 2013; Jackman at a Montblanc gala dinner, 2015; Jackman with Montblanc CEO Jérôme Lambert
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CAPE COD The new bathroom series by Philippe Starck. info@uk.duravit.com www.duravit.co.uk
| feature |
MAN ABOUT
TOWN Naval mastermind, dedicated dandy and committed bon viveur, Samuel Pepys was much more than a dexterous diarist. A new exhibition at the National Maritime Museum pays homage to one of England’s most significant sons WORDS: Jack watkins
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W
hen Samuel Pepys posed for the artist John Hayls in 1666, he complained that “looking over my shoulder to make the posture” for the portrait almost broke his neck. By the standards of the time, the finished work had to be accounted a good one, capturing something of the restless curiosity of Pepys at the age of thirty-three, where later ones simply suggested a rather jowelly middle-aged figure. In reality, Pepys wasn’t strikingly good-looking. “A low squat man” was one description. Standing at 5ft 1 he was short, though, in an age when 5ft 6 was thought tall, perhaps not abnormally so. But if the smooth-cheeked visage in most of the images looks like just another well-to-do, periwigged Stuart gentleman, there was nothing dull or conventional about Pepys’ approach to life. A new exhibition at the National Maritime Gallery, the largest ever mounted on him, with over 200 objects from national and
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international museums, galleries and private collections, examines a remarkable character who was seldom far from the epicentre of events during a time of great political and social upheaval. The man who witnessed the beheading of Charles I was onboard the ship that carried his son Charles II back from exile in 1660, two years after Pepys had undergone an unbelievably painful operation to remove a stone in his bladder without the use of anaesthetic. The great diarist who described in vivid detail the dreadful unfolding of the Plague and the Great Fire of London, was born in 1633 at the family home in Salisbury Court, just off Fleet Street. It still exists as a postcode today. Don’t go looking for ghosts, however. Fleet Street is a slightly wistful place for journalistic types today, now the newspapers are gone and the pubs no longer hum with the gossip of old hacks in shabby raincoats.
FIRST PAGE Samuel Pepys, John Hayls, 1666 (c) National Portrait Gallery, London CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT Charles II in Coronation Robes, John Michael Wright, 1661-6, © Royal Collection Trust; John Wilmot, 2nd Earl of Rochester, Unknown, c.1655-70, © National Portrait Gallery, London; James, Duke of York, 1633-1701, Henri Gascar, 1672-73
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| feature |
But at least the great buildings of the Daily Express and Daily Telegraph remain as monuments to those halcyon days. Pepys’ landscape, however, is no more. Salisbury Court lurks in the shadow of St Bride’s Church, sandwiched between offices before the land drops down towards the Thames. The St Bride’s of today, with its high and mighty wedding-cake spire, is not the one in which Pepys was baptized on 6 March 1633. It perished in the Great Fire, as did the Pepys’ family home. Pepys’ father John was a tailor, and the house they lived in was modest. The son would soon rise above his father’s struggles, but shared his love of listening to and playing music and of wearing fine clothes. The family’s connections meant Pepys would enter public service after Cambridge University, his cousin Edward Montagu being a member of one of the richest families in the country, and his attire soon reflected his position. In his thirties he took to wearing a sword which had become a fashion accessory, and wore a jackanapes coat with silver buttons. When younger, his hair was long, curly and unruly, but aged thirty, having shaved off his moustache, he started wearing a wig. The fashion for periwigs had come from France, and Pepys was one of the first to adopt it here. It was a symbol of social standing and, of course, as the wearer aged, had the advantage of disguising greying hair and a balding pate. For posterity’s sake, however, it was deeply regrettable, bringing a boring uniformity to the great personalities depicted in portrait paintings of that era. Pepys began keeping his diary in January 1660, four months before the restoration of the Stuart monarchy, when Charles returned from The Hague to London, and received such a tumultuous welcome that the famous Bow bells of the church of St Mary-le-Bow in Cheapside could not be heard. More sorrowful was his recounting of the horror of the Plague, which killed approximately 10,000 Londoners in the summer of 1665, when Pepys was among those who stayed put in the City to survive, as carts stacked high with the dead rumbled through eerily silent streets. A year later came the Great Fire. By this time Pepys and his wife Elizabeth were resident in Seething Lane, just west of Tower Hill. Woken up by his maid with news of the gathering conflagration in the small hours, at first Pepys thought the blaze insignificant and returned to bed. By dawn he was sufficiently concerned to climb to the top of one of the turrets in the Tower of London, describing how an east wind had got up “mighty high and [was]driving [the fire] into the City; and
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everything, after so long a drought, [was] proving combustible, even the very stones of the churches.” Sitting in an alehouse on Bankside with his wife a little later he saw the flames rising up above the City in “an arch of about a mile long; it made me weep to see it.” Not merely was this in sympathy for the losses sustained by Londoners, but all the recognizable signposts of his life to that date were also going up in smoke. It’s a measure of his high standing at that time that it was he who took it upon himself to break news of the rapid spread of the fire to the King in Whitehall, gaining an immediate audience and offering the sound advice that the only way to put a halt to the blaze’s momentum was to pull down all the buildings which lay in its path. Pepys’ material success and authority rested on his Whitehall role as the leading naval administrator of the day. He was closely involved in the Second and Third Dutch wars, and was described by the Duke of Albemarle as “the right hand of the navy.” In 1665 he was elected a fellow of the Royal Society, which placed him the company of Isaac Newton, Robert Hooke and Christopher Wren. He eventually rose to become president, though he confessed he often struggled to follow the arguments of the debates, and generally remained silent during meetings. By 1673, Pepys was secretary of the Admiralty and, becoming an MP, used the position to counteract “the ignorance of our parliaments in matters marine.” But his fortunes were bound up heavily with those of the Stuart dynasty. When James I fled the country after the invasion of William of Orange in 1688, his time as a court favourite was up. He was even imprisoned at Westminster for a month under suspicion of treason against the new regime, before his release on medical grounds. That left plenty of time to follow other interests in music and book collecting. His library, which he meticulously catalogued, grew to 3,000 volumes, and was consulted by scholars. Remarkably, when Pepys died in 1703, the diary was one of the least known things about him, and would not be published until the 19th century. It’s revered now not merely as an account of public events, but for its searing honesty as a self-examination and its frank relaying of its author’s philanderings, as well as his single-minded pursuit of a career. The National Maritime Museum show is a timely reminder that, literary classic though it now is, it was only one aspect of a convivial individual who always lived life to the full. Samuel Pepys: Plague, Fire, Revolution runs from 20 November to 28 March 2016 at the National Maritime Museum; rmg.co.uk/exhibitions
When Pepys died in 1703, the diary was one of the least known things about him, and would not be published until the 19th century
FROM TOP Dutch attack on the Medway The Royal Charles carried into Dutch Waters, 12 June 1667, Ludolf Backhuysen, 1667, (c) National Maritime Museum, London; First transcriptions of Samuel Pepys’ diary, John Smith, 1825, (c) By permission of the Master and Fellows of Magdalene College, Cambridge; Painting of ‘The Fire of London, September 1666’, unknown, 17th century, © National Maritime Museum, London
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M ESUR E ET D ÉMESUR E *
TONDA 1950 TOURBILLON
World’s thinnest (3,4 mm) automatic flying tourbillon Platinum micro-rotor World’s lightest titanium cage (0,255 g) Hand finished movement, case and dial Hermès alligator strap 100% engineered and made by Parmigiani Manufacture Switzerland www.parmigiani.ch
ATELIER PARMIGIANI 97 MOUNT STREET, MAYFAIR, LONDON W1K 2TD, TEL. 020 7495 5172 LEICESTER
LUMBERS | LONDON SELFRIDGES, THE WONDER ROOM ARIJE | HARRODS, MONTREUX JAZZ CAFE WATCHES OF SWITZERLAND | FROST OF LONDON | BEAU GEMS SCOTLAND AND NEWCASTLE ROX DIAMONDS AND THRILLS WINDSOR ROBERT GATWARD JEWELLERS
| collection |
WATCHES & JEWELLERY Celebrating the delightful and the divine from the world of fine jewellery and haute horology
the return of salonqp The UK’s largest watch fair rolls into the Saatchi Gallery once again this November. A. Lange & Söhne, Tudor and Ralph Lauren make their return to the show, which will this year feature more than 80 exhibitors, including Bremont, Bell & Ross, Chopard, JaegerLeCoultre, Harry Winston and Montblanc. Auction houses Bonhams and Fellows will also be in attendance, as will the winning watches from the 2015 Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève. Founded in 2003 and operated by the Telegraph Media Group since 2014, last year’s three-day SalonQP attracted more than 7,000 visitors, confirming it as one of Europe’s leading public watch fairs. SalonQP, 12-14 November Saatchi Gallery, SW3, salonqp.com
image Arachnophobia, POA, MB&F, mbandf.com
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WAtches
Words: Richard Brown
Backes & Strauss opens London Flagship
ONE to WATCH
Max Milligan, store manager at Fraser Hart in Westfield Stratford, selects his watch of the month
Backes & Strauss, the world’s oldest diamond company, has opened its first flagship store in Mayfair. Alongside the brand’s diamond-heavy timepieces, the location houses historical archives dating back to the 1800s, when Backes & Strauss sourced and polished diamonds for the likes of Cartier, Bulgari, Tiffany, Mikimoto and Boucheron. Coinciding with the opening of the store is the launch of the Regent Beau Brummell Tourbillon pocket watch, a moon phase-equipped accessory that shimmers with 1,669 diamonds. Backes & Strauss, 21-22 Grosvenor Street, W1K
A tale as old as time McLaren Carrera Chronograph, £4,500, TAG Heuer, Fraser Hart, Westfield Stratford, 020 8555 3568 @fraserhartuk
“TAG Heuer has released the McLaren Carrera Chronograph. Fitted with its in-house 1887 movement and a black ceramic bezel with ‘McLaren 1947 Edition’ engraved in a unique orange colouring, this watch has a completely unique look”
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It may not be the world’s oldest watch brand (Blancpain was founded in 1735), but having survived wars, political unrest and economic downturns, Vacheron Constantin is the only watchmaker that can claim to have been producing timepieces uninterrupted since 1755 – and it’s now released a book honouring that 260-year journey. More than a celebratory pat-on-the-back, Vacheron Constantin – Artists of Time is a fascinating account of the history of watchmaking by the industry’s longestserving custodian. Order one for your coffee table now. Vacheron Constantin – Artists of Time, Vacheron Constantin, vacheron-constantin.com
AP upgrades an icon
Behold Audemars Piguet’s new Royal Oak Perpetual Calendar. Same as the old one, you may think. But take a closer look. Having grown to 41mm, the rakishly handsome timepiece has been enhanced by the addition of a week indicator at the perimeter of its dial. It will now tell you the day and date of the month, as well as the week of the year. A moon phase at 6 o’clock completes proceedings. Royal Oak Perpetual Calendar, £69,800 in rose gold, £44,500 in steel, Audemars Piguet, audemarspiguet.com
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SHAPE
SHIFTER
Following the release of the newest Clé de Cartier, first previewed at SIHH this year, Louise Rose takes a closer look at the maison’s most ergonomic model to date
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||CCOLLECTION OLLECTION |
OPPOSITE, FROM TOP Clé de Cartier watch, 35mm in 18-karat white gold with diamonds; Clé de Cartier watch, 40mm in 18-karat white gold; Clé de Cartier watch, 31mm in 18-karat pink gold with diamonds ABOVE Clé de Cartier watch, 40mm in 18-karat pink gold All images Eric Maillet © Cartier
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A
golden key can open any door, as the saying goes and, while Parisian joaillerie and horology house Cartier (which dates back to 1847) has a clientele that includes some of the world’s most affluent and discerning individuals, its heritage has been underpinned, from the start, by an unrivalled attention to design. Indeed, when it comes to its iconic watches, the company has always been keen, and able, to straddle two camps. Its timepieces appeal both to those classicists who appreciate a concise selection of watches that have stood the test of time and to those with an eye for innovation, who may lean towards the wackier models (we’re looking at you, Cartier Crash – although true enthusiasts may describe this venture as more an aesthetic exercise in savoir-faire than a full product departure). The creation of a Cartier timepiece is always a quasi-architectural exercise; every model is characterised by strong lines and a distinctive form. Now joining the rectangular Tank, the square Santos and the perfectly round Ballon Bleu is the curved,
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CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT David Gandy; Clé de Cartier watch, 35mm in 18-karat white gold with diamonds; Clé de Cartier watch, 40mm in 18-karat white gold; Clé de Cartier watch, 40mm in 18-karat white gold. All images Eric Maillet © Cartier
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| COLLECTION |
ergonomic Clé (meaning key). Available in three diameters – 40, 35 and 31mm – there are 22 models within the new line but they all sit flush against the wrist and boast the same fluid silhouette. As Laurent Feniou, managing director of Cartier UK, explains, the Clé is “both timeless and versatile. Intrinsic to Cartier’s history as a creative watchmaker is our spirit of innovation. A pioneering ethos that is reflected in this new shape.” The tactile, smooth case design is inspired by the simple circle, but what instantly stands out is the winding crown, or key, one of the most distinctive features of the Clé de Cartier, where the sparkling sapphire is being ‘crown guarded’ by the long and sleek case band. Although the use of this precious blue stone is also a feature of many of Cartier’s classic watches, this is the only point of similarity with the Clé.
The winding crown, or key, is aesthetically, practically and acoustically pleasing This redesigned approach to setting the time and date, in the form of this pivoting, meticulouslydesigned key, is a standout feature, so much so that it has inspired its product name. Operating the key is easy: simply pull the crown and turn it to set the time and date, and you’ll hear a very satisfying ‘click’ when it is returned to its original position. This is something Cartier passionately describes as “a reassuring sound that enhances the sensorial experience… a sound with echoes of congeniality, quality and the complex inner workings of the finest timepieces”. While for some it may take getting used to, turning something rectangular as opposed to round, it is aesthetically, practically and acoustically pleasing. In its resting state, the pivoting key sits astride the case and its unique construction negates the possibility of accidentally moving the hands once set. When looking at all 22 models within the new watch line, the dial remains a constant feature (although, in true Cartier style, the women’s models mostly have diamond accents). Hands are blue steel to complement the signature jewel in the crown, while dials are all fairly classic in their design, boasting an opalescent guilloché centre, surrounded by a pearl-white outer rim. Roman numerals are painted in a rich, traditional shade of blue, again nodding to the signature sapphire, while the six o’clock marker is replaced by a subtle aperture for the date. The guilloché centre extends here, bordering the date in a wave motif. As well as the dial, case and key, the Clé de Cartier also boasts a new in-house, selfwinding movement developed by Cartier, which has a 42-hour power reserve and effectively takes the place of the ébauche ETA movements, on which the maison formerly relied. Both a technological and design triumph for one of the most established watchmaking houses in the world, we’re pretty sure that we are just getting a taste for the shape of things to come, if you’ll pardon the pun. cartier.co.uk
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Written in the stars As her family’s company celebrates its 120th anniversary, Nadja Swarovski relives some of the brand’s key designs and collaborations, illustrated beautifully in a new Rizzoli publication. Annabel Harrison reports
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S
warovski’s legacy is a glittering one in all senses of the word. The company has become worldrenowned for its innovative and exquisite use of crystals and, as such, its history is just as studded with stars as its creations: the brand has worked with the best designers across the decades, from Balenciaga, Chanel and Dior to McQueen and Katrantzou; it has bejewelled Marilyn Monroe, Liz Taylor (Cleopatra), Madonna and Emily Blunt (The Young Victoria) for their respective performances; and its sparkling installations have graced both the Palace of Versailles and the Oscars. Nadja Swarovski elaborates on this dazzling history.
“I wanted to share the stories I grew up with, hearing how my grandfather worked with Christian Dior and Coco Chanel” - Nadja Swarovski collaborations have been inspirational in the way they pushed the boundaries and responded to the medium of crystal. Supporting emerging talent is so important because that is the source of creativity, and creativity to us is essential in terms of the evolution of the product, or at least in terms of the evolution of the use of the product.
We worked very closely with Rizzoli, as well as with our contributors, on every aspect of the book. Our archive contains amazing photographs from the 1890s when my great-great-grandfather established the company, as well as iconic images from the early days of the silver screen, 20th century haute couture and jewellery pieces, and the avant-garde architectural and design collaborations we have created more recently.
The aim of the Swarovski Collective is twofold – to support emerging talent but also to deepen our relationships with established fashion talent. We started it when working with McQueen in the late 1990s and it’s hard to believe that earlier this year we awarded Peter Pilotto our inaugural Swarovski Collective Prize to mark its 15th anniversary. For S/S16 and A/W16, the Collective includes some really exciting new designers in London, Paris and New York, as well as many of last season’s returning talent. Putting our crystal in the hands of these young fashion visionaries and giving them our support is truly rewarding, and the results can be breathtaking.
Swarovski has stayed at the forefront of innovation by working with creative visionaries across the fashion, jewellery, performance and design industries. This focus on ground-breaking collaboration has been key to our company’s success from the very beginning. My great-great-grandfather Daniel Swarovski frequently travelled to Paris to work with the early couturiers, like Charles Frederick Worth and Jeanne Lanvin, and 50 years later his sons worked with Christian Dior to develop the ‘Aurora Borealis’, a stone inspired by the Northern Lights that Dior never tired of using in his couture and jewellery collections. Fast forward another 50 years: Alexander McQueen opened the floodgates and reintroduced Swarovski into the world of fashion. He created this crystal mesh top with a hood and teamed it up with the most incredibly delicate silk skirt. That juxtaposition between the hard and the soft made it incredibly powerful, yet feminine. Working with him made me realise the importance of putting our product in the hands of creative talents who could embrace Swarovski’s spirit of innovation and ensure our brand remains relevant. When I started in the mid-1990s, people really didn’t know anything about the colour and intricacy of the stones I played with as a child; they only associated Swarovski with the figurines. I wanted to share the stories I grew up with, hearing how my grandfather worked with Christian Dior and Coco Chanel. He understood the importance of putting our crystal in the hands of great designers and I wanted to do the same. I wanted to work with a designer who was the equivalent of Coco Chanel. Of course, it was McQueen. This collaboration created a blueprint that we have used to work with creative talent across the different industries. We are fortunate to have worked with some of the 21st century’s most exciting design talents. These include luminaries such as Ron Arad, Zaha Hadid, Tom Dixon, Ross Lovegrove, Tord Boontje, Yves Béhar and the Bouroullec brothers. All of our
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London is such an amazing creative hub: it draws and inspires talents from across the world. The designers that make it their home are among the most innovative in the world. Our London offices are in Mayfair, just around the corner from Savile Row, and I have always loved the area’s mix of fashion, art, luxury and craftsmanship. The retail scene is so vibrant now and many of our closest collaborators, such as Erdem, Nicholas Kirkwood, Hussein Chalayan, Shaun Leane and Stephen Webster, have shops nearby. We were honoured that the V&A’s director, Martin Roth, hosted and moderated our recent talk there. We worked together on the recent McQueen exhibition and he has a true appreciation of what we are trying to do in supporting creative talents from across the design disciplines. Colin McDowell is one of our most distinguished fashion historians and commentators, so audience members were able to enjoy a wide-ranging and stimulating discussion on why so many designers are passionate about using crystal as a creative ingredient.
OPPOSITE Phillip Lim for Swarovski, 22 Ways to Say Black, 2010 © Mark Pillai FROM TOP Christopher Kane, S/S12, © Josh Olins, Trunk Archive; © Swarovski: Celebrating a History of Collaborations in Fashion, Jewelry, Performance, and Design, Rizzoli New York, 2015; Nadja Swarovski
SWAROVSKI: Celebrating a History of Collaborations in Fashion, Jewelry, Performance, and Design, £60, Rizzoli New York Preface by Nadja Swarovski, foreword by Suzy Menkes, introduction by Alice Rawsthorn and texts by Vivienne Becker, Deborah Nadoolman Landis, Deyan Sudjic and Colin McDowell © Swarovski: Celebrating a History of Collaborations in Fashion, Jewelry, Performance, and Design, Rizzoli New York, 2015
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off the scale Tickling the ivories of a grand piano from your iPad is not as far-fetched as it seems, writes Lauren Romano
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| feature |
W
hen Tom Hanks hopscotched over the keys of FAO Schwarz’s giant floor piano in the 1980s hit Big, the keyboard-cum-dance mat got more than its 15 minutes of fame, as waves of tourists flocked to the Fifth Avenue toy shop. Back then, my childhood self would have given anything to join them on their musical pilgrimage and stamp out the notes of Chopsticks to an adoring crowd, but the nearest I got to my musical moment was thudding out a syncopated rendition of Greensleeves on dusty Yamaha decks. My piano skills might not have improved since then, but the technology behind the instrument has. Making a noise with its latest model, Steinway & Sons has long been in the musical vanguard, this year reaching what is arguably the final frontier in the instrument’s innovation: the Steinway Spirio, a piano that can play itself and replicate pitch-perfect performances of virtuosos, courtesy of 1,700 artists. Amid its fleet of the grandest grand pianos money can buy, the company has referred to the recent release as its most significant product innovation in 70 years. The drumroll isn’t for nothing; an engineering masterpiece, the Spirio system is available exclusively on a select number of Steinway grand piano models and enables live performances that are, in a further stroke of ingenuity, controlled at the touch of an iPad. The makers insist that the ability to summon these artists to the keys via the app (Steinway & Sons provides a complimentary iPad to wirelessly connect
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with each Steinway Spirio), does not detract from the experience of listening to a performance live. “Steinway & Sons is renowned for connecting the listener and the artist as only the world’s best piano can, and the Steinway Spirio is another example of that,” communications manager, Sabine Höpermann explains. “Therefore we can afford to introduce a player piano system as the technology meets with Steinway’s highest standards; producing uncompromised sound quality and an exact facsimile of a live performance.” Certainly, in the age of the mighty Silicon Valley when no industry, the music one included, can avoid the touch of technology, the debate about interfering with traditional arts continues. In the music industry, technology has undoubtedly been instrumental in pushing things forward. “Since the founding of Steinway & Sons more than 160 years ago, innovation and craftsmanship have served as the core tenets of the company,” says CEO Michael Sweeney. “In today’s marketplace brands like ours must continue to innovate in order to remain relevant to the world around us, but that doesn’t mean that quality and craftsmanship can suffer. The Steinway artists who have recorded on the instrument agree that the Spirio captures the true essence, nuance and soulfulness of a live performance, allowing us to bring artists and their audiences closer than ever before.” From £77,150, steinwayspirio.com
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Printed scarf, £245, Salvatore Ferragamo, ferragamo.com Ballerina wrap cardigan, £228, Diane von Furstenberg, matchesfashion.com
STYLE Her
Fendi A/W15 RTW
Emilia Wickstead A/W15 RTW
Christian Dior Fall 2015 Couture
Gucci S/S16 RTW
Liberty in Fashion (9 October - 28 February), £9 adults/£7 concessions, Fashion and Textile Museum, ftmlondon.org
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| fashion | Ladies cashmere lined leather gloves, £95, Aspinal of London, aspinaloflondon.com
Apolonia necklace, £587, Shourouk, farfetch.com
“Your dresses should be tight enough to show you’re a woman and loose enough to show you’re a lady” – Edith Head, costume designer (1897-1981)
Valley suede slingback pumps, £450, Jimmy Choo, net-a-porter.com
The leading ladies and latest looks guiding style this season
SHE’S A LADY This season , the fashion pack has turned to my grandmother for inspiration ; it’s a good thing they did , after all , she’s the most glamorous woman I know. Brands with rather outrageous, edgy and often promiscuous reputations opted for something a little more prim and proper for A/W15, and judging by the Gucci S/S16 collection , we’d say this trend is here to stay. If you’re looking to master the ladylike look, starting with your feet, you’re going to want to give your sky-high stilettos a break and slip into a pair of mid-heel pumps, like these suede sling-backs from Jimmy Choo. W h en selecting th e p er fect frock, li st en to th e wi se w ord s of costum e design er, Edith Head: “ Your dress should b e tight enough to show you’re a w oman and loose enough to show you’re a lady.” If y ou’d rath er opt for a shirt, pair it back with a fin e-knit cardigan , or for full points, a twin set because coordination i s key. No look i s complet e without th e correct accessories, starting with th e all-important handbag. Forget boho bags, and oversi zed sacks, you’re going to want som ething quit e structured with clean lin es. If y ou’re a bit of a mag pie w h en it com es to jeweller y, look for som ething with p earl s, ‘diamond s’ and coloured gems. A studded leath er collar will complet ely throw y our look. Leath er gloves, on th e oth er hand , are per fectly acceptable, esp ecially w h en t eam ed with a gorgeous b espoke wint er hat, such as thi s bow ler from Th e City Millin er. L ast but not least, stay extra warm with a cosy swing coat, such as Chri stian D ior Couture’s stunning show stopp er. TE
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Damson smooth leather small Edie bag, £295, Lulu Guinness, luluguinness.com
Volutra dress, £1,300, Mary Katrantzou, farfetch.com
Bloomsbury umbrella, £40, Lulu Guinness, luluguinness.com
The Bowler Percher, from £425, The City Milliner, thecitymilliner.com
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| lifestyle |
seasonal shades look to the rich rainbow of autumnal shades to update your beauty look
the collaboration
Le Vernis, £18 each, Chanel, chanel.com
Dead of Summer eyeshadow palette, £35, Steven Klein for NARS, narscosmetics.co.uk Smouldering Eye Palette £35, Olivia Palermo X Ciaté London, ciatelondon.com
Fashion photographer Steven Klein is the latest to collaborate with NARS on a beauty range, launching this month. Known for pushing boundaries, his collection spans bold nail polishes, lipsticks and blush with names like Hard to Get and No Shame, while the palettes and gift sets feature his striking photographic work.
Burberr y ’s festive collection launches this month with a unique gold-f laked perfume among the luxurious pieces. This blendable Eye Colour Cream in Festive Gold (£25, uk.burberr y.com ) gives lids a subtle glow rather than full-on sparkle, and comes in limitedediton gold packaging.
Sourcils Poudre eyebrow pencil, £19.50, Dior, harrods.com
The One Essence fragrance, from £65 for 40ml, Dolce & Gabbana, harrods.com
Dior Addict Fluid Shadow, £25, Dior, selfridges.com
Face Contour pen, £25, Burberry, uk.burberry.com
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In Pet er Philips’ first collection for D ior, rich autumnal shades from moss green to th e mocha brown of thi s Rouge D ior lipstick in Uniqu e (£26.50, selfridges.com) are uplift ed by gold and silver m etallics.
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It wasn’t me...!
THE LUXURY HOME FRAGRANCE COLLECTION
www.lilouetloic.com
WINTER T H E FA S H I O N E V E N T N O V E M B E R 2 6 - 2 7
canarywharf.com
@yourcanarywharf
Sterling silver with Blue Diamond Pave, Links of London, Jubilee Place, £750
Sylix sapphire drops, Carat, Cabot Place, £283
Canary Wharf’s
Winter Fashion Event November 26-27
Bucket Bag in Silver, Bimba y Lola, Jubilee Place, £190
Benee ribbed knit crop top, Ted Baker, Canada Place, £89
Crystallized classic statement cuff, Cadenzza, Jubilee Place, £29
winter Fashion
Evra Lace jumpsuit, LK Bennett, Jubilee Place, £365
Stay warm and stay fabulous with fashion shows, entertainment and discounts of up to 25 per cent
Eliza beaded clutch, LK Bennett, Jubilee Place, £225
G
et set to sparkle with your most sophisticated winter wardrobe yet. Canary Wharf’s winter
Large crinkled metallic silver pouch, Aspinal of London, Canada Place, £75
fashion event, taking place November 26-27 in stores across Canary Wharf, is the ideal
opportunity to invest in both the season’s sleekest office wear and most dazzling party pieces. Check out how to wear the hottest trends at fashion shows shaking up Canary Wharf’s
Benequi ribbed knit midi skirt, Ted Baker, Canada Place, £109
malls and indulge with discounts across a multitude of stores. It’s also a great opportunity to find the perfect festive gift for fashion conscious friends and family.
Pearl necklace, Bimba y Lola, Jubilee Place, £95
Ivory Draped High Neck Blouse, Karen Millen, Jubilee Place, £110
Black high heel boot, Massimo Dutti, Cabot Place, £145
Fleming glasses, Bailey Nelson, Jubilee Place, £98
Newton cape, Hobbs, Canada Place, £249
Aleshia embellished collar jumper, Ted Baker, Canada Place, £109
Fiji Bracelet, Monica Vinader, Jubilee Place, £95 each
Eirwen Culottes, Hobbs, Canada Place, £99
Emily belt, Wolford, Jubilee Place, £155
Eirene python effect wedge court shoe, LK Bennett, Jubilee Place, £195
canarywharf.com
Diamond rock embellished skirt, French Connection, Jubilee Place, £95
@yourcanarywharf
MEASURE FOR MEASURE A weekend away in Shakespeare Country requires tailoring of the most raffish type Photographer: Dominic Nicholls Stylist: Hayley Caine
Tailored fit grey micro check shirt, £150, Paul Smith London, paulsmith.co.uk; Grey two piece suit, £875, Richard James, richardjames.co.uk
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| fashion |
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| FASHION |
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this Page: Square-frame optical glasses, £320, Thom Browne, selfridges.com; White shirt, POA, Caruso, carusomenswear.com; V-neck cotton mix jumper, £139, John Smedley, johnsmedley.com; Stone speckled double breasted jacket, £965, Richard James, as before opposite page: Square-frame optical glasses, £390, Thom Browne, as before; Burnt orange ‘Degrade’ blanket scarf, £225; Navy stripe merino wool long sleeve polo shirt, £139, both Paul Smith London, as before; Checked SB two-button notch lapel suit, £1,319 , Pal Zileri, palzileri.com; Taupe wool blend trousers, £289, Paul Smith, as before
this Page: White shirt, POA, Caruso, as before; Slim-fit checked stretch wool blazer, £395, Barena, mrporter.com; Light khaki chino trousers, £205, Paul Smith London, as before opposite page: White dress shirt with stripe contrast cuff, £100, Paul Smith London, as before; Grey check wool tie, £85, Richard James, as before; Melange wool blend cardigan, £420, Wooyoungmi, mrportrer.com
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opposite page: Black roll-neck jumper, £95, Bespoke delvin Melton wool waistcoat with branded pewter buttons, £POA, Navy Grantham trousers with white fishtail pinstripe, £175, all Ede & Ravenscroft, as before; Trent Longwing shoes, £125, G-Star Raw, g-star.com this Page: Elverton self-check suit, £695, Chester Barrie, chesterbarrie.co.uk; Boyd evening shirt, £150, Aquascutum, as before; Satin silk thistle bow tie £45, Budd, as before; Paisley printed square pocket, £45, Ede & Ravenscroft, as before
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| fashion |
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| FASHION |
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this page: Flecked wool tweed flat cap, £100, Lock and Co Hatters, mrporter.com; White shirt, POA, Caruso, as before; Wool mix blue and taupe cardigan, £67, Abercrombie and Fitch, abercrombie.co.uk; Trousers, £195, John Varvatos, johnvarvatos.com; opposite: Khaki stripe classic silk tie, £85, Paul Smith London, as before; White shirt, POA, Caruso, as before; Cable knit stretch wool blend sweater, £715, Lanvin, mrporter.com; Check Trousers, £255, John Varvatos, as before
Grooming: Lou Box at S:Management using Kevyn Aucoin and Kevin Murphy model: Louren @ Next Shot on location at The Welcombe Hotel, Spa and Golf Resort, Stratford-Upon-Avon, hallmarkhotels.co.uk/hotels/welcombe
new opening Massimo Dutti’s new store lands on Cheapside this month, bringing the brand’s refreshed tailoring offering with it. By partnering with fine fabric producers such as Vitale Barberis Canonico and Ashton Shirtings, the suiting aspires to be Savile Row-worthy and the personalisation options are numerous. Smaller seasonal capsule collections will complement the suiting categories – Extreme Lux, Business Lux and Country Lux – with items from sweaters and ties to cuff links and business card holders. 100 Cheapside, EC2V, massimodutti.com
£3,320, Tom Ford, mrporter.com
£140, Acne Studios, acnestudios.com
STYLE HIM Look the part, feel the part, from Breakfast to boardroom to bar
£500, Acne Studios, acnestudios.com
lace-ups
£139, John Smedley, johnsmedley.com
Experiment with tones, not quality craftmanship, with these classic nubuck wing tip oxford shoes (£475, jmweston.fr) in contrasting black and grey.
£19, Paul Smith, paulsmith.co.uk
from the ground up
the investment pen The patented technology of Parker’s new Ingenuity model (£155, selfridges.com) allows the receptive tip to adapt to your writing style to reduce pressure and ink leakages – making it less of a hassle to add that personal touch.
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£175, Coach, uk.coach.com
Emphasising the importance of building an outfit from bottom to top, Mr Porter has expanded its impressive shoe range even further as part of its ‘The World’s Best Shoes’ campaign. More than 90 brands will now be featured on the site across 13 categories from sneaker styles and driving shoes to slippers and sandals, with the likes of Grenson and Neil Barrett snapping up the opportunity to create exclusive capsule collections. mrporter.com/shoes
Aquascutum A/W15
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| FASHION |
£355, Marc by Marc Jacobs, mrporter.com
£280, Acne Studios, acnestudios.com
£165, Aquascutum, aquascutum.com
Chester Barrie A/W15
layer up Hardy Amies A/W15
Versace A/W15
Hardy Amies A/W15
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The cold weather kicking in may mean you need to adopt a few more layers but there are ways to do it that don’t leave you looking like the Michelin man. Wearing two coats in one, unbuttoned, can be a way to layer different shades, or go completely neutral – both varieties were tried and tested on the runway at Hardy Amies this season. The more expertly tailored the better, of course. Polo necks also had a resurgence – turn to British knitwear expert John Smedley for smooth fitted pieces crafted from the finest merino wool, or Belstaff for something a little more ribbed and rugged. If a polo neck still feels a bit too ’70s, invest in a high-quality scarf from the likes of Mulberry and wear over the shoulder, as seen at Versace. ME
£475, Mulberry, mulberry.com
£55, Polo Ralph Lauren, mrporter.com
£250, Mulberry, mulberry.com
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The Belstaff brand has achieved what many fashion labels set out to do: iconic silhouettes, luxury fabrics and subtle reinventions of quintessential classics. Its celebrated jackets are the only leathers your wardrobe truly needs WORDS: JOSEPHINE O’DONOGHUE
: F F A T S BEL ITISH R B F O T S E B E H T
did you know?
B
ritish culture and heritage is chock-full of adventurers, explorers, athletes and record-breakers – run through the names of some of our greatest national heroes and you’ll find their legends, voyages and bravery studded throughout our rich history. Belstaff (established in 1924) served those adventure-seekers from the very beginning, creating luxury classic leatherwear initially for pilots and motorcyclists but whose popularity quickly spread overseas. Among its first clients were aviatrixes (and all-round feminist rock stars) Amelia Earhart and Amy Johnson, T. E. Lawrence (British archaeologist, military officer, and diplomat aka Lawrence of Arabia), racing
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It is said that Pope Benedict XVI was a fan of Belstaff, wearing a bespoke cotton jacket with white corduroy collar and cuffs, when walking in the Vatican gardens.
supremo Steve McQueen and Argentine revolutionary Che Guevara. When, in the 1920s, Belstaff mastered a new waxed cotton for a hard-wearing all-weather jacket, it was unlike anything else on the market and, as one might expect, it was soon embraced by those men and women who enjoyed the intrepid journeys and experiences that the fabrics allowed. Retaining its colour, shape and softness, Belstaff ’s classic belted wax cotton fourpocket jacket became an iconic must-have piece for any credible racing driver and has
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| FASHION |
remained so for several decades. As the brand matured, other features that are now associated with the name and Belstaff ‘look’ appeared; two breast pockets – for maps – and two deep side pockets and buttoned cuffs with a zipped fastening came together as the most famous Trialmaster jacket. “We are always referencing the rich heritage we have at Belstaff,” explains Delphine Ninous, vice president of women’s design at Belstaff. “One key example of this is our iconic four-pocket jacket; it’s our hero silhouette that has become synonymous with the brand. “The style remains the same but we make variations each season to the proportions, hardware and colour ways. Our hand-waxed cotton and leather is bespoke to Belstaff, the fabrics are water resistant and windproof as functionality has been key throughout our 91 years. Our job as the designer is to continually innovate every season with new silhouettes, new materials and new details. The archives are our starting reference.” Although Belstaff has always retained a core following, the brand did disappear from the fashion radar for a couple of years in the 1990s under Italian ownership, but a 2011 buyout by Swiss group Labelux and the appointment of chief creative officer Martin Cooper (previously of Burberry), has seen the brand return with flair for the next step in its remarkable history. It is currently enjoying huge success at the new east London store at Spitalfields. “Our brand history is the DNA of our design language,” says Frederik Dyhr, vice president of men’s design who, like Delphine, has ensured that the brand’s iconic silhouettes and unique features remain present in his new season designs. “We always try to reference and interpret our heritage in new and relevant ways. We have a long history of innovation at Belstaff; for example, this season we have re-launched the New Milford coat, but for A/W15 the cashmere wool has a micro-porous membrane giving the fabric a water resistant yet breathable quality.” The 1960s was a particularly exciting period at Belstaff for material developments. “It was also the period where we as a brand introduced our first leather café racers, which have become our signature,” says Dyhr. “The Ace Café of the 1950s and ’60s was also a huge inspiration for this season’s ‘Ton Up’ collection. The café racer jacket can be seen throughout this collection.” The challenge now, as so many of the finest British brands can attest, is keeping the seasonal offerings relevant to modern
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Reynold Jacket, £2,895
“Every decade has different references where Belstaff has innovated. The pioneering male and female aviators of the 1940s and the classic
Aviator jacket
is a great inspiration for us. Amelia Earhart was in fact a big inspiration for my ‘Pursuit of Freedom’ A/W15 collection.” - Delphine Ninous, vice president of women’s design
Londoners who visit the stores – and to the younger generations growing up into high-end fashion. As CEO Gavin Haig (previously of Cartier) said to The Times: “It may sound strange to some, but there’s a whole generation that doesn’t even know who Steve McQueen is.” Fortunately, they do know the newest brand ambassadors David Beckham and Liv Tyler, alongside Belstaff wearers Ewan McGregor, Daniel Craig, Sienna Miller, Kristen Stewart, Rihanna, racing driver Max Chilton, and motorbike racer Sammy Miller, to name but a few. A self-confessed Belstaff devotee, Beckham cites his commitment to the campaign as his own experiences wearing the jackets on motorcycle trips. Indeed, he’s often been seen riding around LA in his leathers since he bought his bike eight years ago. “I’ve had a long relationship with Belstaff, and a successful one, which I’ve enjoyed,” Beckham said of the project. “They came to me with the idea to do a short film – it was a given that we were going to do this.” Fellow ambassador Liv Tyler is set to follow Beckham’s example as the face of a campaign next year, alongside codesigning a capsule collection to debut in February (Beckham’s capsule collection is currently available online and in store). “I am truly excited about rolling my sleeves up in the design room — and spending some of my Belstaff time on the other side of the camera,” said Tyler after working on the short film for Belstaff with Beckham this year. “I want women everywhere to feel sexy, empowered and confident in what they wear,” said Tyler. “I believe I genuinely understand the role that the right clothing can play in making you feel ready and looking great for whatever adventure life may throw you.” belstaff.com
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shi 2014/2:Udeshi 2014 9/18/14 9:52 AM Page 1
| fashion |
savile row sharp Savile Row craftsmanship just got a whole lot more accessible thanks to Hardy Amies’ latest collection
Q
uite the man, Hardy Amies. By the age of 21, he’d travelled Europe, taught as an English tutor, sold weight machines and flogged tiles out of a ceramic wall-tile factory. In the early 1930s, to the detriment of the tile industry, he began working for a Mayfair couture dressmaker. By 25, he was the company’s managing director. Posted to Belgium during the war, having decided to have his British Army uniform tailored on Savile Row, Amies outraged his superiors when, in 1944, he organised a photo-shoot for Vogue in the country just after D-Day. Amies established his eponymous company at 14 Savile Row the following year. The ensuring decades saw Hardy become one of the first European designers to venture into ready-to-wear (1959), the first designer to stage a men’s ready-to-wear catwalk show
Any American found wearing a bowler hat should be fined (1961) and the official dressmaker to HM The Queen, from 1952 to his retirement in 1989. He dressed the 1966 England football team and the 1972 British Olympic squad. He is, without doubt, one of the founding fathers of modern British menswear. Adhering to the commandments laid down in its founder’s seminal 1964 style bible ABC of Men’s Fashion – in which Amies insists that any American found wearing a bowler hat should be fined – Hardy Amies has unveiled ‘The Hardy’ – six staple items designed to complete the modern man’s wardrobe. “My Mission in life,” Amies once said, “is to create a wardrobe for what I call the ‘complete man’.” With the two-button, singlebreasted The Hardy suit – a slim, sharp, halfcanvassed number priced at an accessible £395 – it might be mission accomplished. hardyamies.com
COMPLETE THE LOOK Grenson X Hardy Amies Suede Tassel Loafers, £450
Blue Patterned Scarf, £420
Printed Silk Dot Handkerchief, £35 The Hardy Suit, Brinsley Fit, £395
Embossed Leather Briefcase, £420
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man
on a mission Fashion magnate, principled businessman, passionate philanthropist; Brunello Cucinelli is determined to make the world a better place WORDS: Josh Sims
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| faSHIOn |
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runello Cucinelli is hardly your typical Italian industrialist: dressed in distressed jeans, a white shirt and skinny grey tie, he’s topped by a mop of salt and pepper hair, stubble in the same ontrend shade, and gleaming white teeth only outshone by his shirt. He looks extremely good for 62. Perhaps it is the olive oil – his own brand – that gets served in the staff canteen at his recently remodeled design and prototyping campus, a kind of Google for gilets, in Solomeo, south of Rome. Perhaps it is because he led his company – Brunello Cucinelli – through an IPO three years ago, valuing his net worth at some £650m and making him one of the most successful entrepreneurs in Italian history. “Yes, I’m a rich man,” he concedes. “But I live an ordinary life and just want what money I have to be used well. I don’t want to con you.” In those six words, Cucinelli might well sum up his entire philosophy. He has built his luxury men’s and womenswear brand – and by luxury we’re talking “at the top of the luxury brand pyramid,” as Cucinelli puts it; think £300 shirts and £3,000 blazers – literally from the ground up. His father a smallholder, young Brunello grew up as peasant stock, admiring the landlords less for their money as for their clothes. “When we moved from the country to the city the first thing I did was
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not to show where I’d come from [through my clothes],” Cucinelli recalls, fondly. “I’d refuse to wear my brother’s hand-me-down clothes. I only had one pair of trousers but I ironed them every night. They had to be the right length and the right colour. My mother bought me a green pair once. I buried them. It’s funny to think about it now. I’m still moved by the contrast between then and today.” That he’d work in the fashion business was perhaps a given: Cucinelli has always been very particular, perhaps to OCD levels. His entire HQ has the feeling of being colour-coordinated in taupe, cream and pale grey, right down to the muted, terribly tasteful way his staff dress – it’s the cult of Cucinelli. Small wonder even as a child his family dubbed him ‘The Lord’. “I was the one who had to lay the table in a special way, who upset everyone by telling them that they hadn’t done some tiny detail right,” he laughs. “I think that tells you that that attitude is inborn, and why you end up wanting to bury green trousers.” But a hands-on, attention-to-detail singular vision – lush, modern clothing that will hardly startle the horses for its design, but certainly coddles and comforts its wealthy customers in instant Italian chic – pays off. He spotted a market for more colourful cashmere sweaters and predicted an upward projection in demand for ever higher quality clothing. And from that small insight, season by season over the last 37 years, a monolith was formed, a blend of the corporate – the company now produces
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huge seasonal collections and operates dozens of shops worldwide, an expansion powered by the IPO – and the intimate – both of Cucinelli’s daughters and his son-inlaw hold senior positions in the business. “The product is always first,” Cucinelli stresses, “and this kind of product epitomises hand-making, craftsmanship, as well as exclusivity of course. Yes, it’s a product that’s rather expensive – but it’s all made in Italy [Cucinelli farms production out to some 2,500 small scale specialist makers across Umbria and Tuscany] and things made in old Europe have a very high value. But there’s also a philosophy behind it all – where the product is made, how it’s made is without harming people, the land, wildlife. I want profit to be fair – to respect the value chain, from raw materials to the suppliers and all the people who work for the company, from paying them more than usual, right down to giving the people who can often do repetitive tasks here a garden to look at, not a wall.” To claim ethical credentials is, of course, all very fashionable – even if unusual in the fashion industry, much of which seems to operate in direct counter to ethical concerns. Cucinelli agrees that his stance chimes with the times: the internet has ushered in an age of transparency, “so there’s a new kind of ‘ethicalisation’ going on, because whereas my father knew almost nothing about his employer really, now everyone knows everything,” he says. “I asked my daughter recently why she’d decided not to buy a €90 pair of trousers and she said because she couldn’t work out how they could have been made fairly for that price. You can’t claim a lack of awareness anymore, because people have the information to better choose how to spend their money.” Of course, some might argue that the choice is in itself a luxury for those who can afford it (Cucinelli isn’t buying this, suggesting that only the very hard up have no option but to buy clothing in high street stores of dubious ethical standing). But at least he is doing it this way for his business – and, he argues, to the benefit, not to the cost, of the bottom line. That’s saying something for a company that gives 20 per cent of its profits to humanitarian projects. “When your environment is welcoming, your work rate goes up. If you feel you are esteemed by your employer, you feel more creative,” Cucinelli says. Indeed, the greatest evidence is physical - Solomeo, Brunello Cucinelli’s base and his wife’s hometown, has, since 1985, slowly been transformed through Cucinelli’s personal investment. Villas, amphitheatres, terraces, a castle, 200-plus acres of parklands and even a football pitch have been restored as part of an on-going
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| faSHIOn |
“Yes, I’m a rich man,” he concedes. “But I live an
ordinary life and just want what money I have to be used well.
I don’t want
to con you” brunello cucinelli
project to revive an ancient place long on its aesthetic uppers – which, of course, like those poorly laid tables, Cucinelli just couldn’t have. It’s “a humanistic enterprise in the world of industry”, as the company describes it. Whatever it is, it’s better than bringing buildings down in Bangladesh. “For the short time I’m alive I want to embellish and improve a little area and leave it for others to enjoy. I’ve spent a sizeable amount of money trying to revive the valley here, but it’s worth it,” says Cucinelli – and the same goes for his business at large. “My father still lives in the country and doesn’t really grasp my financial position – but he did once say that he hopes I don’t want to be the richest man in the graveyard. And I don’t. I want to create a company that, hopefully, will live on for centuries. Socrates said that by behaving better, you live better. And at the end of each day you need to take stock of what you’ve done and be happy with it.” brunellocucinelli.com
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| grooming |
HAIR TO STAY Queen Victoria drank wine made from the sap of a silver birch tree in her attempts to keep a full head of hair. Here are five products that might give you a better chance in the battle against balding…
THE STALWART The friendly household(ish) name for Minoxidil. Massage the foam into the scalp twice daily. Contains only 5 per cent Minoxidil, but is a well-known aid for hair retention, with a proven level of results. Regaine for Men Extra THE CLINICIAN Strength 3 Months’ Feel like some follicle TLC? Supply, £69.99, Nanogen’s Root Boost Hair Regaine, Thickening spray could be the boots.co.uk answer. Put on dry or damp hair for visible results from day one. Contains Keratin to support each individual hair, and clinically approved to be used with Minoxidil. Nanogen has a range of products for various needs, but this immediate fixer is high on the list. Root Boost Hair Thickening Spray, £9.95, Nanogen, Minoxidil nanogen.co.uk
fact file
The Inconspicuous One The Shiseido Adenogen formula includes Adenosine, an exclusive scalp re-energiser. It’s non-sticky and fragrance free, and once again is massaged into the scalp to try to restore your hair’s natural life. Suitable for men and women, and looks more like a cigarette case than a hair treatment. Shiseido Adenogen Hair Energizing Formula, £65, Shiseido, mankind.co.uk
History: Originally developed as a tablet to treat ulcers, and eventually used for high blood pressure – excessive hair growth was merely a side effect. It’s now available over the counter for the treatment of male-pattern hair loss under various company guises. Usage: Treatments usually contain five per cent Minoxidil for men and two per cent for women. No risk of becoming a caveman, then. Success rate: 40 per cent of men with male-pattern hair loss notice hair regrowth after three to six months. The effect on spot baldness is unclear.
THE SPACE AGE If futuristic gadgets are your bag, look no further than HairMax’s LaserBand. It uses The Au Naturel 82 medical grade lasers to stimulate This pack from Bio Follicle contains only those pesky dormant follicles, with natural vegan products. They say the no risk of scalp damage. The fastest shampoo increases blood circulation in the treatment available: 90 seconds, scalp, awakening the tissue and stimulating three times a week is enough time. hair regrowth. If nothing else, the hair you have A sleek piece of kit. will look and feel healthier. With a free moneyHairMax LaserBand 82, £514, back guarantee if you see no difference in 60 days, HairMax, hairmax.com there’s no risk attached. Bio Follicle Complete Hair Support System, £43, Bio Follicle, biofollicle.com
And if all else fails… Herringbone Stretch-Cotton Flat Cap, £135, Dolce & Gabbana, mrporter.com
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the grand tour INSIDE THE DOLDER GRAND – WHERE THE ARTWORK IS REMARKABLE AND THE OCCUPANTS are A-LIST Perched on Adlisberg hill, before breathtaking views of Zurich, its lake and the Alps, you’ll find one of Europe’s most illustrious hotels. Branding itself a ‘city resort’, The Dolder Grand is a castle on a hill dating back to 1899, when it originally opened as a health spa or ‘Curhaus’. In 2004, the then luxury hotel closed to undergo an extensive £300 million renovation, reopening in 2008. Today, the hotel’s spa alone spans a staggering 4,000 sq m, while the guests who’ve visited the bar read like a Grammy Awards after-party (The City Magazine once shared the hotel with Jay Z and entourage). But if the A-list celebs that walk these halls aren’t enough to impress, perhaps the Dalí by the door, the Warhol at check-in and an immense Keith Haring sculpture will be. Read more about the hotel’s annual Michelin-star food festival on page 100. thedoldergrand.com
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the man who climbs
the WORLD
He has climbed Mount Everest more times than any other Brit, was the first person in history to reach that mountain’s three peaks in one climb, and has been described by Sir Ranulph Fiennes as the greatest Alpine climber of his generation. With a name like his, Kenton Cool was never destined for a desk job WORDS: CAMILLA DAVIES
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| feature |
I
n photographs, Kenton Cool is hard, determined and chiselled. Frost clings to his weather-beaten face, while his eyes are shielded from the high-altitude sun’s rays by heavy-duty shades. His professional achievements, including 11 ascents of Mount Everest, and, along with his teammate Dorje Gylgen, becoming the first man ever to traverse Nuptse, Everest and Lhotse (the Everest Triple Crown) in a single expedition without returning to base camp, reveal Cool to be methodical in approach and measured in manner. As well as unfathomably brave. The Kenton Cool we meet is engaged, witty, and simply happy to chat about his impressive adventures. He jumps from subject to subject with ease, from climbing opportunities close to home, to the joys of cycling, to the devastation inflicted upon his beloved Nepal this year. In short, the climber lives up to his surname – though it has to be asked, is ‘Cool’ his chosen nom de plume? “No!” he laughs. “Cool is the translation
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of the German ‘Kuhl’ – my grandfather was living in London in the Second World War and we had a Germanic name, so he changed it by deed poll. The Kenton part is because my parents were avid Archers fans; there’s a character called Kenton Archer and now here I am!” Kenton developed a taste for the Great Outdoors from a very young age, always seeking out space. “I grew up in Uxbridge, and was really lucky to live on what was essentially a farm, with loads of room to roam.” This leafy Green Belt location provided Cool with ample scope for his favourite childhood occupation: “getting into trouble.” “My passion for climbing came about essentially through the Scouts, going on camps to places like the Brecon Beacons, and over time it exposed me to rock climbing, which I really enjoyed. I’ve always been quite sporty and adventurous, so looking back on it, it isn’t a surprise that I fell in love with climbing mountains. It just gives you that sense of freedom, of being
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“Everybody knew there was a big earthquake due at some point. Unfortunately there is another one due, we just don’t know when”
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at one with nature and the landscape. The climbing club at Leeds University also got me into the sport, it was a really vibrant times at Leeds in the early 90s, you couldn’t help but get caught up in the enthusiasm and I never really looked back from there.” The intrepid explorer splits his time between an idyllic home in Mont-Saxonnex in the French Alps and the Gloucestershire village of Quenington, but he frequently finds himself returning to London. Cool is full of praise for the city, but knows he wasn’t designed for the rat race. “I’m very fond of London, having grown up on the outskirts, but at the same time I find it a little overwhelming and can feel a little claustrophobic when I’m here, whereas the mountains give me a sense of freedom.” Cool hasn’t looked back since embarking on his first adventure, but his chosen occupation isn’t without its perils. In 1996, a handhold broke while he was climbing a Welsh slate quarry, and he fell, breaking both his heels, with lasting damage to his gait. Cool’s endurance and resilience are commendable; to achieve their 2013 challenge of climbing not only Everest, but the two huge mountains next to it in one insane trip, a jubilant, weakened Cool returned two stone lighter than when he set out less than a week earlier. In fact, even his first visit to Everest and the Himalayas saw him push through immense hardship. “During the second year of university, a couple of us started to put an expedition together and off we went. Within 24 hours of landing there I picked up some hideous tummy infection and was sick pretty much every day for five weeks, but we had a fabulous time. We got three climbs done in the space of about five weeks, and I loved the adventure of it all. I fell in love with the Himalayas as soon as I got there.” Cool was understandably devastated by the earthquake earlier this year that hit Nepal. “I’d been in Kathmandu the week before and it was a huge shock. Everybody knew there was a big earthquake due at some point, unfortunately there is another due to release the tension under the earth’s crust there, we just don’t know when. On a personal level, I work very closely with a team of Sherpas on Everest and unfortunately three of them lost their lives in the disaster this year. It certainly makes you reflect on what we do and why we do it.” In order to support the Nepalese, Cool encourages Westerners to keep on visiting; the influx of money will help both reconstruction and the tourism economy. “I think it’d be a shame if anybody decided not to go to Nepal because of what happened this year. The mountains are a wild place and no matter how great we think we are as a human race we will never
tame the mountains or our planet. It’s just such a shame that Nepal is a beautiful country with some wonderful people in it and it pains me that it’s going through this anguish. It may have dropped off the radar for people in the West now, but that agony is still continuing and they’re in the grip of the monsoon right now, many villages are being plagued with disease through dirty water, it’s desperately sad. “The trek to Everest base camp is wonderful, it should really be on everyone’s to-do list. Mesmerising scenery, the Sherpa people are lovely, now more than ever it’s important we go back to Nepal to help their rebuilding. You need to be physically fit, and because you’re trekking at quite high altitude it does stress your body so you need to be aware of that, but you don’t have Olympic fitness standard.” As a father of two young children, Cool may have some time to wait before he takes his family up the mountain with him, but it sounds like they’re in training already – if riding on their dad’s shoulders counts. “My daughter has just turned five, and she wants to climb Pen y Fan in the Brecon Beacons so we’ve got an expedition up there in October time. As a father I’d like to support the children in anything they choose to do, but if they want to go rock climbing or to share the wonderful mountain experiences I’ve had, I’d love that.” Cool’s latest venture is a little more sedentary: he’s penning his autobiography One Man’s Everest. Even thinking back over his adventures has been an epic journey, taking Cool back to trepidatious moments in Alaska, the Himalayas, the Alps and more. “I’ve tried to be very honest in it,” he says. “The title, One Man’s Everest, is almost like a metaphor for whatever you want it to be. I try to get across what the mountains mean to me, and hopefully I can encourage other people into adventure and into challenging themselves, because Everest can be whatever it is for you: a bike challenge, overcoming a phobia, anything. “I’ve included stories about some of the climbs I’ve done and why, there’s funny stories in there, there’s also serious points. My love affair with Nepal and the desperate condition they’re in at the moment since the earthquake, it’s been quite therapeutic for me to write.” Cool’s mountaineering feats go on and on; from his first reach of summit in 2004, to taking an Olympic medal to the summit of Everest to mark the London 2012 Games, and beyond. He may be a veteran, but Cool says he will never tire of the mountains. “It’s such a special place, Everest, and it sounds clichéd but the view is so breathtaking, the air is so clear, every time I get up there I feel very privileged to be there.” ‘One Man’s Everest’, £20, Preface, amazon.com
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| feature |
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The Full Monte Being a billionaire can be a tough business. Jennifer Mason took to the waves at the Monaco Yacht Show to discover what it’s like to live the lifestyle of the rich and famous
M
onaco. The word conjures up images of wealth and status; of princesses and Hollywood movie stars; of high-adrenaline Formula 1 racing; of supercars lining the streets – and, of course, of the glamorous gatherings of the rich, powerful and beautiful aboard some of the world’s most impressive superyachts. Let’s set aside for a moment its taxhaven status, because there are many other aspects of life in Monaco that make it so popular with the wealthier echelons of society. The Michelin-starred restaurants, the five-star hotels and the couture catwalks that constitute its shopping streets are tempting for tourists and residents alike, but let’s be honest, it’s the marina and its floating palaces that are the real draw. I’ve jetted down for the weekend (via a thrilling helicopter ride from Nice airport – a transfer option I thoroughly
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recommend) to peruse the final day of the Monaco Yacht Show; an annual event celebrating all things super and seaworthy. After checking in to my room at the Hôtel Hermitage Monte-Carlo and taking stock of the seaside spread from my Juliet balcony, I take a stroll down to the quayside to see these buoyant giants up close. There’s one superyacht in particular that I’ve journeyed to Monaco to explore; the 50m ‘Ann G’ by Heesen Yachts. I feel like a Bond girl as I luxuriate in the back of the tender transporting me out to where the Ann G is docked. It’s early evening of the last day of the show, and the sun is shining as I slip off my wedges to board the brand new superyacht. The sophisticated navy and white exterior of the Ann G (designed by Clifford Denn) sets it aside from the more traditional all-white craft, and the nautical colour scheme continues on the outer decks, where the smooth teak of the deck is a perfect foil
I feel like a Bond girl as I luxuriate in the back of the tender transporting me out to where the Ann G is docked
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| feature |
for the navy, white and turquoise colour scheme on the middle and upper levels. As the show draws to a close and we prepare to cast off for an evening cruise to Antibes, the peace is suddenly shattered by an ear-splitting cacophony of horns as the captains of the show’s exhibits toot loudly in honour of the closing of the festival. It’s our signal to be off; to the farewell salute of hundreds of show boats we cruise out of the harbour, glasses of Champagne in hand to toast Ann G’s success as one of the ‘must-see’ exhibits. As we push smoothly along the coastline, we’re invited on a behind-the-scenes tour of the Ann G’s interior, designed by Reymond Langton (with a little help from the superyacht’s very passionate owner). Rich Macassar ebony accented with stainless steel features make for a sumptuous interior design scheme, highlighted by warming touches of backlit white onyx and soft leather. The show-
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stopping features are, without a doubt, the real gold and white gold mosaics in the bathrooms, as well as the bespoke Art Deco-style chandelier that extends over two decks at the main staircase. As we finally pull up between two 100m giants in Antibes’ harbour, I reflect upon my experience; my ‘day in the life of ’ a superyacht owner. I must confess, owning one of these beauties had never been in my ‘lottery wish-list’ – until now, that is. Having spent a blissful few hours relaxing on a remarkably comfortable lounger under a fluffy blanket while being plied with Champagne, I can absolutely see the appeal. Cheers to life on the high seas. Or meandering slowly along the fabulous Côte d’Azur. Whichever floats your (super) boat. Helicopter transfer courtesy of The Monaco Government Tourist Authority, for more information, call +377 92 16 61 16 or visit visitmonaco.com; heesenyachts.com
A bespoke Art Decostyle chandelier extends over two decks at the main staircase
Main image The Ann G by Heesen Yachts exterior shots (Photo: Jeff Brown); above, from left Aboard the Ann G; image courtesy of Jennifer Mason (@jenniferjaffa-Instagram); The Ann G by Heesen Yachts exterior shots (Photo: Jeff Brown)
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| feature |
TOP TIPS FOR A WEEKEND IN MONACO
Eat at Yoshi, the first Joël Robuchon Japanese restaurant in the world, located at the famous Hôtel Metropole Monte-Carlo. Healthy, delicious and modern dishes in elegant surrounds designed by French interior architect Didier Gomez. Try the black cod; you won’t be disappointed. Walk to the Prince’s Palace of Monaco via a circuitous route. Rather than taking the busy steps directly up to the palace, brave the upward slope of Avenue de la Porte-Neuve and meander peacefully through the verdant parks surrounding the Musée océanographique. Pass by the cathedral and through the narrow winding streets of the old town en route to the palace and you’ll discover a whole different side to Monaco. Visit Odyssey at the Hôtel Metropole Monte-Carlo. Designed by Karl Lagerfeld, the space features sun loungers, lush gardens and a sun deck, all with the fashion icon’s unique stamp. Currently it’s only open to hotel guests or Métropole ESPA Monte-Carlo members, though, so make sure you’re on the right lists if you fancy a dip in this designer pool. CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT The Ann G by Heesen Yachts exterior shots (Photo: Jeff Brown); Image courtesy of Jennifer Mason (@jenniferjaffa-Instagram); Odyssey; Image courtesy of Jennifer Mason, as before
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T h e I tal Back in 2013, The City Magazine brought you an exclusive photo-shoot of the sleeper-hit of the year: the revelation that was the Alfa Romeo 4C. As the convertible Spider version hits UK roads, Richard Brown swaps the lighting rig for the driving seat
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| motoring |
ian Job
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T
here are two types of press launch following the unveiling of a new car. First, the motoring world is invited to give the car a thrashing. Second, something called the lifestyle press is summoned to pass judgement. In their write-ups, the motoring lot will talk about performance, handling and power-to-weight ratios. The lifestyle contingent report on stereo systems, the softness of leather and the fact that some of the stitching on one of the chairs was designed by Victoria Beckham. Considering our readers to be a cluedup bunch, many of whom we are sure dabble in a spot of motoring themselves, The City Magazine always endeavours to send a proper, bona fide car writer to the first round of reviews. Sometimes, though, the car calendar conspires against us and it happens that our roster of top-notch motoring journalists are all otherwise engaged. Which is what happened this summer. Which is why, when invited to test drive the new Alfa Romeo 4C Spider, instead of sending someone seasoned in the art of car thrashing, we sent me.
ABOVE Inside The Alfa Romeo Museum, Arese. Opened in June, the museum presents the history of the company across six fascinating floors, museoalfaromeo.com
Alfa Romeo 4C Spider THE VITALS Weight 940kg Engine 1750cc turbo Power 240/6000rpm Acceleration 0-62mph in 4.5 seconds Top speed 160mph Price from £59,500
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The Spider is shouty, pin-you-to-your-seatfast and has undeniable phwoar factor I’ve done it before. When the car in question is a family estate, with furry carpets and a concert-grade surroundsound system, there’s plenty for a lifestyle journo to talk about. When it’s an ultralightweight Italian convertible that tops out at 160mph, it’s a different ball game altogether. Now, as we all know, nothing raises a man’s heart rate quite like the prospect of being found out in front of a group of other men. The fact is especially true, you can take this from me, when you’re a lifestyle journo masquerading as a motoring guy and that group of men includes a PR team, a film crew and a bunch of Alfa Romeo anoraks who’ve darted out of the company’s new (and utterly brilliant-bythe-way) Milan-based museum to take photos of you. Thankfully, all that was required at Alfa’s test track was a couple of press shots. Which meant sticking to the bumper of the press vehicle in front and not ending the life of the photographer hanging out the back. This I managed with aplomb (see images for evidence). Dynamic race photos in the bag, Alfa HQ made way for Italy’s fabled open roads, where I absolutely gunned it. Just kiddng.
I could document the leisurely pace at which I spent the next two hours drinking in sunny Milan and drifting through the unfeasibly charming streets of Bergamo. But for anyone with serious intentions of ever owning this car, far better for me to explain what happened once we got to the winding hairpins of the hills surrounding nearby Nembro. Which is when Conor took the wheel. Conor is an ex-motoring journalist of more than ten years who is now Alfa Romeo’s top PR man. Conor is not, apparently, a former World Rally champion. Instead, he says, the way we meandered through the mountains in the hours that followed, swinging around hairpin after hairpin without once straying out of lane, owed everything to the heroics of the Spider, not to a secret rally driving past life. (N.b. I have since Googled Conor. His story stacks up.) Built around an ultra-lightweight carbon fibre shell, the 4C Spider weighs less than 950kg. That means it can do 0 to 62mph in less than 4.5 seconds. It takes just 36 metres to do the reverse. In real world terms that’s your face being smeared across your skull by 1.1G in acceleration and 1.25G under braking. The Spider has the kickback of a shotgun and sticks to the road like Weetabix to a bowl. What’s it like as a driver’s car? Better a driver tell you: Steve Cropley, editorin-chief of Autocar, says he’d rather take to the track in a 4C (coupé) than in any car made by Ferrari; BBC Auto describes the Spider as a “supercar that feels super even at legal highway speeds”; Jeremy Clarkson, most definitely a motoring journalist, gave the car six stars out of a possible five. Hammond loved the hard top too. How does the 4C make you feel? Back to the proper business of lifestyle journalism. I am not a racing driver. In the Spider, I felt like one. Uncluttered by the internal add-ons and exterior bulk of the majority of sports cars, the Spider is a purist’s car. It feels like you’re driving a track car on the road, rather than the other way around. The Spider is shouty, pin-you-to-yourseat-fast and has undeniable phwoar factor. Turning heads in the home of Ferrari, Lamborghini and Maserati is no mean feat. The 4C Spider did it at every turn. I have, surreptitiously, found myself in the driving seat of almost every model of Porsche and Aston Martin. In a Jaguar F-Type and Audi R8 too. Give me an afternoon and a stretch of Italian tarmac, though, and I’d choose the Alfa every time. Far more tellingly, so would Conor. alfaromeo.co.uk
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| motoring |
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Formula
for Success “P
ut a man in a dark room, he’s hot, it smells bad, versus a guy in a cool room, well-lit, smells nice... When you throw a decision at those two individuals, who’s going to be better equipped to effect good judgment and take a good decision?” That was the thinking of Ron Dennis, chairman and CEO of McLaren Automotive, talking
As the bolder, convertible big brother to the 12C, the 650S Spider is a car unconditionally geared towards performance to the International Herald Tribune in 2011 about McLaren’s brand new Woking-based HQ. The spaceage facility had been designed by Lord Foster for a reported cost of £300m. Dennis’ thinking has proven astute. In the four years since its completion, the facility has given birth
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McLaren’s 650S Spider is what happens when you inject road-legal F1 technology into a supercar, writes David Taylor
McLaren 650S Spider THE VITALS Weight 1,370kg Engine M838T 3.8 litre twin turbo V8 Power 650PS/7,250rpm Acceleration: 0-60mph in 2.9 seconds Top speed 204mph Price From £215,250
to the 12C, the P1, the 570S, the 675LT, the 650S, and this, the 650S Spider. As the bolder, convertible big brother to the 12C, the 650S Spider is a car unconditionally geared towards performance. From the steering to the asstandard carbon-fibre ceramic brake discs, the 650S is made-in-Britain technology personified.
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| motoring |
The City Magazine took one of the drop-deadgorgeous convertibles to this year’s Total 24 Hours of Spa. Throughout its history, McLaren has taken innovation from F1 and let it loose on the road. The 650S Spider is the evolution of that philosophy. The steering wheel is smaller than usual, the shape evoking something you’d find in F1. There are no buttons on the wheel, however, creating an organic relationship between driver and car. Speed is not compromised by the retractable roof: the Spider does 0-60 in 2.9 seconds and has a top speed of 204mph. When the roof is down, the design of the Spider means that any extra drag on the car is limited to a tiny 3 per cent. The roof can be raised or lowered at up to 19mph, so no more stopping on the hard shoulder to struggle in a sudden downpour. The ride is smooth with the roof raised, the thick back window muting the V8 twin turbo engine. But for best results, drive with the roof down: the roar almost ripped the pines off the Belgian conifers. An extra 52 litres of luggage space is available when the roof is raised. Helpful when you’ve got two crates of Belgian beer to get back. The 650S Spider sports a seven-speed, dual-clutch gearbox, which enhances gearshift speed and is controlled by an F1 style rocker shift paddle. Normal, Sport and Track modes offer a wide range of driving options. Good luck not flicking to Sport whenever the opportunity arises. mclaren.com
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McLaren: A History McLaren was established by legendary New Zealander Bruce McLaren in 1963, originally an engineer who competed in his first hill race aged 14. In 1968, with Bruce at the steering wheel, the McLaren F1 team picked up their first championship win at the Belgian Grand Prix, Spa. This began a driving success story, with 20 drivers’ and constructors’ titles in F1, total domination in Can-Am racing, and wins in Indianapolis and Le Mans. Ron Dennis took control in 1981 in a merger with his Project Four Racing team – the name lives on through the MP4 designation sported by all McLaren race cars. Dennis helmed the most successful period in McLaren’s history, with Niki Lauda, Alain Prost and Ayrton Senna winning seven drivers’ championships between them. In 1988, Prost and Senna won all but one of the year’s races. McLaren Automotive was founded in 1989 to take F1 technology onto the road. The company created the seminal McLaren F1 in 1993, at the time the world’s fastest road car.
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Go Get ’em, tayga Do you love your GT Continental but find yourself limited by its off-road capabilities? Does your current SUV just not have enough clout in the car park? Bentley has the answer Words: Jennifer Mason
I
n one of the biggest shake-ups to the Bentley brand in decades, it has recently unveiled its very first SUV. Named the Bentayga (pronounced ‘Ben-tie-guh’), the SUV takes its name from Roque Bentayga, a suitably rugged peak in the Canary Islands. Bentley describes its new beast as “the fastest, most powerful, most luxurious and most exclusive SUV in the world” – and with its new 6-litre, twin-turbocharged W12 TSI engine, which produces 600bhp, a top speed of 187mph and does 0-60 mph in just four seconds, the brand might have a point. “The Bentayga is the next step in our brand’s bold future,” said Wolfgang Dürheimer, chairman and chief executive of Bentley Motors. “It offers a genuine Bentley experience in any environment, thanks to a combination of unparalleled attention to detail, go-anywhere ability and cutting-edge technology.” Rumour has it that the first person to own a Bentayga when customer deliveries commence in early 2016 will be Her Majesty The Queen herself. The jury is out on what specs HM will choose for her model, but if the calibre of the first customer is anything to go by, you can expect the Bentayga waiting list to include some very high profile names indeed. The launch model will later be joined by a high-performance, clean technology diesel model, a plug-in hybrid, and a seven-seat option. bentleymotors.com
all-powerful An all-new twinturbocharged 6.0-litre W12 engine delivers a 0-60 mph time of 4.0 seconds and a top speed of 187 mph, making it the world’s fastest SUV to date.
urban assistance There are plenty of driver aids for urban roadsters; Traffic Sign Recognition (which does exactly what it says on the tin), Rear Crossing Traffic Warning (radar technology that helps lazy parkers) and Top View, which uses four cameras to display an overall picture of the Bentayga’s surroundings.
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| motoring |
looking glass Passengers will enjoy the Bentayga’s panoramic glass roof, which comes as standard. The 1.35m2 glass feature makes up almost 60 per cent of the total roof surface and is split into two panes; the front of which tilts and slides.
ear to the ground
tech savvy Other innovations include Park Assist (with autonomous steering to support parking manoeuvres), Electronic Night Vision, which uses infra-red technology to identify potential obstacles ahead – and a Head Up display to reduce driver distraction.
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Bentayga owners can choose between three different sound systems, one of which, Naim for Bentley Premium Audio, is the most powerful system available, offering a network of 18 speakers and super-tweeters for unrivalled recreation of the highest audio frequencies.
back seat bliss The two individual rear seats have 18 different adjustable settings, including a massage function and footrests.
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TECH TALK
Essential apparatus for keeping ahead of the curve
The devil’s in the detail TV technology is constantly evolving. 4K Ultra HD TV offers four times as much detail as 1080p – with eight million pixels compared to a practically stone-age two million. Here are some of the best offerings for the future of super television...
Smart capabilities: Catch-up TV and streaming
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oewe’s Reference UHD TV partners high performance with high elegance. It is impeccably designed, with a minimalist aluminium frame and a class-leading internal soundbar that cuts down on clutter. The Reference includes an inbuilt 1TB hard drive to pause, record and archive as much TV as you can handle. Anti-reflective, highcontrast glass creates a crisp but natural picture, and a free app lets you use your tablet while streaming TV, so whenever you look up from Angry Birds, the picture looking back at you will be more defined than ever.
Eight internal speakers driven by 120 Watts of amplification
Loewe
Instant channel zapping means no more waiting for the next channel to load
Reference 4K UHD TV Price: From £3,800 Screen size: 55”/85” Screen type: LED Audio output: 120W loewe.tv
checking out the competition
Panasonic
Samsung
Viera TX-CX802B
JS9500
Price: From £1,499 Screen size: 40”/50”/55”/65” Screen type: LCD Audio output: 60W panasonic.com
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Price: From £3,699 Screen size: 65”/78”/88” Screen type: LED Audio output: 60W samsung.com
LG EC960V Price: From £2,999 Screen size: 55”/65” Screen type: OLED Audio output: 20W lg.com
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| lifestyle |
E-surf’s Up
The Personal Touch
Waves are old news: Spanish brand Onean has created two electric jet boards for adrenaline junkies who can’t get to the coast. The boards work on all flat water, meaning there are no more excuses for falling in. The battery is rechargeable and environmentally friendly. The boards – Carver for serious surfers, and Manta for a more relaxed adventurer – are available for pre-order now. Get moving if you want one – stocks are limited for the first batch. Carver £2,500, Manta £2,700, Onean, onean.com
The new Signature Touch from Vertu brings an extra element of English luxury to your smartphone. It looks incredible: designed and built in England, with four colours and eight different textured leathers to choose from, a premium grade titanium body and a sapphire glass screen. The specs are equally impressive: with an octo-core processor, 4GB of RAM, a 21-megapixel camera that can shoot video in 4K, and 64GB of storage that can be boosted to 2TB with a microSD card. A bespoke concierge service is also available. Signature Touch, £6,500, Vertu, vertu.com
time for tradition
Pebble’s latest venture into the smartwatch market is the Pebble Time Round. A follow up to this year’s Time and Time Steel, this watch has a more traditional round face and is the lightest, thinnest smartwatch around – 7.5mm thick and only an ounce of weight around your wrist. Battery life is down from earlier models, but a fifteen minute charge will last a day, and a full charge gives you double that. The watch also boasts an e-colour paper display and works with Android and iPhone handsets as usual. Pebble starts shipping the Time Round to the UK mid-November. Time Round, £222, Pebble, pebble.com
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Simple Streaming The boffins at Fon Wireless have come up with a stylish, minimalist solution to streaming through your tired old speakers. Gramofon turns the gear you already own into a multi-room music streaming system. Simply plug the little black box into your system with the cable provided, connect to your home WiFi and stream from any mobile device. Fon is the creator of the world’s largest WiFi network of more than 14 million hotspots, and started Gramofon as a Kickstarter project. Over 4,800 backers helped bring it to life, and agreements with Spotify and AllPlay mean that you can stream from a plethora of music services. Plug a Gramofon box into each of your speaker systems, connect to the network, and enjoy a quality multiroom music experience. Gramofon, £44, Fon, gramofon.com
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HOW MUCH IS TOO MUCH INFORMATION? Mark and Hannah Hayes-Westall have been working in, and writing about, contemporary art for almost 20 years. Each month they introduce an artist who should appear on your agenda
This month: FRANCES STARK LEFT Agonizing yet Blissful, 2001. Image courtesy of Galerie Buchholz, Cologne & Berlin BELOW, RIGHT Bobby Jesus’s Alma Mater b/w Reading the Book of David and/or Paying Attention is Free (Multichannel projection with sound, inkjet mural, and takeaway offset posters), 2013. Image courtesy Marc Foxx Gallery, Los Angeles, photo by Brian Conley
her from producing art in the studio. The sex chat piece, My Best Thing came from exploring the fleetingly famous and famously rude Chat Roulette app, and while it began as a divertingly saucy pastime, the strength of feeling, and the wide ranging ‘post-coital’ conversations between the artist and two of her online partners, both Italians, led her to a piece of work that vividly captures both the sense of disenfranchisement of an underemployed generation (the suggestion being that the
“There’s just no separation for me in terms of what is personal and what is my art” What’s so interesting? In an age of oversharing, it’s rare that we are confronted with art work of a level of openness that causes us discomfort, rarer still that this openness is used as a teaching tool. But then it’s a rare teacher who admits that she herself is learning as she goes along, and it’s exactly this sentiment that informs Californian artist and poet Frances Stark’s work. Having risen to international attention with a film piece that recreated her own online sex chats in animation, she has just been awarded the prestigious Absolut Art Award, which funds an artist to create a piece of work and will soon present a ‘pedagogical opera’, an opera about the act of teaching. If an opera about the act of teaching sounds as if it might be a little dry, the artist herself makes this prospect unlikely. A self-confessed work-avoider, the surprisingly productive Stark has repeatedly found her way into interesting concepts and startling executions through the very things she is using to divert
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reason so many people are in chat rooms is because they are not in work) and a new way of thinking about how friendships are formed with and without commercial platforms mediating them. Unsurprisingly, the piece was one of the most talked about at 2011’s Venice Biennale and continues to draw huge audiences on the rare occasions it is screened. Focused on understanding her own artistic motivations, Stark has said: “There’s
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| art & interiors |
just no separation for me in terms of what is personal and what is my art.” A lot of her work derives from her extensive reading around the divergence between the interior and exterior states of creatives and the work that results. She has worked with carbon paper to hand-trace letters, words, and sentences from classic works by Emily Dickinson, Goethe, Henry Miller, Samuel Beckett and others to explore the voices and interior states of writers. She uses the hand-traced words, often in repetition, as visual motifs in drawings and collage compositions that reference a subject, mood, or another discipline, such as music, architecture or philosophy. One of life’s natural teachers, Stark recently resigned her role as tenured professor at the University of Southern California’s Roski School of Fine Arts. However, her art work continues to teach, sometimes using tactics that shock. In 2011, her interest in Jamaican dancehall culture developed into a piece that explored the different ideas of the artist as a public performer and private contemplator. In Put a Song In Your Thing, Stark collaborated with the dancehall star Skerrit Bwoy, famed for his ‘daggering’, a style of dance that simulates sex of the most athletic type, for a confrontational performance designed to teach the audience, and by extension the art world, to understand its role in obliging the private face of the artist to become public. Stark first read poetry from behind a screen, denying the audience the
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FIND the WORK Frances Stark is represented by Gavin Brown’s enterprise in New York (gavinbrown.biz), greengrassi in London (greengrassi.com), Marc Foxx in Los Angeles (marcfoxx.com) and Galerie Buchholz in Berlin (galeriebuchholz.de)
‘public’ face of the artist, and then engaged in an energetic daggering performance with Skerrit Bwoy, all the while dressed in a ‘naked suit’ challenging the idea that the private life of the artist should be visible at all times. Frances Stark is the author or subject of nine books. Her collage, drawings, videos, PowerPoints, performances and paintings have been extensively exhibited in museums and galleries worldwide. Her solo 2015 exhibitions include a large-scale survey at The Hammer Museum in Los Angeles and a survey of her video and digital works at The Art Institute of Chicago. Stark’s work has been included in exhibitions at many of the most prominent museums in the world. She participated in the 2013 Carnegie International, the 2011 Venice Biennale and the 2008 Whitney Biennial.
ABOVE Behold Man!, 2013. Image courtesy of the artist and greengrassi, London, photo by Andy Keate RIGHT Pull after “Push”, 2010. Image courtesy of greengrassi, London, photo by Robert Wedemeyer
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RADON FLOOR LAMP Though the Radon floor lamp boasts a simple yet sleek design, its functionality is what earns it a top spot in our line-up. Featuring a multi-directional shade that’s furnished with an asymmetrical reflector, the Radon ensures light spreads out precisely to the surfaces where it’s required. £439, skandium.com
DRAW THE LINE
Classic lines and contemporary prints form the basis of a timeless but edgy interior. Update your otherwise neutral home with pops of personality from the best in the business words: tiffany eastland
ASHBEE THROW Dress up a simple sofa and add a touch of texture with the Ashbee Cobalt throw. Made from 100 per cent merino lambswool, the thought of hibernating throughout the winter has never seemed so appealing. The Ashbee is available in two colours and can be coordinated with the bestselling Astor Bedding range. £145, designersguild.com
METEORE CUSHION Give a classic sofa the contemporary edge, with the Meteore cushion from French favourite Descamps. Featuring a striking black and white geometric pattern, this super soft cushion, made from 100 per cent cotton satin, makes for the perfect autumn/winter update. £65, amara.com
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| art & interiors | bronze nest of tables When interiors firm Ezralow Design and Italian brand Orsi collaborate, you know you’re in for something special, and the Bronze collection is certainly testament to this. Crafted from high gloss sycamore with bronze accents, the design highlight is a stunning removable table top in grey parchment. £5,920, luxdeco.com
idle tracks print Like her other works, this limited-edition of 50 screenprints by Rebecca King draws attention to people in our ever-evolving cities. The patchworks of abstractions encourage viewers to stand back and appreciate the modern city in its speed and immensity. £180, modernartbuyers.com
grace sofa When I hear Grace, I immediately think Kelly – refined, elegant and timeless. It therefore seems rather fitting that this gorgeous grey sofa’s name be Grace. Handmade to order, Andrew Martin’s Grace sofa can be upholstered in any fabric, for a truly bespoke finish. £1,595, andrewmartin.co.uk
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flower colour vase The Flower Colour is a collectable range of handmade vases designed by Monika LubkowskaJonas for LSA International. The collection consists of various shapes including the above, which was designed to complement short stems throughout all seasons. £36, lsa-international.com
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window galleries The Art and Design Window Galleries located in Canada Place showcase up-and-coming artists, designers and craftspeople. Showing this month are:
VISUAL ARTS Take a break to explore and enjoy Canary Wharf’s temporary exhibitions and permanent art collection around the estate
unTil 13 November 2015 Lobby, One Canada Square and Jubilee Park, Canary Wharf Open daily / FREE
The Multiple Store @ Canary Wharf
Willem Weismann Art, Canada Walk Willem Weismann from Tower Hamlets is this year’s winner of the East London Painting Prize, which celebrates the talent of local artists. Created by the Foundation for FutureLondon and Bow Arts Trust, the prize is supported by the Goldhill Family and the Zabludowicz Collection. Willem has created a new body of work that evokes the absorption of reading. bowarts.org/elpp
This exhibition celebrates The Multiple Store and the wealth of ‘multiple’ editions it has commissioned from major British artists since 1998, when it was set up as a not-for-profit organisation to support artists and encourage a culture of collecting. Thanks to this founding principle, people are able to purchase high quality editioned works by contemporary artists at accessible prices. The Multiple Store encourages Corinne Felgate Baby’s got the Wedgwood Blues its artists to experiment with materials and processes, and among the exhibits in One Canada Square are sculptural works in a range of media including oak, cast plastic, brass, blown glass, pulped paper and neon light. One of the multiples is displayed in nearby Jubilee Park, together with four other large-scale sculptures, all by artists with a multiple in One Canada Square. Brought together under The Multiple Store’s umbrella, these works reflect the vitality, innovation and diversity in the practice of British artists over this important period in contemporary art. All editions are for sale. Please visit themultiplestore.org or contact Nicholas Sharp nick@themultiplestore.org / 07760 666518.
Barbora Rybarova Design, Jubilee Walk Drawing on traditional techniques acquired from skilled South American artisans, Barbora’s sculptural jewellery merges her passion for untamed natural landscapes with inspiration from her daily urban surroundings. She uses recycled and Fair Trade metal combined with carefully selected gems to create beautiful jewellery for any occasion. Barborarybarova.com
Liliane Lijn Lost Koan in Jubilee Park (by day)
Liliane Lijn Lost Koan in Jubilee Park (by night)
EVENTS
Enjoy Canary Wharf’s packed schedule of events and entertainment this November
RSC Live – Henry V Captured live from the RSC Stratford-upon-Avon
coming in december
Henry IV is dead and Hal is King. With England in a state of unrest, he must leave his rebellious youth behind, striving to gain the respect of his nobility and people. Laying claim to parts of France and following an insult from the French Dauphin, Henry gathers his troops and prepares for a war that he hopes will unite his country. RSC Artistic Director Gregory Doran continues his exploration of Shakespeare’s History Plays with Henry V performed in the 600th anniversary year of the Battle of Agincourt. Following his performance as Hal in Henry IV Parts I & II Alex Hassell returns as Henry V. Tuesday 10 November, East Wintergarden, 43 Bank Street, Canary Wharf, 7pm (doors 6.30pm), £10*
In Concert with… Huey Morgan – An evening of music, humour and tales An exclusive UK performance from frontman and lead guitarist from Fun Lovin’ Criminals plus special guests! Huey Morgan plays music from his solo career plus tracks from Fun Lovin’ Criminals and is joined on stage with special guest Pete Levin and Fun Lovin’ Criminals band mates, ‘The Rhythm Man’ Frank Benini and ‘King’ Brian Leiser. Join us at the East Wintergarden for a one-off exclusive evening with Huey Morgan on Monday 9 November. Monday 9 November, East Wintergarden, 43 Bank Street, Canary Wharf, 7pm (doors 6.30pm), £20*
ice rink canary wharf Skate amongst the twinkling trees beneath Canary Wharf ’s striking backdrop and experience London’s only skate path, a glittering trail beneath fairy-lit trees – the perfect place for a romantic date, a family day out or to have fun with friends. After skating, indulge in some delicious winter warmers at the Ice Rink bar, The Tasting Room, offering you the best of artisan food and drink. Skating tickets are on sale now so book ahead or take advantage of the special offer to buy 10 tickets and get one free. For more information or to book email events@icerinkcanarywharf.co.uk For all the latest Canary Wharf news, promotions and events follow us on twitter @yourcanarywharf Details correct at time of publication but may be subject to change. Getting to Canary Wharf couldn’t be easier - travel on public transport via Jubilee Line, DLR Canary Wharf or Heron Quays or the Thames Clippers river bus or there are four underground public car parks at Canary Wharf. At weekends and Bank Holidays you can enjoy 3 hours’ free parking in any of our public car parks when you spend £10 at any of Canary Wharf’s shops, cafés, bars or restaurants. Or spend £10 in Waitrose Fashion, Food & Home Monday to Friday and enjoy 2 hours’ free parking.
Carols & Candles Enjoy the festive and community spirit at the Canary Wharf Carols & Candles Service, a special service for those working in and around Canary Wharf and their families. Carols will be led by the combined choirs from Canary Wharf tenants as well as members of the Canary Wharf Community Choir. All proceeds from this years’ service go to support a local Tower Hamlets charity Streets of Growth, leading youth intervention charity transforming the lifestyles of young communities living in East London and the international charity Article 25, the UK’s leading architectural aid charity. Article 25 design, manage and deliver sustainable building solutions in areas affected by disaster, poverty and need. Tuesday 15th December 2015 Service 1: 5.30pm (Doors open at 5pm) and Service 2: 7.30pm (Doors open at 7pm) Venue: East Wintergarden, Canary Wharf Ticket Details: FREE – maximum four tickets per person To reserve your free tickets please visit canarywharf.com
TICKETS
www.seetickets.com* 0871 220 0260* Tickets available on the door subject to availability *Booking fee applies **Maximum 6 tickets per order.
EAST WINTERGARDEN
43 Bank Street, Canary Wharf, E14 5NX. Only items purchased on the premises may be consumed
www.canarywharf.com
@yourcanarywharf
LASTING IMPRESSIONS
As the festive season approaches, Jo O’Donoghue looks at Waddesdon Wine to provide a range of high-status corporate gift options with some serious wine world backing
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ou’ll know the names; you’ll have heard them spoken before with a sort of reverence – a knowing appreciation. The silky-smooth splendour of the world’s finest wines, palpable in the very utterance of their names: Château Lafite, Château Mouton, and – of course – the Rothschild name itself. “Lafite was purchased by Baron James de Rothschild in 1868 and has ever since been owned and managed by the Rothschild family,” Chris Campbell, CEO at Waddesdon Wine says, stepping down into the softly lit cellars beneath the magnificent architecture of Waddesdon Manor, Aylesbury. “Today, both Lafite Rothschild and Mouton Rothschild are still amongst the very finest wines produced in the world – and have global appeal.” Gazing across the wine cellar, the history, heritage and sheer value of the wine inside is almost unbelievable; it’s certainly very impressive. Much to my amusement, Chris doesn’t enjoy the word ‘heritage’ – passionate about the incredible wines produced by the Rothschild vineyards from all the world’s major wine regions, to him they’re very much modern masterpieces – not relics of a bygone
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LAFITE HOLDS THE TOP SPOT FOR HUNDREDS OF YEARS While the first known reference to Lafite dates to 1234, it was in the 1750s at the Court of Louis XV that Lafite was served by Madame du Barry and Madame de Pompadour, henceforth to be known as the ‘King’s Wine’. 100 years later, the vintage rankings for the Universal Exposition of 1855 in Paris (used today as the official classification of the Medoc wines), officially gave Lafite the status of ‘Leader among fine wines’.
age. Wine is for drinking, after all; he’s right there. Being known as the ‘King’s wine’ is obviously something of an honour – and not one to be dismissed – but perhaps more interesting here, is the opportunity to share in, and share with others, the Rothschild wine experience. Thanks to a simple and straightforward presentation and ordering system refined for 2015, this year companies in the City can enjoy a handpicked collection of superb wines, beautifully packaged and smoothly delivered for seasonal corporate gifting. For companies, here stands an opportunity to align their name – their ‘brand’ if you will – with the Rothschild lineage, through a spectacular Christmas corporate gift option, which will more than make the grade with wine-lovers. “Waddesdon Wine brings together all the wines produced by the illustrious Rothschild family straight from the châteaux caves and packages the wines for corporate gifting,” explains Chris, lifting one of the most popular wines – CARO, Rothschild’s offering from the Mendoza region of Argentina – out of the wooden
| FEATURE |
“I had to cook a dinner glorious enough to complement the Lafite. It took four days” Gael Greene, New York Magazine, 1970
presentation box in which it is delivered. “This direct from the châteaux approach ensures all the wines are in pristine condition, bringing together the Rothschild wines from Chile, South Africa, Argentina, New Zealand, the South of France and, of course, Bordeaux. “Waddesdon Wine cuts the time and expense of the ‘middleman’, ensuring your package is dispatched from the cellars at Waddesdon to your client’s address within a few days, with a unique card and note.” And bringing Waddesdon Wine firmly into the 21st century, don’t assume the finest options are limited to traditional Bordeaux. This summer, James Suckling, one of the most revered wine critics, scored the relatively young CARO 98 points out of 100, describing the wine as possessing “incredible aromas […] spectacular nose […] such finesse” – it’s set to be one of the
most popular gift options for Christmas 2015, impressing clients with its Rothschild origins and delighting the palate. “Not only do the Rothschilds produce some of the finest Bordeaux wines, but their new world ventures are also achieving exceptional results at a fraction of the price of the Grand Vin,” enthuses Chris, unable to disguise his (well-earned) pride in Rothschild wines, both old and new. This festive season, gift your clients the highest quality wines, while aligning your name with the prestigious Rothschild house, and you’ll be ensuring a merry Christmas for all. For more information or to place an order, call 01296 653 318 or email sales@waddesdonwine.co.uk
PERSONAL RECOMMENDATIONS FROM CHRIS CAMPBELL:
The Argentinian Trio, £62 “The high altitude vines in Mendoza lead to an elegant and powerful red that really hits the spot; CARO is our Grand Vin”
Mouton Cadet Jeroboam, £130 “Containing nearly seven bottles of wine in one, with the original 1830 label, this smooth Mouton Cadet is exclusive to Waddesdon Wine and is best enjoyed with beef or lamb”
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Taste the Difference Each autumn, the kitchens of The Dolder Grand hotel, Zurich, turn into a battleground as twelve of Europe’s top chefs display their talents in The Epicure gourmet festival. Nick Savage visits for the grand finale
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| travel |
T
he sun is just approaching its zenith a few moments before noon and I’m breathing fresh Swiss air as I pedal a mountain bike along the sun-dappled gravel lanes around Mt Adlisberg in a last-ditch effort to burn some calories. An epic lunch is imminent. The Dolder Grand, a city resort in the foothills southwest of Zurich, is hosting twelve chefs from across Europe with a modest 27 Michelin stars between them. Spearheaded by The Dolder’s own Heiko Nieder, who himself earned two Michelin stars for his work in the kitchens, ‘The Epicure’ has them squaring off against one another in the grand hotel’s techie new Golf Wing, with each chef and team fronting their restaurant by creating an iconic dish. There has been an air of anticipation with a soupcon of competitiveness suffusing the hotel kitchens throughout the weekend. Two days earlier, I arrive at The Dolder late on a Friday afternoon, my taxi wending its way up a steep drive peppered with Bentleys, Ferraris and Lamborghinis, overshadowed by the triple-spired rooftop of the hotel. Before I have the opportunity to admire the manicured grounds of the golf course, my luggage is whisked away to my room, and I pass original works by Pissarro, Hirst, Warhol and Dalí to a terrace where Massimo Bottura, looking rather saintly in his chef ’s whites, is delivering a sermon on the eight-course menu he’s to serve that evening with Nieder. The three Michelin-
SECOND FROM TOP Chef Quique Dacosta; THIRD FROM TOP Chefs Heiko Nieder and Gert De Mangeleer BELOW The chefs competing in The Epicure grand final
starred chef has dominated the 50 World’s Best list for half a decade and is speaking as eloquently of his new book as he is of his signature dessert. His speech concludes in a hasty peroration as he returns to the kitchens, and I kill time familiarising myself with The Dolder. Originally constructed in 1899 as a ‘Curhaus’ or health spa, from 2004-2008 it had been transformed into an awardwinning city resort with a renovation from London architect Norman Foster, the man responsible for the Gherkin and Wembley Stadium. Two entire new wings have been added, including the aforementioned Golf Wing and the Spa Wing, where my suite is located. I’m taken aback by the vastness of the room as I enter it, which really consists of four separate areas: changing room, shower, bathroom and bedroom. As with the rest of the hotel, the technology is avant-garde. A panel of buttons remotely controls curtains, blackout shades and retractable awnings above the wrap-around terrace, under which guests macerate in an extensive network of whirlpools. The next morning, with bleary eyes and a full stomach, I take the funicular down into the city for a stroll. It runs directly from the hotel and takes about fifteen minutes to reach Zurich’s Aldstadt, or Old Town. Within a few hours, I’ve taken in Chagall’s stained glass windows at the Fraümunster Church, Europe’s largest clock face at the St Peter Church, walked along the Limmat River and admired the Grossmünster and
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I enjoy bone marrow and frittaten soup beneath an original work by Chagall
TOP Chefs Heiko Nieder and Quique Dacosta
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| travel |
Opera House, inadvertently working up an appetite along the way. The Kronenhalle is as much a historic institution as any of the above. Since 1924 it has been feeding the most celebrated aesthetes of the past century, with everybody from Yves Sant Laurent to James Joyce to Lauren Bacall padding their stomachs in its handsome, darkwoodpanelled dining room. I enjoy bone marrow and frittaten soup beneath an original work by Chagall, with others by Miro, Matisse and Rodin in close proximity. The matriarch is as much a fixture of the restaurant as the paintings, engaging patrons in an easy badinage. Chronology becomes a bit more nebulous as the day advances. I leave a wine tasting. I dine on rosti and ribeye seared on a hot-stone in Adlisberg – former stables repurposed as a rustic restaurant. The evening comes to a close with cocktails in the bar, where faux candles are suspended from the ceiling in a manner that recalls Harry Potter. A piano player belts out covers of David Bowie and Jimmy Cliff whilst world-class chefs and their coteries knock back nightcaps.
For £200, I have the opportunity to sample the cooking of chefs I’ve been dying to try The next morning I am torn between kicking back in The Dolder’s awardwinning spa or getting some fresh air and exercise. I take the virtuous path, or rather cycle along it, in preparation for The Epicure. The gastronomy festival is everything that everybody expected, and great value at that. For 298 CHF (about £200), I have the opportunity to sample the cooking of chefs that I’ve been dying to try but hadn’t been able to due to the inevitable time and monetary constraints. On a trip to Oslo earlier in the year I hadn’t managed to secure a booking at Maaemo, so there is an added savour to chef Esben Holmboe Bang’s superb venison. I enjoy dishes from culinary heavy-hitters such as Joachim Wissler, Jean Sulpice, Tim Raue and Arnaud Bignon, not to mention the man who put everything together, Heiko Nieder. In the end, a quick jaunt on a mountain bike isn’t enough to offset the calories, but The Epicure is worth outgrowing a pair of jeans for. The Epicure takes place every autumn. For 2016 dates, please visit thedoldergrand.com, Fly to Zurich with SWISS (swiss.com), which offers up to 19 daily flights from London Heathrow, London City, Birmingham and Manchester. Fares from £147.
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A
s first impressions go, nothing could top the moment I met the President and CEO of Canada’s most prestigious train operator. Proffering a strong handshake, he bellowed: “Hi, I’m Randy.” Initially unsure whether this was an introduction or a statement, his colleague quickly introduced him as Randy Powell, the man responsible for running the Rocky Mountaineer rail company. Celebrating their 25th anniversary this year, the firm had invited a group of international media to join them on the inaugural journey of the season from Vancouver to Banff. It was an offer I wasn’t going to turn down. And so I found myself drinking Guinness in Gastown, Vancouver’s liveliest neighbourhood. It’s sort of like a Canadian Shoreditch, but with more style. Rocky Mountaineer had kindly given us two nights in Vancouver before we jumped aboard, affording our group some time to explore a little of British Columbia’s selfconfident capital. Sadly though, in the end I spent a fraction of my time in central Vancouver, but I can at least advise that night owls should head to Gastown for fun and hangovers. The district is full of characterful bars, pubs and restaurants, not to mention a decent smattering of cannabis vendors and bohemian types. The atmosphere was electric.
Go tell it on the For an experience you’ll never forget, take a train through Canada’s most majestic landscapes, writes James Lawrence
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The following morning we travelled to Sewell’s Marina in British Columbia’s Horseshoe Bay for a Sea Safari boat tour. Donning protective waterproof gear everyone looked ridiculous, which thankfully also meant that no one did. The promised highlights – orcas and dolphins – sadly never materialised, instead our captain treated us to a surfing lesson, riding the wake of a passing cruise ship. As exhilarating as riding a roller-coaster, our ship crashed through wave after wave, in fact, we almost lost one of our crew. We then headed over to Squamish, which is more fun than it sounds. At the base of the town, a spectacular Sea-to-Sky gondola climbs unfeasibly high above the mountain peaks to ferry passengers to the hiking trails and alfresco restaurant terrace that sits on top. Lunch with amazing views and we hadn’t even boarded our train yet. Later that evening we dined at Vancouver’s
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trendiest Italian joint, CinCin, before retiring to bed early – jet lag and early starts are a nightmare combination. Our temporary abode, The Fairmont Hotel Vancouver, was very plush indeed and the entire organisation of our transfer to the Rocky Mountaineer the next morning was seamless. Check-in is quick and painless, your luggage quickly tagged and waiting for you at the next point of call. The train ride itself, however, was anything but efficient, you board the Rocky Mountaineer to appreciate stunning scenery, not to reach your destination in a hurry. But then, in an age where speed is everything, the Rocky Mountaineer invokes a bygone era of leisurely sophistication – what it lacks in speed it makes up for in style. I’ll never forgot my first glimpse of what is arguably the world’s most luxurious train, standing majestically outside Vancouver’s central station. The feather in their cap is the top-tier Gold Leaf service; these carriages were installed in 1995 and offer levels of comfort comparable to first class air travel. They provide guests an exclusive dining car with a full gourmet menu and matching wines, an all-day bar
Rocky Mountaineer invokes a bygone era of leisurely sophistication
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| travel |
service, and a two-level, glass-domed coach with full length windows. The lower tier package, Silver Leaf, offers passengers a more competitively priced product but less comfort; you live and dine in a one-storey carriage, but the standards of food and service are essentially identical. Our two day journey retraced the historic Canadian Pacific Railway route, which united the country by connecting British Columbia to the rest of Canada back in the 1800s. Pulling out of Vancouver station, we were served a delicious hot breakfast which was typical of all our meal experiences; great food served by a team of affable and professional staff. However, despite the salubrious surroundings, mass panic soon set in after one of our group discovered there was no Wi-Fi on board. “I’m so sorry,” said our host without a hint of sincerity. “People actually have to talk to each other on these trips.” Which, incidentally, was the most refreshing aspect of the experience, instead of hiding in the ubiquitous social media, everyone mixed, ate too to wish us well. Still, we couldn’t feel too sorry for much, exchanged stories and bonded. It was a lovely ABOVE The legendary Fairmont ourselves – the famous Fairmont Banff Springs hotel repetition of the same routine, a group of strangers Banff Springs, fairmont.com/banff-springs would be our home for two nights. One of Canada’s thrown together and forced to socialise for 12 hours top resorts, the hotel strongly invoked memories of each day. For voyeurism is the ultimate pleasure of Gleneagles with its grandiose, castle-like architecture, train travel – the lives of others caught unawares: An emphasis on golf tourism and ornate public areas. Australian family who kept discussing the failing of Service was similarly spot-on. us Brits (I got my own back), a newly-wed couple who Rocky Mountaineer, ever the gracious hosts, let could scarcely keep their hands off each other. It made us decide how we would spend our final day and for an entertaining journey. evening in Banff. Some chose to ski, some went hiking The first leg of the trip was an exercise in contrasts, and others hoped to see bears (which they did). I just as we made our way from Vancouver 285 miles east to relaxed and sampled what the hotel offered, not least Kamloops, a small town on the edge of the BC border. the exemplary spa with over five different pools and Lush coastal forest and mountains turn to high desert landscape by the end of the day; highlights included Avalanche Alley, Jackass Mountain, yes that’s correct, Jaws of Death Gorge, and Hell’s Gate – the narrowest part of the Fraser River, where 200 gallons of water rush through every minute. Our journey reached its initial conclusion in Kamloops, a humdrum, isolated rural town with little state-of-the-art gymnasium. Our group enjoyed one to recommend, other than the fact that it provides final opportunity to socialise that evening with a night’s sleep before the following morning’s early cocktails, canapés, and far too much fizz. departure. “I bet the locals amuse themselves by And so I left Banff for Calgary airport pulling the legs off spiders,” one fellow journalist slightly worse for wear, but with remarked. Actually, that’s not quite fair, we imbibed A two-day trip from the privilege of having seen the too many beers in Kamloops’ leading (and only) bar Vancouver to Banff on Rocky Canadian Rockies both up close cum-micro-brewery before enjoying a pleasant Mountaineer Gold Leaf service and from an altitude of 35,000ft. enough dinner at Terra, which specialises in starts at approx. £1,100. Rocky And I can safely say that gazing farm-to-table food and local wines. Mountaineer operates five rail routes. at those majestic peaks from Day two would take us to Banff, and the rockymountaineer.com; Fly to Canada with above pales in comparison to journey’s most breathtaking highlight; the Air Canada which flies from Heathrow to leisurely meandering through legendary peaks of the Canadian Rockies. Vancouver four times a day, them – how much wildlife can We left Kamloops early, breakfast easing aircanada.com; Transfers to London you see from a plane window? us into another ungodly start, and almost Heathrow were supported by Of course, such prolonged immediately the scenery began to change: First Great Western, singles are train journeys aren’t for ranches became foothills, foothills then became available for under £30 each, everyone: it’s 12 hours of basically glaciers, mountains and aquamarine rivers. During firstgreatwestern.co.uk just gazing, eating and drinking; our final lunch, we remarked how too quickly it in a 24-hour culture, people may find had all transpired as we crossed into Banff National the lack of connectivity too much to Park during the afternoon, one of Canada’s proudest bear. But then, if Rocky Mountaineer allowed UNESCO World Heritage Sites. An adventure lover’s Wi-Fi on-board everyone would rush to their smart paradise, Banff caters to the outdoor nuts among us phones, ignore the scenery and end the journey as with fishing, hiking, golfing, skiing and camping. they began, total strangers. I hope this company’s We pulled into Banff station early evening and ethos never moves an inch. sadly bade farewell to our hosts, who all lined up
Some skied, some went hiking and others hoped to see bears. Which they did
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BESPOKE HANDMADE FURNITURE www.oficinainglesa.com London Showroom
info@oficinainglesa.com +44 (0) 207 2264 569
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PROPERTY Covering THE CITY, Wapping, Shad Thames, Shoreditch & Islington
A STABLE END TO A ROCKY START?
THE EXPERTS SAY, ONLY TIME WILL TELL
Image courtesy of Jennifer Manners Bespoke Rugs, jennifermanners.co.uk
PROPERTY NEWS
Keep tabs on the market, whether you are living or investing in the capital
SALES
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NICK MOORE, associate at Knight Frank Islington, comments on the trends in the residential sales market With the autumn selling season now in full flow, we have certainly seen an increase in activity after a quieter summer period. This increase in activity has also brought with it a flurry of new instructions as sellers clamour to find buyers before Christmas. However, the changes in stamp duty that were announced at the end of 2014 seem to have had an effect in terms of making buyers more stringent on their requirements due to the increased cost of moving. With a more careful eye on costs, buyers are seeking out the highest quality properties and, as a result, we are seeing particularly strong demand for properties in the best condition or on the best street or square. There was an expectation in the run up to the election in May, that if the result was favourable for the property market we would see a sudden spike in activity and/or prices. This anticipated gear change didn’t in fact materialise and while the market is now more fluid, there hasn’t been a return to the fervent activity that we experienced last year. Looking forward, what can we expect of the end of 2015 and of the new year? Only time will tell, but given the faltering start the market had this year, we expect a period of stability as we approach the end of the year and more of the same as we move into the spring market. While the growth curve locally is not as steep as we have become used to in recent years, Islington and the City fringe is still a growth area with reported six per cent growth in the year to September. In other parts of central London prices have declined by more than three per cent in some markets to the west, possibly due to the greater concentration of high-value properties subject to higher rates of stamp duty. Knight Frank Islington 020 3657 7340 knightfrank.co.uk/Islington
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Drummonds is evoking its Scandi side. In collaboration with Stockholm-born Martin Brudnizki, the traditional bathroom brand has produced a contemporary collection of bathroomware and accessories. A marriage made in heaven, Brudnizki’s signature balance of functionality and artistic form, perfectly complements Drummonds’ handmade luxury bathrooms. Four pieces were previewed at Decorex 2015, ahead of the highly anticipated full ‘Martin Brudnizki for Drummonds’ is revealed next year. Our favourite is the Tyburn bath, which is made from composite marble and is subtly altered from a Victorian to a more abstract, modern form. A symmetrical exterior gives way to asymmetry inside, with one end sloped for reclining and the other more upright for sitting or reading. The collection is a new direction for luxury bathing. drummonds-uk.com
CUCINA ITALIANA The strict form and simple functional design of its Classic range has helped premium Italian appliance brand Smeg continue to grow in popularity for more than 30 years. Its latest Classic oven models have had anything but a simple facelift, mixing 21st century technology with timeless design across the whole range thanks to award-winning architect Guido Canali. Signature stainless steel detailing, controls and handle are accompanied by NeroVista black glass technology that appears opaque when the oven is not in use, but transforms when cooking, for exceptional visibility of your next culinary masterpiece. smeguk.com
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Positive news has hit the headlines, with the Bank of England’s base rate remaining at 0.5 per cent, albeit likely to rise in the next 12 months. Additionally, mortgage lenders’ rates remain competitive and we expect them to adjust their rates further as the end of year targets loom. Borrowing has already increased considerably year on year, however, transaction levels within the re-sale market in Canary Wharf and the City have levelled off suggesting that many of these new mortgages are in the form of re-mortgages and homeowners looking to lock in a new mortgage before any rate rise. (Tony Usher, associate director at JLL Canary Wharf)
BANISH THE BLAND
Make a statement in any room of the house with a beautifully bold Jennifer Manners bespoke rug. The boutique design studio specialises in exquisite handmade rugs, made to order in the size, colour and design requested. There is an extensive library of designs and tones, but clients can also commission a completely bespoke piece, passionately hand-crafted by artisans from Nepal and India who have passed their knowledge down through the generations. Available in hand-knotted, hand-tufted or hand-woven flat weaves, a Jennifer Manners rug is a guaranteed quality piece. jennifermanners.co.uk
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LETTINGS NICOLA WILLIAMS, lettings manager at Knight Frank Islington, comments on the trends in the residential lettings market The summer market proved not as busy as we had predicted and lettings across the price ranges were affected. One of the main factors contributing to the slight reduction in rents has been the amount of new build stock completing in the area – particularly in City Road and Kings Cross. August and September usually see an increase in applicants, and rental prices historically increase at this time of year. With the amount of property to choose from the market was in favour of tenants and many landlords were subject to achieving lower rents than what they were used to. The prime market also experienced a lull in activity; the traditionally prominent financial services sector was subdued as a result of the uncertainty surrounding economic conditions in Europe and beyond. With less relocation of executives with larger budgets, four or more bedroom houses also realised a reduction. We are expecting that the traditional big hitters of the corporate world will come back to the market in the latter part of the year as economic confidence continues to build within the financial sector. Whilst this surge of supply has unbalanced the lettings market, we continue to see high levels of demand for apartments within newer buildings where tenants are choosing to pay a premium for lifestyle based living. The majority of these buildings offer 24hour concierge services, gyms and swimming pools, not to mention close proximity to the City. Landlords need to be realistic when bringing their property to the market in these conditions; the competition is fierce so if your property is overpriced or not presented well, the likelihood of experiencing a void is high. The majority of properties that Knight Frank instruct are rented within the first few weeks of marketing as we remain the agent of choice for the corporate sector when relocating employees. Knight Frank Islington 0203 657 7360 knightfrank.co.uk/Islington
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Discovery Dock Apartments East, Nr Canary Wharf E14 A modern two bedroom apartment A stunning apartment for sale located on the fifth floor of Discovery Dock East. 2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, reception room, partially open plan kitchen, balcony, concierge, leisure facilities. EPC: C. Approximately 83.4 sq m (898 sq ft). Leasehold: approximately 985 years remaining
Guide price: £795,000
KnightFrank.co.uk/canarywharf cwharf@knightfrank.com 020 3641 6112
@KnightFrank KnightFrank.co.uk
KnightFrank.co.uk/CNW150181
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PROPERTY EXPERTS SINCE 1896 To find out how we can help you or to arrange a complimentary market appraisal please contact us: KnightFrank.co.uk/wapping wapping@knightfrank.com 020 8166 5372
Guide price: £1,150,000
Capital Wharf, Wapping E1W Riverview flat with good sized terrace. 2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, reception room, kitchen, 24 hour porterage, parking space and access to the residents' gym. EPC: B. Approximately 93 sq m (1,001 sq ft). Leasehold: approximately 980 years remaining. wapping@knightfrank.com Office: 020 8166 5372
@KnightFrank KnightFrank.co.uk
Guide price: £1,890,000
Pelican Wharf, Wapping E1W Most attractive and spacious flat with glorious river views. 2 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, split level reception/ dining room, kitchen, balcony and parking. EPC: D. Approximately 179 sq m (1,927 sq ft). Share of freehold: approximately 981 years remaining. wapping@knightfrank.com Office: 020 8166 5372
297h 210w Mayfair Mag
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A VERY IMPORTANT DECISION To find out how we can help you please contact us KnightFrank.co.uk/wandsworth wandsworth@knightfrank.com 020 7768 0993
Guide price: £1,950,000
Westover Road, Wandsworth, SW18 Four to five bedroom period home set back from the road with a south facing garden. Located close to Wandsworth Common. 2 reception rooms, 3 bathrooms, cellar, garden. EPC: D. Approximately 208 sq m (2,239 sq ft). wandsworth@knightfrank.com Office: 020 7768 0993
@KnightFrank KnightFrank.co.uk
Guide price: £3,500,000
Herondale Avenue, Wandsworth SW18 Five bedroom house with 76ft south facing garden, off street parking and side access close to Wandsworth Common. 3 reception rooms, 3 bathrooms, garden, private parking. EPC: D. Approximately 294 sq m (3,165 sq ft). wandsworth@knightfrank.com Office: 020 7768 0993
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Warriner Gardens, Battersea SW11 Five bedroom house on Warriner Gardens for sale A beautiful five bedroom period house over three floors, with a ground floor kitchen leading to a patio garden. 5 bedrooms, 3 en suite bathrooms, family bathroom, guest WC, double reception room, kitchen/dining room, cellar, garden. EPC: E. Approximately 196 sq m (2,110 sq ft). Freehold
Guide price: £2,000,000
KnightFrank.co.uk/battersea battersea@knightfrank.com 020 3597 7670
@KnightFrank KnightFrank.co.uk
KnightFrank.co.uk/RVR130242
Residents Journal Nov Lift over
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KNIGHT FRANK LETTINGS To find out how we can help you or to arrange your no obligation market appraisal please contact us: KnightFrank.co.uk/lettings wappinglettings@knightfrank.com 020 8166 5366
Guide price: £575 per week
Hermitage Court, Wapping E1W
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Recently refurbished flat in a desirable block in Wapping. 2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, reception/dining room, kitchen, balcony, porter and parking space. EPC: D. Available furnished. wappinglettings@knightfrank.com Office: 020 8166 5366
All potential tenants should be advised that, as well as rent, an administration fee of £276 will apply when renting a property. Please ask us for more information about other fees that may apply or visit KnightFrank.co.uk/tenantcharges
@KnightFrank KnightFrank.co.uk
Guide price: £625 per week
Capital Wharf, Wapping E1W Contemporary and stylish two bedroom riverside flat. 2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, reception/dining room, kitchen, private balcony, access to residents' gym, 24 hour conceirge and parking space. EPC: C. Approximately 94 sq m (1,014 sq ft). Available furnished. wappinglettings@knightfrank.com Office: 020 8166 5366
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WHAT'S YOUR NEXT MOVE? To find out how we can help you or to arrange your no obligation market appraisal please contact us: KnightFrank.co.uk/lettings wappinglettings@knightfrank.com 020 8166 5366
Guide price: £780 per week
Jacana Court, St Katherine Docks E1W
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Sleek third floor two bedroom apartment in St Katherine Docks. 2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, kitchen, reception/dining room, private balcony, parking space and porterage. EPC: B. Approximately 108 sq m (1,155 sq ft). Available furnished. wappinglettings@knightfrank.com Office: 020 8166 5366
All potential tenants should be advised that, as well as rent, an administration fee of £276 will apply when renting a property. Please ask us for more information about other fees that may apply or visit KnightFrank.co.uk/tenantcharges
@KnightFrank KnightFrank.co.uk
Guide price: £3,000 per week
Metropolitan Wharf, Wapping E1W Incredible opportunity to rent a duplex penthouse in a designer warehouse conversion. 2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, reception/dining room, kitchen, private terrace, conceirge and parking space. EPC: C. Approximately 307 sq m (3,300 sq ft). Available furnished or unfurnished. wappinglettings@knightfrank.com Office: 020 8166 5366
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EXCEPTIONAL PROPERTIES To find out how we can help you or to arrange your no obligation market appraisal please contact us: KnightFrank.co.uk/lettings aldgatelettings@knightfrank.com 020 3823 9930
Guide price: £850 per week
Crawford Building, Aldgate E1 Impressive and contemporary brand new 13th floor two bedroom apartment to rent in the recently completed One Commercial street development in Aldgate. Available furnished. aldgatelettings@knightfrank.com Office: 020 3823 9930
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All potential tenants should be advised that, as well as rent, an administration fee of £276 will apply when renting a property. Please ask us for more information about other fees that may apply or visit KnightFrank.co.uk/tenantcharges
@KnightFrank KnightFrank.co.uk
Guide price: £650 per week
Cashmere House, Leman Street, E1 A brand new ninth floor one bedroom apartment with spectacular City views to rent in Cashmere House, part of the new luxury Goodmans Fields Development. Available furnished. aldgatelettings@knightfrank.com Office: 020 3823 9930
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EXCEPTIONAL LOCATIONS To find out how we can help you or to arrange your no obligation market appraisal please contact us: KnightFrank.co.uk/lettings aldgatelettings@knightfrank.com 020 3823 9930
Guide price: £475 per week
Cashmere House, Leman Street, E1 A spacious studio apartment with two large balconies to rent in Cashmere House part of the new Goodmans Fields development. Available furnished. aldgatelettings@knightfrank.com Office: 020 3823 9930
@KnightFrank KnightFrank.co.uk
Guide price: £525 per week
Sugar House, Leman Street, E1 One bedroom 2nd floor apartment set in this newly converted block on the edge of The City close to Tower Hill and Aldgate underground station. This dual aspect apartment has a lovely open plan kitchen reception room with high ceilings. Available furnished. aldgatelettings@knightfrank.com Office: 020 38230 9930
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Tudor House
One Tower Bridge A collection of one, two and three bedroom apartments to rent. Residents will enjoy a 24-hour concierge, business lounge, a wellequipped fitness suite as well as private spa facility with sauna, steam room, Jacuzzi and beautifully designed swimming pool. To arrange a viewing or for further information please contact us: + 44 20 3589 2841 or towerbridge@knightfrank.com
Available now to rent
Computer generated images and photographs for indicative purposes only.
KnightFrank.co.uk/towerbridge
CT576 - Tudor House development Advert.indd 1
21/10/2015 14:24
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Sidcup, Kent Arguably Sidcup's finest house Central London 13.2 miles 5 reception rooms, 8 bedrooms, 5 bathrooms. 1 bedroom annexe. Detached 4 car garage, further detached garage, superb landscaped gardens including detached gym. EPC: E. Approximately 600.5 sq m (6,463 sq ft). Freehold
Guide price: £2,750,000
KnightFrank.co.uk/sevenoaks sevenoaks@knightfrank.com 01732 744477
@KnightFrank KnightFrank.co.uk
KnightFrank.co.uk/SEV150212
14:24
City Magazine November - Final Freeby
19/10/2015 10:03:48
HALLSVILLE QUARTER CANNING TOWN
WELCOME TO DISCOVERY TOWER
YOUR JOURNEY STARTS HERE COMING SOON…
Discovery Tower the next phase at Hallsville Quarter, Canning Town. At 17 storeys, Discovery Tower is the jewel in the crown of the £3.7 billion Canning Town redevelopment. The residential tower will comprise one, two and three bed homes. Residents will enjoy the use of a concierge, gymnasium, and top floor sky garden. When complete Hallsville Quarter will be home to a cinema, hotel, numerous cafes, bars, restaurants, a supermarket and health centre. Canning Town station at the entrance to Hallsville Quarter already provides world class transport, meaning journeys to Canary Wharf take just 4 minutes and Bank 15 minutes. When Crossrail opens in 2018 residents will be able to walk to Customs House station in only 10 minutes.
REGISTER TODAY 0207 718 5202 DISCOVERYTOWER E16.COM LAUNCHING NOVEMBER PRICES RANGE FROM £395,000*
Computer enhanced image for indicative purposes only. These particulars are believed to be correct at the date of publication, but their accuracy is in no way guaranteed, neither do they form part of any contract. Journey times are based on the quickest method of all transport modes from Discovery Tower development sourced from tfl.gov.uk *Prices are correct at time of going to print and subject to availability.
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| PROPERTY |
Insider Knowledge
ALIGNING DELIVERY AND DEMAND Diana Alam, Head of Residential Development Sales, JLL
1. We are currently seeing a trend for small units selling the quickest at London scheme launches, while two, three and four bedroom units remain on the market for significant periods of time. This suggests delivery and demand could be better aligned. How much of this is down to policy and how much comes down to the developers? There is a potential mismatch between the need for family homes and the overall need to develop homes of all types in London. High densities are not encouraging of family homes. Conventional wisdom is that the urban environment is more hostile for families and more welcoming of the single or couple household. To overcome this, the planning system understandably places a premium on additional space for family homes to compensate. Whether this is through increased open space, child play or parking requirements – family homes carry a greater space burden on development. This matters on tightly constrained brownfield sites. Rather than compromising on standards, local authorities have reacted by seeking to prescribe unit mixes to developers. In London, typical prescriptions are that developments must include up to 25 per cent family housing containing three bedroom homes or more. Depending on your viewpoint, you may regard housing
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mix policies as an unnecessary form of social engineering that fights against the market, or alternatively, a necessary approach to ensure balanced and sustainable communities. From either perspective, the success of these unit mix policies is difficult to judge. Few targets are achieved in practice, but many councils argue that delivery of family homes would be even lower without the leverage provided by such planning policies. 2. Some agents say that Zone 1 or the Central Activity Zone is becoming increasingly less attractive for families. Some say these areas should therefore
be treated differently to the rest of London from a planning and policy point of view. Do you agree? We need to start asking hard questions about whether new build apartments in the CAZ are really the living environments families want to live in on a permanent basis. Our experience is that families with the sort of money needed to buy these larger units simply do not want these as their primary residence. They would prefer a house with a garden and are willing to move outside of the CAZ in order to achieve this goal. The harsh reality is that less than half the required number of homes are being developed in London each year. For every one of these larger units, which are likely to be left vacant or only part-used, we could be creating two, three or more smaller units which could be used to house less wealthy Londoners and which would certainly be more fully occupied. There are certainly other limitations on building a greater percentage of smaller units; such as measuring affordable housing provision by unit number and not floor area; and also the greater cost per square foot of building smaller units. However, there is a perfectly valid and defendable argument for relaxing the current policy restrictions in central locations to allow market forces and developers to determine the appropriate mix of units, rather than be dictated to by the authorities, especially as the ultimate result will be a greater number of more affordable units and a better alignment between delivery and demand.
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savills.co.uk
Whether small or tall Move with Savills
WAPPING
Guide £875,000
SHOREDITCH
Guide £900,000
SHOREDITCH
Guide £1.95 million
AVANTGARDE TOWER E1
1,290 sq ft
2
EPC=B
1
2
WAPPING
Guide £1.89 million
NEW CRANE PLACE E1W
1,043 sq ft
MOOR LANE EC2Y
560 sq ft
PELICAN WHARF E1W
1,938 sq ft
2
EPC=C
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EPC=C
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EPC=D
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Guide £6 milllion
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Guide £1.35 million
1
2
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OIEO £1.75 million
RAVEY STREET EC2A
3,836 sq ft
EXECUTION DOCK HS E1W 1,314 sq ft
TABERNACLE ST EC2A
1,524 sq ft
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EPC=D
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6293 City Magazine – 2nd Edition ART.indd 1
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2
EPC=C
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6293
Call us 7 days a week on 020 7877 4640
BERMONDSEY
£695 pw + fees apply*
SHOREDITCH
£1,400 pw + fees apply*
CANARY WHARF
£800 pw + fees apply*
BERMONDSEY WALL SE16 941 sq ft
MIDDLE STREET EC1A
2,447 sq ft
NARROW STREET E14
1,498 sq ft
2
2
EPC=E
3
EPC=D
1
2
SHOREDITCH
EPC=C
£625 pw + fees apply*
2
2
WAPPING
£575 pw + fees apply*
2
2
GREENWICH
£800 pw + fees apply*
EAGLE POINT EC1V
585 sq ft
STAR PLACE E1W
520 sq ft
WESTCOMBE HILL SE3
1,567 sq ft
1
EPC=B
1
EPC=C
4
EPC=D
1
1
1
1
1
2
If you’re thinking of buying, selling, renting or letting, contact one of our East London offices for all of your property needs. WAPPING
£950 pw + fees apply*
WAPPING WALL E1W
1,504 sq ft
2
EPC=C
1
2
Move with Savills
* Fees to include drawing up the tenancy agreements and reference change for one tenant – £276 inc VAT one-off fee. £36 inc VAT for each additional tenant/occupant/guarantor reference where required. Inventory check out fee – charged at the end of or early termination of the tenancy and the amount is dependant on the property size and whether furnished/unfurnished. For more details visit savills.co.uk/fees
17:10
6293 City Magazine – 2nd Edition ART.indd 2
16/10/2015 17:11
agent focus Savills’ New Home
Lauren Ireland and Jason Margetts discuss how Savills’ entrepreneurial attitude with its staff is helping grow its business even further in the burgeoning east London market, as its brand new office opens in the heart of Canary Wharf
A
lthough it has had a strong presence in the area for a number of years, Savills has now increased its number of troops on the ground with a brand new office in Canary Wharf. The launch party in October saw clients and staff celebrate the new opening over bubbles and canapés, the glass store front blending in effortlessly with the surrounding modern towers. Lauren Ireland, director of residential sales, and Jason Margetts, head of east London residential development, are key members of the around 20 strong core team, but despite its power in numbers the agency favours a less military approach. “I would say we have a softer approach. It’s much more humble, upfront and honest and we focus more on service than just numbers,” says Jason. “Every single person here is dealing with people from start to finish,” adds Lauren. “They don’t have a deal agreed and then hand it over to someone to progress. They’re dealing with that client from day one and with the buyers from day one. We have the philosophy ‘clients for life’ so we never want any part of the process to let them down.” Although not necessarily expanding faster in the east than in other areas of
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THE CITY MAGAZINE | November 2015
the city, Savills’ client numbers here are certainly growing. “There are so many big hubs close to here now – Canada Water, Greenwich, Lewisham, Stratford – and we are effectively smack bang in the middle of it. The amount of business that we’re doing, particularly on the new homes side, is really going up,” says Lauren. Jason clarifies the areas that the office will cover in terms of new homes: “Really it’s anything east of the City, and we’d touch Peckham, New Cross Gate, Lewisham, and a bit further south of that as well, out to Barking and all of Stratford in a big loop. From my point of view, my speciality is east London.” Ambition and a positive attitude is something that Savills encourages from its staff from the get-go. “What’s nice about Savills is it home-grows, it likes to bring people through the machine – the graduate scheme is so good – and you get the best people that way. It gives you the autonomy to be quite entrepreneurial as well, to go out there and win the business,” explains Jason. There certainly doesn’t seem to be a shortage of business to go after, with house prices continuing to rise rapidly and new areas developing to cope with demand from prospective homeowners.
“What’s nice about Savills is it homegrows, it likes to bring people through the machine”
s luxurylo nd o n.c o.uk s
| property |
“The pricing in central London is swelling and then you get a wave coming outwards. Unfortunately that’s the nature of the beast, but in fact, the infrastructure is getting much better further out,” Jason continues. “There are whispers of a Bakerloo line extension, whispers of Crossrail 2, and the moment you put a new line into an area you’ve opened it up completely. It adds huge money to base values. I’ve been screaming at people to buy in Deptford for eight or nine years
s luxurylo nd o n.c o.uk s
now, and I do think the east in general has always been slightly undervalued compared to the rest of London.” Lauren attributes a portion of the more rapid growth in the east in particular to international investors, with the increase in high-rise buildings here drawing comparisons between London and cities like New York or Hong Kong. “Infrastructure has a huge amount to do with it but I think aesthetically speaking, the south-east Asian market is particularly drawn to this style of property, the luxury facilities that come with it and also being close to the river.” Based on current scenarios, the levels of price rises look set to continue, as Lauren closes our time with a slightly intimidating fact. “It’s unbelievable. I read something about the babies being born now. Their first purchase is going to be for £3.5 million. That’s going to be the going rate, if you’re living in London.” It certainly makes today’s property seem more affordable and it may be worth taking Jason’s advice on Deptford before it’s too late. 20 Canada Square, E14, 020 7531 2500, savills.co.uk
“I read something about the babies being born now. Their first purchase is going to be for £3.5 million”
THE CITY MAGAZINE | November 2015
127
Beyond your expectations www.hamptons.co.uk
Hosier Lane, EC1 £460 per week (charges apply)* Fantastic one bedroom apartment in this popular development located in the heart of the City of London. EPC: D
Strype Street, E1 £500 per week (charges apply)* Smartly presented two bedroom apartment in the heart of Spitalfields, quietly located in a popular development. EPC: C
Folgate Street, E1 £575 per week (charges apply)* A well presented two bedroom two bathroom apartment in this popular development in the heart of Spitalfields. EPC: B
Leman Street, E1 £620 per week (charges apply)* Modern and stylish two bedroom apartment in this popular Berkeley home development on the edge of the City. EPC: D
Gowers Walk, E1 £725 per week (charges apply)* Fantastic two bedroom top floor apartment with large terrace in this warehouse conversion development. EPC: C
Wood Street, EC2 £750 per week (charges apply)* Stunning brand new two bedroom apartment superbly located in the heart of the City of London. EPC: B
Hamptons City Office Sales. 020 7717 5435 | Lettings. 020 7717 5437
*Tenant Charges Tenants should note that as well as rent, an administration charge of £216 (Inc. VAT) per property and a referencing charge of £54 (Inc. VAT) per person will apply when renting a property. Please ask us for more information about other fees that may apply or visit www.hamptons.co.uk/rent/tenant-charges
Steward Streets, E1 £600,000 Leasehold A 547 sq ft flat with private terrace close to Liverpool St. EPC: C
Martha’s Building, EC1 £800,000 Leasehold A huge loft apartment close to Old Street Tube. EPC: C
Temple House, EC4 £950,000 Leasehold A perfectly located two bedroom on the north bank. EPC: D
Chequer Court, EC1 £1,100,000 Leasehold A 1,120 sq ft school conversion in Clerkenwell. EPC: C
Fleet Street EC1 £1,250,000 Leasehold A huge 1,250 sq ft lateral apartment on Fleet Street. EPC: C
Clerkenwell Road, EC1 £1,550,000 Leasehold A bright and spacious 1,312 sq ft Clerkenwell loft apartment. EPC: C
Beyond your expectations www.hamptons.co.uk
Cardamom Building, SE1 £475 per week (charges apply)* A spacious one bedroom apartment in a central location, boasting original features, part wooden floors and day porter facility. EPC:B
Hardwidge Street, SE1 £520 per week (charges apply)* A warehouse conversion with split level living, wooden floors throughout, original features, juliet balcony and modern amenities. EPC: F
Admirals Court, SE1 £575 per week (charges apply)* A two bedroom apartment very well presented throughout, with spacious open plan kitchen/reception leading on to a private roof terrace. EPC:F
Trinity Church Terrace, SE1 £595 per week (charges apply)* A two bedroom apartment with an open plan reception to kitchen, en-suite shower and bathroom, with marble bathroom/wooden flooring. EPC: B
Trinity Church Terrace, SE1 £690 per week (charges apply)* A two bedroom apartment with contemporary fixtures/fittings, whilst being in a central location for amenities and transport links. EPC: B
Treveris Street, SE1 £1,750 per week (charges apply)* A stunning penthouse apartment with high quality fixtures/fittings, flexible layout, private roof terrace and balcony. EPC: C
Hamptons Tower Bridge Office Sales. 020 7717 5489 | Lettings. 020 7717 5491
*Tenant Charges Tenants should note that as well as rent, an administration charge of £216 (Inc. VAT) per property and a referencing charge of £54 (Inc. VAT) per person will apply when renting a property. Please ask us for more information about other fees that may apply or visit www.hamptons.co.uk/rent/tenant-charges
Compass Court, SE1 £1,200,000 Leasehold Compass Court is a rare find. It’s high ceilings, combined with southerly aspect flood the living space with light. EPC: D
The Circle, SE1 £1,450,000 Leasehold This 1,258 sq ft penthouse has been refurbished to offer a open plan kitchen / diner / reception. EPC: E
Tannery Lofts, SE1 £2,650,000 Leasehold A rare opportunity to acquire a unique, 3,000 sq ft, 2/3 bed penthouse loft apartment next to Bermondsey Street. EPC: E
Butlers Wharf West, SE1 £2,800,000 Share of Freehold 2,035 sq ft apartment stretching from the front of Butlers Wharf West to the back onto Shad Thames. EPC: B
Cinnamon Wharf, SE1 £3,500,000 Share of Freehold A truly stunning lateral three bedroom penthouse boasting unrivalled East to West views across the London skyline. EPC: B
Tower Walk, E1W £5,250,000 Leasehold A beautifully presented four / five bedroom townhouse perfectly located for The City in the centre of St Katharine Docks. EPC: D
Beyond your expectations www.hamptons.co.uk
Coach House Lane, N5 A very bright and spacious town house arranged over three floors in a residential mews just off Highbury Hill. On the ground floor there is a large bedroom which is currently used as a study with doors leading to a secluded split level garden. There is an eat-in kitchen and large reception room with Juliet balcony with views of the garden to the rear. Additionally, there are two double bedrooms and two bathrooms (one en suite) on the top floor. EPC: D
Hamptons Islington Office Sales. 020 7717 5453 | Lettings. 020 7717 5335
£1,195,000 Freehold • • • • • •
Mews townhouse Reception room Kitchen Three bedrooms Three bathrooms (one en suite) Secluded garden
Sidney Grove, EC1 A stunning example of a contemporary home. Situated within a residential mews being just moments away from the vast amenities of Angel and Clerkenwell. The accommodation is cleverly arranged over four floors. Located on the ground floor is the beautifully appointed kitchen dining room with fully integrated appliances. Also located on the ground floor is a utility room and guest WC. Situated under the stairs is a storage area perfect for a bike. EPC: C
£1,499,999 Freehold • • • • • •
Contemporary mews house Reception room Kitchen 3 Bedrooms 2 Bathrooms Roof terrace
THE HERON, CITY OF LONDON EC2 ● ● ● ●
1 Bedroom 1 Bathroom Approx. 591 sq ft (54.9. sq m) High specification
● ● ● ●
24 Hour concierge Residents' gym Moorgate underground station EPC: C
Guide price £915,000 Leasehold For more information, call Bernard Cully 020 3813 5836 or email bernard.cully@eu.jll.com
16-17 Royal Exchange London EC3V 3LL
jll.co.uk/residential
THE HERON, CITY OF LONDON EC2 ● ● ● ●
1 Bedroom 1 Bathroom Approx. 564 sq ft (52 sq m) Balcony
● ● ● ●
Solid oak flooring 24 Hour concierge Moorgate underground station EPC: C
£725 per week Furnished For more information, call Neil Short 020 3813 5949 or email neil.short@eu.jll.com
Potential tenants are advised that administration fees may be payable when renting a property. Please ask for details of our charges.
16-17 Royal Exchange London EC3V 3LL
jll.co.uk/residential
Delancey Street NW1 £2,650,000 An impressive, four-bedroom Georgian house, boasting fantastic space throughout and arranged over five levels, located on a prime street close to Regent’s Park in Camden Town. Freehold. EPC=D
Camden: 020 7244 2200 sales.cam@marshandparsons.co.uk
Aberdeen Court W9 ÂŁ2,000,000 A bright and spacious three-bedroom apartment situated on the first floor of a popular portered mansion block in the heart of Maida Vale, next to excellent transport links. EPC=D
Little Venice: 020 7993 3050 sales.lve@marshandparsons.co.uk
CITY MAG ALDGATE OPENING AD 2nd installment Oct 2015.qxp_Layout 1 19/10/2015 11:12 Page 1
Whitechapel Gallery Aldgate East COMMERCIAL
Aldgate
61 AL
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MA N ST ET
EET LL STR
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MANSE
Lloyds Building
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LIE
IE
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Tower Gateway
Tower Hill ill
020 7680 1888
ROAD
SALES
LETTINGS
STRYPE STREET, E1 Two bed, balcony, 616 sq ft / 57m2
£799,000 epc D
ALIE STREET, E1 Two beds, two baths, 17th floor
£695 pw epc B
NEW HOMES
COMMERCIAL
THE JUNCTION, E1 FROM £540,000 2-3 bed apartments near Wapping epc B
PRIME NEW A1 RETAIL UNITS TO LET Altitude Tower, Aldgate E1. Provisional epcs B-C
CityLiving
TM
@ Aldgate
with hurford-salvi-carr.co.uk
Casson Apartments, New Festival Quarter E14 Ea2 are pleased to bring to market this spacious 2nd floor modern built 2 bedroom, 2 bathroom apartment within this secure development. The apartment benefits from having Laminate wood floors and a secure underground parking £695,000 The development hour security/porterage, residents roof terrace and the useThe of anproperty onsite resident’s gymnasium. Located close to the All Saints station and an 2space. double bedroom, 2includes storey24house set within this gated CCTV development. has been fully modernised include approximate 15 minute walk from ceilings, the Canary Wharffloors, District., alarm, central heating system operated via remote control, smart phone or double glazing, replacement wood
2 balconies, floor toTerrace, ceiling windows, open plan lounge and kitchen with integrated appliances and granite work surfaces. Wellington Wapping E1W
internet. Lounge. Fully fitted kitchen. Double bedrooms with fitted wardrobes. Garden. Secure Underground parking space. Potential to extend into the loft subject to planning permission. Close to Wapping station and local amenities.
£480,000
Cape Yard, West Wapping E1W ea2 are pleased to offer for sale this 1st floor 2 bedroom modern built apartment within this popular West Wapping development.The apartment benefits from lounge, fully fitted kitchen, en-suite showerTower room to master bedroom and family bathroom. Floor to ceiling windows. Laminate wood floors.Video-entry phone system. Allocated parking space. Tudor House, Bridge, SE1 £1,595,000 On-site caretaker. to St Katharine’s Dock,2Wapping stationOpen and Tower stations. Share of Freehold. 6th floor luxuryClose 2 Double Bedrooms, Bathrooms, PlanHillReception Room, large balcony. Master bedroom with en-suite
and walk in wardrobe. Modern Integrated Kitchen, Balcony, 24 Hour Porter by Harrods Estates, Residents Gymnasium, Swimming Pool, Lifts to all floors. Close to Local Shopping Facilities, Walking Distance to London Bridge.
ea2 Agency Estate Agency | 35a Wapping StreetStreet | Wapping | London E1W E1W 2PL 1NA ea2 Estate Heritage Court | 8-10High Sampson | Wapping | London t: 020 7702 3456 t: 020 7702 3456 | f: 020 7702 9168 www.ea2group.com | enquiries@ea2group.com www.ea2.co.uk | property@ea2group.com
£675,000
Spice Court, West Wapping E1W
St Johns Court, Wapping E1W
Overground and close to Waitrose. Rental Price: £650 Per Week
Rental Price: £530 Per Week
Riviera Court, West Wapping E1W
Cape Yard, West Wapping E1W
ea2 are delighted to offer for rent this exceptional modern 2 double bedroom 2 bathroom apartment. Situated in the heart of Wapping opposite St John’s Church Yard.The apartment £1,300 per week comprises of a fully fitted, separate kitchen, reception room, gated parking and a private ea2 are pleased to be able to show you this 6 bedroom 4 bathroom house for rental with a garden. This property is a patio. Ideally located and within walking distance to the city and only a short walk to the very unique property and has views over the canal. Would suit 6 professional people. Close Hilland andonWapping City/ West End. Closeto toTower all amenities one of the prettiest streets in Wapping..
Ea2 are pleased to offer for let this modern built spacious 3 bedroom, 2 bathroom ground and first floorMews, duplex apartment. The apartment benefits from fully fitted kitchen, lounge, Roding Wapping E1W garden and garage. Onsite caretaker. Close to St Katharine’s Dock and Tower Hill stations..
ea2 are pleased to have the opportunity to rent this delightful 2 double bedroom duplex ea2 are pleased to offer for rent this 1st floor 2 bedroom, 2 bathroom modern built apartment within this gated development. Fitted kitchen, reception, 2 bathrooms, Laminate apartment.The apartment benefits from a reception with balcony over looking the River. Cascades Tower, Docklands E14fully fitted kitchen with granite £500 per week wood flooring. Secure parking space. On site caretaker.West Wapping location. Within easy Additional balcony to the master bedroom. Separate 2 double bedroom, 2 bathroom 11th floor apartment within thisand secure development. Comprising a reception access to the City & Canary Wharf.The historic St Katharine’s Docks is nearby.‘Waitrose’ work surfaces. Secure underground parking space. Close to Tower Hill stations St modern room with water/ City views, fitted kitchen, master bedroom with walk-in wardrobe suite bathroom, additional supermarket&isen close. Katharine’s Dock.
shower room. Balcony. Swimming pool, Gymnasium & Tennis court. Concierge. Rental Price: £450 Per Week Rental Price: £585 Per Week
ea2Agency Estate Agency Wapping Street | Wapping | London E1WE1W 2PL 1NA ea2 Estate Heritage| 35a Court | 8-10 High Sampson Street | Wapping | London 020 7702 3456 t: 020 7702t: 3456 | f: 020 7702 9168 www.ea2group.com | enquiries@ea2group.com www.ea2.co.uk | property@ea2group.com
NOBLE HOUSE PROPERTIES
YOUR NEW HOME AWAITS
ONLY 3 REMAINING UNITS AVAILABLE. PRICES FROM £675,000
STABLE PLACE, N4 www.stableplace.co.uk
Noble House Proper ties are proud to present their latest offering ‘Stable Place’. A boutique mews development, comprising just nine contemporary homes, all with outside space and set in a private gated mews with landscaped gardens. Featuring both houses and apar tments, Stable Place will appeal to both families and professionals.
NOBLE HOUSE PROPERTIES
ABOUT Less than five minutes’ walk away is Finsbury Park itself, with boating lake, children’s play areas, exhibition space and a café. Finsbury Park and Stroud Green have an eclectic mix of boutique shops, cafes and restaurants amongst the quiet streets of Victorian houses as well as cultural amenities such as the newly formed Park Theatre. The area is home to one of London’s largest regeneration projects which began in 2012 and is due to be completed in 2017. The neighbourhood is rapidly transforming itself into a vibrant ‘go to’ destination whilst maintaining the diversity and ‘buzz’ of the area.
T R AV E L The Victoria and Piccadilly lines are just a five minute walk away; commuters can be in The City or West End in twenty minutes or jump on British Rail to travel out to Her tfordshire and beyond. If you work from home, Finsbury Park has so much to offer and is well wor th a look!
A NEW DEVELOPMENT FROM
020 7858 1090 - enquries@nhplondon.co.uk - www.stableplace.co.uk
To celebrate our 10th anniversary, we will be offering new clients a
discount on our award winning sales,
lettings and management services
off our award winning sales, lettings and management services. This truly is a unique opportunity to receive the very best service in the property industry at a discounted rate.
Contact us now to take advantage of this offer: Docklands Office
City Office
Tel: 020 7538 9250
Tel: 020 7377 5788
docklands@lourdes-estates.com
Recent Awards
city@lourdes-estates.com
Accreditations Lourdes Estate Agents is one of the few agencies who are fully accredited by:
Sales Agency
Winner
Female Estate Agent
Winner
• The Association of Residential Letting Agents (ARLA) • National Association of Estate Agents (NAEA) • Safe Agent • London Rental Standard (LRS)
Newcomer
Winner
Lettings Agency
Winner
• National Approved Lettings Scheme (NALS) • The Property Ombudsman (TPO)
www.lourdes-estates.com
www.lourdes-estates.com
City office 020 7377 5788 city@lourdes-estates.com
The Listed Building, The Highway E1W This stunning four bedroom apartment is located in the Grade II The Listed Building situated in the Wapping Wall conservation area. Such apartments with a wealth of space are rarely available on the open market. This apartment has breath-taking views across the river Thames and towards the iconic Canary Wharf skyline.
ÂŁ2,100,000
Naylor Building East, 15 Adler Street, E1 Spacious three bedroom duplex apartment with park views in the popular Aldgate Triangle, E1. This contemporary property offers a large lounge and dining area with direct access to a private patio, a separate modern fitted kitchen with integrated appliances, a bright master bedroom with floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the park, two further bedrooms, a family bathroom suite and en-suite shower room to the master.
ÂŁ765 Per week
City office: 20 White Church Lane, Aldgate, London, E1 7QR city@lourdes-estates.com I 020 7377 5788
122 Newgate Street London EC1A 7AA
T: 020 7600 0026 W: www.scottcity.co.uk e: property@scottcity.co.uk
Andrewes House, Barbican EC2 £935,000 leasehold Situated on the fifth floor of ANDREWES HOUSE in the BARBICAN is this two bedroom (type 21) flat featuring a south facing balcony to the front and to the rear a north aspect overlooking the Barbican gardens and lakes. The property has been greatly improved by the present owners to include a re-fitted kitchen, superb re-fitted shower room and recently redecorated throughout. Andrewes House is situated close to MOORGATE (Northern Line), St PAUL’S (Central Line) Mansion House and the new Crossrail Station at Moorgate(under construction, due 2018).
Stepney Green, London E1 £995,000 leasehold We are delighted to offer for sale this three storey Grade II listed Victorian terraced house close to Stepney Green Underground Station and within the Stepney Green Conservation area. The property offers reception room, dining room, kitchen three bedrooms and a good size bathroom with a west facing rear garden, gas central heating and many original features. Close to Stepney Green and Whitechapel underground stations (District Line) and the new Crossrail presently under construction at Whitechapel. This property is ideal for purchasers working in the West End, City and Docklands with excellent transport links to all areas of Central London.
Barbican, EC2 £425 Per Week
West Smithfield, EC1 £410 Per Week
This ONE BEDROOM apartment has been modernised throughout which includes a re-fitted kitchen with full size fridge / freezer, washer dryer, dish washer and fully tiled bathroom. The flat has the added advantage of a wonderful south facing balcony which has a spectacular views over the City. Available end of October 2015.
AVAILABLE IMMEDIATELY - This ONE BEDROOM apartment offers a FULLY FITTED KITCHEN with full size fridge freezer, dishwasher & washer dryer. The flat is finished with very high quality fixtures & fittings and benefits from a limestone bathroom and 24 HOUR CONCIERGE in the main entrance lobby.
Whitecross Street, EC1 £435 Per Week
St Pauls, EC4 £420 Per Week
This ONE BEDROOM DUPLEX apartment comes unfurnished and available Mid October. This property offers well-proportioned accommodation measuring approximately 640 sq. feet, including a full fitted kitchen and wood flooring throughout.
AVAILABLE IMMEDIATLY - This fantastic ONE BEDROOM on the raised ground floor benefits from not just high ceilings but also tall windows, this gives a wonderful aura of both space and light. The property is offered fully furnished and has wooden flooring throughout.
Beckenham 020 8663 4433 Bromley 020 8315 5544
Bromley BR2
Chislehurst 020 8295 4900 Locksbottom 01689 882 988
£1,395,000 F/H
Located on one of Bromley South’s most sought after roads and occupying a large imposing plot, is this impressive double-fronted 1930s family home. Stone Road is a tree-lined cul-de-sac within 0.5 miles of Bromley South station and the high street.
Contact Bromley 020 8315 5544
Farnborough Park BR2
£1,775,000 F/H
Completed in 2011, this stunning property is set over three floors with quality fixtures and fittings throughout. • Four bedroom suites • 27 ft cinema/games room
• Multi-media and CCTV system • Energy Efficiency Rating B
Contact Locksbottom 01689 882 988
Orpington 01689 661 400 West Wickham 020 8432 7373
• • • •
Four bedrooms Off-street parking for at least five cars 124 ft garden Energy Efficiency Rating F
Orpington BR6
£1,800,000 F/H
Magnificent five bedroom detached family home occupying a tranquil spot inside the extremely sought after Chelsfield Park. • Approx. 3,500 sqft • Three reception rooms
• Landscaped garden • Energy Efficiency Rating C
Contact Orpington 01689 661 400 A member of
The Acorn Group, incorporating:
langfordrussell.co.uk
a picture perfect location SHOW HOME OPEN SAT & SUN 10AM - 3PM
purelake.co.uk
Phase 1 Now Released
cGi
A collection of 4 & 5 bedroom luxury homes set within a private gated development in Kemsing, Sevenoaks.
Prices from ÂŁ999,995 To book an appointment to view, please contact:
01689 882 988 acornnewhomes.co.uk
Incorporating:
Sat Nav Ref: TN15 6NN
London’s Finest Properties
LOVE LONDON LOVE LIFE LETTINGS | MANAGEMENT | SALES | SERVICED APARTMENTS City_DPS_Generic.indd 1
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City_
UK’S LEADING PRIVATELY OWNED
REAL ESTATE AGENCY SPECIALISING IN
NEW LUXURY DEVELOPMENTS
WITH 11 OFFICES IN LONDON
3 INTERNATIONAL OFFICES 120 DEDICATED STAFF WHO SPEAK OVER 32 LANGUAGES 020 8896 9990 | liferesidential.co.uk 13:47
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now released and availa ble to view by appointment
7 urban warehouse style two & three bedroom townhouses prices from ÂŁ799,995
sat nav ref: se23 3eb
WAKE UP TO THE BEST VIEWS IN LONDON THE TRIPLEX PENTHOUSE - ALBERT EMBANKMENT An exclusive penthouse set at the top of this landmark building just off Albert Embankment, with private terraces featuring sensational views of London.
Price: ÂŁ6,000,000
For your personal invitation please contact Jessica Munday on 020 3538 3156 or email jessica.munday@telfordhomes.london Selling Agent:
www.telfordhomes.london Price correct at time of going to press. Photography of The Triplex Apartment.
TRIP ADVISOR REVIEWERS K N OW HE AV EN W HEN THE Y SEE IT.
It’s always good to listen to people who’ve actually been to a destination. So we’re proud of what you’ll read on Trip Advisor about Saint Peter’s Bay, Barbados. This select collection of properties is beautifully designed, equipped – and just a few shimmering steps from the fabulous beach and ocean. Around you, the best of everything: pampering, watersports, fitness, gastronomy and all the fun a family can handle. Join us. Come for a holiday and, who knows, even acquire your own piece of heaven.
UNNA Luxury Resorts & Residences
Visit stpetersbaybarbados.com and then call 0800 097 0847
THE WORLD AGREES, IT’S A WORLD APART.
IT’S ALL ABOUT THE PLACE
The new Pancras Square at King’s Cross with the station and Great Northern Hotel beyond
LIVE IN AMAZING KING’S CROSS You have restaurants, cafes, parks and fountains; you have shops, squares and the joys of a canal; you have the best national and international rail connections in London and an extraordinary choice of some of the Capital’s most extraordinary homes. Move in now and experience living at King’s Cross.
You have 6 tube lines, 3 mainline stations and a Eurostar. Live just 5 minutes from Oxford Circus, Piccadilly Circus and Covent Garden and a mere 8 minutes from Victoria.
KXResidential_CityMagazinel_210mmx297mm_AW.indd 1
Please contact us at: enquiries@livingatkingscross.co.uk or call +44 (0)20 7205 4246 kingscross.co.uk/homes Marketing suite: The Plimsoll Building, 1 Handyside Street, King’s Cross, London, N1C 4BP
www.kingscross.co.uk
22/10/2015 14:48
F I N E D E TA I L . P E R S O N A L L U X U R Y. 2 A N D 3 B E D R O O M A PA R T M E N T S F R O M ÂŁ 2 , 3 3 5 , 0 0 0 Westbourne Grove, London W2 An elegant art deco interpretation, ready to enjoy immediately. 24 hour concierge and some private parking available. Book your appointment to view the show flat now.
+ 4 4 ( 0 ) 2 0 74 9 9 3 8 8 1 S A L E S @ A L C H E M I G R O U P. C O M W W W.W E S TB O U R N E H O US E W 2 .CO M
THE ATLAS BUILDING LONDON EC1
APARTMENTS OF STATURE JUST MOMENTS FROM OLD STREET
CGI of view
VISIT OUR NEW SHOW APARTMENT OVERLOOKING THE DEVELOPMENT, WITH VIEWS ACROSS THE CITY. +44 (0)20 7205 4253 THEATLASBUILDING.COM Book your appointment to visit us: 9th Floor Linen Court 10 East Road London N1 6AD
THE TALLEST RESIDENTIAL BUILDING IN TECH CITY SUPERB TRANSPORT LINKS FROM ZONE 1 SPECTACULAR DUAL-ASPECT VIEWS ALL APARTMENTS HAVE OUTSIDE SPACE SPA AND GYM BATHED IN NATURAL LIGHT
Prices* Studio from: £620,000 1 Bed from: £690,000 2 Bed from: £930,000 3 Bed from: £1,845,000
*Prices correct at time of going to print.
RIVERSIDE LIVING
I N R O YA L G R E E N W I C H
THE SUCCESS CONTINUES PHASE 3
OVER 50% SOLD
NEW SHOW APARTMENT OPEN WYNDHAM APARTMENTS
1 BEDS 2 BEDS 3 BEDS
FROM FROM FROM
£392 ,500 £525,000 £758,000
ST U N N I N G S PAC E A N D S P E C I F I C AT I O N P R I VAT E GY M , S W I M M I N G P O O L , R E S TA U R A N T S , R E TA I L & C R È C H E
Call for appointment 020 3747 6111 or email sales@therivergardens.com Computer generated image indicative only.
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1 SE D A OL PH L S L
A Willoughby Lane off Plaistow Lane, Bromley, Kent BR1 3TP
DOWNSIZE WITHOUT COMPRO MIS E
PHASE 2 NOW AVAILABLE Sundridge Park is an exclusive collection of luxury townhouses, apartments and detached homes. Set in 275 acres of Kentish parkland between two renowned golf courses, 10 miles from the centre of London, Sundridge Park is a truly unique development.
Apartments from £695,000
•
Townhouses from £1,225,000
Show home open 10am - 4pm, 7 days a week To arrange a viewing, please call 020
8313 9163 or visit www.sundridge-park.co.uk for more information.
Prices correct at time of print. Images of Sundridge Park. Distances taken from googlemaps.co.uk and are approximate only.
DEVELOPMENT SHOWCASE South Quay Plaza
Set to be the UK’s tallest residential scheme, in the historical London Docklands, South Quay Plaza is the latest development by Berkeley Homes South East London
South Quay Plaza will offer the perfect pied-à-terre situated within close proximity to the City of London and Canary Wharf
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esigned by award winning architects, Foster + Partners, the striking 68-storey, 220m contemporary tower will perfectly complement the London skyline and offer buyers the chance to purchase a unique, trophy property in what is set to become London’s youngest landmark. This project marks the first time Foster + Partners, renowned for their famous projects including The British Museum, Hong Kong International Airport and the Hearst Tower in New York, has been appointed for both the architecture and interiors of a development. Designed from the inside out with the occupier in mind, the stepped tower structure will be built at a 45 degree rotation to maximise water views and dual aspects. The 360-degree views will be enhanced by floor-toceiling glazing, offering an uninterrupted panorama of the city’s skyline. The scheme will offer a selection of light and spacious, studio, one, two and three bedroom apartments, while penthouses have been meticulously designed to reflect the needs and requirements of modern
urban living. Residents will also benefit from a club lounge which will occupy the entire 56th floor and will include a bar, screening room, business lounge and an expansive terrace with outdoor bar and dining facilities. Further recreational facilities can be found in the exclusive, state-of-the-art health club and spa and landscaped roof gardens. A 24-hour concierge service will be on hand to provide assistance from booking restaurants to organising transportation, while on site security ensures resident safety. South Quay Plaza will offer the perfect pied-à-terre situated within close proximity to the City of London and Canary Wharf. It is also located on the international commuter belt, ideally situated close to London City Airport which provides excellent business links to New York, Paris and Zurich, along with flights to leisure destinations such as Ibiza, Santorini and Venice. The area which has seen significant regeneration over the years is to be further enhanced with the arrival of Crossrail in 2018, connecting Heathrow to Canary Wharf in less than 40 minutes.
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SHOWCASE SUMMARY Site 1,076,256 sq ft Properties 888 residential properties, including 188 affordable homes Onsite Facilities Club lounge, bar, screening room, business lounge, terraces with outdoor bar and dining facilities, a state-of-the-art health club and spa, landscaped roof gardens and a 24-hour concierge service Architect Foster + Partners Price Prices starting from ÂŁ640,500 Contact 0203 675 4400 southquayplaza.london
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New Release Launching Thursday 12th November 2015 At The Four Seasons Hotel, Canary Wharf
www.southquayplaza.london Proud to be a member of the Berkeley Group of companies
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Exclusive 5 star facilities – the perfect place to unwind Berkeley Homes & Foster + Partners are proud to present South Quay Plaza, two iconic buildings just moments from Canary Wharf. At 68 storeys and with world class facilities, South Quay Plaza will redefine London living.
Suites, 1, 2 & 3 bedroom apartments from £609,000 For further information please call 020 3811 1532 or email southquayplaza@berkeleygroup.co.uk
Details are correct at time of going to press and subject to apartment type and availability. Computer Generated Image depicts South Quay Plaza. © DBOX for Berkeley Homes.
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