Capital Home Winter 2016

WINTER 2016

CapitalHOME HOW VICTORIA LIVES

PLUS:

TRAVEL:

A Walk in the City of Light

FOOD:

Warm Winter Dinner Party

ARCHITECTURE:

Levitated Living on Saltspring Island

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6 | Capital HOME

{ In this issue } 88.

Surf-Turf Winter Feast Pull up a chair for an Eric Akis dinner party

26

WATERWAY WONDER

64. Ahhh, Paris!

Walking a wonderful neighbourhood in the City of Light

11. Luxury Wish List

40

18. Hot Celebrity Homes 82. The future of automobiles is electric – the latest in concept cars

LEGO LAND

54 MILL BAY MARVEL

On the cover: This magical home on the Gorge Waterway mixes wood, metal, glass and water. Photo by GEOFF Hobson p. 26 Capital HOME | 7

Editor s NOTE Editor’s

It’s our nature W

e’re lucky here on the Islands.

We have the ocean, rugged landscapes and a climate that nourishes so much flora and fauna. And amid this breathtaking beauty, we can build truly magnificent homes to take full advantage of nature.

Noted Canadian architect Todd Saunders and homeowner Nancy Krieg, a masterplanner for Lego, have done just that on bucolic Saltspring, where atop Mount Tuam they’ve built a unique home that truly embraces its surroundings.

In our Levitated Living story, we visit the edgy and angular modernist home and studio of Krieg, where two buildings sit on plinths adjoined by a floating walkway over a waterfall that tumbles down a rocky slope. The footprint is slight and construction disturbance extremely minimal.

Responsible, simple, functional and pleasing in design. Just like Lego.

Fitting in with nature is the philosophy of Saunders, the Newfoundland native based in Norway who is considered one of the world’s best architects. His theme is ‘one with nature,’ which is

plainly evident where ever he builds around the globe. Two of his latest projects featured inside are a stunning cultural centre in a Nunavut national park and a series of homes in the foothills of Alberta. “Architecture can ruin a beautiful place, or do the opposite and be an apostrophe on the landscape, if done really well,” Saunders told writer Grania Litwin. “My hope is always to make a place even more beautiful.”

Wood and water best captures our cover story about a Victoria couple with a long history on the Gorge Waterway. With the building skill of Abstract Developments and the tremendous talents of woodworker Geoff Hobson, they’ve sculpted a magnificent home where the design and feel had everything to do with the setting on the popular urban saltwater channel.

The contemporary home is aglow in cherry wood intermingled with stone, metal and glass to capture the ample light and exposure to water.

Up Island in Mill Bay, Terry Raven’s oneacre garden is one with her home, where fruit trees and water features blend easily with the interior’s lush fabrics, plants and diverse old and country chic furniture. “As soon as I opened the doors onto the garden I wanted this house,” she says. It was a treat to tour the home of the personable retailer, who owns the popular Pots & Paraphernalia in Duncan.

We love taking you places in Capital Home, and in this issue you can travel with writer Kim Westad to Paris and the City of Lights’ chic 16th arrondissement, where some of the world’s most magnificent museums call home. Visit the incredible

Fondation Louis Vuitton, the contemporary arts centre with 11 galleries showcasing modern art from around the world, and the Musée Marmottan Monet, a former 19th century hunting lodge dedicated to Impressionist and Post-Impressionist art and houses the world’s largest collection of Claude Monet’s work. The Marmottan also has an extensive collection from Paul Cézanne, Edgar Degas, Pierre-Auguste Renoir, Alfred Sisley and Berthe Morisot, who is represented at the Marmottan by a large permanent collection.

Cozy up with our chef extraordinaire, Eric Akis, as he prepares of warm winter four-course feast of seafood bisque, salad greens with pear, pomegranate and walnut vinaigrette, a roast strip loin with shallot wine sauce, and panna cotta with mandarin oranges and pistachios.

And don’t forget the wine.

Enjoy. CH

CapitalHOME DAVID WHITMAN / DIRECTOR OF ADVERTISING JASON SCRIVEN / PABLO MIRANDA SALES MANAGERS WENDY KALO / OPERATIONS MANAGER GORDON FALLER / GRAPHIC DESIGN DARRON KLOSTER / EDITOR DAVE OBEE / EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Capital Home is published by the Times Colonist, a division of TC Publication Limited Partnership, at 2621 Douglas St., Victoria, British Columbia, Canada V8T 4M2.

Canadian Publications Registration No. 0530646. GST No. 84505 1507 RT0001 Please send comments about Capital to: Editor-in-chief Dave Obee dobee@timescolonist.com To advertise, phone: 250-380-5328, or email Sales Manager Jason Scriven at: jscriven@timescolonist.com.

8 | Capital HOME

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WISH LIST

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10 | Capital HOME

THE CHINOISERIE RED Inuenced by Chinese art and reecting 18th century romanticism, this chinoiserie decorative work is both elegant and delicate. Hallmarks of chinoiserie are lavish gold leaf raised motifs and intricate hand-painted deigns. This piano, designed in a traditional English furniture style, features straight lines in the legs with painted accents and matching bench and lyre pedals. Available at Tom Lee Music Starting from:

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Capital HOME | 11

Living in Style...

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WALK IN CLOSETS This contemporary walkin closet is finished in our textured paneling called Bianco. Concealed from view, but accessible with the touch of a finger are pop-out tie racks, belt racks, scarf racks and valet rods (see red dress).

Hidden from view is a tilt-out laundry hamper with lift out nylon bags for pre-sorting of laundry items. Full extension soft close drawers are lined with Birch veneer and glide silently on European hardware.

Endless finishes are available and range from Classic to Contemporary.

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Capital HOME | 13

WISH LIST THETA LED Pendant Hubbarton Forge The Theta showcases mixed metals to create a unique design. Textured steel and aluminum form the “Setting Sun” that gives a warm glow when lit by the led frame. 53” W X 16” D. Available at McLaren Lighting

WREN BAR CABINET Function meets old-world charm with this show stopper.

This metal and iron crafted piece will be sure to add interest to any space.

Available at Muse & Merchant

ARIO DINING TABLE

1,698

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The Ario Collection features a sturdy iron base that looks rather delicate. The different shaped holes give a shattered glass or stained glass effect. Made of Solid Acacia Wood and Iron. Other pieces include a bench, chair, coffee table, and console table.

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14 | Capital HOME

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1051 Beach Drive, Victoria

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dozens of exclusive websites and publications.

Whether you are looking to buy or sell, vist us for your complimentary consultation at 752 Douglas Street, Victoria or call 250.380.3933 today. sothebysrealty.ca E&O.E: Not intended to solicit properties already under agreement.Real estate agency. Sotheby’s International Realty Québec, Independently Owned & Operated. Sotheby’s International Realty Canada,

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Capital HOME | 15

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Capital HOME | 17

INTO THE HOMES OF CELEBRITIES WHO RECENTLY PUT THEIR PADS ON THE MARKET

I

nvestment executive Justin Chang and his wife, author Amanda Brown, are asking $18.5 million for their Cape Dutch-inspired estate in Montecito, Calif. The Ambrose Cramer-designed residence, built in 1931, sits on more than three acres of manicured grounds originally designed by celebrated landscape architect Lockwood de Forest. (Jim Bartsch/TNS)

18.5m

$ T

he Beverly House, once home to publishing magnate William Randolph Hearst and actress Marion Davies, has come back on the market at $195 million — $30 million more than what it last publicly listed in 2007.

Designed by Gordon Kaufmann, the H-shaped mansion offers more than 50,000 square feet of interior space with 30 bedrooms and 40 bathrooms. A lighted tennis court, a swimming pool, two ponds, loggias, fountains and formal landscaping ďŹ ll the grounds. (Nick Springett/TNS)

18 | Capital HOME

$

T

he mountain hideaway built for Frank Sinatra has returned to market for $3.9 million with additional acreage that was not previously offered.

At an elevation of 4,300 feet above Palm Desert, the compound is reached by a gated road or the air; a private, lighted helipad resides on the 7.5-acre property. Sinatra entertained fellow Rat Pack members, celebrities and dignitaries at the residence during his dozen years of ownership. (Brendan Carlisle/Interior Pixel) >

$

3.9m

Capital HOME | 19

HOT PROPERTIES

12.78m

$

P

irates of the Carribean franchise star Johnny Depp is asking $12.78 million for his collection of condos atop the Eastern Columbia Building in downtown L.A. The loft-style units, which total about 11,500 square feet, were left largely separate, but designed to serve speciďŹ c purposes such as intimate and formal entertaining.

Several private terraces sit off the various units and take in views of downtown L.A. as well as the clock tower that tops the 1930 art deco structure. (Simon Berlyn/Los Angeles Times/TNS)

20 | Capital HOME

December 10—23

10.95m

$

This Little Light B O O K & LYR I C S

B

ox ofďŹ ce star Leonardo DiCaprio is asking $10.95 million for his oceanfront home in the Carbon Beach area. DiCaprio bought the 1950s cottage, which has three bedrooms and two bathrooms over 1,765 square feet, in 1998 for $1.6 million. Among features of note is a galley-style kitchen styled with gray herringbone tile and matching cabinetry. (Scott Everts/TNS) >

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$ T

9.3m

he Malibu home of late actor Carroll O’Connor has sold for $9.3 million. Built in 1974 in Moorish style, the 3,600-square-foot house sits on 42 feet of beachfront on Broad Beach. (Berlyn Photography/TNS)

E

mmy-winning actress Viola Davis paid $5.7 million for a newly-built home in Toluca Lake for $5.7 million.

Completed last year, the European-inspired residence features a fountain entry, subdued hues and a custom theatre with a 4K projector. A saltwater swimming pool lies within grounds of about half an acre. (Shooting LA/TNS)

22 | Capital HOME

$

B

ritish heiress Petra Stunt bought the estate from Candy Spelling, widow of late TV producer Aaron Spelling, in 2011 for $85 million. At 56,500 square feet, the manor is considered the largest single-family home in Los Angeles County. Within the Fench chateau-style home are an estimated 123 rooms, including a owercutting room and a silver storage room. (Randolph Harrison/TNS)

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6.512m

n Encino home once owned by actor and comedian Dick Van Dyke and, after him, Brazilian musician Sergio Mendes has sold for $6.512 million. During Mendes’ ownership, he hired a construction crew that included a young Harrison Ford to build a recording studio on the property.

Fronted by a horseshoe-shaped driveway, the 12,015-square-foot house has a skylightlit foyer, a living room with a stone fireplace,

S

imon Fuller, the television producer who created the Idol franchises, sold his English traditional-style home in Beverly Hills for $14.6 million. Built in 1925 and recently updated, the house features a screening room with a wet bar, a fitness center and a wine room. A sculptural floating-spiral staircase connects each of the home’s three floors. (Simon Berlyn) CH

24 | Capital HOME

a dining room, a center-island kitchen, three bedrooms and 5.5 bathrooms. Amenities such as a wine cellar, a theatre, a gym and an elevator also lie within the home.

Outside, the acre-plus setting includes a swimming pool and spa, an outdoor kitchen and a tennis court. Across from the main house, a separate villa provides three additional en suite bedrooms. There’s also a subterranean garage.

MELISSA KURTZ & KATHERINE GRAY

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dozens of exclusive websites and publications.

Please call us if you are considering selling your home.

E.&O.E.: If your property is listed with a real estate broker, please disregard. It is not our intention to solicit the offerings of other real estate brokers. We are happy to work with them and cooperate fully. Sotheby’s International Realty Canada is Independently Owned And Operated.

Capital HOME | 25

26 | Capital HOME

Gorgeous

on t he

THE MAGIC OF WOOD AND WATER GARNERS CRITICAL ACCLAIM FOR ACTIVE VICTORIA COUPLE

BY GRANIA LITWIN PHOTOS BY GEOFF HOBSON

Capital HOME | 27

I

an grew up on the Gorge and had an idyllic childhood messing about in a small boat his dad made for him.

His father, a finishing carpenter, also instilled in his son a deep appreciation for fine wood and oldworld craftsmanship, so it’s hardly surprising that Alan developed a passion for both.

Drawn to the scene of many bucolic childhood memories, Alan bought a lot on the picturesque waterway almost 30 years ago and dreamed of building his own house there, with his own hands, but other demands got in the way and he recently hired Abstract Developments to build it for him and his partner Deborah.

HOBSON WOODWORKS CREATED ALL THE CHERRY CABINETS, WHICH ARE GRAINMATCHED ALL AROUND THE KITCHEN. STAINLESS BASEBOARDS AND A NARROW CUSTOM STAINLESS STRIP, INSET ACROSS THE HOOD FAN AND CABINETS, TIE IN WITH APPLIANCES, AND WAS DESIGNED BY SANDY NYGAARD. THE STONE COUNTERTOP LOOKS LIKE LEATHER. A TELEVISION OVER THE FRIDGE PULLS OUT AND TURNS FOR VIEWING FROM DINING ROOM OR PENINSULA. THE KITCHEN WON A CARE AWARD FOR BEST CONTEMPORARY KITCHEN.

28 | Capital HOME

2016 CARE AWARDS

of Vancouver Island

CONSTRUCTION ACHIEVEMENTS AND RENOVATIONS OF EXCELLENCE

CARE Award Winners

The GOLD Awards were presented on Saturday, October 1st

Abstract Developments Aryze Developments Christopher Developments Città Group Creative Spaciz Design Studio Denford Construction Management Ltd. Falcon Heights Contracting Goodison Construction GT Mann Contracting Hobson Woodworks Inc. Jason Good Custom Cabinets Jenny Martin Design Jodi Foster Interior Design

KB Design Ken Murray Developments Limona Group Maximilian Huxley Construction NZ Builders Ltd. Patterson & Kaercher Construction Ltd. Rayn Properties Ltd. South Shore Cabinetry Step One Design Terry Johal Developments Ltd. TS Williams Construction Ltd. Verity Construction Zebra Design and Interiors Group

Special Achievement Winners Bill Patterson, Città Group Jenny Martin, Jenny Martin Design Jo-Ann Roberts, Threshold Housing Society Miles Gillespie, Stelly’s Secondary School Madison Leslie, Vancouver Island University

2016 Sponsors

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Victoria Real Estate Board | Aviva/National Home Warranty CTV | Times Colonist

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vrba.ca

Capital HOME | 29

WATERWAY WONDER “When planning the house I explained to the builder that it would be nice to have a least one part with some really lovely woodwork,” said Alan, who prefers not to use his last name. “I thought it could be in the master bedroom walk-in closet, but my wish was met in spades because the whole house has lots of woodwork in it,” and a nautical flavor, too, thanks to custom built-ins by Hobson Woodworks and doors

by Pronautic Architectural, Yacht and Ship Interiors.

The contemporary home glows with the cognac tones of polished cherry wood on walls, floors, cabinets, drawers and built-ins. The floors are wide plank and all the millwork is quarter cut, horizontal matching grain — yet the look is not overbearing as the wood intermingles with natural stone, metal accents and generous spans of glass.

“We hand-picked all the sheets of cherry and in the kitchen we routered a stainless inset right into the wood,” said Geoff Hobson, who added it is extremely unusual to use so much of one wood in a single home. “We’ve never done that before, but it fits well in the environment, with so much light and exposure to the water.

“We did a tremendous amount of millwork in 10 rooms, using about three times as much wood as the average home. The dressing room has an extensive amount of wrap-around millwork, all continuous grain, with lots of jogs and turns. It was fun seeing it all come together.”

The home won accolades at the recent CARE Awards for its high-end millwork, media room, contemporary kitchen and was also voted best singlefamily detached home valued between $1.5 million and 2 million. “Both Deborah and I are really pleased with the results which exceeded our wishes in every respect,” said Alan.

Their home is perfect for these two Victoria-born owners who work and play with intensity, have lots of hobbies and are constantly on the move, like the water flowing past their property. The two are avid gardeners, cyclists, joggers, bikers and Alan still works full time.

“We cycle three days a week, doing about 80 to 100 kilometres on Saturday, plus two training days a week in the summer and then spin classes and skiing in winter,” said Deborah, adding they also run and both did a half marathon in Vegas last year. On their motorbikes they have toured all around B.C., Alberta, through California and Yellowstone.

“We don’t spend money on expensive holidays, we don’t cruise and we’re not pretentious,” but they wanted their home to be a retreat, a house that was

30 | Capital HOME

THE ENTRY HAS A CUSTOM BENCH WITH BUILT-IN DRAWERS AND COAT-STORAGE CABINETS. AT LEFT, DOWN THE HALL, IS AN ELEVATOR WITH CHERRY DOORS AND STAINLESS INTERIOR — HANDY FOR TRANSPORTING LUGGAGE, OR WHEN THEY NEED A LIFT AFTER AN INTENSE TRAINING SESSION.

s4(% 7!,+ IN CLOSET HAS CUSTOM MILLWORK, SEATING, VANITY AREA AND FULLSIZED LAUNDRY ROOM ON ONE SIDE. HOBSON WOODWORKS DID ALL THE HOME’S CHERRY INTERIORS, INCLUDING EXTENSIVE BUILT-INS FOR THE DRESSING ROOM.

Capital HOME | 31

equally down-to -earth, with a contemporary vibe, no window coverings and clean lines. “We wanted it to have a serene, spa-like atmosphere, but to also feel lived in and comfortable because neither of us likes a fussy look.” Luxury to them means living in an uncluttered home that is beautifully built with handsome materials, in calm surroundings.

The house is 3,000 square feet, but seems bigger because of the open plan and sight lines which draw the eye through the house — even through the lower garage which has a wall of glass facing the water.

“The Gorge is the unsung hero of Victoria,” said Deborah, who enjoys living on the water, especially now that she is retired from her job as manager of expropriation for the B.C. government. “It’s much warmer here than on Dallas or Beach Drive, and there is a constant stream of life going by: rowers, paddle boarders, recreational boaters, kids swimming, cyclists, walkers and crazy amounts of wildlife, swans, ducks, geese and deer.

“I buy special food for the swans and feed them every day. They mate for life, which is so romantic.

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A FLOATING MONO STRINGER STAIRCASE ATTACHED TO A STEEL SPINE, HAS GLASS RAILINGS AND TWOSTOREY HIGH, DRIPPING LIGHT FIXTURE FROM ILLUMINATIONS LIGHTING SOLUTIONS.

I kept waiting for them to have a baby and sure enough one day they did, and brought the baby right to me. They’re like my family as our kids are all grown up.”

I

t took the couple more than two years to build the house and the biggest challenge was a three-storey, single spine, glass walled, suspended staircase. “It was a big deal and a big, big, big bunch of trouble,” said Alan.

“It took a huge amount of time and was difficult to fit so that the landing turned in the correct place, and the sight lines were right when you look out the window. All the stair pieces were brought in by crane and the windows were installed, but it didn’t line up right so it all had to be taken out again and modified ….It looks great now and is securely bolted into the steel frame of the house.”

The owners chose all natural Neolith treads from Stone Age Marble & Granite. The product is created under extreme heat and pressure using clay, feldspar, silica and mineral oxides, and the result is a material that’s 100 per cent recyclable, highly durable, non porous, fire resistant, stain resistant and nearly indestructible.

Deborah said they interviewed three different builders before choosing Abstract Developments because they wanted, “a really good builder, with a good reputation. I was very impressed with Mike Miller (Abstract principal) who said,

Capital HOME | 33

THE MASTER IS EXPANSIVE AND HAS BEAUTIFULL VIEWS OF THE GORGE.

34 | Capital HOME

plain and simple, during our first interview: ‘I can do anything you want. It’s just going to cost money.’

“We checked out his character homes, his modern homes, all his different projects, and he was a huge part of the design. His site supervisor was great, too, and his interior designer Sandy Nygaard was amazing. “I love her to death.”

The results are remarkable, from the black marble ensuite and hot tub on the top deck, to the lower level garage with a workshop for their two Harleys, a full wall of glass that slides back on the waterfront side, and a turntable for the car. No one in this house ever has to back up the steep, curving and walled drive.

The turntable cost about $30,000 and above it, on the ceiling, is a custom disc that mimics its shape. “That was a bit of an engineering feat,” said designer Sandy Nygaard, who explained the owners didn’t want to see the mechanics of the garage door, so she created a large round element to cover it, then added lighting above.

Nygaard noted the couple wanted

everything utterly organized. “Alan wanted the walk-in closet detailed like a boat, fully customized for everything, and we put the laundry room off the walk-in closet, which is becoming more typical these days because that’s where the clothes are.”

The same well-ordered attitude is seen in the front entry with its custom bench, chest of drawers for keys and mitts, and roomy built-in closet. “When there is a place for everything, all the stuff can be tucked away,” said Nygaard, who said that means homeowners can enjoy looking at the things they really like, and not the junk.

The final fun was doing the garden, said Alan who hired Shabusa Ponds to create a tall water feature in the narrow, side garden off the living room. “They did a great job because it just makes the house next door disappear.”

Apart from brick and concrete definition, the rest of the property was left undeveloped.

“It was left completely blank so I could do anything I wanted, and it was like being a kid with a blank page in a colouring book,” he said. >

THE ENSUITE FEATURES A HEATED TOWEL WARMER, STEREO SOUND AND PROGRAMMABLE LIGHTING BY GORGE ELECTRICAL SERVICES (WHICH DID THE LUTRON LIGHTING SYSTEM THROUGHOUT THE HOUSE), WALK-IN SHOWER, FREESTANDING ANGLED TUB, HEATED TILE FLOORS, DOUBLE VANITIES, BLACK MARBLE FLOOR, WALLS AND PILLAR WITH A DISPLAY NICHE.

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Capital HOME | 35

1

36 | Capital HOME

1: THE LOWER GARAGE HAS A TURNTABLE FOR CARS AND A WORK AREA WITH MOTORCYCLE LIFT FOR ALAN’S PROJECTS. THE ONE ON THE LIFT IS A ROAD KING HE BUILT FOR DEBORAH, AND HE RIDES A STORE-BOUGHT STREET GLIDE HIMSELF. A LARGE CIRCULAR PANEL ABOVE, ECHOES THE TURNTABLE SHAPE, AND CAMOUFLAGES THE DOOR-OPENING MECHANISM. A FULL GLASS WALL AT THE BACK OF THE GARAGE OPENS ONTO THE REAR GARDEN AND GORGE WATERWAY. 2: THE AWARD-WINNING MEDIA ROOM HAS FOUR INDIVIDUAL LOUNGES, A WET BAR, CLIMATE CONTROLLED WINE ROOM AND HIDDEN ACCESS TO A MECHANICAL ROOM. A PROGRAMMABLE CUSTOM LIGHTING SYSTEM, INSTALLED BY GORGE ELECTRICAL SERVICES, CAN MATCH THE LIGHTS TO WHATEVER SPORTS TEAM IS PLAYING. “HAVING A WINE CELLAR IS IRONIC, WE DON’T REALLY DRINK WINE,” SAID DEBORAH, “BUT IT’S A FUN LOOK, AND WE LOVE THE LIGHTING SYSTEM.”

2

Capital HOME | 37

THE THREE-STOREY GORGE HOME WAS BUILT BY ABSTRACT DEVELOPMENTS AND WON A BEST SINGLE FAMILY DETACHED HOME IN THE RECENT CARE AWARDS.

PRONAUTIC ARCHITECTURAL, YACHT AND SHIP INTERIORS BUILT THE FRONT DOOR. THE EXTERIOR FINISH IS TONGUE AND GROOVE CEDAR AND SOFFITS, WITH METAL CLADDING AND GLASS.

CH

NOW OPEN 523 Fisgard St. 250-590-6637 @moehomevic w w w. m o e s h o m e . c a

“I BUY SPECIAL FOOD FOR THE SWANS AND FEED THEM EVERY DAY. THEY MATE FOR LIFE, WHICH IS SO ROMANTIC. I KEPT WAITING FOR THEM TO HAVE A BABY AND SURE ENOUGH ONE DAY THEY DID, AND BROUGHT THE BABY RIGHT TO ME. THEY’RE LIKE MY FAMILY AS OUR KIDS ARE ALL GROWN UP.”

CH 38 | Capital HOME

Capital HOME | 39

MASTERPLANNER FOR LEGO LOVING LIFE IN UNIQUE HOME FLOATING ATOP SALTSPRING MOUNTAIN

BY GRANIA LITWIN PHOTOGRAPHS BY JOHN COCHRAN, C.J. BERG, TODD SAUNDERS ARCHITECTURE

THE BUILDINGS WERE DESIGNED BY TODD SAUNDERS WHOSE FIRM, SAUNDERS ARCHITECTURE, IS BASED IN NORWAY. EACH BUILDING MEASURES ABOUT 600 SQUARE FEET AND IS CLAD IN CORRUGATED STEEL.

40 | Capital HOME

TODD SAUNDERS ARCHITECT

H

overing high above the sun-soaked slope of Mount Tuam and overlooking the waters of Satellite Channel are two mysterious dark monoliths that seem to have been teleported there from outer space. Gazing upon them for the first time, a visitor can almost hear the strains of Stanley Kubrick’s epic Space Odyssey, but these two intriguing buildings are not special effects created in a movie studio.

They are real, corrugated metal-clad structures built on two large plinths and joined by a lightweight suspended bridge that flies over a seasonal waterfall that cascades down the cliff in winter and spring.

THE HUGE, THREE-LEVEL WATERFALL CRASHING DOWN THE CLIFF IN WINTER AND SPRING.

>

Capital HOME | 41

IT'A ALL ABOUT THE VIEW AND CONNECTING WITH THE LANDSCAPE. THE OWNER ENJOYS A SOUTHERLY VIEW OVERLOOKING THE SAN JUAN ISLANDS

42 | Capital HOME

Warmth The Salt Spring Island home belongs to strategic masterplanner Nancy Krieg who hired renowned Newfoundland-born architect Todd Saunders to design it for her. Based in Norway, Saunders is the architect of dozens of extraordinary buildings around the globe including the Fogo Island Inn, in Nd., and the Aurland Lookout in Norway, and has been named one of the ďŹ ve greatest, under-50 architects in the world, by HufďŹ ngton Post.

Perched about 360 metres about sea level, this home comprises a 600-square-feet on the lower level with a similar-size atelier above. The two oat over an eight-hectare property on the south side of Mt. Tuam that Krieg bought with her brother and sister-in-law in 2004.

It took Krieg a long time to decide what to build, but it’s no surprise this out-of-the-box thinker shaped a unique home for herself, as she is a specialist in creating fantastic environments — and used to work for Lego. >

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Capital HOME | 43

THE VIEW FROM A BEND IN THE ALUMINUM CONNECTOR BRIDGE, THAT WAS DESIGNED BY OWNER.

BELOW: THE STUDIO AND HOME SEEM TO FLOAT IN SPACE IN THE WINTER MIST

44 | Capital HOME

GO Before forming her own company, Whitepine Consulting, she was lead strategic masterplanner for Legoland in both England and California, and also worked on new initiatives for existing Legoland locations in Japan, the States and Germany.

An expert in developing theme parks, interpretive attractions, retail and landscape architecture, Krieg has worked all over North America, Europe and Asia, creating tourism projects in Denmark; designing guidelines for extensive residential and retail businesses in Dubai: refurbishing a tired promenade and Victorian waterfront area in England; developing recreational and educational activities for resorts in Loch Lomond; and helping with masterplanning in Greece after disastrous fires in 2007 tore through hundreds of acres of forest.

One of her 30-year career highlights was working as masterplanner of visual concepts for Danfoss Universe in Denmark, a $135-million educational project where children learn about science and technology.

But it was while working as joint-lead planning consultant for the $80-million Durrell Wildlife Conservation centre on Jersey that she

met Saunders, who was designing eco lodges there. “I was totally blown away by Todd’s art, by his book, his lookout in Norway, and as we were the only Canadians on the team, we quickly bonded.”

She invited him to look at her cliff on Salt Spring and they spent a week sitting on the rocks while he sketched. “We discussed things, had a few beers and at the end of the week Todd went back to Norway and completed concept sketches.” She gave them to local engineer Greg Slakov and draftsman Jim Helset, “who knew the building code inside out,” and Saunders oversaw the work from afar.

“Nancy was fantastic to work with and it was fun to make a smaller house,” said Saunders, who was interviewed in Norway while driving between tunnels on the way from Voss to Bergen.

“It is more difficult to practise restraint than to build a gigantic house,” he explained, and he liked the way she asked questions and didn’t tell him what to do.

“I’m always looking for eccentric clients, who have both their economy and their minds in order, who are confident enough to come to us. Nancy has a very open mind and we built

her a home that is small, but the landscape is big,” he said.

“The bathroom, for instance, may be about 50 square feet, but feels like 5,000 because of the window. It’s the same in the living room.

You never feel confined in this house,” said the architect, who is building more tourism projects now — hotels, museums, cultural centres, retreats— but still does a few houses each year.

He recently designed an 8,000-squarefoot home on the coast of Norway, with a 6,000-square-foot library, but whether it’s homes or hotels, whatever he creates has a timeless, cutting edge originality. (See Saunders, page 50) The owner had a simple vision for her home.

“I have a huge, three level waterfall on my property and I wanted it to be the hero of the project and the site. I wanted the buildings to embrace the waterfall and complement it,” said Krieg, who has a degree in landscape architecture from the University of Guelph and lived in England for 15 years before moving to this coast.

Imagining two Scandinavian-inspired buildings levitating over the steep geography,

Capital HOME | 45

GO

PERCHED IN HER STUDIO, TWO LEGO MEN ENJOY A TOAST TOGETHER, BESIDE A CASE OF DANISH BEER. “THE LEGO MODEL BUILDERS HAVE A GREAT SENSE OF HUMOUR,” SAID NANCY KRIEG, WHO WAS GIVEN THESE TWO FIGURES AS PARTING GIFTS. THEY WERE ONEOFF PROTOTYPES

OWNER IN HER SPLIT LEVEL STUDIO AND GUEST ROOM. AT LEFT, UNDER HER RAISED WORKSTATION, IS A LARGE PULLOUT BED, WITH SMALL PULLOUT SHELVES THAT SERVE AS TABLES ON EITHER SIDE.

46 | Capital HOME

she also needed ample space for an art studio as she is only semi retired, and still takes on projects that interest her.

“I wanted minimal footprint so I could retain the natural beauty here, but also wanted bridges so it’s easy to navigate between the two floating masses.” It’s important for her to be physically able to easily reach both buildings, even in her older years, without having to clamber up a steep, rocky cliff. She has also preplanned an area for a lift to the bridge, as her home is currently accessed via an aluminum staircase that descends through the roof garden.

Because she craved a low maintenance home, the exteriors are corrugated steel in a dark bronze tone but while it is industrial looking outside it is softened by wood inside. And her home has already garnered international attention having been featured

in numerous publications — including Extreme Homes, International Architecture and Design, several German magazines — as well as in Saunders’s book Architecture in Northern Landscapes.

She loves the open area plan, the wedge shaped deck and how “mist hangs like a blanket on a fall morning.” In the winter, she turns her chairs away from the view to face the waterfall and rugged slope. “When the fog is dominant and I’m socked in, it’s a relief to have something beautiful to look at.”

Her kitchen floor is slate, inspired by the streambed outside, her counter tops are bamboo butcher block, “which is several times harder than oak,” and cabinets are made of recycled paper with a pecan resin.

Floating shelves were made with repurposed steel from ships, and her pastry marble is from an old English tabletop.

Brushed aluminum-framed glass doors in the living room fold completely away and windows on the waterfall side are laminated for soundproofing, to mute the crashing noise of the waterfall, which she has named Ephemeral Falls because they stop in the summer.

Krieg said her contractor Gord Speed and his trades were “amazing,” and he said the project was a challenge.

“The terrain was pretty formidable, steep and rocky,” said Speed, who noted that getting down to the site and back up again was quite a task, so they did a lot of hand work with scaffolding, used a crane for part of the job and wheeled in concrete. “In the winter there was a gush of water for sure and it was hard to talk to the crew because of the noise.”

Both buildings rest on concrete plinths, with steel columns dowelled and grouted into the rock. Outside lockers and a rooftop deck maximize storage.

“Nancy spent hours and hours working on site every day, cleaning up and

organizing, and she had a lot of creative ideas, like reusing boards that we used for concrete forms as the interior finish in her studio. I think it’s a fantastic house and dark colours seem to be in vogue now,” said Speed who has worked on architecturally designed and custom homes on Salt Spring for 30 years.

Krieg noted her approach is always holistic and starts with careful consideration of a site.

“Often a contractor, or engineer or architect says let’s build here, and everything follows from that. But I do things differently. I look at the best location for the driveway, the most efficient septic field, the well, where you want a garage, a future hot tub, a garden, the best aspect for a deck… how that all relates to the house, how a house complements the site and vice versa.

“Thinking of these things first makes such sense from a usable point of view, and also an economic one,” said the masterplanner, who did the overall site design, landscape and lighting design for her modernist home.

She also believes: “You don’t design something just to look pretty; it has to have meaning, be worthwhile and have some fun, which is what Lego epitomizes

with its gorgeous design and stealth learning.”

She believes people never stop wanting to play, “without judgement,” so she always adds some creative, sophisticated, imaginative elements, such as the bright colour palette she used in her studio and the drawings and project sketches which she laminated to the floor instead of tile or carpet there. “Whenever I need inspiration I just walk around and look at my feet.”

She set an eight-centimetre diameter amethyst into her living room’s slate floor, with a spotlight that turns it into a sparkling gem at night, and she painted old taps blue, yellow and green to hold raincoats.

Despite all her work around the globe she sparkles when talking about her years with Lego during which she realized the needs and expectations of children aged one to 80.

Although a site planner for the company she also had fun designing special items, like a vending machine that called out, “You who,” when people walked by.` “My colleagues at Lego have a great sense of humour and are interesting, fascinating people with specializations from all of the world. It is a great working environment.” CH

Capital HOME | 47

GO NANCY KRIEG GROWS TOMATOES, PEPPERS, HERBS, CLIMBING ROSES AND FLOWERING VINES ON HER ROOFTOP GARDEN, FROM WHICH AN ALUMINUM STAIRWAY DESCENDS TO HER FRONT DOOR.

THE MASTER ENSUITE FEELS LIKE AN OUTDOOR SHOWER THANKS TO A FLOOR-TO-CEILING, WALL-TO-WALL WINDOW. THE SLATE SLAB BENCH WAS FOUND ON SITE; THE FLOOR IS GREEN SLATE AND THE COUNTER TOP IS STONE.

THE FELTED FLOWER CENTREPIECE WAS MADE BY ARTIST DEBBIE KATZ,

THE MASTER BEDROOM, OFF THE LIVING AREA, HAS TWO POCKET DOORS THAT ADD TO VISUAL SPACE AND AIR CIRCULATION. A SHELF ABOVE THE BED (WHICH RISES LIKE A SOFA) HOLDS A PROJECTOR SO THE OWNER CAN WATCH MOVIES ON A LARGE SCREEN THAT DESCENDS OVER THE PICTURE WINDOW AT THE FOOT OF THE BED. IT’S A CLEVER MULTI-PURPOSE SOLUTION IN HOME A SMALL HOME. 48 | Capital

A WINDOW SEAT IN THE BEDROOM IS LINED WITH A SHEEPSKIN AND PILLOWS

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Capital HOME | 49

ENCORE

One with nature

50 | Capital HOME

CANADIAN ARCHITECT TURNING HEADS IN COUNTRIES AROUND THE GLOBE

T

odd Saunders is considered one of the world’s greatest architects.

Born in Newfoundland and based in Norway, he has travelled to 140 countries and works all over the world designing extraordinary buildings — everything from a small angular art studio to a large hotel that appears to be walking into the Atlantic Ocean on stilts.

“My work is extremely domestic and comfortable,” Saunders, 46, said in a recent telephone interview from Norway, adding that from age seven he knew he would be an architect.

“I grew up building things, cabins with my father and grandfather, and was always interested in building even though I was raised in a small town and never exposed to architecture in a professional way. I was talented at drawing, too, so it was a natural progression.”

Saunders worked as a carpenter while earning his masters of architecture at McGill and spent nine months hitchhiking from France to China. Along the way, he visited Norway and decided he had to go back and live there, so despite job offers in Switzerland and Vancouver, that’s what he did, starting his own company at age 26.

The single father of two daughters now has offices in Norway, New York and Seattle and is spending more time now working in Canada. He is also studying to become a pilot, to move around more easily in his own floatplane.

While he designs a few high-end luxury houses each year, he focuses now on hospitality and tourism projects with his multi-disciplinary team includes a full-time specialist in environmental architecture, a landscape architect, sculptor, and graphic designer.

Saunders is working in 10 different countries and said the recent Salt Spring Island project began as most of his projects do — with highly detailed contour lines

prepared by a surveyor, construction of a physical model and then a computerized 3-D terrain model. “Architecture can ruin a beautiful place, or do the opposite and be an apostrophe on the landscape, if done really well. My hope is always to make a place even more beautiful,” he explained.

“The Salt Spring property has a waterfall and we wanted the house to come as close to it as possible, so a person could really experience that, by looking down, walking over the top and also viewing it from below. We didn’t cut down any trees.

We left the site exactly as it was and built the structures on columns to float over the landscape.”

Nature comes first, architecture second for Saunders who always lets the landscape dictate the design.

That consciousness, as well as his contemporary genius, has led to Saunders being nominated for scores of awards, including the Mies van der Rohe prize for best contemporary European Architecture.

He won building of the year from the ArchDaily global website; won the Architectural Review Award for Emerging Architects and the HISE European Sustainable Architecture Prize. For hotel design he won the Condé Nast Traveler Gold List; TripAdvisor Traveler’s Choice Award; Fogo Island Inn was named one of the top 10 destinations in 2013 by the Globe and Mail; Andrew Harper Hideaway of the Year; AZURE Social Good Award.

In addition to these prizes, his astonishing Aurland Lookout was named one of the new seven architectural wonders of the world by Condé Naste.

When not moving around the world, supervising projects, Saunders teaches architecture in Scandinavia and Canada, is a visiting professor at Cornell University in New York, and recently has been a guest lecturer at Harvard University and MIT in Boston.

Rich experiece coming to Nunavut

T

he construction of the Illusuak Cultural Centre in Nain is one of the newest initiatives of the Nunatsiavut Government. The Cultural Centre will be a place to host

exhibits that tell our story as Labrador Inuit. Programs will be offered that engage Inuit, Kablunângajuit (mixed ancestry) and non-Inuit in the history of the Labrador Inuit culture, language, values, and traditions. A focus on cultural programming will make the Cultural Centre a multi-generational gathering and sharing space. In partnership with the Torngat Mountains National Park, the new Cultural Centre will contribute to Nunatsiavut as an exclusive travel destination appealing to visitors seeking rich cultural and natural experiences. With the initial construction begun, the centre designed by Canada’s Todd Saunders is scheduled to be complete and open to the public by 2017. — Tourism Nunavut

O

ver the next ten years, 650 acres of secluded and pristine Canadian landscape will become a new centre of innovative contemporary residential design. Scattered

across these south and west-facing slopes, ridges, lakes and woodlands will be 44 unique houses, each occupying a generous lot of between one and five acres.

As well as re-zoning the land to avoid

Carraig Ridge: Landscape, history and design

over-development, landscape designers and

contemporary

architects

have

worked to ensure the new houses have minimal impact on their surroundings.

Carraig Ridge is set in open countryside between Calgary and the expanse of the Banff National Park. Alberta’s famous Ghost Lake is nearby and, on the horizon, the land rises up to form the spectacular peaks of the Rocky Mountains. The land is shared with wolves, elk, bison and eagles, as well as many other species, while each lot has been divided to conform to the natural contours and boundaries of the terrain.

The Carraig Ridge plot was originally part of the Morleyville Settlement, the cradle of southern Alberta cattle ranching in the late 19th century. Today, the site offers an opportunity to combine conservation with innovation. The first collection of new houses are being overseen by the Norwegian-based studio Saunders Architecture, founded by the Canadian-born architect Todd Saunders. — Jonathan Bell

Capital HOME | 51

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RAVEN’S ROOST

A SOARING CEILING IN THE LIVING ROOM ADDS TO THE SPACIOUS FEELING, WHILE A LARGE MIRROR AT RIGHT DOUBLES THE SPACE. SOFAS AND PILLOWS IN GOLD VELVET ARE FROM CHINTZ & CO.

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T

erry Raven has an amazing store in Duncan called Pots & Paraphernalia, which is something of a Mecca for those craving fine bed linens, rare kitchen items and other domestic luxuries.

But she also has a charming house in Mill Bay that tells the tale of a life spent appreciating beautiful things. Everywhere a visitor looks, are intriguing views, whether inside the home or outside, in the expansive one-acre property that was recently a highlight of the Cowichan Valley garden tour.

The home is warm and welcoming, with lush fabrics, masses of plants, a diverse mixture of old and country chic furniture, sculptures, ceramics and even a water wheel that splashes and spins beside the guest cottage. Raven fell in love with the house almost the moment she stepped inside.

“As soon as the Realtor opened both doors onto the back garden, I wanted this house,” she said with the gleeful look of a child on Christmas morning. “I went straight out into the garden and was blown away. There were so many gorgeous areas, so much variety and texture.” >

TERRY RAVEN IN HER DINING ROOM.

T H IS C OT TAGE Y

THE FAMILY ROOM IS BRIGHT AND INVITING WITH TURQUOISE-MINT PAINT ON THE WALLS, A RED LEATHER SOFA AND RED DOOR TRIM. THE PAINTING IS BY OWNER TERRY RAVEN AND THE CRACKLE CHEST AT RIGHT IS FROM CHINTZ & CO.

CHAR ACT ER HOM E IS S I T UAT ED O NAS MA

A WHITE PIE CUPBOARD IS FILLED WITH CERAMICS IN BLUES AND WHITES.

LL R IS

E IN

MI

LL

BA Y.

A COLLECTION OF ARTWORK, IN MOSTLY BLACK, WHITE AND SOFT BLUE, LINE THE STAIRS.

GREEN JUGS AND POTS SIT ON A TILED WINDOWSILL IN THE KITCHEN Capital HOME | 57

AY MARVEL 1

1: A PERSIAN CARPET AND ZEBRA-STRIPED OTTOMAN GREET GUESTS IN THE LONG ENTRY. 2: TWO KITCHEN WINDOWS DRAW THE OUTSIDE SCENE IN WHILE THE BROAD SILL HOLDS A COLLECTION OF CERAMIC JUGS AND GLASSWARE.

The house was built in 1980 and she has lived there for four years, adoring everything from the fig, plum and crab apple trees to the pond and water garden, the roomy kitchen and loft that overlooks the living room. “When I first moved in, the garden was stressed and I was very concerned as the previous owners had moved out nine months before they sold and things were on the verge of dying.

“I threw my furniture into the house, went into the garden and started watering. It was a big shmozzle of dying things, but I was able to bring most of it back, and added 300 shrubs and perennials, put in paths, boxwoods.”

The garden had been well designed and so had the house, with attractive windows, doors and flooring. Raven solved the problem of little wall space by grouping artworks together and making use of every available surface, including mantels and window sills which teem with decorative vases, pots and objets d’art.

“I’m really fussy and usually renovate the heck out of things, but I liked this house just the way it was, except for one bathroom which I redid,” said the Calgary-born Raven, who moved here in 1980 after attending art school for four years, gaining a degree in advertising, and going through the loss of her husband when she was 27.

Raven didn’t relish the idea of working for others — “I’d been fired a few times” — and decided to strike out on her own with a new business. “I had always loved kitchen stores and there wasn’t one in Duncan then, so I decided to start one. It was only 600 square feet, in part of an old building, but 10 years ago I expanded to 5,000 square feet, in an old heritage building, “Starting the business in a small town was an advantage because I was the only game in town, which meant I had access to a lot of things which big brands wouldn’t have let me have otherwise.”

2 Capital HOME | 59

“We are the largest manufacturer of windows on Vancouver Island. We provide factory-to-you prices.� – Linda Gourlay, General Manager

We install sun tunnels, sky lights and entry doors.

We manufacture and install patio doors too!

60 | Capital HOME

ABOVE: THE TWO-LEVEL ISLAND IS A METAL RACK HOLDING A PLETHORA OF POTS. THE OWNER REMOVED A “HORRIBLE OAK CUPBOARD� ON THE BRICK WALL AND REPLACED IT WITH A PRETTY FRENCH BREAD RACK.

MORNING SUNSHINE The store has been a runaway success —“People come from all over Canada and the States, as well as locally” — and she says that’s because of the way it’s put together, the presentation. “Displays are like paintings and you have to think about composition, balance. You have to invite the eye in and direct it around a canvas.

When the balance is pleasing, even people who aren’t artistic can appreciate it.”

She uses the same techniques in her home. “All I did in the kitchen was add a pot rack over the island, unscrew and tear out a really ugly bank of light oak cabinets and add a French baker’s rack instead.”

But she filled its shelves with white bowls, plates, pitchers and jugs, a selection of green glassware and colourful Le Creuset casseroles. “I like my dishes, pots, pans and platters. They’re beautiful, so why shove them in a cupboard where no one ever sees them?”

TOP LEFT: THE LIVING ROOM CHIMNEY RISES TWO STOREYS, PAST THE UPPER LANDING AT RIGHT. A MIRRORED FRAME ON THE MANTLE WRAPS A BOTANICAL PRINT AND AN ANTIQUE MIRROR STANDS NEXT TO A CANDELABRA, WHILE ON THE FLOOR IS A VINTAGE PLANT STAND.

LIGHT FLOODS THE DINING ROOM THROUGH TALL MULLIONED WINDOWS. EITHER SIDE OF THE OLD BUFFET, WHICH DISPLAYS CONTEMPORARY WHITE POTS, ARE TALL PLINTHS WITH FERNS ON TOP. THEY WERE ONCE PART OF A METAL GARDEN ARCH.

From the overhead pot rack, she hangs copper saucepans, lids, strainers and various cooking utensils, “so I can enjoy them, and everything is easily accessible.”

She used to have built-in spice racks in her former kitchen, but here she arranges them on a three-tiered cake stand. “I keep all the kitchen stuff right where I can see it because I think people feel more at home in a kitchen where something is going on, in a room that has personality and looks inviting.”

The original countertop was teal coloured, but the walls were a brownish-gold, so she decided to go with the counters and repainted the kitchen and family walls a similar shade of minty-turquoise, while retaining the original white cupboards.

“It was a little horrifying when I moved in. The yellow walls really did not look great with the red sofa and red carpet in my family room, and the gold colour was especially horrible with the teal counters.” >

Capital HOME | 61

1

The teal walls even look great with a cracklefinish dresser from Chintz that she already had, and placed in the corner of the family room. It was a little loud in her previous home, “but this wall colour deemphasizes it.”

When Raven downsized to this 2,200-square foot home, which was much smaller than her previous century-old house, she assumed she’d get rid of many old pieces but, “I ended up in a house where everything works perfectly,” such as the dining room hutch she’s had for 45 years.

To freshen up the old timer, she placed curvy white pots on top, and added two tall planters on either side.

“They were part of an archway for the garden, but they fit perfectly here, so I put some ferns on top and use the top arch in the garden.”

A couple of leather armchairs from Jordans also moved right in. “They were ferociously expensive years ago, about $3,000 each, and I brought one home and thought my second husband would think I’d lost my mind. But he loved it and said we needed two. Some things, like these chairs, stay nice-looking forever.”

“This is a curious house,” said Raven, “and part of the reason I love it is because of all the useless spaces that I can play with, such as the long entry, and the huge loft.” In the entry she has placed a large rectangular ottoman, with zebra-pattern upholstery, beside two French doors at one end, while in the middle is an antique Chinese sideboard with an enormous silk flower arrangement. At the other end is a small chest with gold and white striped lamp and checkered pot. In the loft she placed a narrow day bed in a window, and covered it with cushions made with retro fabric.

62 | Capital HOME

2

3 4

1: IN THE MAIN BATHROOM, RAVEN ADDED A MEXICAN MIRROR, ART PHOTOS, A SILVER TRAY WITH “PRETTIES” ON IT AND COCOA-COLOURED PLUSH ABYSS TOWELS, FROM HER STORE. 2: A SMALL WATER WHEEL NEXT TO THE GUEST COTTAGE CIRCULATES WATER TO THE POND. 3: THE ALLURING BEDROOM IS DRAPED IN SILK CURTAINS AND BEAUTIFUL BED LINENS FROM BELLA NOTTE, WHICH ARE ALL-NATURAL LINEN, VELVET, LACE AND SILK FROM THE OWNER’S DUNCAN STORE, POTS & PARAPHERNALIA. 4: MIRRORS EITHER SIDE ARE FROM PIER 1 IMPORTS. .A NARROW PINE BED IN THE LOFT, FROM CHINTZ & CO., IS PILED WITH CUSHIONS MADE FROM RETRO FABRIC. ABOVE ARE PHOTOS OF THE OWNER’S SON.

5 5: THE EXPANSIVE BACK GARDEN COMPRISES A SERIES OF COLOURFUL “ROOMS,” DEFINED BY FLOWERBEDS, HUGE HEDGES, CLIMBING HYDRANGEAS, PATHWAYS AND A LARGE POND. 6: A ROMANTIC GRAPE ARBOUR OFFERS SHADE FOR THE OUTDOOR DINING ROOM THAT SEATS 12

6

“I renovated my last house for about 20 years so I’m really happy to not do that anymore. And I love the fact that in this house there isn’t a room that doesn’t look out onto the garden. And I have lots of space. It seems to me that all the useless things we have in our houses are the beautiful things, and all the functional things are ugly. Over the years I’ve tried to find a beautiful version of everything ugly, like my polka dot toaster.”

Her kitchen is certainly full of delicious delights for the eye, but dVoes Raven love to cook there?

“No, I hate cooking,” she admitted, without a whiff of guilt. “But I like everything else about food — the look, the taste, the sharing — and I have friends who love to cook in this kitchen because I have great stuff.” CH Capital HOME | 63

A Walk in the

CapitalHOME 64 64| |Capital HOME

EXPLORING THE GEMS OF PARIS’ CHIC 16TH ARRONDISSEMENT

A

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ny place with the words Louis Vuitton in the name is likely to be familiar with luxury and style, and the Fondation Louise Vuitton — the new Frank Gehry-designed museum in Paris’s chic 16th arrondissement — knows both well.

The Fondation Louis Vuitton soars up from the Bois de Boulogne park around it like a massive sailboat, its glass curves reflecting the sky, the trees and the grass. Architecture critics have likened its 12 sails composed of 3,600 glass panels to Gehry’s more famous Bilbao Guggenheim, but made of steel and glass.

The contemporary arts centre has 11 galleries showcasing modern art from around the world and is well worth a trip to this tony arrondissement on the western fringe of Paris. The building alone, set in a magnificent yet calming water feature that’s part moat part waterfall, is a destination in and of itself.

The Fondation is an ideal reason to explore the often-overlooked

TRAVEL

KIM WESTAD

16th arrondissement, known for being a bit BCBG – bon chic, bon genre, which roughly translates to upscale, established money.

But the 16th isn’t all pearls and poodles (although it is the first neighbourhood I’ve seen that supplies dog poo bags.) It has large parks, hosts the French Open, has charming streets, cafes and is home to several of Paris’s best museums.

A day in the 16th makes a nice change from the hustle and bustle of the more visited areas of Paris and reinforces just how walkable the City of Light is.

If you start at the Fondation Louis Vuitton, wind your way through the neighbourhood, see the largest collection of Monets in the world at the Musée Marmottan, stop for a lunch of fresh-shucked oysters and rosé at one of Paris’s best covered markets, you can still easily walk to the Eiffel Tower in time to watch the sunset.

Here are a few suggestions for the meander. >

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IWAN BAAN / FONDATION LOUIS VUITTON

Museums THE FONDATION LOUIS VUITTON IS IN THE BOIS DE BOULOGNE, A 845-HECTARE PARK (ABOUT 11 TIMES THE SIZE OF BEACON HILL PARK).

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FONDATION LOUISE VUITTON, THE NEW FRANK GEHRYDESIGNED MUSEUM IN THE 16 TH ARRONDISSEMENT, OPENED IN 2014 AT A COST OF $143 MILLION US. GEHRY WELCOMED IT AS AN OPPORTUNITY TO EXPAND BEYOND THE SCOPE OF A TYPICAL ART MUSEUM.

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I’d recommend taking the metro or bus here and starting your day at the Fondation Louis Vuitton (fondationlouisvuitton.fr/en). I like museums in the morning, when my energy is often higher. Also, if you do the route this way, you’ll be walking downhill toward the Eiffel Tower. It’s not a huge uphill the other way but, after a long day, even small inclines can make the difference between enjoying the journey or just wanting to be back in your room, soaking your feet in the hotel bidet.

Line 1 of the Metro takes you to the Les Sablons stop. Take the Fondation Louis Vuitton exit out of the station and it’s a 10-or 15-minute walk. The Fondation also offers a 1 euro electric shuttle ride, leaving from Place Charles de Gaulle near the metro exit. The shuttle leaves every 15 minutes during opening hours.

The line 244 bus stops at the Fondation Louis Vuitton stop, a short walk from the museum.

As well, there is a Vélib at the museum entrance at 8, Avenue du Mahatma Ghandi. These bike stations are all over Paris and offer a terrific way to get around. (en.velib.paris.fr) The Fondation Louis Vuitton is in the Bois de Boulogne, a 845-hectare park (about 11 times the

size of Beacon Hill Park). The Fondation is also a stone’s throw from the Jardin d’Acclimatation, a 20-hectare children’s park that is part of the Bois de Boulogne, convenient for families who may want both museum-going and more child-focused events.

The Fondation Louis Vuitton isn’t stuffy though, and kids could easily find its open spaces and plays on light – the glass sails each have patterns of coloured panels – interesting, especially when they cast hopscotch-tempting coloured shadows on a sunny day.

The changing interior displays focus on contemporary art from around the world in many forms, including multiscreen video installations.

Numerous multi-level terraces offer sweeping views over the park and to the Eiffel Tower.

The Fondation was created by Bernard Arnault, head of the luxury goods empire LVMH (Moët Hennessy - Louis Vuitton) and ranked the second richest person in France by Forbes. (In 2015, his wealth was estimated at $37 billion US.) He had long admired the work of Gehry, who started designing the building in 2004. It opened in 2014 and is estimated to have cost $143 million US. Gehry welcomed it as an opportunity to expand beyond the scope of a typical art museum. >

Fondation L ouis Vuitton

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1: PAUL CÉZANNE, L’HOMME À LA PIPE, 1890-1892. COURTESY MUSÉE D’ETAT DES BEAUX-ARTS POUCHKINE, MOSCOU 2: PAUL CÉZANNE, MARDI GRAS (PIERROT ET ARLEQUIN), 1888-1890. COURTESY MUSÉE D’ETAT DES BEAUXARTS POUCHKINE, MOSCOU 3: VLADIMIR TATLINE, NU, 1913. COURTESY GALERIE NATIONALE TRETIAKOV, MOSCOU Capital HOME | 67

IWAN BAAN / FONDATION LOUIS VUITTON

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Whether you go rustic with wrought iron or streamlined with steel, the hardware options are also seemingly endless.

Before you go picking out the pieces, there are a number of things you should think about – from privacy concerns to the load-bearing capability of the door frame you’re covering. Come by and speak with your locally operated and Canadian Owned Windsor Plywood store in the WestShore.

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IWAN BAAN / FONDATION LOUIS VUITTON

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Bois de

Boulagne

Stop at Lac Inférieur and feel like you’re in a Renoir or Monet painting as you watch the swans and rowboats drifting by. It’s also a popular spot for people to run their toy boats.

A one-minute free shuttle boat ride takes you over to the Chalet des Iles, a waterfront restaurant only accessible by boat. Wander the shaded paths before a lunch on the terrace. Imagine Marcel Proust and Émile Zola hanging out here in the late 1800s. The food gets mixed reviews but the location and ambience can’t be beat.

If you’re cycling, drop off your bike at the Vélib here and walk on. >

LORNA WILLIAMSON

Carry on walking or biking through the Bois de Boulogne.

The Vélib bike rental in front of the Fondation Louis Vuitton is an easy spot to rent a bike that can take you through the park, with its 15 kilometres of dedicated bike trails, as well as the main roads. There are numerous spots to stop in the park, a former hunting ground for the kings of France, including botanical and landscape gardens, the Chateau de Bagatelle, horse-racing tracks, two lakes and eight ponds.

THE FONDATION N L LOUIS O S VUITTON IS IN THE BOIS DE BOULOGNE OU OUI B BOULOGNE, OU OGN OUL GN G N E, A 845-HECTARE PARK (ABOUT 11 TIMES THE SIZE OF BEACON HILL PARK).

AT LAC INFÉRIEUR FEEL LIKE YOU’RE IN A RENOIR OR MONET PAINTING AS YOU WATCH THE SWANS AND ROWBOATS DRIFTING BY.

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TRAVEL

M usée

Marmottan Monet

The Musée Marmottan Monet is a 10-minute walk from Lac Inférieur. Watch for signs to rue Louis Boilly, where the museum is tucked in alongside rows of posh residences.

The Marmottan is like going to a museum in a wealthy person’s beautifully restored and elegant home, with hundreds of Impressionist paintings casually lining the walls.

The former hunting lodge of a duke was rebuilt as a mansion in the late 19th century before becoming a private museum. It is dedicated to Impressionist and PostImpressionist art and houses the world’s largest collection of Claude Monet’s work. His youngest son, Michel, gave the museum 94 of Monet’s paintings, as well as 29 drawings and eight sketchbooks, providing an intimate view of an artist many associate with his famous water lily series. Here, you can see those along with works from other parts of Monet’s life.

As well, the Marmottan has an extensive collection from Paul Cézanne, Edgar Degas, Pierre-Auguste Renoir, Alfred Sisley and Berthe Morisot, who is represented at the Marmottan by a large permanent collection.

Along with the art, you can admire the ornate chandeliers, marble fireplaces, intricate moldings and parquet floors, all flooded with light from the large windows.

The Marmottan also has some of the bestdressed art guardians, the people that sharply warn you when you’re too close to an artwork.

Most museums require boring uniforms.

Here, they wander like the sharply-dressed Parisiennes that they are. One man matches the shoelaces in his brogues to his eye-glass colour each day. We saw him on a red day.

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1: VIEW OF THE MARMOTTAN MONET MUSEUM GARDEN. 2: GREAT ROTUNDA, GROUND FLOOR. 3: OFFICE, FIRST FLOOR. 4: BEDROOM, GROUND FLOOR. 5: DINING ROOM, GROUND FLOOR. 6: SMALL LIVING ROOM, GROUND FLOOR.

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Shopping PARIS HAS MANY SHOPPING DISTRICTS TO EXPLORE 1: MARCHE MONTORGUEIL IS IN THE 1ST ARRONDISSEMENT . 2: RUE DE PASSY, THE MAIN SHOPPING STREET IN THE 16TH ARRONDISSEMENT

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Rue de Passy

TRAVEL Outside, an easy one-kilometre walk takes you to Rue de Passy, the main shopping street in the arrondissement. Franck & Fils is like Canada’s Holt Renfrew. There are also smaller stores to pop into. Although Paris has a reputation for being rude, it’s not apparent when you go into any store. The shopkeeper or worker always greets shoppers with a “Bonjour, Madame!â€? (or mademoiselle if they’re trying to atter) and an “au revoirâ€? when you leave.

Walk to the corner of Rue Bois le Vent, where you’ll ďŹ nd the covered MarchĂŠ Couvert de Passy, a market ďŹ lled with everything you’ll need for a picnic later while watching the sun set on the banks of the Seine River, or maybe a souvenir to take home to a foodie friend. It’s also fun to wander and pretend you’re a local.

At the bottom of the hill, turn left on Rue de Benjamin Franklin. He lived in the area for several years during the American Revolutionary War. This will take you to the 2 TrocadĂŠro Gardens, just across the Seine from the Eiffel Tower.

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Attractions MOST POPULAR PARIS ATTRACTIONS BY NUMBER OF VISITORS PER YEAR: LOUVRE MUSEUM (8.5 MILLION) EIFFEL TOWER (6.2 MILLION) CENTRE POMPIDOU (3.6 MILLION) MUSÉE D’ORSAY (2.9 MILLION) MUSÉE DU QUAI BRANLY (1.3 MILLION) ARC DE TRIOMPHE (1.2 MILLION)

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Eiffel Tower

BY © WILLIAM CROCHOT / WIKIMEDIA COMMONS /, CC BY-SA 4.0, HTTPS://COMMONS.WIKIMEDIA. ORG/W/INDEX.PHP?CURID = 45160376

TRAVEL

Palais de

You’ll find the Palais de Chaillot, built in 1937 for the Universal Exhibition, with its two neoclassical wings separated by a 300-metre terrace.

If you still have energy, there are several museums inside the Palais, including the Musée national de la Marine, one of five national museums dedicated to nautical life and history, as well as the Cité de l’architecture et du patrimoine (museum or architecture) and the Musée de l’Homme (the museum of mankind).

Or you may just want to soak in the sunset on the terrace, where Café de l’Homme serves higher-end food (entrees are about $30), but with an Eiffel Tower view that is the stuff of postcards. The restaurant, managed by Coco Coupérie-Eiffel – the great-greatgranddaughter of Gustave Eiffel – is a popular spot for engagements.

From here, it’s a walk across the Pont d’léna bridge to the Eiffel Tower.

Watch you don’t walk into the selfie-sticks that every second traveller seems to have, and be prepared to deal with increased security. Expect to have armed guards ask to see inside your bag if you want to go up the Eiffel Tower.

It’s become a part of life in the city at places where crowds gather.

The guards look far too young to be carrying the large guns they have but were uniformly police and businesslike as they did quick checks.

Despite this, the Eiffel Tower is still a grand and romantic vision and a lovely spot to end a day of exploring a new neighbourhood that hopefully left you with happy memories and lots of new photos for Facebook and Instragram. CH

Chaillot

Musée national

de la Marine

VICTORIA-BASED KIM WESTAD is a serial traveler who has visited more than 15 countries around the globe over the last 20 years. Her natural curiosity of cultures, historic sites and dining have led her to far-flung places from Myanmar to Nunavut. She brings a local perspective to her travel diaries and an inside knowledge of what to see, when to see it and how best to enjoy your trip. She’s always looking for the extraordinary in the people she meets and places she explores, including the recovery of New Orleans and its people featured in the last edition of Capital Home. Her most recent adventure to Paris also included trips to some of the city’s best bookstores. Watch for it in the next edition of Capital Home.

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Pure AN OVERVIEW OF VINEYARDS IN VALDOBIADDENE, ITALY. THE VINES ARE GROWING GLERA GRAPES, USED TO MAKE PROSECCO, THE POPULAR ITALIAN SPARKLING WINE.

EXPLORE THE REGION OF NORTHERN ITALY THAT’S HOME TO POPULAR SPARKLING WINE MICHELLE LOCKE

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ou know prosecco as the fruity Italian bubbly that’s a fun and affordable way to celebrate the holidays as well as a bright accompaniment to a light meal. But this popular sparkling white wine can also be part of your vacation plans. Just like that other famous fizz, Champagne, it hails from a region that welcomes visitors who like to travel glass in hand.

From exploring hillside villages to strolling beside the tranquil canals of the city of Treviso, there’s plenty to do, eat, see and sip in prosecco country. And since this is still a relatively undiscovered spot, prices aren’t at the sky-high pitch of better-known places.

Here are a few things to know before you go.

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Where To Stay

Prosecco is made in two regions in Northern Italy — the Veneto, also home to Venice, and neighbouring Friuli Venezia Giulia. The main city is Treviso, about a halfhour from Venice by train, an hour by car.

You can make this a day trip from Venice, renting a car, booking a trip through a touring company or hiring a guide and meeting at the rental car office.

For longer stays, you can either make Treviso a jumping-off point for the surrounding country or plot a course from town to town. A popular trail is the Strada del Prosecco (prosecco route), which winds from the town of Conegliano to the village of Valdobbiadene

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In Treviso, Relais San Nicolo, close to the Treviso train station and Treviso Cathedral, is comfortable and features unique, period furnishings. Rooms start at about $100 US. Check out the wineries and restaurants you plan to visit, as they may have small guest houses attached (see Villa Sandi and Restaurant Parco Gambrinus on following pages). > 1. A CLUSTER OF GLERA GRAPES WHICH TRADITIONALLY GOES INTO THE POPULAR BUBBLY. 2. THE PALAZZO DEI TRECENTO, OR PALACE OF THE 300, IN TREVISO WAS BUILT IN THE 13TH AND 14TH CENTURIES AND WAS SEVERELY DAMAGED DURING THE SECOND WORLD WAR. THE JAGGED LINE ON THE WALL SHOWS THE EXTENT OF THE DAMAGE. 3. A LOCAL WALKS PAST ONE OF THE ARCHWAYS OF THE PALAZZO DEI TRECENTO IN TREVISO, ITALY. TREVISO, ABOUT AN HOUR’S DRIVE FROM VENICE IS THE HEART OF ITALY’S PROSECCO COUNTRY. Capital HOME | 77

TRAVEL encore

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What To See Treviso

2 1: THE DAMAGED REMAINS OF TREVISO’S FONTANA DELLE TETTE WHICH SITS IN A GLASS CASE IN THE LOGGIA OF THE PALAZZO DEI TRECENTO IN TREVISO, ITALY. THE FOUNTAIN, BUILT IN THE 16TH CENTURY, WAS FILLED WITH WINE ON SPECIAL DAYS OF THE YEAR. 2: A MODERN REPLICA OF TREVISO’S FAMOUS FONTANA DELLE TETTE STANDS IN A SMALL COURTYARD TUCKED AWAY IN A SHOPPING ARCADE IN TREVISO. THE ORIGINAL FOUNTAIN, BUILT IN THE 16TH CENTURY, DISPENSED WINE ON SPECIAL DAYS. 3: WITH TWO RIVERS AND NUMEROUS CANALS, TREVISO IS A GOOD PLACE FOR A STROLL. 4: ONE OF TREVISO’S MANY CANALS. QUIETER AND LESS TOURISTY THAN NEARBY VENICE, TREVISO IS A CITY WORTH EXPLORING. 5: THE PALLADIAN-STYLE MANSION OF VILLA SANDI, ONE OF SEVERAL PROSECCO PRODUCERS IN THE REGION.

gets upstaged by grand dame Venice, but this city is worth at least an afternoon’s stroll.

Check out the Knight’s Loggia on Via Martiri della Liberta, a 13th-century building which still has the remains of frescoes on its walls. In the centre of town you will find the Piazza dei Signori, with its Palazzo dei Trecento (Palace of the 300), home to the municipal council. The building was bombed in World War II; a jagged scar on the restored wall bears testament.

In the palace loggia you will find the remains of the Fontana delle Tette, a fountain made in the 16th

PONTE DANTE

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century in the shape of a woman that, you guessed it, sprayed water from each breast. On special days, the fountain dispensed wine. To see a replica (water only), head northwest on Piazza dei Signori, turn right on Vicolo Podesta and look for the statue to your left in the shopping arcade. It’s tucked away in a small courtyard; you may need to ask for directions. Other attractions include the fish market, 22 Via Isola, open mornings except Sundays and Mondays. Also popular, taking a walk or bike ride along the tow path, known as the Restera, that runs alongside the Sile River.

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What To Taste Villa Sandi in Crocetta del Montello features a Palladian-style mansion and extensive cellars. Guided tours and tastings are available by appointment.

The winery also has a six-room guesthouse, Locanda Sandi, at a separate estate in Valdobbiadene.

The San Simone winery in Porcia is open daily for tastings.

Reservations are required on weekends and the company closes in August.

La Tordera in Valdobbiadene is open Monday-Saturday for tastings. Tours also available but require reservations.

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What To Eat

In Treviso, Toni del Spin, 7 Via Inferiore, is a tavern in the historic centre serving traditional food with prices around $25 US for a meal excluding drinks. In Valdobbiadene the Salis Ristorante Enoteca, 52 Strada di Saccol, is set on a hillside with a great view of the vineyards of Cartizze, the premium wine-growing region of prosecco country. Main courses start at around $15 US. In San Polo di Piave, Restaurant Parco Gambrinus, Via Capitello 18, is known for its crayfish, which are served along with substantial bibs and written “commandments” on how best to enjoy them.

Main courses start at around $25 US. Rooms are also available in the adjacent inn, about $100 US for a double room. CH

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MICHAEL PARTENIO/MEREDITH

SUCCULENTS IN A KITCHEN WINDOW PLANTER. TYPICALLY A GOOD PLACE FOR PLANTS, A KITCHEN OFFERS EASY ACCESS TO WATER AND HIGHER HUMIDITY THAN OTHER ROOMS. HERE, LIGHTLOVING SEDUMS ARE TUCKED INTO A CUSTOM GRANITE WELL.

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AN ASSORTMENT OF TERRARIUMS, VASES, JARS AND SUCCULENT DISPLAYS BRINGING AN OTHERWISE ORDINARY CORNER OF A HOME TO LIFE, CREATING AN INTERIOR LANDSCAPE IN MINIATURE.

A SANSEVIERIA ALSO KNOWN AS A SNAKE PLANT, IN A BULLET PLANTER.

SOLVEJ SCHOU

TRIA GIOVAN/MEREDITH

PETER KRUMHARDT/MEREDITH

PAUL DYER PHOTOGRAPHY

FLAT-LEAF PARSLEY, BASIL, GREEK OREGANO AND ROSEMARY GROWING IN PLANTERS ON A METAL SHELF MOUNTED TO THE BOTTOM OF THE WINDOW FRAME.

BATHROOM WALL GARDEN DISPLAY CAN BRIGHTEN ANY BATH OR SHOWER.

Up close and personal with indoor plants BUILT-INS, WALL POCKETS AND MORE — HOW PLANTS CAN BRIGHTEN YOUR EVERY DAY

BY SOLVEJ SCHOU

A LIVING GARDEN BATHROOM WALL DESIGNED BY SIOL STUDIOS. PAUL DYER PHOTOGRAPHY

magine stepping into a bathtub, and instead of bathroom tiles lining the wall next to you, there’s a fresh vertical garden, lush with bright green ferns, lavender, baby’s tears, mint and other fragrant plants.

Design studio Siol created just that for one home.

Unusual ways to display indoor plants run the gamut, from built-in shelves and containers in and along walls, countertops or tables, to wall pockets and terrariums.

“Decorating with plants is still one of the easiest ways to make a home feel lived in and relaxed,” said James Augustus Baggett, editor of Country Gardens magazine. “There are so many different ways that people can incorporate plants into a home’s design.”

For that living green bathroom wall, grow lights and a self-circulating drip water system were built into the 10-by-10-foot wall to promote indoor growth, said Siol co-owner and principal Jessica Weigley. Lavender plants added a spa-like dash of aromatic beauty.

“We were joking that you could pick the lavender and put it into the bath with you,” Weigley said. “Bringing nature indoors is huge.

It still requires care and attention, like any other

garden. It’s just on your wall.”

Of course, a full green wall is also incredibly pricy — it can cost customers at least $10,000, at about $100 to $200 per square foot, Weigley said, because of its embedded lighting and watering system.

A much cheaper indoor-garden alternative is pockets made of various materials — including ceramic, glass, plastic, wood, metal and even macrame — that can hang directly on a wall and be filled with plants, said Baggett. They can run about $20 to $100 each.

Easy-to-care-for indoor plants include snake plants — also known as sansevierias — with long, pointy green leaves that reach upward; dark green, cast iron plants; wall-crawling ivy; dangling spider plants; succulents, and foxtail ferns. Snake plants and cast iron plants, especially, require little light and watering.

Bonsai trees, bay laurel trees and small fig trees can also be displayed indoors in both planters and partitioned floor areas padded with soil and rocks.

Those living in smaller homes can get creative: “Vertical gardening is the hottest trend for not a lot of space,” said Baggett. “There’s the floating shelf — a shelf that’s just sticking out of the wall — and the half wall, a waist-high

wall, with plants on top of it. Recessed wall niches are also popular.”

Miniature gardens, from terrariums — landscapes in glass containers — to fairy gardens, have caught on for both spaceconscious adults and fun-loving kids, he said.

What are fairy gardens? They’re small, whimsical sceneries decorated with itsy-bitsy figurines, houses, moss, milkweed pods, pine cones and tiny plants.

Kokedama, a Japanese plant art that means “moss ball” in English, involves forming a mosscovered ball of soil around the roots of a plant and wrapping it with twine. Suspending these moss balls as hanging plants is also a trend, Baggett added.

Those with a retro esthetic can display succulents and cacti in vintage tins and decorative pottery. Moulded fiberglass bullet planters, popular in the 1950s, have also been making a comeback. The size of an ice bucket, the planter is held aloft on a three-pronged stand.

“Plant stands are handy. You’re raising those plants to eye level,” said Baggett. “That pulls your eye around that room. It’s the same way in an outdoor garden that people use colour to pull the eye around the garden.”

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BY NATHAN BOMEY DIETER ZETSCHE, CHIEF EXECUTIVE OF DAIMLER AG, UNVEILED THE MERCEDES EQ CONCEPT CAR AT THIS YEAR’S PARIS AUTO SHOW. MICHEL EULER PHOTO

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TOR SHOW

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TOP RIGHT: A GLAMOROUS COUPÉ, THE VISION MERCEDES-MAYBACH 6, REPRESENTS THE ULTIMATE IN CONTEMPORARY LUXURY. IT IS HOT AND COOL”, STATES GORDEN WAGENER, HEAD OF DESIGN AT DAIMLER AG. “WITH ITS INTELLIGENT APPEAL AND REDUCED, TECHNOID LOOK, IT PERFECTLY EMBODIES OUR DESIGN PHILOSOPHY OF SENSUAL PURITY AND OUR PURSUIT OF AERODYNAMIC EFFICIENCY.” CHRISTOPHE ENA PHOTO

aimler’s Mercedes-Benz and Volkswagen Group introduced electric-car concepts at the Paris Motor Show, signaling the German auto industry’s commitment to waging a fight with Tesla Motors over electric-vehicle leadership.

Mercedes revealed an entirely new brand dedicated to electric vehicles, called EQ, and paired it with a concept car called Generation EQ, a sport-utility coupe with electric range of up to about 500 kilometres. The automaker said it would introduce its first EQ brand vehicle by 2020.

Volkswagen debuted the I.D. electric concept, with a projected range of about 400 to 600 kilometres, and said a compact car version would hit dealerships in 2020.

Taken together, the two vehicles illustrate the German auto industry’s concerted attempt to compete with the likes of Tesla’s Model S and General Motors’ Chevrolet Bolt.

Although German automakers have a wellearned reputation for favoring conventionalengine vehicles, the companies’ romance with horsepower is gradually fading.

“The emission-free automobile is the future,” Daimler CEO Dieter Zetsche said in Paris. “And our new EQ brand goes far beyond electric vehicles. EQ stands for a comprehensive electric ecosystem of services, technologies and innovations.”

Mercedes custom-designed a new vehicle platform for the EQ brand, saying it will be flexible enough to fit different battery configurations, wheelbases and sizes, including SUVs, coupes and cars.

Volkswagen’s I.D. concept illustrates the world’s second-largest automaker’s attempt to redefine its image.

“In 2020, we will begin to introduce an entire family of electric vehicles on the market,” Volkswagen brand CEO Herbert Diess said. > Capital HOME | 83

THE RENAULT TREZOR IS AN EYE-CATCHING CONCEPT WITH A HOOD AND ROOF THAT ULT TR CATC LIFT UP TO REVEAL A FUTURISTIC AND CONNECTED INTERIOR, FULL OF ULTRA-HIGHDEFINITION TOUCH SCREENS. THIS GT CONCEPT HAS AN ENTIRELY ELECTRIC ENGINE DIRECTLY DERIVED FROM THE WORLD OF AUTO RACING (FORMULA E), PROMISING 0-100 KM/H ACCELERATION IN UNDER FOUR SECONDS.

VOLKSWAGEN CEO HERBERT DEISS INTRODUCES THE NEW VOLKSWAGEN ELECTRIC AT THE PARIS MOTOR SHOW. MICHEL EULER PHOTO

MICHEL EULER PHOTO

THE NEW LAND ROVER DICOVERY IS THE FIRST COMPLETE REDESIGN OF THE DISCOVERY IN 12 YEARS.

MICHEL EULER PHOTO

CHRISTOPHE ENA PHOTO

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THE MITSUBISHI EX CONCEPT STANDS FOR “ELECTRIC X (CROSS) -OVER,” ACCORDING TO MITSUBISHI. IT IS POWERED

BY FRONT AND REAR ELECTRIC MOTORS THAT EACH PRODUCE 94 HORSEPOWER DRAWN FROM A 45-KWH LITHIUMION BATTERY. IT ESSENTIALLY REPRESENTS EVERYTHING THAT MITSUBISHI HAS BEEN WORKING TOWARD OVER THE PAST FEW YEARS: A TOTALLY GREEN CROSSOVER SUV.

“All of them will be based on a new vehicle architecture, which was specially and exclusively developed for all-electric vehicles. Not for combustion engine or plug-in hybrid vehicles. The I.D. stands for this new era of all-electric vehicles, for a new automotive era: electrical, connected and autonomously driving.”

In addition to electric-drive capability, Volkswagen said the I.D. concept represents its intention to deliver a “fully autonomous” vehicle by 2025. The I.D.’s steering wheel retracts into the dash when the car is in driverless mode, and the car dispenses with the conventional key in favor of a smartphone start-up system.

VW has said repeatedly that it plans to deliver more than 30 electric models by 2025. The company’s Porsche brand also showed off a Panamera E-Hybrid in Paris, representing one of 17 plug-in hybrids the company expects to begin selling within two years.

“Regardless of all the new opportunities and possibilities the mobility world of tomorrow opens up for us, we must not neglect our existing technologies and core competencies,” Volkswagen Group CEO Matthias Mueller said. “The future is electric.

Nevertheless, classic powertrains will continue to play a key role for the next two decades at least. We must and we will press ahead with the evolution of diesel and petrol engines. And at the same time, we will progress with alternative technologies.”

Still, although the German automakers are making rapid progress with electrics, they’ve already fallen behind the American automakers. Tesla’s Model S sedan has exhilarated fans, and

CHRISTOPHE ENA PHOTO

THE NEW PORSCHE PANAMERA 4-E-HYBRID IS ON DISPLAY AT THE PARIS AUTO. THE ALL-WHEEL DRIVE CAR DRAWS ON THE TECHNOLOGY USED IN THE COMPANY’S 918 SPYDER SUPERCAR SO THAT THE ELECTRIC MOTOR CONTINUALLY ADDS POWER; THE CAR ACCELERATES TO 100 KILOMETRES PER HOUR IN JUST 4.6 SECONDS AND REACHES A TOP SPEED OF 270 KPH.

CHRISTOPHE ENA PHOTO CHRISTOPHE ENA PHOTO

And Tesla has said it will introduce a Bolt competitor, the massmarket Model 3, with more than 320 kilometres of range, in 2017, though analysts expect it will take longer.

Experts predict Chevrolet will have a hard time meeting demand for the roomy hatchback Bolt, which could make Tesla’s upcoming 3 irrelevant before it even goes on sale. The Bolt has surprising passenger and cargo space for a small hatchback.

Behind the wheel, it feels normal to drivers used to conventional cars. That’s a key to Chevrolet’s goal of taking electric cars from the early-adopting technology fans to mainstream buyers. After tax incentives, depending on where you buy one, prices should start below $30,000 US. Honda recently announced plans to launch three vehicles under the Clarity nameplate: a hydrogen car, electric vehicle and plug-in hybrid car coming in 2016, 2017 and 2018, respectively.

Ford is set to deliver 13 new battery-powered cars, plug-in hybrids and hybrids by 2020, including an electric version of the Focus sedan that’s expected to get at least 320 kilometres on a charge as early as 2018.

Nissan, the maker of the best-selling battery-powered car of all-time, the short-range Leaf, starts the electric race with a builtin technological advantage. CEO Carlos Ghosn told the New York Auto Show this year that he remains bullish on electric cars, but it’s unclear when the Japanese automaker will deliver a vehicle with range of at least 320 kilometres. CH

MICHEL EULER PHOTO

g

THE ALFA ROMEO 4C SPIDER IS POWERED

BY THE POTENT TURBOCHARGED ALL-ALUMINUM DIRECT INJECTION ENGINE WITH INTERCOOLER AND DUAL CONTINUOUS VARIABLE VALVE TIMING GUARANTEEING PERFORMANCE LEVELS COMPARABLE TO THOSE OF A SUPERCAR: TOP SPEED OF 258 KM/H AND ACCELERATION FROM 0 TO 100 KM/H IN 4.5 SECONDS. THE SUPERCAR SPIRIT ALSO ASSERTS ITSELF IN THE CHOICE OF ULTRALIGHT MATERIALS: CARBON FIBRE FOR THE SHELL, ALUMINIUM FOR THE FRONT AND REAR CHASSIS FRAMEWORK AND SMC (LOW DENSITY COMPOUND) FOR THE BODYWORK.

THE NEW FERRARI OFFERS THE PLEASURES OF OPEN-TOP DRIVING IN A CAR THAT PERFORMS PRETTY MUCH LIKE A FORMULA ONE RACER.

A TESLA MODEL X WITH WING DOORS IS THE FIRST ALL-ELECTRIC SUV AND THE SECOND VEHICLE RELEASED ON TESLA’S SECOND GENERATION PLATFORM.

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MAGIC TOUCH ANICK JESDANUN

DAYDREAMING The best thing about Google’s gle’s new virtual-reality headset,, Daydream View, isn’t the headset at all. It’s the handheld controller that responds to gestures and other motions. With other ther headsets, you have to move ove your head to point a cursor at something, then reach for a button on the headset. With Daydream, you can just aim m and click the controller in hand. Sensors in the device tell the headset what you’re trying to do, whether it’s swinging a tennis racket or casting a fishing rod. The headset’s display responds accordingly. Those who’ve played Nintendo’s Wii system will find the Daydream controller familiar. It’s about the size and shape of a chocolate bar, and it has motion sensors to track movement.

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Can the venerable laptop C keyb keyboard get more touchy-feely — and in a good way?

We’re aabout to find out.

Higher-end Higher-en models of Apple’s MacBook Pro now come with w a narrow touch screen above the regular keybo keyboard for quick access to common settings and tasks, while Lenovo’s Yoga Book laptop w loses the physical keyboard entirely.

Apple’s high-end MacBooks are getting gettin a separate, narrow strip that find on most keyboards. This Touch replaces the top row of function keys you’ll fin Bar offers the same functions, but instead of hitting hitti F11 or F12 to change volume, for instance, you tap the speaker icon to bring up a volume slider.

The 10-inch Yoga Book retains the clamshell design of a laptop, but has a second touch screen where the keyboard normally goes. Unlike pop-up touch keyboard in tablets, this one doesn’t block the main display as you type. Without physical keys, the device is just 0.38 inch thick, or about two-thirds the thickness of the new MacBooks.

The touch keyboard also doubles as a handwriting pad for notes and doodling with the included stylus. CH

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Unit B-3090 Nanaimo Street, Victoria, BC, V8T 5A6 250-382-0242 Proudly selling, installing and servicing appliances in Victoria since 1986. WE SERVICE WHAT WE SELL

Eric AKIS

WARM WINTER Dinner Party FILL YOUR HOME WITH

Friends

AND THE WONDERFUL AROMAS OF SURF AND TURF

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Eric’s Festive WINTER MENU SEAFOOD BISQUE UE SALAD GREENS SA EENS WITH PEAR, W POMEGRANATE AND WALNUT VINAIGRETTE RETTE ROAST R STRIP STR LOIN WITH SH SHALLOT WINE SAUCE PANNA COTTA WITH MANDARIN RIN ORANGES AND PISTACHIOS

PHOTOS BY ERIC AKIS

o rid myself of the winter blues, I ignore the weather and focus on something else — planning and preparing a special dinner for friends.

What better way to brighten things up by filling your home with wonderful aromas, eating fine food, sipping wine and enjoying great conversation?

My only problem is I tend to go a bit over the top when planning the menu. But my guests are always thrilled when I do, so I know my efforts are worth it.

That was the case when preparing and serving the menu of recipes featured in this article.

They all serve six and begin with luscious bisque, rich with mussels, prawns and lobster. Beyond divine flavour, another positive about this soup is you can make it the day before. At service time, you simply reheat it, cook bits of seafood, set them in bowls, pour in the bisque, sprinkle with some parsley or chives and a grand dinner has begun.

To cleanse the palate after that rich beginning, I served a salad of tender greens, tossed with a tangy walnutt dressing, and topped with pear slices and ruby red pomegranates egranates seeds. It’s quite a nice combination of tastes and textures.

For my main course, I made roast strip rip loin. It’s a premium cut that I don’t cook k very often, but when I do always marvel el at how well it turns out and how easy itt is to carve. Once cooked, out of the pan n and resting, I made a sauce for the roast st flavoured with shallots and red wine.

Most supermarkets and butcher shops hops rarely display strip loin roasts for sale. Butt if you ask they’ll happily cut one for you from thee strip loin they keep on hand for cutting into steaks.

Strip loin roasts can vary in thickness depending on what end of the loin they were cut from. That, in turn, can affect cooking time. It’s why I’ve given approximate cooking times in my recipe and suggest you absolutely always use an instant-read meat thermometer to gauge where you want it to be.

Because I wanted the beef to be the star on the plate, I served it with two simple (no recipes required) side dishes, whipped potatoes and steamed and buttered green beans. But you can serve any side dishes you think would work well with the beef.

For dessert, like the bisque, I decided to prepare something that could also be made the day before it’s served: Panna cotta.

Panna cotta is an Italian-style dessert of sweetened and flavoured cream thickened with gelatin. The thickening occurs in the refrigerator and it’s why the dessert can be prepared ahead of time. Just before serving, the panna cotta is topped with orange liqueur-soaked mandarin oranges and a few chopped pistachios.

It’s a light tasting dessert, despite the cream!

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AKIS Seafood Bisque This luxurious soup, rich with prawns, mussels and lobster, provides a most decadent way to start of a meal.

Preparation time: 40 minutes Cooking time: 50 minutes Makes: six servings s CUP DRY WHITE WINE s MUSSELS WASHED WELL AND any beard-like material removed s LARGE WILD PRAWNS s OZ GRAM FROZEN LOBSTER TAILS THAWED s CUP OLIVE OIL DIVIDED s SMALL ONION THINLY SLICED s SMALL CARROT THINLY SLICED s SMALL CELERY RIB THINLY SLICED s LARGE GARLIC CLOVE CHOPPED lace the wine in a nine-inch skillet and bring to a simmer over medium-high heat.

Add the mussels, cover and cook until they just open, about one to two minutes.

Remove the mussels from the skillet, set on a plate and cool to room temperature. Save the mussel cooking liquid. Remove top shell from mussels and discard. Set meatďŹ lled half mussels back on the plate; cover and refrigerate until needed.

Peel the prawns and save the shells in a bowl. De-vein the peeled prawns by making a shallow cut along the length of the backs. Pull or rinse out any dark material found inside, and then pat dry. Cut the prawns, width-wise, into half–inch slices and set on a plate.

Cut each lobster tail in half length-wise. Pull out the meat and cut, width-wise, into half-inch slices and set them on the plate with the prawns. Cover and refrigerate until needed. Break or cut the lobster shells into smaller pieces and set them in the bowl with the prawn

P

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s 4BSP TOMATO PASTE s CUP ALL PURPOSE mOUR s CUPS CHICKEN OR lSH STOCK s BAY LEAF s TSP DRIED TARRAGON s CUP WHIPPING CREAM s SALT AND WHITE PEPPER TO TASTE s CAYENNE PEPPER TO TASTE s CUP WARM BRANDY s 4BSP CHOPPED FRESH PARSLEY OR chives

shells.

Heat 3 Tbsp of the oil in a pot (mine had a ďŹ ve-litre capacity) set over medium to medium-high heat. When hot, add the prawn and lobster shells, onions, carrot, celery and garlic and cook, stirring occasionally, ďŹ ve to six minutes, or until the shells are bright red.

Mix in the tomato paste and our until well combined and cook one minute more. Add the reserved mussel cooking liquid and one cup of the stock and cook until the mixture is very thick.

Now mix in the rest of the stock, bay leaf and tarragon and bring to a gentle simmer (small bubbles should just break on the surface). Adjust the heat as needed to maintain that simmer, and then cook 30 minutes.

Set a ďŹ ne sieve over a second pot.

Strain the bisque mixture through the sieve, pressing on the shells and vegetables to squeeze out every last drop of liquid. You should have about 5 1/2 cups of liquid; if not top up with a bit more stock. (If making this part of the bisque up to a day

in advance, cool it to room temperature now, cover and refrigerate until ready to reheat and serve.)

To serve, remove any excess fat on the surface of the bisque, and then bring back to a simmer. Mix in the whipping cream and season with salt, white pepper and cayenne. Turn heat under the bisque to low and cover.

Heat the remaining 1 Tbsp oil in a nine-inch skillet set over mediumhigh. Add the pieces of prawn and lobster meat and cook until just cooked through, about one to two minutes.

Divide the prawn and lobster meat, reserved mussels on the half shell (the soup will heat them through) and brandy among six well-heated soup bowls. Ladle about one cup of bisque into each bowl, sprinkle with chopped parsley or chives and serve.

RE IS G TE R Y DA TO

Salad Greens

with Pear, Pomegranate & Walnut Vinaigrette

This bright and refreshing salad will cleanse your palate after enjoying the soup.

Preparation time: 20 minutes Cooking time: none Makes: 6 servings s 4BSP RED WINE VINEGAR s 4BSP ORANGE JUICE s TSP $IJON MUSTARD s TSP HONEY s SALT AND FRESHLY GROUND BLACK PEPPER TO TASTE s 4BSP OLIVE OIL s CUP WALNUT HALVES lNELY s CUP WALNU chopped s CU PS BABY MIXE s CUPS BABY MIXED SALAD GREENS s RIPE MEDIUM s RIPE MEDIUM PEAR HALVED

cored a and thinly sliced s b CUP POMEGRANATE s b CU seeds Combine the vinegar, juice, mustard, honey, salt mus and pepper in a salad bowl. Now slowly whisk in the oil, and then mix in the walnuts.

Add the salad greens and toss to coat. Divide the greens among six salad plates o or shallow bowls.

Garnish the top of each salad with the pear slices and th pomegranate seeds. pom Serve immediately.

Se

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Capital HOME | 91

AKIS

Roast Strip Loin

Tender, juicy meat served with a sauce you make in the pan the roast was cooked in.

with Shallot Wine Sauce

Preparation time: 15 minutes Cooking time: Depends on desired ďŹ nish (see Method) Makes: six servings

s TO LB STRIP LOIN ROAST s 4BSP $IJON MUSTARD s 4BSP CHOPPED FRESH ROSEMARY Y s SEA SALT AND FRESHLY GROUND PEPPER TO TASTE E s 4BSP OLIVE OIL IL s CUP lNELY CHOPPED SHALLOT ABOUT LARGE E SHALLOT T s LARGE GARLIC CLOVE MINCED D s 4BSP ALL PURPOSE mOUR UR s CUP RED WINE E s CUPS BEEF STOCK K

et roast on a plate and let warm at room m temperature at least one hour.

Preheat oven to 450 F. Set roast, fat at side up, in a cast iron skillet or medium-sized d roasting pan. Brush top and sides of thee roast with mustard and then season with h rosemary, salt and pepper.

Roast the beef 20 minutes, and then n lower the oven temperature to 325 F. Now cook roast to the desired ďŹ nish, h, allowing 30 to 40 minutes more cooking g or time for rare, and 40 to 50 minutes for medium rare to medium. (Always use e an instant-read meat thermometer to o gauge progress, remembering it willll continue to cook while resting. A rare roast is done at 120 F; medium-rare will be 125 F to 130 F.) Set cooked roast on a clean plate, tent with foil and rest 10 minutes.

Meanwhile, make sauce by placing the cooking pan on the stovetop over medium heat. Add the 1 Tbsp olive oil to that fat and juices in the pan. Add the shallots and garlic to the pan and cook until tender, about two minutes. Mix in the our and cook and stir two minutes.

Mix in the wine and, when the mixture in the pan is very thick, slowly mix in the stock.

Bring sauce to a simmer and cook a few minutes, until lightly thickened. Season the sauce with salt and pepper.

Slice the roast, set on plates and serve the sauce alongside in sauceboat for drizzling on top of the meat.

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This creamy, light-in-texture dessert gets topped last minute with orange liqueur soaked mandarin orange slices. Delicious!

Panna Cotta

Preparation time: 10 minutes Cooking time: A few minutes Makes: six servings

with Mandarin Oranges & Pistachios

s MEDIUM MANDARIN ORANGES s 4BSP 'RAND -ARNIER OR #OINTREAU s CUPS HALF AND H HALF s CUPS HALF AND HALF CREAM s CUP GRA s CUP GRANULATED SUGAR ANULA s TSP l s TSP lNELY GRATED MANDARIN ORANGE ZEST lNELY s TSP PURE VANILLA EXTRACT s TSP PU s PACKET 4BSP UNmAVOURED GELATINE ) USED +NOX BRAND s PAC ss 4BSP UNSALTED SHELLED PISTACHIOS COARSELY CHOPPED 4 s MINT SPRIGS s Peel the oranges and remove any white pithy parts on the outside esh. Separate each orange into segments, and then cut each segment, widthwise, into thin, 1/4-inch slices. Place orange slices, and any juice on the board, in a bowl. Add the orange liqueur and toss to combine. Cover, refrigerate and let oranges soak in the orange liqueur until needed below.

Place the cream, sugar, zest and extract in a medium pot. Sprinkle in the gelatine and let stand ďŹ ve minutes.

Now place the pot over medium heat, stirring occasionally until the sugar and gelatine have dissolved into the cream and the cream is hot (do not simmer).

Divide and pour the cream into six, six-ounce decorative glasses. Cool the panna cotta to room temperature.

Individually wrap and refrigerate the panna cotta until set, about four hours or overnight.

When ready to serve, divide and top each panna cotta with some of sliced oranges, sprinkle with pistachios, garnish with mint sprigs and enjoy. CH

SEAFOOD BISQUE s "ARTIER "ROS 3EMILLON s &AMILLE $OMAINE "OUGRIER 6OUVRAY 6OUVRAYY s 7OLF "LASS 'OLD ,ABEL #HARDONNAY RDONNAYY

ROAST STRIP LOIN s !MALAYA -ALBEC s .OBLE 2IDGE -ERITAGE s #OLLEMANTTONI 2OSSO DI -ONTALCINO ALCINO

WINE PAIRINGS

PANNA COTTA

I asked wine expert Ame De Paoli from Cook Street Liquor cookstliquor.com to suggest some wine pairings for the start of the meal, main course and dessert.

s %SSENSIA /RANGE -USCAT s #LOS DU 3OLEIL 3ATURN eakis@timescolonist com eakis@timescolonist.com Eric Akis is the author of eight cookbooks. His latest is The Great Rotisserie Chicken Cookbook (Appetite by Random House). His columns appear in the Times Colonist Wednesday and Sunday.

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FOOD encore The SECRET to a perfect ice cream sundae? Pomegranate omegranate is a heavy fruit. In ancient tale and tradition, it’s a stand-in for fertility (count those seeds!), power (check out that crown) and demise (taste the tannins).

That’s a lot of ground to cover, for a berry.

It’s also a standout in delicious. Fresh, the brilliant seeds add crunch to salad or snack.

Dried, they make ďŹ ne hiking companions.

Juiced, they’re all refreshment. Slowly simmered into syrup, the fruit concentrates into compelling: very sweet and very tart, at once.

Drizzle this sauce (also called molasses or grenadine) over vanilla ice cream for a bowl of contrast: light and dark, creamy and sharp, hot and cold. The dish pays tribute to the original pomegranate fan, Persephone, who downed a few seeds while captive in the underworld, resulting (long story) in summer and winter. How’s that for heavy?

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POMEGRANATE

SUNDAES

Prep: 10 minutes Cook: 1 hour Makes: 4 servings

4 cups pure pomegranate juice TABLESPOONS FRESHLY SQUEEZED LEMON JUICE PINT HIGH QUALITY VANILLA ICE CREAM 3EEDS FROM POMEGRANATE "OIL Pour pomegranate and lemon juice into a large saucepan. Bring to a boil, lower heat and simmer until syrupy and reduced to 1 cup, about 1 hour. As the syrup thickens, watch closely and lower heat to make sure it doesn’t burn.

3ERVE Scoop ice cream into bowls. Drizzle on warm syrup. Sprinkle with pomegranate seeds. Dig in.

MASTERING a Better Apple Pie

BY SARA MOULTON

ny number of tasks may strike you as easy as pie, but anyone who’s ever actually made a pie can tell you that it actually requires some care if you want it to turn out well.

Consider apple pie. Its ingredients are few and elemental: apples, of course, along with sugar, avouring and pie crust. But choosing the right apples is a serious business. Likewise, you’ll want to do what you can to prevent the apples from shrinking in the pie shell as they cook, which simultaneously makes the bottom crust soggy and creates an unsightly gap between the ďŹ lling and top crust.

Let’s start with the apples. Some are tart and some

are sweet. Buy an assortment, taste each kind and take notes about their avour, paying particular attention to their sugar level. An apple’s avour intensiďŹ es as it is cooked. Unless you’re nuts about one particular variety, I’d advise you to pick a mix for your pie. The complexity of the avours will make the pie that much more interesting.

Some apples turn into mush when they’re cooked, while others hold their shape for days. If you’re not sure which way a given variety will go, here’s a test: Cut a wedge into cubes, combine it with a pinch of sugar and a tablespoon of water, then cook it, covered, over low heat for about 5 minutes, or until just tender.

DEEP-DISH APPLE PIE

soft and/or sticky, return it to the refrigerator and chill until ďŹ rm. Remove the plastic wrap from one side of the dough and ip it onto a 9-inch pie plate. Remove the second layer of wrap. Ease the dough down into the plate and press it into the bottom and sides gently without stretching it. Leave the dough that overhangs the plate in place; chill until the dough is ďŹ rm, about 30 minutes.

Roll the second disk of dough between 2 large sheets of plastic wrap into a 12-inch circle, about 1/8 inch thick. Chill, leaving the dough between the plastic sheets, until ďŹ rm, about 30 minutes.

While the dough chills, adjust the oven rack to the lowest position, place an empty rimmed baking sheet on the rack, and heat the oven to 425 F. Remove the pie plate lined with the dough from the refrigerator and spoon the apple mixture into it. Remove the plastic from one side of the remaining dough and ip the dough onto the apples. Remove the second piece of plastic.

Trim the excess dough hanging off the edge of the pie plate so it is ush with the edge. Pinch the top and bottom dough rounds ďŹ rmly together and press them with the tines of a fork.

Cut four 2-inch slits in the top of the dough. Chill the ďŹ lled pie for 10 minutes. Brush the surface with the heavy cream, then sprinkle evenly with remaining 1 teaspoon of granulated sugar. Bake the pie on the heated baking sheet until the crust is dark golden brown, 40 to 45 minutes. Transfer the pie to a wire rack and let cool until ready to serve.

Nutrition information per serving: 550 calories; 240 calories from fat (44 per cent of total calories); 27 g fat (17 g saturated; 1 g trans fats); 70 mg cholesterol; 210 mg sodium; 76 g carbohydrate; 4 g ďŹ ber; 38 g sugar; 5 g protein.

A

Start to ďŹ nish: 3 hours Servings: 8 s POUNDS lRM APPLES A MIX OF SWEET AND TART PEELED CORED AND CUT INTO INCH THICK WEDGES s POUND APPLESAUCE APPLES PEELED CORED AND CUT INTO INCH THICK WEDGES s CUP PLUS TEASPOON GRANULATED SUGAR DIVIDED s CUP PACKED DARK BROWN SUGAR s TEASPOON TABLE SALT s TO TABLESPOONS LEMON JUICE s TEASPOON LEMON ZEST s $OUBLE BATCH OF PIE DOUGH REFRIGERATED s TABLESPOON HEAVY CREAM In a large Dutch oven over medium-high heat, toss together all of the apples, 1/2 cup of the granulated sugar, the brown sugar, salt, 1 tablespoon of the lemon juice and lemon zest. Bring the mixture to a boil, reduce to a simmer and cook until the ďŹ rm apples are just tender when poked with a knife, about 15 minutes. Transfer the apples to a large colander set over a bowl and let them drain for 15 minutes, shaking the colander every so often.

After the apples have drained, add the juices from the bowl to the Dutch oven and simmer until reduced to about 1/2 cup.

In the bowl, combine the reduced juices with the apples.

Taste for seasoning and add additional lemon juice if necessary. Cool to room temperature.

Meanwhile, remove 1 disk of dough from the refrigerator and roll it out between 2 large sheets of plastic wrap into a 12-inch circle, about 1/8 inch thick. If the dough becomes

Most varieties will hold their shape, but McIntosh, Macoun, Cortland and Empire will fall apart and turn into applesauce. I recommend adding a few of the fallapart varieties to your pie. Their sauciness will moisten and bind the rest of the apples in the ďŹ lling.

Now, how to prevent that gap? Simple. Gently pre-cook the apples, which drains them of liquid and shrinks their bulk. They’ll shrink no more once they’re added to the pie, which means there’ll be no gap between the ďŹ lling and the top crust. But don’t toss out that liquid! If you boil it down as detailed below and add it back to the apples, you’ll amp up the apple essence.

PIE DOUGH Start to ďŹ nish: 20 minutes, plus chilling -AKES CRUSTS s CUPS OUNCES ALL PURPOSE mOUR s TEASPOON TABLE SALT s TABLESPOONS STICKS PLUS TABLESPOONS s UNSALTED BUTTER COLD CUT INTO INCH CUBES s TO TABLESPOONS ICE WATER In a large bowl, stir together the our and the salt, then add the butter. Working quickly with your ďŹ ngertips or a pastry blender, mix the dough until most of mixture resembles a coarse meal, with the rest in small (roughly pea-sized) lumps. Drizzle 4 tablespoons of ice water evenly over the mixture and gently stir with a fork until incorporated. Gently squeeze a small handful: it should hold together without crumbling apart. If it doesn’t, add more ice water, 1/2 tablespoon at a time, stirring 2 or 3 times after each addition until it comes together. (If you overwork the mixture or add too much water, the pastry will be tough.)

Turn the dough out onto a clean work surface and divide into several portions. With the heel of your hand, smear each portion once in a forward motion on the work surface to help distribute the fat. Gather the smeared dough together and form it, rotating it on the work surface, into 2 disks. Chill, wrapped in plastic wrap, until ďŹ rm, at least 1 hour.

Sara Moulton is host of public television’s Sara’s Weeknight Meals. She was executive chef at Gourmet magazine for 25 years and spent a decade hosting several Food Network shows, including Cooking Live. Her latest cookbook is Home Cooking 101.

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8

hristian Louboutin is a long way from veal cutlets.

Celebrating the 25th anniversary of his trademark red-soled, luxury shoe brand, the French designer re m e m b e re d a l e s s o n learned from an early job, as a teenage apprentice at the famed Paris music hall the Folies-Bergere. The showgirls, he said, were always asking him to buy veal cutlets.

HIS HEELS NOW MIGHT GO AS HIGH AS FIVE INCHES

“I thought, my God, everyone’s been eating so many veal cutlets — it’s so bizarre!” he recalled. But as it turned out, the performers weren’t consuming the meat, but placing it in their high-heeled shoes as a cushioning pad. It needed to be white meat, not red, he said, “so when you were dancing on the cushion, there’s no blood coming out.”

The young Louboutin watched and learned. “I ended up not putting any veal in my shoes,” he said, “but some techniques are actually important when you work on high heels.”

Since 1991, Louboutin has gone from a

single Paris storefront with a small initial collection (the first shoes he sketched for his line, he said, was a pair of women’s flats with “Love” inscribed on them) to a worldwide success, with more than 100 boutiques selling women’s and men’s shoes, leather goods and beauty products.

(The latter, begun in 2014, was an obvious direction for him: His shoes’ famous red soles, the story goes, were inspired in 1992 by the sight of his assistant painting her nails at her desk.)

And he’s watched, over the years, as heel heights have climbed. “It’s funny, because the idea of high heels was very different in the ’90s,” he said. “When I was doing about 3.5 inches, people were like, ‘That’s so high!’ And now, it’s literally a mid-heel.” His heels now might go as high as five inches — or more if the shoe has a platform. They are, he says, as comfortable as possible (cutlet-like cushioning is placed where possible) — but design is paramount. “Comfortable is not my favorite word.”

Louboutin’s shoes are expensive (a simple pump might be near $700 US) because of the elaborate handwork required to create them; each shoe requires “almost 100 types of manipulation” after the drawing stage.

The cost, he said, is like that of fine wine. “You can have a bottle of wine that costs you $5, and then a bottle of wine that costs you $150. The difference is not in the shape of the bottle, it’s not in the color of what’s in the bottle, but in the attention to the wine.”

Over the years, he’s crafted footwear ranging from those classic pumps to elaborate fantasy shoes: a delicate laceand-crystal Cinderella pair, complete with sparkling butterflies; a Maleficent shoe worn by Angelina Jolie while promoting the movie, with heels that curve like smoke; a ravishing black leather bootie in his current collection with fanciful wings attached, as if its wearer might fly away.

Does he have a favourite pair, after all this time? “I always say,” he said, “it’s the one that I haven’t been yet doing.” CH

THE SAVILE COLLECTION OF LUXURY BATH ACCESSORIES SET IN CHIC HERRINGBONE, A MENSWEAR CLASSIC.

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KIM COOK

Many of this season’s home decor collections are sporting a rather debonair look.

Tweeds, tartans and twills drape cushions and comforters; furniture is clad in supple leather; drapes are made of suiting fabric; and hardware takes style notes from the gentlemen’s accessory drawer.

“The classic good looks of menswear are popping up in subtle and unexpected ways,” says designer Jamie Drake. he and business partner Caleb Anderson are fans of woven horsehair textiles, and have produced a collection for Holland & Sherry. The sleek fabrics with subtle yet striking colorations are loomed from horse tails and cotton. Their durability makes them ideal for chair, bench and headboard upholstery.

Drake also has designed a collection of luxury bath accessories with a classic herringbone pattern on charcoal-grey, embossed Italian suede. Named Savile, after London’s famed street of haberdashery, the collection is trimmed with polished chrome for a crisp, tailored look.

And for Stark, Drake’s Jakara pattern puts the elegant chevron in a soft wool rug, offered in urbane neutrals.

Subtle, tonal hues and fabrics with a textural depth offer a handsome — often luxurious — masculine esthetic that transcends gender, says Shawn Sowers, principal design director at furniture company Sauder.

Brothers Emil and Sandy Corsillo, who design menswear under their Hill-Side label, have partnered with CB2 on a collection of home goods. A brawny, striped throw pillow in navy and grey reflects the designers’ workwear roots, while deconstructed indigo floral prints on a comfy chair and big floor cushion echo shirt and tie patterns. (www.cb2.com ) Or bring the masculine vibe home with room scents; many evoke men’s fragrances or toiletry items.

Capital HOME | 97

NEXT ISSUE OF CAPITAL HOME

J

oin us for the next edition of Capital Home in the spring when writer Grania Litwin will take you into some of the regionâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s most beautiful condominiums and smaller living spaces. Accompany travel writer Kim Westad on a tour of Paris and some of the city most interesting bookstores and shops.

And Eric Akis, as usual, will have some delicious culinary ideas for you to present to family and friends. Watch for it â&#x20AC;&#x201D; and enjoy!

ADVERTISER DIRECTORY ATLAS AUDIO VIDEO 19

INCREDIBLE CLOSETS 5

SAGERâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S HOME LIVING 3

BAYVIEW PLACE 5 53

JORDANS 4

SCAN DESIGNS 1983 LTD 2

BELFRY THEATRE 21

LANGHAM COURT THEATRE 71

SOTHEBYâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S INTERNATIONAL REALTY CANADA 25

BRIDGEMAN PLUMBING & HEATING 23

LANSDOWNE APPLIANCE 79

SOTHEBYâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S, KURTZ & GRAY 9

CHEMAINUS THEATRE 71

LUGARO JEWELLERS 6

TOM LEE MUSIC 58

CITYZEN BY HOMEWOOD CONSTRUCTORS 91

MCLAREN ELECTRIC 100

VAN ISLE WINDOWS 60

DODDâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S FURNITURE 12

MOEâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S HOME COLLECTION 38

VICTORIA RESIDENTIAL BUILDERS ASSOC 18

ENERHEAT 29

MUSE & MERCHANT 99

WESTCOAST APPLIANCE

GREGGâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S FURNITURE & UPHOLSTERY 32

PARK AVENUE STONE PANELS 17

WESTHILLS 56

GT MANN CONSTRUCTION 15

PENINSULA CO-OP 43

WINDSOR PLYWOOD 68

HOME HARDWARE 35

SAFFRON WINDOW FASHION 73

98 | Capital HOME

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