CoastalDrift Vol.3
THE SPRING & SUMMER ISSUE
Newsworthy Stories, People, Places, Happenings, Inspirations and other tales of Daring Authenticity A Publication of Timothy Oulton
Coastal Drift 03 From Tim 06 From Store to Shore 08 Coastal Glacier dining 12 Signalling Man Overboard 15 Dome Sweet Dome 18 Distinguished Gentleman's Ride 20 Chill-Ax 22 Castaway Work & Play 24 Crafting Tranquility 26 Summer Whisky 28 Coastal Drift Living 30 Phylum 32 Star Treatment with Michael Wong 34 Ready to Rock An interview with Timothy Oulton Ambassador 38 Iris 40 Resurrection from the Sea 41 Film Review 42 Timothy Oulton's Yellow Submarine
Coastal Choka Take it easy. Evoking untouched sands and remote beach cottages, the Choka chair in Bone linen with seam stitch detailing, and the Castaway side table near to hand infuse any room with a beachy elegance.
From Tim. FOUNDER & CREATIVE DIRECTOR
The sea is full of romance. There's this sense of adventure and discovery, the promise of new horizons, new lands and shores. And then there's the mysterious power of nature, or the beckoning pleasure of exotic tropical climes... it's very evocative. The coast kind of calls to you, just like it did the explorers of past eras. And while today our world is a smaller place, the coast still seems to offer up a sense of freedom, escape, tranquillity, possibility... We've been drawn to this vein of inspiration recently, or perhaps it's just been creeping up on us. Our iconic Axel collection carried coastal echoes, featuring timbers reclaimed from old fishing boats, and antiques from chandlers and the marine merchants carry a mystique that’s led us to pepper our stores with yellow submarines, searchlights, life-jackets, and ship funnels. British heritage is full of the tales and legends of the sea, from Robert Louis Stevenson's Treasure Island, to the Royal Navy that once ruled the waves, the Titanic and other more successful transatlantic sailings, through to the Beatles Yellow Submarine, or James Bond on some tropical island. The British Isles have always contended with the sea, and the coast has always loomed in the imagination as a threshold to the rest of the world. And that spirit is now working its way into our product design. Lighter, and more airy, the Fluffy sofa is a perfect escape, in fine white Nimbus pure linen. And our new Glacier collection of burnt timbers encased in acrylic evokes a distinct sizzle, like the moment when volcanic lava spills into the sea: sparks, steam, and fizz. Castaway creates a streamlined feeling of tranquillity, and the Junk Art propeller coffee table, our Phylum and Iris lighting all express something of that romance, that freedom and that possibility. So as spring creeps up on another summer, I hope you enjoy our new Coastal Drift collections, and that they convey some of that carefree spirited romance of the sea that we all love.
COASTAL DRIFT SUMMER 2015 ~ 03
bliss out on the dex sectional rendered here in warrior, our newest luxe super soft hand washed leather. the sparkling shimmer of iris lights play with hints of the ocean from the driftwood and acrylic spur block. axel mirror – handmade from reclaimed boatwood. los angeles city map guides you to santa monica and the pacific.
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TORE To Shore
With stores in some of the world's best cities, we're also close to some of the best beaches too. Here we celebrate the world's best beaches only a stone's throw away from our stores.
With over 30 Timothy Oulton galleries in some of the world’s best cities, we thought we’d do a bit of digging with our bucket and spade and check out the best beaches in our vicinity. Shopping and sunbathing a mere stone’s throw from each other?
Now that’s our idea of a happy place.
SIMPLE PLEASURES IN SYDNEY People don’t tend to work late in Sydney, they’re too busy getting down to the beach after hours and who can blame them. With hundreds of beaches to choose from, Sydney has that winning mix of urban buzz and laid-back coastal living. The iconic Bondi Beach is the most famed surf spot and equally good for peoplewatching from its many cafes. Or head to Sydney’s northern beaches and take the picturesque stroll along Palm Beach to the historic Barrenjoey Lighthouse. Of course don’t forget to pop into Timothy Oulton at Coco Republic and escape the sweltering sun with a chilled glass of champagne. DISTANCE FROM STORE TO SHORE*: 11kms (to Bondi) BEST TIME TO GO: December - March HOW TO GET THERE:
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GETAWAY TO LOS ANGELES
LET IT ALL HANG OUT IN THE NETHERLANDS
Cycle along the pier at Santa Monica, watch the bodybuilders and other colourful characters at Venice Beach or head to Surfrider Beach in Malibu for some serious wave action. L.A. is home to Timothy Oulton’s Global Style Directors, Dani and Raoul, who put the magic into all our gallery interiors (Raoul is pictured here hitting some evening surf). It’s also the city where we opened our first Timothy Oulton gallery, in HD Buttercup in 2008. Over 30 stores later, we’ve come back to the West Coast sunshine with our newest gallery - just down the highway in Orange County.
Amsterdam may be famous for its canals but it’s also got some pretty fine beaches just a short train ride from the city centre. One of the most famous is at Zandvoort just 20 minutes away, where you can soak up the North Sea sun and stake your parasol in the blonde sand dunes for the afternoon. If you fancy a long saunter up the beach then grab some Dutch courage and head to the nude sunbathing area at Bloemendaal, famous for its weekend beach parties.
DISTANCE FROM STORE TO SHORE*: 11kms (to Santa Monica)
BEST TIME TO GO:
BEST TIME TO GO: July - September HOW TO GET THERE:
*Distance from Timothy Oulton Gallery
DISTANCE FROM STORE TO SHORE*: 30kms (to Zandvoort) July - August
HOW TO GET THERE:
SAND AND THE CITY IN HONG KONG
CAUSING WAVES IN AUCKLAND
If you thought Hong Kong was just skyscrapers and banks then think again. The island is home to some gorgeous sandy beaches from Shek O to Big Wave Bay, or hop on a ferry from Central and head to one of the smaller outer islands for some real gems. Within an hour from the Timothy Oulton stores in Gough Street and St Francis Street, you could be collecting clams on Mui Wo or soaking up the sun on Lamma. For pure tranquillity, hike the 90 minute MacLehose Trail from Sai Kung in the New Territories to the beach at Tai Long Wan. The pristine sands and unspoilt views are definitely worth the effort.
Known for its breathtaking scenery, New Zealand is on the wish list for many a well-seasoned traveller. This island nation is home to more than 15,000 kms of beaches fringing the Pacific Ocean and somewhat wilder Tasman Sea. Timothy Oulton’s Auckland gallery opened last April on the energetic North Shore, just over the hill from some of the city’s finest beaches. Nearby Piha Beach is a favourite surf spot with the locals. If your board skills aren’t quite up to the waves here then take a wander into the rainforest behind the beach and explore the secret waterfalls.
DISTANCE FROM STORE TO SHORE*: 11kms (to Shek O)
DISTANCE FROM STORE TO SHORE*: 50kms (to Piha)
BEST TIME TO GO: October
BEST TIME TO GO: January - February
HOW TO GET THERE:
HOW TO GET THERE:
COASTAL DRIFT SUMMER 2015 ~ 09
GLACIER DINING Entertaining six guests, the epic Glacier dining table freezes burnt logs of timber in icy Crystalline Acrylic, like a primeval volcanic eruption frozen in time. Accompanied by Mimi chairs in black velvet and Iris lighting, the scene is set for energetic conversation over long, lingering meals.
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Signalling
MAN Overboard
M.
Z.
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Mike: My vessel is stopped and making no way through the water
Zulu: I require a tug
O.
Oscar: Man overboard
Based on maritime flags from the International Code of Signals, Timothy Oulton’s Coastal Drift Signal cushions capture the excitement of sea voyages with the trepidation of the unknown, celebrating the freedom and exhilaration of the open seas.
The International Code of Signals was established in 1857 as a means of communication to and from ships and is still used the world over, including by most navies. Each flag represents individual letters of the alphabet with one or more letters assigned to various navigational and safety messages. The most urgent or common messages are communicated by a single flag. Inspired by six of these flags, our Coastal Drift Signal cushions are packed with imagined stories of adventure. The perfect accompaniment to casual entertaining, each design is hand-dyed and hand-stitched onto a 100% cotton cover for relaxed comfort. The corresponding signal message is playfully stitched along the border, so your guests can have fun guessing who’s fallen overboard and who’s just a bit legless from that last glass of wine.
U.
E.
Uniform: You are running into danger
Echo: I am altering my course to starboard
G.
Golf: I require a pilot COASTAL DRIFT SUMMER 2015 ~ 13
DEREK THE DIVER
Meet Derek the Diver, he’s welcomed many a guest to the Timothy Oulton showrooms. Derek wears a vintage 1950s Russian diving suit and an English diving bell from the 1940s, ready to take on his next underwater mission.
Antiques For more information, email enquiries@timothyoulton.com
DomeSweetDome Pushing the envelope of innovation, the Dome Home by Timothy Oulton is a unique, energy-giving space designed as a home away from home for the brand’s product designers and master craftsmen. The central meeting point within an intimate ‘village’ created next to the brand’s showrooms in southern China, the Dome Home is a platform to interact in inspirational and comfortable surroundings.
Simon Laws, Project Designer for the Dome Home, explains;
“Often, the best ideas come during down times, when people – designers – congregate and just discuss things that are not related to design and that is what this company is trying to do.” COASTAL DRIFT SUMMER 2015 ~ 15
Nestled unobtrusively in the middle of a beautiful lychee garden, the Dome Home and seven double-storey Round Houses have been carefully constructed to cause minimal impact on the surrounding established trees. Visitors enter the village through a cast concrete Moon Gate, echoing traditional Chinese architecture, and are irresistibly drawn into the tranquillity of the garden through a lattice bamboo tunnel planted with fruit vines. As Tim Oulton explains; “We wanted to create something beautiful, unusual, thought-out – doing it in our own way.” The Dome Home was built using the ‘Passive House’ ventilation and insulation system, to the highest German standards, using Cedar, reclaimed sustainable timber, Norwegian double glazing and LED lighting. It’s powered by just 500 watts of energy - the equivalent of boiling a kettle – and the design allows temperatures to remain cool in the summer and warm in the winter.
The open-plan interior has been designed with meticulous care, anchored by the central spiral staircase leading up to the mezzanine. The contours of the specially customised furniture echo the rounded dome of the building, with the aim of allowing ideas in the mind to float around without obstruction. The Timothy Oulton Shabby sofa has been reinvented into a soft arc, the stainless steel and marble kitchen has been designed to hug the curved wall and the round marble dining table encourages casual conversation. There is an inviting, laid-back and cosy vibe to the room in which people can really relax and socialise.
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DISTINGUISHED GENTLEMAN'S RIDE It was a hot balmy Sunday in Hong Kong, the perfect day to get your motor running’ and head out on the highway. Underneath the blue skies a rather unusual spectacle was bringing local residents out of their apartments when a stream of vintage motorcycles pulled up outside Timothy Oulton, St Francis Street.
Now we’re all for celebrating the modern gent and we certainly appreciate a finely tuned engine, so we were pretty excited to host the 2014 Distinguished Gentleman’s Ride. DGR is now in its third year with rides taking place throughout hundreds of cities in 57 countries across the globe. The most excited among us was Diego, our leather master, whose greatest passion in life - besides creating in his leather lab - is revving up his Harley and getting out on the open road. At 9.30am, you could hear the purr of the bikes before you could see them. The group, arrived at the Timothy Oulton gallery for the start of the ride and each rider was given a special Timothy Oulton gift bag full of gentlemanly essentials, which included a spiffing stick-on moustache and leather bow tie to get into the spirit of the day. The leisurely ride finished back at St Francis Street where we had ice cold beers at the ready, courtesy of Peroni, and the group were greeted by the delicious smell of gourmet burgers cooking on the grill - a treat from the guys at Butcher’s Club. Friends and family came to celebrate and everyone loosened their bow ties to chill out in the Timothy Oulton gallery. A gentlemanly finish to an authentically distinguished day.
Look out for our 10 super cool limited edition New Yorker satchels, customized exclusively for the ride and available at our Hong Kong galleries only.
The ride began with a group effort needed to push some of the older models (bikes that is, not riders) up the hill and the well-mannered bunch rode the scenic route out of the city to Tai Tam Reservoir where cool refreshments were waiting.
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CHILL- AX
CHOOSE LINEN, MARBLE AND ACRYLIC TO COOL DOWN IN THE SUMMER HEAT.
Art Line SEALIFE
Fluffy SOFA
These colour-enhanced high resolution images are taken from sea life samples off the coast of the United Kingdom. The vibrant colours of red, blue and orange present a striking contrast against the black background, rather like the dark stillness of the ocean.
The Fluffy sectional sofa blends the calm, casual essence of the beach with a free-spirited edge. Sink into over-sized comfort and relax, re-energise, or kick-back with friends. Outfitted here in Nimbus Pure – a super soft linen in pure, crisp white. Dive onto the double layer of deep-filled feather and down cushions and bounce back up to life.
Driftwood SPUR
Glacier CONSOLE
Bring the spirit of nature indoors with this sensuous feast of textures. Smooth acrylic is juxtaposed with the warmth of raw driftwood for a tantalisingly tactile experience. The driftwood has been collected by hand from beaches all over the world.
Like a primeval volcanic eruption frozen in time, Glacier spectacularly freezes logs of burnt timber in Crystalline Acrylic. The ice cold smooth appearance contrasts with the charred remains of the rugged timber, like mixing fire and ice. The table features four beams of timber encased in acrylic. The spectacular bubbling finish is uniquely different on each piece. Perfect for relaxed and casual entertaining, telling stories around the table.
Flag CUSHION
Boston DINING TABLE
We’ve added 10 new designs to our Flag cushions range, celebrating all corners of the globe from Brittany in France to the sunshine island of Jamaica. The components of each flag are handcrafted, with each colour individually hand dyed onto 100% cotton fabric and then hand sewn together.
The smooth aluminium Aero top gives a modern twist to this classic table, combining the architectural design of the piece with unexpected materials for an added visual dimension. The chunky base is handcrafted from Genuine English Reclaimed Timber with a rich storied past. De-nailed, hand finished and re-invented for casual, relaxed dining.
Castaway SIDEBOARD
Gradient LIGHT
Introducing Castaway, where brushed aluminium meets beach wood to create a streamlined look. These two diverse materials combined with soft rounded lines are to lend each piece an understated elegance.v
Grand and opulent, the idea of a cathedral dome inside a sea of crystals is manifested in the Gradient. Handcrafted by our skilled artisans, the multiple layers offer an almost infinite dome of lights for spectacular drama.
COASTAL DRIFT SUMMER 2015 ~ 21
CASTAWAY
WORK & PLAY Summertime, and the livin’ is easy with the Castaway desk. It’s not all play of course but the calming lines of beach wood and brushed aluminum make work a whole lot less stressful. Complete with hidden storage in the top for those treasures and pleasures out of sight but not out of mind.
COASTAL DRIFT SUMMER 2015 ~ 23
Crafting Tranquility
The Castaway collection, featuring bookcases, a desk, media unit, sideboard, coffee tables and side tables, is a new Timothy Oulton range that features hallmark workmanship to render a refined streamlined collection of stylish and practical classics.
From raw beginnings
to perfection
Castaway requires precision woodwork & detailing. Aluminium plates are sculpted onto a handcrafted frame, and secured in place with tacks. Detailing slats – the signature aesthetic of the collection – must be carefully applied by invisible nailing. Each slat is made out of pine which is treated to capture just the right washed-out subtle tone of coastal driftwoods. Castaway is available in desk, console, bookcase, coffee table, side table and chest.
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Summer WHISKY A good dram can be savoured even with the warmth of the hot sun on your skin. We asked Sam MacDonald, manager of the Single Malt Whisky Society’s London Members’ Rooms, to give us some expert tips for enjoying whisky in the summer.
What does whisky mean to you? I love the expression “What grows together, goes together”. A lot of the pleasure for me comes from this notion that a simple glass of whisky is never just that. It is the liquid of the land, a direct link to its origin, whether it be Scotland, Ireland, Japan or wherever else. A comforting thought when you are away from home.
What’s the best way to enjoy whisky in the heat? I am not one for loading up on ice in the hot weather. However a tall glass of liquid is never far away from hand come summertime. I would recommend something a bit younger, a first-bourbon cask, topped up with soda water out of the fridge - and maybe just a few cubes of ice.
Is it a sin to add water?
Definitely not, the flavour of good whisky can be amplified with the addition of water. Particularly if the whisky is non-chill filtered & cask strength like ours. Besides you should drink whisky whatever way you feel comfortable, if you can't feel comfortable with a dram in your hand, clearly it is not doing its job.
What are the best whisky cocktails for the summer? I think the Americans got it spot-on with the Mint Julep.
Do you have a favourite whisky and food pairing combination? The flavour of whisky is complex and pungent, therefore I think food with a simpler yet equally intense flavour goes best. Something heavily sherried alongside a piece of dark chocolate fudge. Once my girlfriend came home and found me eating kippers and drinking Islay, she was horrified, but it was delicious.
What whisky couldn’t you live without and why? I have a big soft spot for my own nation's tipple. I grew up around Irish whiskey and I will always go back to it when I want a taste of home. It makes me happy and nostalgic when I pick up a glass of SMWS 117.3. It’s like Ireland in a cup.
COASTAL DRIFT SUMMER 2015 ~ 27
DRIFT
LIVING Sprawl out on the deliciously decadent, oversized Fluffy sectional sofa; scale it up or down depending on your space. Phylum pendants fall like water droplets frozen in time over the Glacier coffee table, mixing fire and ice with logs of burnt timber encased in crisp, cool acrylic. White hot beach chic.
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PHYLUM The shape of the Phylum emulates the idea of a water droplet suspended in ice or a tear drop falling, capturing a frozen moment in time. This distinctive form is achieved with traditional glass-blowing techniques using molten glass. Evoking whispers of the ocean, the colour finish is available in clear, blue or light chrome to reflect the colours of the sea.
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COASTAL DRIFT SUMMER 2015 ~ 31
STAR TREATMENT Here’s Hong Kong film star and adrenalin junkie Michael Wong flying in for his latest mission. Clutching his 007-style Raleigh Spitfire case, Michael’s checking out his new Timothy Oulton Aviator Tomcat chairs which will sit in his recently opened MW clothing store.
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Michael’s one of Asia’s biggest film stars, having been a stalwart of the Hong Kong film industry for more than 20 years. Married to supermodel Janet Ma, Michael moved to Hong Kong from his native New York after high school in the 1980’s and hit the Asian film scene with a bang. Having worked alongside Jackie Chan and Brandon Lee (son of Bruce), Michael recently starred in the Hollywood blockbuster Transformers: Age of Extinction. An avid helicopter pilot, Michael’s a big fan of the Timothy Oulton Aviator collection. Embarking on his latest adventure into fashion retail, his new men’s apparel store in Hong Kong’s Causeway Bay is decked out for the modern gent, with Timothy Oulton’s Aviator Tomcat chairs offering an energetic addition to the shop’s suave interior. Handcrafted in our signature Spitfire finish, inspired by the legendary British fighter plane, the award-winning Aviator Tomcat is modelled on the twin cockpit chair of the American F-14 Tomcat jet. Swathed in vintage leather with all the worn-down softness of a bomber jacket, the Aviator Tomcat sits firmly in the driving seat for both comfort and innovation.
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Ready TO ROCK Meet Timothy Oulton’s newest Honorary Ambassador; Ian Haug. Ian rose to rock star fame in Aussie band Powderfinger in the nineties and noughties and nowadays he’s belting out hits as the new guitarist for alternative rock band The Church. When he’s not rocking the stage he’s out riding the surf or looking pretty chilled around town with his favourite Timothy Oulton bag – the Holmes Messenger. Ian’s been checking out the Union Jack guitar in our Gough Street gallery so here’s hoping for a little in-store jamming session.
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NAME: Ian Haug DAY JOB: MUSICIAN TIMOTHY OULTON HONORARY AMBASSADOR SINCE: October 2014
Holmes Messenger
The view that both inspires and relaxes me is the view of the ocean, particularly if there are lines of swell on the horizon. Point Lookout on Stradbroke Island (in Queensland) always takes my breath away. The talent I’d most like to have… I’d love to be an incredible concert pianist, or else a world champion surfer. Actually I think it would be amazing to be the best at anything at all. But if you received those talents just by wishing for them I don’t think you’d get to enjoy them, you’ve got to put the time in. The most inspiring and interesting place I’ve visited is Invercargill on the southernmost tip of New Zealand for its pure wildness, or New York and Tokyo for city bustle.
My best recent discovery is a breakfast café in a surf shop in Coolangatta (Australia’s Gold Coast). My favourite mottos are; “be good or be good at it” and “expectations lead to disappointments”. Another one that my dad instilled into me is “It’s none of your business what anyone thinks of you”. I try to do the best that I can at everything, it doesn’t matter what anyone else thinks.
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The refined meets the extreme in the Westminster sofa, clad in new Vagabond Red leather for the ultimate antique-look, proudly dressed in the marks and scars of nature’s handprints. Elegant Paradise Spiral chandeliers tame the brutalist form of the rugged KitKats coffee table.
BEAT GENERATION
VAGABOND WESTMINSTER
IRIS
Clad in lens-shaped glass like a submarines' portholes. Made from iron and glass. The Iris collection is available as a pendant in 2 sizes, a sconce, and a table lamp.
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GUITAR HERO Timothy Oulton introduces its Limited Edition Guitars
Each guitar is made from the finest woods available; East Indian rosewood for the body and fret board, maple for the neck and Alaskan Sitka spruce for the top. Exceptional attention to detail shows the passion that goes into creating these coveted pieces. The beautifully polished wood is hand-painted on the back with the Union Jack and the number 1966 – referencing the year England held the Jules Rimet trophy above their heads in victory at Wembley. Each guitar is signed by both Timothy Oulton and Michael Bashkin.
RESURRECTED FROM THE SEAS Seafaring stories of weather beaten junks and adventures of fishermen are brought back to life in Timothy Oulton’s Junk Art Propeller coffee table.
Junks were first used as sailing vessels as far back as the 2nd century, evolving and developing with each of China’s successive dynasties. In 1405 during the Ming Dynasty, Admiral Zheng He set sail on the first of his bold expeditions with the largest junks ever built. His unprecedented fleet was manned by nearly 30,000 sailors and voyaged to Arabia and Africa to trade gifts of gold, porcelain and silk for exotic treasures such as ostriches and camels. Centuries later, the junk still represents that same scintillating excitement of exploration.
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FILM REVIEWS Remember these? We’ve picked three of our favourite all-time triple S movies – for sun, sand and surf. Leave your beach bag at the door, grab a cold beer and sit down for a good ol’ classic summer flick. The Endless Summer (1966) Here it is, the ultimate surf movie. The cult classic that inspired a generation to take up their board and surf-and-travel, dude. Filmmaker Bruce Brown follows two surfers, Mike Hynson and Robert August, as they leave the California winter behind and set off “in search of the perfect wave”, following the summer from Africa to Australia to New Zealand. The film’s seminal moment comes when the pair discover a pretty near perfect swell in South Africa’s Cape St. Francis, catapulting the then unknown spot into one of the world’s most famous surf sites. Jaw-dropping footage, narrated by Bruce’s dry sense of humour, all to the surf-rock soundtrack of The Sandals. By the end of the film you’ll have your wetsuit out and your plane ticket booked.
Point Break (1991) Patrick Swayze’s “100% pure adrenalin” shenanigans as surf-obsessed bank robber Bodhi get stopped short when undercover FBI agent Johnny Utah (Keanu Reeves) joins the party. You’ve also got Antony Kiedis from Red Hot Chili Peppers making an appearance as a rival surf punk and an awesome skydiving scene which Swayze did without using a stunt double. A bromance blossoms and Johnny discovers his new found desire for surfing before his attempts to take down his “brah” finally come to a head when Bodhi and his beachy blonde locks disappear into the waves off Australia’s Bell’s Beach during the conveniently timed “fifty year storm”. An action-packed classic.
Castaway (2000) So who’d have thought the sight of Tom Hanks losing his ‘best friend’ – a deflated Wilson volley ball - would be enough to make you weep…and weep and weep. Well it just goes to show what a fine actor Mr Hanks is as he captivates us for 143 minutes with his struggle to survive on a deserted South Pacific island after his FedEx plane crashes. After four years living off fish and coconuts his Boy Scout skills prove indispensable as he manages to construct a raft and escape. Well, when your beard gets that long you’ll go to any lengths to put a razor to that itchy bush of hair. Compelling, extraordinary and enough to make you wary of getting on a small plane ever again.
COASTAL DRIFT SUMMER 2015 ~ 41
THE
TIMOTHY OULTON’S VINTAGE COLLECTION
When Paul McCartney penned the lyrics to “Yellow Submarine” in 1966, specifically for Ringo Starr to perform the vocals, he says he was thinking of a happy place; a song for children about an old mariner reliving past tales. This carefree image is replaced by a somewhat more perilous one in the story of our own Yellow Submarine; the heart and soul of Timothy Oulton’s Vintage Collection. Officially called the PAP 104 MK5, our Yellow Submarine originally had a much more serious purpose than its cheerful colour - and the Beatles hit - might suggest.
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First introduced in the 1950s and known technically as ROV (remotely
operated underwater vehicle) Subsea Mine Identification System, our Yellow Submarine was produced by engineering giants ECA Robotics. It was later deployed during the Gulf War where it was tasked with clearing a safe passage through minefields after the damage of two US ships in the region off Kuwait. A mission which it completed successfully. PAP minesweepers operate by means of a guide-rope, steered remotely to navigate through the water and identify the mines via camera or sonar. The mine is then destroyed by a controlled explosion or by severing the mooring cable. PAP vehicles have completed more than 45,000 operations including many successful combat missions and are still in service with around 20 navies across the globe.
Timothy Oulton’s Yellow Submarines were purchased from the British Royal Navy. At once breathtakingly playful and audacious, their unique provenance and cultural relevance resonated strongly with Tim as truly daring and authentic. To add that signature Timothy Oulton flair of twisting heritage with innovation, two of our Yellow Submarines are displayed in a custom built aquarium tank in our Amsterdam gallery, complete with tropical fish, while another is showcased in the Lounge of our Geneva gallery. Everything in our Vintage Collection is available to purchase. Visit your nearest gallery for details.
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Handcraftsmanship of daring authenticity. Axel cabinetry and mirrors in reclaimed timber from Chinese fishing boats. Gyro lighting in Antique Rust finish, inspired by ancient navigational instrumentation. Branco armchair and Viscount William sofa in Old Saddle hand-finished leather. Distressed Vintage Moleskin handsewn Union Jack curtains.
timothyoulton.com
TIMOTHY OULTON
WINDSURF ARTLINE TAKEN IN EARLY 1980S OFF THE COAST OF THE UNITED KINGDOM WHEN THE SPORT WAS AT ITS PEAK.