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April 2011
FUTURE
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CONCEPTS: Top futurologists discuss some of the key innovations that will change our lives
EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEWS: SELINA LO AND ADRIAN HOLMES
Baselworld 2011
Highlights from the world of luxury jewellery and watches
Motoring:
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The time is now. The place is Malaysia
Helping ophaned baby orang-utans to learn survival skills in special...Limitless undiscovered beaches, dive-sites and marine parks on two oceans... Endlessly delicious food influenced long-ago by traders from neighbouring countries... Tribal dances of grace and passion, backed by gongs and bamboo flutes that profoundly echo Malaysia...
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For booking contact your local Travel Agent For more inofrmation please visit: www.tourismmalaysia.gov.my or call 020 7930 7932 Tourism Malaysia. 57 Trafalgar Square, London WC2N 5DU e-mail: info@toursim-malaysia.co.uk
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EDITOR’S LETTER
36
GREETINGS!
I’m pleased to welcome you to another stellar edition of the magazine with some very interesting features for your reading pleasure. As promised in the last edition, we have a six page feature on ‘Future Concepts’, with contributions from three wellknown futurologists on innovations that are impacting on how we live today, and will tomorrow. If you like what we have put together, we’ll continue with this theme further down the line, so do let me know what you think. We have also started the first of our Yachting features as a ‘soft’ intro with a Q&A. Like most sectors, the yachting industry has taken a beating over the past three years with the economic downturn, but if signs are anything to go by, then we are seeing a return of confidence and some degree of normality in the global market place. We will be looking to feature some amazing super and mega yachts in upcoming editions, so keep a look out for these. As for our celebrity cover and interviews, I think you will all share my pride in that both Selina and Adrian are our very own home-grown talents. You will be seeing them playing parts in major Hollywood productions going on general release now and in the immediate future, so not long before they become household names. You’ve heard it here first! Other features include our new annual Geneva Motor Show and Baselworld roundup, with some exciting world and show premieres. And of course we also have two fantastic competitions lined up for you in this edition, courtesy of London Jewellery Week and Global Hotel Alliance, so subscribe today and get involved. Lastly, as the world is gripped with the Will & Kate wedding fever, I would like to take this opportunity to wish HRH Prince William and Miss Middleton my heartfelt congratulations and best wishes on their joyous union. As for the next edition, we have a couple of exclusives lined up, which I can’t go into at this moment (they are yet to be confirmed), however, it will be on the Urban Life website in due course, so do visit regularly for updates and further information.
Until the next edition…
54
YOURS
Ataur Rahman Editor-in-Chief editor@urbanlife-magazine.com
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URBAN LIFE
CONTENTS 10: Health & Beauty Reviews of spa products and treatments
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14: Baselworld 2011 Our annual feature on luxury watch and jewellery brought to you from the Basel fair 22: Future Concepts The future is here! A special report on innovations that will change our lives 28: Urban Star Our photo shoot and cover story with actress Selina Lo
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36: Motoring Looking back at the Geneva Motor Show and a VW Passat test drive 42: Urban Star: Exclusive Interview with Adrian Holmes We catch up with the Hollywood actor during his recent visit to London
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21 & 45: Competitions Win a VIP package to London jewellery Week and a luxury weekend break for two in Cork! 48: Yachting Our ‘soft’ intro into the world of yachting with a Q&Q with Hot Lab and the recent launch of CNC’s Arian super yacht 52: Art & Culture Current and future exhibitions to put in your diary and the recent opening of the Millionaire Gallery in Harrods
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56: Privileged Life Our very own loyalty card with a list of outlets to enjoy discounts and privileges in 62: Urban Social In this edition we have the Cartier ‘Concours D’Elegance’, Gucci at Baselworld and the Sao Paolo carnival
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URBAN LIFE
COVER PICTURE Photographer: Emm Hobbs (emm.hobbs@yahoo.com) Styling & Creative Direction: Caroline Chantler Videography & Post-Production: Junior Monney Make-Up: Jo Sugar, using Dermalogica and MAC (www.josugar.com) Hair Stylist & Assistant: Courtesy of Neville (www.nevillehairandbeauty.net) Assistants: Samantha Owens and Jane Anderson Location: The Chelsea Penthouse (www.chelseapenthouse.co.uk) Special thanks to: Damiani, Van Cleef & Arpels, Gina, Wolf & Badger and Dee Vesali for turning things around at such short notice on the day!
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April 2011
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SELInA WEARS Jacket (£600) Clinton lotter at Wolf and Badger www.wolfandbadger.com bra: Selina’s own Jewellery: Palmyre bracelet - white gold and round diamonds (£103,100) and Palmyre necklace - white gold and round diamonds (£218,300), Van Cleef & Arpels, New Bond Street 0207 493 0400
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11/05/2011 21:02
HEALTH & BEAUTY
BEAUTY REVIEWS
By Caroline Chantler
Ragdale Hall After a long harsh winter nothing works better than a spot of pampering for a little pick-me-up. And, where better to recharge ones batteries than at the award-winning Ragdale Hall, in Leicestershire.
in my room that evening, a delightful smoked salmon salad, and cosied up in bed with a lovely book and an old movie. Finally some peace and quiet.
I was warmly welcomed by the super friendly staff, who greeted me like an old friend. Conscious that I was super stressed out, and it showed, they couldn’t do enough to help get me settled in.
Following a healthy breakfast at 8am, I hit the gym. It was fairly busy, but staff were on hand to assist when needed. In the past, Ragdale has been renowned for its amazing menu of treatments, yet these days it is working hard to get its name on the map as a top fitness destination. The fitness class timetable boasts everything from hatha yoga to hula hooping, pompom workouts to pilates and everything in between. There are over eighteen classes per day in two separate studios, so there is something for everyone. In addition, there’s a dedicated exercise pool and a number of aqua fitness classes are held there, although more specialist private sessions can also be arranged.
Once changed, I headed straight for the pool area and took a swim and a steam. It had been a beautiful warm spring day, and later as the sun was setting, I took a stroll in the beautiful grounds. Perhaps it was the fact that I was out of London or the tranquillity of Ragdale, but whatever it was, I was already feeling relaxed and happy again, albeit absolutely exhausted. Hungry and tired I decided to take dinner
After a good workout, it was time for the first of my treatments (Ragdale’s beauty and treatment menu must be one of the best in the world. Products used include all the top tier brands you would expect to find in a high-end spa of such calibre). I was given a choice of essential oils by my therapist. I chose relaxing, given the circumstances and within a few minutes I was in the zone. Deeply relaxed, at times
It was the perfect choice, offering an unrivalled range of spa treatments to satisfy every whim. But of course, this wasn’t my first trip to Ragdale. In fact the last time I was there was probably a decade ago, so whilst planning a little trip up north to Manchester, I decided I needed some me time and booked in for the Overnight Reviver Break (£190). This was just what I needed to get body and soul back on an even keel.
almost asleep, my therapist worked my tired muscles and eased the stresses and strains of the previous weeks. A cocktail of essential oils were applied to my body, along with unique massage techniques. I emerged energised and glowing from top to toe. A quick buffet lunch followed. The food at Ragdale is spa cuisine, however, extremely plentiful and I left feeling full and satisfied and ready for my afternoon’s appointments.
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I chose to have a Decléor Radiance Facial (£56.00), which promises to give the glow back to tired skins instantly. My skin was certainly in need of a boost. My therapist selected a range of oils tailored to my skins needs, to calm, decongest and boost brightness and I laid back allowing her to work her magic - cleansing, toning, and moisturising. The powerful essential oils magnified the results of this intensive facial lasting just over an hour. The treatment ended with a back, shoulder and neck massage after which I emerged with beautifully fresh radiant skin, relaxed and happy.
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It was now mid afternoon, and feeling divine, I had a few hours to make the most of the Thermal Spa before I had to take leave with the brand
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HEALTH & BEAUTY
Urban Retreat’s Urban Spa
Urban Retreat Manchester was my next destination; a one-stop beauty shop and super-spa in the city centre. And seeing as it was my birthday weekend, where better to prepare for a night out than at this über glamorous location? Urban Retreat is located on the first floor of Harvey Nichols Manchester. The spa is total luxury – allowing for time, space and comfort, away from the hustle and bustle of my favourite department store below. You will find some of the world’s great beauty brands at Urban Retreat, and they boast the very best, including Dermalogica, Shu Umuera, ESPA, Bumble and Bumble to name a few. As a regular at Urban Retreat, I already knew the drill. After a few frantic phone calls to and fro, as the salon is always busy, we managed to get everything scheduled in on a busy Saturday afternoon. new and improved me. The Thermal Spa is a relatively new addition to Ragdale, having first opened in 2007. Many of the treatment rooms were designed exclusively for Ragdale, of which there are 12 differing ‘experiences’ to enjoy.
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My favourites included the Waterfall Pool – where I enjoyed the early spring sunshine, bathing outside in the warm waters complete with massage jets and stunning waterfall. The Rose Scandinavian Sauna where you can watch the waterfall pool, and the Volcanic Salt Bath with 100% humidity, and eucalyptus to aid breathing. There is also a thought zone, to inspire positive mindsets, a scented room filled with mood enhancing aromatherapy oils, a candlelit cave, an ice fountain, bubbling foot bath to soak tired feet, cave showers and a wishing stream – the list is endless - so you really are spoilt for choice.
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Ready to leave at 6pm, I made my wish and got myself prepared for my journey home. Revitalised and refreshed, with a lovely sense of wellbeing, I felt like I had been on holiday. Ragdale is easily reached by train from London St. Pancras. For more information visit www.ragdalehall.co.uk
I chose to have the Spa Ritual (£80 for 1hr 30mins), as I needed to be in and out fairly quick with all the party preparations I was booked in for. It began with a relaxing foot soak, whilst my therapist discussed the treatment. Cocooned in warm towels I was treated to a lovely relaxing massage. Following this my skin was prepped, cleansed, steamed and moisturised with some fabulous products and then a serene scalp massage completed the treatment. I emerged glowing, feeling gorgeous and relaxed ready for my next treatments. Every girl should know the importance of a well groomed brow and I swear by the technicians at Urban Retreat to get my eyebrows in tip-top condition. Expertly shaped brows can immediately lift your features, taking years off you, and frame one of your most important features - the eyes. The Lash and Brow Boutique uses a threading technique to groom the brows. Urban Retreat describe it as ‘the equivalent of a mini face-lift in less than 15 minutes’. I would have to agree, after 15 minutes in the chair, which is located discreetly in the corner of the salon. I emerge a little red and just ever so slightly sore, which was easily resolved with a little aloe gel. The redness quickly disappeared and my brows were back to their best once again. Urban Retreat offers a range of Brow and Lash treatments at The
Boutique; including brow shaping and tinting, eyelash tints, lash perms and extensions. Prices range from £17 - £100. I later found myself relaxing with a complimentary glass of champagne in the Leighton Denny Champagne Nail Bar. I usually hate having my nails done as I’m not one for sitting still and am certainly not a ‘hands-free’ kind of girl. Thankfully the technicians here are masters of their trade and are super quick. I choose the Soft Gel Manicure (£33). I love this product; you can choose from a vast array of colours and then a number of coats of ‘polish’ are applied to the nails and cured under UV light. The result is a hard wearing, long lasting manicure (which can last up to 3 weeks), in 30 minutes flat! A quick blow dry with my favourite stylist at the Barn//it salon never fails to make me look and feel fabulous, and she is always on hand with a cup of tea. I was treated to a moisture-drenching hair spa treatment, the Prixelist Kérastase Express Rituals (£15), which was recommended specifically to suit my hair type. After (another!) quick relaxing scalp massage, I was ready for my blow dry. My stylist transformed my lack lustre locks into a super shiny bouncing mass of glossy waves. A cut and blowdry appointment with a top stylist at the Barn//it salon costs £88. Treatments are extra. A quick chat with a friendly face at the Shu Uemura counter, (someone I once worked with as a make-up artist) and I found myself sat in the chair having my make-up expertly applied, and spending my hard earned pennies on a few musthaves (I love Shu Uemura cleansing oil, £28), and my nights out always involve a set of luscious lashes, to really open the eyes. The girls here always manage to apply them perfectly. Disappointingly for me, but less so for my wallet, Tom wasn’t available in personal shopping. So the birthday Girl made her way home pampered and preened to perfection, feeling a million dollars, and ready for the night ahead. For more information on Urban Retreat in Harvey Nichols in Manchester or in Harrods in London (treatments will vary), visit: www.urbanretreat.co.uk
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HEALTH & BEAUTY
Home spa products
By Caroline Chantler
ESPA
Spas are where ESPA products began, and remain an integral part of their product range. Each product revitalises the face and body, providing the ultimate indulgence. ESPAS new formulations boast over 99% natural ingredients which work with the skin; delivering soft, smooth and beautifully supple results. ESPA Hydrating Cleansing Milk cleanser soothes and hydrates tired skin, gently lifting make-up and impurities. Sweet almond oil and soya bean oils lightly moisturise whilst rose geranium, marshmallow and camomile sooth the skin. Use with the Floral Spafresh Toner, a pure and gently soothing naturally comforting tonic, which rejuvenates, refreshes and hydrates. Treat yourself to a long languid soak and rediscover your emotional equilibrium at home using the Restorative Bath Oil, which contains sweet orange, rose and lavender to help relax, comfort and lift the spirits, whilst the sweet almond oil works it’s magic, deeply nourishing the skin. The palma rosa tones and firms, for beautifully smooth and thoroughly moisturised silky skin. Hydrating Cleansing Milk: £22.50. Floral Spafresh Toner: £22.50 Restorative Bath Oil: £42. www.espaonline.com
THALGO OCEAN MEMORY DEEP SEA SCRUB, 200ML: £36.75
The luxurious, replenishing and purifying Ocean Memory Deep Sea Scrub is a perfect home spa treatment, which combines a powerful blend of marine ingredients to cleanse, soothe and rehydrate the body. Thalgo are leaders in marine beauty; their home spa scrub uses volcanic sand, mineral salts and algae to leave the skin smooth, soft, revitalised and hydrated. Used once or twice a week this spa-in-a-jar will leave skin with the subtle scent of citrus fruit, algae bloom, mandarin, bergamot and iris, leaving the skin with an all over glow. www.thalgo.com
DOVE SPA DE DIMPLE MINIMISING SCULPTING SERUM: £50.00 For striking spa results in the comfort of your own home Dove Spa De Dimple Minimising Sculpting Serum is a targeted two week treatment for unwanted lumps and bumps. Used twice daily The Micro-Algae Ferment enhances skin regeneration and evens out the skin’s surface; Coleus Forskohlii Root Extract and Caffeine work together reducing accumulation of fat deposits for more supple and smooth skin. Carefully formulated to improve skin’s appearance and your body confidence. www.dovespa.co.uk
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HEALTH & BEAUTY
SANCTUARY YOUTH BOOSTING FACIAL IN-A-BOX
From the famous Sanctuary Spa in Covent Garden, the Facial In-a-Box is a step-by-step 30 minute spa facial treat that can be taken anywhere. Designed to be used in conjunction, each product is enhanced by the other. Having taken the time to apply this facial whilst relaxing in a candlelit tub, my skin looked and felt firmer and visibly younger. A real treat! Sanctuary Youth Boosting Facial In-a-Box (£16.34) The Sanctuary Covent Garden: www.thesanctuary.co.uk
SPA FIND SCULPTED SILHOUETTE BODY CONTOURING GIFT SET
The luxury Bath Shower Gel is loaded with precious plant extracts, including aloe vera, grapefruit, camellia, ginger, rose and coconut to cleanse the body from top to toe. Use with the Heavenly Hydration Salt Brushing Scrub for positively glowing skin all over. The harmonious blend of pure Dead Sea Salts, vitamin E and coconut oil, with a citrus aroma, make a wonderfully pampering body exfoliation experience. Perfect for a relaxing yet energising home spa experience. Afterwards skin can be further nourished with the Hydration Mineralising Body Lotion As an extra treat there are also six Heavenly Hydration Body Treatment Oils to choose from. 100% natural aromatherapy oils including geranium, hazelnut, peppermint, clary sage, geranium and rosemary. These naturally scented oils deeply nourish skin and relax the body, aiding the appearance of slackened skin, improve circulation and have a toning and tightening effect. Spa Find Sculpted Silhouette Body Contouring Gift Set £38.00 www.spafindskincare.com
COWSHED
The Cowshed range was born at the Cowshed Spa in Babington House, Soho House’s sister spa in Somerset. The range of allnatural, therapeutic botanically based products all contain a herbal infusion sourced from the walled garden at Babington House. We love Cowlick gentle shampoo. It’s mild, refreshing and freshly fragranced - like summer meadows. With 100% natural lemon, lavender and rosemary essential oils that keep the hair and scalp in great condition, it works to soothe the soul and still the mind, and leaves hair super-soft and shiny especially when used with the Saucy Cow Softening Conditioner. This conditioner is revitalising and refreshing, containing shineimparting plant extracts and essential oils that leave hair super shiny, smelling naturally clean and alluring. The evening primrose oil protects and nourishes the hair, leaving hair baby soft. Cowlick Gentle Shampoo and Saucy Cow Softening Conditioner are suitable for use on all hair types. Cowlick Gentle Shampoo, 300ml: £14.00. Saucy Cow Softening Conditioner, 300ml: £16.00. www.cowshedonline.com
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BASELWORLD 2011 – JEWELLERY
BASELWORLD 2011 – SPECIAL FEATURE ON WATCH AND JEWELLERY Feature by Ataur Rahman & leyla Abdollahi Basel never fails to deliver, and this year’s fair exceeded all expectations with a record turnout, the second highest in its 39 year history. With the total number of visitors rising to over 103,000 (up by 2.5% from last year’s figures), and exhibitor confidence at an all time high, we think it’s safe to say it was a successful show all around. Speaking after the show, Jacques J. Duchêne, President of the Exhibitors’ Committee, went on to say: “We can speak of an excellent year. We, as exhibitors, are very satisfied and have achieved highly gratifying sales. The expectations for this year’s Baselworld were exceptionally high – precisely after two particularly positive months at the start of the year. And they were certainly fulfilled. Given the current global political developments, however, we will be treating this pleasing and optimistic result with caution.”
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Over the following pages we’ve chosen a good selection of jewellery and watch pieces that have caught our eyes from the show. There are a number of exclusives which were presented at the fair whilst others are from current collections. Enjoy the visual feast...
Georland - Papillon Brooch sapphires and roses www.georland.com
Damiani – Paradise ring. White gold and diamonds www.damiani.it
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de GRISOGONO – Black diamonds collection. Ring in white gold set with a Burma marquisecut ruby of 9.13 carats and 460 black diamonds of 7.43 carats www.degrisogono.com
de GRISOGONO – Black diamonds collection. Ring in blackened white gold set with 150 black diamonds of 4.21 carats and 222 white diamonds of 4.64 carats www.degrisogono.com
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Garaude - Renaissance collection. A blackened 18k gold ring set with a red spinal 0.88 ct, an unheated natural polished rough blue sapphire 15.68 ct and 11 diamonds 0.08 ct www.garaude.com
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BASELWORLD 2011 – JEWELLERY
Chopard - The Peacock bracelet. Covered with around 50 small tapering feathers, the underlying structure and clasp remain completely invisible. Adorning the bird are 7,500 stones using 0.5 mm Paraiba tourmalines, tsavorites and emeralds. This is a breathtakingly stunning piece of jewellery – a fine example artisanship at its creative best. We are truly in awe of it’s beauty... www.chopard.com
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BASELWORLD 2011 – JEWELLERY
3 Garaude - A purple matt titanium pair of earrings set with 300 diamonds of 1.37 carats www.garaude.com Georland - Himalaya pendant. Rubellite, garnets and mandarins www.georland.com
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Philippe Tournaire – ‘London’ ring in 18K white, yellow and pink gold showing five of the capital’s most famous landmarks www. philippetournaire.com
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3 Prologue World Ace LM set shown with diamond and ruby in 18kt white gold. Available in a variety of colours: blue, pink, or yellow sapphire, ruby or tsavorite with diamond in 18kt gold. www.prologueworld.com
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Damiani for Gianfranco Ferré – Embrace bracelet
Georland - Libellule Brooch. Pink sapphires, roses and amethysts www.georland.com
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Gold, black obsidian, diamonds and precious stones. www.damiani.com
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Buchwald earrings, rose gold, red tourmaline and teal tourmaline
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Rose gold, tourmaline, green sapphires and moonstones www.buchwald-jewelry.com
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BASELWORLD 2011 – HOROLOGY
Bulova Accutron Conqueror Limited Edition Bulova is celebrating its aeronautical legacy with the Basel launch of the Accutron Conqueror, with Sir Richard Branson as its ambassador.
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Featuring a Dubois-Depraz 31340 53-jewel automatic mechanical movement, this distinguished Swissmade chronometer incorporates a precision chronograph with flyback function for immediate reset, as well as a 24-hour GMT indicator to allow simultaneous independent dual time-zone readings. Crafted of solid stainless steel, with a smoothly curved tonneau case, engraved to capture the essence of the 1927 original, the Bulova Accutron Conqueror includes green luminous numerals and hands, as well as a Mississippi alligator strap. This limited edition timepiece is individually numbered on its caseback and includes a certificate of authenticity to attest to its position in a controlled production run of only 200 pieces. www.bulova.com
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Comes in a stainless steel casing, with exhibition back and a 48 hour power reserve. www.meistersinger.de
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MeisterSinger Pangaea Automatik A classic MeisterSinger design, the Pangaea Automatik has no minute or second hands, or time zones or a date display. Stripped to the very basic level, this is a classic dress watch for those that have a different perception of time. Simple and very elegant.
Ebel Classic Sport EBEL presents a new interpretation of its emblematic Ebel Classic Sport collection. The gleaming stainless steel exterior of this contemporary, sporting version is punctuated by touches of gold that offer a bright reminder of the brand’s expertise in creating two-tone watches. The men and women’s collections come in 18k gold and stainless steel and are available in 40mm and 27mm respectively. www.ebel.com
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Raymond Weil Maestro Moon Phase From the Maestro collection, this is Raymond Weil’s first Moon Phase complication with a mechanical movement, due for release later in the year. Equipped with the RW4500 mechanical movement with automatic winding, it has a power reserve of 38 hours. 39.5mm round polished steel case with a sapphire crystal back and black leather alligator-style strap. www.raymond-weil.com
TW Steel CEO Goliath TW Steel presented the CEO Goliath at Basel, which has 15 models in its collection. The Dutch watch brand renowned for being ‘big in oversized watches’ have stepped up their game in refining their existing offerings and producing watches that feature a new level of comfort for the wearer which will ‘fit every wrist, no matter the size’. Features of the CEO Goliath range include the use of sandblasted cases on the models sporting PVD rose-gold plating and PVD black coating. Creating a superior matt case, combined with a shiny bezel, this look further distinguishes the watches adding to their appeal and enhanced qualities, which also include bold indexes and the 12 and 6 in striking roman numerals. www.twsteel.com
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BASELWORLD 2011 – HOROLOGY
Boucheron Héra Tourbillon The high -jewellery and high -watchmaking Héra Tourbillon bracelet watch. The bracelet is in white gold set with diamonds, sapphires and Paribia tourmalines. The Girard-Perregaux three gold bridges tourbillion movement is set with diamonds and Paribia tourmalines. A striking piece of objet d’art from the ‘Audacious - Cabinet of Curiosities’ collection. www.boucheron.com
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Oris Carlos Coste Limited Edition – Cenote Series In 2010, Carlos Coste established a new Guinness World Record for freediving, by completing a 150 metre underwater swim using no apparatus through Dos Ojos, a colossal cenote (cave network) that twists for 31 miles under Yucatán Peninsula, Mexico. The Venezuelan freediver was armed with only a torch and a monofin when he made the death-defying dive. Oris have honoured this great achievement by creating a special limited edition of 2000 pieces. The case is made out of titanium with ceramic top ring and superluminova inlay. Pushers and screw-down crown are stainless steel and water resistant to 50 bar (500 metres). www.oris.ch
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DeWitt Twenty-8-Eight Tourbillon The Twenty-8-Eight Tourbillon marked a new era for DeWitt’s watch making capabilities, as the DW8028 movement was assembled entirely inhouse. Each art-deco inspired watch has a little plate, placed on the barrel-bridge and bears the signature of the master watchmaker, who is responsible for the assembly, adjustment and testing of the watch from A to Z. The black anthracite face contrasts with the creamy coloured circle appliqué in palladium, with the numerals, hands and central construction in rose gold. www.dewitt.ch
Hermès Arceau Pocket Promenade de Longchamp This exquisite, one-off pocket watch is hand-engraved with a natural grey-blue mother-of-pearl dial, with the carriage and horseman in gold using the relief modelling technique. The motif is inspired by the ‘Promenade de Longchamp’ silk carré designed by Philippe Ledoux. Driven by an Hermès H1928 movement, it comes with a 55hour power reserve. In 750 (18ct) white gold and alligator cord-strap. www.hermes.com
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BASELWORLD 2011 – HOROLOGY
The JwlryMachine: Boucheron’s interpretation of MB&F’s Horological Machine No 3 (HM3) When the first HM3 model was released in 2009, it sent shockwaves throughout the fine watchmaking community for its bold and unconventional design. A year later MB&F collaborated with the house of Boucheron to create another masterpiece; a hautejoaillerie version of the HM3, and what a result! The three-dimensional jewelled owl is presented here in 18k red gold with pink tourmaline, rose quartz, diamonds and pink sapphires. The owl even has a ‘beating’ heart, thanks to the swings of the solid-gold battle-axe-shaped rotor beneath the translucent stone. www.mbandf.com Rolex Oyster Perpetual Yacht-Master II Rolex unveiled five new models from their flagship Oyster collection at Basel, including the Yacht-Master II. This revolutionary regatta chronograph is equipped with an exclusive programmable countdown with a mechanical memory and this new version is the first Professional watch in the Oyster collection to be available in ‘EVEROSE ROLESOR’ – an exclusive combination of the 904L steel superalloy and 18 ct EVEROSE gold.
Jorg Hysek Slyde The Slyde from avant-garde watchmaker Jorg Hysek is a great example of the dynamic fusion of technology and luxury watchmaking at its best. SLYDE takes the underlying principle of the smartphone – the ability to change applications by merely sliding a finger over a tactile screen – and adapts it to the world of 21st century watchmaking. This revolutionary display means that, by simply sliding across the watch screen, the user can generate an unlimited variety of timepieces on the wrist – creating a range of ‘different’ watches within a single timepiece using a range of virtual modules. www.hd3complication.com
The model’s 4160 movement, designed and developed by Rolex, is fitted with a PARACHROM hairspring, 10 times more resistant to shocks and insensitive to magnetic fields. The countdown is operated by a column wheel and a vertical clutch. A number of micro-components in this unique movement are produced by UV-LiGA – a new technology, which enables the production of components whose fineness or geometry makes them impossible to manufacture by traditional means. www.rolex.com
Tag Heuer Mikrotimer Flying 1000 Concept Chronograph The Mikrotimer Flying 1000 Concept Chronograph, the world’s first mechanical wrist chronograph to measure and display 1/1,000th of a second, sets a new milestone in mechanical precision. It is 125 times more accurate than most of the mechanical chronographs on the market — thanks to a heart beating at the unbelievable speed of 3,600,000 beats-per-hour. If the Heuer CARRERA MIKROGRAPH 1/100th Second Chronograph is to watchmaking what walking on the moon is to space history, then the Mikrotimer Flying 1000 Concept Chronograph is the equivalent of the first manned landing on Mars! www.tagheuer.com
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JEWELLERY
LONDON JEWELLERY WEEK SPECIAL This June, a week long series of events will be taking place throughout the capital showcasing the best of emerging and established talent from the UK jewellery sector. With plenty of activities and workshops being planned throughout the week, fashionistas and jewellery aficionados everywhere will get exclusive access to designers and retailers showing off their wares to the trade and public alike. There will be plenty of opportunities
to meet with key designers and retailers - many of whom will be opening their doors giving unprecedented behind-the-scenes access to the general public - to engage with, commission and buy direct from designers taking part. Look out for our extensive coverage in the next edition in July; from the key events and VIP parties to award ceremonies, all taking place throughout the week. And of course we will also feature some amazing designers and their collections, so don’t forget to order your copy in advance!
In the meantime, we are running an exclusive competition for Urban Life readers in association with the organisers and sponsors of London Jewellery Week. Details and entry form on the opposite page to the right. London Jewellery Week takes place between 6-12 June 2011. For further information, list of participants and schedule of events, please log on to the website: www.londonjewelleryweek.co.uk
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URBAN LIFE COMPETITION
LONDON JEWELLERY WEEK VIP COMPETITION We are very pleased to announce our partnership with the organisers and sponsors of London Jewellery Week in securing the following prizes for this special competition in this edition of the magazine:
1st Prize
Tickets for London Jewellery Week Launch Party – 6th June Chauffeur-driven car to and from the launch from the new and official transport sponsor for LJW: Jaguar A Luxury Thiénot Champagne tea for two and entry to Treasure, the contemporary jewellery exhibition at the heart of LJW Plus two VIP goodie-bags
2nd Prize
A Luxury Thiénot Champagne tea for two and entry to Treasure, the contemporary jewellery exhibition at the heart of LJW
3rd Prize
A case of Champagne from Thiénot, the official Champagne sponsor for LJW
For a chance to win any one of these prizes, simply answer the question below and fill in the form and send it to: Competitions Desk (LJW), Urban Life Magazine, 10 Greycoat Place, London, SW1P 1SB or enter online by logging on to www.urbanlife-magazine.com. Competition closing date is 26th May 2011. Winners will be picked at random from the correct entries received and notified on 30th May 2011. Q: when is London Jewellery Week taking place? A: 6-12 June B: 6-12 August C: 6-12 October URBAN LIFE COMPETITION ENTRY FORM - LONDON JEWELLERY WEEK Name Profession/Job Title: Address: Town/City: Postcode: Contact telephone number: Email: Terms and conditions. 1: Competition is open to UK residents only 2: Entrants must be aged 18 years or over 3: Only one entry per household 4: Entries must be received by 5pm on Thursday 26th May to be entered into the draw 5: Three winners will be chosen at random in order of third, second and first prize 6: Competition prizes are offered at the sole discretion and generosity of the organisers and sponsors of LJW, and may be withdrawn at any time without prior notification, should circumstances dictate 7: No cash alternative will be offered 8: Proof of postage will not be accepted as proof of delivery 9: Editor’s decision final and no correspondence will be entered into 10: Your details will NOT be passed on or sold to any third parties; however the Publisher and/or London Jewellery Week may contact you from time to time with news and offers relating to our own products and/or for marketing purposes. Please tick here if you do not want us to contact you.
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FUTURE CONCEPTS
The Future is Here!
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ince the dawn of time, man has been on a constant quest to innovate. Advances in science, technology and mass communications are ensuring we ‘have it all’. Whichever way we look at it - whether out of necessity or luxury - We are fortunate enough to be living in a time
when it seems that perhaps we do. Whatever our hearts desire, we can have it at the click of a finger; or rather, a button. We are living in a more connected world for sure, and innovation is constantly knocking on our doors with ever more ferocity, giving us the ability to interact,
communicate, experience things in more ways than ever before. Our lifestyles have changed, along with our desires for what is important to our daily lives. We spend an unacceptably unhealthy time in front of the computer and we are online pretty much at
all hours of the day and night, which as recent as ten years ago would have been frowned upon, but which now is pretty much a given. In fact it would raise eyebrows if one wasn’t! We can sit back and pretty much take care of almost everything that once demanded legwork, without
IBM - NEXT FIVE IN FIVE By Tony Morgan – Chief Innovation Officer Strategic Outsourcing, IBM Each year, IBM produces its annual “Next Five in Five” report. This is based on five innovations that have the potential to change the way people work, live and play over the next five years. They are a glimpse into our future. IBM’s “Five in Five” is based on market and societal trends expected to transform our lives, as well as emerging technologies from IBM Labs around the world that can make these innovations possible. This further strengthens the company’s reputation for investing in Research and Development, highlighted by the fact that the company’s inventors received a record 5,896 U.S. patents in 2010 alone, marking the 18th consecutive year it has topped the list of the world’s most inventive companies! In the 2010 report, IBM believes that in the next five years, technology innovations will change our lives in the following ways:
1: Batteries will breathe air to power our devices Ever wish you could make your laptop battery last all day without needing a charge? Or what about a cell phone that charges itself while being carried in your pocket? In the next five years, scientific advances in transistors and battery technology will allow your devices to last about 10 times longer than they do today – or better yet, batteries may disappear altogether in smaller devices. Batteries today have a number of problems,
chiefly; heavy metal-oxides used inside the battery greatly limit the amount of energy it can store. Instead of the heavy lithium-ion batteries used today, IBM scientists are working on batteries that use the air we breath to react with energy-dense metal, eliminating a key inhibitor to longer lasting batteries. If successful, the result will be a lightweight, powerful and rechargeable battery capable of powering everything from electric cars to consumer devices. But what if we could eliminate batteries all together? Well, the European Union is betting $5.5 million that we can, by re-thinking the basic building block of electronic devices – the transistor – with help from IBM Research. The three-year project is called Steeper and the goal is simple – reduce the amount of energy per transistor to less than 0.5v. With energy demands this low, we might be able to lose the battery altogether in some devices like e-readers or mp3 players. Consider a leaky water faucet — even after closing the valve as far as possible water continues to drip — this is similar to today’s transistor, in that energy is constantly “leaking” or being lost or wasted in the off-state. For the first time, IBM scientists will use III-V semiconducting nanowires to stop this leak. The result would be battery-free electronic devices that can be charged using a technique called energy scavenging. Some wrist watches use this today – they require no winding and charge based on the movement of your arm. The same concept
could be used to charge mobile phones for example – just shake and dial!
2: Computers will help energize your city Innovations in computers and data centres are enabling the excessive heat and energy that they give off to do things like heat buildings in the winter and power air conditioning in the summer. Can you imagine if the energy used by the world’s data centres could in turn be recycled for a city’s use? Up to 50 percent of the energy consumed by a modern data centre (a room or building filled with many large-scale computers used by businesses and universities) is actually used to power the cooling systems that pump cool air into the data centres to keep the computers from overheating. Most of the heat is then wasted because it is just dumped into the atmosphere. New technologies, such as novel on-chip water-cooling systems developed by IBM, can change all of this by repurposing and selling the heat to homes and offices. In May 2010 in the heart of Zurich, the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH Zurich) went live with a 6 terabyte supercomputer called Aquasar, which uses hot-water to keep its chips cool. Why water? Well, water removes heat 4,000 times more efficiently than air. IBM scientists designed a novel network of microfluidic capillaries, similar to the human circulatory system, which is attached directly to each processor in the supercomputer. Just like in your
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FUTURE CONCEPTS
Introduction by Ataur Rahman having to move an inch. We can order our groceries, do our banking, pay our bills and go shopping without moving from the comfort of our sofas. Why, we even do all our socialising increasingly online, which is raising some interesting questions about life/work boundaries and how we interact with one another
away from the virtual world. So where is all this taking us as a society? Are we really free to do what we want, or have we become slaves to the very technology that is supposed to ‘free’ us? I am of course touching very lightly on a debate that is raging amongst
the intelligentsia. It’s a profound and relevant subject matter of our times, which warrants credible input from authoritative individuals. Something I have been meaning to engage in for a while, and which I will invite creative thinkers and respected ‘futurologists’ to contribute to in future editions.
In the meantime, I hope you enjoy reading these next few pages as much as I have from our first round of contributors, with whom I am pleased to start the ball rolling with some interesting innovations. Some are already here, whilst others are in advanced stages of research. As Albert Einstein once said, “I never think of the future. It comes soon enough”.
brain with oxygen and nutrients, the capillaries allow water to reach within microns of the semiconductor material itself. By having water flow so close to each chip, heat can be removed more efficiently and ensure that the operating temperatures of the processors remain well below the maximally allowed 85 degrees C. The output heat, which is 65°C, then gets pumped into the ETH university buildings to provide warmth. Aquasar, consumes up to 40 percent less energy than a comparable aircooled machine and through the direct use of waste heat to provide warmth to university buildings, Aquasar’s carbon footprint is reduced by up to 85 percent. While this is a unique, first-of-a-kind project, scientists have no reason to doubt that the concept can become more standard and common in the next 5 years and currently IBM is in several discussions with additional businesses to scale the system even larger to provide even more “free” heating.
3: Your commute will be personalised Whether you live in a big city or a small town, traffic congestion is an issue especially during rush hour. Today there are more than one billion cars on the road and that number will double by 2020. In the U.S. alone, congestion costs about $78 billion a year and each of us spend about a week stuck in traffic every year. In five years, using mathematical models and predictive analytics, new systems will combine limitless travel scenarios that can affect commuters, intuitively learning traveller patterns and behaviour to deliver real-time alternative travel options to an individual’s route to work on-the-fly.
For example, combining predictive analytics with real-time information about current travel congestion from sensors and other data, the system could recommend better ways to get to a destination, such as how to get to a nearby mass transit hub, whether the train is predicted to be on time, and whether parking is predicted to be available at the train station. New systems can learn from regular travel patterns where you are likely to go and then integrate all available data and prediction models to pinpoint the best route. Commuters will be able to quickly access personalised recommendations that help them avoid the congestion issues they routinely face and help them get where they need to go in the fastest time. Transportation agencies and city planners will be able to proactively design, manage and optimise our transportation systems to more seamlessly handle ever-increasing traffic. Already some technologies exist today that make it possible to predict traffic conditions anywhere from an hour to 15 minutes in advance,
providing drivers with valuable information on what is going to happen, rather than what has already happened – even before they get in their vehicles. Some examples of efforts underway include: The IBM “Smarter Traveller” research initiative is exploring how to build personalised, congestion-free travel routes for commuters and help transportation agencies better understand and manage traffic, ultimately creating safer roads with less gridlock and reducing carbon emissions. Also, researchers have developed a first-of-its-kind predictive analytics tool called the IBM Traffic Prediction Tool (TPT) that analyzes and combines multiple possible scenarios such as traffic accidents, commuter locations and expected travel start times that can affect commuters on highways, rail lines and urban roads. The TPT offers future traffic forecasts for up to 60 minutes in advance, giving transportation operations the ability to quickly respond to potential issues and solve issues before commuters get stuck in a traffic jam.
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FUTURE CONCEPTS
4: You’ll beam up your friends in 3-D In the next five years science fiction won’t be so fictitious anymore, as 3-D interfaces like those in the films let you interact with 3-D holograms of your friends in real time. Films and TVs are already moving to 3‐D, and as 3-D and holographic cameras get more sophisticated and miniaturized to fit into cell phones, we’ll be able to interact with our photos, browse the web, study, learn, work and chat with our friends in entirely new ways. Scientists are working to improve video chat to become holography chat, or “3‐D telepresence.” The technique uses light beams scattered over objects and reconstructs a picture of that object, a similar technique to the one human eyes use to visualise their surroundings. Rather than a flat 2‐D video chat, images of your friends and family can be projected out of your phone as if they were standing right next to you. In five years you’ll be able to see more than your friends in 3-D too. Digital information you create is now smarter – think of how you can now geo-tag your photos with your location – and looking at this information in 2‐D is becoming increasingly distorted. Just as a flat map of the earth has distortion at the poles and makes flight patterns look indirect, this distortion is happening to our information too, because the data we are now creating is fundamentally different than the data we used to create. In the future, photos will be more life‐like, graphs will be more accurate.
advanced imaging and diagnostics, patient education, medical research and analysing patient data. There are prominent areas in which 3-D healthcare is already taking hold, such as medical imaging, where doctors can rotate an x‐ray or CT scan to gain a 360 degree view of an injury. IBM is working with the Mayo Clinic to take this even further – creating an advanced algorithm to analyze the brain through 3-D imagery and increase the chance of spotting brain aneurysms by 70 to 90 percent. This is all progress, but it can be argued that the explosion of Internetconnected devices is already Jamming the network, and in five years with 3‐D images and videos streaming into and out of phones, network providers will need new technology to deliver these services. And it’s coming. IBM recently introduced a new manufacturing process for chips that promises significant performance breakthroughs for consumers. So you can beam up your friends, surf the web and watch videos without the headaches of today.
5: You won’t need a to be a scientist to save the planet While you may not be a physicist, you are a walking sensor. In the next five years, sensors in your phone, your car, your wallet and even your tweets will collect data that will give scientists a real-time picture of your environment. You’ll be able to volunteer this data to fight global warming, save endangered species or track invasive plants or animals that threaten ecosystems around the world.
Scientists at IBM Research are beginning work on new ways to visualise 3-D data, technology that would allow engineers to step inside of designs of everything from buildings to software programs, running simulations of how diseases spread across interactive 3-D globes, and visualising trends happening around the world on Twitter – all in real-time and with little to no distortion.
In the next five years, IBM sees a whole class of “citizen scientists” emerging, using simple sensors that already exist in the world to create massive data sets for research. Simple observations such as when the first thaw occurs in your town, when the mosquitoes first appear and whether or not there’s running water where a stream should be – all this is valuable data that scientists don’t have in large sets today.
A ripe industry for the adoption of 3-D and holographic technology is healthcare. IBM scientists predict that 3-D technology will be a useful tool for a wide range of applications including
Even your laptop can be used as a sensor to detect seismic activity. If properly employed and connected to a network of other computers, your laptop can help map out the aftermath of earthquake quickly,
speeding up the work of emergency responders and potentially saving lives. IBM recently patented a system that uses vibration sensors found inside conventional hard-disk drives in computers to accurately and precisely analyze data from seismic events such as earthquakes and provide early warnings for tsunamis. The invention also provides the ability to rapidly measure and analyze the damage zone of an earthquake to help prioritise emergency response needed following an earthquake. What if everyday citizens could contribute to the health of their water or air supply – without PhDs, chemistry kits and a lot of time? IBM researchers are exploring a simple new form of data collection that could significantly help water authorities collect and analyze critical data about water. Called Citizen Science, the data collection method allows people passing by a creek or stream to snap a photo with their smart phone, answer a few simple questions about the condition of the water and instantly send it off to their local water authority. Many would agree that clean drinking water is one of our most precious resources. But what many don’t realise is that you walk over and drive past your drinking water every day, making valuable observations about the water’s condition as you do so, such as whether there actually is water where a stream should be. The problem is that the folks with the authority to screen or take action to improve the health of your drinking water today lack the tools needed to harness your observations, and there are many more of “you” than there are of “them.” In many cases the organisations charged with monitoring local water conditions are over-extended and unable to physically monitor creeks and streams on their own due to sheer volume. Whether or not there is any water in a creek or if the water is free-flowing all represent critical data that citizen scientists could quickly collect during a hike, jog or bike ride, and greatly help their local water board make smarter decisions that affect us all.
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FUTURE CONCEPTS
A VISION OF THE FUTURE: HOME ENTERTAINMENT IN 2020 By Dr. James Bellini, Futurologist In the past decade, advances in technology have changed our lives dramatically. Since 2000 we’ve seen the introduction of things that we now take for granted as part of everyday life, such as USB sticks, mp3 players, Skype, Sky+, smart technology and social networking, none of which were available only ten years ago. The next few years are set to progress even more quickly when it comes to technological advances. Electrical specialist Comet has teamed up with futurologist James Bellini to take a look at what the future of home entertainment may look like by 2020. James Bellini says; “In this digital high-tech age, a time span of ten years is a long time. And, over the next decade, things will continue to develop significantly and many remarkable innovations are likely. Holographic science will come of age and the development of brain to device connectivity will change the way we live day to day life.” Bob Darke, Comet’s Commercial Director, is excited about the future: “3D and smart technology is currently the biggest innovation in the home entertainment arena but future developments will go far beyond this – we will be networked to our TVs emotionally and cooking will be taken to a whole new level. The world, in all its multi-sensory forms will literally come to us, just the way we want it. It will give staying in a whole new meaning.”
Augmented reality in the home: see what you want to see New research by Comet predicts that in less than ten years viewing the world through rose tinted spectacles will have a whole new meaning. Futurologists predict that lightweight spectacles and contact lenses that superimpose a more exciting and interesting reality onto your retina could become available. Wearing 3D glasses to watch television and films are already widely accessible. Advances in technology mean that by 2020 the most adventurous technology consumers will have grown tired of 3D
specs and will be wearing active contact lenses instead. The lens will be a general purpose display that sits in your eye all day. You will just pop it in your eye in the morning and take it out at the end of the day, allowing you to get entertainment at your fingertips. Contact lenses to view moving images and physically feeling the pain and emotion of characters in films will radically change how we watch our favourite TV programmes and movies in the future. While we are already enjoying a very immersive experience with the likes of surround sound as a part of our home entertainment technology, by the end of this decade, progressions in augmented reality will take surround technology to a visual and physical level meaning that we will be sitting in the middle of the action while getting an all round sensory experience. A shared experience of extreme drama will be delivered through rumble packs in our sofa and lighting and sound effects will respond to the communal reactions of others watching the movie. By 2020 there will be the possibility of inputting this same stimulus straight into the body. We will have digital tattoos painted onto our skin which will connect our bodies to the internet, meaning you will be able to physically feel the action in the latest James Bond movie for example.
Information and entertainment goes experiential and ambient As the formats through which we view movies change, the content will change to adapt to it too. So it’s not just about 3D, holographic and augmented reality experiences, it’s also about what we will watch once we have those capabilities. Once viewing goes this experiential with emotional and responsive feeds, the experience will broaden to being able to jump up on buildings with Spiderman. It will be as if you are a character within the film. This technology will be extended to the gaming industry. We have already seen
vast advances more recently, with the introduction of sensory controlled and 3D gaming. Holographic technology and augmented reality within gaming will mean that you are physically a part of the game you are playing in your own living room.
Cooking Molecular gastronomy would have seemed an unlikely concept only ten years ago before it was used by a celebrity chef. Advances in cooking technology will mean that by 2020 we could be looking at having molecular ovens in our homes that will allow us to cook in a completely different way, by allowing us to use chemical processes to prepare our food. Furthermore, holographic technology will also be extended to the kitchen, meaning that it will be possible to have our favourite celebrity chef ‘virtually’ standing next to us to help us along with our mealtime preparations.
Communicating Already, the prevalence of social networking sites such as Facebook, Twitter and Skype have changed the way we communicate with our friends, family and colleagues. Telepresence technology, which is currently used for the purpose of work conferences will become cheaper and more accessible, meaning it will start to become available for the home. Again the application of holographic enhancement will mean your friends or family will be virtually present in your own living room. The same will apply to mobile phones. The first 3D phones are soon to be launched and prototypes of mobile phones that show you a holographic image of the person you are talking to are already in existence.
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FUTURE CONCEPTS
VISION OF THE FUTURE REPORT REVEALS LIFE IN 20 YEARS
By Ray Hammond, Futurologist
Want to know what might be happening 20 years into the future? Vision correction specialist Ultralase has teamed up with Europe’s leading Futurist Ray Hammond to predict exactly what the world will look like in the next 20 years, to 2031. The Vision of the Future report, marks the 20th anniversary of Ultralase; the UK’s first laser eye surgery specialist. Covering everything from tourism trends to medical innovations, the document offers a unique insight into our lives 20 years from now and the trends and innovations to look out for. As well as forecasting the future, the report also looks back 20 years (to when Ultralase first pioneered laser eye treatment in the UK), highlighting the key predictions that did and did not quite come true by the year 2011. Tony Veverka, Chief Executive Officer at Ultralase, says: “It’s fascinating to see how the world has changed since we opened our first clinic in 1991. Back then, when we first brought laser eye surgery to the UK, many people saw the treatment as a futuristic practice that was out of reach to your everyday man on the street. I even remember it featuring on the Tomorrow’s World programme. Thankfully, that’s not the case today. And, as more and more people experience the results and convenience of laser eye surgery, the popularity of the treatment continues to grow. During the past 20 years we’ve conducted over 225,000 treatments for people from all walks of life and this number is still on the increase, despite the early predictions. With this in mind, and as leaders in innovation, we decided to commission a report to mark our anniversary and help us see the world 20 years from
now. We also found it interesting to look back at the predictions made over 20 years ago to see what other technologies and trends managed to make it into mainstream society. As well as those that never quite caught on. As I’m sure you’ll agree, the results makes for very interesting reading”. The report was created for Ultralase by Europe’s most experienced and widely published futurist Ray Hammond. With over 30 years of experience in predicting future trends, Ray has written over 16 books on the subject and today he shares observations on what’s still to come.
Looking forward 20 years: Five Predictions for the year 2031
1
Language barrier to become obsolete US troops in Iraq and Afghanistan were amongst the first to trial real-time language translators and there are a number of smartphone applications also entering the market that will translate spoken words and phrases into 57 languages. However, in 20 years’ time real-time translation will be provided by wearable computers so that two people who do not understand each other’s language can have an easy conversation. This will mean that there is no longer any point in learning a foreign language unless it is for pleasure, or for cultural reasons.
2
I, Robot... Robotic carers and cleaners Over five million robotic vacuum cleaners are already working in homes across the world. However, within the next 10 years, more general purpose domestic robots will start to arrive in homes and within 20 years, robots will be routinely providing care for the very young, the ill and the elderly. They will become our personal fitness trainers, companions and even ‘romance’ partners.
3
Glasses and contact lenses will become things of the past for more and more people Laser eye treatment is already a widely accepted procedure to reduce or eliminate the need for glasses or lenses and within 20 years it will become the “norm” with the majority of people opting for freedom from their glasses and lenses. In addition, developments in the field will allow people with previously untreatable prescriptions (either very high, complex or reading prescriptions) to have a surgical alternative to their glasses or contact lenses. These treatments are currently being developed, and include laser, intraocular lens, and corneal implant procedures.
4
Remote controlled motorways Within 20 years many cars will be driven and steered by robot control systems that receive instructions from roadside, cellular and satellite wireless systems. This technology has already been tested on a freeway in Los Angeles and, each year, the American Defense Agency organises a long-distance race for robot-controlled cars but by 2031 this technology will be widespread. In fact, many highways will only allow robotcontrolled cars to travel.
5
Communication to get under everyone’s skin! Early experiments with implanted subcutaneous communications devices have already taken place with Professor Kevin Warwick, at Reading University, becoming the first British Citizen with such an implant in 2005. By 2030, however, many more people will be wearing tiny computers/communications devices (descended from today’s smartphones) in their jewellery/clothing and some will even choose to have them implanted under their skin.
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TUNGSTEN BUTTERFLY
She sings, she dances and she’s a mean hand with a pair of broad swords! An Urban Life exclusive with rising starlet Selina Lo. Feature by Ataur Rahman
Photographer: Emm Hobbs (emm.hobbs@yahoo.com) Styling & Creative Direction: Caroline Chantler Videography & Post-Production: Junior Monney Make-Up: Jo Sugar, using Dermalogica and MAC (www.josugar.com) Hair Stylist & Assistant: Courtesy of Neville (www.nevillehairandbeauty.net) Assistants: Samantha Owens and Jane Anderson Location: The Chelsea Penthouse (www.chelseapenthouse.co.uk) Special thanks to: Damiani, Van Cleef & Arpels, Gina, Wolf & Badger and Dee Vesali for turning things around at such short notice on the day!
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Red dress (£335), Adam at Browns www.brownsfashion.com Orange Clair shoe (£460), Gina www.gina.com Phone: Vertu yellow gold Constellation (£14,500), From Vertu, Selfridges - 0207 318 3557 Jewellery: Klytia earrings - 18k yellow gold, black diamonds, brown diamonds, Tahitian pearls and Admete ring - 18k yellow gold, black diamonds, tsavorite garnets, Tahitian pearls, both by Leyla Abdollahi (price on application) www.leyla-abdollahi.com
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Dress (ÂŁ385), Clinton Lotter at Wolf and Badger www.wolfandbadger.com
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T
hey say good things come in small packages, and at 5.4”, with her petite frame and cute disposition, Selina Lo is just that. Given that she is known for her martial arts skills, at first glance she doesn’t exactly hit you as a particularly intimidating figure. But don’t let the cuteness fool you, because underneath that beguiling fragility lies a powerhouse with over 16 years of hand-tohand combat and weapons training behind her. Basically, she can kick your arse, and then some!
for the young actress who is about to get a lot of media attention from all quarters.
It’s hard not to warm to Selina instantly, as I found out when we first met on location for the cover shoot. With her bubbly personality and playful character, it didn’t take long for the crew to take shine to her either, which meant we had a lot of fun on set. So when we arranged to meet for coffee and to do the interview a few days later, it was smooth sailing right from the get-go.
Born in Edgware, but having grown up in Hendon in North London, where she spent most of her childhood, Selina went through school completing her GCSE’s whilst practicing and competing in martial arts every weekend. She’s also a trained singer (grade 8) and has studied at LIPA (The Paul McCartney Academy for Performing Arts), Sylvia Young and the English National Theatre. “I got a scholarship from one of the best drama schools (GSA and Mount View), but when I got in, I thought it is what I wanted to do, but now I just want to get out there in to the real world.”
We missed our first appointment due to two castings running late in to the day, so of course my first thought was to ask how they went, the day before we met. “They went well, thank you”, came the cryptic answer with a smile. And no amount of probing could get anything more out of her. Already fielding questions like a seasoned pro I thought, and quite rightly so, as it’s a busy time
Having just returned from a four year stint working out in Asia, Selina has a better celebrity profile out there than here on her home turf in the UK. But that’s all about to change with the forthcoming release of the Scorpion King – The Book of the Dead (Dir: Roel Reiné), the third instalment of the Hollywood blockbuster, currently in postproduction.
It seems like it was all going so well and her future pretty much mapped out, so why take such a risk, especially as it seemed like a huge gamble? “I am a big believer in taking risks, so declined
the offer, which everyone thought was a crazy thing to do at the time. And I moved out to Thailand, as I thought I could put those years to better use and gain practical experiences instead of studying”. It was a bold move indeed, especially at the tender age of 18 and without any contacts or support and a lot of uncertainties. But armed with a determination to make it into the movie business, the young actress pretty much landed on her feet and started to find work on various films and productions. “I started to do action work and took some modelling jobs to get by”, says Lo. “It helped immensely as I’m Asian and know martial arts, and speak English. But they were challenging times, as I didn’t speak Thai or know anyone. I still can’t believe I did that, but I wouldn’t change a thing, as it was a steep learning curve and character building.” “It was during this time that some producers told me the Scorpion King was being filmed there (Thailand), and they had mentioned me. So I went in to see the director and got the part. The character I play was originally a male part, but they decided to change it and extend it for me, which was really nice. I play this legendary warrior from the Book of the Dead, and I do all the bad work for Billy
“I PLAY THIS LEGENDARY WARRIOR FROM THE BOOK OF THE DEAD, AND I DO ALL THE BAD WORK FOR BILLY ZANE’S CHARACTER. IT WAS GREAT FUN AS I GOT TO DESTROY THINGS AND GO ON A TOTAL RAMPAGE, JUMPING OFF ROCKS, WATERFALLS AND DESTROYING EVERYTHING.”
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Navy dress (£1510), Lanvin at Browns Black shoes (£610), Gianmarco Lorenzi - 0207 493 2906 Shadow Swarovski Clutch (£600), IMI Luxury www.imiluxury.com
Black trousers (£495), Alexander McQueen at Browns Black top (£455), Yasmin Kianfor at Browns Jewellery: Cheval earrings - platinum and round diamonds (price on application), Van Cleef & Arpels www.vancleef-arpels.com Flou bracelet - 14.27ct white diamonds and 10.49ct black diamonds (£80,000), Damiani www.damiani.com
Zane’s character. It was great fun as I got to destroy things and go on a total rampage; jumping off rocks, waterfalls and leaving a trail of devastation in my wake. “
production as we didn’t use any wires, stunt doubles or green screens. You can’t fake action. That’s why Jackie Chan is such a great action star - he does all his own stuff. It’s real.”
The Scorpion King is Selina Lo’s most high profile film to date, and one which will no doubt bring her to the attention of audiences around the world. She is also busy auditioning for various other projects, which means we will be seeing a lot more of her. This includes in another action film currently in production; Shanty Town Show Down (Dir: Dean Alexandrou), an independent production which is set in a postapocalyptic world. Here Lo gets to show her action credentials in spectacular style, as all the fight and stunt sequences are real. “I get to work with people who are doing all the action themselves” she says. “We really had a great time on this
As Selina gets animated, she talks about other projects she’s been involved with, which includes various TV productions, commercials, a voice-over for a James Bond video game and The Prince & Me 4 (Dir: Catherine Cyran), in which Selina plays an ‘elephant tracking ninja psychologist from Oxford’. “Everyone keeps telling me I’m the Asian Tomb Raider in this.” So what does the future hold for Selina Lo, and are there ambitions beyond the film business? “Well, I’ve made some really good friends all over from travelling and through work. People like Ron Perlman and John Amiel are
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Dress (ÂŁ755), Roland Mouret at Browns Jewellery: Evenor earrings - white gold, round and pear-shaped diamonds, blue and green tourmalines (Price on Application), Van Cleef & Arpels www.vancleef-arpels.com Peacock bracelet - 2.1ct diamonds H-colour, 3.59ct emeralds, 5.0 ct sapphires (ÂŁ134,306), Damiani www.damiani.com
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amazing people and have given me a lot of advice and guidance, so I’m very lucky to have them in my life. But I’m just concentrating on my acting roles right now and hope to develop this side more by exploring different sides to me with different characters and communicating with the audience.” There is a genuine passion in Lo, and her ambitions to make it in the film industry. I’m impressed by her go-get attitude and strong sense of direction. Here is a young woman, who clearly knows what she wants in life and is not afraid to go after it. However, I can’t help but feel that there’s a danger of being typecast for roles revolving around action characters, especially in Hollywood. “Being British is something I’m very proud of, but the Asian side of me is also a huge part of me. Of course I would really like to see more Chinese or Asian actors in Hollywood, because let’s face it, there aren’t really that many. The likes of Lucy Liu, Michelle Yeoh or Zhang Ziyi are a few compared to however many of the others there are. So normally you do get that typecast when going for roles, but for me it’s a choice at the moment. If the material’s good and it’s a good character then I’m happy to do this right now. It fits me perfectly because I’ve grown up watching Kung-Fu films, so being able to incorporate that into my characters is not a bad thing. And, at present action films are male-dominated, so I want do more roles which have a strong female character.”
So as Hollywood beckons, I ask if the next stage of her life involves moving out there and her other ambitions on and off camera. How has the ride been so far, and are there any regrets? “London is home and I had a great time in Asia. But I’d like to spend more time in LA. My biggest fear is being old and to not have given it my best shot. Everything that I do is all about the best I can be, challenging and constantly pushing myself. So as long as I keep working and keep learning then I’m happy. And it’s also very important to enjoy the journey. You never know what life’s going to throw at you. So, while I do have set goals and know what I want to achieve, I am consistent about what I enjoy and am giving all the time. It’s funny, but I remember when John Amiel (Entrapment, Sommersby) called me a ‘tungsten butterfly’. I couldn’t work out what he meant at first, but it’s a metaphor for what I’ve been going through so far in a tough business like the film industry - and yet being able to remain strong and maintaining who I am as a person”. Academically, Lo was an ace student, and left school with 13 GCSE’s (all straight As and A+), “except for home economics” she says laughing. She’s also an accomplished piano player, as well as a talented singer and dancer, and of course not forgetting her exceptional skills as a martial artist. So I ask if it wasn’t for films, if she would have perhaps taken a different route to a
professional career. “I love all music, especially Jazz. So if it wasn’t acting I’d be singing, which I’ll do at some point anyway. Eventually I want to get in to writing and directing, and am working on a writing project that I can’t talk about right now. But ultimately I want to share my art, through whatever medium it may be, so I’m just grateful for the opportunities.” “People have inspired me, so if I can help anyone along the way then that’s something that appeals to me. I used to teach English at a charity in Thailand for about a year, the Foundation For a Better Life For Children, which was the favourite part of my week. I want to help more people and be in a position to influence in a positive way. I owe so much to my father for instilling these values in me, who is one of the hardest working people I know. So I try to live by these philosophies and hope to achieve my goals whilst helping others wherever I can.” As we conclude our interview, I can’t help but feel a sense of excitement growing in me for what’s to come. Selina Lo is already making her mark in the world of high-octane action films - and she’s barely started - so there’s so much more to her that we will be seeing in the coming future. But it’s early days, and even though she may not be a household name just yet, I feel that we will be seeing and hearing a lot more of her in the not too distant future.
“MY BIGGEST FEAR IS BEING OLD AND TO NOT HAVE GIVEN IT MY BEST SHOT. EVERYTHING THAT I DO IS ALL ABOUT THE BEST I CAN BE, CHALLENGING AND CONSTANTLY PUSHING MYSELF. SO AS LONG AS I KEEP WORKING AND KEEP LEARNING THEN I’M HAPPY.”
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MOTORING – GENEVA MOTOR SHOW 2011
GENEVA MOTOR SHOW SPECIAL With so many national, European and world premieres, the Geneva Motor Show lived up to its promise of another blockbuster year for the global automotive industry. Patrick Anderson picks and highlights some of the most hyped models presented at the show...
As the first of the main international motor shows each year, Geneva never fails to impress - from new models and the latest concept cars to European and World premieres. Visitor numbers went up this year, in fact they surpassed all expectations with the total number standing at 735,000, a 6% rise on last years figures. As is the growing trend, the electric cars were out in force with many now in actual production, several of which are now on sale in the UK. THINK, a Norwegian electric car was one of the newer vehicles on display as was the Toyota EV based on the iQ electric car, as well as Nissan’s sleek electric concept; Sflow. For concept cars Hyundai showed the i40, Curb and Velostar. Other manufacturers showing their versions included Mazda’s concept SUV the
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MOTORING – GENEVA MOTOR SHOW 2011
BMW Vision ConnectedDrive
Spyker Aileron GT1
Infiniti Etherea
Bentley Supersports
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Jaguar XKR-S
Minage, Renault’s Captur and the Saab Phoenix. In the hybrid categories we saw the Peugeot 908 Hybrid 4 (first shown in Paris), and Volvo with their V60, also a diesel hybrid. Rolls Royce showed their 102EX, a one-off fully electric-powered Phantom, which was a sight to behold. Morgan relaunched a 21st century version of their 3 wheeler and Land rover showed their e range 4WD vehicle.
Amongst the exotics making their world premieres and turning heads were the new Ferrari FF, Jaguar XKR-S2, Koenigsegg Agera R, Lamborghini Aventador, Pagani Huayra and Aston Martin who showed off the new Virage and Virage Volante models. There were of course scores of others, but too many to list here. I will be bringing you more on these in upcoming editions, so here are some of my favourites in the meantime...
Saab PhoeniX concept
Maserati GranCabrio Sport
RR 102EX Phantom Experimental Electric
Alfa Romeo 4C Concept
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MOTORING – TEST DRIVE
MOTORING
Volkswagen Passat SE 2.0litre TDI 140PS 6-speed DSG Volkswagen Passat models made their first appearance back in 1973, and now in its sixth generation, I was interested to see how it had evolved. The Passat was one of the first front-engine, water-cooled models to replace the long running VW Beetles with their iconic air-cooled rearengine peoples cars from WW2. The current Passat was unveiled at the Paris Motor Show in September 2010. Although the car is not an all-new model, the latest facelift resulted in new external body panels except for the roof and glasshouse, with the prominent changes to the grille and headlights. Overall height and width dimensions are unchanged while length increases by 4 mm. New features include a ‘fatigue detection’ system and an automatic “city emergency braking” system. The interior featured minor detail changes, although the basic dashboard design remains unchanged The list of standard features is very long. However, and quite surprisingly, this
doesn’t include a sat-nav, which tends to be a standard on similar models from other manufacturers in this price range The adjustable heated wing mirrors which incorporate indicator lights appear not to have a fold-in function for tight parking, again common place with most manufacturers. But the parking sensors are a great boon and are very accurate, so that’s a plus. Featuring Volkswagen’s blue motion technology with stop-start, the car claims to be able to reach 1000miles on a single tank. Well as the tank is an enormous 70-litres, I managed an average 52mpg in a 600mile road test. The electric speed and tyre pressure warnings are useful, however I failed to get the fatigue detection system to activate, which makes me think my driving was perhaps too ‘normal’. The usual array of standard electronics include automatic dimming rear view
mirror, rain sensors and all round electric windows. The split folding rear seats allow for large loads through the equally large boot are very useful if you have bulky items to carry. Overall my impression was of a car suspended partially in the past as it had many cosmetic improvements but lacked the updates or finesse one might expect of modern German engineering. My initial impression was not helped when I tried to adjust the driver’s seat and the plastic handle came off in my hand either! This particular two-litre turbo diesel automatic model has an excellent engine and is a good power horse. The 4-door has plenty of storage compartments as one expects with a saloon, as well as a centre arm-rest on the rear passenger seat. The test car with added optional parking sensors, metallic paint, air conditioning and automatic air circulation (adding another £1300 to the price) is available on the road at £23,585.
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GOING
GLOBAL Adrian Holmes – Ataur Rahman hangs out with one of Hollywood’s hottest young actors...
Image by Junior Monney
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Photo Credit: Kimberly French
Matt Ward, Gary Oldman and Adrian Holmes in Red Riding Hood
Best known for his roles on the small screen, Adrian Holmes is about to go global with a number of major Hollywood productions under his belt this year. Having made his mark in hit television series such as Supernatural, Human Target and Smallville, the British-born, Vancouver-based actor is now making his transition on to the big screen in Hollywood. Currently in town promoting the release of Red Riding Hood, I couldn’t pass on the opportunity for a very last-minute interview with him for this edition. And, after a few frantic emails and phone calls between here and LA, we finally arranged a time to meet at the Criterion in Piccadilly. Adrian Holmes was born in Wrexham, North Wales and lived in Liverpool until the age of five. It was then that his mother decided to join her twin brother
and re-locate to Vancouver, which has been home ever since. At the age of 11, he was cast as the Lion in a school production of The Wizard of Oz, from where he caught the acting bug. “It was my first big production”, says Holmes. “And after the show this girl came up to me and asked for my autograph. I remember thinking it a little strange, as I’m not famous, but knew from then on that this is what I wanted to do. You could say I got the bug”. Raised in a single-parent household until the age of nine, when his mother re-married, Holmes grew up being the middle child, with two younger half brothers and an older step brother and sister. “I went from having all the attention to having to fight for it” he says wistfully. You wouldn’t think he was the shy type, but during his childhood years he was and would do Michael Jackson and other impersonations to entertain
friends and family to compensate for it. “Acting was like an outlet for me. It allowed me to express myself and come out of my shell. It gave me a voice when I felt I had none”. Then high school and theatre school followed, taking acting roles in between, which started with his entry into television in 1991. But the route to academia was quite different, as Holmes graduated from nursing school in 2001, following in the family footsteps - there were many nurses in the family, including his mother. “God has a funny sense of humour because as soon as I graduated from nursing, my acting career really took off. But the reason I did nursing, even though my passion was in acting, was to have something to fall back on and have that peace of mind”. Well, it seems safe to say that the nursing profession might not be his calling
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There are other projects in the pipeline, including a recent pilot for Battlestar Gallactica, which Holmes is hoping will be given the green light soon. “I’m just taking each day at a time and feeling blessed for all that I have achieved so far” he says. “One of my mottos is ‘walk by faith, not by sight’. It will all happen the way it’s supposed to, and so far it has been a wonderful journey. What I’ve learned as an actor and everything I’ve experienced is helping me in my future projects.“ Image by Junior Monney
“I’m just taking each day at a time and feeling blessed for all that I have achieved so far. One of my mottos is ‘walk by faith, not by sight’. It will all happen the way it’s supposed to, and so far it has been a wonderful journey. What I’ve learned as an actor and everything I’ve experienced is helping me in my future projects.“ anytime soon, if recent roles are anything to go by. Amongst these is Frankie & Alice (Dir: Geoffrey Sax), which went on limited release in the US earlier this year. The plot revolves around a young woman with a multiple personality disorder, played by Academy Award winner Halle Berry, who also produces the film (and got a nomination for it at this year’s Golden Globes). “Yeah, I play her love interest which was incredible. Halle’s a great actress and I have always been a huge fan of hers, so to not only work with her, but to work with her so close was a great opportunity. And of course I get to kiss her, which not a lot of actors can say!” Indeed, and even though the part was fairly small, it was none the less integral to the plot and one that’s really sparked off a lot of interest. Not a bad thing, considering Halle Berry’s stature as a leading lady and the fact that 95% of the male population would give their right arm just to be near her, let alone kiss her.
DiCaprio is one of the producers). “I’m Playing the role of ‘Captain’, the righthand man to Gary Oldman’s ‘Father Solomon’, the werewolf hunter”, says Holmes. “I had a lot of fun doing this and working with Gary Oldman, one of my favourite actors, who I admire and have a lot of respect for was fantastic. I learned so much from him, he brought a lot”.
Frankie & Alice is swiftly followed by Red Riding Hood (Dir: Catherine Hardwicke – Twilight, Thirteen), with Gary Oldman and Amanda Seyfried, which goes on general release in the UK in mid-April (Leonardo
This summer will also see the release of other big name productions for Holmes, including Wrecked with another Academy Award winner, Adrien Brody, and Hangar 14, an action role opposite Steve Austin.
The journey towards big screen stardom has only just begun for this talented young actor. And having spent most of the afternoon hanging out at the restaurant following our interview, we discussed all manner of things, from politics to food and music, of which he talks candidly and with passion. I like his down-to-earth demeanour and can see how he warms to people instantly, which surely will reflect in his on-screen profile. Although based in Vancouver, Holmes travels to and from LA a lot, and hopes to settle there within the next year or two so as to be closer to his work. He’s very athletic and enjoys the outdoors snowboarding and mountain biking, which is practically on his doorstep. A man of taste, he enjoys the finer things in life, and hopes to meet a woman who shares his passion for different cultures and cuisine and raise a family one day. He’s not looking to move back to Wales anytime soon... Red Riding Hood opens on the 15th of April in cinemas across London.
One can’t help but make the obvious association of Red Riding Hood with Twilight, so aside from the shift from vampires to werewolves, what’s different about this film? “Well, for one it’s a different story altogether. Yes Catherine Hardwicke is directing it, but the similarities stop there especially as it (Twilight) doesn’t have Gary Oldman in it! But really, it’s a classic fairytale by the Brothers Grim brought to life. You’ll have to go see it and make up your own mind”.
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URBAN LIFE COMPETITION
WIN A LUXURY WEEKEND FOR TWO IN CHARMING CORK, COURTESY OF GLOBAL HOTEL ALLIANCE...
To celebrate the launch of the Global Hotel Alliance’s GHA Discovery loyalty programme, leading independent hotel chain, The Doyle Collection - is offering Urban Life readers the chance to win a luxury escape to Cork, the cultural gem of Southern Ireland. Global Hotel Alliance (GHA) is the world’s largest alliance of independent hotels and GHA Discovery is the Alliance’s global guest loyalty programme- uniting 12 luxury hotel brands and nearly 300 hotels including The Doyle Collection, Kempinski, Leela, Anantara and Omni to deliver over 1000 experience-based rewards to members globally. The programme aims to turn a business trip or weekend getaway into a one-of-a-kind adventure, by offering unique, authentic local experiences that immerse guests in the local culture. These experiences vary by membership level – after just one qualifying stay at a GHA hotel, Gold Level members can learn to play traditional “Bodu Beru” drums in the Maldives or enjoy a sunset drive through a nature reserve in Namibia. Platinum Level members can take in a rugby match in New Zealand or rehearse for Carnival at a celebrated samba school in Sao Paulo, Brazil. Guests who reach Black Level membership can experience a helicopter tour over the LA skyline, take a ski lesson with a famous professional or have exclusive backstage access to the Central Moscow’s Circus. The Doyle Collection’s River Lee Hotel in Cork is typical of a GHA member brand – unique, luxurious and full of character and contrast. The hotel’s enviable location means that
everything is nearby; from the river, to cultural hotspots such as museums, art galleries, historic monuments and bustling markets. This sophisticated urban retreat boasts a superb fitness centre meaning that even away from home, you can still have the option to keep up your fitness regime in this unique Irish city. It also has a magnificent Urban Escape Spa for guests to unwind, restore and invigorate in a world of pampering and luxury. The focal point of the famous River Lee provides a beautiful backdrop and makes the whole experience in Cork - whether it’s wining and dining, touring or exploring - immensely enjoyable. For information on becoming a member of the Global Hotel Alliance, please visit www.gha.com For further information on The Doyle Collection hotels, take a look at www.doylecollection.com
Urban Life is offering one lucky reader and their partner the chance to win this fantastic two-night break.
For your chance to win this prize, simply answer the question below and fill in the form and send it to: Competitions Desk (GHA), Urban Life Magazine, 10 Greycoat Place, London, SW1P 1SB or enter online by logging on to www.urbanlife-magazine.com Competition closing date is 14th July 2011. The winner will be picked at random from the correct entries received and notified on 18th July 2011.
How many hotels are part of the GHA Discovery programme? A: About 30 B: Nearly 300 C: Approximately 3000 URBAN LIFE COMPETITION ENTRY FORM - GLOBAL HOTEL ALLIANCE Name Profession/Job Title: Address: Town/City: Postcode: Contact telephone number: Email:
Terms and conditions 1: Competition open to UK residents only. Entrants must be aged 18 or over 2: One entry per household 3: The competition closes on 14th July 2011 and the draw will take place on 18th July 2011. The winner will be picked at random 4: The prize is valid from 22nd July to 30th November 2011, subject to availability and excludes bank holidays and special events 5: The prize includes two nights’ weekend accommodation in a standard double or twin room for a maximum of two people, including breakfast at The River Lee Hotel, Cork, Ireland 6: Prize includes two return economy class flights from a major UK airport of the winner’s choice with direct flights to Cork 7: Any additional hotel charges must be settled upon time of check-out. 8: The prize is non transferable and no cash alternative will be offered 9: Flights and accommodation are subject to availability and choice of airline is at the discretion of the Global Hotel Alliance. Airport transfers and spending money not included 10: This prize cannot be used in conjunction with any other promotion, certificate or voucher 11: Editor’s decision final. No correspondence will be entered into 12: Your details will not be sold or passed onto any third parties, however, it may be used by the Publisher to keep you informed of any of our other products and services or for our own marketing purposes Please tick here if you do not want us to contact you.
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12/5/11 12:26:47
YACHTING
UNDER THE SPOTLIGHT Paulina Nejman
Yachting is a business like no other. The glamour, the glitz and the jet-set lifestyle that goes with it is what makes it so tantalisingly appealing.
T
o many, they are a distant dream. Whilst to others just another of their many homes, to relax, entertain and have fun in. And, as with any home-proud owner, their yachts need to be designed and fitted with the same care and attention to detail as their residences. In this, our first ‘soft’ feature on yachting; we are talking to Hot Lab, an award-winning boutique design agency, about their experiences in designing yachts. This Q&A will shed some light into what’s involved in the whole process, from concept to the finished product and delivery. Further down the line we will be focussing on more extensive coverage of this fascinating business, with guest writers and more profiles of companies involved in all aspects of the yachting industry. Hot Lab Studio was formed in Milan back in 2004, when three designers; Michele Dragoni, Antonio Romano and Enrico Lumini decided to join forces and form a partnership. Armed with a working knowledge of the luxury automotive and interior design sectors, they decided to take their expertise and move into yachting, and haven’t looked back since. Working closely with private clients and shipyards, they have produced some exceptional designs and won numerous awards for the projects they have
worked on over the years. We recently caught up with Antonio Romano, one of the partners and spokesperson of the company, and posed some questions to him... Urban Life: what made you decide to make the transition from automotive design to yachting design? Antonio Romano: The idea from the beginning was to have our own studio, since in automotive design you mostly work in-house for big car brands. The work involved in yacht design is also much more complete. You play with exterior shapes, interior design, fittings and decorations and so on. We’re talking about architecture that moves, or floats. UL: How do you approach each project and what steps are involved once you’ve taken on a brief? AR: First of all we have a meeting to talk about the brief. The best of our clients are private yacht owners, so they usually give us an idea of style, dimension and budget. The first step is to then determine the competitors in that range after which we design the GA (general arrangements), which are then constantly updated. At the same time we start on the first exterior sketches, side views and perspective and we plan several internal meetings amongst our team. And when we arrive
at an interesting solution we plan a second meeting with the client to receive their first impressions and feedbacks. If we’re in line with the client’s idea, we then start to do the first 3D models and after that several realistic renders. If we’re also involved in the interior design, we show some materials, colors and style suggestions, after that we get on with our interior design proposal. UL: Is there freedom to be creative or are you restricted by your client’s imagination? AR: I don’t think that this is pure creative work as such. You have to follow the client’s idea first of all, since every custom yacht has little technical or design improvements or ‘wow’ factors. At the end of the day the layouts are all quite similar, however, with exterior shapes there is much more room to create something new. UL: And typically, how long is the process of designing and producing a yacht? What’s involved, from start to finish? AR: Usually with a custom yacht you’re involved for two years. From the first sketches to the technical and shop drawings for the yard, until the final selection of the last items on board (even tableware for example). UL: Given the costs involved, is it fair to
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YACHTING
assume that everything is custom made for each project/yacht? AR: If we exclude big items such as engines, generators, finns, propellers, electrical parts, appliances and so on, the rest can be considered to be custom made. Usually sofas, chairs and other interior details are chosen from famous design companies, but even with these we prefer to customise some details. Every yacht has to be unique. UL: How do you approach the interior design of the yachts? Is this something you do as an agency or do you bring in other interior designers? AR: We usually receive a precise brief from the client. However, we also engage with the client to understand a little more about his taste (what car he drives, interior style of his houses, what hotels or clubs that he likes etc), after which we prepare colours, materials and style suggestions. Choosing the materials with the client, showing the final renders and sometimes using videos helps to get a first close look at the interior design. We usually go from there. UL: Yachting being such a specialised (and costly) industry, are there any trends that you follow, if any? AR: As in the automotive sector, there are some trends of course. And there are different types of yachts, so you can easily compare a cabrio to a fast open, or an SUV to a displacement yacht. Similarly, the exterior lines can be soft and pure as an Aston Martin or straight and masculine as a Cadillac. UL: What are the most interesting projects you’ve worked on?
AR: Actually we’re working on a 38 metre displacement that will be built in Turkey, with very interesting exterior lines and big interior volume. We’ll do the exterior and interior design and the naval architecture will also be done in Italy. We’re also working on two other amazing concepts: a 73M for Icon Yachts and 86M for Oceanco (considered to be the most important shipyard in the world). UL: How do you choose shipyards? AR: Depends a lot on the budget! We can take clients to Turkey, Italy or The Netherlands. But the prices will vary as will the quality, although when you’re inside, it will be hard to see the main differences of quality. We have very good relationships with all these coutries, so we can advise our clients on the best options. UL: What’s the minimum amount of money needed to build a decent yacht? AR: If we talk about about a 30 metre yacht for example, I really don’t suggest spending anything less than 3.5 million Euros. UL: Are designs limited by money or imagination? AR: Mostly money. If the budget is there, you can do anything. There are yachts with a Harrier jet or submarine on board, so depends just on how much money one has. UL: Which other designers do you admire and why? AR: I appreciate the work of Gianni Zuccon, one of the masters of Italian yacht design. There’s also Studio Nuvolari and Lenard that are able to work on big yacht projects and you can always recognise their style and taste.
UL: What are the categories of yachts, and what is a yacht versus a super or mega yacht? AR: Super or mega yachts are strange names created to impress. A yacht is a boat bigger than 24 metres. Anything over 40/45 metres is called a super yacht and mega yachts when they are more than 60/65 metres, but at the end of the day everybody writes what they want. Talking of categories, just as for cars, we have different categories for yachts too, for example; runabout, day cruiser, open, cruiser, flying bridge, classical Motor yacht, Navetta, Trawler, Explorer vessel, Mega yacht etc. UL: And finally, what does the future hold for the yachting industry? And, with the rise of the new breed of ultra-rich in Asia, are you seeing more orders coming from that side of the world? AR: At the moment we’re seeing a return to the past. I mean that the economic crisis has hit the yachting sector just like any other and seems impossible to go back to the numbers of 2007. However, as a result, there is now more research on having more performance hulls, less consumption of fuel and there are some interesting eco-yachts in construction, which means we will move to hybrid solutions in the future. As for the Asian and Middle East markets, they are still too quiet. There are a big number of rich people out there but they have no service infrastructure or marinas for big yachts, so they have to leave their yachts in the Med, which means the market can and will grow.
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YACHTING
Yachting Chantier Naval Couach (CNC) unveils the first of their37m super yachts, Arion. The 3700 Fly, fitted by Ken freivokh, was recently delivered to her owners following a presentation to local dignitaries and the media in the historic quays of Bordeaux, France. Arion is the first collaboration between CNC and Freivokh, as well as the first yacht to come out of the shipyard in 2011. Eric Robert Peillard, President of Couach
says; “Arion pays homage to the quality of teamwork undertaken over the last two years. It was with pleasure that our office took on board the inspirational ideas of a celebrated designer to deliver an outstanding bespoke interior commissioned by a discerning client. The end result is a stunning yacht of rare beauty, from the aesthetic finishes of each cabin to the quality of craftsmanship throughout. A real work of art...� The next project is the 50m 5000 Fly, due for launch in September 2011.
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CITY BREAKS WITH BRITISH AIRWAYS Explore the many art galleries of Madrid, enjoy the opera in Budapest, shop and flop by day and party by night in Miami or escape on a romantic break to Venice. With British Airways you can choose from a wide range of exciting destinations to create the perfect city break for you. All of our hotels are carefully selected and our wide range of flights from central airports offers choice and flexibility. Plus, if you book your flight and hotel together you'll get guaranteed savings. Enjoy cities for less with British Airways.
Book at ba.com/holidays
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11/05/2011 23:14
ART & CULTURE
ART EXHIBITIONS By Sarah walsh
Yohji Yamamoto at the V&A 12 March – 10 July 2011 Photography Nick Knight Art Direction Peter Saville
Photograph by Koichi Inakoshi
One of the must-see exhibitions of the year that’s currently taking place is the Victoria and Albert museum’s retrospective on Yohji Yamamoto. Very little needs to be said of this enigmatic and celebrated designer, who has challenged, provoked and inspired the fashion world since his Paris debut over thirty years ago. Yamamoto’s visionary designs will be exhibited on mannequins spread amongst the treasures of the V&A, thus creating a dialogue between the designer’s work and the various spaces in which they’ll be shown. The exhibition is designed by Yamamoto’s long-time collaborator, Masao Nihei, and will showcase over 60 garments from his womenswear and
menswear collections, which will also be accompanied by a mixed-media timeline showing excerpts from his fashion shows, films and performances. Yohji Yamamoto, born in Tokyo in 1943, is widely regarded as an avant-garde designer, who has constantly pushed the boundaries of accepted convention in fashion. His collaborations span across the fashion and luxury divide, including Hermés, Mikimoto, Elton John, Jean-Michel Jarre and of course the film world, with Kitano Takeshi for films such as Dolls and Brother. Admission price: £7 (free for V&A members). For more information, visit: www.vam.ac.uk
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Harrods – Millionaire Gallery
Harrods have recently opened their newest department, which specialises exclusively in celebrity and historical memorabilia. Whether it’s a rare and original document with Abraham Lincoln’s signature, Elvis Presley’s autograph on a vintage copy of Photoplay magazine or the more recent hand-signed publicity masterprint of Black Swan by Academy Award winner Natalie Portman or The King’s Speech by our very own Colin Firth, another Academy Award winner at this year’s Oscars, it’s all available from the store that has everything. If you ever thought about acquiring something that has a historical significance or association with your favourite movie star, musician or politician, and didn’t quite know how to go about it, then this is where you should be heading!
V&A Images
But don’t let the name scare you off, as not everything is going to cost you a million, in fact we didn’t see anything remotely that costly on our recent visit (but it’s still early days, so we’ll see what turns up!).
V&A Images
There’s plenty to choose from and suit all budgets, especially with prices ranging from a mere couple of hundred pounds to the thousands, so there is ample choice to start that collection you’ve always wanted. All items come ready-framed, along with certificates of authenticity, so all the verification headaches are taken care of. You just have to pick and choose and have it delivered to take pride of place in your cabinet or wall... For more information, visit: www.harrods.com
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ART & CULTURE
Edouard Martinet Sladmor Gallery, 32 Bruton Place, W1J 6NW 4th May – 10th June 2011 The Sladmor Gallery in Mayfair will be hosting a month-long sculptural exhibition of insects by Edouard Martinet from next month. A twenty-first century ‘Animalier’, Martinet creates a range of unusual and unique works of art using only discarded car parts with astonishing life-like results. Each sculpture is meticulously assembled, polished and finished to such a high standard, using a variety of ‘found’ materials, that they almost resemble the real thing at first glance from afar. Martinet lives and works in Rennes, near Brittany in France, where he teaches art at L’institut des Arts Appliqués. For more information, visit: www.sladmor.com
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Azam – ‘Art Below Zero’ Ginza line, Shibuya, Tokyo and Central Line, Liverpool Street, London 11th – 25th April 2011
Art Below have collaborated with the London-based contemporary artist Nasser Azam (cover story, September 2009), to stage a two week public exhibition of the artist’s ground-breaking Antarctica project. Hosted simultaneously in the Tokyo Subway and London Underground, Azam will be showing a series of paintings, photography and video footage from his trip to Antarctica in February 2010, which was preceded by his equally ground-breaking ‘Life in Space’ project in July 2008, which saw him complete two triptychs in zero gravity as a homage to Francis Bacon. The exhibition shows the results of Azam’s expedition in which he endured extreme weather conditions to produce 13 large abstract oil paintings responding to different landscapes, including ice lakes, caves, glaciers and ice deserts, all documented by an
accompanying camera crew. And, as part of the video projection, a short film made in collaboration with BAFTA-nominated British Film Director Ed Blum, will also be shown on loop. “I wanted to expose the desolate, silent, spacious and empty environment of the South Pole in a diametrically opposite and probably the most crowded, hectic, busy and noisy space in the world”, commented Azam. Passengers on the Ginza line platform in Shibuya, Tokyo and the Westbound Central Line in Liverpool Street, London can view the simultaneous poster displays as well as a time-lapse film on the public activity going on around them on the projection screens. For more information, visit: www.azam.com or www.artbelow.org.uk
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PRIVILEGED LIFE BLACK CARD
zggz Membership No: 00251
The concept:
The Black Card is a privilege/loyalty card from Urban Life, aimed principally at our readers and subscribers based in and around Central London.
Membership benefits:
Membership will allow cardholders to enjoy a wide range of exciting and exclusive benefits, including discounts and special offers at a wide range of partner outlets. These include hotels, restaurants, bars, clubs, retail outlets, galleries, private health clinics, spas and salons to start with. Basically any business that attracts a discerning clientele will be the target of our partnership department! We will be announcing a lot of new partners in the coming months, so do keep an eye out for the member-only newsletters and regular updates on the website. Additional benefits include ad-hoc competitions which we will secure through the magazine, so there’ll be plenty of incentives to sign up for a membership! In the meantime, the current list of our first-round partners and the membership benefits they are offering are listed on the following few pages next to their corresponding ads.
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Partner benefits:
This is an alternative to the massmarket discount schemes currently proliferating the consumer sector. The aim of the Black Card is to provide access to businesses that want to target a high-end audience, but without resorting to discounting their products and services to the extremes that we are seeing with numerous mass discount websites. Our readers are not bargain hunters; therefore we are not looking for one-off gimmics. But what we are looking for is a longer term proposition, which encourages repeat business and customer loyalty, which is a win-win for all parties.
How to get involved: If you are an individual interested in a membership, please visit the website and sign up online. If you are a business owner and wish to discuss partnership opportunities, please call or email us using the contact details below: Tel: 0871 989 8206 Email: partnership@privileged-life.net www.privileged-life.net
12/05/2011 01:03
The Privileged Life Black Card
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PRIVILEGED LIFE BLACK CARD HOLDERS RECEIVE £50 DISCOUNT ON PERSONAL STYLING SERVICES FOR HER & FOR HIM
Look Fantastic EffortlesslyÉ with TV’s Nicky Hambleton-Jones’ Team of Professional Stylists • Personal Shopping • Wardrobe Consultations • Hair Styling • Make-up Classes • Styling Parties • London Styling Events • Corporate Styling Services • Style Yourself Workshops • Stylist Training Course at the NHJ Style Academy
CONTACT US +44 845 430 9388 info@nhjstyle.com www.nhjstyle.com
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The Privileged Life Black Card – Please check individual partner ads for offers and www.privileged-life.net for current information on member/partner benefits
Audio/visual experience • Home Cinema • Projectors • Multi-room • Hi-Fi • Multimedia • Custom Install • Export Specialist • System Design • Integration • Corporate Solutions • I.T. • Security • Commercial Equipment
Audio/visualÊe xperience +44 7792 698 610 1st Floor, Whiteleys Shopping Centre, Bayswater, London, W2
Enjoy up to 20% discounts on all orders with the ‘Black Card’ (prices will vary between brands, therefore please check in store)
DIAMOND SMILES PROFESSIONAL TEETH WHITENING Professional Teeth Whitening and Non Surgical Treatment Specialists 7 Harley Street London WG1 9QD www.diamondsmiles.co.uk Twitter: @diamondsmiles00 +44 800 612 8061 or +44 7825 210 488 Our results speak for themselves. With an 80% referral rate and a Celebrity Clientele, see how Diamond Smiles can make you look good & feel younger...
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LASER TEETH WHITENING TEETH WHITENING HOME KITS OBAGI PRESCRIPION SKINCARE WRINKLE RELAXING TREATMENTS WITH BOTOX CHEMICAL SKIN PEELS SCULPTRA DERMAL FILLERS DERMAROLLER THREAD VEIN REMOVAL HYPERHIDROSIS TREATMENT *20% off all treatments for ‘Black Card’ members
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The Privileged Life Black Card
Oyster Kitchens 15% discount on all orders for ‘Black Card’ members. Tel: +44 845 226 4513 Email: info@oysterkitchens.co.uk www.oysterkitchens.co.uk
Maharaja of India
Laya Lina Contemporary Lebanese cuisine 25% discount off total bill for all ‘Black Card’ members 2/3 Beauchamp Place, Knightsbridge, SW3 1NG Tel: +44 207 581 4296 Email: info@layalina.co.uk www.layalina.co.uk
Exclusive Indian cuisine in the heart of theatreland... *Black Card members will enjoy 15% discount of the total bill* 19A Charing Cross Road Londonm WC2H 0ET Tel: +44 207 930 3044 Fax: +44 207 930 8397 www.maharajaofindia.co.uk
Monogrammed Linen Shop The Monogrammed Linen Shop, MLS, is London’s premier linen shop. It is renowned for the luxurious quality of its cottons and linens, as well as its exceptional embroideries. Its bespoke service enables you to choose any thread colour, design and fabric and its iconic monogramming facility allows you to personalise any item, from napkins and pillowcases to bathrobes and blankets. In addition, it also carries a glorious assortment of the most elegant items for the bath, bed and table – from silk nightwear and the finest cashmere to personalised wash bags and sumptuous towels – as well as a wide selection of clothes and gifts for children. MLS is the only destination for those seeking the most beautiful, unusual and refined linens, nightwear, gifts, accessories and children’s clothing. 10% off all orders for ‘Black Card’ members Tel: +44 207 589 4033 or visit www.monogrammedlinenshop.com
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The Privileged Life Black Card – Please check individual partner ads for offers and www.privileged-life.net for current information on member/partner benefits
Chinawhite. The Restaurant Located on the ground floor of Chinawhite, the restaurant is an intimate and relaxed dining room; serving a modern and western twist on classic Asian cuisine. Dishes such as Kung Pao chicken, sashimi tuna, blackened halibut, griddled watermelon and grilled foie grass with langoustine offer a tantalising choice of dishes to whet the appetite. The menu has been designed by Head chef Adam Penney who has been cooking in some of London's most notable restaurants, including the award-winning Horseshoe in Hampstead, Bibendum and The Lonsdale in Notting Hill. With spice blends direct from India, China and Japan, meat from free range farm Devon Rose and seafood straight from Cornish fishing boats 24 hours before delivery, Adam and his team are passionate about food and where it comes from. ‘Black Card’ members will get a complimentary bottle of house wine for each booking of a table for two. 4 Winsley Street, London, W1 Reservations: +44 207 291 1480 Email: info@chinawhite.com www.chinawhite.com
Concept Venues – For a full and current list of offers, please visit the Privileged Life website. www.conceptvenues.com
Complimentary bottle of House Wine for each booking of a table for two
Complimentary upgrade on rooms (subject to availability) and a bottle of house wine for a table for two at the restaurants. 10% off total bill at the bars.
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20% off total bill at the restaurant. In addition, discounted membership and complimentary entry to club (please check for conditions).
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Privi- The Privileged Life Black Card
Criterion Restaurant Winner of ‘Best London Restaurant’ 2010, Criterion Restaurant offers first class cuisine in one of the most beautiful dining rooms in London. Black Card members can enjoy a complimentary glass of champagne per person for up to 10 people. 224 Piccadilly London W1J 9HP Tel: +44 020 7930 0488 E: reservations@criterionrestaurant.com www.criterionrestaurant.com www.twitter.com/londoncriterion
Mehek Award Winning Restaurant & Bar in Moorgate, City of London, offering first class Indian cuisine... *Black Card members will enjoy 15% discount off the total bill* 45 London Wall, Moorgate, London, EC2M 5TE Tel: +44 207 588 5043 Email: info@mehek.co.uk www.mehek.co.uk
Oc-Eo Art – Inspire your collection Enjoy 20% discount on all purchases with your ‘Black Card’. www.oc-eo.com, info@oc-eo.com
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URBAN LIFE
OUR GUIDE TO THE MOST EXCLUSIVE AND HIPPEST PARTIES & EVENTS FROM AROUND THE WORLD Cartier ‘Travel With Style’ Concours D’Elegance – The New Delhi Jaipur Polo Club
Mr Louis Ferla CEO Cartier Middle East Yasmin Lebon (L) and daughter Amber
(L-R) Prince Alexander Azam Jah, Prince Azmet Jah, Director and C.E.O of Cartier International Bernard Fornas and Princess Shehkar Jah pose in front of a Rolls Royce Silver ghost Dome Roof Limousine 1911
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President and C.E.O of Cartier International Bernard Fornas
Maharaja of Tehri-Garhwal (R) and Maharani of Tehri-Garhwal (L)
Singer Brian Ferry (R) and partner Amanda A Cadillac Series 62 1956
A Buick Model 46-C 1938
A Stutz Serie M 1930 K.C Anand poses in front of his Mercedes 300 D 1958
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URBAN LIFE Gucci at Baselworld 2011
Gucci Timepieces and Jewelry President Michele Sofisti (2nd R) and guests National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences president Neil Portnow (L)
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Grammy Museum Executive Director Bob Santelli
National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences president Neil Portnow and Gucci CEO Patrizio Di Marco
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URBAN LIFE São Paulo Carnival 2011
Bettina Cramer
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Kristin Meyer
S‹ o Paulo Carnival 2011
Luise Baehr
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Enie van de Meiklokjes
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Most people drive to the airport Some people drive to the aircraft Most people rush to catch the flight Some people leave when they’re ready
Some people charter Private Jet Charter is : • Convenient
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Some people arrive at an airport conveniently close to their destinations
The time is now. The place is Malaysia For booking contact your local Travel Agent For more information please visit: www.tourismmalaysia.gov.my or call 020 7930 7932 Tourism Malaysia. 57 Trafalgar Square, London WC2N 5DU e-mail: info@toursim-malaysia.co.uk
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