For those who cherish the finer things of life, a round of golf is definitely on the check list. If playing 18 holes on a championship course can be supplemented with other luxuries, the Cour du Baron residences at famed golf club Les Bordes Estate are the ideal country home for golfers and bon vivants. On offer are top-notch golf courses, exquisite dining options, first-rate amenities, and stunning scenery right outside the front door.

These recently unveiled properties in Loire Valley are an exclusive collection of opulent homes meticulously crafted by the renowned architecture firm Michaelis Boyd in celebration of the region’s fascinating past. Set amidst the fabled Sologne forest in the Loire Valley, a setting renowned for its breathtaking chateaux, famous wines, and idyllic landscapes, Cour du Baron is only 90 minutes south of Paris. On the 1,400-acre grounds of Les Bordes Estate, the three-to-seven-bedroom residences are thoughtfully incorporated into the forest’s natural setting.

Cour du Baron residences: Upscale living in a golfer’s haven

The convivial collection of single-family residences represents a first-of-its-kind opportunity to own a home within one of the most exceptional private communities in the world. Within the storied backdrop of a UNESCO World Heritage Site, residents are offered a 21st-century home ownership experience that offers cosy solitude, airy open-concept interiors, lush landscaping, and plenty of opportunities for relaxation and recreation.

The project’s initial phase included 21 homes, several of which were reserved and/or booked by Les Bordes Golf Club members. The next phase of 24 residences is up for sale, with move-ins beginning in early 2024. For the phase-two residences, three distinct styles are offered: Classical, contemporary, and traditional. In addition, buyers can choose from a carefully chosen array of upgrade choices that best fit their vision, all while valuing the timeless attributes of natural materials and the traditional characteristics of French farmhouse architecture.

In addition to its exquisite array of classic residences, Cour du Baron offers a plethora of family-friendly activities. The private estate is home to endless outdoor pursuits, including Les Bordes Golf Club (a private members’ golf club), natural swimming lake, a white sand beach, boating and paddleboarding, playground, tennis and pickleball courts, padel courts, electric quad rides, go-karting, archery and clay shooting, a petting farm, and more. The clubhouse, which is open to members, is already receiving rave reviews, with executive chef Jerome Voltat dishing up delectable modern European cuisine that celebrates the high-quality produce of the region.

A residents’ clubhouse, kid’s club, farmers market and garden, outdoor theatre, art gallery and workshop, bakery, cafe and juice bar, restaurant, and wine bar are on the cards and are expected to be open in 2025. At the estate’s old Chateau Bel Air castle, the Six Senses Spa Loire Valley is scheduled to open in 2026. Tout ensemble, residents get to experience the best of both worlds — the luxury of a brand-new house and in an upscale residential community — while delving deeply into the traditional history of the region.

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Steeped in luxury

Stepping into Loire Valley is like stepping into a Walt Disney fairytale world. Once the playground of the rich and powerful, the verdant countryside is dotted with a multitude of exquisite chateaux, all replete with turrets, towers, and moats, evoking romantic tales and pictures of bygone eras of French royalty. Gorgeous gardens encircle magnificent Renaissance monuments, and rivers run through this enchanted location.

Known as the “garden of France”, the Loire Valley’s moderate climate and rich soil yield high-quality produce that is shipped to French cooks all around the country. There are around 20 Michelin-starred restaurants in the vicinity, including the two Fleur de Loire by Chef Christophe Hay and La Vieille Tour by Chef Alexis Letellier.

Les Bordes Golf Club

Strolling in the crisp breeze is a remarkable experience, enjoying the chirping of birds and buzzing bees and soaking in the reviving sunlight while gazing out across miles of woods. Essentially, this encapsulates the Les Bordes Estate Golf Club, a stunningly serene spot that even non-golfers will find difficult to leave.

Les Bordes Golf Club is a private members’ club accessible exclusively to its members and their guests. A one-of-a-kind golfing destination, the club is all about escaping the outside world, immersing oneself in nature, and playing some exceptional golf.

Offering the best private club experience in Europe, Les Bordes is one of the world’s most acclaimed private facilities, with a combined 46 holes of golf, two architecturally distinct championship courses, a world-class short course, and unrivalled supporting facilities.

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The Old Course

The first course, dubbed “The Old Course”, was opened for play in 1986 and is regarded Robert von Hagge’s finest. For the past 30 years, it has continuously been listed in the top golf courses in Europe. The Old Course is a daunting 7,009-yard, par-72 course that meanders through the Sologne Forest and an enchanting lake complex. The course is as challenging as its reputation implies.

The Old Course, a holdover from a bygone age of golf course architecture, offers the most challenging test imaginable, thanks to its creative man-made mounding, contouring, and bunkering, as well as its shots over vast stretches of water. Over the years, the course has undergone a number of material improvements. The fairways and surrounding areas are riddled with humps, hollows, and dells, giving the course a unique appearance, especially in the evening when the sun goes down. The layout has more flair than any other course in France, despite popular opinion that it has some American influences in terms of conditioning and design.

The Old Course is accessible exclusively to members and their guests.

The New Course

RoundShield Partners, a London-based private equity group specialising in European special opportunities, acquired the Les Bordes Estate in 2018. A fresh concept was brought about by the new ownership, to develop an upscale family retreat in a tranquil, historic environment. Renowned golf course architects Gil Hanse and business partner Jim Wagner were brought in to design an 18-hole course (as well as a 10-hole par-3 layout) in addition to the existing Old Course.

Hanse is renowned for designing numerous modern masterpieces, such as the Seaside Links Golf Course at Castle Stuart, Scotland, and the Rio de Janeiro Olympic Golf Course, and restoring many perennial Top 100 courses, including Tokyo Golf Club, Merion, Winged Foot, Los Angeles Country Club, St George’s Golf and Country Club, and Essex County Country Club. The imposing 7,285-yard, par-72 New Course was the famed architect‘s first layout in continental Europe.

The New Course has a more conventional heathland character, in stark contrast to the Old Course. It sits on stable, sandy ground that is mostly covered in fescue with sporadic heather patches. The course is the only one in Europe made entirely of fescue grass, and is incredibly wide, open, and natural. The New Course requires more strategy than simply avoiding a formidable water hazard, since angles created by clever contouring and well-placed bunkering must be properly negotiated in order to provide the easiest shot onto the green. The course is very walkable despite having all strategic features; in fact, it is a walking-only course. All things considered, the New Course’s layout is captivating, thrilling from the start to finish, and a fantastic substitute for the club’s Old Course.

Like the Old Course, only members and their guests are allowed onto the New Course.

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Wild Piglet

The 18-hole classic New Course isn’t the only thing Gil Hanse and Jim Wagner have been working on at Les Bordes Golf Club. Designed adjacent to the New Course, the Wild Piglet, with 10 par-3 holes, was opened in late 2020 and has been a runaway hit. Golf Magazine named the Wild Piglet one of the top 25 par-3 courses in the world. The Wild Piglet is widely regarded an outstanding option for juniors, beginners as well as golfers looking to enhance their short game skills, as Les Bordes strives to cater to both golfers and non-golfers.

One of the newest additions to the global trend of par-3 courses constructed alongside full 18s, the Wild Piglet spreads over 1557 yards of breathtaking French heathland. Hanse designed the holes at this course as dedication to some of the world’s notable one-shotters. With just a few clubs and a shorter round duration, the Wild Piglet offers all the thrills and adrenaline of a regular links golf course. Homeowners of Cour du Baron residences can get into the short course and enjoy the game without having to worry about the challenges of a regulation-sized course or losing golf balls.

The holes on the Wild Piglet course range from 131 to 198 yards and have names like Doughnut, Plain Jane, Blazing Saddles, Rolling Stone, and Baquette. Some of the notable holes are:

Biarritz: Hole 3 is a one-of-a-kind hole. Indeed, it has Biarritz green, but what really stands out is the completely blind tee shot in the bushes.

Doughnut: Hole 4 is a short par with a bunker in the middle of the green resembling Hole 6 of the iconic Riviera Country Club, Pacific Palisades, California.

Blazing Saddles: A saddle that cuts through the green at Hole 6 connects a huge artistic bunker.

In its entirety, the Wild Piglet is a scaled-down version of the New Course, delivering the same strategic intricacy and a memorably fun experience to all players, regardless of skill level. All homeowners will have access to The Wild Piglet, irrespective of their golf club membership status.

In addition to the three distinct courses, Hanse created the Himalayan, a steep short game area, and a driving range. The Himalayan is the largest putting green in Europe with an incredible amount of undulation and an almost infinite number of pins.

(Main and featured images: Cour du Baron)

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The post What to Expect at the New Cour du Baron Residences at Les Bordes Estate Golf Club appeared first on Prestige Online - HongKong.

If you’ve ever wanted to know how the rich and the famous live in Malaysia, these expensive houses and properties will clue you in. Safely tucked within some of the nation’s richest neighborhoods, these homes are inspiration, as well as eye-candy for aspiring homeowners with big dreams.

Your address is more than just a pinpoint on Google Maps; it’s where your life happens. Where you choose to lay down your roots will form the foundation of your future. And, more than that, it forms the foundation of your life, serving as the starting point for your hopes, dreams, and aspirations. It is where you settle into daily routines, where you create memories that will last you a lifetime. It reflects who you are and represents the life you hope to lead.

Neighbourhoods in Klang Valley are as varied as they are unique, with an abundance of options to suit the different needs of Malaysian families. With the world’s post-pandemic property market on the mend, it’s easy enough for developers to promote their projects as prime real estate. However, the definition of prime real estate can vary, depending on the person asking. While some potential homeowners emphasise aesthetics and architecture, others oftentimes place greater importance on location, ease of access, nearby public amenities, good schools, safety, and more. For a development to truly be worthy of a hefty price tag, it must provide.

And how these seven neighbourhoods provide. From the lush and verdant greenery of Bukit Tunku to the chic expat-filled high rises of Bangsar, here are some of the most exclusive and richest neighborhoods in Klang Valley – as well as the most expensive house in Malaysia, with prices denoted in Hong Kong Dollars (HKD).

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The richest neighborhoods and the most expensive houses in Malaysia

Taman Duta

Estimated price range for high rises: HKD 1.83 million to HKD 3.8 million

Estimated price range for landed properties: HKD 10.9 million to HKD 50 million

A distinguished upper-class enclave conveniently situated in the Segambut constituency of Kuala Lumpur, Taman Duta lies nestled amidst rolling hills and lush greenery, a mere stone’s throw away from local landmarks like the Federal Territory Mosque, the National Archives, the new Istana Negara, and the MATRADE Exhibition and Convention Centre. Home to many of the nation’s highest earners and elites, it is where many private business magnates and political figures rest their heads for the night. Most famously, former Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak’s home sits here. Once the subject of controversy and endless raids leading up to the 1MDB scandal, it has now become a must-see ‘tourist spot’.

A secluded landscape luxuriously bathed in nature’s delights, Taman Duta boasts housing estates that perfectly cater to those living the high life. From luxury bungalows to semi-detached homes and opulent condominiums, the properties here are aimed at providing seclusion and privacy. No expense is spared when it comes to comfort, with many of these properties uniquely designed to suit the aesthetic preferences of their owners. Expect to find grandiose structures that evoke the likeness of castles, with spacious interiors befitting the address and the attached price tag of living within.

Understandably, the properties here are among the most expensive houses in Malaysia. Aspiring homeowners can expect to spend at least a minimum of seven figures, with condominiums forming the lowest tier of available options worth between HKD 1.8 million to HKD 3.8 million. Popular developments include Seri Duta I, located on Jalan Gallenger, and Seri Duta II which is located on Jalan Langgak Duta. The most expensive listings, however, feature opulent bungalows with asking prices that start at HKD 10.9 million, with the most expensive among them starting at HKD 50 million for 17,000 square feet in which to live out your wildest interior design dreams.

Discover Taman Duta properties here.

Damansara Heights

Estimated price range for high rises: HKD 425,008 to HKD 21 million

Estimated price range for landed properties: HKD 4.2 million to HKD 75 million

Named by Lonely Planet as one of the coolest neighbourhoods in the world and oftentimes referred to as the ‘Beverly Hills of Malaysia’, Damansara Heights is the epitome of tranquil and serene living. Nestled within verdant landscapes and adorned with lavish bungalows, villas, modern townhouses, and semi-detached homes, its chic suburban streets are studded with personality. Its properties, which undoubtedly include some of the most expensive houses in Malaysia, recall an urban Melbourne-style aesthetic further reinforced by their proximity to Jalan Batai and its plethora of upscale eateries and stores. The affluent neighbourhood also provides particular appeal for families and expatriates, being mere minutes away from the vibrant urban offerings of the Kuala Lumpur City Centre with easy access to Pavilion Damansara Heights. If quiet luxury is your idea of living the high life, this prestigious address is the place to be.

Among the top property picks within Damansara Heights, Aira Residence features prominently with asking prices that range between HKD 4.3 million for a 1,894 sqft unit to HKD 21 million for 7,201 sqft unit. Another popular address is The Peak, a luxury development with units that start from HKD 9.2 million. Unsurprisingly, bungalows in the area are an immensely luxurious affair, with the most expensive among them hitting the HKD 58 million mark.

Discover Bukit Damansara here.

Bukit Tunku

Estimated price range for high rises: HKD 1.1 million to HKD 11.3 million

Estimated price range for landed properties: HKD 6.3 million to HKD 83 million

Formerly known as Kenny Hills (yes, like the bakers), Bukit Tunku is a swanky, low-density upper-class residential district comprising mostly freehold properties in Kuala Lumpur. Like its lush and affluent neighbouring district Taman Duta, it is located in the Segambut constituency, and features an equally mesmerising selection of luxury condominiums, villas, bungalows, and detached houses. A short distance away from similar residential neighbourhoods like Mont Kiara and Bangsar, it is easily accessible via major highways including Lebuhraya Duta-Sungai Buloh and the North-South Expressway. And that’s not all.

From its desirable location, Bukit Tunku boasts proximity to city-centre attractions like the KL Bird Park, Perdana Botanical Gardens, and Bukit Sri Bintang, all of which provide serene escapades in the form of nature-inundated walking-and-hiking trails. Restaurants and cafes also feature in abundance within the district’s confines, with a diverse plethora of options at the ready for all tastes and cravings. It is also well-serviced in terms of healthcare institutions and esteemed private schools.

Unsurprisingly, Bukit Tunku is home to some of the most expensive houses in Malaysia, catering to the richest in society. Key developments include Kenny Hills Residence, where units are worth between HKD 4.5 million to HKD 9.97 million, and Tijani 2 North, a luxury condominium development located in Jalan Langgak Tunku. Here, units can be worth as much as HKD 11.3 million for a 7,500 sqft unit, with smaller units going for a minimum of HKD 3.8 million. The real star of the show, however, lies in the super-exclusive bungalows located in the Tijani 1 enclave. With prices ranging from HKD 12.8 million to HKD 58 million, these bungalows are the real crème de la crème of high living.

With architectural savants making their mark within the expanse of Bukit Tunku, YTL Residence’s spaceship-shaped development is certainly one that catches the eye. The work of esteemed Parisian-based architectural firm Studio Jouin Manku, the three-generation private residence occupies 3,000 square metres of prime real estate and stands as a beacon of architectural wonder.

Of the project, which is believed to have cost up to HKD 66.7 million to construct, the firm shares, “Drawing upon the poignancy of the natural landscape, and a taste for the ultramodern, evidenced by the city skyline this entrepreneurial family helped to build, we looked to create a brand-new architecture for this home.” The firm would then go on to imbue the structure with organic shapes, connecting the spaces with light, sound, and references to the exquisite natural surroundings.

Discover Bukit Tunku here.

Desa ParkCity

Estimated price range for high rises: HKD 856,535 to HKD 10.7 million

Estimated price range for landed properties: HKD 3.5 million to HKD 48 million

Sprawled over 437 acres of vibrant greenery just north of Kampung Penchala with enticing waterfront views and exquisite landscaping as far as the eye can see, Desa ParkCity is an award-winning township where urban families find home in the tightly knit bonds of community. Emphasising sustainability and active outdoor lifestyles, the township is impressively self-sufficient, boasting exclusive schools, hospitals, a clubhouse, a sports centre, parks, and an eclectic array of dining options for all occasions.

Accessibility is a given; conveniently linked to extensive road networks like SPRINT Highway and Damansara Link, the locale is likewise a few short minutes away from shopping hubs like Mutiara Damansara and One Utama.

True to its name, the township features three distinct parks – Central Park, East Park, and West Park, each serving a unique purpose, yet all providing serene retreats to nearby residents. The master plan features an assortment of properties, ranging from low-rise and high-rise residential units to commercial lots, township amenities, and recreation parks.

With mostly freehold properties on offer, Desa ParkCity showcases a diverse portfolio of options for prospective homeowners. As of now, a 24,780 sqft mansion in The Ridgewood, one of the most exclusive addresses within the township, can cost upwards of HKD 48 million, while a 520 sqft serviced apartment can cost upwards of HKD 856,535.

Discover Desa ParkCity here.

Bukit Bandaraya / Bangsar

Estimated price range for high rises: HKD 1.25 million to HKD 70.4 million

Estimated price range for landed properties: HKD 6.3 million to HKD 90 million

A prestigious suburb adjacent to the urban streets of Bangsar, the Bukit Bandaraya neighbourhood features luxurious residences including some of the most expensive bungalows, villas, and high-rise complexes catering to the richest ultra high-net-worth individuals and expatriates in Malaysia. First developed in the 1970s by Bandar Raya Developments Bhd., the hilly neighbourhood contrasts the serene sanctuary of its sloping terrains against an unobstructed panoramic view of the city. The resultant vibe is one that is irrevocably ‘chill’, giving off the impression that Bukit Bandaraya homeowners live their lives in a state of mindfulness and zen. The exclusive neighbourhood delivers an abundance of amenities, from sports complexes and child-friendly recreational spots to the chic nightlife haunts of Telawi, as well as a thriving food and beverage scene.

Accessible using Jalan Maarof and the SPRINT and New Pantai Expressways, residents of the luxurious hillside address also enjoy proximity to swanky healthcare, courtesy of Pantai Hospital Bangsar; ditto with a well-considered selection of schools comprising local as well as international institutions including the Cempaka International School in neighbouring Damansara Heights.

While most of the houses in Bukit Bandaraya bear distinctive retro ’70s design trademarks like split levels and larger entertaining areas, many have also been renovated to provide modern appeal. These days, depending on size and location, a bungalow in Bukit Bandaraya can fetch between HKD 5.25 million and HKD 89.9 million, making them some of the most expensive houses in Malaysia. Popular new developments in Bukit Bandaraya include Serai Condominium, the units of which can fetch up to HKD 20.8 million.

Discover Bukit Bandaraya / Bangsar here.

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Taman Tun Dr. Ismail

Estimated price range for high rises: HKD 707,820 to HKD 10.3 million

Estimated price range for landed properties: HKD 2.9 million to HKD 36.6 million

Once a rubber estate, the affluent suburban neighbourhood of Taman Tun Dr. Ismail (Or TTDI, as it is often casually referred to) is just a stone’s throw away from Petaling Jaya staples like Bandar Utama, Mutiara Damansara, and Damansara Perdana. First developed in 1973 and named for Malaysia’s former Deputy Prime Minister Tun Dr. Ismail bin Abdul Rahman, it comprises mainly freehold properties, making it attractive for multi-generational families who harbour hopes of passing their homes down to their descendants.

Its strategic centrality is especially desirable for families seeking a more relaxed lifestyle away from the heart of the Kuala Lumpur City Centre; however, the serene enclave nonetheless falls under the Segambut constituency, providing a prestigious KL address for those who care. With easy access via the Lebuhraya Damansara-Puchong (LDP) and SPRINT Highway, the cosy enclave is also home to many chic dining spots, cafes, and bars, leaving its populace of one of the richest neighbourhoods in Malaysia utterly spoilt for choice.

TTDI is considered to be an upper-middle-class (M40) neighbourhood catering to families with a monthly gross income between RM7,110 (HKD 11,841) and RM10,959 (HKD 18,251). However, prospective luxury homeowners should not discount the location entirely. Many of the freehold homes in the area are a testament to appreciating property prices, with single storey terraced homes that were worth around HKD 56,625 in 1975 now fetching between HKD 1.5 million to HKD 2 million. Double storey homes, which were priced around HKD 116,572 in the 1970s, are now going for more than HKD 1.67 million, making them sound investments.

Popular high-rise developments within TTDI include The Greens serviced apartments, which can cost upwards of HKD 10.3 million for 3,830 sqft of space. Other notable developments include Sinaran TTDI (HKD 1.4 million to HKD 6.5 million), Kiara Park (HKD 1 million to HKD 4.3 million), and Mas Kiara Residences (HKD 1 million to HKD 4.2 million).

Discover Taman Tun Dr. Ismail here.

Ampang Hilir / Embassy Row

Estimated price range for high rises: HKD 499,627 to HKD 41.6 million

Estimated price range for landed properties: HKD 3.16 million to HKD 78.3 million

Among the original developments in Kuala Lumpur, Ampang Hilir was once a tin mining town. Its storied history dates back to the 1850s when Raja Abdullah of the Selangor Sultanate opened up Klang Valley for tin mining. While the initial mining process was fraught with illness and difficulties, the first tin was eventually exported in 1859, and the success eventually led to the development of Kuala Lumpur.

Today, Ampang Hilir stands as one of the richest neighborhoods in Malaysia, a status symbol invoking luxury, sophistication, and culture. As a prestigious central location in the heart of Kuala Lumpur just a short distance away from KLCC and the city centre, it plays host to the nation’s ultra-high net worth and expatriate set. As its name would suggest, ‘Embassy Row’ houses numerous expensive international embassies; thus, it comes as no surprise that the neighbourhood is occupied by many ambassadors, their families, and foreign dignitaries.

Conveniently accessible via the Ampang-Kuala Lumpur Elevated Highway (AKLEH), the KL Middle Ring Road (MRR2), and Jalan Ampang, this neighbourhood features numerous amenities for the richest in society, including the prestigious Gleneagles Hospital and the Royal Malaysian Golf Club. Boasting an abundance of chic hubs for catching up over coffee and a meal, there are options aplenty that cater to the neighbourhood’s various occupants – from a bustling café scene including local favourites like Fine Coffee and Flowers and Fox Paradox to international dining hotspots like La Bodega, La Risata, and Hadramawt Kitchen.

Popular addresses within Ampang Hilir include Embassy Row’s Rimbun Condominiums, where a penthouse unit of 17,082 sqft can fetch upwards of HKD 41.6 million. Yet another popular address is Jalan Madge in Taman U-Thant, where 18 Madge (HKD 3.7 million to HKD 26.6 million) and Madge Mansions (HKD 7.5 million to HKD 16.7 million) provide luxury resort-style living, privacy, and seclusion – a slice of heaven in a bustling, busy city. Landed properties can likewise fetch high figures. The most expensive among them: a 16,000 sqft bungalow located in Taman U-Thant currently listed at HKD 78.1 million, making it one of the most expensive houses in Malaysia.

Discover Ampang Hilir / Embassy Row here.

(Main and featured images: The Peak/E&O)

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

– What is the most expensive place to live in Malaysia?

The most expensive house currently listed in this article is located in Bukit Bandaraya, with an asking price of HKD 89.9 million. Considering cost of living and other expenses, Malaysia’s most expensive cities to live in are Kuala Lumpur, Georgetown, and Malacca.

– Where do the rich in Malaysia live?

Bukit Tunku, Ampang Hilir, Taman Duta, Damansara Heights, and Bukit Bandaraya all house individuals and expatriates with high to ultra-high net worths.

– Where is the richest place in Penang?

Affluent Penangites very likely live within the Tanjung Bungah, Gurney Drive, and the Seri Tanjung Pinang areas of Penang island.

– Where is the upper-class residential area in Kuala Lumpur?

Upper-class residential areas in Kuala Lumpur include Taman Duta, Bukit Tunku, Ampang Hilir, Damansara Heights, Bukit Bandaraya, Taman Tun Dr. Ismail (TTDI), and Desa ParkCity.

The post Uncovering The Richest Neighbourhoods And The Most Expensive House In Malaysia appeared first on Prestige Online - HongKong.

Every Selling Sunset fan knows the shot: The camera swoops through sky-high ceilings of spectacular houses and down into a chic chef’s kitchen, where wall-to-wall pocket doors reveal an infinity pool vanishing into the glittering horizon of LA. But beyond the feuds, fashion, and faux pas, what truly steals the show are Selling Sunset’s most expensive homes.

Beyond the scripted drama, Selling Sunset transcends the mere domain of real estate, emerging as a paradigm of extravagant living. While the prospect of acquiring a compound with a 12-car garage and an expansive pool akin to those in Beverly Hills might not be on every viewer’s agenda, the vicarious glimpses into these multimillion-dollar residences are undeniably satisfying. Think of it as virtual real estate window shopping — the perfect indulgence for those who love their reality TV with a side of glamour.

Situated in the prestigious locales of Hollywood Hills, Sunset Strip, Malibu, and Beverly Hills, The Oppenheim Group orchestrates transactions for some of the most luxurious and costly real estate in the region. As season 7 of the hit Netflix show unfolds, it’s the perfect time to reminisce about the gasp-eliciting properties that have graced our screens. From opulent infinity pools to panoramic city views spanning 300 degrees and architectural marvels like glass elevators, these mansions surpass even the grandeur of certain celebrity abodes.

Read on as we embark on a curated tour of Selling Sunset’s most expensive homes.

Selling Sunset’s most expensive homes

1. Saint Ives Place

Cost: USD 7.995 million
Square Footage: 4,401

Nestled discreetly behind private gates above the illustrious Sunset Strip, Saint Ives Place stands as a beacon of contemporary luxury living. Priced just short of USD 8 million, this architectural masterpiece spans an expansive 4,401 square feet, offering an unrivalled vantage point from Downtown to the ocean. Apart from the stunning details, Saint Ives brings an important piece of legacy along with its listing: Its former resident, pop superstar Harry Styles. Luckily, the home fell into agent Emma’s hands after Styles offloaded it to her client and we got to see it ‘As It Was’.

The main level unfolds with an open floor plan, characterised by soaring ceilings and hardwood flooring. The living area, with its cosy fireplace and retractable glass walls, seamlessly connects to a grassy terrace that wraps around the home. The gourmet kitchen, a culinary haven, features sleek white cabinetry, grey stone countertops, and top-of-the-line appliances.

Upstairs, the owner’s suite presents jetliner views, a private balcony, a walk-in closet, and a spa-like bathroom with a dual vanity, infinity-edge tub, and a walk-in shower, which in turn also opens up to panoramic views. The additional guest bedrooms, each generously sized, feature exquisite ensuite bathrooms. The backyard, a secluded oasis, hosts a sparkling pool, hot tub, and a cabana with a sitting area, bar, and bathroom. Valued at USD 239,850, the agent’s commission is reflective of the property’s stature.

This residence also encompasses a home theatre, gym, office, and a private terrace with downtown LA at your feet. With a large 2-car garage and an extended private driveway, this home is a testament to opulence and is only minutes away from West Hollywood’s premier dining and shopping spots.

2. 1911 East Bay Avenue

Cost: USD 12.5 million
Square Footage: 5,634

Situated within the exclusive enclave of E Bay on the Balboa Peninsula Point, 1191 East Bay Avenue offers an exceptional bayfront living experience. Revered for its captivating views of Newport Harbor marina and channel, this residence embodies coastal charm with gusto. Recently renovated, the house seamlessly merges eastern seaboard influences with contemporary coastal aesthetics to give us one of Selling Sunset’s most expensive homes.

The interior showcases meticulous craftsmanship, featuring custom millwork and wide-plank oak floors. The open kitchen, equipped with top-tier appliances such as a Wolf double-oven range and Sub-Zero, is a haven for culinary enthusiasts and private chefs, providing scenic views of sailing regattas and cruising yachts. Imagine enjoying some caviar while rooting for your favourite sailor!

Designed for entertainment, the living spaces include a luxurious living room with coffered ceilings and a floor-to-ceiling marble fireplace, as well as a private family/game-room with a wet bar and wine refrigerator. The master suite offers a tranquil retreat with a private balcony, fireplace, and a spa-inspired bath.

Outside, the spacious patio, complemented by an outdoor fireplace, extends into three terraces, including a brick deck and a sizeable grassy lot. The property continues to a landing above the water, offering ample space for hosting events, which with this house, seems mandatory. The dock accommodates a 40+ feet vessel and side-tie for a personal Duffy year-round. Occupying a 35 ft. wide lot with a 3-car garage, this residence seamlessly blends luxury with practicality.

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3. 1301 Dolphin Terrace

Cost: USD 20.5 million
Square Footage: 11,011

Nestled on more than 1/3 of an acre, 1301 Dolphin Terrace is an architectural masterpiece that marries unparalleled design with superior construction quality, all the while offering expansive front-row panoramic views of Newport Harbour. Boasting a generous 11,000+ sq. ft., this LEED Platinum-certified estate ranks among the largest private residences in North America. The meticulously crafted interior includes a custom 14-seat theatre/audiophile listening room, a commercial full-size elevator, a professional bar, and a fully automated system by Savant.

The property features an infinity pool with a Jacuzzi, a gym, and a basement playroom readily convertible to a wine cellar. Technological sophistication meets ecological sustainability as the residence incorporates a 26.5KW solar array, a 100% water treatment process, and a separate 38KW generator with a built-in fuel supply. Five bedrooms and nine washrooms later, we have to say, this is the gold standard of L.A. living.

4. 1 Buggy Whip Drive

Cost: USD 22.4 million
Square Footage: 51,000

Nestled in Los Angeles’ premier equestrian community, 1 Buggy Whip Drive, known as Hacienda de la Paz, is not just a residence; it’s a millennium of art, architecture, and engineering under one roof. Crafted by world-renowned architect Rafael Manzano Martos, this authentic Spanish estate spans 7.4 acres, making it the 36th largest and still-standing residence in the U.S.

Perched 1100 ft. above LA in the guard-gated city of Rolling Hills, Hacienda de la Paz offers unparalleled 180-degree panoramic views of the Pacific Ocean, beaches, downtown, and the San Gabriel Mountains. The estate boasts resort-style amenities, including a 10,000-sq. ft. hammam spa, a 15,000-sq. ft. neoclassical grand ballroom, 2 tennis courts, 2 swimming pools, direct access to horse stables, arenas, and 57 miles of equestrian trails.

Additional features include a guesthouse, bocce court, gym, yoga room, wine cellar, catering kitchens, geothermal heating & cooling, radiant heated flooring, elevators, 6-car garage, motor court, and landscaped romantic gardens. Hacienda de la Paz isn’t just a home; it’s an experience waiting to be lived.

5. 2201 Bayside Drive

Cost: USD 27.995 million
Square Footage: 9,129

This newly constructed custom estate on Bayside Drive, Corona Del Mar gives you some serious bragging rights. A harmonious blend of natural stone and wood elements, this exquisite waterfront property promises luxurious tranquility. With five ensuite bedrooms, nine bathrooms, and about 50 feet of private beachfront, it’s a haven tailored for all the water babies out there.

The property includes shared ownership of one of the West Coast’s longest private docks, capable of hosting multiple yachts up to 100ft. A grand pivot door and a double-height foyer greet you, unveiling meticulously landscaped surroundings. Inside, European wide plank bleached oak flooring, illuminated floating staircases, and expansive glass features define the approximately 9,129 sq. ft. of interiors.

Slide-away pocket doors seamlessly connect the space to a heated patio, a zero-edge saltwater pool and spa, and a courtyard with a built-in Lynx Grill. The kitchen, adorned with Honed Calcatta Vagli slab countertops and a La Canche designer stove from Paris, promises culinary delight. This Bayside Drive estate, designed by Brandon Architects, Patterson Custom Homes, Harvard Investment Group, and Brooke Wagner Design, sets a new standard for coastal luxury.

7. 1127 F Avenue

Cost: USD 29.995 million
Square Footage: 15,067

Nestled along a palm-lined promenade just 100 feet from the beach, this architectural marvel is on one of Coronado’s largest lots. Originally crafted for magnate W.A. Gunn in 1925, this four-bedroom (option for five), eight-bathroom estate exudes vintage Hollywood glamour, seamlessly blended with contemporary luxury.

As a historical landmark, “Coronado Castle” showcases a captivating mix of castle-like features, exquisite Spanish embellishments, and opulent details echoing the roaring ’20s. Think The Great Gatsby-like parties! The home’s grandeur is unveiled through a stunning foyer with a spiral staircase and hand-hewn beams, leading to an impressive turret serving as the entrance hall.

Preserving the essence of the era, the estate boasts a formal dining room with an immaculately hand-painted coffered ceiling, ornate ironwork, and stained-glass touches. The kitchen is lined with an 80-inch La Cornue range, Subzero appliances, a Miele steam oven, and a wet bar.

Renovations, meticulously executed, maintain historical accuracy while embracing modern-day comforts. A firepit lounge, golf simulator, 25-seat movie theatre, world-class gym, and spa enrich the lavish basement. The pool deck, a stage for summertime gatherings, features 250-year-old stonework, Moorish ironwork, and a full outdoor kitchen.

The lush oasis even includes 100-year-old olive trees, fountains, a putting green, and a dog run. A detached guest house complements the estate. With a four-car garage and coveted off-street parking, this legacy estate stands as one of Southern California’s most exclusive properties, inviting you to own a piece of history with unmatched attention to detail.

8. 500-512 Perugia Way

Cost: USD 35 million
Square Footage: 15,507

Nestled behind private gates on the exclusive island in Bel-Air, the 1.5-acre compound of 500 – 512 Perugia Way is a rare gem flanked by other celebrity neighbours. Known as Il Sogno, meaning “The Dream,” this Tuscan Villa offers a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to own a piece of Hollywood history. Tucked away from Sunset’s bustle yet minutes from Westwood and Beverly Hills, the home provides the perfect blend of serenity and convenience.

Formerly owned by corporate housing magnate Howard Ruby along with his wife, actress Yvette Mimieux Ruby, the property was purchased by Tinder co-founder Sean Rad. They bought the house next door in 2010 for USD 5.55 million, which Mimieux used as an art studio and library, and where she lived during her final years. The estate boasts a 10,600-square-foot main house designed by architect Mark Daniels, the planner behind Bel-Air’s layout. Decorated by design legend Kalef Alaton, the interiors feature a grand living room with hand-painted beamed ceilings, a ballroom-sized party room, a formal dining room, and a wine cellar.

The estate’s history is as fascinating as its design, with the mansion dating back to 1928. A Balinese-inspired cottage, spanning 4,900 square feet with five baths, adds to the allure. With a swimming pool, fountains, and lush surroundings, 500 – 512 Perugia Way stands as a timeless Hollywood oasis.

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9. 8408 Hillside Avenue

Cost: USD 39.975 million
Square Footage: 20,058

Nestled deep inside the prestigious zip code of the Hollywood Hills in Los Angeles, the Hillside house from Selling Sunset is not just a home; it’s a jaw-dropping masterpiece by South Africa–based agency SAOTA. With an initial price tag of a whopping USD 43.9 million, this residence shocks and charms at every turn. It also ranks highly as one of Selling Sunset’s most expensive homes.

Originally crafted for real estate developer Jeff Thomas, the property’s unique features tempted Jason Oppenheim into selling it. A standout detail? Imagine a 175-foot linear pool with a waterfall flowing into an atrium garden. The automated sliding glass doors, a 15-foot outdoor TV, four spas, a home theatre, and a wine cellar add to the home’s allure. But let’s talk views. Thomas forked out USD 2 million just to bury power lines, offering a 360-degree cityscape. Succinctly told to Realtor.com, Oppenheim argued, “The view is unrivalled from any home that I’ve seen in my life.” And he’s seen a lot of really great homes in L.A., so we’ll take his word for it!

The spacious master suite highlights an oversized walk-in dressing room imported from Lake Como, Italy plus a terrace with a private spa. Indoor and outdoor entertaining areas, including a 163-foot wraparound infinity pool, bar, and rooftop terrace, provide expansive views from the San Gabriel Mountains to DTLA, Santa Monica, and Catalina Island.

Beyond the bedrooms and bathrooms, the Hillside house surprises with an executive office, showroom-quality kitchen, butler’s kitchen, state-of-the-art theatre, game room, car showroom, and even a nightclub. The wellness centre, featuring hot and cold plunge spas, a sauna, a steam room, a gym, and a massage area, adds the finishing touch to this Hollywood Hills haven.

While the show did not reveal who purchased the property, records revealed that Hillside is owned by Tom Bilyeu, co-founder of the food company Quest Nutrition. He sold the company for USD 1 billion in 2019 and bought the mega-mansion shortly thereafter.

10. 1021 North Beverly Hills Drive

Cost: USD 75 million
Square Footage: 18,000+

Let’s talk about the house that stole the Selling Sunset spotlight – Davina Potratz’s jaw-dropping USD 75 million mansion at North Beverly Drive. Yes, the one that never quite found its match on the market but left us all dreaming.

Back in Season 2, Davina took on the challenge of selling the Oppenheim Group’s priciest listing ever. A cool USD 75 million for a house that’s basically the definition of Hollywood glamour. Fast forward a few years, and the house is still up for grabs with that eye-watering price tag intact. Seriously, they’re not giving up on this dreamy estate either!

Sure, the Netflix series kind of forgot about it in the last few seasons, but who could forget a place with seven bedrooms, ten bathrooms, and a guesthouse that’s probably bigger than your whole apartment? Developed by Sen Properties, this Beverly Hills beauty sprawls over an acre, boasting a movie theatre, a gym, and one of the most stunning resort-like pools in Beverly Hills.

And let’s not forget the cool stuff like the futuristic automated awning and a separate 2,690 sq. ft. guesthouse with two beds and two baths. It’s the stuff dreams are made of, even if it’s still waiting for its Hollywood ending. Davina’s listing may not have a sold sign, but it’s forever etched as Selling Sunset’s most expensive home.

Which of Selling Sunset’s most expensive homes do you want to move into?

Watch Selling Sunset here

(Main and Featured Image: Netflix) 

This article was first published in PrestigeOnline Malaysia. 

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs): 

Did the USD 75 million house sell on Selling Sunset? 

No, the USD 75 million house featured in the second season of Selling Sunset was not sold but continues to be listed on the O Group website. The property has been developed by Adnan Sen, a Turkish gas company mogul.

Who bought the USD 44 million house on Selling Sunset? 

The USD 44 million mansion sold for USD 39. 975 million to Tom Bilyeu, co-founder of the food company Quest Nutrition. He sold his company for USD 1 billion in 2019 and bought the mega-mansion shortly thereafter.

What’s the most expensive house on Selling Sunset? 

The most expensive of all houses shown on Selling Sunset and the highest price The Oppenheim Group has listed a home at is North Beverly Hills Drive, Los Angeles, costing a whopping USD 75 million.

Who has sold the most houses on Selling Sunset? 

Mary Fitzgerald is the most successful real estate agent on the show, with over USD 100 million in sales and an active listing in November 2023 of USD 3.2 million.

The post Buying Luxury: Inside 10 of <i> Selling Sunset’s</i> Most Expensive Homes appeared first on Prestige Online - HongKong.

Known as the birthplace of the industrial revolution, Manchester is a city like no other with a proud history in science, politics, music, arts and sport.

Built on fire, grit and wit, it’s no surprise it has been the home to poets, sports legends, style makers and iconic entertainers over the years. Now you too can live, love, work and play at the city’s most prestigious address, W Residences Manchester.

Featuring architectural innovation with sleek, tactile and clean maximalism style, the W Residences Manchester is part of a visionary development setting new standards for luxury living in the UK.

Available in studio, or one to three-bedroom units with prices starting at £341,000, the exceptional interiors are crafted with precision by internationally renowned interior architecture and design studio Bowler James Brindley. Each residence’s décor is inspired by icons from the past, from particle theorists to culture-shifting musicians.

Of course, no W Residences would be complete without its five-star amenities. W Residences Manchester includes a W Resident lounge, W Living Room, swimming pool, sauna and steam rooms, beauty bar and treatment rooms, gym and studio, and restaurant and café. That’s not all – the 24-hour concierge desk offers a ‘Whatever/Whenever’ service. From housekeeping to hairdressing, a cold beverage or the best table at the last minute, the W team are there to make it happen for you.

And you’ll be in good company, too. W Manchester The Residences forms part of the new St Michael’s development. Capturing the pioneering spirit of the remarkable city, St Michael’s features 200,000 sq ft of sustainable workspace due to be completed this summer, world-class dining destinations and a vibrant public square that creates a new meeting point and a pedestrian route through the city.

With so much on your doorstep, it’s no wonder W Residences Manchester is set to become northwest England’s most sought-after address.

For more information on W Residences Manchester, be sure to attend the Manchester M2 Property Investment Seminar in Hong Kong.

Dates: 18-19 November 2023

Time: 11am (English), 2pm and 4pm (Cantonese) 

Address: Alexandra and Statue Square Room, 2/F, Mandarin Oriental Hong Kong, 5 Connaught Road Central, Hong Kong

Enquiries: 5226 1138 

https://bitly.ws/ZUin

The post A new level of luxury living at the W Residences Manchester appeared first on Prestige Online - HongKong.

If karma’s gonna track you down, let it be at the loft Taylor Swift shot her 1989 polaroids in.

Three bedrooms, two and a half baths, direct view of the Union Square—this duplex is perfect if you’re looking for the opportunity to move to New York, concrete jungle where dreams are made of. If you buy Taylor Swift‘s 1989 apartment, you’ll fully get to enjoy the views, as the place has 18 sets of oversized windows.

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[Hero and featured image credit: Carli Choi/The Agency]

The loft where Taylor Swift shot the 1989 polaroids is on the market

This isn’t an ordinary loft, as it’s the one and only place that served as the setting for Taylor Swift’s polaroids she took for her album 1989. As such, this very place captures the essence of her musicality. After all, it’s not just 1989, it’s 1989 (Taylor’s Version).

The lyrics “If you leave me, I’m coming with you” are still written on the inside of the door Taylor scribbled and sat in front of. Needless to say, owning this duplex would be like surrounding yourself with Taylor’s lyricism immortalised.

Located on 874 Broadway, the duplex is offered up by Sarah Johnson, and is represented by Shane Boyle from The Agency New York. It can be all yours for a small sum of USD 3.7 million.

“It’s for anyone looking for that Soho loft, back to the ’70s, edgy vibe,” says Boyle.

Located inside the historic Macintyre Building, the loft went through an extensive year-long remodelling, merging two distinct units into a single space with a total of three bedrooms and two and a half bathrooms. Notable elements of the design also include impressive 12-foot high ceilings, visible pipes, and a beautiful spiral staircase made from steel and tree branches.

You can find more information on the listing at The Agency New York.

Inside The Real-Life Arconia Featured in Only Murders in The Building

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The story first appeared on Lifestyle Asia Bangkok

The post The Apartment from Taylor Swift’s ‘1989’ Polaroids is Now for Sale appeared first on Prestige Online - HongKong.

With its amazing ensemble and riveting story peppered with mystery and humour, the hit Hulu/Disney+ comedy-drama Only Murders in the Building has captured the hearts of fans worldwide. The show, which stars Steve Martin, Martin Short, and Selena Gomez, wrapped up its third season on October 3 and has been renewed for a fourth. Only Murders in the Building is set against the colourful backdrop of luxury apartment The Arconia, and follows three obsessive true-crime podcast enthusiasts who live in the building.

When a murder occurs in their residence, these dedicated individuals embark on a mission to crack the case. Along with the compelling plot, the show is laced with comedic relief and frequent cameos by well-known guest stars. The architecture of The Arconia is a perpetual marvel throughout Only Murders in the Building, and injects elements of grandeur and drama to the story. Today, we look deeper into the real-world building that sets the stage for the series.

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The Belnord: The real-life Arconia where Only Murders in the Building is filmed

The Belnord, a 1908 pre-war residence, is located at 225 West 86th Street in New York City.  All three seasons of the popular series Only Murders in The Building featured footage of the building’s majestic exterior, while their interior sequences of the Arconia were shot on a sound stage.

Remember the fan-gathering scene with the amateur investigators in the courtyard (season 1, episode 8), or the fountain where little Mabel and Tim Kono used to play? The show makes good use of the building’s magnificent courtyard — one of the city’s largest — which was designed in an Italian Renaissance style by renowned architecture firm Hiss and Weekes. The latter was also responsible for several notable Beaux Arts buildings in the city and estates on Long Island’s Gold Coast. It was designated as a city landmark by the Landmarks Preservation Commission in 1966, citing its “special character, special historical and aesthetic interest, and value as part of the development, heritage, and cultural characteristics of New York City” in the designation report.

An advertisement for The Belnord apartment block in the New York Sun in 1911 proudly declared it to be “the largest in the world.” The skyscraper, which stood on a whole city block of West 86th Street between Amsterdam and Broadway, was “12 stories high.” The poster emphasised the affordability of the rentals, which start at USD 2,400 per year. It also emphasised the “delightfully peaceful atmosphere” present at The Belnord, emphasising that there was no noise or vibration, making it an appealing alternative for individuals looking for a tranquil and comfortable living environment.

The Belnord recently underwent a major remodelling and is now equipped with new condominium units and facilities. The 13-storey structure now has 211 units, half of which are rentals and the other half are condominiums priced from USD 3.6 million to more than USD 13 million. The rentals can go as high as USD 45,000 per month.

The building has a 24/7 staffed lobby, a courtyard and garden, a fitness centre, a sports court, a lounge, a children’s room and a designated room for teenagers. The project was overseen by a team of renowned architects and designers, with Robert A.M. Stern Architects (RAMSA) in charge of the interiors and Rafael de Cardenas, known for his work on the Baccarat flagship in New York and exhibition spaces for Cartier and Christie’s, in charge of the public spaces. The indoor courtyard, a massive 22,000-square-foot oasis bursting with greenery and flowers, was designed by landscape designer Edmund Hollander and was touted to be the largest of its kind in the world when the building first opened.

Much like the star-studded cast of the show, The Belnord is home to residents from the glitzy and glamorous world of showbiz. The landmark building, which was listed in the National Register of Historic Places in 1980, has housed notable figures such as actors Samuel Joel Zero Mostel and Walter Matthau, Matt Damon, author Isaac Bashevis Singer, and the father of method acting, Lee Strasberg — who was frequently visited by actress Marilyn Monroe, James Dean, and Marlon Brando.

Despite these modifications, entering The Belnord’s arched entrance still feels like going back in time in New York. Residents are greeted with Roman-inspired artwork on painted ceilings in the courtyard and dual-gated driveway.

The current Belnord model went on sale in mid-2018. The condominium has seen a surge in activity since the premiere of Only Murders in the Building, with 20 apartments selling for a total of USD 160 million, including three purchases worth more than USD 10 million in the last month. At the moment, approximately 75% of the units have been sold. The building has six separate residential lobbies, each allowing three methods of admission to each residence: A private residential lift, a grand open staircase, and a private goods lift.

While The Belnord may not have a notorious history of murders like The Arconia in Only Murders in the Building, it has a past that’s not entirely without blemishes. Due to her failure to make repairs and her prohibition on renters replacing broken equipment, one of the building’s former owners, Lillian Seril, became infamous as one of New York’s worst landlords of all time. This circumstance resulted in the greatest rent strike in New York City history, which began in 1978 and lasted 16 years.

Properties currently listed in The Belnord

If watching Only Murders in the Building has left you wishing you could live in The Arconia, this could be a reality. Several condos within the actual building The Belnord are currently available for sale.

And, if you’re looking for a home that’s as luxurious as the ones depicted on the show, a standout option is now on the market for USD 10,895,000. This beautiful property has an incredible selection of features and services. A formal entry foyer will greet you as you enter, setting the tone for what lies ahead. The corner great room is flooded with natural light and smoothly links to the well-equipped kitchen, which has a Calacatta Gold marble island and countertops, as well as custom Molteni cabinets. Modern Gaggenau appliances and a 45-bottle Sub-Zero wine refrigerator make culinary attempts a pleasure.

The primary suite, located at the end of the bedroom gallery for solitude, provides a tranquil sanctuary. It has plenty of closet space as well as a spa-like primary bathroom with stunning Siberian white slab marble and radiant heated floors. Relax in the deep soaking tub, which is accompanied by custom-designed vanities with Kohler, Dornbracht, and Kallista accessories. The four more bedrooms are as stunning, as the secondary bathrooms, which include Grigio Nicola stone, radiant heated flooring, and Molteni vanities.

A spacious laundry area with a Whirlpool washer and dryer combines functionality with luxury. This stunning home is completed by an elegant powder room (à la Breakfast at Tiffany’s), a high-performance VRF dedicated HVAC system, Intrahome Systems integrated technological infrastructure and an abundance of closet space throughout.

Some of the actual residents of the Belnord appeared in the show’s season 1 as background actors to join in on the fun. Are you wondering if the real-life Arconia also contains secret passageways or a hidden elevator like its TV show counterpart? According to the real estate agent of The Belnord, Maya Kadouri, there are indeed some intriguing aspects to the building. She said, “It still has some passages that most people who live there probably don’t even know are there, because you wouldn’t go into it on a daily basis”.

You can find out more here, if you’d like to purchase the condo.

Is the The Arconia from Only Murders in the Building inspired by the real-life building The Ansonia?

There is another New York City landmark that has been linked to Only Murders in the Building. The striking similarity between the names The Ansonia and the fictional The Arconia has intrigued many fans to know if the plot of the show is somewhat inspired by the Ansonia’s spooky past — one that’s chequered with strange deaths and, yes, a murder.

The Ansonia is a historic and noticeable residential building located on Manhattan’s Upper West Side. Located at 2109 Broadway between 73rd and 74th Streets, many celebrities including the legendary Babe Ruth, Bob Meusel, Lefty O’Doul, Wally Schang, Angelina Jolie, and Macaulay Culkin called it home at some point in time.

It was constructed between 1899 and 1904 and is renowned for its Beaux-Arts architectural style. Originally intended as a luxury hotel and apartment complex, the structure features grand and opulent elements such as wrought ironwork, beautiful terracotta, and statuary. The Ansonia was a centre of high society and cultural activities in the early 20th century, and it was one of the first buildings in New York City to have air conditioning.

William Earl Dodge Stokes, heir to the Phelps-Dodge copper fortune, began construction of The Ansonia in 1899, the luxury residential hotel was intended to be a self-sustaining paradise. This huge 17-storey structure took up an entire city block on Broadway between 73rd and 74th Streets when it first opened in 1904.

Stokes showered The Ansonia with luxury amenities such as a barbershop, tailor, bank, restaurants, Turkish baths, stores, and even the world’s largest indoor pool. A rooftop farm with chickens, ducks, goats, and even a tiny bear was one of its unique attractions. The lobby had live seals, and Stokes kept four pet geese and a pig in his flat. The Department of Health closed the rooftop farm in 1907, but Stokes kept the animals in the hotel.

Deaths and scandals at the Ansonia

The history of The Ansonia is undeniably more controversial and steeped in mysteries and scandals compared to The Belnord. The building has a legacy marked by murders, tragic deaths of both residents and guests, and various scandals. This led many fans to believe that the show Only Murders in the Building and the fictional The Arconia are inspired by it.

• Al Adams, known as “The Policy King,” lived at The Ansonia after serving time at Sing Sing. In October 1906, he was found dead from a gunshot wound. His demise was officially ruled a suicide due to financial struggles and dismal health, but there were rumours that Stokes had murdered him.
• J. Nelson Veit shot his mother and himself in 1908 over a secret marriage to a woman in a nearby apartment.
• Successful clothing manufacturer Winfred S. Klee took his own life in 1910, reportedly due to a nervous breakdown.
• In 1912, a teenage boy died after falling down an elevator shaft from the 16th floor.
• Two years later, a woman jumped to her death from her eighth-floor apartment.
• In May 1970, 27-year-old voice teacher Eric Tcherkezian was strangled in his apartment.
• In 1982, serial killer Bruce Alan Davis confessed to murdering someone at The Ansonia in the ’70s.was believed to have strangled Tcherkezian, confessing to a murder at The Ansonia in the 1970s.

There’s more. In 1911, the Ansonia’s developer William Earl Dodge Stokes was shot at by chorus girls Lillian Graham and Ethel Conrad, and beaten up by assailants. Stokes, a famed womaniser, had been having an affair with Graham, even after his second marriage. Graham and Conrad claimed self-defence, claiming that Stokes sought personal letters from Graham and became violent when she couldn’t produce them. They were ultimately found not guilty. Stokes survived the attacks and died from pneumonia in 1926.

Other interesting facts

The controversies surrounding the Ansonia don’t end there. The Ansonia had a connection to the infamous 1919 Black Sox Scandal. Chick Gandil, the Chicago White Sox’s first baseman and a key figure in the scandal, lived at The Ansonia. According to the book “Eight Men Out,” Gandil met with his White Sox teammates in his Ansonia apartment, where they devised a plan to lose the 1919 World Series on purpose. This encounter was crucial in the controversy, which has remained a dark chapter in baseball history.

It’s not doom and gloom, though. The Ansonia housed the Continental Baths, an opulent gay bathhouse in 1968. It was a popular venue complete with palm fronds, a discotheque, and even candy machines that dispensed lubricants. Additionally, the bathhouse also included a cabaret where the legendary Bette Midler, dubbed “Bathhouse Betty,” frequently performed alongside Barry Manilow as her pianist. The space closed down in 1974 before reopening as a swingers’ club three years later.

The Ansonia continues to be the site of several rumours and urban legends, including stories of paranormal activity and alleged hauntings.

Many units of the Ansonia are also available for sale and rental, if you’re feeling fearless. Check them out here.

Watch Only Murders In The Building here

(Main and featured image: IMDb and Epicgenius/CC BY-SA 4.0/Wikimedia Commons)

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Is the Arconia from Only Murders in the Building real?

In Only Murders in the Building, the property portrayed as the Arconia is actually a real-life building named The Belnord on the Upper West Side.

Does The Arconia exist in real life?

Yes, the Arconia is a real-life building and not a TV show set. Its real name is the Belnord.

Can you visit the Arconia?

Yes, you can visit The Belnord aka the real-life Arconia. It is located at 225 West 86th Street in New York City.

Does Mabel live in the Arconia?

In the show, Only Murders in the Building Mabel (played by Selena Gomez) lives in her aunt’s apartment in the Arconia.

Why is it called Only Murders in the Building?

In the show, the amateur detectives only investigate murder cases that happen inside their building, hence the name.

Is there a season 4 of Only Murders in the Building?

Yes, the show has been officially renewed for a fourth season. The season 3 finale ended on a major cliffhanger, leaving fans eagerly waiting for the next instalment.

Is Only Murders in the Building on Netflix?

No, the comedy-drama show is only streaming on Hulu and Disney+.

The post Inside The Real-Life Arconia Featured in <i>Only Murders in The Building</i> appeared first on Prestige Online - HongKong.

The Scandinavian-chic hillside retreat featured in Netflix’s Sex Education is up for sale, and it’s perfect for the whole family—provided you don’t bring a blacklight.

The Milburns’ house from Sex Education is up for sale

As you binge through four seasons of Sex Education, and watch the growth and journey of your favourite characters, you can’t deny the beauty of the home that the Milburns live in. The retro-esque interior with panoramic views of the flora and fauna makes the house feel like a Pinterest board come to life. Coupled with the bike rides to school and a morning coffee at the sweep-deck, the show feels like some sort of a fantasy, dream neighbourhood in stark contrast with your real childhood.

But it’s not just fantasy. Built in 1912, “The Chalet” overlooks the Wye Valley and the Forest of Dean, located in mid-Wales. You’re free to take a stroll down the forest trails, fish or canoe at the river below, or just take in all the nature you have surrounding you. It’s available for rent as a holiday home, which is perfect fun for every member of the family. There’s even pubs, canoe services, and the local community just a brief walk away.

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If you really want the full Sex Education experience as you stay in the house, you can ride your bike down the nearby forest, sit in Jean Milburn’s private office, or even say “that’s nice” to a woman proclaiming her love to you in Otis’ bed.

The 3,100-square-feet house was last sold in 2002 and underwent extensive renovations, which has resulted in the picturesque establishment we see on the show today. It now boasts painted wood walls and hardwood floors, multiple wood-burning stoves, and vaulted ceilings. There’s even a pizza oven in the patio, and a clawfoot tub in the bathroom. Listed on the market again at the shy price of USD 1.8 million, we have a feeling it won’t be available for long.

You can find the listing for the Milburn’s Sex Education house at Knight Frank Bristol.

[Hero and featured image credit: thechaletsymondsyat/Instagram]

The story first appeared on Lifestyle Asia Bangkok

The post The Milburns’ House from ‘Sex Education’ is Up for Sale appeared first on Prestige Online - HongKong.

Amid a glittering array of metropolitan skyscrapers, Kuala Lumpur is prepared to welcome another jewel to its crown with The Exchange TRX opening its doors to the general public this November.

Arguably one of the most prominent flagship projects within the Klang Valley’s expansive real estate industry, The Exchange TRX, which is nestled at the base of The Exchange 106 tower, is set to become the nation’s next prime retail hotspot to complement the Tun Razak Exchange’s lauded accolade as Malaysia’s next hub for global commerce.

Where retail is concerned, the upcoming mall is expected to offer an unrivalled shopping experience at launch with over 400 stores fanned out across 1.3 million sq. ft. of Nett Lettable Area (NLA). Featuring a 95% occupancy rate comprising a varied list of global tenants, the city’s latest landmark is also poised to host the debut of a truly prodigious clutch of brands that will mark their first formal brick-and-mortar entry into the Malaysian market.

Additionally, the mixed development is primed to introduce the TRX City Park to Klang Valley residents, which serves to rejuvenate the urban core with an essential, publically accessible green lung measuring 10 acres.

Eager to see what else The Exchange TRX has in store? Here’s your first exclusive look at some of the most anticipated highlights to be unveiled at Kuala Lumpur’s next hottest address.

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1. Maison Kitsuné

Multi-hyphenate creative label Maison Kitsuné has carved out a niche for itself through a cultural union of two cities: Tokyo, and Paris. The label, best known for its approach to a slow and considered lifestyle as well as the beloved fox mascot from which it takes its name, will be opening the doors to their first Malaysian outlet at The Exchange TRX.

What’s more, they are also set to bring their hospitality arm, Café Kitsuné, along with them. This will mark the café’s 28th outlet globally and the fourth in Southeast Asia, after Bangkok, Singapore, and Manila.

2. GENTLE MONSTER

Headquartered in South Korea, there’s no disputing the fact that GENTLE MONSTER has single-handedly become one of the most talked-about eyewear labels from the past two decades. Founded in 2011 by South Korean Hankook Kim, their unconventional frame designs and strategic collaborations with fashion houses such as Maison Margiela as well as Fendi have solidified their credentials among the fashion-savvy set.

Similarly, their boutiques are a reflection of their pursuit for the unorthodox, famously fusing industrial utilitarianism with futurism to create a truly distinctive ambience. Expect to venture into their first physical store in Malaysia at The Exchange TRX.

3. Alo Yoga

With an uptick in interest from Malaysians for fitness that came about from the adoption of home workout regimens during the pandemic lockdown period, local consumer appetite for workout apparel and gear has truly reached new heights. In this case, there has never been a more opportune time for Californian workout apparel brand Alo Yoga to set up shop in Malaysia.

Co-founded by Danny Harris and Marco DeGeorge in 2007, Alo Yoga’s collection of adaptable workout apparel offers fitness enthusiasts the option of combining functionality with style through their adept use of prints and contemporary cuts, taking you from the gym to the drinks with the girls effortlessly. What’s more, celebrities such as Hailey Bieber and Bella Hadid count themselves as fans of the brand, too.

4. Drunk Elephant 

Cult beauty brand Drunk Elephant needs no introduction among beauty enthusiasts who know their squalane from their hyaluronic acids. The Texas-based skincare brand has earned the trust of industry insiders for producing result-driven products that incorporate only biocompatible ingredients that work well with your skin.

Previously, Drunk Elephant had only been accessible to Malaysian consumers through beauty giant Sephora’s retail network. But with the imminent opening of The Exchange TRX, it has been revealed that the brand will officially be setting up their very own retail presence in the mall.

5. Guerlain and La Prairie @ Beauty Galleria 

On the topic of beauty, The Exchange TRX has even more to offer enthusiasts with a dedicated precinct dubbed the ‘Beauty Galleria’. A thematic space that merges lush greenery with contemporary opulence, it is expected to house an enviable list of the industry’s most prominent and established players.

Chief among them include Guerlain, which holds the distinction as the world’s oldest luxury cosmetics brand still in business, as well as the exclusive, Swiss-founded high-performance luxury skincare brand, Laboratoires La Prairie. Both will open their first stand-alone boutique in the aforementioned district.

5. Marimekko 

For a splash of rainbow cheer to take you away from the drab confines of the stealth wealth, quiet luxury design trend, look no further beyond Finnish design house Marimekko. Exceedingly popular for its use of bright colours and prints in its fabrics, the brand’s enduring popularity since its inception in the 1950s is a testament to its ingenuity.

Many of their creations have been adapted for use in both fashion as well as home decor. Naturally, both will be available as part of the inaugural offerings at Marikmekko’s very first Malaysian store in The Exchange TRX.

6. Tipsy Flamingo

Shopping aside, The Exchange TRX is equally well-outfitted for gastronomes seeking out fresh culinary experiences. Singaporean hospitality group Tipsy Collective, which made its mark through a string of innovative and well-received F&B ventures on the island state, will be expanding its network to Malaysia with the launch of the Tipsy Flamingo.

Likely taking its moniker after the highly popular plastic flamingo lawn ornaments from the United States, the restaurant is expected to feature a highly thematic ambience that takes after the neon-drenched atmosphere of a 1980s pool party in full swing.

7. Amazonas

Another new name that will be making a splash in the Kuala Lumpur dining scene is Amazonas, a restaurant conceived by the Kenny Hills Hospitality Group. Built upon the success of their previous ventures, which includes the Kenny Hills string of cafes and restaurants as well as Flour, Fire & Stone in Petaling Jaya, this latest addition is expected to add a Latin American flair to their offerings.

Located on the mall’s rooftop, its location makes the restaurant a prime destination for trendsetters looking for their next haunt du jour, serving up sharing plates and cocktails to the backdrop of late-night DJ fiestas.

Feature and hero image credits: TRX

The story first appeared on Lifestyle Asia Kuala Lumpur

The post Here Are The New Brands Found Only at TRX When They Open in November appeared first on Prestige Online - HongKong.

The futuristic-looking building could be the way buildings are constructed in the near-future

Everyone has heard of inflatable castles or playhouses, which are common at kids’ birthday parties. But have you ever considered an actual inflatable home? This is the concept the Binishell uses, an innovative building that’s sustainable and cuts down on waste that also has a futuristic exterior once completed. You may think it’s odd or that it may not be entirely viable, but Iron Man himself, Robert Downey Jr., was sold on the concept and had one built for him and his family to serve as one of their houses.

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So what exactly is the Binishell, Robert Downey Jr’s sustainable home?

A curious-looking structure when completed, the Binishell cuts down on cost but doesn’t skimp on structural integrity and durability with its innovative way of construction. The technique was originated by the current Binishell CEO’s father, who built a number of Binishells in 23 different countries, so surprisingly, the bubble-looking structure isn’t anything new. Nicolò Bini, the CEO, hopes that the Binishell would be used more widely. It definitely helps that one of the people who own one is an A-list actor.

The way a Binishell is constructed is fairly simple: they use something they call a “pneumoform”, something similar to a large balloon, which bears the shape of the structure. It is then slowly inflated much like a bouncy castle would be. Once pressurised and inflated fully, structural rebar is placed all around before the structure is completely doused in concrete. After the pneumoform is deflated, what’s left is a bubble-like structure that’s almost similar to a shell. With the exterior finished, all that’s left is to construct the interior however the owner sees fit and give the exterior some aesthetic flair and design.

Because all that’s needed is to inflate the pneumoform to construct a Binishell, its construction process is very quick, requires half of the manpower a normal building would need, and produces minimal waste. In fact, the pneumoform can be reused multiple times. The cost of building and resources needed is also cut down to half.

Because of its dome structure, the Binishell also ensures structural integrity by distributing forces evenly across the structure and not just at certain points like a conventional building would. They are also touted as “inherently aerodynamic” making it stable against high winds (just in case a bad wolf wants to huff and puff to blow your house down). Add the fact that concrete is non-flammable and that makes Binishells highly resistant to fires.

Bini hopes that more than just being unique buildings that draw the interest of others, the Binishells could also provide a solution for homelessness. Since it’s inexpensive, it could be used to construct cheap housing.

RDJ having his own Binishell will certainly put it on the radar of others. In a few years, seeing a Binishell in every city on every block could become the norm.

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There’s no shortage of luxury stays in Thailand’s capital, but the Rosewood Bangkok sure does top the list in terms of bespoke hospitality and making each and every guest’s short stay personal. We check in to find out.

Appropriately, the futuristic tower in which the Rosewood Bangkok’s 150-odd guestrooms occupy 19 floors is shaped like two hands pressed together in the traditional Thai gesture of greeting, the wai. That’s because the service in this tastefully opulent bolthole of luxury, much of which is handled throughout my stay by my personal butler, goes some considerable way beyond what’s normally referred to in hotel reviews as “seamless” – indeed, after check-in, which takes place in the seclusion of my two-room suite, I’m immediately added to a WhatsApp group that enables me to contact my temporary Man Friday wherever and whenever I want. Which I do. Often. It all adds to the surprising – and delicious – sense of intimacy that abounds in a property that, in spite of the unusually spacious accommodations, somehow feels much smaller than it actually is.

Although beautifully appointed and contemporary in style, the decor and furnishings in my suite are refreshingly simple and lacking in ostentation, with the requisite “wow” factor provided by the stunning views of Bangkok’s downtown skyline afforded by floor-to-ceiling windows on two sides; electric blinds provide full privacy at the touch of a button whenever it’s required. (And naturally my bathroom, which gleams with white marble and mirrors, feels like a movie set.) Although the Rosewood’s Sense spa is by no means the biggest in town, its glorious tranquillity makes it the perfect spot for a much-needed reboot, which I take full advantage of during a blissful one-hour hot-stone treatment.

Other standouts include the Nan Bei Chinese restaurants, which features cuisine from both the north and south of the country, and the Lakorn brasserie that offers both European and Thai selections – though for me the highlight is surely the speakeasy-style Lennon’s bar, which in addition to its list of innovative cocktails houses a collection of some 6,000 vinyl discs that must surely rank as some kind of record (pun unintended) in this part of the world.

I haven’t mentioned the Rosewood’s location – and I should, because it could hardly be more convenient. The Chitlom BTS Skytrain station is literally downstairs and the property sits right on the Ploenchit-Sukhumvit axis, meaning offices and a host of major shopping and dining destinations are just minutes away, while smooth expressway transfers to and from Bangkok’s Suvarnabhum airport should take around 40-45 minutes.

With its luxury, superb service, seclusion and convenience, the Rosewood sets the bar even higher in a city already renowned for its impeccable hospitality. It’s definitely worth re-visiting (and not least because the hotel is currently offering a third night’s stay free-of-charge).

(Header: Premier room at the Rosewood Bangkok)

The post Rosewood Bangkok: Bespoke Hospitality at its Best appeared first on Prestige Online - HongKong.

The colour of the season is definitely very pink. As we long for the release of the highly-anticipated Barbie film, here’s where to live out your Barbie fantasies in Thailand.

News surrounding the Barbie live-action movie has brought so much joy to the table already. All eyes have been on this film, from its making until its trailer and promo tour right now. A perfect cast, some very stylish costumes, and a phenomenal soundtrack — Barbie just serves it all. On top of anything else, the setting of the movie has been another thing that is capturing the attention of people, and receiving a lot of praise.

From the hand-painted sky to the Barbie dream house, the Barbie set, and filming locations have been a hot topic in recent months. After all, the production team has been rumoured to use so much pink that it caused a shortage. Whether this was director Greta Gerwig‘s intention or not, it has undeniably caused a lot of hype around the movie. Even in Hong Kong, we can’t wait for Barbie to hit cinemas. Until then, here’s where to live out your Barbie fantasies across Thailand.

Where to live out your Barbie fantasies in Thailand

Baby Bar Bangkok for cafe and bar bites in soft pink

Designed under a theme of rustic elegance, Baby Bar brings a touch of soft pink and ’90s energy to its setting. It is reminiscent of Barbie’s dream house and functions as a cafe by day and a bar by night. Located in the heart of Ari, the pet-friendly bar is known for its good food and drink. When you’re here, definitely go for the Raspberry Toast for that extra touch of pink.

Find more information here

The Barai for red-hot relaxation

Barbie is always so lively, but from time to time, she needs to rest, too. The Barai is where Barbie could go to relax, and do so in stunning red-hot surroundings. Not quite pink but very close, the award-winning destination spa could take your Barbie fantasies to another level. Just a few hours away from Bangkok, this makes for a perfect weekend road trip.

Find more information here

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A retro-chic Barbie dinner at Ojo Bangkok

Part of The Standard, Bangkok Mahanakhon, Ojo restaurant checks all the boxes when it comes to an ideal location for a Barbie dinner. The view from Bangkok’s tallest restaurant here is also a plus. Serving up modern and authentic Mexican dishes, the retro-chic interiors make this one of the city’s most pretty-in-pink restaurants with really good food, drink, and ambience.

Find more information here

Partying it up at Paradise Lost

Paradise Lost is the kind of place Barbie could visit if she wanted to party with a tropical theme. At Paradise Lost, go for some cocktails and enjoy the views of Bangkok from the heart of Siam. Perfect for sunset- or moon-watching, the panoramic views from the top of the Siam@Siam Design Hotel set the scene for a fun night out.

Find more information here

Weekend tripping at The Standard, Hua Hin

When we saw the scene of Barbie and Ken hanging by the beach, the only place that gives out the same Barbie vibe in Thailand is surely The Standard, Hua Hin. Despite using more yellow hues than pink, we can still totally imagine Barbie hanging out by the pool and beach here. If she wanted to bring her pets, luckily, The Standard, Hua Hin is pet-friendly, too. From the various dining outlets to the activities like mud spa and kite-surfing, it’s the ideal Barbie-inspired getaway in Thailand.

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Pink Bar for a glass of bubbly

If pink is the first thing that comes to mind when you think of Barbie, why fight it? This place is the most obvious Barbie location in Bangkok. Its name alone says enough. Located inside the Lebua Hotel, Pink Bar is a luxurious and scenic location that serves only fine French champagne labels. A quick meet-up with your girls, a romantic date, or a special celebration: Pink Bar is on point for all.

Find more information here

Fashion and tea at Sretsis Parlour

The fun Thai fashion house has a cafe, too. Sretsis Parlour is another must-visit place when it comes to living your Barbie fantasies in Thailand. The choice of decoration adds a vintage vibe that will lead you to another aspect of Barbie. Indulge in signature cakes and pair them with teas and cocktails for a beautiful afternoon.

Find more information here

This story first appeared on Lifestyle Asia Hong Kong.

[Main image and featured image credit: The Standard, Hua Hin]

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South Korea is known for its beauty and skincare rituals – we came to the right place when we checked into the Four Seasons Hotel Seoul.

Centres of gravity shift in many cities, as established areas seem staid for a while and newer parts of town steal their glamour – and then the old order returns and things settle down again to the way they used to be. Such is certainly the case in Seoul, when for a couple of decades the Gangnam area was deemed the only place to be, but these days the city’s traditional centre on the north side of the Han River is back to being as sophisticated and desirable as it ever was. Indeed, if you were searching for proof, just check in for a few nights, as I did, at the Four Seasons Hotel Seoul, a gleaming 29-storey tower of steel and glass that opened in 2015 and sits almost equidistant from the Gyeongbokbung and Deoksugung palaces. In other words, it could hardly be more central or convenient.

During my stay at the Four Seasons, I was fortunate enough to be able to take advantage of the hotel’s Timeless Beauty room package in association with the premium Korean beauty brand The History of Whoo, so on entering my spacious room, with its elegant melding of traditional saetgollai textiles juxtaposed with contemporary arts and crafts – and fabulous cross-town views through its floor-to-ceiling windows – I discovered a Whoo Hwanyu Imperial Youth Discovery Kit, packed with luxurious ingredients for the ultimate beauty ritual and exquisitely wrapped in organza. If that weren’t enough, a 40-minute Whoo Hwanyu spa facial was also included in the package, which turned out to be so deliciously indulgent that I can hardly remember any of it, having promptly nodded off almost as soon as it began.

As for the hotel’s spa and fitness facilities, they’re absolutely enormous – in fact, they’re easily the biggest I’ve seen, taking up three floors, an incredible area of more than 57,000 square feet (which is only slightly smaller than a soccer field), and encompassing just about every kind of treatment room imaginable, with some areas of the vast sauna – where cold, warm and hot baths are available – extravagantly tiled in 18k gold. And if that weren’t enough there’s even an indoor golf range.

Other highlights? My white-marble bathroom with deep tub; the outstanding array of dishes from around Asia and the world at the Market Kitchen restaurant, meaning I began each day by eating like a queen; the André Fu-designed Yu Yuan Chinese restaurant; and OUL, the hotel’s watering hole where a trio of History of Whoo-inspired cocktails was available, as well as a menu of beautifully presented dishes to satisfy any late-night hunger pangs. With facilities such as these, not to mention service to match, this is the kind of hotel it’s difficult to tear yourself away from, so when the time eventually came around for me to check out, saying goodbye to the Four Seasons Hotel Seoul was hard. Very hard indeed.

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Rarely has the Eternal City met the Land of the Rising Sun quite so enticingly than in the form of the Bvlgari Hotel Tokyo, which has just opened in an exalted location atop the Midtown Yaesu Tower, which is close to the Nihombashi and Marunouchi financial districts and Gina’s shopping and dining haven, and just mere steps away from the Japanese capital’s main railway station.

Milan-based architects Antonio Citterio and Patricia Viel are again responsible for the hotel’s public spaces – the visionary duo has designed all nine Bvlgari hotels so far, counting the Bvlgari Roma that just opened in the company’s motherland this month. We arrive at the Tokyo hotel just weeks following its grand opening to check ourselves in for a two-night stay.

The hotel occupies the 40th to 45th floors of the ultra-skyscraper Tokyo Midtown Yaesu. And while the hotel’s entrance proves a little hard to find at first – it serves a purpose: to give its clientele adequate discretion and privacy as they enter the premises and proceed up to the 40th-floor lobby to check in. And upon arrival, heavy doors glide open to reveal a lobby so magnificent we audibly gasp.

Bvlgari is proudly Roman, and so is the hotel and its aesthetic – but rather than overtly Italian codes, the hotel oozes with quiet luxury. Think contemporary Italian design with equally legendary Japanese craftsmanship – Venetian glass, Carrara marble, traditional Kyoto fabrics, Zen gardens and woodwork come together to offer something that contrives to be both glamorous and serene.

The Bvlgari branding exists – perfumed in the air and imprinted into the walls with its fan-shaped Diva pattern, and as our feet pitter-patter on top of the eight-point marble Stella star that’s tiled into the lobby floors. And, most visibly, bright glass enclaves that display some of Bvlgari’s most distinct designs, like a five-spiral rose-gold and steel Serpenti watch, or a high jewellery necklace.

Out of the 98 rooms and suites available, we find ourselves situated in a spacious Deluxe Room with sweeping views of the city below as far as the eye could see. (We spent one of the nights with our black-out blinds up, succumbing to the lulling twinkle of the city’s lights at night and waking up to the most spectacular sunrises.) Vintage ads and jewellery books deck the room, which also comes with a massive walk-in wardrobe and vanity room kitted out with Bvlgari-branded toiletries.

And if it’s Italian hospitality to ensure you’re well-fed and well-rested, then trust Bvlgari to do this really well. Every night we were there, we were treated to a different assortment of Italian sweets and fresh Japanese fruits, plus a thermos of soothing tea at turn-down service.

There’s no shortage of places to wine and dine in the heart of Tokyo, but within the Bvlgari Hotel, the gourmet can still find one-of-a-kind surprises. Sushi Hōseki, a Japanese concept that started at the Bvlgari Resort Dubai, is also brought over to Tokyo, an exclusive 8-seater restaurant that overlooks a private Japanese rock garden, and helmed by Japanese Kenji Gyoten, who has three Michelin stars from his namesake restaurant Sushi Gyoten.

Niko Romito’s Il Ristorante also sets up home at the Bvlgari Hotel Tokyo, offering authentic Italian fare as well as the most decadent breakfast spreads. The Italian breakfast comes with a large assortment of breads and pastries that are accompanied with Italian imported butters, preserves and olive oils. The Japanese breakfast is, in our opinion, the lighter option, but still comes with a great assortment of pickled and fresh vegetables, simmered and salt-grilled meats, piping hot broth and seasonal fruits to finish.

Most hotels around Tokyo do very well to enable the traveller to discover the city – what Bvlgari does incredibly well in addition to this is how well it entices you to stay put. On an incredibly rainy afternoon, we fully immerse ourselves at the pool within the 1,000-square-metre Bvlgari Spa, including the Bvlgari Hotel’s signature vitality pool that’s adorned with a gold mosaic wall for the ultimate luxury touch. The gym is also state-of-the-art, with enough equipment and space to delight any fitness junkie. Personal training sessions can also be booked beforehand.

And before we know it, it’s time to leave. We wave goodbye to the dolce vita celebrity images and glitzy photoshoots from the ’60s that line the walls and return our key card, only then spotting the beautifully detailed sketch of a bonsai and Mount Fuji amongst Bvlgari’s stars on the cover. The attention to details, we tell you! We ask to keep a copy and the staff happily oblige. And before we really leave for good, they ply us with a bottle of hand-pressed olive oil, exclusively crafted for the hotel’s opening, and a deliciously sentimental parting gift. We’ll be back, we promise – if not for the night, which costs HK$15,000 on the official website, at least for a night tipple at the rooftop bar.

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If you’re looking for inspiration for your current or new home but find yourself stumped, why not check out some of the most luxurious and expensive homes in the world?

While some might want gorgeous swimming pools and tennis courts, others might want their expensive house to have its very own power plant or a revolving dance floor. And, these don’t exist only in castles that you build in the air, but also in reality as some of the most expensive luxurious houses have them all and even more.

With bespoke luxury features and unimaginable state-of-the-art amenities, even terms like ‘palatial mansions’ fall short before these properties. Reflecting the architect’s thoughts, some of the most expensive homes are designed to resist and adapt to all kinds of natural calamities as well as accommodate an incredibly large number of heads.

With an estimated value running into millions of dollars, these houses define luxury, opulence and grandeur at their best. Merging art with modernity and unique technologies, these expensive properties depict the taste and personality of their owners, who, undoubtedly, have an unmatched stature.

Numerous bedrooms, bowling alleys, squash courts or even a snow room — name it and it’s there. Whether spread over several square metres or standing tall as vertical palaces, some of the most impressive houses in the world are beyond words indeed.

Here are some of the most expensive houses in the world to take inspiration from:

Buckingham Palace

With an estimated value of nearly USD 1.6 billion as per a May 2022 Bloomberg report, the 775-bedroom official residence belonging to the British Royal Family, since 1837, is reportedly the most expensive house in the world. However, it is a Crown property in technical terms. This figure shot up by over USD 106 million (Rs 8,676 million approximately) post-pandemic.

Wonder what’s in the Buckingham Palace? Besides 188 staff rooms, 52 royal and guest bedrooms, 78 bathrooms, 92 offices and 19 staterooms, the palace is spread over around 77,000 square metres and the sprawling garden itself is over 1.6 lakh square metres.

Antilia

Known as the second most expensive house in the world, Antilia is the residence of Mukesh Ambani, chairman and managing director of Reliance Industries Limited. This Mumbai residence is not only a major landmark of the city but also among the most prominent addresses in the country.

According to a report by GQ dated March 2022, this striking vertical palace has an estimated value of nearly USD 1 billion and has some out-of-the-world features and amenities. Designed by Chicago-based architecture firm Perkins&Will and California–based hospitality design company Hirsch Bedner Associates, encompassing an area of around 37,200 square metres, Antilia has 27 floors with extra high ceilings. It also has a private ice cream outlet, private movie theatre, a huge temple, sprawling terrace gardens and many luxurious guest rooms.

This mammoth building is designed in a way that despite its height, it can withstand earthquakes of magnitude 8 on the Richter scale. It also has a health spa, nine high-speed elevators, a ballroom and yoga studio as well as a six-storied parking space to accommodate the incredibly large fleet of luxury cars belonging to the Ambani family. Additionally, to escape the scorching heat, there is also an in-house snow room.

Villa Leopolda

Known as the third largest house in the world as well as the third most expensive, there are reasons behind why the most superlative adjectives fall short before Villa Leopolda. Owned by Russian billionaire Mikhail Prokhorov, this stunning property, located in the French Riviera between Monaco and Nice, in Cote d’Azur Region, has had a long list of former elite owners including Gianni and Marella Agnelli, Izaak and Dorothy J. Killam and Lily Safra, the wife of late Lebanese-Brazilian banker Edmund Safra.

Tagged at an estimated value of USD 750 million, this massive property has some of the most unthinkable features and amenities. Occupying an area of over 2 lakh square metres, Villa Leopolda has 11 bedrooms, 14 bathrooms, a commercial greenhouse, a helipad, an outdoor kitchen and one of the most gorgeous swimming pools you may have ever seen. It also featured as a principal shooting location in the 1995 Alfred Hitchcock movie To Catch A Thief.

This heritage property derives its name from its first owner — King Leopold II of Belgium. It was later redesigned by American architect Ogden Codman Jr, who rendered a Neo-Palladian touch to the estate.

Villa Les Cèdres

According to a report by Business Insider in 2020, Villa Les Cèdres has an estimated value of around USD 413 million, as listed by Campari, the Italian beverage company. This made it one of the most luxurious and expensive houses in the world. The stunning property is located in Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat on the French Riviera.

Built roughly around 1830, the house spells royalty at every corner and was bought by King Leopold II of Belgium in 1904. Spread over an area of around 1,670 square metres, the historic Villa Les Cèdres, named after the many Cedar trees that lace its perimeter, has jaw-dropping amenities infused with the classic European old-world charm.

14 bedrooms, an Olympic-size swimming pool, around 1.5 lakh square metres of well-maintained gardens, a ballroom, huge stables for 30 horses, an archaic library, an artificial lily pad pond, exquisite woodworks, grand sitting areas, ornate paintings and unparalleled views of the Mediterranean Sea — this luxury house personifies royal living to the core.

In 2019, Ukrainian billionaire and businessman Rinat Akhmetov bought this luxury house for a whopping USD 221 million from Campari.

Odeon Tower Penthouse

In the list of most expensive houses in the world, it is impossible to leave out the most expensive penthouse in the world — the Odeon Tower Penthouse in Monaco. According to a 2021 report by The Richest, this colossal residential address has an estimated value of over USD 355 million and is housed inside Monaco’s La Tour Odeon tower.

Situated at a short distance from Place du Casino and the bustling centre of Monaco, and designed by architect Alexandre Girardi and developed by Groupe Marzocco, this sky penthouse occupies an area of 3,500 square metres and has over five storeys.

A 360-degree infinity pool, an indoor private water slide letting guests get right into the pool from an upper floor, its own private elevator, five kitchens spread throughout each floor, a dance floor, a luxurious bathroom, and even staff bedrooms — this luxurious home, overlooking the azure waters of the Mediterranean Sea, knows no limits.

Not just these, the La Tour Odeon is the tallest building in the area with a height of 170 metres and offers premium amenities including 24/7 concierge service, valet parking, shuttle service, a business centre and a spa.

18-19 Kensington Palace and Gardens

Though it is difficult to quote the current value of this multi-million dollar neo-Georgian mansion, the estimated value of 18-19 Kensington Palace ranges between USD 222 million to USD 254 million as per various reports. Kensington Palace Gardens is undoubtedly one of the most elite streets in the UK which houses royalty, business tycoons, rich celebrities as well as sports stars.

Owned by Indian steel tycoon Lakshmi Mittal, the building has a rich history. Previous ownership of this lavish estate has names like the de Rothschild family who moved in the 1920s, following which it served as Egyptian and Russian embassies. It was also owned by art dealer David Khalili in the late 1990s and then by Formula 1 chief Bernie Ecclestone in the early 2000s before the Mittals took over.

This Italian palazzo style villa comprises two semi-detached houses and a huge array of amenities making it a grand estate. Encompassing an area of over 5,000 square metres, the mansion features 12 bedrooms, Turkish baths, an indoor pool and parking for 20 cars. After the Mittal family purchased it, the mansion came to be known as ‘Taj Mittal.’

Four Fairfield Pond

As per a March 2022 report by The Richest, the splendid New York property at Sagaponack, Four Fairfield Pond, has an estimated value of over USD 248 million. It is owned by Ira Rennert, the chairman and CEO of Renco Group, a holding investment company in the auto manufacturing and smelting sector.

The nearly 5,800 square metres property is ranked among the most expensive houses in the world and rightfully so. The report says, Rennert began the construction of his dream house in the latter half of the 1990s. This marvellous Italian Renaissance-style mansion is spread over a huge area of nearly 2.5 lakh square metres and features 21 bedrooms and 18 bathrooms along with other buildings such as a playhouse and two pool houses.

Other lavish state-of-the-art amenities include a 164-seat theatre with a large stage, a 27 m long dining room, a private power plant, a huge water tank of around 19,000 litres, a bowling alley, a basketball court, tennis courts and three swimming pools. The Four Fairfield Pond is also home to a massive garage that can park around 100 cars. The mansion also has a private hot tub, helipad and helicopter as well as a colossal art collection.

Palazzo di Amore

Another of the most expensive houses in the world is this one located in Beverly Hills, California estate which has an estimated value of USD 129 million as per Veranda. Owned by real estate entrepreneur and American politician Jeff Greene, the property is spread throughout an area of over 4,900 square metres.

The 12 bedrooms and 25 bathrooms is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the opulence of Palazzo di Amore. The mansion houses  numerous swimming pools, tennis courts, waterfalls, a 50-seater theatre and a garage for 27 cars.

There is no dearth of entertainment options here. Besides a ballroom, DJ booth and bowling alley, there is also a vineyard. A stunning view of the elite neighbourhood is another splendid feature that comes naturally with this amazing house.

Xanadu 2.0

It definitely doesn’t come as a surprise to see one of the richest persons in the world has one of the most expensive houses in the world as well. Belonging to Microsoft founder Bill Gates and his former wife Melinda Gates, Xanadu 2.0 is an incredibly plush address in Medina, Washington and has an estimated value of over USD 130 million (over Rs 10,500 million) as per a 2021 report by MoneyControl.

Designed by James Cutler and Peter Bohlin, and later by Thierry Despont, this residence is replete with state-of-the-art technology and modern features that elevate fine living to a whole new level. Xanadu 2.0 is a stunning waterfront villa built keeping it one with nature and the lush greenery around. It has a high-tech sensory system that regulates temperature and lighting. The mansion is also covered with tall trees, which prevents excess heat loss.

It has a garage for 20 cars, reception halls, a luxurious gym with rocks from the Pacific Northwest, a trampoline room and a spa. It also has an 18 m long swimming pool situated in another building of 360 square metres. The Xanadu 2.0’s library spreads over a 195 square metres area and has a domed roof and secret bookcases too.

Beyoncé and Jay-Z’s Bel Air mansion

Grammy-Award-winner and singer Beyoncé and her husband Jay-Z bought this plush mansion as their family home in 2017 in the Bel Air neighbourhood of Los Angeles, California. Whatever the couple does, they do it in style and this is reflected in this magnificent mansion which has an estimated value of USD 88 million, making it one of the most expensive houses in the world.

Spread over an area of over 2,787 square metres, the mansion comprises six buildings with eight bedrooms and eleven bathrooms. Infusing technology with modernity, each of these buildings is fitted with bullet-proof floor-to-ceiling glass panels, which operate at the press of a button. Besides these, the property also features a black basketball court, four swimming pools, a personal spa and a fitness centre, all of which cover another 1,000 square metres.

(Main image credit: https://www.flickr.com/photos/jeffwilcox / CC BY 2.0/ Wikimedia Commons; Featured image credit: Malkalior at English Wikipedia/ CC BY-SA 3.0/Wikimedia Commons)

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With bespoke luxury decor and incredible state-of-the-art amenities, even terms like ‘palatial mansions’ and ‘megahomes’ fail to do justice to some of the most expensive celebrity homes. From George Clooney’s Villa Oleandra to Mukesh Ambani’s Antilia, houses of famous personalities truly mirror the stature of their owners.

Think seven bedrooms, ten bathrooms, massive swimming pools and tennis courts, in-house theatre, and even helipads — expensive celebrity homes are all about elevated living. Their tasteful designs not only uphold the needs of a modern lifestyle but also reflect the architect’s vision.

Recently, Hollywood music royalty Beyoncé and Jay-Z made headlines when they purchased a USD 200 million Malibu home. With this, the colossal 2,787-sq-m mansion became the most expensive home sold in California, US, and the second-most pricey real estate deal in the country. Perched on a coastline of about 32,000 sq m, it overlooks the Pacific Ocean in the Paradise Cove area (better known as Billionaire’s Row).

Designed by Japanese architect Tadao Ando, the Brutalist-style house is one of the latest additions to the list of most expensive celebrity homes.

Take a look at some of the most expensive celebrity houses in the world

Mukesh Ambani’s Antilia

Valued at: Over USD 2 billion

Known as the most expensive private residence, Antilia is home to Indian industrialist and business tycoon Mukesh Ambani. Located in Mumbai, India, this striking vertical palace has some of the most incredible high-tech amenities.

Designed by Chicago-based architecture firm Perkins&Will and California-based hospitality design company Hirsch Bedner Associates, Antilia covers an area of about 37,200 sq m and has 27 floors with extra high ceilings. The sprawling property also has a private ice cream outlet, three swimming pools, a private movie theatre, a temple and grand terrace gardens. Sun and moon form the central theme of the house and their crystal, pearl and marble motifs are placed all over.

The main house features a health spa, nine high-speed elevators, a ballroom and yoga studio as well as a six-storied parking space to accommodate the Ambanis’ large luxury car collection. Additionally, to escape the scorching heat, there is also an in-house snow room.

The building is specially designed to withstand earthquakes of magnitude 8 on the Richter scale. Taking the list of impressive features sky-high, Antilia has three helipads on its roof.

Bill Gates’ Xanadu 2.0

Valued at: Over USD 130 million

Featuring seven bedrooms, 24 bathrooms, six kitchens and over 6,130 sq m of free living space, this mega mansion opens a window into the lavish lifestyle of Microsoft founder Bill Gates.

Ace architects James Cutler and Peter Bohlin were the minds behind this futuristic paradise while the tech mogul’s former wife, Melinda Gates personally appointed Thierry Despont for interior design. A statewide-server system and the highest levels of security are just the tip of the iceberg as Xanadu 2.0 provides guests with a unique pin that lets them customise room temperatures, lighting and music. Even the walls are equipped with digital screens, which change the art on display automatically.

A trampoline room with 6-m-high ceilings, a steam room, a sauna and a gym of over 2,322 sq m are some of the high-end amenities that make up this expensive celebrity home. A 195-sq-m private library is another highlight of Gates’s home. Two secret bookcases with rare books, a hidden bar, and a 16th-century manuscript of Leonardo da Vinci’s Codex Leicester, valued at around USD 30.8 million, are housed in this library.

Featuring a stunning dock and a lakefront shore, where the white sand is brought in from the Caribbean, Xanadu 2.0 provided the most ideal backdrop for daughter Jennifer Gates’ bridal shower in 2021.

Built out of 500 Douglas fir trees and seven types of stones, the house exudes a rustic feel while a man-made stream, filled with salmon and other fishes, provides much-needed tranquillity at the high-tech estate. To ensure utmost privacy, this real estate gem is surrounded by other pieces of land which Gates had bought for about USD 14 million.

George Clooney’s Villa Oleandra

Valued at: Over USD 100 million

Previously owned by the renowned tomato ketchup manufacturers, the Heinz family, this gorgeous 18th-century Italian villa had several noted owners before George Clooney purchased it in 2002 for a meagre USD 7 million.

Located on the western banks of Lake Como in the quaint town of Laglio, this expensive celebrity home has three floors. The 25-room casa boasts manicured lawns and gorgeous gardens, a tennis court, an outdoor swimming pool, a gym, a theatre and a large garage for the Hollywood actor’s fleet of vintage motorcycles and cars. A pizza room for some freshly baked goodness accentuates the Italian touch of the villa.

Isolated patios surrounded by nature offer the most pristine sunset views ever. The fact that Clooney and his lawyer-activist wife Amal met at this home for the first time adds to its charm.

Villa Oleandra has been host to many high-profile guests, including former US President Barack Obama, Prince Harry, Meghan Markle, Julia Roberts and the cast of Ocean’s Twelve (2004). When such people drop in to say ‘Ciao’, ensuring privacy becomes crucial. As a result, Clooney bought the adjacent Villa Margherita as well.

George Lucas’ Skywalker Ranch

Valued at: Over USD 100 million

One of the most expensive celebrity homes, George Lucas’ Skywalker Ranch takes its name after the cult Star Wars film series. And, even though the filmmaker doesn’t officially reside here, that did not stop him from splurging on developing this 19-sq-km California estate.

Situated at Nicasio in Marin County, California, the Skywalker Ranch started as a small plot of land in 1978 and since then, it has grown to be Lucas’ occasional retreat. The ranch is the base of the sound effect company Skywalker Sound, housed inside a 14,213-sq-m Technical Building. It features a world-class scoring stage, six feature mix stages, 15 sound design suites, 50 editing suites, an ADR stage, two Foley stages and the 300-seat Stag Theater.

The Skywalker Ranch also features the iconic Main House and the beautiful Lake Ewok. The 4,645-sq-m Main House has the Lucasfilm research library. With a façade of an 1869 Victorian cattle rancher’s home, it is fitted with a stained-glass ceiling, a grand spiral staircase and wooden walls and features innumerable film-related books.

Besides the buildings, the real working ranch takes elevated country living to the next level. An animal barn, a fruits and vegetable garden, an outdoor pool, a fitness centre, a vineyard, a bee colony, an olive tree grove, a fire station and a restaurant make it a dream getaway.

Additionally, the ranch has a hilltop observatory as well as a huge hidden parking space. Several Star Wars-themed properties and a giant Yoda statue complete the property.

Beyoncé and Jay-Z’s Bel Air mansion

Valued at: Over USD 88 million

Featuring four outdoor swimming pools, an all-black basketball court, a home theatre and a 15-car parking area, the Los Angeles home of Grammy-winning artist Beyoncé and her husband, Jay Z, is a “Flawless” piece of property. This Bel Air residency was designed by Dean McKillen.

The couple purchased the mega mansion in 2017 and since then, it has served as their family home. Encompassing an area of about 7,284 sq m, the house has eight bedrooms and 11 bathrooms. A chic, ceramic-tiled backyard and floor-to-ceiling windows allow ample sunlight to brighten up the space and offer outstanding views of the surroundings. The sprawling gardens serve as the perfect setting for Queen Bey’s luxe photoshoots.

There is also an infinity pool laced with dark hardwood floors and grey patio furniture. A fireplace, an outdoor kitchen and a tiki bar surround it. A plush monochrome living room, a relaxed beige and cream-themed family room and an expansive art collection — featuring works of the likes of Awol Erizku, Kerry James Marshall, David Hammons, Richard Prince and Laurie Simmons — make the palatial abode worthy of the stars.

Limestone stairs, bullet-proof windows, lavish upholsteries and a high-power backup generator are some other features of this expensive celebrity home.

Jeff Bezos’ Maui estate

Valued at: Around USD 78 million

Amazon founder and space enthusiast Jeff Bezos is also known for his colossal real estate investments. This Hawaiian paradise on La Perouse Bay rests on a sizeable 56.65 sq m, wherein the main house occupies about 413 sq m and the guest house takes up another 170 sq m.

While the main structure has three bedrooms and three bathrooms, the guest house has two bedrooms and 2.5 bathrooms. Besides these, a third establishment of 168 sq m, containing three bedrooms and one bathroom, is also a part of the property.

The secluded mega beach house has a Hawaiian fish pond and white sand. It sits between Ahihi-Kinau Natural Area Reserve and dormant lava fields. The area also holds archaeological significance, as Maui Times reports, “The land contains 10 archaeological sites…[which] include the remains of an old Hawaiian church where some congregants would arrive by canoe until the priest committed suicide before the Second World War.”

Kim Kardashian’s Malibu house

Valued at: USD 70 million

You know a property is luxurious and opulent when Kim Kardashian takes out a mortgage worth USD 48.7 million to acquire it. The Keeping Up With The Kardashian (2007-2021) star scooped up this lavish Maui home from actor Barret Swatek and her husband, investor Adam Weiss. One of the most expensive celebrity homes, this Mediterranean-style villa previously belonged to Cindy Crawford and Rande Gerber.

The 692-sq-m villa sits on a land parcel of over 12,000 sq m. Besides four bedrooms and five-and-a-half bathrooms, this expensive celebrity home has a plush living space offering uninterrupted views of the ocean. There is also a waterfront family room-cum-dining space that opens into a patio. An outdoor swimming pool, a cabana fireplace, a tennis court and exclusive beach access are some of the amenities of this house.

The Weeknd’s Bel Air mansion

Valued at: USD 70 million

Even though the property was not publicly listed, it still fetched a whopping amount, thanks to the jaw-dropping amenities and a posh neighbourhood. Canadian R&B singer Abel Tesfaye, better known as The Weeknd, bought the 3,065-sq-m house from Dutch socialites Reinout and Danielle Oerlemans.

The house is perched on a 6,474-sq-m estate and offers a panoramic view of the Bel Air Country Club. Besides nine bedrooms, the mansion has a full-size sports court, a spa, a sauna, a hammam, indoor and outdoor pools, an outdoor infinity pool with a waterfall, a movie theatre, a gym and a music studio.

The living space is fitted with a black marble fireplace while coffered ceilings roof the office space and formal dining area. Floor-to-ceiling walls, open terraces, gourmet kitchen with state-of-the-art appliances and premium fixtures justify the hefty price tag.

Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie’s Chateau Miraval

Valued at: USD 61 million

A classic French property, Chateau Miraval seems like a place straight out of postcards. Earlier owned by US business tycoon Tom Bove, the property was jointly bought by Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie in 2008. However, according to People, the former actor couple did not officially purchase it until 2012, prior to which they had taken it on lease to raise their children. It was also the location for their much-talked-about 2014 wedding.

Located in Correns in Southern France, this expensive celebrity home is spread over nearly 5 sq km. It has 35 bedrooms, a banquet, private vineyards, indoor and outdoor pools and a gym. The plush property rests amidst greenery and is bordered by a moat. Besides fountains, aqueducts, a pond and a Romanesque chapel, Chateau Miraval has a home cinema, a video game room, a dirt bike course, as well as a helipad.

The palatial estate has been a major part of the couple’s controversial divorce. In 2022, Pitt sued Jolie for selling her share of the profitable vineyard to Russian oligarch, Yuri Shefler. The Once Upon A Time… In Hollywood (2019) actor stated that both parties had entered into an agreement that neither would sell their interest in the property without the other’s consent. However, Jolie sold it without’s Pitt’s knowledge.

Kim Kardashian’s Calabasas minimalistic abode

Valued at: USD 60 million

The list of luxury celebrity homes cannot be complete without Kim K’s minimalist home. The Skkims founder bought the house with her then-husband Kanye West, now officially known as Ye, in 2014. However, after the split, she paid the rapper USD 23 million for complete ownership of the house and its belongings.

The impressive monochromatic LA house has made waves on the internet for its basinless sinks and massive odd-looking bathtubs in the grand beige-themed bathroom. The house, designed by Axel Vervoordt, has very little colour gradient and the only splash comes from the carefully curated toys in the kids’ playroom and North’s pink bedroom.

An empty entrance, simple hallways, a wooden kitchen, a rather deserted master bedroom, a tennis court, lush greenery, cosy yet sparse coffee corners and various interactive art installations make the Calabasas abode a unique home.

(Hero image credit: Beyoncé/@beyonce/Instagram; Feature image credit: Henry Kellner, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons)

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Bugatti jumps on the bandwagon of branded residences by building its very own skyscraper. The automotive industry is on a roll. Following the debut of Aston Martin and Bentley‘s buildings, Bugatti is revealing its residence in Dubai, launched in partnership with Emirati developer Binghatti.

Aptly named, the luxury automaker’s new venture is a 42-storey tower in the city’s Business Bay area. It represents a futuristic oasis with a flowing structure fitted with linear balconies. In the interior of the building, Bugatti’s luxurious design reigns, featuring a gold-hued foyer, floor-to-ceiling windows and marble and light wooden decor that make way for natural light. Fancy, right?

The ultra-modern residence comprises 171 Riviera Mansions and 11 Sky Mansion Penthouses that come equipped with customisation and multi-use layouts. Residents also have access to two garage-to-penthouse car lifts, naturally. 

Amenities include a full-on Riviera-inspired beach (!), private pool and jacuzzi spa, fitness club, chef’s table and a members’ club, as well as the usual valets, chauffeurs and concierge services.

Do you wish to be a part of this luxurious abode in Dubai? Find out more about the by Binghatti and how you can cop a unit of your own on the official website.

This story first appeared here.

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Fashion and automobile brands are invading the real estate circle with luxurious branded residences. Read on to find your favourite luxury brands in new light.

The identity of a brand can be openly expressed in the space and design of a residence. Therefore, if you really trust the brand’s taste and signature style, you’re quite guaranteed to also love their statement-making homes or branded residences.

5 branded residences that are a dream to live in

Bulgari Resort and Residences

The Italian jewellery brand tapped into hospitality with its first Bulgari Hotel Milano in 2004. In recent years, the brand has acquired what seems like a whole territory on Dubai’s Jumeirah Bay under the name ‘Bulgari Resort and Residences.’ The huge property opened in 2017 with 173 apartments and 15 mansions in addition to the hotel’s guestrooms. However, even more grandiose residences are coming. The new Bulgari Lighthouse will be a high-rise building that boasts 31 penthouses plus a seven-bedroom Villa in the Sky on the rooftop. The new property will open in 2027.

Armani Hotels

While Giorgio Armani is known for many things, whether it be clothing, leather works, or cosmetics, they’re also experienced in the hospitality field. Armani Hotels are scattered worldwide, as well as Armani branded homes which are located in London, Dubai, Istanbul, Beijing, and more. Another project coming up is the Armani flagship in New York which has 19 apartments sitting on top of the store. The construction is expected to be completed this 2023.

Porsche Design Tower

Porsche entered the real estate world in 2017 with its first Porsche Design residential tower in Miami. The one-of-a-kind apartment block provides 132 luxurious residences with several privileges including a Dezervator system, an elevator that takes the residents and their vehicles up straight to their units. Other highlights include the magnificent views of the adjacent Atlantic Ocean, a private restaurant, private cinema, and a racing simulator.

Bentley Residences

Coming up in Miami in 2026, the first Bentley Residences will sit facing the Atlantic Ocean, which can be admired through the floor-to-ceiling windows in each of the rooms. The Dezervator vehicular elevator is also present here, along with three levels of Bentley Home amenities. Expect to find a lounge and whiskey bar, cigar lounge, outdoor yoga studio, spa, restaurants, and an in-suite dining service amongst the facilities.

Aston Martin Residences

From studios to penthouses, the 391-unit Aston Martin Residences is a sophisticated space. Beyond the floor-to-ceiling windows are the panoramic views of Biscayne Bay and the Miami River. For the most exciting part of all, the triplex penthouse offers not just a home but also a vehicle with the special Aston Martin Vulcan race car that comes with the property.

[Hero and featured image credit: Bulgari]

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Explore the brand new alpine retreat in the picturesque landscape of Hokkaido – MUWA NISEKO grand opening in December 2023.

The powdery slopes of Niseko enchant with their grandeur, glowing as if covered in forever pure angel dust. Right at the foot of a heavenly mountain shrouded in a soft blanket of eternal snow is Grand Hirafu village – a coveted sanctuary for the skiers old and young, conquerors of the elements and aspirants looking to repose. And in the frosty month of December, a new haven for those looking to revel in the most glamorous of winter sports opens its doors – MUWA NISEKO, a brand-new luxurious all-season retreat.

MUWA is situated at the highest vantage of the biggest ski resort in Niseko – Grand Hirafu Resort – which offers access to extensive terrain for winter sports and vibrant nightlife in a unique international atmosphere and bustling F&B scene. MUWA NISEKO’s proud location brings unparalleled ski-in & out access to its fortunate residents – some fortunate enough to have an unrivalled ski-in & out terrace! With a direct connection to three lifts and the speedy gondola, MUWA NISEKO is a gateway to the days spent in the world-class powdery snow.

Inspired by Japanese tradition and aesthetics, MUWA NISEKO offers the guests a range of exquisitely designed, well-appointed lodgings from elegant studios to luxurious penthouses. With every detail carefully curated, each of 113 apartments becomes one’s own sanctuary displaying sophisticated living and dining areas, serene bedrooms with en-suite bathrooms. The larger suites feature an outdoor rotenburo bath set against breathtaking views across the mountains, as well as a private sauna and fireplace providing authentic Japanese relaxation and romantic alpine experiences in your private paradise.

With a holistic focus on wellness, MUWA NISEKO houses refined amenities like no other – the luxurious spa offers a range of treatments and pampering rituals that draw upon ancient healing philosophies,the private infinity onsen, one-of-a-kind in Niseko where the guests can soak in the thermal baths while admiring sweeping views of Mt. Yotei and enjoying an exquisite tea selection. To further elevate your stay, MUWA NISEKO invites you on an unparalleled gastronomic voyage, which showcases the finest seasonal ingredients from Hokkaido. The local eatery Hito (consulted by a one-Michelin-star restaurant Tacubo) offers an incredible array of all-day dining made with the special wood-fired grilling technique, while ‘Hiyama’, a famous sukiyaki restaurant in Tokyo, brings you closer to the traditional Japanese cuisine.

MUWA promises comfort of home and luxury of 5-star hotel in an extraordinary natural setting of Hokkaido. Ownership offers privileged access to onsite facilities and dedicated concierge service such as private transportation and tour programs, providing everything needed to enjoy the best of Hokkaido’s seasonal experiences and outdoor activities. MUWA NISEKO is preparing to welcome guests for the upcoming 23/24 winter season starting from August for an ultimate memorable powdery holiday.

For more information, click here

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If you’re in the market for a pad perfect for corporate scheming and hi-so debauchery with a large enough shower so you can cry because your father doesn’t love you, then look no further. The apartments that belong to Succession’s Kendall and Roman Roy are for sale.

If you watch Succession and you find yourself wanting to be a Roy, then you probably need therapy. But once you get that out of the way, you’ll be glad to know that you could take a simple step towards becoming the media magnate that you always dreamed of being: by buying one of the Roy brothers’ apartments. With just a few bucks—and by “few”, I mean “a few million”—you could be the proud owner of a gorgeous New York apartment featured in HBO’s Succession. And hey, if you’ve got a “few” more bucks, maybe you can even buy them both.

Kendall and Roman Roy’s apartments from Succession are for sale 

Roman Roy’s Upper West Side bachelor pad is located at 200 Amsterdam and occupies two floors. The penthouse, obviously located in one of New York’s most prestigious neighbourhoods, offers stunning panoramic views that include Central Park and the Hudson River. It boasts four bedrooms and four-and-a-half bathrooms with a design that’s pretty modern but also blends in touches of retro. All of this comes at a cool USD $38 million.

Meanwhile, Kendall Roy’s five-bedroom four-bathroom penthouse is located on the opposite side of the city in the Upper East Side, most likely because you want to stay as far away from your annoying brother. Located at 180 East 88th Street, this apartment is three stories, yet another thing that signifies you’re the older and better brother. Floor-to-ceiling windows, a panoramic skyline, a Central Park view, and a 3,500-square-foot outdoor space make this property worthy of a media executive. Of course, it also comes with a price tag worthy of a media executive: USD $29 million. 

Fans of Succession, or at least those with the budget to spare, should definitely get a move on if they want to nab one of these places to call home. These apartments are certainly easier to get compared to the love of a domineering and cold-hearted father. 

[Hero image: William Laird]

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Finally, you can be the ice-cold queen you’ve always wanted to be now that Miranda Priestly’s New York townhouse from The Devil Wears Prada is up for grabs.

If you’ve ever dreamed of being as cool as Meryl Streep, or maybe you want to be a boss that’s so unreachable and the complete opposite of “down to earth”, or you’re just a fan of the 2006 film, then this house is definitely for you. This New York townhouse, which served as Miranda Priestly’s home in the movie, is now for sale, and it’s definitely a townhouse fit for the editor-in-chief of Runway.

[Hero image: 20th Century]

The New York townhouse Miranda Priestly lived in The Devil Wears Prada is for sale

The beautiful limestone townhouse is located at 129 East 73rd Street between Park and Lex in New York’s iconic and prestigious Upper East Side. According to Curbed, Stanford White designed the townhouse all the way back in 1906. While it has also been years since the film came out, the townhouse remains in utterly gorgeous condition. 

Fans of the film will recognise a number of the house’s features, like the carpeted staircase and the foyer, which were featured in the scene when Andrea delivers a book to Miranda’s house. As per The Daily Mail, the townhouse has 10 bathrooms and 20 rooms.

Some of the townhouse’s other features include a small caged-in basketball court on the roof, a basement that leads to the garden, a number of fireplaces, and a handful of terraces and balconies. Because it’s also an affluent neighbourhood, don’t be surprised when you’re taking a jog and you run into some famous faces. Gloria Steinem, for example, lives right across the street.

Last but not least, Curbed has made a very important note that the “upholstery and light fixtures are blue. A particular shade — not just blue, not turquoise, not lapis. Cerulean.”

All of this comes at a cool price of USD $27 million. If you have that kind of cash lying around, it would be best to be quick about snagging up this beautiful abode. But by all means, move at a glacial pace. You know how much that thrills me. 

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Buildings tell stories that span several decades — and sometimes even centuries. They provide glimpses into cultures, traditions and technology of the age they belong to. In this manner, they connect civilisations to the all-pervading time and become nodal points on the contours of human history. Of course, many of these buildings are also among the most expensive in the world.

The actual cost of a building is understood as the money spent on its construction. This can also include costs incurred for land acquisition, modifications to existing structures, minor buildings that form part of the project, and other similar expenditures connected to the main project. However, it can still be difficult to assess the exact cost of a building. This could be because of the age of the building and the availability of records, among many other reasons.

Yet, all expensive buildings convey a singular message — that the land on which they stand is economically mighty. Indeed, all of them are in developed countries, which are among the highest scorers on social and human development indexes.

Some of the most expensive buildings in the world

Masjid Al-Haram, Saudi Arabia

Also known as the Great Mosque of Mecca, the Masjid Al-Haram is the largest mosque in the world. It is built around the Kaaba, the holiest shrine in Islam. The mosque is the destination for millions of Muslims who undertake pilgrimages of the Hajj and Umrah.

Masjid Al-Haram has undergone several expansions over centuries and, more significantly, in the last 100 years. According to Arab News, its most recent expansion began in 2015 under King Salman bin Abdulaziz, who aimed to increase the mosque’s capacity to accommodate nearly two million worshippers on a 1.5-million-square-metre site.

Some media reports claim that the total cost of the expansion project cost the Saudi Arabian government around USD 100 billion. However, the exact figure is not confirmed.

The UAE’s English-language daily The National said in a report that the estimated construction cost was USD 26.6 billion and that the government paid another USD 35.5 billion to landowners as compensation for the projects. That would bring the total expenditure on the project to around USD 62 billion. Even if the estimated construction cost of USD 26.6 billion is considered, the mosque would still be the costliest building in the world.

It is also noteworthy that whatever the actual figure, it relates only to the expansion costs and not the historic value of the Great Mosque of Mecca.

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Abrāj al-Bait, Saudi Arabia

The Abrāj al-Bait, or Makkah Royal Clock Tower, is a massive skyscraper complex overlooking the Masjid Al-Haram. It is a government-owned complex with seven skyscrapers housing hotels, shopping centres and residential apartments, among other facilities.

It is part of the King Abdulaziz Endowment Project and is instantly recognisable for the central tower building. Standing 601 metres tall, it has the world’s largest clock face on each of its four sides.

Construction of the complex began in 2004 and was completed in 2012. A 2013 CNN report says that the project cost USD 15 billion.

Marina Bay Sands, Singapore

Marina Bay Sands opened in 2010 and instantly became the crown jewel of the Singaporean skyline. It is one of the most recognisable landmarks in the world — one that instantly informs curious travellers that they are in the Lion City.

Developed by Las Vegas Sands Corp., architect Moshe Safdie designed the integrated resort. It comprises three hotel towers, connected by a top-level walkway known as the Sands SkyPark.

To many, the outstandingly beautiful Sands SkyPark looks like a luxury ship sitting on top of the three buildings. Its 15-metre Infinity pool is the world’s largest elevated body of water outdoors.

There are 2,200 hotel rooms in Marina Bay Sands, besides world-class celebrity chef restaurants, Singapore’s largest nightclub, a theatre and a Las Vegas-style casino, among other luxury spaces.

A total of USD 5.7 billion went into the construction of the Marina Bay Sands.

An expansion plan worth USD 3.3 billion was announced in 2022. Among other additions, the expansion will add 1,000 luxury suites to the integrated resort and create an entertainment arena with a 15,000-seat capacity. Another USD 1 billion will be spent on the renovation of the hotel properties. The expansion project is expected to be completed in 2026.

8 of The Most Expensive Penthouses in The World

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The Cosmopolitan, US

The Cosmopolitan is a 3,000-room hotel along the Las Vegas Strip, Nevada. Built at a cost of USD 4 billion, it opened in 2010 with a casino, several restaurants, the Marquee nightclub and a swimming pool on the fourth floor overlooking Las Vegas Boulevard.

Private equity major Blackstone, through Blackstone Real Estate Partners, acquired the property in 2014 from Deutsche Bank for only USD 1.73 billion. According to a report by American commercial real estate media CoStar, Deutsche Bank took the property through foreclosure after its former owner defaulted on a construction loan.

Blackstone worked on the property, which included redesigning guest rooms and adding penthouses, among other uplifts.

Blackstone struck two deals connected to the sale of the property in 2021. One was worth USD 4 billion for the acquisition of the property itself by a collective comprising the Cherng Family Trust, real estate investment firm Stonepeak Partners and Blackstone’s own real estate fund named Real Estate Income Trust Inc.

The second deal was with MGM Resorts, which is in charge of the hotel’s operations. It was worth USD 1.6 billion. Both deals were completed in early 2022. This is why some cite the value of the building as USD 5.6 billion.

SoFi Stadium, US

The SoFI Stadium is both historic and massive — it measures 288,000 square metres in size and is built on the former site of the iconic Hollywood Park Racetrack in Inglewood.

According to the LA Times, the stadium can seat 70,240 people. However, CNN reports that the figure can go up to 100,000.

Home to both the Los Angeles Rams and the Los Angeles Chargers of the National Football League (NFL), the stadium was opened in 2020. Among its several unique design features are the depth of its football field, which lies about 30.4 metres below ground level, and a massive ring-like video screen suspended from above which is larger than the size of the field itself.

The stadium’s construction was financed by Rams owner Stan Kroenke, who spent close to USD 5 billion on it, making it one of the most expensive buildings in the world.

4 Luxury Penthouses Around the World

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Apple Park, US

Built at a cost of USD 5 billion, the iconic headquarters of Apple Inc. is widely considered one of the most impressive office campuses in the world. It is situated in Cupertino, California.

The brainchild of the company’s late co-founder Steve Jobs and designed by architecture firm Foster + Partners, the Apple Park building complex spans an area of 260,128 square metres and comprises multiple buildings as part of the campus.

Its spaceship-shaped main building, which has a circumference of 1.6 kilometres, is the world’s largest naturally ventilated building.

There is also the Steve Jobs Theater measuring 14,807 square metres with a seating capacity of 1,000. A four-floor office building with a cafeteria, a fitness centre with a two-storey yoga studio and a visitor centre are among the other buildings on the property.

The Apple Park is where Apple holds some of its major events, such as Far Out 2022 where the company launched the iPhone 14 and Apple Watch Series 8.

Wynn Palace, China

Located in Macau SAR, Wynn Palace is an integrated resort built by Wynn Resorts. It opened its doors to patrons in 2016, six years after construction began.

Its developers spent USD 4.2 billion on the property, which has 1,706 sumptuous rooms and suites along with an array of restaurants, a spa and a Retail Esplanade.

Every room in Wynn Palace has gold toothbrushes, and its retail space boasts outlets of some of the hottest luxury fashion brands, including Gucci, Prada, Hermes and Chanel. Besides these attractions, Performance Lake’s fountain show can be best experienced from air-conditioned cable cars which are part of the Wynn Palace.

At the time of its opening, its artwork collection was worth over USD 125 million and included a stainless steel Tulips sculpture by Jeff Koons, weighing three tons.

The Wynn Palace takes pride in having earned more Forbes Travel Guide Five Star Awards than any independent hotel company in the world.

One World Trade Center, US

Also known as Freedom Tower, One World Trade Center is an iconic skyscraper in New York City in the US. It stands where the World Trade Center complex — the twin towers that were destroyed in a terrorist attack on 11 September 2001 — once stood.

Its height of 540 metres converts to 1,776 feet, which is a reference to the year when the US Continental Congress approved the Declaration of Independence. The height also makes it the tallest building in the Western Hemisphere.

Designed by architect David Childs of Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (SOM), construction of the 104-storey building started in 2006. Besides being historically, culturally and politically significant, it is also among the most expensive buildings in the world.

Built at a cost of USD 3.8 billion, it eventually opened to the public in 2014. Within four years of its opening, around 8,000 people were working in the building for a range of companies.

The One World Observatory, one of the most significant draws of the tower, is located on the 102nd floor. Opened in 2015, tickets to the observatory start at USD 44 and can go up to USD 74.

Lotte World Tower, South Korea

Standing 555 metres tall in Seoul, the Lotte World Tower is one of the 10 tallest buildings in the world and the most expensive building in South Korea. It has 123 floors and houses a luxury hotel, a number of cafés and a range of galleries. There is also an observation deck and a skywalk, from where the view of Seoul — during the day or night — is mesmerising.

Construction of the building started in 2011 and ended in 2016. Its total cost was around USD 3.25 billion. Its design draws inspiration from traditional Korean writing brushes and ceramics. The tower’s 223 residential accommodations, known as Signiel Residences, are located from the 42nd to the 71st floors.

Above them, spanning seven floors — from 117th to 123rd — is Seoul Sky. Perched at 500 metres, it is one of the world’s highest observation decks.

Next to the tower is the Lotte World Mall, one of the most famous shopping and entertainment destinations in Seoul.

Emirates Palace, UAE

The most striking feature of the Emirates Palace — the luxury five-star hotel owned by the Government of Abu Dhabi — is the golden aura of its 2,000 square metres of ceilings and domes. It gets its sheen from the 22-carat gold leaves and silver that are affixed to the structure and are replaced every four to five years.

A total of 1,002 Swarovski chandeliers across rooms, halls and lobbies add to the opulence of the luxury hotel.

One of the most expensive buildings in the world, the Emirates Palace is among the most famous destinations in Abu Dhabi. It was opened in 2005 and was built at a cost of USD 3 billion. Apart from 394 rooms and suites, the hotel offers several other unparalleled luxuries such as a private beach measuring 1.3 kilometres, multiple swimming pools and a private marina.

The length of the main building is more than a kilometre from one wing to the other. The central dome of the luxury hotel contains gold, the mother of pearls and crystals.

Its guests include everyone, from heads of state to celebrities such as Dwayne Johnson — one of the world’s most-followed icons on Instagram.

(Main image: Carles Rabada/Unsplash; Featured image: Fiaz Mohammed/Unsplash)

This story first appeared here. 

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No.15 Shouson is an impressive collection of luxurious homes – a perfect example of remarkable architecture and landscape design – situated in the calm, green surroundings of Hong Kong’s southside.

Hong Kong is a magnificent city that’s long been a magnet for investors from around the world searching for coveted real estate. Yet over the last few years, the availability of super-prime property has been scarce – until now.

Just on the market, No.15 Shouson is an exclusive, luxurious residential development located in the Southern District of Hong Kong Island. This exclusive gated community comprises 15 detached houses with a range of saleable areas spanning from 3,727 to 12,073 square feet and floor plans from four rooms and four suites to six rooms and six suites. These luxurious residences have their own private courtyards, parking spaces and in-home lifts. Thirteen of them even come with private swimming pools that offer cooling refreshment on hot summer days. This combination of a prime location and generous space not only makes No.15 Shouson one-of-a-kind but also ideal for those in search of the very finest amenities.

Designed For Different Tastes

For those looking for their dream home, four of the available houses have been specially designed and refurbished as showhouses to cater to the varied tastes of potential buyers. Each provides a unique experience, covering a range of styles from refined designs with an oriental touch, to elegant minimalism, as demonstrated by two showhouses, each created by different design studios.

The developers commissioned Champalimaud Design, an international design studio renowned for its unique experiential and spatial journeys for top hotels and residences, to design one of the houses. The team created a contemporary home that exudes simplicity and elegance through its clean lines. The thoughtful use of marbles and timber materials adds warmth and character to the home.

Distinct ambiances differentiate the family room and rooftop garden spaces, while the master suite arranged on the second floor provides a cherished and secluded refuge. Additionally, the lavish use of millwork has maximised storage space for secondary bedrooms. The use of marble gives the abode an air of luxury and grandeur. Balancing this atmosphere is the wooden panelling of the walls, creating a cosy and inviting look that emphasises a connection with nature. Living in such a property would make anyone feel at once regal and free.

Designed by David Collins Studio, another showhouse emphasises craftsmanship, bespoke detailing and textural finishes, and offers the family a bespoke living experience. Nature was a huge source of inspiration for the design team’s aim to create an atmosphere of luxurious seclusion in harmony with the lush surroundings. Carefully chosen materials and colour combinations are used to create the perfect atmosphere for the house: the palette features tones of green, ochre and blue to replicate nature, while natural materials like stone, wood and marble are also utilised.

The David Collins-designed house is customised with a luxurious dark timber door, accented with bronze metalwork. To create a tranquil atmosphere, skirtings, architraves and flooring in stone and timber are also employed. Sculptural furniture and lighting echo the natural surroundings and add an aura of serenity. A beautiful, curved spindle staircase in hammered bronze with a leather-wrapped handrail stands out on the ground floor, creating an elegant ingress to the upper level.

Around Hong Kong, super-prime properties of exceptional design and impeccable craftsmanship in such an exclusive location are hard to come by. From its beautiful landscaping to the exquisite interiors, No.15 Shouson offers something truly special and unique.

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Luxury homebuilder Top Spring unveils sleek homes in Hong Kong and Sydney, each individually crafted and oozing taste.

Top Spring is a highly reputed real-estate brand in Hong Kong and the Greater Bay Area, which is recognised for designing and building top-quality homes. Now the company is expanding its presence with new developments in Hong Kong and Australia.

In Hong Kong, the firm is presenting a new residential project in one of the city’s most sought-after locations, 128 WATERLOO. Comprising 110 flats, configured with from one to five bedrooms and with saleable floor areas of 331 to 3,445 square feet, this new-build rises above the exclusive neighbourhood of Ho Man Tin and boasts a stunning view over Kowloon Tong towards Lion Rock.

City Sanctuary

128 WATERLOO is an urban oasis with timeless beauty. With a combination of elegant curves and meticulous attention to detail, the architectural design is the result of careful planning and craftsmanship, and serves as a testament to Top Spring’s vision. The building’s many floor-to-ceiling windows maximise natural light in each residence, with walk-out balconies that provide a feeling of openness and marvellous vistas.

The clubhouse, CLUB 128, has been designed to ensure that residents enjoy the ultimate in luxury living and the finest amenities, which range from an infinity outdoor pool and a function room to a gym open round the clock.

The Allure of Prime Property

A penthouse at 128 WATERLOO was recently sold for more than HK$241 million, which is equivalent to HK$70,000 per square foot, the most expensive selling price for a Kowloon apartment in the first three-quarters of 2022. The price indicates the unabated allure of prime residential properties in Kowloon. All special units in 128 WATERLOO were also sold.

In addition to 128 WATERLOO, Top Spring is currently working on a large-scale residential development in Yuen Long, in partnership with Kerry Properties, as well as a project of more than 1,600 units in Fanling, New Territories Northern Metropolis.

International Luxury Homebuilder

Beyond Hong Kong and the Greater Bay Area, Top Spring has set its sights on international property markets, with construction work in full swing on three projects in Australia’s biggest city, Sydney. The launches have so far been greeted with an overwhelming response, cementing Top Spring as a luxury developer in this key overseas market.

Top Spring’s Elizabeth Bay project, a boutique apartment complex of 30 high-end apartments, saw 90 percent of units snapped up by homebuyers in 2021. Currently under construction, it’s expected to be completed by mid-2023 and will feature state-of-the-art amenities.

Sublime Setting

Top Spring’s top-end luxury residential project in Double Bay, comprising 15 three- and four-bedroom apartments, as well as retail tenancies, began in August. The project received high interest from high-net-worth buyers, securing a number of significant sales.

A luxury penthouse within this development was recently sold in a private deal for a record A$24.95 million, a sum 50 percent higher than the previous record in the suburb. Another sub-penthouse sold for a record A$17.495m. Buyers at this development will have the opportunity to customise their apartments with a range of high-end finishes, a rarity in the Sydney market.

On a larger scale is a large residential project in St Leonards, a suburb on Sydney’s lower North Shore. Within this unique development of 330 apartments is a 5,700-square-metre oasis of amenities that includes an outdoor pool, a private dining room and outdoor terraces, lush landscaping and a children’s play area. The sale-off plan began in August, with construction beginning next year.

Establishing a foothold in Australia has long been central to Top Spring’s global development strategy. Looking ahead, the firm will continue to explore investment and development opportunities in other world-class cities, as well as the Greater Bay Area.

Regardless of where it develops properties, Top Spring’s mission is to design and construct homes that last for generations, while building excellence through innovative solutions that address the multifarious ways in which people live their lives today.

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Aston Martin is renowned for its stylish motors. It is after all the choice of James Bond. However, in recent years, we’ve seen the automaker apply its design mastery beyond the auto industry. The recent collab with Bowmore certainly springs to mind. Now, though Aston Martin has lent its expertise to a new luxury home.

The automotive brand has brought its expertise to the world of Japanese real estate. Thanks to a partnership with Japanese concierge leader VIBROA, ultra-luxury British performance brand has unveiled the first luxury home in Asia to be designed by Aston Martin.

The collaboration between the two luxury brands commences with the design and construction of № 001 Minami Aoyama. This stunning private home is nestled in the highly desirable Omotesando area of Minami Aoyama, renowned as one of Tokyo’s foremost architectural and style centres.

What An Aston Martin Home Looks Like

Impressions of the home, which features an automotive gallery, wine cellar, home cinema, gym, and private spa, have been unveiled, with Aston Martin’s design principles reflected throughout the property. Working with a local architect, the exterior design of the home is led by Aston Martin’s acclaimed designers, who are also responsible for the interior styling of the property and carefully selected furniture.

The four-storey home, complete with roof terrace and stunning views of Tokyo, is already sold to a private buyer and is scheduled for completion in November 2023. It is Aston Martin’s first real estate design collaboration in Asia, and follows successful projects in the United States, including the Sylvan Rock private residential estate and exclusive Aston Martin Residences in Miami, which are now 97% sold out ahead of the luxury waterfront tower’s scheduled opening in summer 2023.

The new design partnership with VIBROA forms part of Aston Martin’s wider strategic growth plans in Japan, with the brand seeking to capitalise on the market’s huge commercial potential and increasing consumer demand.

“As Aston Martin grows in Japan, we are passionate about finding innovative ways to bring our ultra-luxury brand to life and resonate with local consumers,” explains Greg Adams, Regional President – Japan and South Korea of Aston Martin.

“As Aston Martin grows in Japan, we are passionate about finding innovative ways to bring our ultra-luxury brand to life and resonate with local consumers. We are delighted to be working with VIBROA, helping create what we believe is a perfect home for an Aston Martin owner, with design elements inspired by our breath-taking portfolio of ultra-luxury and high-performance cars.”

(Images: Aston Martin)

This story first appeared here.

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Hollywood power couple George and Amal Clooney wear more than one golden feather on their caps.

There’s no denying the fact that the Oscar-winning actor, director, producer, screenwriter and one of the world’s sexiest men alive, George Clooney and his famous lawyer-activist wife Amal Clooney boast the charm and fortune of a true Hollywood royalty couple. Their residences, you ask? Whether it’s the Villa Oleandra near Lake Como, the house on the English island of Sonning Eye on the River Thames, or the hip condo in midtown Manhattan, George and Amal Clooney certainly have a pretty impressive global real estate portfolio. But today, we are taking a closer look at Villa Oleandra, a grand mansion where the Clooney family resides.

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8 of The Most Expensive Penthouses in The World

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A sneak-peak inside George and Amal Clooney’s luxurious house

About the villa

The 18th-century mansion has been the address of many noble families before the Clooneys. Though it has undergone several renovations over the years, it still features an 18th-century façade.

When the Ocean’s 11 actor came to Italy, the beauty and serenity of the place helped him destress and feel calm. So, he bought the Italian property in 2002 from the Heinz family (yes, the famous tomato ketchup manufacturers) for USD 7 million, which is worth more than USD 100 million today.

Located in Lagilo, a town on the western shore of Lake Como, the mansion is only a few metres away from the water. Other than the aesthetically pleasing surroundings, the massive dwelling has 25-rooms, well-manicured lawns and beautiful gardens, a tennis court, an outdoor pool, a gym, a theatre, and a huge garage where the Hollywood heartthrob keeps his vintage motorcycle collection.

The adobe also boasts a dedicated pizza room (after all it’s Italy), a lovely balcony and paved private outdoors where the couple enjoys romantic sunsets together.

This is where the two lovebirds met for the first time

The couple met each other for the first time at this villa when Amal came to visit the casa of the Ticket to Paradise actor with a mutual friend. And crazily enough, George later shared on the Netflix show My Next Guest Needs No Introduction hosted by David Letterman that his agent called him and said, “I met this woman who’s coming to your house who you’re gonna marry.” And we all know his prediction was spot on. Finally, they tied the knot in 2014.

The first meeting could have sparked more interest in the house the couple now live in. However, George purchased the next – Villa Margherita to ensure their privacy and safety.

Eventually, the authority had to step in and they issued a restricting order to stop paparazzi and fans from trespassing. Violating their privacy even from 100 metres can cost one a USD-600 fine.

George and  Amal Clooney’s house is not the only celebrity-owned property there. They also have some high-profile neighbours in the area. Fashion designer Donatella Versace owns a place in the charming locale as well.

A glittering gathering of celebrity friends at the villa

Even before his marriage, George spent his fair share of time in the villa. And even now, the couple and their twins, Alexander and Ella, love to host their dear friends and family here. The massive property has been graced with the presence of former US President Barack Obama, Prince Harry, Meghan Markle, Jennifer Aniston and Matt Damon.

Several other Hollywood A-listers stayed at the mansion when Clooney opened its gates for the entire 2004’s Ocean’s Twelve casts, including Julia Roberts.

Ben Affleck and Jennifer Lopez were also spotted on the premises of Villa Oleandra. It is also the rumoured location of Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie’s wedding.

It is safe to say that the beautiful home is a vacation nest for many celebrities and high-profile guests. Did you expect anything less from the Gravity actor?

Charity is never old-fashioned

The stylish couple drew attention once again when they teamed up with Omaze (a for-profit organisation that partners with charities in fundraising events) to pick a winner of a competition in 2019. They flew the winner to Italy, arranged their stay at a four-star hotel, and invited them to their historic estate for dinner and drinks.

The entire proceedings of the competition went to The Clooney Foundation for Justice, which is a charitable foundation that fights for justice through accountability for human rights abuses all over the world.

Some other properties owned by the Clooneys

George Clooney’s Villa in Studio City (1995)

The Hollywood A-lister bought a USD-2.2-million property from the rock legend Stevie Nicks. The 683-square-meter main house features hardwood floors, coffered ceilings, stone fireplaces and a massive dining room with an extensive wine collection. Their ‘low-key house’ also boasts a home theatre with a popcorn machine, an outdoor pool and bar, and another bar featuring vintage Hollywood photos.

George’s Los Cabos property (2009)

The actor purchased a custom-designed abode by one of Mexico’s most distinguished architects, Ricardo Legoretta. He bought the house next door to his close friends Rande Gerber and Cindy Crawford. But both Clooney and Gerber sold their houses, popularly known as ‘Casamigos,’ in 2016 to a billionaire.

George and Amal Clooney’s house on English Island  (2014)

After getting married in 2014, the power couple finally bought their first home together on the English island of Sonning Eye on the River Thames. The “towering ceilings,” “crisp Georgian moulding,” a sprawling sitting room with many family photos, a screening room, and a pool house bar are some of the amenities the house boasts.

The couple’s condo in Manhattan (2016)

George and Amal Clooney finally set their eyes on the upper east side in 2016 when they bought a full floor of a midtown Manhattan building for USD 14.7 million. Its luxury features aside, the building has a ground-floor restaurant run by none other than Michelin-rated chef Joël Robuchon.

Their wine estate in Brignoles (2021)

Reportedly, the Clooneys purchased another real estate Domaine du Canadel in the Provence wine estate in Brignoles, France, for USD 8.3 million (R 63 crores approx) in 2021. The property is not so far from Château Miraval, an extensive estate owned by his good friend Brad Pitt.

Hero Image: Courtesy Henry Kellner/CC BY-SA 4.0/Wikimedia commons; Featured Image: Courtesy ROBYN BECK/AFP

This story first appeared on Prestige Hong Kong.

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New York City, the home of the skyscrapers, recently got a new member in the sky-high club — the Steinway Tower in Manhattan, famously known as the skinniest skyscraper in the world.

Located at 111 West 57th Street, the interior works of the tower were wrapped up by Studio Sofield in mid-November, which officially brought the tower’s construction work to an end.

CNN reports that Studio Sofield planned the design to recreate the late 19th-century Gilded Age of New York.

“We’ve all been to very luxurious places, but I wanted to create a building that could not be anywhere else in the world,” William Sofield, founder of Studio Sofield told CNN.

“I know so many people might have multiple homes, who will have apartments here. And I wanted to create a very distinct experience that could only be had in New York,” he added.

The record that makes Steinway Tower so special

Designed by NYC’s SHoP Architects and developed by JDS Development Group with Property Markets Group, the 435-metre-tall tower is the fourth-tallest building in the US. However, it is the tower’s width which has made it remarkable in the world.

Measuring an astounding width-to-height ratio of 1:24, Steinway Tower is officially the world’s thinnest skyscraper. The building is roughly around 18 metres wide.

How many residences are in the tower?

The land on which it stands was once the site of the historic Steinway & Sons piano company in what is known as the Billionaire’s Row in Midtown Manhattan — an area favoured by some of the world’s richest people, including former US President Donald Trump.

The building towers over all of its nearby skyscrapers, rising from what looks like a deep abyss in between buildings.

The skyscraper has 84 storeys, encompassing 46 full-floor and duplex residences. There are 14 more residences in the adjacent Steinway Hall, a 1920s building restored by JDS Development Group and connected to Steinway Tower.

This brings the total number of luxury residences at the location to 60.

What is special about the design of the world’s skinniest skyscraper?

The building’s façade appears to change colour when seen from different angles and under different light. This is because of the use of terracotta blocks.

The position of Steinway Tower on Billionaire’s Row is such that it is in perfect alignment with the axis of Central Park. This ensures residents get an uninterrupted and perfectly symmetrical view of the iconic NYC public space as well as the Upper East Side and the Upper West Side.

The lobby of the Steinway Tower reportedly has original artworks by Picasso and Matisse, making it appear almost like a walk through an art gallery.

The floors and the lobby feature limestone, marble, blackened steel and solid oak as part of the interior design.

Master baths in the residences have walls and floors finished in veined white onyx. They are fitted with custom antique polished freestanding tubs made by William Holland and bronze fixtures designed by Studio Sofield.

Some residences also have a second master bath, featuring grey onyx showers.

Amenities at Steinway Tower

The world’s skinniest skyscraper offers some of the finest amenities that money can buy in NYC.

CNN says that inside is a reinterpreted and modernised version of NYC’s iconic King Cole Bar, with custom gold-and-silver murals along with an ornate balcony.

There is also a 25-metre-long interior swimming pool in a massive hall with floor-to-ceiling windows, alcove cabanas, a vaunted ceiling and ornate wall sconces.

Landscaped terrace, a golf simulator and a chef’s catering kitchen, and multiple private dining rooms are also among the luxuries designed for the residents of the building.

The building is served by a 24-hour doorman and concierge service.

What is the price of residences in Steinway Tower?

According to CNN, the residences in the world’s skinniest skyscraper are priced in the range from USD 7.75 million to USD 66 million.

The highest price is for the most expensive of the residences — duplex accommodations of 662 sq metres with their own exterior loggia measuring 127 sq metres. As per the building’s listing, the residence comes with four bedrooms and five-and-a-half bathrooms. It offers views in all four directions.

At the lowest end of the price spectrum would be apartments measuring around 240 sq metres. Featuring two bedrooms and two-and-half bathrooms, the apartments have exposure on all sides except the south. They do not have any external space.

Reports suggest that some residents already moved into the building in April 2022, but it is not clear whether they moved into the adjacent Steinway Hall or the main Steinway Tower.

(Main and Featured images: 111 West 57th Street)

This story first appeared here.

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Furniture is like elements that adorns a four-walled enclosed space into a home. Just changing the positions of furniture or adding a few new ones can give your abode a completely new and fresh look. And designer furniture pieces add a dash of exquisiteness to your house that makes the space cosier and more vibrant. Thus, we have made a list of some of the leading Southeast Asian furniture designer brands that will make your search for the best items easier.

Though western furniture designer brands have made their mark in the industry, many Southeast Asian furniture brands show immense potential and have made their name in the industry with their unique craftsmanship, style, utility, sustainability and elegance. And now, you can take pride in owning and displaying their work in your house.

Some of the renowned Southeast-Asian furniture designer brands you should know about

E.Murio

Based in Manila, the capital of the Philippines, E.Murio is a second-generation family-run furniture workshop. They are experts in making handcrafted furniture in neutral materials like tropical woods, bamboo, fibre and glass weave. However, the designers also experiment with different materials like leather, metal, bones and synthetic weaves.

Travel, adventure and friendships deeply inspire their work. The modern designs, quality and fine finishes of the units will catch the eye of any keen furniture enthusiast. The brand also creates custom furniture based on your requirements. The unique fitments are sure to provide you with comfort and pleasure. Surpassing the borders of the Philippines and SEA, E. Murio exports its custom pieces all over Asia, Europe, Africa and the US.

Schema

One can easily recognise Schema’s unique artistry through the metal wire work. The Filipino brand use corrosion-resistant and strong Zinc-plated galvanised iron wires to weave excellent handcrafted pieces of art. Each of their pieces is uniquely designed by hand, which is easily noticeable in every crafty piece.

Celia Gamboa Jiao, the founder of Schema, was previously known for founding Kalikasan Crafts, a holiday decoration-making company where she used metal wires and fabrics as primary raw materials. Amazed by the pliability of metal wires, she started experimenting with the idea and eventually founded Schema by Kalikasan Crafts with Anon Pairot, Ségolène Aebi-Faye and Antonio Layug where wire mesh is still the trademark for all the brand’s designs.

Kenneth Cobonpue

Another Filipino talent, Kenneth Cobonpue is one of the leading names in the furniture design industry. The award-winning designer uses his expertise in traditional craft with a blend of nature and technology to create one-of-a-kind aesthetic pieces. Many Hollywood celebrities, including Brad Pitt and Lucy Liu, have shown admiration for his work. Famous Hollywood movie sets like Ocean’s 13 and the TV series set CSI have featured his creations as well.

After graduating from Pratt Institute, New York, in Industrial design, Cobonpue started learning furniture marketing and production. He has won numerous awards, including the Japan Good Design Awards, the Singapore International Design Competition and the American Society of Interior Design top pick selection, and collaborated with many distinguished world-class designers. Each year, people eagerly wait for the new designs that he showcases at different design shows.

Akar de Nissim

Akar de Nissim is a Singapore-based furniture designer brand that celebrates its Asian heritage with minimalist styles and exceptional artisanship. The European and Asian blend in their designs is one of their signature qualities. The cross-cultural references result in distinct designs and their mastery of craftsmanship brings the furnishings to life. The modern furnishing with sleek designs quickly catches the eye of the customers.

The Iris coffee table and the Pavillion lacquer box are some of their thoughtful creations and bestselling pieces. According to Jasmine Ng, COO of Akar de Nissim, the craftsmen hand-polish each piece to make sure they radiate a luminous glow. Buyers deeply appreciate the hard work of the artisans and the harmonious collaboration of the east and west craft in the woodwork.

Hans Tan

A native Singaporean designer, Hans Tan takes a holistic approach to creativity and practicality while creating his new designs. He won the Martell Rising Personalities Award 2009 and Design of the Year at the President’s Design Award — Singapore’s highest design accolade — twice. At the fall edition of Maison et Objet 2012 in Paris, Hans Tan was awarded the title of “Les Découvertes” (best innovative product). The designer always prioritises developing materials and the manufacturing process. Heritage, consumption and waste are the primary contexts he tries to narrate through his expressive artistry.

Many of his exclusive works are showcased at the National Collection of Singapore; M+ Museum for Visual Culture, Hong Kong; the Cooper Hewitt Smithsonian Design Museum, New York; and the Princessehof National Museum of Ceramics Leeuwarden, the Netherlands. This honourary designer actively participates in many curatorial works as well. Changi Airport Group and Nirvana Memorial are some of his esteemed clients. The multitalented artist is the Associate Professor at the Division of Industrial Design of the National University of Singapore.

Poh Sin Studio

Pamela Poh Sin Tan, the founder of Poh Sin Studio, is an exceptionally talented artist-architectural designer whose work blurs the lines between art, design and architecture. The creative concept and ambiguity of art in her designs please the eye of the beholder. Her mesmerising installations are complex, but it easily captivates the viewers. Her work is sure to stay in your heart for a long time.

A Master in Architecture from the University of Greenwich, UK, Pamela Tan got a chance to exhibit her thought-provoking work Mappa Mundi: A Map Maker’s Dream in London’s The Royal Academy of Arts’ Summer Exhibition 2015. She won the fifth and final cycle of the Tan Sri Chan Sau Lai Architecture Award in 2016, and Bronze and Merit awards, respectively, in the Design for Asia Award 2020 for her work Eden and Projection Kite, respectively. Her extravagant works range from murals, spatial installations and models to sculptures.

Philux

What started as a rattan furniture manufacturing shop of a husband and wife team has now become one of the most eminent furniture designing workshops in Southeast Asia. Based in different areas of Metro Manila, the brand is famous for crafting exquisite furniture designs for hotels, restaurants and offices, as well as residential properties, bedrooms and living rooms. The unique harmony between design and utility with pleasing aesthetics makes them special.

Philux uses Ash and walnut wood as raw materials with trusted Filipino craftsmanship to make each one of their pieces of excellent quality and durability. From classic to contemporary, they work with a broad range of styles. Currently, the brand is led by the new generation. The couple’s older daughter, Stephanie, works as the chief operating officer of the firm and the younger daughter, Jessica, is the firm’s head of design. Just like their endeavour, Philux aspires to manufacture masterpieces that can be passed on through generations.

Aureole Design

Tan Wei Ming, the founder of Aureole Design, has practised graphic designing in her early career. She discovered her passion for furniture and lighting design when she became part of a design collective in 2007. This opportunity gave her the skills and platform to build Aureole, her own brand. She also learned woodworking and ceramics to develop her skills further.

The name of the brand, Aureole, is often used to represent a circling light around a head or a halo in art. Her typography and graphic design background continue to help her create lamps and take inspiration from geometry, proportions and balance.

Ock Pop Tok

Ock Pop Tok is an odd but worthy addition to the list. The brand had a humble beginning in 2000 at the hands of Englishwoman Joanna (Jo) Smith and Laotian Veomanee (Veo) Douangdala. All the employees of the brand are women and it works for the development of women.

It is not a typical furniture manufacturing brand. You will get a selection of home decor, bags, wall hangings and clothing here. They also offer a staycation where you can enjoy Laos hospitality and learn the textile work first-hand.

(Hero and featured image credits: Kenneth Cobonpue/Screengrab)

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As the new Joyce flagship opens, we discover from creative head Gavin So and architect Betty Ng what building legacy entails.

If you were looking for the well-spring of a city’s sense of style, where might you find it? Paris has Place Vendôme, Rue Saint-Honoré and the Boulevard Saint-Germain; London has Soho, the King’s Road and now upcoming areas like Shoreditch; in Tokyo there’s Harajuku and Seoul has Gangnam.

Hong Kong? Adrian Cheng names Victoria Harbour our “Silicon Valley of culture”, while the edgier crowd might opt for the vintage joints of Sham Shui Po. But for an elusive yet fabulous coterie of fashion veterans, the pantheon of style sat at 16-18 Queen’s Road Central, until recently the home of Joyce boutique.

The year 1970 marked the beginning of Joyce Ma’s rule as the city’s style monarch, with her boutique in the heart of Central her seat of power. In the following decades she introduced cutting-edge designers to Hong Kong – Giorgio Armani, Yohji Yamamoto, Dries Van Noten and Rick Owens to name a few. Although not the first outpost for Ma’s fashion genius, the Joyce flagship store in New World Centre illuminated the street with ingenious, mind-haunting windows whose extravagance often competed with the likes of Harrods and Selfridges. In 2009, one memorably featured Alexander McQueen’s Trash Beauty collection, with overdrawn “sex-doll” lips, shattered glass runways and scenography assembled from debris and scrap heaps. Another in 2005, titled Love is in the Air, in 2005, featured mannequins in dreamy white ruffles sitting upon a floating grand piano. There were hundreds more.

Joyce creative head Gavin So fondly remembers the Dreams Are Made of the Upside-Down Christmas window in 2018. “It fused the sci-fi TV series Stranger Things, which is based in the 1980s and debuted its first season in 2016, and The Wizard of Oz, made in 1939,” she says. “It aimed to flip a traditional seasonal paradigm on its head, by viewing The Wizard of Oz through the lens of Stranger Things’ Upsidedown World. For phase two in December, we added the emerald castle from The Wizard of Oz, but flipped it upside down.”

Of the numerous designer collaborations, So cites the autumn-winter 2012 partnership with Italian designer Romeo Gigli. “Our team worked from scratch – from sketches, fittings, samples and manufacturing, we were closely involved in every step. I flew to Milan to work closely with Gigli and his team at his home – I felt so welcomed. Photographer Chen Man also shot the campaign images in Beijing, which was another rewarding aspect of the project.” The collection was clad in jewel tones; brocade and silk were twisted into sculpted tops with almost insectile peaked shoulders and deep asymmetric necklines – something Hong Kong’s most stylish were soon seen wearing.

Two months ago, the Lane Crawford Joyce Group announced it was moving the flagship store to Pacific Place, inspiring anxiety not only among shoppers, but also those directly involved in bringing the new outpost to life. How to channel such an enduring legacy into a new space without crumbling under the weight of expectations? If one person were to undertake such a task, it could only be Betty Ng, award-winning architect and founder of Collective Studio.

Ng’s creative journey began with a paradox. “Joyce has always been a pioneer,” she tells me, “but it’s also the [fashion] authority – which aren’t necessarily mutually exclusive, but at the same time they seem to be standing on the opposite sides of the spectrum.” And as the brand’s history re-settles anew, at long last Joyce has acknowledged the evolution of its audience. “In my opinion, the client base has changed,” says Ng. “Customers are in their thirties and forties, they’re no longer people in their fifties or sixties, as in the old days.”

Joyce’s new space is as modern as it’s complex – open, flat and slightly curved with three massive pillars in the middle – posing challenges yet presenting opportunities for the Collective team, who had to invent efficiency to accommodate a more modest size and lower ceilings.

“There isn’t a single wall that’s not a display,” Ng says, “yet it’s done in a way that’s practical, functional and not overwhelming. We disintegrated the density by creating zones with curves. That’s what I meant by paradoxes: there are rectilinear binds, but, at the same time, there’s curvature.” In doing so, Collective’s architects enabled customers to see each one of the zones – menswear, womenswear, gender-neutral fashion and beauty – from any point of the store’s front. “The softness was brought in by hiding the hardness – the gigantic columns right in the middle.”

When you drop by the new boutique, you’ll walk through a portal of green onyx with a faceted ceiling, devised in the best traditions of the Omashu catacombs. “The entrance is a forced perspective. The treatment of the facade is also a mitigation between that hustle and bustle outside, a way to transport people into the world of Joyce,” Ng says. Falling down the rabbit hole was never an activity this glamorous.

Inside is a choir of textures, each a virtuoso that hits not a single rogue note. “We’ve very carefully placed interesting and luxurious materials in important locations,” says Ng, whose paradoxical vision bleeds into the walls – literally. “We were avoiding it looking like a collage. The floor, the ceiling, everything is earthy plaster paint. We only used two types of stone – onyx and travertine; the latter I see as a default and almost generic material – a luxurious foundation that doesn’t necessarily jump too much.”

You’ll be excused for thinking of the green portal at the entrance being the most exciting part of the boutique, though to Ng, the crown jewel is hidden deep inside. “The most beautiful element, I think, is the cashier counter, which has honey onyx coming together with terracotta tiles. We also didn’t want the changing rooms to be seen as the back of the house but, rather, a part of the stage, because customers should be celebrated.” Indeed, as the customer embarks on a quest to try a Paco Rabanne dress from its recent exclusive collaboration with Joyce, they most certainly deserve the royal treatment. The existence of such an old-fashioned (in the best sense of the word) approach to clients alongside a commitment to support emerging designers is Joyce Ma’s true legacy.

The beauty of interpreting legacy is simultaneously its greatest challenge – it takes a guild of discerning minds that can select from the borderless library of references, while, at the same time, introducing novelties that will speak to the young and fashionable. Who knows, perhaps, we’re witnessing the new coil of Joyce’s heritage, which will be defined by facets of green onyx.

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Think of luxury fashion brands and images of bespoke silhouettes, elegant textiles and the creative vision of the houses’ renowned fashion designers are sure to crop up. But why restrict yourself to only clothing from such labels? You can leave an unforgettable impression on your guests with the distinctive style of home décor items from some of these coveted global luxury brands as well.

After successfully reigning over the fashion industry, several luxury fashion brands have launched homeware collections, furniture lines, wall and floor coverings and more to raise the glam quotient of a living space. Each has its own legacy and distinctive style –  rounding out aesthetic values and all other elements that the fashion house is known for.

From bold vases to minimalist lamps – trust homeware products and interior design collections from fashion brands including Louis Vuitton, Ralph Lauren, Fendi, Sabyasachi and Ritu Kumar to elevate your space and add drama to your interiors.

Check out these exquisite interior design collections from luxury fashion brands

Louis Vuitton: Objets Nomades

Synonymous with designer luggage and confident high-end fashion, French luxury fashion brand Louis Vuitton also has a premium range of home furnishings and interior design objects that can liven your living space and corners. The Louis Vuitton home décor section features dining tableware, lampshades, chairs, hammocks and more.

Established in 2012, named Objets Nomades, the collection includes exquisite items by other interior designers. For a leather and clothing brand like Louis Vuitton, furniture pieces may not be a strong suit, but the house invited designers like Marcel Wanders, Patricia Urquiola, India Mahdavi, Campana Brothers, Atelier Oï, Raw Edges and Andre Fu to collaborate and bring in new art pieces under the LV banner.

For instance, the belt lounge chair by Atelier Oï is crafted to perfection with 14 LV leather belts (available in different colours) set in a metal and wooden frame. The red diamond vase by Marcel Wanders studio is another example of the brand’s brilliance. The diamond-studded teardrop vase, made of Murano glass and encased by leather straps, elicits perfection and says a lot about the impeccable design codes of both houses.

Armani / Casa

Giorgio Armani founded his namesake fashion label in 1975. It soon became one of the most sought-after luxury brands, offering elegant tailoring and structured design silhouettes for both men and women. And, in 2000, the atelier forayed into the home décor sector and established Armani/Casa.

Beginning with the signature logo lamp, the Italian house now has a compelling homeware collection comprising furniture, fabrics, home ornaments, carpets and other accessories — reflecting the philosophy of simple lines of the founder and the label through a minimalist approach. Dining tables, plush sofas, curtains, cushions and coffee and study tables make the label one of the best choices for an intelligent and sophisticated homeware collection.

Armani/Casa has designed several luxurious properties including exotic villas, private yachts, planes and residential houses. Dubai’s Armani Hotel is a perfect example of its vision and features some of its signature customised pieces. Mumbai’s World Towers is also designed by Armani Casa. It’s a 117-floor residential tower accompanied by another 60-storied tower.

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Versace Home

Bold motifs, the use of black, gold and white, and a homeware collection exuding grandeur, luxury and drama — these are the ingredients that make up Italian luxury fashion house Versace’s interior design line Versace Home.

After styling several noted celebrities and ruling over fashion weeks like no other, the brand made a strong name in the plush interior design world too. Established in 1992, the homeware collection initially started out as a harmonious combination of luxe textiles with the brand’s Medusa, Baroque and Cheetah prints in sheets, duvets, pillows and cushions. It soon broadened its scope and furniture, lighting, wallpaper, textile accessories, dining tableware and art pieces followed.

Versace Home collaborated with Sunland Group for the Palazzo Versace hotel in Australia, in 2000. And a second property opened in Dubai almost a decade later, bearing the luxury brand’s decadent taste and designs. Versace’s Interior Design Studio is backed by skilled architects and interior designers who work closely with Donatella Versace in Milan and have created and re-shaped residential and public properties across cities such as London, Mumbai and Beirut.

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Gucci Décor

While speaking of luxury fashion brands, Gucci automatically comes on top. With structured tailoring, innovative sartorial styles and a vast collection of bags and perfumes — this brand hardly needs an introduction.

The brand entered the interior design world a few years back and Gucci Décor symbolises the eclectic bold vision the label is known for. Under the creative director, Alessandro Michele, furniture and decor items including sofas, chairs, cushions, porcelain jars and scented candles get some bold styling. Bright contrasting colours, vividly striking prints and motifs of tigers, birds and large florals make up an unmissable range of its homeware products.

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Ralph Lauren Home

One of the most refined and tasteful luxury fashion brands, Ralph Lauren, is synonymous with smart suits, shirts, dresses and impeccable sartorial prowess.

The label expanded its creative aesthetics to the interior design sector and launched Ralph Lauren Home in 1983. When the founder himself has a keen interest in architecture and home design, it isn’t surprising to see that his home décor segment upholds his creative vision. The furniture, bedding, lighting, tableware and floor and wall covering lines reflect just that.

Motifs pertaining to Thoroughbred, New England, Jamaica and Log Cabins are seen throughout the home collection. If you have a taste for exclusive vintage-style furniture, then you must turn to this luxury fashion brand.

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Dior Maison

One of the choicest global fashion brands, Christian Dior’s style is all about perfect proportions and rich vintage vibes. This is also seen in its range of premium home décor and lifestyle products.

Gone are the days when one would only buy Dior bags and dresses. Now, the brand has a compelling range of candles, baskets, playing cards, plates, cutlery, glasses and tea sets. In fact, Dior Maison has also partnered with acclaimed interior designer Pierre Yovanovitch to create some of its exquisite products.

One unique product that deserves a special mention is the set of four porcelain plates which have tarot card motifs. Also, the Granville collection, featuring plates with purple and green floral prints on porcelain, is reminiscent of Christian Dior’s childhood house in Normandy. The collection of extra fine Limoges porcelain decorative plates and tableware (pictured) have lily of the valley motifs in green, which was a personal favourite of the founder.

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Ritu Kumar Home

One of the most loved Indian luxury fashion brands, Ritu Kumar is a label known for traditional Indian prints and materials that display the very essence of simplicity, bright colours and fluidity of Indian fabrics and materials.

With numerous successful runway shows and fashion weeks that take Indian prints and motifs to a global level with modern silhouettes and designs, Ritu Kumar has also launched a homeware collection. Featuring beddings, cushion and pillow covers, table mats and tablecloths, the range is a celebration of Indian weaves and embroidery. South Indian fabrics, ikat and Mughal prints make it a vibrant homeware collection.

The luxury Indian label also has a premium range of dinner sets. Trays, plates, cutlery and glasses in kansa (bronze or the bell metal used to make temple utensils in South India) and glass make up myriad collections drawing inspiration from different parts of the subcontinent.

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Fendi Casa

Fendi was one of the first Italian luxury fashion brands to enter the home décor market in the late 1980s.

Fendi’s tradition of savoir-faire, craftsmanship and lookout for innovation while dressing up women and men has been carried forward to Fendi Casa in decorating spaces in similar elegant and refined upholstery. The fine leather and fur used to make sofas and chairs or the tasteful designs of wooden furniture, cabinets and light shades speak of Fendi’s creative vision.

For the latest collection, the luxury brand has collaborated with one of the leading design houses in the home décor world — Design Holding — to create bespoke furniture for turning every house into a bright, comfortable and spiritual home. The designs from this collection are based on different inspirations and design codes that characterise a typical Fendi Casa piece — arches of Fendi HQ Palazzo della Civiltà Italiana, FF and Karligraphy logos, Pequin stripes and intricate tailoring.

Sabyasachi

Sabyasachi means a grand celebration of India and its erstwhile capital Calcutta (Kolkata). Almost every bride dreams of donning a Sabyasachi lehenga on her D-day. Having teams of skilled Indian craftsmen and weavers, every Sabyasachi piece is laden with culture and heritage.

These qualities have been carried forward to a line of tableware that Sabyasachi Mukherjee designed for Thomas Goode, a British luxury retailer, of over 200 years, with the patronage of Queen Elizabeth II. The collection consists of fine dinner service designs, glasses, tea sets and table linen.

The motifs are reminiscent of an old-world charm and represent the tropical flora and fauna of Kolkata. The city becomes the designer’s muse and he uses Devonshire pottery along with Persian miniature paintings and French calico prints to bring alive this eastern port city. And of course, the fashion label’s enigmatic tiger symbol is seen throughout the collection.

Abu Jani and Sandeep Khosla

If a blend of vintage, periodic, gothic, elegant, rich and lavish themes is what you have in mind for your space, luxury fashion brand Abu Jani Sandeep Khosla has a lot to offer. The designer duo has lent their creative expertise to plush properties over the years and they are nothing short of a vision.

In 2021, the two teamed up with Lodha Luxury, a real estate business house, to design a 76th-floor residence at Lodha Ciel in Mumbai. The project featured stunning art pieces from all over India, abla work wall art and crystal chandeliers, all of which were locally sourced. As part of one of their recent projects, the two created regal installations comprising turquoise furniture and wall art (in picture). The image is captioned ‘21st Century Gothic’ and looks like something straight out of a castle.

Hero and featured image: Courtesy Fendi Casa

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Looking for interior design and architectural inspiration? Nothing can beat Instagram for some incredible images of gorgeous buildings with stunning interiors. Whether you are a budding architect entering the business or a design enthusiast looking for experimental ideas, there are a host of architects and designers on Instagram whom you can follow for innovative ideas.

As designing unique spaces is a creative visual medium, several noted figures from the architecture field are popular on Instagram and have accounts featuring stunning images of buildings and creative spaces.

Wish to make your Instagram feed more interesting? Keep scrolling!

Here are some of the most popular architects and designers on Instagram

Chris Precht

Austrian architect Chris Precht lives in the mountains and draws inspiration from nature and the environment. His Instagram page is a catalogue of his beautiful architectural and sustainability projects. Numerous bamboo structures, vertical gardens, striking buildings and plans, and nature-inspired design silhouettes make his Instagram page a must-follow.

Along with these, interesting lectures and announcements for live events fill his feed, making it a go-to destination for inspiration.

Chris and his wife Fei work towards creating green and eco-friendly buildings all across the world with a motive to reduce carbon footprint. His projects such as Bert, The Farmhouse and Highgarden depict his brilliant designs. One of his other interesting projects is in Tel Aviv Arcades, and is unique in its own way.

Follow Chris Precht here.

Ashiesh Shah

Mumbai-based architect and designer Ashiesh Shah follows a different aesthetic idea of space, and his works are based on the Japanese philosophy of Wabi-Sabi which inspires his choice of materials.

This philosophy is reflected in all his works as his creativity comprises a sense of imperfect, incomplete and simplistic beauty. Named the Most Respected Architect of the Year by the GROHE Summit, India 2019, Shah’s clientele includes A-list celebrities like Hrithik Roshan, Ranbir Kapoor and Katrina Kaif.

Such is his brilliant artistry that Shah has been featured in reputed magazines and publications including the New York Times, The World of Interiors, International Herald Tribune, Elle Decoration, Architectural Digest and Vogue.

Scroll through his Instagram account for incredible images of residential and office spaces, penthouses, restaurants and concept stores.

Follow Ashiesh Shah here.

Pierre Yovanovitch

If you are an interior designer in search of a fresh lease of ideas or simply looking for ways to amp your interiors, this Instagram account is the one for you.

The eponymous Paris-based atelier was founded by Pierre Yovanovitch in 2001. It blends elements of modern architecture, vintage furniture and high-end art to create projects which are not only beautiful but also exude a unique personality of their own. The Instagram page is like a walk through Yovanovitch’s projects and features a seamless concoction of open spaces and furniture.

From office areas to commercial high rises, hotels and residential buildings — every design by Yovanovitch mirrors his master ability to weave historical elements to suit modern lifestyles and tastes.

Yovanovitch also opened a studio in New York in 2018, which showcases some of his classic designs. Among Yovanovitch’s noted residential projects are Château de Fabrègues and Saint-Germain-des-Prés in France, while commercial ones include restaurants and hotels such as Hélène Darroze at the Connaught in London and Le Coucou Hotel in France. They house some of the signature furniture pieces by the designer which reflect his visionary style.

Follow Pierre Yovanovitch here.

Charles Zana

This Tunisia-born Parisian architect views his projects with a high French lifestyle at the forefront. This is seen in all of Charles Zana’s works where he strives to create a ‘domestic theatre’ for his clients. Across a successful architecture career spanning three decades, Zana has paid special attention to space and volume, and he accentuates them with the kind of materials and colours used.

His IG account is evident of his bold style and eye for detail, weaving in elegant sophistication, fluid space and comfort. Zana uses his craftsmanship and sensitive vision to inspire new furniture shapes and architectural designs for his clients spread across the world. Some of his noted projects include Hôtel Lou Pinet Saint-Tropez and Hotel Crillon Le Brave in France.

In 2019, David Caméo, director of the Musée des Arts Décoratifs, named him Chevalier des Arts et des Lettres.

Follow Charles Zana here.

Rooshad Shroff

Rooshad Shroff is extremely well known in the modern furniture and design sector. If you are thinking of ways to reuse your traditional furniture or design elements with a modern and minimalist touch, then this is the Instagram account to follow.

Shroff founded the eponymous brand in 2011, in Mumbai which is known for its aesthetically integrated design. Its work ranges from architecture to interiors and even bespoke furniture. Through the label, Shroff ensures utmost attention to detail and promises artisanry and high end luxury in each of his projects.

Additionally, Shroff’s studio entered the field of visual merchandising, and French luxury brand Hermès assigned them an interesting project — designing their boutique window displays in Mumbai and Delhi for seven years running.

The incredible architecture designer has bagged many awards including the Elle Décor International Design Award (EDIDA), Designer of the Year (India) in 2017, and the Institute of Indian Interior Designers (IIID) Award in 2018.

Follow Rooshad Shroff here.

Shabnam Gupta

Elements of beauty inspired by nature interspersed with earthy tones, rustic edges and an overarching contemporary vibe characterise interior designer and artist Shabnam Gupta’s projects. Every Instagram post on her page reflects these themes and her vision.

She is the mastermind behind some of the most lavish homes of A-list Bollywood celebrities including Rajkummar Rao and Patralekha, Kangana Ranaut, and the late Irrfan Khan. Besides this, the award-winning designer is also the brain behind some amazing restaurant spaces including Tanjore Tiffin Room, Viman Nagar Socials and Bar Stock Exchange.

Gupta was included in the list of AD 100 architects in 2019, and won the Elle Deco International Design Awards for wall covering and finishes in 2017.

Follow Shabnam Gupta here.

John Pawson

Think minimalism to the T and John Pawson’s Instagram feed is the place to be. Such is his minimal aestheticism that Pawson doesn’t even caption his posts and keeps viewers and followers imagining about the project. Intriguing isn’t it?

One of his most high profile projects includes the renovation of the Commonwealth Institute in Kensington as the new address for the Design Museum. Despite being such a prolific architect, the UK doesn’t recognise him as an official architect as he never completed his training.

However, in 2019, Pawson’s contribution to design and architecture was recognised and he was awarded a CBE in the Queen’s New Year’s Honours list.

Follow John Pawson here.

Zaha Hadid Architects

One of the most prolific and globally renowned architects and designers, Zaha Hadid continues to be known for her futuristic and bold designs which make a long-lasting impression.

The late architect’s firm, Zaha Hadid Architects, has one of the best architecture-based Instagram accounts and is a company which creates cultural, commercial and residential buildings. Its designs are in tandem with the surroundings and are also extremely functional.

The company was founded by Hadid in 1979, and their first project was the Vitra Fire Station (1990-1993) in Germany which features a linear layered series of walls with program elements. Another jaw-dropping project is the Antwerp Port House (2009 – 2016) — a bold futuristic space embodying the dynamics of the city port.

Hadid also founded Zaha Hadid Design in 2006, and it is a platform for all kinds of modern furniture and innovative brand collaborations, with names like Bulgari jewellery and The Owner eyewear for making statement pieces bearing the style and perfection of both companies. Presently, the company is managed by Maha Kutay and Woody Yao.

Follow Zaha Hadid Architects here.

(Main image credit: Chris Precht/ Instagram; Featured image credit: Ashiesh Shah/ Instagram)

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There’s something to be said about views that take your breath away, such as those enjoyed within the magnificent private premises of Mont Verra, showcasing commanding prospects of both the Kowloon peninsula and Hong Kong Island.

As in most major world cities, the Hong Kong’s elites have long been blessed with the esteemed privilege of some of the city’s most opulent, unparalleled views from their mountaintop abodes. Traditionally, they might turn to the famous Victoria Peak or a perhaps down the road in Mid-Levels to seek an estate befitting their stock and station. In fact, what’s now coined “the dress circle” – a coy reference to London theatres, where the first balcony row was often considered the best and most expensive seats in the house – includes the areas that cover May Road and Tregunter Path.

Today, a new vantage point with timeless views emerges upon another pinnacle. This time, a dash away across the harbour in the quiet verdure of Beacon Hill. Developed by Kerry Properties, Mont Verra stands as a modern paragon of prestigious living, an enduring statement of prodigious conduct.

The development comprises five towers with apartment and garden units that span close to 4,000 square feet, as well as penthouses of more than twice that size. In addition, three exclusive mansions – named Mountain, Courtyard and Water, and each with its own unique design – boasts over 11,000 square feet of space with unmatched, sweeping views of our vibrant city.

While enjoying a day with socialite and entrepreneur Antonia Li, she shares her thoughts on what elevates a living space and qualities that attract her to a property. “I like it when there’s natural sunlight in my home. It makes me feel relaxed and at ease. Being surrounded by nature gives me a great sense of inner peace, so I generally enjoy greenery with an open space view to give me clarity and focus. A long meditation and some stretching are essential for my daily wind-down routine.”

Nature in many of its forms is generously abundant around and within the property. The stunning natural stone architecture of Mont Verra is enhanced by its pristine surrounding landscapes, serving as almost an extension of the mountain range, timeless in scale and presence. By day, the façade of each tower – primed with Brazilian St Nicholas stone – shimmers with the glow of the sun, while at night special lighting illuminates the exterior walls with a subtle brilliance.

Each home was designed with meticulous attention to maximise views and privacy for its occupants. Offering the aura and ambience of ultimate sanctuary, the homes are a peaceful retreat for the city-weary.

What truly makes a house a home, however, lies also within the finer details. The living and dining spaces stand at a generous 11 by 17 metres, with an overall ceiling height of 3.5 metres, helping to draw the eyes up towards the expansive mountain and sea views.

Outfitted with cutting-edge, smart-home facilities, the units serve as a spearheading development for modern automation in private properties, complete with control over central air-conditioning, lighting, security systems and various home appliances. German craftsmanship, in the form of luxury cabinetry and furniture brand Eggersman, guarantees a top-tier culinary experience. Czech TechniStone countertops along with an island kitchen design also serve to magnify the opulence of the space, providing one of the property’s luxurious feature points.

Finally, venture out into the Clubhouse, where residents will have access to a 25-metre temperature-controlled swimming pool, a fully outfitted fitness gym, a yoga studio and a children’s playroom.

(Hero and featured image: Living and dining room of Unit B, 3/F Tower 1)

Find out more here

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Feng Shui is an ancient Chinese art of arranging living spaces to ensure maximum harmony, love, abundance and balance. While the word ‘feng’ means wind in Chinese, ‘shui’ means water. The philosophy of Feng Shui entails the free flow of energy (chi) in your home or space. Over the years, it has been adapted according to modern needs and culture. So whether it is your bedroom or kitchen, you should implement Feng Shui to manifest positivity in your life.

Since the introduction of contemporary Feng Shui in the 1970s, it has helped people bring balance, harmony and positivity to their households using key Feng Shui principles, such as the use of the Bagua Map and balancing the flow of chi.

Redesign your bedroom using these Feng Shui tips for a better living

According to Feng Shui experts, the bedroom is one of the most important spaces in the house. It is where you spend the maximum time, especially when sleeping or relaxing. As it is your personal space, the energies prevalent in your room are bound to affect you significantly. Take a look at some of the effective and easy tips you can incorporate right away.

Choose the right colours

Choosing certain colours, as per Feng Shui, optimises peace and sensuality in the bedroom. Soothing or pastel shades, including off-whites, creams, browns and peach tones, is advised.

However, use peach or pink shades only as an accent tone for small objects like pillows or throws. Overusing this colour can attract more than one romantic partner.

Additionally, if you wish to enhance passion in your bedroom, you can add some red. Use blues and greens to improve vitality, harmony and rejuvenation.

While colouring the walls, one of the most common tips is to avoid stark white paint. It represents metal elements of Feng Shui. While it helps in stimulating the mind, an excess of crisp white can disrupt peaceful sleep.

Also, make sure to have mild colours and minimum patterns in your wallpapers and accent walls.

Bed placement and headboard

Regarding Feng Shui for the bedroom layout, the first thing you should focus on is the bed. Placing your bed in the ‘commanding position’ is considered to be a good Feng Shui practice. For this, position your bed in such a way that you can easily see the bedroom door, especially when you are lying down.

It not only boosts harmony and relaxation in the area but also ensures that you do not get up suddenly from a peaceful slumber.

Another bedroom Feng Shui tip is adding a strong and solid headboard to your bed, and you get space on the left, right and feet sides too. This brings stability to life. It also feels really comfortable to read your favourite book or browse social media as you sit up on the bed.

When buying a headboard, choose the one with soft edges, eliciting an inviting vibe. It is suggested to opt for fabric or upholstered ones matching your bed sheets or comforters to create symmetry. Avoid headboards made of cast iron or bars, as their dense energies can intrude  your peace and well-being.

According to Feng Shui experts, if you have a platform bed, make sure the edges are round so that you do not hurt your shins.

Evoke the five senses with the Bagua Map

The Bagua Map is used to study the energies of a room or environment. The energy map helps balance the elements in your space and life. Interestingly, some remedies are in alignment with your five senses — smell, touch, sight, sound and taste.

For instance, for relaxation or unwinding after a long day, you can use lavender or jasmine essential oils in your diffuser. In case you are recovering from seasonal cough or flu, include eucalyptus or ravintsara oils. Or, pour cinnamon or ylang-ylang oil on a candle if you wish to boost sensual energy in your love life.

Choose cosy, inviting fabrics like satin, velvet or cotton for all pillows, cushions, sheets, comforters and curtains in the room. To make the room look pleasing, always opt for muted or earth tones. Keep your reds, pinks and oranges in moderation and pairs.

You can play white noise from YouTube or invest in a sound machine for a good night’s sleep.

As per Feng Shui consultants, it is imperative to avoid bringing or eating food in the bedroom. However, you can keep a jug of water on the bedside table or anywhere in the room.

Declutter your bedroom often

The first place to remove clutter is from under your bed. Avoid keeping unwanted things in this area as it reduces sleep quality and affects health.

Ensuring no storage under the bed helps the chi or life force energy to flow freely and refreshen you even while resting or sleeping. However, the bare minimum to store can be linens, blankets and pillows. You can even stack some books under the bed as long as their titles and content are positive and uplifting.

Other things to avoid include electronics, paintings above the bed, nightstands or lamp shades with sharp corners, large furniture pieces, pictures or paintings of water on bedroom walls and excessive plants.

The importance of two

For better Feng Shui, keep all bedroom accessories in pairs. This implies keeping two pillows, two seats and two similar lamps, among other things.

It is said to invite more loving, balanced and positive energy. This tip helps you irrespective of your marital status.

Avoid mirrors in front of the bed

According to Feng Shui experts, you should never keep mirrors in your bedroom, as they can impact your sleep and marriage. While mirrors attract chi, they also push the energy in the opposite direction.

But if it is unavoidable, ensure your mirror faces something you love looking at or is reflecting a window. When a mirror is positioned opposite a window, it reflects more natural light.

Also, don’t place the mirror in a way that shows your bed, as ideally, you should avoid seeing its reflection. It is to be noted that placing the mirror opposite the bedroom door can increase bad Feng Shui.

Bring in nature

One of the best Feng Shui tips is to keep fresh flowers in your room. Choose blooms that you find alluring. However, don’t forget to replace the water and old flowers.

Add living, green plants, like pothos, to your space to enhance the positive chi. They also improve growth and spread healing energies that get reflected in all areas of your life. However, remember to make the lighting, heat and humidity conducive for your plants to thrive.

Cleanse your bedroom

You must also clean your bedroom regularly. Apart from vacuuming or mopping, smudging the space with bay leaves or palo santo is a good practice. You can even use sweet orange oil in your diffuser to promote good Feng Shui.

(Main and Featured Image Credit: Pixabay/Pexels)

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Whether it’s a home, a restaurant or an office, interior designer Ketty Shan understands that a serene environment can make all the difference to mood and motivation. She talks to us about composition, entrepreneurship and functionality.

Ketty Shan on Design and Functionality

When walking into a space, there’s sometimes a feeling that’s particularly charming, a little je ne sais quoi of pleasure sparked, perhaps, by a stylish blend and arrangement of architecture and furniture. It was exactly what our team experienced when entering the workplace of interior designer Ketty Shan.

“I wanted the space to feel homey, collaborative and inviting,” says Shan. “It’s all about mixing and matching. I’m always looking for vintage or hand-made items, such as rattan chairs or cushions, to complement the industrial style.”

With its sky-high ceilings and an open-plan concept, with lush greenery and birds chirping on the terrace, the Chai Wan space feels more like a gorgeous, rustic bungalow on some idyllic South Pacific island than a place of work. The corner office space, which boasts a paraphernalia of tiles and textures from previous design projects, feels alive and busy, tumultuous with memories of conception and creation from past projects.

“My parents often remind me that since I was young I was very much into creating and making my own ideal space, physically or even digitally. I always sketched with spontaneity and through basic intuition,” says the French-Tahitian designer. “Rather than boiling it down to having a ‘good eye’, I would say I’ve always cared a lot about the small details: materials, proportions, colours, texture, arrangements, and even sound and smell.

“I begin every project with a process of discovery: getting to know the client – or, if it’s a commercial project, the brand – and finding value in what already exists. Factors like the view, natural light, facade, building history and neighbourhood all play a part in my evaluation. I believe every space has great potential, and my role is to uncover it and bring the best aspects forward. From there, I visualise what materials would best suit, and think of how that space can create a sense of belonging.

“Placing the end-user at the centre of my designs is key. Interiors reach their highest level of beauty when people feel at home in them and sense that the design process has been respectful. No matter the programme of the project – commercial or residential – I feel accountable for delivering a functional, yet aesthetically powerful experience.”

If you’ve been to Soho House Hong Kong, Maison Kayser in Wong Chuk Hang or even Sauce Barbershop on Elgin, you’ve been looking at Shan’s work, even if you didn’t realise it. An engineering and architecture graduate of France’s l’École Nationale Supérieure d’Architecture and l’Institute National des Sciences Appliquées, Shan first worked on large-scale architectural projects before shifting to interior design. She made a name as a design manager for a property developer in Kuala Lumpur and, more recently, as Soho House’s principal architect. In 2020, she founded her own design studio, Atelier Shan, to focus on interior projects in Hong Kong and private villas in Tahiti.

“I believe every space has great potential, and my role is to uncover it and bring the best aspects forward”

Ketty Shan

“The origin of Atelier Shan was the realisation that the architectural industry needs a different approach. In the corporate field, there are so few opportunities for women to be promoted to high, leading positions. Creative people need to be inspired and have a rhythm that can’t be dictated by office hours. We need freedom, experience and breathing space. As a result, I decided to open my own practice.”

Unable to speak Cantonese or Mandarin, she initially found starting up challenging. It took her almost eight months to get a good flow and a solid core team. “The best part of what I do is the chance to meet inspiring people from all walks of life. People who either want to start or expand their own businesses or people who understand the importance of wellbeing and want a fresh start in their homes. I always feel absolutely honoured to be part of their journey and contribute in the best way possible. We take design decisions together from the large scale to the finest level of detail, and I always value the result of this collaboration.

“The flexibility and eventful nature of my day-to-day job makes every week interesting. I avoid repetition as much as possible and enjoy the fast design and construction pace required by Hong Kong real-estate costs. During my downtime, I’m then able to dedicate more time to getting inspiration from the city itself or attending cultural events, which is fundamental for a creative mind.”

As a passion project at the start of the pandemic, Shan founded Peerie Tea, a small-scale tea-distribution business importing produce from small cross-generational farms in Yunnan, Assam and Taiwan. Although she doesn’t describe herself as a serial entrepreneur, Shan certainly has the markings of one.

“My life motto is that if it brings you joy, do it; if it doesn’t, don’t do it. I live life the way I want and without regrets. More importantly, be patient and consistent – the entrepreneurial journey is a rollercoaster, stretched between the highest and lowest peaks you can imagine. Not everything is going to happen in one day, but if you do things right, people will remember your abilities for years to come and will reconnect as soon as there’s an opportunity.

“Lastly, surround yourself with good people. In life, and especially as an entrepreneur, you need real friends who will be supportive and genuinely care about you.” “I believe every space has great potential, and my role is to uncover it and bring the best aspects forward.”

PHOTOGRAPHY ALISON KWAN

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Contemporary design is dominated by western brands and culture, but that may all change with the launch of the e-commerce platform Vermillion. We talk to the company’s founder and CEO, Krizia Li, about why it’s high time to shine a light on Asian design and artistry.

Asia Rising

You could say that Asian design is already well integrated into modern-day interiors, what with popular trends such as the resurgence of Chinoiserie or the hybrid aesthetic of Japandi, a Japanese and Scandinavian style combination that’s recently gaining momentum. And while this does seem to embrace Asian design, it really just feels like Asian culture seen through a Western lens and, to be quite frank, doesn’t even come close to reflecting what the entire continent of Asia has to offer.

This is where Vermillion, a business-to-business e-commerce platform that focuses on showcasing Asian designers and creators, hopes to swoop in and give Asia its rightful place on the global market. Named after the deep shade of scarlet red historically used in Taoist culture as the colour of life and eternity, Vermillion curates products from across the region, spanning Greater China, Japan, South Korea, Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, India and the Philippines. The online platform works with Asian brands, aiming not only to be a window on Asian design but also plans to conserve and convey the region’s heritage and artistry through its curation of products.

To Vermillion’s founder and CEO Krizia Li, this warm vibrant hue also represents the dynamic energy of emerging Asian designers. “It’s a very symbolic colour and we’re imagining rivers of this pigment where everyone comes together and the energy flows,” she says. “It’s a colour with artistic and cultural connotations that tie in very well with the mission,” which is to elevate Asian design and revolutionise the face of luxury wholesale.

Hoping to become the “Farfetch of Asia”, as Li puts it, Vermillion is an all-digital platform that simplifies the sourcing experience with the support of proprietary big data and AI analytics, all without the need to travel or navigate shipping logistics. “We also benefit from having new brands coming in constantly. We regularly update our assortment and we’re always grooming it so we can bring new or fresh things to a client at any time.”

But that’s not all. “The platform also helps people discover lesser-known, but very high-quality brands. It’s the ateliers and workshops that we think deserve more recognition and attention but perhaps don’t have the resources, language skills or network that go beyond their own borders. These brands are very active domestically, but maybe not so much internationally. So, the idea is to help these brands scale up.”

Li runs through her rigorous curation process, which starts with local team members on the ground who act as filters in all key regional markets, followed by a vetting committee that decides whether new brands fit the portfolio and, finally, a curatorial panel of industry professionals to get feedback on products and price points. She takes a deep breath. “It’s also about having faith and trust in the brand partner to uphold the same values as we do.” Vermillion looks at each and every brand as a long-term partnership that will grow and be fruitful over time. “I’m not just like working with you for what you have today. I’m working with you for where you’ll take us in the future. I want to be on that journey with you.”

This careful curation enables Vermillion confidently to showcase both notable designers and those yet to be discovered by an international audience, such as Maison Lumière, a Qing Dynasty-inspired jewellery designer from Shanghai and DaMoon, a Korean tableware designer utilising traditional techniques, among many others. Esteemed creators include the likes of award-winning designer Alan Chan and Hong Kong artist Stanley Wong, otherwise known as Another Mountain Man, who also designed Vermillion’s logo, as well as the internationally acclaimed Hans Tan Studio from Singapore and Monmaya from Japan, which has been making small-batch furnishings including warrior chests for more than 140 years.

To find out how Li got to this point, we go back to her studies and experiences. Born and educated in the UK, Li came to Hong Kong to work in investment banking before falling in love with emerging markets. “I didn’t want to be in super-mature markets like Europe and the US, where everything is already very established. I love the nitty-gritty of the up-and-coming along with all the uncertainties… I just want to dig and find hidden gems in their raw form and then make them beautiful.”

Asked why she started Vermillion, Li recalls her days in branding and marketing management, when she discovered a token portfolio of Asian products at a certain luxury travel retailer. It included the likes of cosmetics brand Cha Ling L’esprit Du Thé, the Chinese winery Ao Yun and Shang Xia from Hermès. “Big European groups were starting to invest in a handful of Chinese brands to help internationalise them. But that effort was very fragmented and not coordinated,” she explains.

“Asia is producing more than 80 percent of goods in the world, so why don’t we have our own intellectual property or original designers and why aren’t we getting any recognition?” She has a point. It’s long been considered true that Chinese industrial manufacturing is more advanced than that in the West and the lower costs enable larger volumes and, in some cases, a more diversified offering. In Li’s opinion, “We don’t have to sell to someone else. We should just be big on our own and get the due recognition and appreciation for it.”

Encouraged by the success of Japanese and Korean brands that have established themselves in the market by celebrating their cultural heritage and making use of their technological advancements to create high-quality products, she asks, “Why shouldn’t the rest of Asia follow in the footsteps of Japan and Korea?”

Nonetheless, Li believes it’s much harder to achieve this, due to numerous Asian brands choosing to make mass-market, generic creations. A consequence of this is the blanket reputation of producing cheap, low-quality products. In a bid to eschew this, she articulates that “building a market for the future means you should have quality goods that earn market share. This is how you’ll get respect from your peers and how you can open the market – or make the pie bigger for everybody. Then you can start introducing all the emerging smaller brands. They just need someone to go ahead and pave the way for them as a luxury leader.”

Hoping to forge this path, Vermillion’s business model starts with B2B. “This is how you get industry recognition. You can impact a lot of people at the same time by getting into a position of authority and being accepted by the right people. Then there’s a trickle-down effect.”

Another great challenge for Asia is originality. “We’re decisively helping Asia to move away from copycats,” she says. “You need unique intellectual property in order for people to see you as a thought leader. There’s a price on originality, and Asian designers have very different points of origin, life stories, narratives and experiences, which have so much value in the world of diversity.”

For Vermillion, interior decor is just the beginning. The growing platform is looking to explore and expand its portfolio with lifestyle products that include skincare, food, and wines and spirits, among other items. Looking to the future, Vermillion also hopes to launch its business-to-consumer offering soon, with a select collection of brands carrying products such as candles, fragrances, artwork, and table- and barware, which make sense for the individual buyer. The company also aims to host retail pop-ups around the world, whether at international design fairs or through local collaborations in Hong Kong.

Her eyes bright and sparkling, Li also says she hopes to build a wider community, not just to connect designers with their clients but also with other designers and in other countries – for instance, a distillery in Hong Kong might want to work with a metal sculptor in Thailand and a glassmaker in China, and so on. “Our platform is a really quick way to connect all of the players in the whole ecosystem. That’s the bigger picture,” says Li. “That’s where the magic happens.”

(Top image: Maison Lumiere; All images courtesy of Vermillion)

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Playroom design isn’t a subject that gets much attention, but Carsten Rakutt hopes to change that. The founder of Rakoon Design tells Stephanie Ip just how important it can be in influencing a child’s growth.

We all grew up designers and creators, building make-believe worlds with nothing but our imaginations. Carsten Rakutt believed he was a full-fledged builder at eight years old, and recalls childhood days spent out in the forest behind his home in Germany, where he’d create his own world with friends, building treehouses, finding caves and transforming his natural surroundings into anything he desired.

The playroom designer and founder of Rakoon Design now channels that same instinct for play into his thoughtfully designed spaces for children, educational landscapes that not only stimulate young imaginations, but encourage their physical, mental and social development.

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An engineer by profession, Rakutt worked in shipping for 20 years, spending much of his time sailing the seas before settling in Hong Kong, where he found himself moving into a drastically different field. When he arrived here eight years ago, he met Crisel Consunji, an early-childhood educator who was then teaching Kindermusik to children. Together, they decided to embark on a new venture centred on building a community around the young. In 2015, they founded Baumhaus, a first-of-its-kind creative-arts learning centre in Hong Kong, whose flagship centre is in Wanchai. This year, the couple is expecting their first child.

It might sound like we’re digressing here but the beginning of Baumhaus (“treehouse”) was also the beginning of Rakoon Design. “The name Rakoon Design is only two years old,” says Rakutt. “When we began Baumhaus, we started building the furniture for our own school. We started to design the playroom in the school and things grew from there.”

Outsourcing the building never crossed Rakutt’s mind. “I’ve been building stuff for a long time,” he says. “I built my own house in Germany. That’s always in me and I didn’t see a reason to hand it out to someone else. It was quite natural to say, well, we want to have this so I’ll build it myself.”

The Baumhaus playroom was Rakutt’s first design, but its design language will inform the aesthetic and educational value of all his future works. Before he started, he asked himself how to prepare children for a future that will be different from the one he grew up with. The answer lay in nature.

“All my designs are inspired by pure nature,” he says. “It’s about bringing as much nature into the urban environment as possible. For me, that also means bringing as few pre-fabricated designs into the playrooms as possible. I didn’t want to create ships or castles or anything where the design already defines what it is. My designs are almost like blank paper, so children can let their fantasies go wild. It’s similar to nature in that sense – you can step into the forest and build anything out of it.”

As people began to hear about the spaces Rakutt was building for Baumhaus, he began getting enquiries about building bespoke playrooms for others. He established Rakoon Design in 2019 specifically to address these growing demands, realising there was a lack of innovation and expertise in this rather niche field.

Rakutt’s playroom designs don’t adhere to any particular parenting or educational systems, which gives his clients the freedom to co-build a playground design that suits them. It’s also because play and education aren’t necessarily the same.

“I want as few limitations in the designs as possible, because a lot of education philosophies aren’t designed around play design but knowledge transfer,” he says. “But there’s so much more to growing up and being educated than knowledge transfer. Play is an existential part of growing up and so we need to create these spaces for children to play as freely as possible. In a way, it’s an add-on to the education realm out there.”

Raising children and building a community around them wasn’t solely based on knowledge transfer. Rakutt believes children need space to live, explore, grow and flourish, but finding space in Hong Kong can be a challenge.

“Space in Hong Kong and usage of space in Hong Kong is often not optimised,” he says. “When we look at how children play, it’s not one dimensional, yet most playrooms in the current environment are very one-dimensional play structures. What I mean is that it’s all very hyper energy-based, running-up-and-down kind of play. What this type of environment does is to overstimulate children and it becomes a place where aggression is being created and catered [for]. That’s all part of play and we don’t want to deny this, but it’s only a small part of play. What I wanted to create was a place where a small child – say, a three-year-old – isn’t just going wild for half an hour and then comes back more aggressive and sweaty. I want them to have hours of quality time in the playroom with their parents, their caregivers and their peers.”

Given the space limitations – and sky-high rents – in Hong Kong, Rakutt’s playroom design is compact but complete, full of elements of play that allow children to engage in different ways. There are tunnels, steps and slides to facilitate running around and interaction. There are also boltholes and quiet corners where children can withdraw and play quietly – and even take a nap. And unlike typical playrooms in Hong Kong, parents are more than welcome to join in the fun.

Rakutt encourages parents to engage in play with their children in his playrooms. “It’s essential, because children at this age are learning skills by looking at their parents and caregivers. They’re learning how to bond with people in their environment. Particularly in the early years, play is an essential part of learning and everything children learn to do is by play. If we eliminate the best teachers – the parents and caregivers – we make the space very one-dimensional and then the values are very limited,” he explains.

Following the Baumhaus playroom, Rakoon Design has taken on other projects, such as working with charity OneSky to build a three-storey playroom in Sham Shui Po for underprivileged children, and Playdot at Lee Gardens, a welcome respite for children and parents during shopping outings or after school.

With soft wood tones and organic structures, Rakoon Design’s playrooms are far from the usual play areas in Hong Kong’s parks and outdoor spaces, with their glossy surfaces in jarringly vivid blues, red and yellows.

Sustainability is a huge factor for Rakutt, ensures all the wood he uses comes from Finland and can be traced to a sustainable source. His production is in Germany, partly because of his connections there but also because it’s where he can trust the quality and workmanship.

“We don’t want to use plastic at all in my playgrounds,” says Rakutt. “The most important thing is to bring nature into the equation. The more nature there is in play, the calmer children can be. The stimulation you get from blues and reds and yellows in a playroom can be counterproductive, because these colours make people aggressive. They’re warning colours in nature. So by toning down the noise levels around us, children and adults aren’t distracted and they can focus on each other and create healthier play.”

Rakutt is also inspired by Scandinavian design. “Designers such as Olsen Kundig, Todd Saunders and Snøhetta inspire me,” he says. “What they all have in common is that they merge architecture with nature. It’s very pure and minimalistic; they reduce the noise and clutter around us and go back to the basics.”

He cites Saunders’ work as particularly enlightening. “From Saunders, you’d have buildings where the roof is green and it merges into the hills behind. That’s very much part of my design language as well, where I want my furniture to merge with the building. It’s not free-standing equipment.

It should have a connection with the building, almost as if it’s growing out from the walls. I find that important, because loose-standing articles can be quite cold and dysfunctional.”

Rakutt concedes that play design is a niche that people are still exploring. “In Europe, people are only starting to realise how important it is to create the right play environment to help children grow mentally and socially,” he says.
It’s something he’s working to change in Hong Kong as well. But first, perceptions of education have to change. “For the first couple of years, we need to put more emphasis on play rather than academic [subjects]. The more we understand that, the more there’ll be a demand for proper play equipment and playgrounds.

“The government still has a very standardised approach and clubhouses are driven by protocols,” says Rakutt. “Schools and kindergartens are growing and developing in that direction, but it’ll take time.”

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Hong Kong-based British industrial designer Michael Young talks about his affinity with street scavengers, his love for “fiddling about” with hi-tech materials and the astonishing diversity of his output.

In Conversation with Michael Young

I remember I wanted to do something creative because I knew I’d never do anything academic,” says the British industrial designer Michael Young of his younger self, with disarmingly self-deprecating candour. He’s talking from Phuket, where he’s taking a couple of weeks’ rest before returning to Hong Kong, which has been his base since the late noughties. For the last seven months, he’s been holed up in Oxfordshire, England, and is now itching to get back to work, even if that does necessitate a lengthy period of quarantine

“I’d skirted around fine art and graphic design and they all seemed to engage certain types of skills like – well, I knew I wasn’t going to be the next Leonardo da Vinci and I definitely wasn’t the next Jean-Paul Gaultier. But I did have an affinity with street scavengers like Tom Dixon and Ron Arad, whereby I felt very close to the idea of being able to create things myself. It was like it was time for this punk to sing into a microphone, you know, the idea that anyone can have a go, and I guess over 30 years [the act has] just become more highly polished.”

He can say that again. Emanating in an unstoppable stream from his studio in Hong Kong, Young’s output is prolific and almost impossible to categorise, ranging from bicycles for Taiwan’s two-wheeled behemoth Giant and an active speaker speaker system for British sound specialist KEF, to interiors, furniture, refrigerators, lighting, clocks, watches, headphones, shoes, beer glasses – well, you name it and Young has almost certainly designed it.

He’s even re-imagined the classic British Moke utility vehicle of the 1960s (you may perhaps remember renting one of the originals on a weekend jaunt to Macau), and is currently engaged in designing, of all things, a jetski and a snowmobile. I ask him whether there’s a discernible Michael Young style among this incredibly diverse range of projects. “I guess when you look at the bandwidth of work it’s harder and harder to define a ‘Michael Young’ design style,” he says, “but it could be that there’s a level of innovation in the work and the materials – and academically – which comes through in the pieces. Ultimately it’s the manufacturing processes and the typology. Some people
recognise it, some people don’t – it’s not purely form-based work where everything’s based on a shape that I designed 30 years ago. Different people see different things.

“Ultimately, I’ve always wanted each product to speak for itself, and I do delve deep into the manufacturing process. One of the other products that’s launching post-Covid is a carbon-fibre suitcase, which is manufactured in a factory creating carbon-fibre bicycles and aircraft parts, and that’s based on my experience of creating products in carbon fibre for Giant bicycles, and when you package that experience up you can challenge typologies – and that’s really where it comes from. And, I hate to say it, but this piece of carbon-fibre luggage is probably the best in the world!”

Young arrived in Hong Kong from Taiwan almost 15 years ago, having decided that the vast development and production capabilities located just across the boundary in Shenzhen – what’s now known as the Greater Bay Area – provided the ideal incubator for turning the products of his fertile imagination into reality. He’d got his grounding in industrial design while studying at Kingston in the late-’80s and early-’90s, then worked for a while with the British industrial designer Tom Dixon, whose star was then very much in the ascendant, before setting up on his own.

Named by Sir Terence Conran, another UK design guru, as the most inspirational British designer in 1997, Young has collaborated with countless global brands and during the past 25 years his work has been exhibited in major art and design institutions around the world.

He tells me that some of his ideas, such as a set of Taoism-inspired aluminium-foam vases he created for the art incubator Gallery ALL, were provoked by production processes he’s encountered while producing other products. “When I’m around factories in China I do try to have a little play, and that play has helped fuel other areas of the studio,” he says. “Perhaps the materials are used in aircraft, but I like to have little fiddle around with them. It also keeps your brain fertile and a little multi-disciplinary. I guess there’s time to play with these things, and we’re in the right part of the world [to do so].

“A few years ago design wasn’t really globally accepted and everyone was a bit cautious about stepping outside their general footprints that they’d built to service certain types of industry. But when design became more important, these people are looking for other opportunities, and it’s really escalated over the past 10 years. In Shenzhen and the Greater Bay Area there’s this metropolis of highly developed factories and whatnot, and they’re all swapping and cross-pollenating with each other.”

It’s an environment he’s certainly looking forward to getting back to, plus the fact that there’s a recently completed home that needs living in, even though over the years he’s become used to working with clients from a distance. “Shortly after I arrived in Hong Kong, I started making things for companies around the world – in the USA and Japan – and I’ve spent the last 30 years working from hotels,” he says, “and in the last year everyone’s been doing it. Covid’s actually been really good for me because it’s broken the cycle of being Asian focused. At the moment we’re designing some micro-housing in Japan, for an old friend of mine. I haven’t been there, I haven’t met the architects, but they know we can hack it out – and that’s a much larger-scale project than what we usually take on.

“But I happen to be located here and I also have a studio in Shenzhen, which I haven’t been able to get to in a couple of years. I’ve been in Europe for seven months, and I’ve been designing for a company based in Oxfordshire, but I’ve got sick of the cold and having pies for lunch in a pub.” The next couple of months will see the unveiling of Young’s second collaboration with KEF, “an active floor-standing speaker, super-high-quality and one of the most slender products on the market – simple and concise. KEF like our approach and we already have a relationship, so we worked hand-in-hand with their product team. I come up with the concepts and then we work with their engineering team to fit the gubbins in. It’s definitely a team effort, a democratic approach to design. Also, their engineers have been in the business for more than 50 years and they’re second-to-none, so we rely on their resources.”

As to the notion of a jetski and a snowmobile zooming off from the Young drawing board, even he seems baffled by the incongruity, though he’s evidently now learned to take such things in his stride. “How did I land in this place?” he wonders. “Oh, a snowmobile? OK! Ultimately, there’s a lot of people around the world asking us to do a lot of different things for reasons that only they can line up in their own heads. You never know what people in what industries want to work with you and for what reasons. And that’s the beauty of my profession really.”

(Here and featured image: Michael Young and a steel and white Enamel Lounge Chair he designed for Gallery All, first exhibited at Design Miami/Basel in 2019)

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In today’s time, most people know about non-fungible tokens (NFTs) or blockchain. The concept of authentic and exclusive digital assets is marking its presence in every sphere of life. Whether fashion, artwork or real estate, the NFT market is growing rapidly. With creators designing ‘furniture NFTs’ now, various furniture brands are launching their own NFTs to up the market even more.

With a Fashion Week being recently held in the metaverse, in full swing, the craze for NFTs seems to have grown exponentially. From the digital art of Bored Ape Yacht Club to sports memorabilia and music records, there’s a lot. Virtual furniture is one such concept that has piqued the interests of creators and digital versions of various furniture pieces are being sold for huge amounts.

Let us have a look at some designers and furniture brands that are impacting the NFT world with interesting furniture pieces.

Here are some brands and designers who have launched furniture NFTs

Meta4Space

It is quite striking to see the effect of blockchain backed digital assets. A real furniture design company, has actually opened a metaverse venture, to help those wanting to come forward in this zone.

Firas Alsahin and Amjad Hourieh, co-founders of Dubai based luxury furniture brand 4Space Design, entered the luxe business with Meta4Space to reimagine their game plan and get an edge over other architecture and furniture brands in the market. They joined OpenSea in January 2022 and launched their first line of chairs with the NFT collection titled MetaChair Society.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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A post shared by 4SPACE Interior & Architecture (@4spacedesign)

In an attempt to merge the real and virtual worlds, the company gives the physical version of their chairs a tech makeover. A totally unique 3D model of a digital chair is created for a client, who can then use it within other metaverse elements like a virtual house, museum or showroom. AR technology, VR headsets and tools like Gravity Sketch are used to create such designs, which are nothing short of artworks.

To increase customer engagement in this regard, the furniture brand has also added another feature, whereby every chair is an invitation to the company’s other services and events. In fact, in its first week of launch, six MetaChair Society NFTs were traded for 2.9 Ethereum.

Speaking to designwanted.com, Alsahin said, “We created a Meta Chair in physical form for a themed café in Dubai where 4 of the designs placed inside the cafe engaged customers by envisioning what a cafe on Mars would look like.” The cafe, named Space Cup, features these futuristic chairs which can be seen in the NFT marketplace.

Visionnaire

Raising the bar high with fine made in Italy interior products, Visionnaire is a meta-luxury brand that has seamlessly provided modern and classic interior designing pieces for residential spaces, high-end hotels, luxury yachts and the aviation industry in over 55 countries.

The luxury furniture brand entered the metaverse with Visionnaire NFT in collaboration with leading American artist Jonathan Monaghan. Launched during Milan Art Week at the 26th edition of Miart, the NFT takes the sculpture of Apollo del Belvedere from the Vatican to the digital realm. The Greek archer symbolises aesthetic perfection, which makes it the ideal figure for the Italian brand’s NFT.

According to a release, “The life-size bust, carved in Carrara marble, inspired by the capitonné leather typical of the furniture world, decode antiquity by bringing back to the contemporary the careful study on the contrasts that made the work famous: softness and hardness, virtual and physical, past and future.” It was launched on Foundation marketplace on 28 March and features three video NFT teasers.

The physical life-size bust will be displayed in the Wunderkammer in June 2022 and will be put on sale along with a dedicated NFT ‘plus’ on the occasion of the 60th edition of the ‘Salone del Mobile di Milano’.

Andrés Reisinger

Sought after digital artist Andrés Reisinger’s 2021 NFT auction, titled ‘The Shipping’ earned him nearly half a million within 10 minutes. The collection comprised 10 furniture items and was put up on Nifty Gateway, one of the several online auction sites.

Reisinger sees his creations as a body of conceptual art as well as collectibles. This is what gives these NFTs their value. Recently in March 2022, Reisinger showcased his latest work called Sun/Leaf at the Art Dubai Week. Digital artwork (called Sun) included a 90 second audiovisual piece showing an animated landscape on an LED wall, which was bordering a waterbody outside the gallery. In this ‘phygital’ line of work, one of the physical aspects (called Leaf) included a hybrid futuristic chrome metal armchair placed in the water.

Though one may not be able to sit on these couches and sofas, they can interact with the NFTs by dropping them into virtual spaces like CryptoVoxels or Minecraft. They can also be explored using an augmented reality device like a gaming platform as Unreal Engine, as well. Working the reverse way, Reisinger has partnered with Spanish furniture brand Moooi to turn his popular NFT Hortensia Chair into a real world entity.

Romulo Temigue

 

 

 

 

 

 

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A post shared by Romulo Temigue (@romulotemigue)

An architect and design freak, São Paulo-based Romulo Temigue is another name known for whimsical and eclectic furniture designs. His designs look absolutely out-of-the-world in terms of concept and construction. Having collaborated with leading global furniture brands like Kartell, Moooi and Vitra, his digital armchairs, table lamps and sofas have got the touch of reality. With a dreamy aesthetic at play, Temigue uses different colours and textures as well as plexi-glass like materials to achieve the transparent look on surfaces.

Coming forward into the NFT world, Temigue has listed his stone armchair design on Foundation marketplace. Owing to his largely appreciated hybrid digital designs and huge social media following, the 3D designs and art pieces are quite popular. When sold, these encrypted digital files contain all details of the owner, buyer, cost and more, keeping their originality intact.

As an industrial designer who is keen on NFTs, Temigue feels that this field is still quite physical and personal in nature. People still want to touch and feel before investing in something like this. However, NFTs give him complete creative freedom to play with colours and looks and create designs which are totally unprecedented.

According to a report by designwanted.com, Temigue says, “That’s why NFTs are so great because there is a possibility to make colourful ideas with any material without thinking about the manufacturing process. If that isn’t complete creative freedom for a designer, I don’t know what is.”

Misha Kahn

 

 

 

 

 

 

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American furniture and decor designer Misha Kahn is a brand in himself. Known for his bold and quirky designs, Kahn joined hands with auction house Christie’s, in 2021, to launch 10 NFT designs. The collection was named Misha Kahn: Furniture Unhinged and comprised biomorphic figurines that depicted functional furniture.

The auction pieces came with their own set of specifications and allowed the owner to 3D print the design for a real life keepsake. A 13 second animation by Kahn himself, became the starting point for the NFTs, from which the designer took a particular frame to create the physical furniture pieces. They included chairs, tables, storage furniture, a bird bath and lighting.

According to Wallpaper.com, Kahn says, “What is really interesting to me about the idea of selling an NFT of a design object is that you can express yourself in an object that doesn’t need to be materialised.”

Furniture brands that will be launching NFTs

Dims

Based out of Los Angeles, furniture startup company Dims launched Logos Collection, a line of minimalist outdoor furniture designed by Dutch designer Christian Heikoop in March 2022. Building on it, the company is all set to launch an NFT collection.

Though not much is known about the crypto art, it is reported that Dims will be releasing 2000 NFTs in different stages. The first lot will have a starting price of USD 100 each. Making matters easy for those who are not much into the NFT space and cryptocurrency dealings, Dims has teamed up with a service named Venly to let buyers purchase the digital collectibles using USD.

Every Dims NFT, a shimmery GIF limited edition collectible, will come with a permanent coupon, granting the holder 15 percent off on all Dims furniture and merchandise for life. After buying, holders can keep the NFTs or sell them on any open market.

According to Business Of Home, Dim’s founder and CEO Eugene Kim says, “Crypto and smart contracts had been on our radar for years, but once NFTs took centre stage last year, we started to understand how some of the technology could be harnessed for what we do.” According to Kim, the proceeds from the NFT sale will go towards recovering the engineering, tooling and prototyping cost of the furniture design.

Nomanzi

One of the fastest growing furniture and decoration brands in the Middle East, Nomanzi is on its way to be the first brand to launch its own designs as NFTs. It has partnered with Kaya Collection, a highly valued digital as well as physical art collection in September 2021 for this digital venture. Both Nomanzi and Kaya Collection are founded by Iranian entrepreneur Emir Kaya who is aiming to turn top Nomanzi designs into NFT furniture.

As a leading furniture brand, Nomanzi is known for its modern and sleek designs for beds, wardrobes, desks and home decor items, which can turn every home into a work of art. Kaya Collection, on the other hand, has made its presence felt quite vividly in the realms of collecting digital art. Its OpenSea account is evident of its growing NFT collection and the founder’s interest.

Emir Kaya says, “Creating synergy between Nomanzi furniture and Kaya Collection is the result of our attitude toward objects, art, and the digital world in the new era. Today, products and objects that we use in our daily lives should not only be a tool for our comfort or our businesses, but they should be a source of inspiration and help us take a new look at our world.”

Hero and feature image: Courtesy Nathan Fertig/ @nathanfertig/ Unsplash

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The Cestone sofa from Italian design furniture company Flexform was made to be placed at the centre of your home.

Founded in 1959 by the Galimberti brothers, Flexform is a family business that has been at the helm of the furniture industry for over 50 years. From the Brianza furniture manufacturing district in Northern Italy, Flexform’s furniture travelled to Milan, Lake Como and even the foyer of the Teatro alla Scala.

So it comes as no surprise that the company carries a catalogue full of timeless furniture and classic home items, each made in the city of Meda, in Italy. From armchairs to ottomans, beds, tables, bookshelves, cabinets, rugs and more, you can always expect expert craftsmanship and a product that is something akin to an art piece for your home.

The standouts in its vast collection of furniture are the Flexform sofas: sophisticated yet comfortable, timeless but modern. Each one is carefully designed to both complement your home, and stand out — made with the highest quality of material, whether it be leather, fabrics, wood, metal or upholstery.

The Italian-Made Flexform Cestone Sofa

The Cestone sofa is designed to be the centre of attention — or at least, to be placed at the centre of your living space. Rather than be pushed against a wall or along the perimeter of the room, the Cestone sofa is a star player, sitting in the middle.

Its backs and sides are composed of a metal structure upholstered with woven strips of cowhide — a high-quality natural material that Flexform makes broad use of, as it maintains its beauty as it ages. A well-known fabric in use since ancient times, it was ideal for protection from cold and bad weather and offers great flexibility while maintaining its shape. You’ll find cowhide in other Flexform products like the Crono armchair and Filicudi ottomans.

The strips are in two different widths that can either be closely woven, forming a compact surface; or more loosely woven, allowing the underlying upholstery fabric to show through. The result is a checkerboard pattern that provides a strong visual impact, contrasting beautifully with the Cestone sofa’s soft upholstered parts. It’s luxurious and lightweight, lending warmth and softness to your space — and you know the material is guaranteed certified origin and superior.

The stylish design is another example of Flexform’s “discreet elegance” philosophy: uncluttered shapes, never ostentatious, simple and refined down to the smallest detail. Never loud or aggressive.

The Cestone sofa comes in 13 different colours, four of them in suede. Pair it with its eponymous coffee tables.

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS

• BACKREST AND ARMREST with satined, chromed, burnished, champagne or black chromed metal and hide leather panels: russian red (5008), white (5007), olive (5006), black (5005), dark brown (5004), dark brown extra (5013), grey (5003), sand (5001), tobacco (5015). Also available in black suede (6005), dark brown suede (6004), olive suede (6003), sand suede (6001).
• SEAT frame in metal and wood with polyurethane padding covered with protective fabric lining and metal joint elements.
• BASE metal frame epoxy powder coated
• BACKREST, ARMREST AND SEAT CUSHIONS filled with down and resilient inner core.
• THROW PILLOWS down-filled on request with upcharge
• UPHOLSTERY removable fabric or leather covers.

Find out more here.

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New residential development projects in Manhattan’s landmark addresses are luring wealthy international investors back to the city — a New York real estate renaissance.

New York is back with a bang, and it wants everyone to know. Districts that coalesced during the Art Deco and Jazz Ages bloomed again by summer 2021 with new kinds of vibrancy. Now offices hum back to business, vaccine passes are required at most venues and the city feels safer. Areas like Midtown and the Wall Street business area are in a post-pandemic real-estate renaissance.

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New York’s Real Estate Renaissance

With the easing of international travel restrictions to the US in November, overseas investors have also returned in force, lured by the possibility of snapping up landmark addresses. Some of the city’s famous skyscrapers, citadels of modern commerce and culture, are being transformed into high-end residential developments.

Both One Wall Street and the Towers of the Waldorf Astoria are building ultra-luxe offerings housed in famous Art Deco buildings. The difference from what’s been built before lies in a blend of spacious layouts, designer details, and next-level amenities and services catering to a new kind of luxury condo living. The biggest residential project in Downtown Manhattan is One Wall Street, located next to the New York Stock Exchange, at the intersection of Broadway and Wall Street — a multi-billion-dollar development headed by Macklowe Properties.

By retaining the facade but completely gutting the interiors and rebuilding with generous proportions, Macklowe is creating 566 contemporary units (ranging from studios to multi-bedroom apartments at helicopter height) with 100,000 square feet of amenities, including a swimming pool, gym and clubhouse and 174,000 square feet of retail space (including a gigantic wholefoods store).

Completed in 1931, the imposing original 50-storey tower was designed by Ralph Walker as an office for the Irving Trust Company. Walker was part of a group of Art Deco pioneers, including Raymond Hood, William Van Alen and Ely Jacques Kahn, who shaped the Manhattan cityscape. A 36-storey annexe was added in 1966 and, in 2001, the building was declared a city landmark of Art Deco importance alongside the Empire State and Chrysler buildings.

The new residential One Wall Street interiors will faithfully reference the building’s glamorous roots (detailing includes the skim coat of walls, beautiful wood floors and Art Deco trim), but with a spacious, contemporary attitude.

“People are just looking for more space right now — more useable, family-friendly space,” says Kirk Rundhaug, sales director at One Wall Street. “They want to be able to work from home and they want all the facilities within their building, where they know that the hygiene protocol is going to be watched. People are looking for real square footage that they can live in. And that’s what they’ve created here in this particular building.”

International clients have been receptive, especially those from Asia and the Middle East who like the development’s central location and expanded hotel-like services: concierges, slickly designed co-working spaces and children’s playrooms, as well as a wrap-around terrace, garden, pool, state-of-the-art gym and full entertainment areas. One Wall Street is looking to be the hero residential condo offering of downtown Manhattan, with expansive amenities speaking to a new gold standard of luxury living.

“Art deco has influenced our modern style of living more than any other period”

— Kirk Rundhaug, One Wall Street

The neighbourhood has, of course, seen a drastic change since 9/11. During the rejuvenation “more than US$30 billion has been invested into Downtown real estate and infrastructure”, says local architectural historian and author Thomas Mellins.

He explains how it’s bought a vibrant neighbourhood life to the area where the first American exchanges were established. Popular restaurants, such as The Fulton and Nobu, are just short walking distance from the Stock Exchange and creative industries now occupy sites that were formerly financial. A well-landscaped Battery Park is close by, with Downtown enviably offering access to the water from all sides.

“We see Connecticut couples, who don’t want to commute anymore, coming into the area,” Rundhaug says. “I love being down here because now you now have all the restaurants, grocery stores, dry cleaners … in the evening, people are out walking their dogs, dining out on the sidewalks and enjoying themselves. It used to be quiet after the work crowd left, but now it’s a whole different world. It’s a new neighbourhood to explore in Manhattan.”

The flurry of architectural activity in past few years, and cranes littering the horizon, are evidence of Manhattan’s current rebuilding project. On the west side of Midtown Manhattan, projects like Hudson Yards and the Thomas Heatherwick-designed Lantern House (both offering luxury residences) show how the area is regenerating following the opening of the famous Highline park trail.

For those who prefer central Midtown, there’s another New York landmark that would-be residents can own a piece of. Nestling among New York’s most fashionable boutiques on Madison and Fifth, the Towers of the Waldorf Astoria Hotel are being converted into luxury condo residences with a coveted Park Avenue address.

This area in Midtown has “benefited from US$35 billion in recent commercial and infrastructure investment … and it’s become a popular area for those seeking a Manhattan pied-a-terre,” says Dan Tubb, the Waldorf Astoria’s senior sales director. Tubb has had more than 8,000 inquiries from around the world, with many potential buyers lured by the hotel’s heritage and address.

Completed in 1931, the Waldorf Astoria was the largest and tallest hotel in the world at the time. A beacon for the glamorous global elite, over the years it hosted the likes of Frank Sinatra, Winston Churchill, Queen Elizabeth II, Grace Kelly and Marilyn Monroe.

The property is being revamped by owner/developer Dajia Insurance Group and renowned architects Skidmore, Owings & Merrill. Once completed, the Towers’ condo interiors, designed by Jean-Louis Deniot, will blend opulent Art Deco grandeur with lighter, modern living styles, mixing American glamour with European flair.

“The Waldorf Astoria has a forever-lavish aura,” says Deniot of the project. “The interiors will reflect the magnificence of the past mixed with today’s great sense of energy. They will be grand and playful — all highly inviting.”

Tubb says that buyer interest in these residences has skyrocketed since New York’s bounce back. It’s another development with a triumphant range of amenities and services, encompassing a pool, gym, spas and workout rooms, a salon and library, billiards and games rooms, private offices, co-working spaces and a theatre for screenings or performances.

“There are 50,000 square feet of private residential amenities, and none of this is shared with the hotel,” says Tubb. The Waldorf even hired famed auctioneer and art dealer Simon de Pury as an in-house resident art curator. And for added comfort, there are private dining rooms and catering kitchens for events, as well as wine storage and 24-hour valet service for the Towers’ residents.

These all point to a new apex of contemporary luxury for New York’s residential market. In the city that never sleeps, supercharged, super-serviced condos are appealing to wealthy American and international clients alike. Whether it’s a pied-a-terre or a primary residence, the likes of the The Towers of the Waldorf Astoria and One Wall Street are setting a new bar in New York’s prime addresses and landmark buildings.

“Art Deco has influenced our modern style of living more than any other period”, says Rundhaug. “In the 1800s, it was more townhouses, smaller rooms and salons — and, of course, people had grand apartments and homes too. But what happened here in the Deco time is that they took all that design, they simplified it and they made it feel timeless.”

So there we were in the last days of 2021, still gawping at historic Art Deco architecture and Deco-inspired contemporary designs. The striking geometries, stylised curves alongside stylised florals and speed lines — the biggest and boldest of new luxury residences still lean on that captivating visual nostalgia. It’s a timeless aesthetic ingrained into New York’s character but offers plenty of fresh flair — just look to the majestic 9,000 square foot Red Room at the grand lobby of One Wall Street.

Restored to its full glory after 16 months and US$1 million, the former banking hall features a mesmerising mural of oxblood, orange and gold mosaic, designed by celebrated American artist Hildreth Meière. Shimmering with glorious energy and possibility, it somehow reminds us of what Carrie Bradshaw stated in the original Sex and the City series: “Anything is Possible. This is New York.”

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The global fascination with superstar Shah Rukh Khan extends beyond his sparkling personality on screen into his glamorous life.As one of the top tourist spots in Mumbai, his home is arguably one of the swankiest properties’ in India and it is iconic for more than just one reason. We’re talking about Mannat – where the house superstar Shah Rukh Khan and his family reside.

When one speaks of Shah Rukh Khan, one sees opulence, regalness, and sheer grandiosity. While Bollywood’s King Khan has a plethora of valuable possessions, the one that is close to his heart and one of his magnificent belongings is his abode – Mannat. On King Khan’s birthday, here’s taking a closer look at his sprawling residence.

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Take a peek inside Mannat – Shah Rukh Khan’s house

While SRK’s list of possessions is enviable to say the least, Mannat beats everything. Perhaps, that’s why it is the one thing that everybody yearns to have – be it a celebrity or not.

Worth over USD 27 million, Mannat stands tall overlooking the Arabian Sea in Bandra. The uber-luxurious mansion houses five bedrooms, an office, a private theatre, a fully equipped gym, and a library among many other spaces.

Mannat house

Living Room

Trust Gauri Khan to create magic with her marvellous architectural skills. SRK’s living room transports one to the medieval era with the choicest of artefacts and neoclassical elements. With golden and yellow hues adorning the room and a dash of greenery right about there, the living room’s décor speaks of an old world’s charm.

Private theatre

From mahogany velvet red walls that are covered with vintage posters of films like Sholay, Mughal-E-Azam, and Ram Aur Shyam to burgundy shaded leather recliners, this is one home theatre of a kind.

Terrace

It is from this place that King Khan is often seen interacting with his fans and public on festivals and other occasions likewise. It is also, Gauri Khan’s happy place as said by her time and again. Adorned with greenery and perfect upholstery, the terrace is sight to behold and often features in the Khan family’s portraits.

Master Bedroom

A massive brown velvet couch in contrast with the cream-coloured windows, a king-sized bed with a reflective headboard furnished with gold pillows and a chandelier atop – the setting is just oh so perfect and is befitting for King Khan and his queen.

Study and office

From Filmfare trophies to numerous mementos, SRK’s study and office boast of an artistic wall. It also includes wooden panels, a gigantic wooden table and a French glass window in the backdrop.

Conclusion

Situated on Bandstand, one would see a throng near this highly protected area on a regular day. With tourists and fans clicking photographs and waiting to catch a glimpse of Shah Rukh Khan, Mannat is surely an iconic building.

Hero Image and Featured Image: Courtesy Kushared/CC BY-SA 4.0/Wikimedia Commons

This article was first published on Lifestyle Asia India

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