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EDITORIAL
LONG LIVE OUR CLINIC
GREGOR MATTLI
Chairman of Clinique La Prairie SIMONE GIBERTONI
CEO of Clinique La Prairie
85
years is the history of a lifetime and, looking back on it, reminds us who we are: pioneers. Clinique La Prairie was the first clinic dedicated to the science of longevity. Today, thanks to the major efforts made in the fields of scientific and medical research, we are still the best in a sector that has become highly competitive. This fascinating research is measured against the extent of the mysteries of life. At Clinique La Prairie, the ground already covered is punctuated with innovations that relate not only to its flagship Revitalisation programme but also to other areas of wellness and anti-ageing such as genetics, nutrition and internal medicine. To strengthen our medical structure and develop new treatments, such as our detox programme which you will soon be able to discover, we have invited Dr Claudine Mathieu to join our team as Director of the Medical Centre. Her atypical career in the fields of medicine and management is presented in this edition.
In parallel to these evolutions in the fields of science and medicine, Clinique La Prairie has transformed its infrastructure and facilities in recent decades, expanding and modernising them to offer you unrivalled comfort and an incomparable experience during your stay, your visits to the spa or your medical consultations. In the digital era, comfort also extends to the Web, including a brand-new website containing all the information necessary to discover the full range of our services. In this special anniversary edition, you will understand what certain historical personalities enjoyed at Clinique La Prairie and why key figures in our world continue to place their trust in us. Proximity, excellence, confidentiality, discretion and results are always among the elements most important to our prestigious patients. Wishing you happy reading, we are looking forward to seeing you soon at Clinique La Prairie! •
SPECIAL 85TH ANNIVERSARY — 5
CONTENTS
16
20
34
PORTRAIT
C U LT U R E
GUESTBOOK
5 EDITORIAL By Gregor Mattli, Chairman & Simone Gibertoni, CEO 8 HARMONY 11 NEWS 16 PORTRAIT Dr Claudine Mathieu The sure-footed tightrope walker
20 CULTURE
Chaplin's World
25 GASTRONOMY
Pleasure!
30 FACES
“I was won over by Revitalisation”
32 VITAL Sleep – my best ally
Eternal youth
INSIDE MAGAZINE Clinique La Prairie magazine // PUBLISHER Clinique La Prairie SA > www.laprairie.ch // PUBLICATION MANAGER Céline Hahn > celine.hahn@laprairie.ch // DESIGN CONCEPT & CREATIVE MANAGEMENT KANULART, Rue du Torrent 17, 1800 Vevey-CH, Milena Quattrocchi > ciao@kanulart.com > www.kanulart.com // EDITING & PRODUCTION Inédit Publications SA, Avenue de Rumine 37, Case postale 900, CH-1001 Lausanne, Tel. +41 21 695 95 95, info@inedit.ch > www.inedit.ch // PUBLICITY pub@inedit.ch, Tel. +41 21 695 95 25 // TRANSLATION Traducta Switzerland > www.traducta.ch, Apostroph Group > www.apostrophgroup.ch // PRINTING Courvoisier-Attinger Arts graphiques SA, Bienne // © KANULART 2016
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SÉBASTIEN AGNETTI, CHAPLIN'S WORLD TM, GETTY IMAGES
34 GUEST BOOK
CONTENTS
44
50
54
DISCOVERY
AMBASSADOR
S W I S S PA S S I O N
40 WITHOUT A DOUBT
No diet required to manage your weight!
42 FACES
“A force that never wavers”
44 DISCOVERY
John Blashford-Snell The last Indiana Jones
ISTOCKPHOTOS.COM, CLAUDIA GARCIA, SÉBASTIEN AGNETTI
50 AMBASSADOR
54 SWISS PASSION Patek Philippe A little more than watchmaking 58 FASHION
Timeless black and white Inspiring journey
62 OUR WORLD
Our medical wellness programme Our medical services
Lenny Niemeyer " Whatever you do, do it with love and passion! "
SPECIAL 85TH ANNIVERSARY — 7
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HARMONY Nestling in the greenery overlooking the lake and mountains, the fluid lines of its architecture ensure that Clinique La Prairie blends harmoniously into the surrounding landscape. With views stretching to the horizon and a feeling of being at one with nature, the interior and exterior communicate in perfect harmony. Space is defined without constraint, creating a private universe open to the world. PHOTOS SĂŠbastien Gerber // www.sebastiengerber.ch
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BOUTIQUES GENEVE • GSTAAD • LUZERN ZURICH • ZERMATT
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NEWS CULTURE
PHOTOS NEST
Little Switzerland, big brands Cailler, Nesquik, Nescafé, Nespresso, Maggi, Thomy… You might be familiar with one of these brands. They are very dear to the Swiss and all belong to the Swiss food giant, Nestlé. Its products – milk, chocolate, coffee, mayonnaise and soft drinks – feed the Swiss from childhood to retirement, leaving a touch of nostalgia in their hearts and a whole host of happy memories. Today, the Nest museum explores a hundred and fifty years of fascinating history. From the very first inventions of Henri Nestlé in the field of baby food in 1866 to the company’s different acquisitions over the years, visitors embark on an interactive and sensory journey through an original landscape enhanced by a number of surprising anecdotes. Standing on the site of the very first Nestlé factory in Vevey on the shores of Lake Geneva, the three buildings are connected by a conservatory housing five different zones reflecting the diversity of the legendary company. Nest promises a journey through the past, present and future of an international brand with a global vision.
NEW
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SWISS PERFECTION PHOTOS
Swiss Perfection launches its new line specially developed for the specific needs of men. This selection of four essential cellular products for daily needs – cellular face cleanser, eye contour cellular repair care, moisturising cellular protection and night-time cellular regenerator – protects the skin from the first signs of ageing, irritation due to shaving, abrasions and pollution.
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NEWS
COFFEE TABLE BOOK
The magic mountain Light. As in every painting, it is light that grabs your attention and transports you beyond the painting itself into the inner experiences of the artist. In the paintings of Giovanni Segantini, it seems to spring forth from the artist’s brush. Irrespective of the perfect mastery of the chromatic palette or Seurat’s divisionist theories that the artist incorporates into his technique, what we see is pure magic. Together with his contemporary, Ferdinand Hodler, Segantini is the other great painter of mountains. Under his loving touch, they glow with the unique colours of the Alps. Born in Italy but a stateless person, he settled in the canton of Grisons in Switzerland before withdrawing to the mountains in Maloja with his wife and children. Segantini’s boldness knew no bounds. He confronted nature head-on by painting outdoors, in fields, not in an attempt to adhere to realism which was unimportant to him but to experience the exhilaration of living. In this book, 60 works are presented and examined in detail while several essays analyse the life and work of the artist, shedding light on the links between man and nature. To be discovered without delay. Giovanni Segantini, Beate Stutzer, Ed. Scheidegger & Spiess, 2016
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NEWS
NETWORK
Clinique La Prairie in Brazil
ISTOCKPHOTOS.COM
During the summer of 2016, Clinique La Prairie embarked on a two-week promotional tour of Brazil. In partnership with the Montreux Jazz Festival, the clinic presented its new medical services and announced its programmes for 2017 during a series of exclusive private events organised with its Brazilian agents. The artists Daniel Jobim and Vanessa de Mata gave wonderful concerts in Rio de Janeiro and São Paolo to celebrate the upcoming 50th edition of the Montreux Jazz Festival, attended by the festival director and a number of dignitaries from the Swiss embassy. A private dinner was organised at the embassy in Rio by the new ambassador of Clinique La Prairie in Brazil, swimsuit designer Lenny Niemeyer. Forty-five people attended the event including the niece of Professor Ivo Pitenguy, the famous cosmetic surgeon, and the Portuguese actor Ricardo Pereira. In São Paolo, a selected group of women also had the opportunity to discover the world of Clinique La Prairie during a private lunch held in the restaurant Parigi.
SPECIALIST
For your eyes
Located in the extension of the recently inaugurated medical centre, the new ophthalmology unit benefits from highly comfortable premises and a full range of technical equipment allowing all general ophthalmology operations to be carried out. The newly installed team of four adds another dimension to a medical centre characterised by its multidisciplinary nature. The enthusiastic Dr Abou Zeid is thrilled to be working in such an environment. “Ophthalmology shares the task of treating eyes and sight with other specialist fields such as neurology, ENT, dermatology and rheumatology. That is why it is particularly advantageous, both for the doctor and the patient, to enjoy this proximity and the synergies that it makes possible.”
SÉBASTIEN AGNETTI
Dr Hana Abou Zeid is the head of the new ophthalmology unit which has just opened its doors at Clinique La Prairie. A specialist in surgery of the anterior segment of the eye including cataract operations by laser, Dr Abou Zeid is a young ophthalmologist who has already established an impressive career. She is a pioneer of the Femtolaser in French-speaking Switzerland a revolutionary new technology for cataract surgery.
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NEWS WELL-BEING
SÉBASTIEN AGNETTI
Light-headed
FRIENDSHIPS
Fifty dream years
© 2016 FFJM - ÉMILIEN ITIM
By presenting the legends of jazz and rhythm ’n’ blues for the past fifty years, the Montreux Jazz Festival has become one of the most important musical events worldwide. Welcoming some 250,000 visitors every year, it places the region around Montreux under the spotlight. For the third consecutive year, Clinique La Prairie supported the event as an atypical partner. Historically close to the Montreux Jazz Festival and its founders, the Clinic is also ideally located only a few minutes from the performances. For this year’s 50th edition, an exceptional programme and a number of special projects ensured that the anniversary lived up to the legend of Montreux, a small town that brings together some of the world’s most important personalities.
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The feeling is unmistakable: in times of stress, your neck becomes stiff and your head is painful. Sometimes, simply pressing the back of your skull or your temples with your fingers reveals accumulated tension, right there under the skin. There is a very gentle method that is practised in the spa of Clinique La Prairie which is designed to relieve these tensions. Drawn from the field of osteopathy, the cranio-sacral massage is a non-invasive technique designed to improve the performance of the system comprising the skull, the spine and the surrounding tissues and fluids. By applying light pressure, the therapist can feel the knots and tensions which restrict energy and prevent it from flowing freely through the body. The pressure applied sends a message of release to both body and mind. Numerous complaints such as migraines, insomnia or anxiety as well as other disorders linked to poor sitting posture at work, chronic pain or even more deeply rooted traumas can be relieved in this way, sometimes in a single session. By acting on the endocrine and immunological balance of the body, a cranio-sacral massage can have a long-term preventive impact. In the short term, the patient enjoys a profound feeling of well-being.
PORTRAIT
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Claudine Mathieu
THE SURE-FOOTED TIGHTROPE WALKER Dr Claudine Mathieu is the new Medical Director of Clinique La Prairie. An inveterate traveller with a love of freedom, this nephrologist enjoys walking the tightrope between two worlds – healthcare management and local medicare – that would seem to be diametrically opposed. A meeting on the wire. TEXT Laetitia Wider — PHOTOS Sébastien Agnetti
f we were painting a Chinese portrait, we would begin without any hesitation with a song by the Belgian artist Arno: “Vive ma liberté”, or long live my freedom. Opening the door to her office, Dr Mathieu warns us that there is nothing to see, nothing personal. No photos, no decorations. “I don’t like becoming settled,” she explains. “I like change, movement!” Make no mistake about it: the new Medical Director of Clinique La Prairie is very much here to stay, but she is keen to retain her independence. Affirming it seems to entrench it. Since 1 May, Dr Mathieu has worn two hats: that of a nephrologistinternist and that of the Medical Director. “I have always wanted to combine healthcare management and medical practice,” she says. “It is essential to remain as close as possible to the daily reality of healthcare and the patients, all the more so as we have to manage financial issues and develop strategic plans.” The telephone rings. She answers and, without batting an eye, switches from French to German with the same ease common to all polyglots. In fact, she began her school life speaking the language of Goethe. Born in Sierre into a family with Huguenot and Romansh origins, she spent her childhood in Loèche-les-Bains. “I feel no nostalgia for the mountains. I enjoy returning there to go skiing, but I wouldn’t want to leave the lake,” admits the doctor, a sailing fan who has been living above Lausanne with her husband and 12-yearold son for many years.
In search of meaning At the age of 16, she felt the need to spread her wings. She took advantage of the possibility offered by her school to spend an exchange year in Atlanta USA. Since then, she has retained a strong feeling of attachment for this land across the Atlantic. She began studying medicine at the University of Fribourg before continuing her studies in Lausanne. This seemed a matter of course for someone who always knew she would become a doctor. “As far back as I can remember, I always had the soul of a humanist and a marked interest in science. Medicine seemed to me to be the ideal compromise,” she smiles. During her internship, she worked in the nephrology department at the Vaud teaching hospital. This discipline, which is linked to all fields including homoeostasis, metabolism, bones and the cardiovascular system, fits her perfectly. In 2002, she was offered the chance to spend eighteen months in Paris at the Hôpital Tenon, a centre of expertise in the field of nephrology. The globetrotting optimist seized the opportunity. In Paris, she met “a father figure” in Professor Pierre Ronco, a renowned nephrologist who took her under his wing. “He is one of those people who knows how to bring the best out in people. I learned a great deal from him. What’s more, I believe it is essential in the field of management to create the best possible environment. If professionals do not work to the best of their ability, I firmly believe that it is often because a favourable working environment has not been created.” She has wonderful memories of her stay in Paris. She visited exhibitions and museums, blended in and never felt alone. On the contrary, she constantly felt as if she was part of a whole.
SPECIAL 85TH ANNIVERSARY — 17
PORTRAIT A bridge between careers and administrators But it wasn’t long before she returned to her roots. She was appointed senior doctor in nephrology at the Vaud teaching hospital between 2004 and 2007 before becoming joint manager of a dialysis centre which was the result of the very first agreement between the public and private sectors. Four years later, she felt that her extensive experience and skill set was still insufficient. “At a given point in time, either we move forwards or we fall back!” It was then that she enrolled on an MBA course in institutional management and healthcare economics. It was something she knew nothing about. She had to learn the language spoken by administrators while plunging into analytical accounting, finance and economics. She met bankers, entrepreneurs and legal experts who helped her to understand how a private clinic works. Among her entourage and her colleagues, some reacted with a degree of incomprehension. Had she gone over to the dark side of the force? It didn’t shake her. “It is exciting to be able to build bridges between careers and administrators.” Armed with an MBA and a whole new skill, Claudine Mathieu was appointed Director of National and International Affairs at the Geneva teaching hospital. It was a great challenge that she took up with relish. After two years of commuting between Geneva and Lausanne, she began to miss her family life. The time spent travelling was time not spent with her son. It was then that she cemented her contacts with Clinique La Prairie.
Passion as a driving force Since her arrival in Montreux, she has been full of ideas for new projects. “We are going to make Clinique La Prairie a reference point both in Switzerland and abroad.” In particular, she wants to make healthcare quality a priority. “We will give greater impetus to our specific programmes such as the Weight Management programme or Stop Tobacco programme while continuing to innovate. A new, exclusive special detox programme that will soon be on everyone’s lips has been developed.” The surgical activity will also be extended with plans for a new operating theatre. In her private life, passion is still a driving force. Between taking flying lessons, sailing and playing the piano, which she has picked up again to accompany her son on the viola, she still finds the time to dream of travelling. After her final exams in medicine, she headed off to Latin America, then to Asia, before taking the Trans-Siberian Express. She would love to do it again, but this time with her family. And suddenly her eyes are drawn by an incongruous object sitting on her desk. “It is the only personal item that I bring to the office,” she admits. “It is a mariner's magnifying glass which magnifies what seems distant. And it is essential, as you need to change perspectives to evolve and move forwards! ” •
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www.solap.com
Tél. +34 678 724 633
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CULTURE
Chaplin’s World The scenery of a lifetime
A museum dedicated to the memory of Charlie Chaplin has opened its doors on the actor’s former estate in Corsier-sur-Vevey, only a few miles from Montreux. A magical place offering a fascinating insight into the life and works of a true legend. TEXT Leila Klouche — PHOTOS Chaplin's World TM
SPECIAL 85TH ANNIVERSARY — 21
he works of Charlie Chaplin are still so full of life that they continue to fuel his legend. Loved and admired by generations who never even knew him, the cinematic genius makes us dream now more than ever. His passionate life and his deeply humanistic activism fascinate and move people far beyond his filmography. That is why visiting his final home above Vevey is a quite amazing experience. Everything is still there: his objects, his furniture and even the atmosphere of the Manoir, opulent yet cosy, old-fashioned yet warm and welcoming. You can easily imagine the master sitting at his desk, writing his memoires. Did you know that Charlie Chaplin enjoyed the happiest years of his life in Switzerland, on the Vaudois Riviera? In 1952, banned from returning to the United States, the star settled at the Manoir de Ban in Corsier-sur-Vevey, only a few miles from Montreux, with his wife Oona and their first four children. He would live there for another twenty-five years, enjoying the fresh air and the trees overlooking the lake and mountains: another four children, two films and two books would ensure his retirement was anything but dull. But what is this place where the Tramp finally settled in peace and harmony? With a magnificent residence, a delightful park and a typically charming little village, the scene was set for this third act of his life. “The wide open space is good for the soul. It broadens your horizon and refreshes your spirit,” he said. It is easy to share this sentiment as you stroll through the estate’s magnificent parkland. And it is here that Chaplin’s World by Grévin has successfully created a world worthy of the great man. Between the residence-turnedmuseum, inhabited by larger-than-life wax characters, and the series of fantastic cinema scenery installations in “les studios” created in the park, visitors discover a life devoted to the cinema along with a cinema devoted to life. Different atmospheres, some intimate and some spectacular, offer visitors the chance to take a journey through time from humble beginnings in London to the spotlights of Hollywood, taking in a family life of simple pleasures on the way.
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C U LT U R E
House of happiness The Manoir de Ban was the house that Charlie Chaplin had dreamed of during the dark years of his childhood. Walking through the rooms is a moving and very private journey. The photos of Oona and the children, the documents bearing witness to the unfailing creativity of the genius and the portraits of his prestigious guests, such as his neighbour Clara Haskil who would enjoy a cup of tea and play the Steinway in the lounge, offer a nostalgic insight into a vibrant and happy bygone era. At the end of a corridor, a wax Albert Einstein puts his tongue out at his reflection in the bathroom mirror while one of the upstairs rooms maps the astonishing travels of the globetrotting Chaplin. Behind the screen In Le Studio, the new building erected at the entrance to the estate, a cinema theatre welcomes visitors to the site. A montage of legendary sequences plunges the spectators into a dense and absorbing filmography. Then, when emotions have reached their peak, the screen rises to reveal film sets and characters brilliantly reconstituted and immediately recognisable. The machinery from “Modern Times”, the barber shop from “The Great Dictator”, the ring from “The Circus” and the poor neighbourhood alleyways from “The Kid” create a magical world incorporating amusing animations and interactions. There are also myriad sacred items that belonged to the film-maker such as his Oscar, his contracts and his precious accessories such as the Tramp’s shoes, cane and hat. A hanging garden Charlie Chaplin loved his park with its hundred-year-old trees. He tended his garden and was very proud to serve his homegrown vegetables to dinner guests. Today, the trees are still there and the stunning view has not changed at all. The estate is open to the public. Everyone is welcome to stroll around as they please and contemplate the lake and mountains that seem to float below like a hanging garden. •
TO BE WATCHED OR RE-WATCHED Charlie Chaplin revolutionised the seventh art and his works are some of the most significant cinematographic masterpieces of the 20th century. “If you want to know who I am, watch my films,” he used to say.
1914
The first time the Tramp appeared in film, in “Kid Auto Races at Venice” by Henry Lehrman.
1918
“A Dog’s Life”. First film made as a producer.
1921
“The Kid”. A masterpiece hovering between laughter and tears.
1925
“The Gold Rush”. An incredible epic in the snow of the Klondike.
1936
“Modern Times”. Last appearance of the Tramp in a film. A grandiose social and political satire.
1940
“The Great Dictator”. Chaplin’s first “talkie” and his greatest commercial success.
1952
“Limelight”. It is on the occasion of the world première of this film in London that Chaplin is prevented from returning to the US.
1967
“A Countess from Hong Kong”. His last film, with Sophia Loren and Marlon Brando.
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GASTRONOMY
Blackcurrant and mascarpone in crunchy white chocolate
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GASTRONOMY
PLEASURE! More than thirty years ago, pleasure became the byword in Clinique La Prairie's Restaurant and continues to drive a cuisine that is ever more inventive, gourmet and healthy. For the head chef, David Tarnowski, pleasure is all-important. TEXT Leila Klouche — PHOTOS Benny Tâche
ell before anyone else, Clinique La Prairie convinced its patients that it was possible to take care of their bodies without making sacrifices. New culinary offerings avoid restrictive regimes, provide a delicious feeling of satiety, and replace the hunger caused by merciless diets. They also encourage fitness and good health. This is the philosophy of the restaurant that develops an innovative and dietetic gourmet cuisine directly incorporating scientific discoveries in the fields of food and nutrition. As far back as 1985, when Clinique La Prairie decided to add dietetics to its health services, one chef, Elfried Blaes, did not limit herself to simply cutting the calories from her menus. This innovator succeeded in satisfying the necessary dietary constraints without losing sight of the true aim of her culinary role – to serve up a tasty helping of pleasure. Meticulously searching for substitutes for fatty, stodgy and high-calorie products and working closely with the clinic’s dieticians, she devised a balanced culinary programme with light menus offering delicate flavours. She was an artist, the first to respect products by cooking them gently in order to preserve the flavour or strengthen the taste by using aromatic herbs with a sleight of hand worthy of a magician. Her helpful tricks have since become common currency but were revolutionary at the time of dishes in sauces and high-temperature cooking. Today, science and gastronomy have each come a long way, combining harmoniously on the plates of enlightened gourmets. Better informed about how their metabolism works and about the nutritional qualities of food than in the 1980s, the new generation of consumers can enjoy healthy and balanced gourmet dishes anywhere in the world. They no longer need to come to Montreux to taste them. David Tarnowski is well aware of that: “A cuisine draws its strength and originality from the region that is its home.” Very attached to this region, and with an accumulated amount of experience, this French national finds everything he needs to accomplish his art here in Switzerland and on the shores of the lake. Tradition, respect for nature, the seasons, and a passion for quality are all factors which form the basis of his culinary philosophy.
Textures of cucumber, beetroot and herbs from the region of Vaud.
GASTRONOMY
Wild Scottish langoustines served with fresh summer ingredients
Generous cuisine Having accumulated considerable experience in the luxury hotel sector, David Tarnowski opened his own restaurant and earned himself a Michelin star thanks to his meticulous approach and passion for taste. Having taken over the culinary reins at Clinique La Prairie in 2016, he has pursued a certain philosophy, bringing with him his very own style and art. Developed in collaboration with the clinic’s dieticians, his cuisine – light, full of flavour and in sufficient quantities – makes no compromises. He plays with constraints and serves dishes that are just as delicious as those on a non-dietetic menu. A keen nature lover, he creates local fare that thumbs its nose at the latest trends. “Nature is an essential reserve for our well-being,” states the young chef. This is where he draws his inspiration and finds his favourite products, fish and vegetables. A genuine maestro of textures, he takes great pleasure in serving a particular seasonal vegetable in different forms around an attractive centrepiece such as a fish from the lake or locally bred lamb, always accompanied by healthy carbohydrate foods which blend perfectly with other ingredients. For example, pearl barley or buckwheat are introduced to provide nutritional and gustatory benefits. For this chef, pleasure is all-important. It dictates what is good. In David Tarnowski’s dishes, boredom is simply not tolerated. Think of tomatoes in aspic jelly or cherry tomatoes with pulped and candied shallots. Vegetables are at the very heart of this joyful cuisine where eating once again means treating yourself well.
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GASTRONOMY
A highly motivated team To prepare the 80 dishes served throughout a season, the fare has to be varied and everyone has to be on top of their game, without fail. Fortunately, the chef can rely on a highly motivated kitchen team obsessed with the satisfaction of their guests. The dessert menu is certainly inspirational. The head pastry chef, Julien Vermet, and his colleagues prepare stunning sweet creations in harmony with the seasons. The team is strengthened by their counterparts in the dining room, whose flawless professionalism ensures that the dishes make their way safely to the tables. “The organisation of the team is essential to the goals we set ourselves. Cooking is a multifaceted art.” But enough of the talk. More than words, his dishes say all you need to know about an identity that drives Clinique La Prairie a little further along the road in its quest for well-being and the art of living. •
" Nature is an essential reserve for our well-being."
A little summer garden with red fruit and vanilla
GASTRONOMY
Gently poached Lake Geneva whitefish, “tomatoes and tomatoes”, wild black rice
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FACES TEXT Mireille Jaccard — PHOTOS Sébastien Agnetti
Xiaohong (53), Ruping (60) and Yiquan (58) Duan, China “I was completely won over by Revitalisation from the very first session. I immediately felt the benefits to my health. Then I encouraged my sisters to come with me to try it out for themselves.” Sitting in the cream armchairs of Clinique La Prairie, the eyes of the youngest of the three sisters from Canton light up when asked about the benefits of her stays in Montreux. “It is my fifth treatment and the second for my sisters. We come for Revitalisation as well as for an annual check-up and to consult certain specialists while enjoying the unique setting,” she adds, pointing to the vista outside the bay windows.
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VITAL Anxiety, depression, respiratory problems or bad nocturnal habits: there are numerous causes of poor sleep. Clinique La Prairie has developed the Better Sleep programme to help its patients enjoy a good night’s sleep. TEXT Laetitia Wider — ILLUSTRATIONS Tami Hopfgartner
e only realise its worth when we lose it. A disrupted or erratic sleep pattern causes all kinds of negative effects which have an impact on our health. These include fatigue, memory, concentration or libido disorders or, in the longer term, increased cardiovascular risk and cerebrovascular accidents. A multidisciplinary team caring for your sleep It would be wise not to take disturbed nights lightly. To handle this issue, Clinique La Prairie provides a comprehensive programme lasting one week which covers all the aspects of sleep. Neurologists, pulmonologists, ENTs, cardiologists, psychiatrists and psychologists work in close collaboration to establish a precise diagnosis and provide personalised solutions. The care process begins with a personal interview along with a questionnaire concerning the problems encountered and the person’s lifestyle. According to the results, the patient is referred to different consultants for more specific examinations. “With
THE FIVE COMMANDMENTS OF DEEP AND HEALTHY SLEEP 1. Cut all contact with screens two hours before going to sleep The blue light emitted by computers, smartphones and tablets penetrates the melanocytes which act on melatonin and cause insomnia. 2. Avoid stimulants after 4 p.m. As well as alcohol which becomes a stimulant after four hours. 3. Do not eat just before going to bed Digestion is not conducive to falling asleep. 4. Slow the pace Before going to bed, take a walk, listen to music or read a book. 5. Avoid violent images or stories The brain secretes hormones that are harmful to the process of falling asleep.
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SLEEP – MY BEST ALLY
sleep disorders there are often several problems, one of which is predominant,” observes Dr Olivier Staneczek, pulmonologist and the programme’s medical consultant. Just a little air In the event of sleep apnoea, a cardiorespiratory polygraph produces a diagnosis in 90 per cent of cases from just the second day. If the result is positive, the preferred treatment is unequivocally CPAP (continuous positive airway pressure). By inflating the pharynx by means of a flow of slightly pressurised air, the machine entirely eliminates snoring and apnoea. For couples, this means renewed domestic peace! “There is often a form of denial among snorers and up to five years may pass between the initial complaints and the first consultation,” continues Dr Staneczek. “Establishing the diagnosis is a form of liberation for everyone concerned.” Revelatory phases In more complex cases, a polysomnography test is envisaged. “This is an examination during which electrodes are attached to the patient throughout the night and the different phases of sleep are observed,” explains Professor Paul-André Despland, a neurologist at Clinique La Prairie who set up the Sleep Centre at the Vaud teaching hospital. Unstructured sleep sometimes reveals depression, exhaustion, anxiety or a posttraumatic shock.” Generally, the treatment involves beginning a course of psychological monitoring. “Sometimes, for a limited period, it is necessary to combine weak doses of sedatives and phytotherapeutic treatments or to act on melatonin production,” continues the professor.
The heart of the matter Patients are also given a cardiological examination and an effort test. “The quality of sleep depends on physical activity,” explains Dr Jan Adamec, cardiologist at Clinique La Prairie. “By observing the condition of the heart during effort, we can detect possible coronary diseases or hypertension.” Through close collaboration with the personal trainers in the clinic’s health club, patients are also given sports-related recommendations adapted to their medical profile and specific physique. Sleeping longer and better Sleep influences our daily life, our mood, our level of attention and our health. The quality of sleep has nevertheless been deteriorating for more than a century with the generalisation of electricity usage. “Over the past 150 years, people have lost between 60 and 90 minutes of sleep per night,” observes Dr Stanczeck. “This might seem somewhat simplistic but if we were to respect human nature, which means being active during the day and preparing for sleep when the natural light begins to fade, it would help us to improve the quality of our sleep.” Night owls and fans of late-night TV series take note. •
Inner peace In the Better Sleep programme, a psychologist is called on at least twice, adopting an approach that takes account of cognition, emotion and behaviour. Fatima Santos uses tools such as medical hypnosis, sophrology or cardiac coherence to help the patient find renewed inner peace. “We begin by working on the identification of thoughts that produce emotions,” she explains. “These include nocturnal ruminations which will lead to discomfort, anxiety and distress. It is therefore necessary to understand these patterns first, in order to learn how to break them.”
SPECIAL 85TH ANNIVERSARY — 33
GUESTBOOK
SPECIAL ANNIVERSARY
ETERNAL YOUTH 34 — SPECIAL 85TH ANNIVERSARY
Clinique La Prairie is celebrating its 85th birthday this year, and what better occasion to delve into its archives to recall some of the emblematic figures of our world who have contributed to the success of a small clinic on the shores of Lake Geneva. TEXT Alexandre Lanz PHOTOS Getty Images
GUESTBOOK
I
f the walls of Clinique La Prairie could talk, there would be enough material to write several volumes of fascinating stories. Many historical figures have stayed here. However, in addition to the unique treatment on offer and the stunning setting of this institution that is so popular with leading figures of our world, one of the clinic’s main qualities is discretion. Since it was founded eightyfive years ago, Clinique La Prairie has made confidentiality an essential value.
Fascinated by the mystery and legend surrounding this unique clinic, a French historian, Laurent Le Pont, has collected testimonials from a number of celebrities who shared their experiences during interviews or in their memoires. The painstaking work is a veritable historical fresco incorporating not only those who have shaped the glamour of Hollywood but also some of the world’s great decision-makers looking for rest and well-being during a stay away from the spotlights. From Niehans to Adenauer Some 85 years ago, Professor Paul Niehans performed the first injection of fresh cells on a patient who was in agony. In doing so, he saved the patient’s life and gave birth to the history of an outstanding medical institution, the reputation of which has continued to grow ever since. This method and the miraculous results have received unprecedented coverage. In 1953, called on by the Vatican to treat Pope Pius XII, Professor Niehans gained worldwide fame. The feedback was unanimous. Patients enjoyed a feeling of renewed energy and their health improved considerably. Stars and celebrities flocked to the clinic, beginning with Charlie Chaplin and Marlene Dietrich and including such figures as the German Chancellor, Konrad Adenauer. For more than 20 years, the professor would develop his revitalisation treatment, traditionally referred to as cellular therapy. In 1971, the professor died at the age of 91, leaving behind him a considerable heritage in the field of cellular medicine. •
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GUESTBOOK
The Duke and Duchess of Windsor The infamous lovers were no less devotees of beauty and elegance. Growing old? Not if they could help it. Determined to fight the ageing process by any means possible, they followed the advice of their friends, Somerset Maugham and Greta Garbo, and made several trips to Switzerland at the beginning of the 1970s to benefit from Prof. Niehans’ rejuvenation programme at Clinique La Prairie. Obsessed by fitness, the Duke was at pains to look after his waistline, spending several hours every day in the gym. His other secret? A single meal a day giving him sufficient energy to play polo and golf in the afternoon. Today, we realise just how much the couple’s lifestyle was ahead of its time. While Edward was maintaining his perfect figure, Wallis would spend most of her time in beauty salons. During her first stay in 1972, she found everything she was looking for at the Montreux clinic. After each of their stays, the couple said they were “delighted” both by the results and by the region, which they adored.
Marlene Dietrich On the subject of the treatment provided by Professor Paul Niehans, the star’s secretary confided that, “She really believed, she really believed she could live forever!” Without a doubt the clinic’s most famous customer, she stayed here three times between 1960 and 1970. Exhausted by her punishing schedule shooting films and performing on Broadway, she liked to come to the Vaudois Riviera to recharge her batteries. Superstitious and well cared for, she followed the advice of her astrologer to the letter and avoided travelling by plane. She preferred the train which stopped in Lausanne. There, an impressive black Cadillac would be waiting to take her to Montreux with its lights turned off. Examined by Dr Walter Michel, the actress was injected with the precious cells less than one hour later. Living on a dry diet, Dietrich was not allowed cigarettes, alcohol or sun for five days. In only a few weeks, she would rediscover her youthful condition and an extraordinary sense of well-being. The signed portrait given to Professor Niehans can still be seen in the clinic today: “I don’t know how to thank you for your attention!”
Greta Garbo With a difficult temperament, La Divine, as the media referred to her, was very sensitive. Born in Sweden, the actress liked to keep her private life private. In 1953, following the Second World War, she took American citizenship and withdrew to New York, bidding farewell to Hollywood and the world of film. During her career, she was one of the first actresses to adopt the famous vegetable juice extracts developed by the German dietician, Gaylord Hauser, in 1937. A pioneer in the field, she created a following among the celebrities of the time including Wallis Simpson, Paulette Goddard, Clara Bloom and many others. It was also through the famous dietician that she met Professor Niehans and discovered his now famous cellular therapy. Legend has it that she stayed at Clinique La Prairie on several occasions, very discreetly as would be expected when your name is Greta Garbo.
SPECIAL 85TH ANNIVERSARY — 37
GUESTBOOK
Cary Grant “You’re old only when you forget you’re young,” Hitchcock’s favourite actor liked to say. In 1953, he decided to take a break from acting to explore the world, and in particular Europe, with his wife at that time, Betsy Drake. On the advice of his friend, Noël Coward, he visited Professor Niehans. Who better than Cary Grant to embody the myth of eternal virile beauty at that time? The professor is supposed to have said of Cary Grant: “He seemed invincible, his zest for life was stronger than ever!” Some months later, the star was once again on set under the direction of Alfred Hitchcock, filming “To Catch a Thief”.
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A DOUBT
WITHOUT
When it comes to weight management, numerous theories exist but very few of them do any real good. At Clinique La Prairie, it is not a matter of starving to help lose a few kilos. Here, you learn to eat while ignoring received ideas. TEXT Leila Klouche ILLUSTRATIONS Tami Hopfgartner
NO DIET REQUIRED TO MANAGE YOUR WEIGHT!
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WITHOUT A DOUBT
Diets are harmful
Being hungry is not an option
Food restrictions are a source of suffering and draw on your muscle tissue without making sufficient inroads into your fat layer. In the long term, they lead to a slower metabolism which will be unable to function normally.
Hunger is a healthy warning which must be answered by eating. Ignoring this signal disrupts the metabolism and the entire psychological balance linked to nutrition and can cause eating disorders and other avoidable pathologies.
Weight management is not weight loss This programme is a long-term treatment aimed at regaining bodily sensations linked to food, changing certain bad habits and reintroducing regular physical exercise.
You cannot impose an arbitrary weight on your body If the desired figure does not correspond to your ideal weight, you will be subject to chronic food restrictions in order to maintain it.
Food is cultural Each culture has its weaknesses in terms of eating habits. While some eat at any time of night or day, others eat and drink too much sugar. Some regions of the world live in permanent stress which has an impact on their manner of eating and their metabolism. While we mustn’t forget where we are from, it is nevertheless possible to adjust our behaviour.
Comfort food is not prohibited
Sleep is a friend of weight loss
No food makes you put on weight
A food which is good for your morale can be enjoyed in reasonable quantities. Reassure yourself by thinking that you can eat some again tomorrow and, more importantly, do not feel guilty: that would spoil your pleasure and increase your stress.
Sleeping well ensures that the hormones and neurotransmitters influencing your weight are functioning correctly. In contrast, poor sleep leads to stress and increases hunger.
Only excess makes you put on weight. If you eat as much as you burn off, no food will make you put on weight.
Stress is public enemy number one Psychological problems are often the cause of excess weight. Periods of anxiety cause hormonal secretions which affect the metabolism and give rise to cravings for sugar and fatty foods. Prolonged stress can alter blood sugar levels and encourage fat storage.
Liposuction is not a diet This radical method should only be envisaged for cosmetic purposes once your weight and eating habits have been stabilised. There is no point in performing liposuction if you are going to put on weight again shortly afterwards.
Miracles do happen Thanks to healthy eating habits, compliance with the body’s messages and regular exercise, many problems are improved or avoided. For example, diabetes can be reduced significantly and osteoarticular pain can be reduced or may disappear altogether after a 10% weight loss.
•
SPECIAL 85TH ANNIVERSARY — 41
FACES TEXT Leila Klouche — PHOTOS Pierre Vogel & Sébastien Agnetti
Arlette Monteiro De Barros, 83, United States “My mother visited Clinique La Prairie in the time of Professor Niehans. At that time, the treatment that she followed and found quite miraculous was called cellulotherapy. Today, it is revitalisation, of which I am a great fan. It is the true strength of this clinic. The massages, the spa, the service – they are all excellent – but this cellular programme is unique anywhere in the world. That’s what gives me the strength to keep travelling as I do. I wouldn’t say I’m getting younger, it’s more a case of not getting any older (laughter). Age is magnificent if you are in good health and your mind is still alert. I have six grandchildren living around the world and I hope to live long enough to see their children grow up.”
Annie Gruber, France “Sixth stay at Clinique La Prairie since 2007 – time flies. I don’t feel as if I have aged. It is quite simple in fact. I have never been ill since. It was a friend who first told me about Clinique La Prairie. Her mother came here in Professor Niehans’ time. And she lived until she was 99! I am a professor of law at the university and I have a very intensive lifestyle what with my lessons, my doctoral students, conferences in France and abroad and my publications. I have the impression that without the revitalisation treatment, I wouldn’t have the energy to do all that. At Clinique La Prairie, I have been monitored by the same doctor from the outset. His check-ups are very thorough. Thanks to him, I avoided a serious problem and am very grateful to him. I love the extremely kind behaviour of all the teams of each discipline. For me, every stay in Montreux is a wellness break, an oasis where I can recharge my batteries. I met a Chinese friend to whom I praised the benefits of the clinic and who accompanied me this year. In our e-mails, we talk about ‘our dear clinic’, which says everything!”
SPECIAL 85TH ANNIVERSARY — 43
DISCOVERY
44 — SPECIAL 85TH ANNIVERSARY
DISCOVERY
John Blashford-Snell
THE LAST INDIANA JONES is blue eyes pierce the w a t e r s of Lake Geneva, then sweep across the backdrop of the Alps. Behind the bay windows of Clinique La Prairie, Colonel John Blashford-Snell stretches his six-foot frame. He is looking into the distance, his mind elsewhere. Only a few notes of jazz in the background interrupt this moment of reflection. “Even if I am not ill, simply looking at the beauty of the scenery is a cure,” he smiles. In his adventurer’s clothes, the 80-year-old Englishman seems a little at odds with the hushed environment of the clinic. He seems better suited to the roughness and humidity of the jungle in Papua than to the mildness of the Vaudois Riviera. And yet like his avatar, Indiana Jones, in city life it is not unknown for John BlashfordSnell to slip into an elegant tweed suit when attending the charity gala evenings at which he raises the funds he needs for his expeditions.
NICK WILCOX-BROWN
For half a century, the explorer has travelled to the most isolated parts of the planet, setting up numerous humanitarian, medical and logistical aid programmes. In May 2017, he will visit the Ticunas in the Amazon basin thanks to the support of Clinique La Prairie. TEXT Mehdi Atmani PHOTOS Benny Tâche Helping others wherever they are Colonel John Blashford-Snell is an adventurer. A real one. Perhaps the very last of his breed. For almost half a century, he has travelled to the most extreme locations on Earth to implement humanitarian, medical and logistical aid programmes. Despite the fact that he already has more than a hundred expeditions to his name, this Englishman continues to embark on new adventures with the same curiosity and the same grain of “folly”. As he himself says, “You have to be mad to take up certain challenges.” His next expedition, scheduled for May 2017, will take him to the heart of the Amazon rainforest to meet the Ticuna Indians living on the border between Brazil, Peru and Colombia. He pulls out some photos. “Look at their skin. Time doesn’t seem to have any effect on them. This Amerindian tribe uses medicinal herbs with antiageing properties. Their diet consists entirely of fish and fruit. It is a fascinating subject of exploration,” he says.
DISCOVERY
Thanks to the logistical and financial support of Clinique La Prairie, John Blashford-Snell will take up a new challenge. The region of the Ticunas is only accessible by plane or boat. The hospitals in Puerto Navino and Leticia are several hours away. With his team, which includes a doctor, an anthropologist, dentists and engineers, the colonel has had the idea of fitting out a boat ambulance. Built from fibreglass, the 7-metre-long craft can transport up to five people to the closest hospitals in the event of a medical emergency. “Each adventure is a challenge to be accomplished. Mine is to help others, wherever they may be.” The adventure bug Born in 1936 in Hereford in the west of England, John BlashfordSnell has adventure in his genes. “It’s a family bug,” he jokes. His eyes sparkle when he tells the story of his parents. Before he was born, his military father and his mother boarded a ship in Jersey, the island where they were born, bound for a new life in New Zealand. They settled among the Maoris in the countryside of South Island. “My father joined the local army reserve. My mother ran a farm,” he explains. At the time, it took a lot of grit to cross the planet in a boat and settle in such a wild environment.” Some years later, the Blashford-Snells returned to England, where John was born. The future adventurer grew up during the war. “With my group of friends, we would build homemade explosives to defend our neighbourhood,” he laughs. Once the war was over, John Blashford-Snell returned to Jersey where he enrolled at Victoria College before joining the military academy, and became a chief engineer in the British army. For John, this marked the start of a life of adventure. His hero at the time was Jacques Cousteau. “I wanted to be like him.” The words really begin to flow as he talks about his military career. “Army engineers travel all round the world. They build bridges and railways, deliver equipment and medicine in some of the most remote places on Earth. There is no better context for undertaking high-risk expeditions.” On more than one occasion, when sailing down the Blue Nile, our darling colonel nearly died.
An expedition fraught with danger It was 1968. Haile Selassie I, the last emperor of Ethiopia, commissioned a team of 60 British and Ethiopian soldiers and scientists to explore the entire length of the Blue Nile. No one had ever navigated the river from its source in Lake Tana (Ethiopia) to Khartoum in Sudan where it flows into the White Nile. John Blashford-Snell commanded the expedition. “The river was infested with crocodiles and hippopotamuses. From the banks, the indigenous population would shoot at us. Navigation proved dangerous because of the rapids, he recalls. When animals want to eat you, people want to kill you and the waters want to drown you, the adventure becomes particularly frightening.” The expedition marked the colonel and forged his character. “We were constantly fighting off death. You learn to trust yourself and those around you. Every adventure is a question of teamwork.” A selfless man, John Blashford-Snell is not interested in exploits: “I like to pursue a worthy goal which can help others. If I had to climb Everest because that is where a plant grew that could cure cancer, I would do it.”
When worlds collide The years following his exploration of the Blue Nile took John Blashford-Snell from the far north to Patagonia via the Amazon rainforest and the desert plains of Mongolia. Sometimes the collision of worlds is extreme. A LIFE OF ADVENTURE By way of example, the 22 October 1936 colonel cites his encounter Born in Hereford, England. with the Papuans of New Guinea: “You can’t see them 1957 but the Papuans are waiting He joins the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst. in ambush in the undergrowth, their bows already drawn. A 1968 single moment of clumsiness John Blashford-Snell commands the expedition on the Blue Nile. earns you a poisoned arrow to For the first time, a team of scientists and soldiers navigates the the heart. We had to pay great entire river. attention to how we made contact with them. They did 1971 not know why we were there.” The colonel supervises the first motorised journey from Alaska to During this mission, John Cape Horn. Blashford-Snell and his local guide were making their way 1974 through dense jungle, their Complete navigation of the Congo River. The colonel commands pockets filled with mirrors the first scientific and medical expedition to explore the entire and Zippos® which are length of the Congo River. firm favourites among the Papuans. Suddenly, the guide 1978 stopped dead and pointed to Prince Charles commissions him to mount Operation Drake aimed a bush. John Blashford-Snell at raising funds to involve 400 youths from 27 countries in local took a few steps, placed his humanitarian projects. weapon on the ground along with a small mirror, then raised 1993 his hands in the air. They John Blashford-Snell is awarded the Patron's Gold Medal by the waited for more than twenty Royal Geographical Society. minutes without anything happening. “I could only see trees when suddenly a Papuan
46 — SPECIAL 85TH ANNIVERSARY
DISCOVERY
jumped out from the bush, took the mirror and left again. Without my guide, I would have been killed.” This confrontation with “the other” changed his Western, white man’s vision of humanity and his environment. “We have lost this link with and our understanding of nature. Our lifestyle is decadent and harmful to us. The tribes I have met make intelligent use of natural resources without ever exhausting them. We have a lot to learn from them.” For John Blashford-Snell, each adventure is a shared experience.
diseases. His grandchildren travel around Africa with him to see the wild animals the colonel has always worked to protect.
Tigers in Kamchatka An adventurer, joker and always very talkative, John Blashford-Snell is an excellent storyteller with plenty of stories to tell. His wife and two daughters have been immersed in the tales of his expeditions. His elder daughter is a famous chef. “It’s a different form of adventure,” he comments, laughing. The other is a nurse specialising in tropical
This life of adventure has had an unexpected consequence: “It has transformed my house on Jersey into a museum filled with souvenirs collected around the globe.” He bursts into laughter. In a few days’ time, he will travel to Mongolia. Then most likely to the desert in Chad before meeting the Ticunas in the Amazon rainforest. “I will continue to explore as long as I am able.” •
NICK WILCOX-BROWN
ISTOCKPHOTOS.COM
PHOTO BY AN EXPEDITION TEAM MEMBER OF THE SCIENTIFIC EXPLORATION SOCIETY
ISTOCKPHOTOS.COM
At the age of 80, and with more than a hundred adventures to his name, John Blashford-Snell is still hungry for more. There are still places in the world that he has not explored, such as the Kamchatka Peninsula, a land of volcanoes on the Pacific Rim in the very eastern reaches of Siberia. “To see some tigers perhaps.”
Giant Elephant Quest 1997
NEW
The Detox Programme at Clinique La Prairie In search of a genuine energy boost to recharge your batteries, revitalise your soul and purify your body? Clinique La Prairie, the fabled wellness retreat, offers a tailor-made programme of treatments developed by our experts to restore the physical and mental vitality of your youth. Benefitting from appropriate medical monitoring, this combination of personalised care is intended to liberate you from stress and toxins and leave you feeling energized, rejuvenated and happy. We invite you to spend an unforgettable and relaxing week on the Swiss Riviera in a haven of peace set in delightful surroundings overlooking Lake Geneva and the Alps.
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AMBASSADOR
“WHATEVER YOU DO, DO IT WITH LOVE AND PASSION!” Passionate, determined and inspired, the new ambassador of Clinique La Prairie in Brazil is lacking nothing when it comes to flair. While her swimsuits are worn by the most fashionable models on the planet, the queen of great beach couture enjoys her success with style and philosophy. TEXT Rachel Barbezat —
EDUARDO RESENDE
PHOTOS Claudia Garcia
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AMBASSADOR Lenny Niemeyer SPECIAL 85TH ANNIVERSARY — 51
AMBASSADOR
INSIDE You introduced the concept of beach couture
which has revolutionised beach fashion by injecting it with a healthy dose of elegance. How did you come up with the idea? LENNY NIEMEYER I am a Paulista, which means that I grew up in Sao Paulo where the mindset is relatively conservative. When I moved to Rio with my first husband (Oscar Niemeyer’s nephew) in the mid-1970s, I was surprised to see just how inelegant the bikinis were and how little they covered. I wanted to revisit this particular item of clothing while accompanying it with an aprèsbeach collection. I You were a well-known landscape architect. It was a crazy challenge to leave it all behind and create swimsuits! LN True! But I still see a link with my first profession because instead of an outdoor space, my creations are now devoted to dressing the human body. Having said that, it was difficult at first. My husband thought my project was insane and he would say to me, “In Rio, hundreds of people already design swimsuits!” And I would answer, “True, but mine will be different!” (Laughter) I worked a great deal on the printed materials, the quality of the materials, the design of the cuts and how to show the body off in its best light. The most important element of a swimsuit is the shape. A badly designed curve and it is all wrong. Initially, I produced 100 items a month; that figure has now risen to 25,000. I What is your recipe for success? LN Whatever you do, do it with love and passion! If you decide
to create a piece of work or a company and you are passionate about it, it will work. That is absolutely fundamental! I am very impressed by the approach of Clinique La Prairie, with its belief in maintaining youthfulness and well-being through healthy eating, skin care and revitalisation, as it takes account of both physical and mental well-being in a quite exceptional setting. Switzerland is an amazing country but La Prairie is a little piece of Heaven on Earth.
MICHAEL ROBERTS
I Your enthusiasm is such that you work with Clinique La Prairie in Brazil… LN I am proud that this institute has called on me to promote its services among my entourage in Rio. The name of Clinique La Prairie is already known in Brazil, but people have no idea just how wonderful the place is. I will share my experience and impressions and will encourage my acquaintances to test the concept which offers huge physical benefits. When I came here I was feeling very tired as my arrival coincided with the marathon of fashion shows for the new collection. Today, after six days of treatment, I am on top of the world and ready to get back to work!
52 — SPECIAL 85TH ANNIVERSARY
I Which treatments have you appreciated in particular? LN It is difficult to choose as they are all heavenly; perhaps the Thai massage as it literally carried me away to another place. But
AMBASSADOR
generally speaking, all the treatments have been developed to provide the very best. Perfection is present in the smallest of details. The spa facilities, the Swiss Perfection® products, the dried fruit to nibble and even the water we drink… Ah, what an absolute pleasure! (Sigh of satisfaction.) I What is your lifestyle as a businesswoman? LN I am the manager of my own company and I work between ten
I Do you have any new projects? LN My challenges for the future include returning to the world of
architecture and interior design. I would like to launch my Lenny Niemeyer Home line. Having dressed women for the beach, I want to deal with their home interiors. I still haven’t had the chance to tackle this and while I am never short on passion, I rarely have the time! •
and twelve hours a day. In conditions such as those, it is difficult to avoid pressure. But I try. (Laughter) I have adopted certain rituals, such as getting up early to exercise or to walk along the seafront or in a park before going to work. Nature is everywhere in Rio and it helps recharge my batteries! I What do you do when you are not working LN I cook for my friends. I love organising parties at home. My
house is always full of people. My daughter and son live with me and they are always with friends who are ready to party. I also enjoy watching the sunset from Ipanema beach. It’s an absolute must to be able to relax! I Do you have a beauty ritual? LN I try – and I mean I try – to eat healthily and to take care of
my body by doing sport. Having said that, I allow myself certain liberties at the weekend. I am a hedonist and life in Brazil does nothing to discourage that. (Laughter) But it is true that Brazilian women attach great importance to beauty. The cult of the body is a national sport in our country. Incidentally, I’d like to know how Swiss women manage to stay so slim and attractive despite the daily temptation of delicious chocolates and cheese fondues. It’s a mystery to me! (Laughter) I
This is your second stay in Switzerland. What have you visited? LN I love Gruyères. It is so typical, bucolic and quite enchanting with its castle and its cows in the meadows, just like a postcard. We spent a typical tourists’ day in Switzerland and tasted Grisons dried beef, fondue, double cream meringues and raspberries. An absolute dream! I wanted to take everything home with me and Isabel, my daughter, is already insisting that we come back again this winter. I With regard to your daughter who is embarking on a career as a photographer, what advice have you given her? LN Be passionate about what you do, take equal care of your mind and body, be happy and enjoy life! I In your opinion, what qualities should a woman have? LN An iron fist in a velvet glove. I believe that it is possible to be feminist without forgetting your femininity. Today, women are under enormous pressure and I see that with my daughter. Women compete with men by adopting men’s codes. It is not the right solution; we can make ourselves heard while retaining a certain gentleness and avoiding unproductive battles.
A selection of addresses from Montreux to Rio The flowery promenade along the Montreux quays “It is absolutely enchanting. Every morning, I walk to Montreux while enjoying the beauty of the lake and the spectacular view over the mountains. I don’t need anything more than that.” Le Pont de Brent restaurant “I had the opportunity to eat in this gourmet restaurant just above Montreux and I absolutely loved the place, which is beautifully decorated, and of course the food!” www.lepontdebrent.ch The Museu do Amanhã (Museum of Tomorrow), Rio de Janeiro) “This museum was created by Santiago Calatrava on the bay in Rio. The futuristic architecture fascinates me. Inaugurated in December 2015, it explores the creation of the universe and the future of humanity. A comprehensive programme!” www.museudoamanha.org.br Sushi Leblon, Rio de Janeiro “I am also a fan of Japanese cuisine and this restaurant is my favourite place to enjoy it. The sushi are delicious, the décor sublime and the atmosphere is perfectly glamorous.” www.sushileblon.com
SWISS PASSION
Patek Philippe
A LITTLE MORE THAN WATCHMAKING Patek Philippe is a watch brand like no other. The excellence of its watches is founded on a history and tradition which have been preserved in its advanced technology. Welcome to a very closed world made of contrasts and secrets. TEXT Fabrice Eschmann — PHOTOS Sébastien Agnetti
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or aficionados of beautiful watches, Patek Philippe is the brand that dreams are made of. Sometimes taking us beyond our normal dreams. While the Geneva-based family business might not be the most famous brand in the world, it is certainly the most prestigious. As its former chairman, Philippe Stern, would say, “You don’t buy a Patek to check the time but to own a beautiful object.” Dedicated collectors snap up the rarest models at auctions, willing to pay huge amounts of money. In 2010, for example, a unique piece in yellow gold – a 1943 chronograph – was sold for 6.26 million francs, while in 2015, a new world record was achieved for a wristwatch with a minute repeater, tourbillon, perpetual calendar, retrograde date display and moon phases, sold for 7.3 million. And let us not forget the absolute record for all categories claimed by the Graves, a Patek Philippe pocket watch with 24 movements, made in 1933 for the American banker Henry Graves, which was bought for 23.2 million in 2014. Well-kept secrets These exceptional watches have always been made in Geneva. For a long time, the historic address was 41, Rue du Rhône. The luxury avenue in Geneva is now home to the head office and the Salons Patek Philippe, the only boutique in the world to carry the company’s entire collection. The headquarters are located in Plan-les-Ouates on the outskirts of the city. With a staff of almost 1,600 people, the site is home to the brand’s best-kept secrets. Very few visitors have the chance to enter this holy of holies. And for those who do, numerous doors remain locked… But not today! Once we have passed through the security doors, the corridor opens onto a huge production area. In this wing of the factory, some 450 people work on manufacturing components of the watch. Every nook and cranny contains a high-precision machine. These ultra-modern robots are a guarantee of the consistency and very high quality of production. Every year, 16 million minute parts are manufactured in this plant for the exclusive needs of Patek Philippe. Having produced 58,000 mechanical watches in 2015, the brand is one of the few to manufacture almost all of its own components. Only the sapphire crystals, the hands and the leather straps are provided by external suppliers. Assembly and restoration Leaving this noisy, oily atmosphere, we suddenly understand that Swiss watchmaking is the fruit of a marriage between two complementary worlds, cutting-edge technology and traditional know-how. Patek Philippe is an emblematic example of this. In 2005, the factory became the first to use silicon to create the oscillating member, the very heart of a watch. Its anti-magnetic and self-lubricating properties along with its DRIE (deep reactive ion etching) production process have propelled the brand into the 21st century. Today, this innovation is common currency in luxury watches. At the other end of the impressive factory, in the peace and quiet of his workshop, Bertrand Vallet is hunched over his workbench. A watchmaker and restorer in the movements department, he is a leading specialist. Around him, some of his colleagues are busy assembling movements by hand, part by part.
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S W I S S PA S S I O N It takes between three and six months to assemble and encase the most complex models. Beyond his workbench, other watchmakers, just as patient and meticulous, are restoring antique timepieces. “We at Patek Philippe are the only company to repair all our watches, irrespective of their date of manufacture, explains Bertrand Vallet. We never refuse a single piece and that is included in our charter.” To honour this moral obligation, a little visit to the archives is sometimes necessary. A pioneer in the field of heritage conservation, boasting a museum housing some 2,000 watches, Patek Philippe doubtless has one of the most significant archives of its kind. Well hidden in a location that is not often visited, no fewer than 380,000 documents are indexed and stored in an area covering 1,000 linear metres. In addition to a photo library containing pictures of some 6,500 wristwatches, sales registers with the names of buyers, travel journals written by Antoine Norbert de Patek in 1854 and life books written by Jean-Adrien Philippe around 1890, the restorers can consult records containing hundreds of technical descriptions. A veritable goldmine. Antoine Norbert de Patek and Jean-Adrien Philippe Since it was founded in 1839, Patek Philippe has had only two owners: the founders themselves and the Stern family. Working first with his compatriot François Czapek, the Polish exile Antoni Norbert Patek de Prawdzic – who would later adopt the name Antoine Norbert de Patek – soon recruited a certain JeanAdrien Philippe as Technical Director. The Parisian watchmaker subsequently joined forces with his employer and the company was renamed Patek Philippe & Co in 1851. Having filed numerous patents and achieved various world firsts, Antoine Norbert de Patek died in 1877 followed by Jean-Adrien Philippe in 1894. Seven years later, the company became a public limited company and was renamed Ancienne Manufacture d’Horlogerie Patek Philippe & Cie SA. In 1932, Jean and Charles Henri Stern, owners of the company Cadrans Stern Frères, purchased a majority shareholding. The arrival of the Stern brothers at the head of Patek Philippe was welcomed in all quarters and the factory quickly expanded. Henri, the son of Charles Henri, and his son, Philippe, then took the reins successively in 1958 and 1993. Today, Thierry Stern, the son of Philippe and representative of the fourth generation of the family, oversees a genuine little empire which employs 2,400 people around the world. •
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S W I S S PA S S I O N
Bertrand Vallet Watchmaker and restorer
The legendary Patek Philippe Grandmaster Chime
FESTIVAL OF MOVEMENTS Launched with great pomp for the 175th anniversary of Patek Philippe in 2014, only seven copies of the first Grandmaster Chime were produced. That is why the company chose to reissue this exceptional model in 2016, redesigning it entirely in the process. Finely engraved and containing 20 movements, this Grandmaster Chime (ref. 6300) incorporates the brand’s current collections and is the most complicated wristwatch ever presented by the brand. For some fifteen years, the Sky Moon Tourbillon (ref. 6002) was its most complex model. It has now been replaced by the model 6300. Among its 20 functions, five are audible with a large and small buzzer, a minute repeater, an alarm and a date repeater with a perpetual calendar. Fitted with a rotary mechanism embedded in the strap fastenings, this white gold watch comprising 1,580 elements is also reversible. The price of excellence is 2.3 million francs!
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FASHION
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TIMELESS BLACK & WHITE
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1. Breguet Classique Hora Mundi 5727 // 2. Harry Winston Midnight Date Moon Phase Automatic 42 mm MIDAMP42WW003 // 3. Blancpain Villeret Quantième Annuel GMT 6670-1127-55B // 4. Glashütte Original Senator Excellence 1-36-01-03-02-01 58 — SPECIAL 85TH ANNIVERSARY
ARTWORK BY KANULART – WWW.KANULART.COM
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FASHION
ARTWORK BY KANULART – WWW.KANULART.COM
PRECIOUS COMPOSITION
Earrings > Gocce, India, Vortice // Pendant > Chiocciolina // Rings > Allegra, Gocce De Grisogono > Geneva boutique 60 — SPECIAL 85TH ANNIVERSARY
CALIBER RM 07-01
OUR WORLD
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OUR MEDICAL WELLNESS PROGRAMMES The aim of the programmes and therapies on offer at Clinique La Prairie is to help guests learn to manage their health better, to find the balance necessary for a harmonious life and to maintain their youth. These programmes are preventative or curative. They are therefore provided under medical supervision.
REVITALISATION PROGRAMME
REBALANCING PROGRAMME
BETTER SLEEP PROGRAMME
Clinique La Prairie’s exclusive and renowned Revitalisation has a marked rejuvenating effect by revitalising the body to its very core. It is recommended from the age of 40, with its beneficial results lasting between 12 and 24 months depending on the individual. For those suffering from exhaustion or intense stress it can be administered at a younger age. Promising genuine rejuvenation, it strengthens the body’s immune defences to ensure greater resilience to stress and infections and promote improved recovery in the wake of health problems.
When suffering from fatigue, stress and insomnia, it is time to take a break before the symptoms become any worse. Take advantage of the rebalancing programme to help restore harmony to both body and mind. This programme will enable you to leave the clinic feeling calm and revitalised and with the necessary tools to better manage and control the stress and tensions of everyday life.
Do you suffer from fatigue, daytime sleepiness, sleepless nights, difficulties in falling asleep and daytime symptoms such as lack of concentration, memory loss or irritability? Up to 40 per cent of the general population complain about having sleep problems yet accept it as an inevitable condition. The clinic’s Sleep Programme can help you to solve your problems in only six nights.
BETTER MOBILITY PROGRAMME
STOP SMOKING PROGRAMME
As time goes by, the effects of age or an old injury make the body more sensitive to certain movements. Knee or shoulder pain can be discouraging when practising sports such as skiing, tennis or golf. Yet it is essential not to give up on a stimulating physical activity, which is a source of both pleasure and energy. The better mobility programme offers complete care enabling you to understand where the pain or discomfort comes from and to work the body in a targeted manner o improve ease and comfort during your training sessions.
About 30 to 50 per cent of smokers will develop lung disease or cardiovascular disease or both. Trying to stop smoking should not just be seen as an aspiration like buying a car or beautiful clothing. To achieve long-term abstinence, the process to quit should be perfectly prepared and integrated into your personal lifestyle. Clinique La Prairie's programme offers you a multifaceted approach with high success rates.
MEDICAL WEIGHT MANAGEMENT AND SPA PROGRAMME The exclusive medical weight management and spa programme offers a multidisciplinary approach with the assistance of a nutritionist, dietician, personal fitness trainer, psychologist, massage therapist and beautician. It is suitable for any adult suffering from excess weight.
MEDICAL CHECK-UP PROGRAMME A medical check-up at Clinique La Prairie is intended for any patient who wants an in-depth check-up or a clearer second medical opinion. Regular check-ups from the age of 35 are part of an optimum prevention programme. They can help identify and successfully treat disorders at an early stage.
BEAUTY PROGRAMME FOR MEN OR WOMEN For thousands of years humans have been fascinated by beauty – which is inextricably linked to health and the harmonious balance of the body, mind and soul. The spa is a veritable haven of peace, offering a wide range of exclusive treatments to emphasise your beauty. It is an ideal place to recharge your batteries.
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PHOTOS BY SÉBASTIEN GERBER
OUR MEDICAL SERVICES Clinique La Prairie offers a wide variety of specialised consultations and surgical services. A TAILOR-MADE CHECK-UP
MEDICAL SERVICES
Good health is maintained through regular check-ups beginning at the age of 35 in order to identify any problems at an early stage and successfully treat them. This is why any stay begins with a medical check-up. In addition to a detailed clinical exam, the standard check-up includes laboratory tests, a chest x-ray and an electrocardiogram. It may also often include an abdominal ultrasound and additional tests suggested by the physician, based on the specific needs and characteristics of each person.
Clinique La Prairie now offers a broad range of specialised consultations and surgical services in the fields of cardiology, dermatology and venerology, endocrinology and diabetology, gastroenterology, gynaecology and obstetrics, ophtalmology, nephrology, neurology, nutrition, ENT, pneumology, psychiatry, psychology and rheumatology.
SURGERY Dedicated to all patients wishing to schedule their surgery in the exceptional environment and comfort. The medical centre’s operating suite includes two multipurpose operating rooms equipped with: - laminar flow and high-performance anaesthesia equipment; - a prep room and recovery room equipped for four patients; - two examination rooms for the surgeons. ANAESTHESIOLOGY The two operating rooms have high-quality anaesthesia equipment allowing us to perform all types of anaesthesia, be it general or local. Our team of anaesthesiologists intervenes in various types of surgery, both general and ambulatory, and in particular orthopaedic, gynaecological, cosmetic, reconstructive and ENT.
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COMPLEMENTARY PARAMEDICAL SERVICES Our comprehensive approach to patient health often includes complementary paramedical services in a personalised treatment programme. To this end, Clinique La Prairie constantly develops a range of efficient paramedical services. These services include: acupuncture, dietetics, hypnosis, a medical analysis laboratory, physiotherapy and sophrology. CUTTING-EDGE MEDICAL IMAGING Located in the basement of the medical centre, the Radiology and Medical Imaging Institute occupies a vast area covering 725 m² with 210 m² of annexes. It has its own reception area and waiting rooms. Our Radiology and Medical Imaging Institute also boasts a highly qualified medical and technical team trained in the very latest methods to ensure effective examinations and quick results. The imaging services include: MRI, 64-slice CT scanner, digital mammogram, ultrasound/ Doppler sonography, digital radiology, mineralometry, digital orthopantogram, interventional radiology, digital archiving and preparation for examinations.