Le Cercle # 8

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H33

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*Utterly rare The objects that fire collectors’ passions

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*Lighting but not as you know it

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*Checking in Hot new hotels W68

*Inside out Museum architecture V show

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Navy blue crepe mermaid gown with crystal-embellished interlaced circles neckline.

Fall - Winter 2011-2012

Le Cercle BCD An Nahar Bldg . Martyrs’ Square . Downtown . Le Cercle SAIFI . +961 1 97 14 44 / 555 . www.kenzo.com

01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 Shopping 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 the desire to capture 17 18 19 20 21 Architecture 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 Living 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 Product Design 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 publisher : 69 70 City News Privilege 71 72 on behalf of Le Cercle Hitti 73 74 75 editor in chief : 76 77 Anastasia Nysten 78 79 80 managing editor : 81 82 Helen Assaf 83 84 85 graphic design : 86 87 Genia Kodash 88 89 90 printer : 91 Fashion 92 RAIDY | www.raidy.com 93 94 95 contributors : 96 97 Dan Bratman 98 99 Karah Byrns Art & Culture 100 101 Miriam Dunn 102 103 Louis Parks 104 105 Nadine Makarem In Beirut 106 Ahmed Ramadan 107 108 109 110 advertising : 111 112 sales@citynewsme.net 113 t: +961 3 852 899 114 115 116

something special, unique or priceless inspires collectors, designers, museums and consumers the world over and in this issue of Le Cercle we devote a special section to this pursuit.

Although museums are often lauded for what lies on their insides, Le Cercle is looking at the flipside of the coin to seek out some of the world’s finest examples of museum architecture. Whether in rural China or cosmopolitan Rome, in the hands of leading architects a museum’s environment and walls become a starting point for a dialogue between the visitor, the exhibits themselves and the nature of space.

Just as museums strive to evoke sensations, so hotels aspire to conjure a certain mood. The choice of décor and furnishings are crucial to create the right ambiance, harmonize emotions and leave guests with unforgettable memories. In the following pages we check in at three different hotels that have been given the master designer touch. In St Petersburg Russian decadence meets Italian flair with the help of B&B Italia, while in Paris two very different designers, Philippe Starck and Martin Margiela, work their contemporary magic on bastions of history.

And as the darker days of autumn draw in, we bring to light some exceptional lighting projects that take us from the Beirut Souks to a secret London garden. May you find this issue of Le Cercle illuminating in more ways than one.

PARK VIEW BUILDING, BOULEVARD DU PARC - BEIRUT T. +961 1 99 21 16 CHARLES MALEK AVE., ELLIPSE CENTER - ASHRAFIEH, LEBANON T. +961 1 20 00 01 W W W. W S A L A M O O N . C O M

the fall wishlist

goes window shopping for some of this season’s must-have purchases.

Overscaleflames

Bottlevase

Three available sizes from 20 to 50 cm

Milky white flabbergasted glass

Jean Marie Massaud

ø 8 x h.33 cm

B&B Italia

Herve Gambs

Moooicarpet

Moooicarpet

Printed nylon threads

Printed nylon threads

300 x 200 cm

300 x 200 cm

Marcel Wanders

Marcel Wanders

Moooi

Moooi

FataMorganTJ2

Les100pas

Printed nylon threads

Vinyl (PVC) with digitally-cut motif

ø350 cm

w.85 x l.240cm

Marcel Wanders

Vincent Olm

Moooi

Ligne Roset

ACCESSORIES

Chesstable

Thotsidetable

Various woods, internal steel

Satin-finish black ash or walnut

frame, high gloss lacquer

ø55 x h.50 cm

w.40 x d.40 x h.60 cm

Pierre Paulin

Moooi

Ligne Roset

Glaçon

Lesforets

Enamel molded earthenware

Lacquered laser-cut steel with base

w.33 x d. 33 x h. 34 cm

in mirror-polished stainless steel

Lee West

w.55 x d.55 x h.40 cm

Ligne Roset

Pascal Mourgue Ligne Roset

Antigonelowtable

Metropolis

Base in natural or black-

Lacquered glass top on

stained solid beech

cast aluminum legs

w.80 x d.26.5cm

w.105 x d.105 x h.18 cm

Pierre Paulin

Massimo Iosa Ghini

Ligne Roset

Roche Bobois

Diesis

Xilos simplice collection

Die-cast aluminum, varnished

honeycomb and wood particle panels

steel, marble, leather

w.150 x d.150 x h.40 cm

w.150 x d.98 x h.34 cm

Antonio Citterio

Antonio Citterio

B&B Italia

B&B Italia

TABLES

Biscia

Mart

Pascal Mourgue

Antonio Citterio

Ligne Roset

B&B Italia

Beverly Antonio Citterio B&B Italia

FeboAptacollection Antonio Citterio B&B Italia

Landscape Jeffrey Bernett B&B Italia

Otium Mario Ruiz La Palma

seating

Jean

Inlovesectionalsofa

Antonio Citterio

Philippe Bouix

B&B Italia

Roche Bobois

Lutetia Antonio Citterio Maxalto

Cityloft

Tufty-Too

Pascal Mourgue

Patricia Urquiola

Cinna

B&B Italia

Ray Antonio Citterio B&B Italia

seating

Heracleum

Nonrandom

Metal wire frame, poly carbonate lenses

Fiberglass soaked in epoxy resin

65 x 98 cm

ø71 x 70cm

Bertjan Pot & Marcel Wanders

Bertjan Pot

Moooi

Moooi

Ouverture Lacquered steel finish, chintz shade w.268 x d.65.5 x h.202 cm Philippe Daney Ligne Roset

Verythin Chromed metal d.22 x h.17 cm Arik Levy Ligne Roset

Dorset Turned wood finished in satinfinish balck lacquer ø35 x 60cm Eric Jourdan Ligne Roset

LIGHTING

Bloom

RaimondZafu

Shade in sculpted foam

Raimond Puts in association with

ø55 x h.150 cm

OX-id stainless ‘spring steel’

Hiroshi Kawano

ø75 cm

Ligne Roset

Moooi

Fringe

Somerset

PVC/cotton on metal frame

Matt opal glass, chromed metal

ø80 x h.32 cm

ø16 x h.32 cm

Edward Van Vliet

Eric Jourdan

Moooi

Ligne Roset

Positionlamp Solid maple wood w.40 x d.42 x h.155 cm Rooms Moooi

Raimond

Lamp06

Raimond Puts in association with

Metal black wire

OX-id Stainless ‘spring steel’

ø40 x h.69

ø163 cm

Nathalie Dewez

Moooi

Ligne Roset

LIGHTING

linyi, shandong province, china

Away from the city, the Yan ZhenQing museum is deliberately designed for contemplation of art and nature. Housing the works of 8th century Chinese calligrapher Yan ZhenQing, the museum rises above its surrounding beautiful landscape through the means of three terraces. The aim is to emphasize the distinct world of the museum and its surrounding garden. A border colonnade, or langfang as it is referred to in Chinese gardens, is set on levels, creating both a boundary and a main route to circulate through the museum. The harmonious order of the garden’s design and composition of its views also define the garden as a space in its own right. Exhibition rooms are separated into pavilions encouraging visitors to meander rather than follow a prescribed route.

serie architects

rome zaha hadid

Walls that intersect and separate to create interior and exterior spaces are integral to Zaha Hadid’s MAXXI – national museum of XXI century art, located in Rome. The design won Hadid the 2010 Sterling Prize for the best building designed by a British architect and completed in that year. While on the outside the museum has a fairly modest appearance, it is inside that Hadid’s visionary approach really comes into play. Flooded with daylight, stairways and passageways snake through the museum to intriguing, labyrinthine effect; concrete ribs hanging from the ceiling provide flexibility for floating walls to be added as required. Essentially five separate buildings leaning together, the MAXXI also opens out onto a plaza.

Milan Daniel Libeskind

Considered not only an exhibition space but a work of art in itself, Daniel Libeskind’s architecture for the new Museum of Contemporary Art in Milan consists of a five-floor vertical structure (including one underground) that twists as it rises, culminating in a circular terrace. Effectively representing a square that becomes a circle the building is regarded as part homage to Leonardo da Vinci’s ‘Vetruvian Man’ masterpiece, while also denoting the evolutionary nature of art itself. Cutting-edge materials and techniques have been integrated into the museum’s development, to ensure environmental compatibility. Inside an eight-meter high atrium connects the museum’s levels providing natural ventilation while bringing a flexibility to the height limits of exhibition space.

Abu Dhabi Frank Gehry

Inspired by its setting, in a desert landscape surrounded on three sides by water, architect Frank Gehry set out to design the Guggenheim Abu Dhabi as a “new invention”, an edifice that would not have been possible in the US or Europe.

The result, the largest museum in the Saadiyat Island Cultural District and the Guggenheim Foundation’s largest facility, incorporates unconventional gallery spaces of varying horizontal and vertical dimensions connected by catwalks and set around a central covered courtyard. As the gallery space fans out from its core, so the nature of it becomes less finished, providing a hub for art beyond the scale that could be achieved in conventional museums. Sustainability is an integral element of the development, with natural cooling and ventilation taking their cue from traditional wind towers of the Middle East.

the

St. Petersburg

Located in Russia’s former capital city, this majestic hotel provides a haven of luxurious tranquillity for discerning travelers W o r d s : Miriam Dunn

T

he magical history of Russia’s former capital city is brought together perfectly with the elegance of Italian decor and design at the luxury W Hotel in St Petersburg.

The hotel stands majestically in the heart of the city which is often affectionately referred to as the ‘Venice of the North’ thanks to the vibrant mix of glamour, fashion and culture that it offers visitors.

The city’s richly diverse surroundings of old and new are beautifully captured in the W Hotel’s interior design and furnishings which have been conceptualized by the award-winning Milan-based architects and designers Antonio Citterio Patricia Viel and Partners S.r.l and the luxury furniture line with whom Citterio collaborates, B&B Italia.

The rooms of the W Hotel cleverly draw on Russia’s fascinating history in the sumptuous and elegant interiors, taking the famed jeweled eggs from the House of Faberge as one source of inspiration. A crisp, linear white chaise lounge that is trademark B&B Italia is juxtaposed with a richly daring purple armchair, while in a further avant-garde twist, a Terzani Orten’zia’s Very Very Gold disco ball lamps add a fun touch.

The rooms offer varying views through full-length windows, ranging from the hotel’s tranquil courtyard to the breathtaking architecture of St Petersburg close to the spectacular Neva River.

Unwinding is made easy courtesy of the signature W beds which are bedecked in 350-thread-count linens, pillow-top mattress, and fluffy goose-down duvet

Previous pages: Lounge, miXup bar

Above: Lounge, miXup bar

RIGHT: Exterior

Collage Studio

For Viola every story always begins with Tufty-Time. Tufty-Time is designed by Patricia Urquiola.

01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 Shopping 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 Architecture 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 Living 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 Product Design 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70 71 72 73 74 75 76 77 78 79 80 81 82 83 84 85 bordered by custom headboards and 86 plush carpeting. Business travelers and 87 88 gadget lovers can make use of the latest 89 90 hi-tech, state-of-the-art entertainment, 91 Fashion 92 while spacious bathrooms provide an 93 opportunity to relax or re-energise.

94 95 The hotel’s top floor takes 96 97 luxurious and sumptuous getaway 98 living to a new level with its E-WOW 99 Art & Culture 100 suites. With spectacular views of 101 102 St. Isaac’s cathedral and beyond, 103 104 the suites are beautifully spacious 105 offering a wealth of world-class In Beirut 106 107 amenities combined with B&B 108 109 Italia’s inspirational, creative 110 trademark decor. The suites tick 111 112 every box of what the most 113 114 discerning guest could ask 115 116 for, ranging from a classy,

top LEFT: Guestroom, Wonderful Room

top RIGHT: Guest Bathroom, W Suite Bathroom

Below LEFT: Bliss Spa Lounge

Below RIGHT: Guestroom, WOW Suite

contemporary chrome kitchen, an eight-seating dining room table, luxury living space with a custom sofa and armchairs around a beautifully-crafted fireplace, together with a state-ofthe-art entertainment system. The bedroom houses a luxurious kingsize bed, while the hugely spacious bathrooms offer a double rainforest shower and separate corner Jacuzzi.

The magical combination of Italian design and Russia warmth permeates the hotel in delightful style as guests will discover, from the haven of the Bliss Spa to the edgy signature restaurant ‘miX’ which has been inspired by leading chef Alain Ducasse.

Votre Banque Privée dans le glamour de Monaco.

Dès aujourd’hui, nos services de Banque Privée sont à votre disposition à Monaco. Bank Audi SAM – Audi Saradar Group a le plaisir de vous offrir la même qualité de services personnalisés proposés par le Groupe. Que vous soyez en vacances sur la Côte d’Azur ou désiriez simplement profiter de nos services de Banque Privée, vous pouvez nous contacter au +37797701701 ou nous rendre visite au 24 Boulevard des Moulins, Monaco.

History Revisited W o r d s : Dan Bratman

H

istory—a retrospective tool used in the future, to evaluate the controversial, the innovative, the disputed genius of today. It tells a story of patterns seen only in hindsight. Except for those able to think outside of convention, the true visionaries, the makers of history. We watch as the brave race ahead, sometimes stumbling, sometimes soaring, giving us a glimpse of what is possible…and beyond.

Paris—a word that evokes history. Fashion, food, romance, revolution—this is where style begins. Over the years, the patterns of history have unfolded here, sending ripples of design, style and fashion throughout the world.

And, at its center is the Royal Monceau

01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 Shopping 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 Architecture 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 Living 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 Product Design 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70 71 72 73 74 75 76 77 78 79 80 81 82 83 84 85 86 hotel. Recently reborn at the hands of 87 88 design iconoclast, Phillipe Starck, this 89 90 landmark hotel has shed its history 91 92 Fashion and redefined Parisian luxury design.

93 From its red carpet 94 95 Belle Époque entryway, guests are 96 97 reminded of the ghosts of the 98 Royal Monceau. From its original 99 100 Art & Culture opening in 1928, Josephine 101 102 Baker, Ernest Hemmingway, 103 Maurice Chevalier and Michael 104 105 Jackson have all passed its 106 In Beirut 107 threshold. But, only today’s 108 109 guests are privy to this 110 eclectically appointed 111 112 reception. A mixture of 113 114 Escher-like carpeting 115 below and the canopy 116

01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 Shopping 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 Architecture 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 Living 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 Product Design 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70 71 72 73 74 75 76 77 78 79 80 81 82 83 84 85 86 87 88 89 90 91 Fashion 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 Art & Culture 100 101 102 103 104 105 In Beirut 106 107 108 109 110 111 112 113 114 115 116

of chandeliers above foretells of a new style, ushered in by opulence and a truly “Starck” style luxury.

A curving staircase rises above a small herd of moose (a sculptural installation by Nicolas Polissky) and leads, through striped and floor lit hallways, to 149 opulent rooms of singular design.

Although each of them is individual in style, they all capture a certain whimsicality, a poetry of diversity, a diversion from the expected. Bedrooms are an insurrection of thread count and down, the bathrooms, an explosion of mirrors, steel and convenience, leaving no luxury spared. In rooms like these, one could be tempted to forgo the city of lights outside in favor of the Paris Stark has created inside these walls.

History is made by those bold enough to trust their internal vision and create it in the outside world. Three years after the Royal Monceau closed its doors for renovation, it reemerges, molded by the hands of Phillipe Starck, a man bold enough to make history now.

Supper pot

Robust, heat-resistant, this collection of elegantly proportioned containers are designed to serve both as serving dishes and cooking implements and take as their inspiration the cooking utensils of the Subcontinent.

Mind the gap – Photo: Nadim Asfar

Derviche Haddad Street Beirut Port District +961 (0)1 570 572 www.karenchekerdjian.com

A slender tray balanced on top of a gently inclined cylindrical base, this generous cake stand comes decorated in a variety of hand-etched geometric patterns and graceful Arabesques.

Mind the gap – Photo: Nadim Asfar

Cake Stand

Derviche Haddad Street Beirut Port District +961 (0)1 570 572 www.karenchekerdjian.com

A gem in the

Golden

Triangle Historical and avant garde designs are beautifully fused at the Maison Champs ElysĂŠes W o r d s : Miriam Dunn P h o t o s : Martine Houghton

S

tanding majestically in one of Paris’s most sought-after locations is an exquisitelyrenovated hotel that has the most intriguing of tales to tell.

Steeped in history, the Maison Champs Elysées exudes a contemporary elegance which is fitting for its location in Paris’s Golden Triangle, just a stone’s throw from the city’s most famous landmarks and luxury boutiques.

The townhouse was originally built for Princess Essling, Mistress of the Household to the Empress Eugénie before it was sold in 1919 to the Association of Students of the Ecole Centrale and became

01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 Shopping 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 Architecture 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 Living 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 Product Design 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70 71 72 73 74 75 76 77 78 79 80 81 82 83 84 85 86 87 88 89 90 their meeting place.

91 92 Fashion Just over two decades 93 ago, the Maison des Centraliens 94 95 was expanded to include a hotel.

96 97 Today, the Maison Champs 98 Elysées Hotel proudly displays an 99 100 Art & Culture exceptional renovation carried 101 102 out by the leading Belgian 103 fashion and interior designer 104 105 Martin Margiela.

106 In Beirut 107 Margiela has 108 109 carved out an impressive 110 track record since 111 112 graduating from the Royal 113 114 Academy of Fine Arts 115 in Antwerp, setting up 116

his own stores worldwide and working with both Jean-Paul Gaultier and Hermès.

His creative genius has undoubtedly breathed new life into the Maison Champs Elysees, combining classical and avant-garde designs in his trademark sophisticated yet playful and offbeat style that will delight the modern international guest while continuing to provide the students of the Ecole Centrale with a warm, welcoming venue.

While the hotel’s fine Haussmann-era façade has been retained, Margiela has brought a contemporary feel to the interiors, from the elegant French-style Mareuil flagstone paving with black marble to the pristine White Lounge and majestic staircase.

Guests will also delight at the scorched wood cigar bar, restaurant and guestrooms which provide a tranquil haven through Margiela’s favored use of white and trompe l’oeil.

Margiela has made known his desire to create a magical decor in Maison Champs Elysees that will match the generous hospitality of the hotel and encourage guests to return. And with so much to marvel at and enjoy, the clientele will undoubtedly be tempted to revisit this unique piece of Parisian history.

An anniversary is only as special as the people you celebrate with ...

thank you Beirut.

In September 2011, from Thursday 15th to Sunday 19th, the Phoenicia hosted a festival of creative arts in all its genres and forms. The Phoenicia was proud to celebrate its golden jubilee with Beirut’s community and offered the true essence of this city to all its honored guests. Without all of you, the last 50 years would never have been so special. We thank you for keeping us “Younger than Ever” and for sharing this anniversary with us.

www.phoeniciabeirut.com

Com plex simpli city W o r d s :

L o u i s

P a r k s

“I Dori Hitti

didn’t choose minimalism, I found myself here,” so says Dori Hitti, head of leading Lebanese architecture and design firm Cercle Hitti. Hitti’s riding the crest of a wave and is in the enviable position of being able to choose his clients when it comes to his upmarket residential work; he’s reveling in the task.

Hitti’s designs scream modernity and there’s a striking lack of fuss about his work. Clean lines, and surfaces

divided into large blocks, clearly delineated from one another are staples of his style, “Colors are secondary for me, firstly it’s about the architectural and interior details,” he says. I ask him to define his style and he throws it back at me, “You tell me”. I reply with the words clean, elegant, modern, simple. “I like simple,” he says with a smile.

Simple it is, but simple it is anything but. “Volumetric, clean lines, simple, but not plain. I like to place pieces within it, because I don’t want it to be

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too simple. Simple is difficult. People can understand that simple is actually complex, but only after a while. You look back at your work and it can seem crowded, but at the time you were looking for simple.

It’s difficult. Next time you’ll know how to avoid the crowd,” he says.

If simplicity is the overarching theme, then the end result might appear a little out of place, and yet it’s not.

Achingly modern interiors, clever plays on light and space, clutter-free living areas, refined, concise design, all are individually, straightforward and easy to process, but together blend into something altogether complex. It’s difficult to appreciate, but the complexity lies, in many ways, in the lack of intricacy.

If Hitti found himself within minimalism there was a good reason for it. “I want to live happily, in a good environment, and comfortably. You wear jeans or a T-shirt because it’s comfortable, a suit and tie, sure, for a gala dinner, for two hours and then you take it off,” he says. It’s this concept of comfort, allied with style, which defines Hitti’s work.

Standing apart from regional, traditional design Hitti’s works are at once simple and complex, though the complexity requires a discerning eye to be fully appreciated. And there’s the key, to many it might all seem a little bare, but therein lies the enigma.

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Plus Towers project under way Another Le Cercle project by Dori Hitti begins to take shape in downtown Beirut W o r d s : M iriam

B

D u n n

eirut has moved one step closer to welcoming two new architectural gems in the high-end Solidere District with construction under way on the two Plus Towers.

The 14-floor Towers are earmarked to be one of the most exclusive residential developments in Downtown Beirut. Zerok has been appointed as primary contractor for Plus Tower 1 while Abniya will lead operations on Plus Tower 2.

With the construction phase now in progress, the spotlight is also on the interior conceptual design of the Towers which will be overseen by Le Cercle’s renowned architect Dori Hitti.

Widely viewed

as an iconic modernist Hitti is known for his subtle, simple and elegant styles which give importance to both beauty and comfort. Hitti said that the aim would be to conceive a design that combines luxury and distinctiveness.

Georges Chehwane, the CEO of Plus Properties, said he was confident the Towers would take their place as two of the city’s most beautiful icons when completed in 2013.

Words:

L o u is

P arks

A

cross a number of series and having been reimagined by some of the most recognizable designers at Roche Bobois, the Mah Jong celebrates its fortieth birthday this year. The inspiration for this most modern of designs comes, ironically perhaps, from that most ancient of Chinese table top games, Mahjong, where players seek to create a recognized pattern using a shifting collection of

exchangeable tiles.

It all started with designer Hans Hopfer, the inspiration behind so many of Roche Bobois’ signature pieces. Hopfer was something of a guru at the time, the 1970’s was an era of freeform, relaxed, and informal settings when it came to interior design and Hopfer’s unconventional approach began to attract attention.

As part of his collection he invented the Mah Jong.

A sofa, yet one quite unlike anything that was around at the time and designed with freedom of

function and form in mind, the Mah Jong began simply, with three sections or blocks that can be positioned however the owner desires, at angles,

overlapping one another, or used as separate pieces, one piece of furniture, limitless possibilities. A bed, a sofa, a pouf, an area in which to have fun, or simply relax, the Mah Jong is all about flexibility, utility and, of course, style. Its ability to completely change a living area simply by being repositioned into a new configuration encourages people to play around with interior layouts.

Handmade in a dedicated workshop in Italy, the processes and techniques used are similar to those found in the haute couture fashion industry. Each component is individually hand-stitched and only the most exclusive fabrics are used, making each Mah Jong a one-off creation.

It’s only natural that such an iconic design will be tinkered with and adapted by any number of famous designers, and so is the case with the Mah Jong.

Over the years Roche Bobois has invited world famous designers and companies to try their hand at this famous design. Created exclusively for Roche Bobois, Missoni’s iconic zigzag lines allied with floral fabric create a truly warm, natural and joyful piece of furniture echoing the class and sophistication of the House.

Kenzo Maison’s offering to the collection is, as one would expect from this exuberant house, strikingly

eye-catching. An audacious use of color, ethnic patterns and the ever-present Kenzo floral prints have created a breath-taking, almost poetic piece of furniture that’s not for the faint of heart.

Finally, JeanPaul Gautier’s design features his famous sailor stripes alongside an upholstered version of his haute couture fashion collections replete with tattoos and other poetic imagery. His creativity, elegance and sophistication break the rules of convention, in much the same way that Hans Hopfer did back in 1971 when he designed the Mah Jong.

illustrez vos pensĂŠes

Corniche an-Nahr 01/584 222

Hamra 01/343 335

Jnah 01/851 002

limited edition

One Minute Sculptures Designer:

M arc e l

W a n d e rs

As the name succinctly suggests, in precisely one minute clay is turned into quirky shapes, capturing “frozen moments of fingers� in their wake. Finished with a gold luster, the sculptures are a vibrant expression of creativity and time.

If you listen to your senses,

you’ll experience all that’s beautiful and exhilarating in this world.

Rolf Benz MIO, where i feel good.

Design: Norbert Beck

limited edition

Designer:

M arc e l

W a n d e rs

Airborne Snotty Vases

Coryza, Influenza, Ozaena, Pollinosis and Sinusitis are the individual names of these five vases, each different from the other, but all based on a 3D scan of airborne phlegm and produced in polyamide using a digital prototyping technology. Yet another quirky design idea from Marcel Wanders, the Airborne Snotty vase was first introduced

by Cappellini in Milan 2001, and this collection of five went on to be purchased by the Stedelijk Museum Amsterdam.

limited edition

blacklight table

Produced by

B illards

T o u l e t

The Blacklight billiard table is the first to be made of steel and can be created to a client’s specifications, with an unlimited number of bespoke options available. Each table is therefore unique and made to measure, taking approximately two months to produce. Meeting competition quality requirements, the Blacklight can also be ordered with a wooden tabletop to transform it into a poker or dining table at whim.

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Designer:

M arc e l

W a n d e rs

If a sharkskin provides the ultimate surface for swimming, so shiny, glass stones should be the perfect surface for a dream holiday car. Such was the thinking of Marcel Wanders with the Antelope, a car designed from his imagination, brought to life and then covered in Bisazza tiles.

Antelope

limited edition

Savage Beauty In celebration of a prolific 19-year career cut short by suicide, earlier this year the Metropolitan Museum of Art hosted an exhibition of the late Alexander McQueen’s contributions to fashion. More than 100 ensembles as well as accessories went on display in the show titled “Savage Beauty”, paying homage to McQueen’s brilliance as an artist.

i oscillate between life and death, happiness and sadness, good and evil.

Alexander McQueen

limited edition

Reading between the stitches

Words:

D a n

B ratma n

T

hey are not merely objects of fashion to be worn and discarded when the season changes. They are architecture.

They are stories, structures, unsettling yet familiar, recalling dreams of forgotten function leaving behind only the beauty and a haunting memory. Hussein Chalayan makes dreams to wear, stories in ephemeral silk and steel. Until November 21, for his show, “Hussein Chalayan: Fashion Narratives” at the Musée des Arts Décoratifs, Paris, Mr. Chalayan has been given a free hand to bring forth his vision in fabric, video, sculpture and anything else that serves him.

Born in Cyprus and expatriated to England, Hussein first gained the attention of the fashion world straight out of Central Saint Martins College of Art and Design in London. His graduate project,

titled “The Tangent Flows” was a series of dresses made and then buried in his back yard. An instant sensation, the whole collection was purchased and displayed in luxury designer store Browns in London.

While many designers use the runway to showcase their collection, Chalayan builds tableaus, drawing the audience into his world. Rich in visual invention, he communicates through images like the 1998 “airplane” dress made of fibreglass and resin that slowly opens its “wings”, or the extraordinary film vision of a woman’s hair changing in cut, with the wig and its myriad technological connections also on view.

Some pieces must be studied to reveal their true intent. Like the printed dresses from 2004 that, on closer inspection, show images

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of battle scenes from the 1950s in Mr. Chalayan’s native Cyprus.

Chayalan’s work is fraught with meaning. Exploring concepts like time, place, culture and perspective, he is beyond judgment. His vision of the world is powered by wonder and awe, seeking to understand difference and communicate mutuality. There is beauty in his view of diversity, drawing the viewer into a world of fascination and possibility, a fashion of the spirit, an architecture of the soul.

Although Mr. Chalayan has often received critical acclaim, he has also struggled to keep his unique style alive. At one time, he and his team had to close their shop and work from his home. But he never sacrificed his way of making art. It is this commitment that has earned him, at the age of 41, such an amazing retrospective, diverse and eclectic, the expression of a truly creative mind.

W o r d s : Karah Byrns P h o t o s : giorgio de vecchi

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enowned Swiss architect Peter Zumthor and Italian master of light Mario Nanni gave the busy British capital an introspective escape for the summer Peter Zumthor, the Swiss architect called quite simply “god” by some of his architectural contemporaries, won the honor of being the architect appointed to mount the much-awaited Serpentine Pavilion, the contemporary design installation hosted every year for the past decade in London’s Hyde Park. Every summer, London welcomes a new architect to design the Serpentine Pavilion, nestled in the Kensington Gardens of Hyde Park. The pavilion is a temporary structure erected to be an engaging contemporary design space that doubles as a garden teahouse and place to take shelter from the city’s frequent summer showers.

Perhaps the most difficult part of this task is the lack of any restraints. Architects are free to pursue their wildest dreams, and last year’s 2010 pavilion designed by award-winning French architect Jean

Nouvel did just that, taking park-goers into a bright red, open-air “sun machine” where they could play frisbee, ping pong, and chess, or just chill out and lounge in the sun in a red hammock. “I want it to be a little place of warmth and delight,” said Nouvel at the time, pleased with the zany result that he felt represented “architecture on holiday”.

Zumthor’s minimalist interpretation of the pavilion in 2011 brought a darker, more introspective twist. In his version, the pavilion construction consisted of a lightweight timber frame, sheathed in black idenden and hessian scrim to protect it from the elements. The resulting jet black box rose up from the grass, passively discrete. Its shadowy inner pathways all led back to a calm, central garden to create a meditative interior space where one can ponder the natural architecture of the plant world and absorb the silence of flowers growing, sun shining, and clouds passing. On a bright day, the black box brought about a stark contrast with the brilliant green grass and blue skies. On gray days, the experience bordered on what it would be like

to physically experience bright flowers blossoming in the darker, more sullen corners of one’s mind. The structure played with light in a contemplative and ethereal way, an effect achieved with the help of renowned Italian light designer Mario

Nanni in collaboration with Viabizzuno. The end result gave birth to a psychologically interactive space where light and architecture were inextricably intertwined, making the pavilion a joint signature of two men who are masters of their craft.

W o r d s : Karah Byrns

Beirut’s coming entertainment center is about to light up the Souks, in more ways than one

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rchitecture defines the form of space, creating permanent structures that remain rooted to the ground. Light, on the other hand, travels through the air, temporary and impossible to touch, yet able to touch our minds and shape our moods. Light illuminates hidden angles and spaces, transforming the physical into something magical.

It is perhaps for this reason that Beirut’s most state-of-the-art entertainment complex soon to arrive in the Beirut Souks will be unveiling a contemporary form of cutting edge light design when it opens its doors at the end of this year. This entertainment complex that will be part of the North Souks will include a 14-screen aboveground movie theater that will be flanked by generous lounges and concession areas, a multimedia, retail and entertainment zone, international restaurants, an arcade, and a pedestrian walkway that will link up Allenby and Trablous streets.

To bring the entertainment center and its cinemas truly to life, Lebanese light designer Maurice Asso of the local light design firm Hilights will be teaming up with Italian light design house Viabizzuno and internationally acclaimed light designer Mario Nanni. Nanni is the creative genius behind the LIV – or variable-image light bulb - that makes projection light installations possible on a grand scale, casting colorful and detailed images upon the length of a high interior wall or exterior façade. His work can be seen in homes, offices, museums, public squares, and even retail showrooms, such as several Giorgio Armani stores.

Together with Nanni, Asso will be transforming Beirut’s newest entertainment complex into an emotional experience in light and design. He will quite literally be taking the magic of the movies off of the screen and bringing the spectacle of light into the space itself.

This year, the bold project was chosen to be presented at the 2nd annual Viabizzuno Worldwide Light Congress as a special feature from the Middle East. In an exclusive interview with Le Cercle, Nanni revealed that this choice was as much about the project’s design as the people who will appreciate it: “We particularly wanted to pay tribute to a Mediterranean country like Lebanon, where the love of architecture and, more generally, design is very strong.” Grazie.

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Delicate nature Words:

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nspired by the delicate intricacy of the plant of the same name, the Heracleum

by Moooi cleverly blends modern, industrial touches with the lightness and delicacy of nature. This intriguingly styled lighting array is made up of over 50 individual LED lights with polycarbonate lenses, a light metal frame and ultra-thin suspension wires. The Heracleum instantly lights up a room and creates an effect not unlike a modern chandelier, only minus the crystal.

Made from metal wires coated in a complex, conductive material, the structure is impossibly thin, with all the arms emanating from the central “branch” of the

L o u is

P arks

piece. A process that defies belief when viewed close up, the “stalks” of the Heracleum are something to behold, a tribute to ingenious design.

It comes as no surprise to see the curious name of Marcel Wanders’ inspired Bertjan Pot Powered Through Electrosandwich attached to the Heracleum, it surely is a piece worthy of Wanders’ talents.

At almost one meter wide and 65 centimeters deep, the Heracleum is a substantial piece, belying its delicacy with the scale and scope of the installation. Upon reflection, with its rotatable and dimmable lights, the Heracleum is more akin to a piece of modern, interactive sculpture than a chandelier of old.

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Soft

light Words:

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Louis Parks

isdesign’s Coral Reef Lamp embraces the soft lines of one of Mother Nature’s most stunningly beautiful creations, the coral. Hand-crafted from aluminum alloy and cast using zinc dies, the gentle curves and seamless joins appear uncontrived, creating a sense of effortless continuity throughout the piece.

Polished until the aluminum glows, stand and light become one thanks to the ingenious use of a ball and socket joint allowing for full and free positioning of the light itself. Form and function marry together to create something not only beautiful, but also practical. Standing over 45 centimeters tall, the

Coral Reef Lamp is a fully adjustable, practical desk light, while sitting at the apex of interior design.

Dimming is controlled by simply tapping the base of the piece and the tactile curves invite users to constantly adjust and reposition the coral-shaped light itself. Thankfully, the small size of the LEDs has led to a lightweight, cool lamp that’s easily handled and maneuvered, allowing the owner to seek out the ambience they’re looking for.

Qisdesign’s organic shapes, innovative design and modern technologies have all come together in the Coral Reef Lamp, a blend of minimalist beauty and nature’s most inspired design.

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chanel Autumn-Winter 2011

A somber mood took over Chanel’s Autumn/Winter ready to wear collection this year with previously ubiquitous pretty pastels replaced by a palette of grays and blacks. To a backdrop of a volcanic island, models took to the runway in a visual extravaganza of wide-cut jackets, dramatic coats, cropped pants and belted dresses that represented a statement of brooding glamour.

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Dior Autumn-Winter 2011

Dior’s new silhouette for Autumn-Winter 2011 is created by the maxi cape and coat, the knickerbocker and the Dior Mitzahe tee. The layered silhouette evokes the dandyism of the English romantic poets. Rich inky shades, velvets, cashmeres, chiffons and organza create a palette of textures and colors. Soft leathers, suedes and furs, intricate luxe weaves, tapisserie and knitwear complete the look for day as embroidery, feathers, tulle and lace cut a new lyrical luxury for eveningwear.

AN NAHAR BLDG, +961 1 971 444/555 ZOUK HIGHWAY, +961 9 217 744/55 RING HIGHWAY, +961 1 971 573 555

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an

W o r d s : Miriam Dunn

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he bold, innovative work of German-born artist Godwin Hoffman is as fresh today as it was at the beginning of his career over five decades ago Critics have long highlighted the tight control and strict discipline which combine so well with the brush strokes and paint runs found in the work of German-born artist Godwin Hoffman.

Contrast is an underlying theme in Hoffman’s art, as he explains.

“On one side is my quest for knowledge and truth inherited from my education,

on the other side I look for the elementary, the origin, sensuality and the touch,” he says. “Obtaining a thick black that seems to absorb all light, pretending to the absolute. This kind of work is very demanding.”

Born in the municipality of Büchenbeuren, the multidisciplinary artist was just a young boy when he developed a fascination with the great Dutch Masters of the 17th century such as Vincent Van Gogh. Visits to museums also led to Hoffman discovering Picasso and Kandinsky, whose work, together

with the artists’ dedication and discipline, were to sow the seeds of his desire to paint.

Inspired by what he had seen, Hoffman chose to study art at the Kunstakademie in Düsseldorf before settling in France where he worked as a professor of art for almost 30 years while establishing himself as a pioneering painter, sculptor and etcher.

Hoffman has produced a richly diverse collection of work which is filled with creative expression and tells the tale of the artistic evolution that he has gone through over the decades.

Alongside the more traditional media of watercolour and charcoal, Hoffman has created remarkable aquatint works, screenprints, and illustrations for artist books. During what he describes as his search for perfection and the

absolute, Hoffman has also experimented with more unusual forms, choosing to paint on concrete and plexiglass.

Hoffman’s work may be characterized by rigorous composition, as shown by his clean, bold lines and heavy use of black, but he also remains true to his belief of freedom of expression. It is perhaps no coincidence that during his career he has also developed another talent as a highly competent jazz saxophonist and still plays today.

Over the years, Hoffman has taken part in a number of individual and collective exhibitions, with numerous retrospectives devoted to his work. A limited edition of 50 prints titled 4-Godwin Hoffmann is currently on display at the Trowbridge Gallery in the United Kingdom. Today he still works in the village of Neuwiller-lès-Saverne , France, where he lives.

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Your Beirut Your Way 02

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ith a light sense of humour and plenty of panache, the emerging design collective known as Beirutkon embraces the diverse, chaotic, and colorful city of Beirut for what it is and not what it was, or what it aspires to be. From July 29 to October 1, the Beirut Art Center (BAC) featured an intimate exhibition of contemporary, interactive souvenirs and industrial design objects designed by an ambitious collective of three passionate Beirutis - Anastasia Nysten, Marc Dibeh, and Carlo Massoud. The exhibition explores the evolution of the city, while urging the audience to take ownership of “your Beirut, your way”.

On the second level of the BAC, the exhibition featured several pieces of functional art from each designer and a group of products branded with the name of the collective, Beirutkon. The Beirutkon products are available in a series of five convertible and interactive souvenirs that can be customized to reflect a personal perception of Beirut.

Graphic designer Joelle Achkar contributed detailed illustrations for various products, including a set of six

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01_____ from left to right: Carlo Massoud, Anastasia Nysten, Marc Dibeh

02_____Light it your way

03_____BEIRUTKON products

04_____Map it your way

05_____Wear it your way

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double-faced storytelling cards entitled “Tell It Your Way” and a paper candle shade called “Light It Your Way”. The rest of the five-part series features a 10-piece package of cardboard Lebanese tiles (“Tile It Your Way”), a white t-shirt (“Wear It Your Way”), and a street map (“Map It Your Way”). After purchasing the products, one can color in the candle shade, map, and tiles according to personal preference, rearrange the storytelling cards to illustrate an experience, and cut the t-shirt (which is actually a floor-length garment with sleeves and a hood) along one of the many dotted lines, depending on the social dress code of a given area. “It’s stuff that you can use for decoration as well as play with; it’s a souvenir that requires your input to be functional,” explained Dibeh.

The souvenirs are also intended to inspire someone to think more deeply about his or her connection to the city and what Beirut truly means to them. “It’s more about the idea than the object,” said Massoud. “This started as a workshop in 2008 with the aim to develop a souvenir that reflects the true Beirut,” he added. The collective sprang

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01_____Biraz’s stool

03 02 02_____Tell it your way

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03_____Excavator

04_____Set of tables

from this desire to share a product that depicts the city as it is today, instead of relying on artisanal objects from the past or nightlife ads to represent the culture of a complex capital to its modern-day visitors. “I wanted to focus on something more than what people expect, like nightlife and other clichés,” said Achkar, in reference to her humorous storytelling cards that use illustrations of animals to represent stereotypical Beiruti characters. “Absurd stories can happen on Lebanese streets and I wanted to show this authentic, vibrant street life,” she said.

In addition to the contemporary souvenirs, the other design objects on display also spoke of present-day Beirut. Carlo Massoud’s metal sculptures of backhoes make a statement about the state of “deconstruction” that the city is facing as a result of rampant construction. His sculptures are made to rust, as a reflection of their transience and the futility of the structures they are making space for.

For Anastasia Nysten, a symbol of the city was a simple wooden stool, which reflects the highly social nature of Lebanese culture. “The stool represents the custom of taking a chair from the house out into

the street to sit and talk with friends, especially in Achrafieh,” she said. Using different Lebanese design techniques, she created the stool in three versions using wicker, perforated wood, and an embroidered cushion to create a unique seat for each stool.

Marc Dibeh also decided to focus on the spontaneity of Lebanese social culture. He designed modern, collapsible tables that easily adapt to an unexpected increase in the number of visitors. “When I have friends stopping by sometimes I need to add some extra tables, so this is how the idea began. These tables can be put together in seconds, look fantastic for the night, then can be deconstructed and easily stored under the couch once the party’s over,” he said. He also designed another table, which blends the lines of traditional Lebanese design with modern materials.

In a city of so many contrasts and lifestyles, a collective like Beirutkon is a welcome addition to an already booming local art and culture scene.

For more information, contact the Beirut Art Center: +961 (0) 1 397 018 / +961 70 26 21 12.

dévorez l’opportunité J.B. Schmetterling. Une création Ingo Maurer.

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FACING PAGE: Maison Rabih Kayrouz installation

right: Jewelry by Rania Sarakbi

far right: Art work

by Rima Saab

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or anyone a fifty year anniversary is an event worth celebration, but for Beirut’s leading hotel it was an occasion for much, much more. To the casual observer, the biggest tell-tale sign that something special was underway came in the form of the gigantic purple hued gift wrapping bow hugging the exterior walls of the Phoenicia Hotel. This visual extravaganza acted as a potent symbol of Phoenicia’s gift to the city: its legacy of 50 years of outstanding hospitality as well as its dynamic rebirth for the many decades to come.

The festivities to mark this auspicious half century took place over four days beginning on September 14, and brought together many of the country’s leading artistic figures from the fields of fashion, design, photography, art, jewellery, architecture and music. Amine Boulos, Phoenicia’s Creative Director, explained that the brief given to all participating artists was to come up with a concept “related to Beirut that fits within the exhibition without showing his or her work specifically”.

In other words, the challenge was to contribute creatively in a way that went

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beyond any individual’s own work. For fashion designer Rabih Kayrouz, it was the concept of “Organic Glamour” that provided inspiration. In an installation created by Lush Flowers for Maison Rabih Kayrouz, the themes of nature, minimalism and tranquility in the midst of the city were brought to life juxtaposing Kayrouz’s fashion designs with a natural backdrop.

Architect Youssef Tohme’s installation in the hotel’s grand entrance staircase took its inspiration from beyond the Phoenicia’s walls. Playing on the ubiquitous sight of advertising billboards that plague Lebanon’s highways and byways, Tohme brought billboards indoors but used them for a strikingly different purpose: to highlight the environment. The result was

01_____Bokja

02_____Art work

by Rima Saab

03_____Tabbah

04_____Milia M

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a thought provoking contrast between the normally aggressive role of the billboard and the eco-friendly message conveyed.

Almost every corner of the hotel played host to installations and exhibitions over the four-day period with each day bringing new discoveries. For music lovers, Amethyste was the setting for a range of performances including acclaimed pianist Guy Manoukian and the rising stars of the alternative Lebanese music scene Mashrou3 Leila. As the Phoenicia’s walls came alive with the sound of music and the vision of the cream of the country’s creative talents, one thing was for sure: Beirut had never seen anything quite like it before.

Concept and Styling Collage Studio. Photo Fabrizio Bergamo.

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