Idh magazine issue 5

Issue # 5 April 2014

// ARCHITECT SPOTLIGHT

March Studios GUEST BLOGGER: YELLOW TRACE

Photographer To m E VA N G E L E D I S + B L AC K E Y E G A L L E RY

The Maker

Natalie Marie

hello.

Firstly, we would love to extend a huge welcome to our newest Idh member, Sarah Virzi who has joined the magazine design team.

While we begin to look forward to the cooler days, we find beauty amongst the concrete jungle that surrounds us. With textures of wood, metals and wire softened with muted colours, the inspiration flows through this issue.

Beginning with Architects, March Studios, who are known for their incredible Aesop interiors. We muse over the Wild Things, The Maker, Natalie Marie, whose greatest tools are her hands and we travel with our Adventure Writer Kirsten to Peru... Come join us.

&

Jamee Huntington Deb Morgan

contents

ARCHITECT SPOTLIGHT

March Studio .

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M eet the D esig n ers

Kip & Co. .

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S tore spotlight

Kezu

P hotographer

Tom Evangelidis .

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A rtist M u se

We're the Wild Things .

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MEET THE MAKER

Natalie Marie .

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T hi n gs w e lo v e

Concrete Jungle .

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B L O G W AT C H

Yellow Trace

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OUT & ABOUT

Eighty-Six .

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ADVENTURE

On the Road, Peru .

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SOCIAL

Featured Instagrammers .

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S T A Y P er u

Mr & Mrs Smith Hotels .

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I N S P I R AT I O N

Urban Playground

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DESIGN STUDIO //

Where did the inspiration come from for your name?

MARCH Studio represents a new generation of architects and designers in Australia.

We have been educated in a ‘digital’ environment but embrace the fundamental elements of making and innovation. The outcomes of this mix are highly crafted projects, born and refined through the utilisation of a digital process, but which are embedded in a thorough knowledge of materials and construction.

The M could represent Making, Melbourne, Master, Maniac and the arch is for architecture.

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DESIGN STUDIO // MARCH STUDIOS

How did you begin in design?

March was established in 2007 by partners Rodney Eggleston (1981) and Anne-Laure Cavigneaux (1980). Eggleston trained as an architect at RMIT University and Cavigneaux has a degree in visual communication.

Is there a particular project that stands out for you and signifies success?

We have amassed quite a large portfolio of work in the last 7 years, including retail interiors, houses, socially aware arts initiatives and even the interior of a boat.

Our work has been built in Melbourne, Adelaide, Brisbane, Sydney, Singapore, Zurich, Paris and New York for a range of clients, including Baker D. Chirico, Damir Doma, Sneakerboy and Aesop, for whom we have designed and built 13 stores.

The houses are probably the most satisfying of all the projects as they represent a holistic approach to living and are hand crafted for the clients who eventually inhabit them. Brentknoll, The Mullet, and Somers Beach House are the most exciting examples of the houses we've designed to date.

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DESIGN STUDIO // MARCH STUDIOS.

There is a strong focus on sustainability within your design. why is this important to you and how do you think it will effect the future of the way we live?

Sustainability is inherent in all good design - the very act of design forces one to think of these issues and this will become more and more relevant in the way we live in the future.

LAST year we saw you speak at Semi Permanent in Sydney. Do you take on public speaking roles like this often and what challenges have you found with the marketing side of your business?

Thanks for coming down! We don't worry to much about 'marketing' or words like 'brand.' If you follow your vision and enjoy what you do, no matter what it is, people will generally gravitate around and jump on board. We've been fortunate to date that this has happened and have attracted a lot of similar minded clients and collaborators.

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YOUR "Aesop" Stores both within Australia & Internationally have been extensively discussed within the industry. How did this project begin and what was your inspiration?

We now have a long-standing collaboration with the Australian skin care company, but it began purely by chance as our old studio was next door to their old head office in Carlton.

Anne-Laure was employed to design packaging and marketing campaigns to begin with, and eventually one thing led to another and we started designing stores, 13 to date.

Each shop demonstrates our direct attitude to the use of materials; brown bottles, dot tiles, coconut husk string; in each situation the crafting of each space has reflected a striking embrace of the pragmatics of retail while embodying the sensual, natural qualities of the Aesop product.

DESIGN STUDIO // MARCH STUDIOS.

Many of your projects ARE NONPERMANENT IN THEIR NATURE. do you find this a challenge knowing the spaces are dismantled in a short time after use?

We thrive on the fact that projects will not last forever, this in turn makes us think about re-use and what the future of a project might be.

The Pen Plan series, Make Change and The Aviary were all projects constructed for very short life spans.

As a result the materials used were totally recycled.

Sometimes though we have designed for short periods of time but the projects have hung on, Section 08 was designed for a life-span of 6 months, (entering its 8th year) and Aesop Flinders Lane is also entering its 7th year after only being built for one Christmas trading period! Sometimes a project takes on its own destiny despite its original purpose.Â

VISIT MARCH STUDIOS AT marchstudio.com.au

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Kip&Co

with Hayley Pannekoecke

Walk our readers through who Kip & Co are?

Alex, Kate and Hayley launched Kip & Co in 2012. Offering bright, colourful, beautiful bedding and they have quickly expanded into a covetable, vibrant lifestyle brand.

Kip & Co’s collections are inspired by the everyday and the out of the way – life’s big moments and its sunny days, laughter, adventure and the next sip of champagne.

What are your backgrounds in business?

Alex is a former lawyer and currently juggles Kip & Co with a full time role in corporate affairs. Kate used to be an accountant who went on to own an organic health food business with Hayley (the third Kip member!) and worked as a business manager for a local Australian fashion label before starting her young family.

Hayely is a naturopath by training and after her successful business with Kate she has somehow managed to squeeze in three kids and another business in Bali.

How did you begin your company?

Design has always been a mutual passion. We were lucky that we all reached a point in our lives together where we felt we had the space, experience and energy to put into a new endeavour - we wanted to do something creative, that answered a real niche in the market.

We came up with plenty of ideas but bed linen was the one that struck a chord and we have never looked back since!

Architect Spotlight

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What advice would you like to share in developing a start up in home-wares?

Having great business partners is the key to a good company - it's the most important thing we have going for us. Even if you're the sole owner, you don't have to go it alone - get mentors, friends, family involved and let the good times roll!

Could you describe a typical day at Kip & Co. head quarters?

There is no typical day! Our headquarters is on our computers and phones! We all lead super busy lives, and although Kip is a major part of that, one of the keys to our success is how flexible we all are.

Technology and Kip and Co's culture has allowed us to create the ultimate flexible working environment!

Where does your work take you travelling and has any location in particular been most memorable?

India! It's such an amazing country and we are building long-term friendships there that make our products even more special. Last time we were there altogether we went to the Taj Mahal on our morning off - it was incredibly inspiring.

It takes many elements to run a successful linen company, can you describe these?

Fresh, original ideas that push the envelope, great business partners who love working together, it shines through and great quality fabric, we are all 100% Indian cotton - its delicious.

Your designs are filled with colour, patterns and textures, where do you draw your inspiration from?

Everyday and out of the way - anything from one of our kids' drawings to a trinket we might find at a flea market in Paris.

WHAT MADE YOU MOVE INTO DESIGNING A CHILDRENS COLLECTION?

Kate and Hayley both have kids and we recognised a gap in the market for their little rug rats. This was confirmed by the barrage of emails we received from our own customers asking us to kick off a kids range. The people spoke and we listened! We think the quality of our kids' range is one of our strongest competitive advantages.

What is the next for Kip & Co?

Our new range launches in April. "All Grown Up" is inspired by the whimsical and carefree nature of adolescence. A time when your feet are planted firmly on the ground but your head remains gloriously in the clouds. The world is your playground and you are only limited by your imagination.

Kip & Co perfectly encapsulates this spirit by combining signature playful prints and bold colours with sophisticated and luxurious cotton and velvet -perfect for the winter snuggle. We have added beanbags to the range as well as extending our line to include king single and super king!

VISIT KIP & CO. AT In a designer home

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// F E AT U R E D S TO R E

KE-ZU specialises in the distribution of high quality furniture throughout Australia.

They are passionate with a focus on the design and construction of the products and brands that they represent.

KE-ZU have an extensive and exclusive portfolio of innovative manufacturers supplying interior and exterior products for residential and commercial projects.

Their nationwide distribution network makes available a broad mix of European and locally manufactured products, ranging from indoor/outdoor furniture, lighting and accessories.

Featured here is the "Heaven Collection" by EMU which has been featured in designs such as The Crown Metropol in Melbourne and Sydney Airport.

VISIT KeZU

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PHOTOGRAPHER // BLACK EYE GALLERY

Tom Evangelidis Tom Evangelidis grew up along the northern beaches of Sydney, Australia. He made his debut as a fashion photographer in London in the early 1990s before returning to Sydney to work in the television and theatre industries.

Seven years ago, Evangelidis shifted his focus to Interior Design and lifestyle photography, simultaneously travelling the world to pursue his passion for architecture. The result was three exhibitions in Sydney titled Prague Architectural Portraits (1999), Casa Particular (2003) and Lost in Hanoi (2004), which document the diversity of architectural styles in the Czech Republic, Cuba and Vietnam.

"Façade" is the culmination of all three exhibitions plus four additional photographic journeys through Russia, Romania, Turkey and Bulgaria, which were taken over a 10-year period.

It documents an eclectic mix of architectural eras from the gothic beauty of the 13th century to the ornate decadence of the 18th century and the austere classicism of the Communist era in the 20th Prague, Bucharest, Hanoi, St Petersburg, Sofia, Istanbul and Havana – a reflection of the photographer’s fascination with the toll time reeks on glorious architectural movements throughout history. Although the cities tell their own tales of turmoil and change, for Evangelidis the precise location of each photograph is incidental. He refrains from revealing too much about where each building stands, and he dodges clichéd settings that might belong on a postcard.

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PHOTOGRAPHER // TOM EVANGELIDIS

Critics have praised Evangelidis for his “technical brilliance and subtle eye” and his “entrancing scale, colour and texture”. His evolution as a photographer is accented by his innate appreciation for beauty, particularly beauty unveiled in unexpected locations. Evangelidis’ unique understanding of people, objects, antiques, music, faces and places, collectively lend an air of ‘painterly’ sophistication to his work.

Tom Evangelidis rejects this candy-coated world of architectural perfection in favour of a style that’s relentlessly honest and unapologetically raw. He is drawn to the details that give our urban landscape its character and richness – the unsightly garbage dumpsters that sit jarringly beside cathedrals of flawless beauty; the peeling paint that curls from the doors of once luxurious homes; and the concrete monstrosities that loom above vast industrial wastelands. It is here hidden amongst the debris that our cities reveal their humanity.

Beneath the layers of crumbling plaster we uncover tales of poverty, hardship and survival. Scattered between austere Communist monuments we find evidence of political glory and economic defeat chronicled side by side. Behind the walls of houses sighing visibly with age we find stories of strength, endurance and pride.

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PHOTOGRAPHER // TOM EVANGELIDIS

As a photographer, Evangelidis is fascinated by the evolution of architecture and its intricate links with politics, culture and class.

He approaches major public installations with the same respect as humble, ramshackle homes because he understands they are equally important in documenting the progression.

Evangelidis is currently based in Sydney, where he continues to work as a photographer and runs Blackeye Gallery in Darlinghurst.

PHOTOGRAPHER // TOM EVANGELIDIS

" WE WANT TO CREATE A MEETING PLACE FOR ARTISTS..."

Photographers Tom Evangelidis and Adrian Brown founded the gallery as they felt there was a gap in the Australian gallery scene.

“We want to create a meeting place for artists, collectors and art aficionados while also starting a conversation and understanding about photography with the general public.”

Besides fostering the Australian photographic art scene Black Eye also sources the best new work from international photographers.

TO SEE MORE OF TOM'S WORK & BLACKEYE GALLERY VISIT blackeyegallery.com.au

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Evie&

kip and co. towels $59 // hex box set $140

www.inadesignerhome.com.au

Art by Tatiana Kazakova Typography by Sarah Virzi

Artist muse // create or die

"Inspired by a full moon... ...I was in search for the perfect image to send to a friend and share that feeling of connectedness.

My search led me to an intoxicating image by Russian artist Tatiana Kozakova. The surrealism sent me into a spin, I was lost in an alternate reality of winged bird-fish humans that ride on weightless sea-saws, sipping on red wine through straws, catching fish under a starlit night whilst UFO's play in the distance.

Her works depict creatures and magical lands, brought to life through rich brooding colours and vivid imagination.

"We're the Wild Things" is a series of musings over artists who are inspired by animals and creatures. Here we feature just three of The Wild Things that have in turn inspired us on our blog. We take a trip around the world from Russia to Germany and over to Peru." ~ Deb ~

FOR #WEEKLYMUSE & EVENT NEWS VISIT www.createordie.com.au

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Tatiana K azakova // r u ssia www.behance.net/tk_tk I first came across Kazakova when searching for art inspired by a full moon - and I found this piece to the left! This of course started a frenzy of image hunting and I completely forgot what I was doing - that, in my mind, is the sign of a true Muse. Her work is emerged in surrealism and takes us away to magical lands, it is an escapism which is welcomed amongst the sometimes noisy clutter of life.

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A N A T E R E S A B A R B OZ A // P er u www.anateresabarboza.blogspot.com.au

Aside from having one of the longest and coolest names I've ever seen, Ana Teresa Barboza takes embroidery out of the hands of your grandmother and into the land of baddass! Using thread and mixed medium, her images ooze metaphors and meaning.

There is a dark beauty to this Wild Thing that draws you in and makes you stop and think.

Bodies become canvases and animals draw attention to our intricate and fragile human nature.

H erak u t//G er m any www.herakut.de Herakut is one those artists with whom I felt an immediate and deep connection and their work continues to completely spazz me out on a daily basis with their beautiful, painful, weird and wonder-filled creations.

Herakut is in fact an artist with four hands: those of Akut the graffiti artist, and those of Hera the painter. Watch them in action here.

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The Maker

Natalie Marie

// JEWELLERY DESIGNER

MEET THE MAKER // NATALIE MARIE

How did you start in the jewellery business?

I studied a degree in Visual arts at Sydney University, majoring in Jewellery and object. It was a very hands on course. I learnt, experimented and learnt some more. By my final year I had started to find my own sense of design and way of making. I started to make pieces for friends and family - that was what really sparked the start of Natalie Marie.

My label has grown really organically since then, I’ve continued to learn as I go. When I graduated uni and started my business, I was making jewellery from my kitchen bench. I now have an amazing studio set up with an extensive range of tools and equipment which enable me to push my designs as well as take on more technically extensive projects.

Natalie Marie continues to grow and develop everyday, it's exciting to ride along with it.

Walk us through your materials you use?

I work largely with precious metals. Predominantly Gold, Rose Gold and Sterling Silver. I have experimented with materials over the years but when it comes to jewellery that customers are wearing day in, day out, you can’t beat the quality, durability and strength of precious metals. I also work with crystals, semi precious and precious stones.

All of my materials, metals and stones are ethically sound, and the majority are sourced from within Australia. I also utilise sustainable production techniques wherever possible. It’s important to me that the pieces have a certain integrity through and through - from materials - to formation through to the entire customer experience.

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What sets your designs apart from others in the market?

My hands. Every single piece passes through my hands, everything is made in my Sydney studio. In terms of aesthetic, I think that my pieces have quite a particular feel which speaks through all of them from the organic bands, to the custom engagement rings. My process of both design and production is very organic.

"I tend not to design a piece as such, but I create a design."

It's almost always through experimentation or play that my designs come about. I think that translates through the metal work in the way that the pieces have a natural sense of flow. I have let the materials dictate the form rather than let a drawing dictate how I work the materials. It's an unconventional way of working - which I got in trouble for at Uni, but it seems to be working for me so far.

What's the biggest challenge you have faced in producing higher volumes of your designs?

Time making each piece by hand just means that there is an inevitable amount of time, and energy that is involved. When times get really busy I can be found late at night tapping away in my studio. (I am not particularly popular with my neighbours). I really do love making though, and take great pride in what I do. Even if it is my last piece of the night and I am bleary eyed with raw fingers, I will not put it down until it is looking shiny and perfect. I put a lot of love into what I do, its important to me that the pieces I am sending out into the world embody and represent that.

Where do you do most of your designing from?

As I mentioned above, I am more of a maker than a designer. I am at my most creative when I am hands on, making in the studio. My studio is conveniently underneath my house, which makes life so much easier. It is great to be able to have both my office space, my making space and my home space all tied into one. My husband is also a designer so we have a very creative home environment which I love. We are good at bouncing ideas off each other, getting carried away and staying up all night. how DID YOU DECIDE ON branding your company, including your bags for the jewels & box’s?

I had a pretty strong idea of how my label would be branded from day one. I guess because the label is so synonymous with myself. With a graphic designer husband we were able to create the branding together right back at the start. Packaging was very important for me. A precious, handmade piece of jewellery deserves a special box to sit in. I picked up a tiny balsa wood box from a shop back in England way way back before I even started university. I kept it around for years whilst searching and searching until I finally found something similar. This formed the basis of my packaging, which is a series of small, balsa wood boxes with a natural calico lining.

" My process of both design and production is very organic."

MEET THE MAKER // NATALIE MARIE

What is the most valuable tool in your business?

A sense of identity. Building a business is challenging, especially in an industry which is competitive and dynamic. It is so important to be able to identify what it is you do and stand behind it wholeheartedly.

Due to the nature of what I do and the processes that result in my product, it’s inevitably very personal to me.

What I have learnt is how important it is to embrace and believe in the identity of the label. This is what sets it apart, and is also how connections are made.

How would other passionate in jewellery design look at starting their own company?

Start. I think it can be so daunting starting anything from the ground up, but really, once you start, things have no choice but to start coming together and it really is the only way to figure out how to do it!

My biggest tips would be to take risks, take steps and take your time. Buy one new tool every time you get paid. Have a strong vision for what you want to achieve, set goals and surpass them. Most importantly, find what sets you apart, your identity, and run with it.

visit nataliemariejewellery.com

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Things We Love

//Concrete Jungle 01

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01 TABLE BY RICHI TIPENE DESIGNS | 02 ARTWORK BY ANYA BROCK | 03 BLACK BOX LAPTOP CASE | 04 FRANK BODY COFFEE SCRUBS | 05 MUSIC, METALS BY FEIST | 06 KESTER BLACK NAIL POLISH | 07 ROUGH JUSTICE, CLEARLY CONTACTS | 08 JEWELLERY BY LADY GREY

// T H I S & T H AT//

BlogWatch " I felt compelled to try something new and out of my comfort zone."

How did you get started in Interior Design?

Growing up, I never dreamed of becoming an Interior Designer or having anything to do with design. I always imagined I would follow in my dad’s footsteps (he is a clinical psychologist), but once my family immigrated to Australia I quickly had to reevaluate my options. I ended up studying Architectural Drafting at TAFE, and afterwards continued on to study Interior Architecture at the University of NSW. After graduating and working in the industry for a few years, I had one of those “what the hell am I doing here” moments and came very close to giving up design and going back to uni to study Psychology. But I’m glad I decided to stick it out as I eventually found my groove and the rest, as they say, is history.

Your business is multi-faceted, how do you manage to wear so many hats, and wear them all with such style ?

To be perfectly honest, managing an online publication, an interior design business and various other consulting & advisory commitments can be a struggle at times – I ain’t no superwoman! Having said this, I am obsessive about constantly improving and looking at ways of becoming more effective and efficient, and having the right team around me. Most of the time I feel really lucky to be living such a fulfilled life – as chaotic as it may be – my work, my passion, friendships and motherhood seamlessly blend into one organic existence, and I get to do the things I love, with the people I love, on the projects I love… For me, this is a huge and ongoing source of energy and inspiration!

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Your blog is hugely successful and a source of daily inspiration to so many, how did you make the decision to leap into the blogging world?

When I first started the blog, I had no idea why or what I was doing in so many ways. There was no plan or strategy in place, and I had to learn everything along the way. At the same time, I felt compelled to try something new and out of my comfort zone. I’d been collecting images, inspiration and all kinds of information during the 15 odd years of working as a designer, and at first I thought the blog was going be a good way to catalogue my research and share it with others. I never had any expectations from the blog and I certainly had no idea that people would actually read it! But I guess if I’m 100% honest, I think I was secretly hoping that the blog would somehow “show me the way” to my utopia, but I had NO IDEA how this was going to happen. It was like walking into a room full of thick fog and hoping I’d end up somewhere good, but I couldn’t even see how big that room was, what was in it, where I was going… I literally just had to take one step at a time and trust myself and the process.

On a personal level, I used to be petrified of speaking publicly and putting myself ‘out there’ just like so many of us. My decision to start blogging was a conscious effort to get over myself and to ‘face my demons’ in order to become a better person and a better designer. So far, my decision to conquer one of my biggest fears has definitely been my best one.

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BLOG WATCH // YELLOW TRACE

What has been a highlight since launching Yellowtrace blog?

There are so many, but the fact that Yellowtrace has been so well received, and has grown naturally and organically into a legitimate part of our core business is definitely up there! I absolutely love what I do, so all the hard work doesn’t feel so hard most of the time.

What is something our readers would be surprised to know about you?­

English is my 2nd language. I was born in a little sleepy town in former Yugoslavia called Bosanski Brod, where we left when the Bosnian civil war started. I’ve called Australia home since I was 17. Talent and beauty can reduce me to tears in an instant – I easily cry when I’m inside a stunning interior / seeing an amazing peace of art / watching a talented performer etc. and i’d give almost anything to be able to whistle like a boy!

VISIT YELLOWTRACE.COM.AU

fred. by larson $297 // $176

Photographer // Stella Rae

Out & About E I G H T Y - S I X BRADDON, ACT OWNERS: SEAN ROYLE & GUS ARMSTRONG ARCHITECTS: CAPEZIO COPELAND

Nestled off Londsdale Street in Canberra's creative suburb of Braddon, Eighty Six's meals are designed to be shared and the blackboard menu is continually changing. The wine list works in the same way with only one or two boxes being ordered, sold and then changed. The space itself is intentionally electric, with music always playing to create atmosphere (often hip hop, because it's what we love!).

We want people to be welcomed into our house, the food we make is what we cook at home for our friends and family. It is about cutting away all the bullshit involved with dining and creating an atmosphere where we treat people how we would entertain our friends.

OUT & ABOUT // EIGHTY-SIX

All our serviceware is from Bisonhome and Brian Tunks, the principal designer has become a very good friend. Seating furniture was done by local industrial designer Tom Skeehan, and all graphics were done by Luke Chiswell.

We tried to keep all design local and really employed the use of our close friends. The design of the restaurant is focused around the kitchen. Patrons can sit directly in front of the chef's and are encouraged to speak to them. The chefs engage with diners about what's happening and in turn, our customers experience an insight into the kitchen operations.

We just built the restaurant that we would like to eat in. ~ Sean & Gus ~

OPEN MON, 6-10PM TUE-SUN 12-230PM, 6-11PM ELOUERA STREET, BADDON, ACT 02 6161 8686

Photographer // Stella Rae

" DON'T LET THIS MOMENT PASS US BY...COME FLY WITH ME"

ON THE ROAD PERU

Musing Maria Testino

by Adventure Writer // Kirsten Cunningham

Although it’s not hard to make Giselle, Kate or Angelina look good, the world of fashion believes that no-one can make them look better than Mario Testino.

Testino’s gaze has become the dominant way of seeing couture, and we can’t get enough of his exotically bright, sharp, saturated style.

Mario Testino is Peruvian, and his deep connection to his homeland is obvious. He has shot numerous times for Vogue in Cuzco, and owns MATE, a gallery based in Lima the country’s capital, dedicated to exhibiting his work from Peru and abroad.

Born in Lima in 1954, he studied economics at university before moving to London in 1976. He began his fashion photography career living in an abandoned hospital near Trafalgar Square, selling portraits and hair & make-up packages to aspiring models for £25. He first appeared in Vogue in 1983, launching his career, and 20 years later has over 1000 published images and 55 covers with Vogue Paris alone.

In this issue, IDH is going to take a peek at travelling to Cuzco and the Sacred Valley, where Testino found the inspiration for his stunning Alta Moda exhibition of high Andean fashion, now showing at the Queen Sofia Spanish Institute in New York.

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" ONE OF THE MOST VIBRANT AND COLOURFUL CITIES IN LATIN AMERICA"

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HOW TO GET THERE

Flights to Cuzco generally pass through Santiago, Chile then Lima, Peru. Qantas flies directly to Santiago, where you will need to take a connecting LAN flight via Lima to Cuzco.

Break the trip up and stopover in Santiago and Lima, both cities offer great accommodation, sightseeing and fine dining.

Cuzco: The Cultural Capital of Peru

The centre of the indigenous Quechua community in the Andes, Cuzco is the cultural capital of Peru and one of the most vibrant and colourful cities in Latin America.

As a UNESCO World Heritage site, you could easily spend a week or more exploring her cobbled streets, ancient Incan walls and Spanish style plazas. Cuzco is the gateway to Machu Picchu and the Sacred Valley.

It offers a wide range of galleries, museums, ruins, markets and tours to keep an intrepid traveller busy. The region is famous for its llama and Alpaca wool textiles that use traditional dying, spinning and loom techniques. Indulge in the art and restaurant scene surrounding San Blas plaza, shop for artisan handicrafts near Plaza Major, and learn about the city’s fascinating Incan past in the world class Museo Inka's.

ARRIVE here by plane. There are direct flights from Lima several times a day.

STAY in a Mr and Mrs Smith favourite, the Inkaterra La Casona, a stylish colonial jewel decorated with bright Peruvian fabrics and modern touches.

EAT dinner at Limo Cocina on Plaza Major for quality Peruvian food with great views, or Jack’s Café in San Blas when you are dying for a latte and an all-day breakfast.

SHOP all day everyday for textiles, handicrafts, jewellery and ceramics in Cuzco’s numerous markets and fair trade boutiques.

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MACHU PICCHU // LOST IN INCAN CITYBy Kirsten Cunningham

ON THE ROAD CALIFORNIA

Perched high above the Urubamba River with breathtaking views and dense jungle surrounds, if it’s not already; Machu Picchu should be on your bucket list. Discovered in a tangle of vines by American Historian Hiram Bingham in 1911, the temple site was built by the Incas in 1450, but abandoned before the Spanish Conquest 100 years later. With no written records, the exact function of the site is still a mystery. Archaeologists and historians believe that it could have been either a temple complex or the estate of an Incan Emperor. Exploring Machu Picchu at sunrise and/ or sunset is a must, allowing you to soak in the awe of the site and hang out with the resident llamas before or after the crowds. Highlights are walking to the Inti Punku, the Sun Gate entry point for the Inca Trail, and climbing Huayna Picchu behind the main ruin site. Hire an English-speaking guide at the entrance, or do it ourself with a guidebook.

ARRIVE by train from Cuzco or Ollantaytambo to Aguas Calientes where you will need to stay overnight. To reach the site of the ruins, tourist buses run regularly up and down the 8 kilometre road starting at 5am.

STAY at the Inkaterra Machu Picchu Pueblo Hotel, a luxury jungle eco-retreat located in Aguas Calientes.

EAT at the Inkaterra Dining Room and Bar. Taste contemporary Andean food overlooking the Vilcanota River. This place is so stunning you won’t want to leave even for dinner - except to see Machu Picchu of course.

The Sacred Valley of the Incas // Ruins, Markets, Breathtaking Views

The lush and stunning Sacred Valley snakes through the Andean Mountain range and is only a 1hr drive from Cuzco.

Hire a private car and a driver and create your own itinerary spending a few days to a week or more exploring the valley’s ruins, markets and natural beauty. Expect to pass through snow-capped mountain ranges, and see glaciers, llamas, traditional local villages and rumbling rivers.

Highlights include the ruins of Pisac, a small town which also holds a huge local crafts market weekly, as well as the town and ruins of majestic Ollantaytambo.

TRAVEL hire a private car and guide in Cuzco through your hotel or at one of the many travel agencies in town.

Prices are very reasonable and private tour gives you the flexibility to explore at your own pace.

STAY at Las Chullpas Lodge for a real eco-experience.

This low key, friendly and unique guesthouse offers sustainably built cabanas that have log fires and garden hammocks. Owner Chalo can also organise day trips and treks to the nearby Lares Valley and Moray ruins. For something more upmarket try the beautiful Hotel Sol y Luna, also based near Urubamba.

EAT onsite. Both hotels offer a great selection of delicious, local and fresh Andean food.

Andean Adventure // Trek and Volunteer

Alta Moda // Andean High Fashion Exhibition

If you are looking for some serious adventure, Cuzco is the perfect place to organise trekking and volunteer experiences. While most travellers head straight for the Inca Trail trek, the Lares Valley offers a much more tranquil and cultural experience with multi-day treks through local Andean villages overlooked by glaciers.

Need a little more Peruvian love?

An absolutely stunning part of the world, if this sounds like your thing, it will be an experience of a lifetime.

For a different understanding of Peru consider volunteering at Peru’s Challenge where you can teach English, help with homework, work on a construction project and more.

Join a group of volunteers from around the world and make friends while you are making a difference.

DO talk to Peru’s Challenge about volunteer work as well as treks through their partner company Ultimate Adventure Tours. Chalo at Las Chullpas Guesthouse in Urubamba offers trek and ecolodge accommodation packages through the Lares Valley that are sustainable and supportive of local communities.

Be inspired by the Mario Testino’s beautiful Alta Moda project.

Translating directly as "high fashion" in Spanish, Alta Moda is a collection of photographic portraits made

by Testino of Peruvians wearing traditional and festive dress from the mountain regions of Cuzco.

Over a 5-year period, Testino travelled to Cuzco multiple times to work closely with renowned local photographer Martin Chambi to create the images.

The collection was first exhibited in 2013 at MATE in Lima, and is now showing at the Queen Sofia Spanish Institute in New York. For more information and future exhibition tour dates visit mariotestino.com, mate.pe and qssi.org.

All images are copyright of Mario Testino.

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LAKE TITIKAKA WITH MR & MRS SMITH HOTELS

Perched on a Peruvian peninsula on the banks of Lake Titicaca, an hour from any town, boutique hotel Titilaka looks and feels removed from real life. Placed in the middle of some of the world’s most remote and spectacular surroundings, this isolation is also steeped in history, just a boat ride from the birthplace of the Incans.

It’s not just about the outdoors here: local artwork, excellent fare and dazzling rooms remind you of the lengths the staff go to create splendour in this tiny, secluded and breath-stealingly scenic spot.

FOR MORE BOUTIQUE HOTELS VISIT WWW.MRANDMRSSMITH.COM OR CALL THE EXPERT TRAVEL TEAM ON 1300 896 627

Our favourite rooms are the Corner Rooms on the third floor with double windows offering the best vistas. Or, start the day in splendour with striking views from the Dawn Rooms and opt for one on the third floor, where the open-plan bathroom’s freestanding tub will offer the best lake look-out.

Restaurant | The house restaurant makes the lake the star. With floor-to-ceiling windows promising 270º panoramic views over the water, and many ingredients, such as lake trout, plundered from its depths. Specials change every four days and the menu showcases locally sourced, contemporary Peruvian dishes, featuring regional specialities such as quinoa and alpaca meat.

Bar | The long lake front lounge serves drinks until 2:30am, then there’s the free mini-bar in your room.

All drinks, except a few spirits and premium wines, are included in the room rate, so sit back with a cocktail. The staff can shake nearly anything, but the tart and frothy pisco sour is the national speciality.

Eco-Friendly | Titilaka has genuine eco-credentials and the area surrounding the lodge literally buds with the hotel’s own green initiatives, including the reintroduction of local shrubs and trees to the lake front. Staff recycle everything they can, including lake water and buy most of the products and ingredients at a local market.

Rates | Double rooms from AU$533.99 ($482), excluding tax at 10 per cent.

Book titilaka with Mr & Mrs Smith and receive an exclusive Smith Extra of cocktails for two served on the private terrace.

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I NTER I O R I N S PI R ATI O N S

Urban Playground

Our cities are concrete jungles consisting of edGY textures, geometrics designs and metal forms.

Embrace the rawness of our jungle and enjoy the injections of pastels that define true urban design.

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