A SELECT MAGAZINE FOR PEOPLE LIKE YOU
E NG LI SH
015
CANARY ISLANDS 2014
3,25€
65° 19’ 6.7” N - 137° 20’ 14” W A VARIOS DÍAS DE MARCHA DE CUALQUIER OTRO HUMANO Movido por el espíritu pionero del círculo polar y las largas travesías en trineo tirado por perros a través de las llanuras heladas del Ártico, el TU DOR Heritage Ranger supone la reinterpretación de un clásico donde se fusionan un entorno indómito y un estilo sofisticado. Máxima expresión de la funcionalidad, su correa tipo bund, su acabado satinado y su esfera sencilla son algunos de los elementos que permiten al hombre moderno revivir un pasado mítico y sentir la llamada de lo salvaje. TUDOR HERITAGE RANGER Movimiento automático, hermético hasta 150 m de profundidad, caja de acero de 41 mm. Visite tudorwatch.com y descubra más. Tel. 900 41 43 45
04
index 112
25 om Ro
090
092
Staff
092
Travel and Leisure magazine
t ta bi Ha
086
Ga
dg
eto
pia
ARIANA GRANDE taking over the world of pop
082
Moto r
078
080
New Year = New You
rande
ck at
078
aG Arian
ta
SUNNY BLACK AND THE ROBOT ATTACK
ob
ot
fashion editorial
ac
ka
nd
th
eB Juk
San Francisco Javier 80 覺 38001 Santa Cruz de Tenerife Tel: 922 24 28 76 覺 info@theshowroommag.com Distributed by: The Showroom Mag
Green
hip
060
058
060
015
Ho
containers, the latest trend in architecture
ly S
065
Holy Ship
News
ny
bl
076
er
ox
065
Su n
006 042
Frequency: quarterly Publishers: Jim矇nez Godoy, S.A. Artes Gr獺ficas Legal Deposit: B-34.304-2008
Cover Photo SIR RICHARD BRANSON
008 JESÚS CASTRO the rising star of Spanish cinema
mi x
Intro
010
020
Ro be rt
Do
wn
ey Jr
Sh ow
016
ús Jes
020
o str
ca
All by Herself fashion editorial
es
CAAM
ion olecc c e d e | Cruc
028
Back to Basics
Al by
Herse
lf
!
chard Sir Ri
cJ
026 MARC JACOBS
Wo w
M ar
022
the order of chaos
028
046
042
ac ob
s
El H ro
ier
on Brans
054
046 052
RICHARD BRANSON the charismatic CEO of Virgin talks exclusively to The Showroom Mag
054
The Showroom Mag is not responsible for any opinions, texts and photographs published. All rights reserved. It is strictly forbidden to reproduce any article or part thereof, photograph or illustration or any other content without the prior consent of the Rosti Family Group.
008 042
intro
Antonio Rosales
Elena Farreras
TSM
)
)
2015
)
)
?
Fifteen I’m a firm believer in luck, and 5 is my number. So the fact that this is issue number 15, as we enter the year 2015 – well, I’m sure that this edition will bring with it lots of good fortune. But I’m also one of those people who happens to believe that it’s up to each of us to search for - or create - our own luck; that it’s not something that turns up knocking on our door, hence the enormous efforts made by each and every member Q ofU The Mag team, to continue creating, developing and dreaming of new, interesting projects and challenges I NShowroom CE with a fresh, professional approach.
El 15, la Niña Bonita. Y como yo creo en la suerte y el 5 es mi número, estoy seguro que esta nueva salida de nuestra
Challenges likerevista, the front cover for this which, themuchísima first time insuerte the magazine’s history, Pero is a celebrity como prólogo delissue, 2015, nos for traerá y cosas buenas. también and soynot de alosphoto que taken piensan from one of our fashion editorials. Webuscarla, wanted to a change for once, ascasa, an example of el theinmenso continuous process of evolution que la suerte hay que nomake te llega a la puerta de tu y de ahí trabajo desarrollado por and todas improvement that we believeque in, given the huge importance of what it means to us that Richard Branson took thenuevos time toeanswer las personas componemos el gran equipo de The Showroom Mag,Sirinnovando, desarrollando exclusive questions posed by The Showroom Mag. interesantes retos de una forma fresca y profesional.
Reto como el de nuestra portada, que por primera vez es un personaje y no parte de unos de nuestros editoriales.
Hemos querido unacontinuously vez y por estas continuas mejoras planteamos dada la importancia que This issue keeps us right where romper we wantpor to be: reaching new sectors andque newnos readers. And as the issue that sees the endpara esta queitSir Richard haya contestado a unas preguntas para esa revista de for las 2015; Islas of one year and therevista arrival supone of another, forces us toBrandson make newnos challenges, new strategies and to set ourselves a clear plan Canarias, a year where not only willtan youinteresante. see the launch of 4 new issues, but also parties to accompany each one as well as projects such as TSM Otro número más que nos sigue posicionado queremos, hará llegar a which, sectores nuevos que, al ser el Focus – professional round tables dedicated to different topicsdonde and sectors – andque TSMnos Meeting Points, as the nameyindicates, número despide untoaño y da otro,other, nos obliga a ir haciaideas nuevos retos, nuevas estrategias y a marcarnos will be opportunities forque professionals meet, getentrada to knowaeach talk, exchange and engage in all-important networking. una hoja de ruta para el 2015 donde oirás hablar no sólo de las cuatro salidas previstas para este año, sino de las
fiestas que acompañarán cada de proyectos como TSM Focus, mesas redondas dedicadas a temas y This number, along with a large part of 2015, will salida, be dedicated to and directed towards Great Britain, and especially towards its capital, sectores diferentes, intentando llegar a conclusiones que aporten mejoría a los temas tratados. Oirás hablar de los London. Our aim is to coordinate a series of events that pay homage to a nation that has always been there for the Canary Islands, and TSM by Meeting Points que como su nombre indica, seránbeginnings encuentros de profesionales simplemente eso, has stood faithfully our side throughout all these years, from the very of what turned out topara be byhacer far our most important encontrarse, y be hacer un poco de networking. industry – tourism. The manyconocerse, celebrationscharlar that will heldentre undertodos the banner of Spirit of London will bring us that bit closer to the British Pero este número y gran parte del 2015 estará dedicado y dirigido a Gran Bretaña representada básicamente en su culture, character, language, gastronomy, music, culture and way of life, and will help us to better understand and appreciate a people capital, Londres. Queremos realizar durante este año que entra una serie de acciones y eventos dirigidos a that, just like the most faithful of friends, has never let us down.
homenajear a una nación que siempre ha estado ahí, con nosotros, con Canarias desde el comienzo del desarrollo de la industria más importante que tenemos, el turismo, y que ha sobrevivido con el paso de los años. Spirit of London
Room 25 also deserves a special mention: our new mini-magazine found in our final pages, where you’ll find inspiration on all manner será una serie de eventos que nos acercarán su cultura, su idioma, su forma de ser, su gastronomía, su música, etc. of experiencesQue and sensations to enjoy in your preciousquerer free time. Travelque articles, hotels, cocktails, or the nos harán comprender e incluso a alguien lleva short años getaways, con nosotros y que no nosrestaurants ha fallado nunca, perfect place to watch the sun set are just some examples, and we’d love you, our readers, to send in your recommendations, too. como el mejor de nuestros amigos.
Add to all this Apartado features on Robertse Downey Jr, Room Hollywood’s actor, que Marcincorporamos Jacobs, an interview with rising Spanish film star especial merece 25, unhighest-paid nuevo magazine en nuestras páginas finales para Jesús Castro and our regular sections with the latest tendencies in world of gadgets, cars, design and sustainability andun the dejarte con ganas del packed próximo, y para que encuentres enthe él un viaje, una escapada, una habitación de hotel, result is a brand new issue of The Magpueda that we hope you’ll notpata only enjoy as much us, butlibre, that also brings you plenty of luck. cóctel, en fin, todoShowroom aquello que ser interesante disfrutar de tuastiempo y además queremos que tú nos
recomiendes también experiencias de las que has disfrutado.
Y todo esto aderezado con reportajes sobre Robert Downey Jr. el actor mejor pagado de Hollywood, Marc Jacobs y su pasión por la moda, una entrevista al español Jesús Castro ( El Niño ) y todos nuestras secciones fijas de siempre, con el último grito en diseño, diseño sostenible, gadgets, motor y tendencias. El resultado es una nueva entrega de
042 010
showmix
Chrystelle
The blackest burger Very rarely has a fast food dish grabbed so much attention. For good or bad, Burger King in Japan has come up with the perfect burger for those who see everything very black – the Kuro Burger. The bread, cheese (made using bamboo charcoal) and sauce are all black. And although it may look completely inedible, the truth is that it’s selling very well. Whether it’s down to curiosity or a desire to sample something different, this new culinary Turtlenecks for hiM specialty comes in two versions: Kuro Pearl (the this winter most Gothic looking) and Kuro Diamond. The meat looks normal despite being coated Men’s throats will not go cold this with black pepper and covered with winter, thanks to the return of the tura sauce of onions and garlic made tleneck. The season’s trends put the highusing squid ink. neck tops as the centrepiece of men’s clothing
and offer options of wearing them under a blazer as well as a good alternative to the timeless combination of a shirt and tie. Turtlenecks are a classic Caffeine fix on the go piece, and have a certain retro element about Seriously, it was about time. How them, reminiscent of the 60s. Many designoften have you found yourself in ers have joined this trend for Autumnthe middle of nowhere and in desperWinter 2014/2015, including Tom Ford, ate need of a coffee? Well, the people Andrea Pompilio, John Galliano and at Wacaco share your addiction and have high-street chains such as Topcome up with a fabulous invention: Minipresso. man and Zara Man. Wherever you find yourself, whether it’s walking through mountains or at the beach, all you have to do is whip out Minipresso. A few seconds later and you’ll have your coffee, just the way you like it. The maLouis Vuitton is 160! chine works using a small quantity of water and a semi-automatic mechanism that doesn’t reLouis Vuitton is using its iconic quire electricity. You can choose between monogram vinyl print to celebrate capsules or ground coffee and it even its 160th birthday. To mark the specomes with a little coffee cup. Cafcial occasion, the luxury leather goods feine addicts can all breathe a company invited six designers to create a collective sigh of relief! bag, travel bag or suitcase using this material. Christian Louboutin, photographer Cindy Sherman, architect Frank Gehry, Karl Lagerfeld, Marc Newson and stylist Rei Kawakubo have been 125 not out for Lanvin chosen for the task. The project has been To commemorate 125 years since launched via an advertising campaign, a the creation of the label Lanvin, a website and a tribute book, which will plan has been presented whereby each be presented during a celebratory week, over the course of an entire year, acevening taking place in New York tions will be carried out to help make sure that in November 2014. everyone has the maison de couture created by Jeanne Lanvin in 1889 very much in mind. Examples include the creation of a commemorative website with previously unpublished archives, and the animation of its iconic logo designed at the time by Paul Iribarnegaray. The windows of the Lanvin boutiques, easily recognisable for their enormous creativity, will now go down in history thanks to a book that has been given the title “Lanvin: I Love You”, which is now on sale.
042 012
showmix
Chrystelle
Killer Heels
Killer Heels: The Art of the HighHeeled Shoe is a fabulous exhibition of stiletto shoe art, which runs until February 2015. The exhibition of this fetish object will occupy pride of place at the Brooklyn Museum, where, among others, we will see creations from the likes of Manolo Blahnik, Chanel, Salvatore Ferragamo, Zaha Hadid X United Nude, Iris van Herpen X United Nude, Christian Exclusive bubbles Louboutin, Alexander McQueen, Andre Peruto toast the New Year gia, Prada, Elsa Schiaparelli, Noritaka TaIn the last Fashion Week in New tehana, Vivienne Westwood, and Pietro York, French champagne brand Dom Yantorny. Visitors can also watch six Pérignon presented its new proposal for short films from famous cinema New Year’s Eve. Taking advantage of the fact directors, inspired by stilettos. that so many celebrities, such as Coco Rocha and Anja Rubik, were at their exclusive event, Dom Pérignon’s new, limited edition bottle was unveiled, in a box designed by the winner of the 2014 ANDAM. Dutch Pharrell AND Adidas designer Iris Van Herpen got her inspiration from Global superstar singer Pharchampagne’s process of metamorphosis, to express the capacity for reinvention, crerell Williams, who has toured the ating not only the cocoon to protect the world with his smash hit Happy, has bottle, but also many of the outfits now been released a capsule collection that Anja Rubik models in the with Adidas, reflecting the singer’s unique promotional fashion film. sense of style. The collection, called Pharrell x Adidas Originals, revolves around the singer’s idea of equality, and features three main colours: blue, red and black, which are used for a stylish Interior Designer leather jacket as well as the legendary Stan of the year Smith trainers. The clothes will be sold Spanish designer Jorge Cañete worldwide in Adidas stores and on has been named as the winner of their website while stocks last. the International Interior Designer of the Year Award 2014. Each year, Andrew Martin has the task of selecting the 100 most outstanding international projects for publication in the Interior Design Review book, considered by The Times as the Bible of interior architecture. Among the selected designers, YSL AND Google Glass the designer of the year is chosen. Jorge Luxury label Yves Saint Laurent Cañete has been considered for the past has been thinking thought about what six editions of the book, and this year technology has to offer in the field of has become the first Spaniard to beauty and makeup stands, and has decided receive the prestigious award. to join forces with Google Glass. The principal idea is to record personalised makeup sessions through the glasses, which makes it possible to have small, step-by-step tutorials on our own faces, together with a brand expert, indicating the correct products for our individual skin type. After the session you will take a face chart home with you, as well as a video where you can see how your make up was applied. You can then watch the footage as many times as necessary until you are able to recreate the look yourself.
042 016
actor
Ver贸nica Franco
Robert Downey Jr Man of Iron First things first: Are we talking about Robert Downey Jr or Tony Stark? It ’s almost the same thing, because there is no-one more like the billionaire alter ego of Iron Man than Downey himself. No other fictional character is as charming and interesting; clumsy and human enough to evoke empathy and affection, while at the same time powerful, arrogant, unbearable and ruthless. And then he winks at you. Yes, that is Tony Stark – and it ’s also Robert Downey Jr. Perhaps it ’s the role of his life simply for the fact that he’s not acting…
Reinventing himself or rising from his ashes are two expressions that fit Downey like a glove. Starting with the fact that his partying days began with his father and Jack Nicholson when he was just a young boy and from that moment on basically didn’t stop until well into the 21st Century, Jr’s life (the son of Robert Downey Sr) has taken him to the points of destruction and revival on at least three or four occasions. His most recent comeback clearly seems to be the strongest one. Born in 1965 to an actor, screenwriter and film director father and actress mother, Robert Downey Jr has spoken about how he first tried marihuana, aged six, given to him by his dad – a fact that later led him to be ashamed of his father. However, his innate capacity to see the good in every situation (maybe he never had any other choice) also created a great deal of empathy and a strong father-son bond for junior. His relationship with the camera began at the tender age of five, when he appeared briefly with his sister in his father’s film, Pound. However is was in the 1980s when his career really took off, appearing in several films aimed for the young market – something that earned him a place in what a journalist from New York magazine called the Brat Pack, along with fellow actors of his generation such as Tom Cruise, Molly Ringwald, Emilio Estévez, Rob Lowe, Andrew McCarthy and Demi Moore. This new acting blood, supported by young novelists like Bret Easton Ellis, catapulted the world of independent film in North America. Enter Chaplin In 1992, Downey Jr took the lead role in the film about the life of Charlie Chaplin. Picked from a gruelling casting process that took place in both America and the United Kingdom, his impeccable British accent took everyone by surprise, not to
mention his magnificent acting. Was this really the hardened party animal and good-time guy who hardly ever slept? His stunning screen performance soon saw him picking up Golden Globe, BAFTA and Oscar nominations and he went on to win the BAFTA for Best Actor. With so many nominations and prizes, his reputation as an acting great spread like wildfire throughout Hollywood, where they practically fought over him. Oliver Stone’s Natural Born Killers and Robert Altman’s Short Cuts are just two examples of many films Robert starred in alongside some of Hollywood’s finest actors and directors. Destruction There’s a nice and a not-so-nice way to describe what happened next: the nice way would be to say that he quickly became the cover star of all the gossip magazines, with a series of scandals involving sex, drugs and rock’n’roll that saw photos of an out-of-control, sweaty Downey Jr at one long, endless party that no-one and nothing could stop. The not-so-nice way to describe it would be that Robert Downey Jr went through a personal series of very dark nights, which saw him end up in jail on more than one occasion, not even able to remember his own name. But, in keeping with his way of being able to make the best of any situation, on leaving his cell he was once quoted saying that prison was basically the safest, most protected environment there is, which made it an excellent place for rehab. Yes, he really did say that. There’s no mistaking the fact that he has been through hell: found unconscious in a neighbour’s home after entering the property by mistake, it took several hours of medical attention to bring him around. On another occasion, he was found by a police officer lying on the floor behind a rubbish container, and taken back to a cell. The list could go on. At the point of no return, something within him finally clicked.
017
Rebirth The new century brought a new awakening for Downey Jr. And we’re not getting all mystical here, “awakening” is the word that he generally uses. For the umpteenth time over the past years, he once again entered a rehab clinic, only this time without trying to escape. He managed it. The situation had reached a point where insurance companies refused to cover filming for projects that had Downey Jr in the cast, and bosses at the hugely popular TV series Ally McBeal were forced to end his role in the show (which had earned him a Golden Globe) following one of his last disasters. His personal life was also taking a sharp downward slide: his then wife left him, taking their son, which marked the last stop on his journey towards complete self-destruction. His rebirth was long and painful, and only really took of when once he had proved that he could once again be trusted. Slowly he regained his reputation with films such as David Fincher’s Zodiac and A Scanner Darkly, directed by Richard Linklater. Explosion By 2006 it was pretty clear that companies could once again insure Robert Downey Jr. Believing wholeheartedly in his renewed strength, on discovering that the search was on for an actor to play Iron Man, Downey didn’t hesitate for a moment in building a shrine in his house with objects that he considered to represent his new life, together with a plastic doll of the superhero. We’ll never know if it was due to the shrine or the decision by insurance companies to cover him again, but in the end the role of Tony Stark was given to Downey Jr. The film premiered in 2008, opening the summer season in the cinemas and within just two weeks it had almost recovered its $140m budget. By the end of the year, it was the second highest grossing film. The overwhelming success of the saga (three films so far) has only one explanation: Robert Downey Jr. The magnetism of his performance is very difficult to put into words; pure seductive energy and ingenuity, with a touch of human vunerability make his character irrestible. I honestly don’t think that even if we spent hours trying to, we could come up
018
with a better person for the part. Downey talks of the first film as a great lesson that life gave him. Some interpret “lesson” as “torment”. But, complex or not, it’s clear that we’re talking about an exceptional character. And if we take a close look at Tony Stark’s life story, it is easy to reach the conclusion that Robert Downey Jr and Tony Stark could, in fact, be the same person. Although we could also say the same when it comes to Sherlock Holmes. Maybe the greatest performances always get blurred with real life? In any case, Downey Jr won a Golden Globe in the category of Best Actor in a comedy for his role as Sherlock Holmes. There is no doubting his skill when it comes to interpreting characters where irony plays a fundamental role, and yet there are other cases where he is equally brilliant. His portayal as a white man pretending to be black in Tropic Thunder earned him Oscar, BAFTA and Golden Globe nominations. It was a hugely risky performance, which could easily have ended up being ridiculous, but it wasn’t – thanks to the discipline, strength and belief of Robert Downey Jr: a man that has pulled himself out of his own deepest miseries to become almost the superhero he plays. His conviction and willpower were well known even during his time as an addict. Laughing almost in the face of destiny, he poured all his personal strength into keeping up with his non-stop partying lifestyle. Nowadays he was recently named as Hollywod’s highest-paid actor for a second consecutive year, earning $100m a film – and without anyone having to worry about insurance policies. Whoever would have thought that the down-andout troubled soul he once was would ever have achieved this? Perhaps those close to him, who know only too well the strength that lies within him. We’ve always suspected that fact and fiction are two sides of the same coin but in the case of Downey Jr it’s more than clear. After all who, if not Iron man, could have pulled this off?
we recommend Nobody had ever done anything like it before: a Rock ‘n’ Roll restaurant. The owner of the first restaurant’s premises considered it so unlikely that the venture would be successful that he only gave the founders of the chain a six-month contract. That was over 40 years ago... Every day, the Hard Rock Cafe products grow and adapt to the finest cuisines from around the world. Serving good creations was, and will always be, their priority, as well as playing the very best in music.
Hard Rock Cafe
your best choice in the south of Tenerife Visitors to Hard Rock Café Tenerife can enjoy amazing views of Spain’s highest mountain, Teide, from Tenerife’s coolest high-level terrace. The main floor and upper level have a combined capacity of over 350 people and offer two spacious outdoor terraces with a separate bar, a Rock Shop boutique and an area destined for live music performances, exclusively by artists from the local music scene.
#THISISHARDROCK To celebrate the Christmas and New Year period, Hard Rock café has put together a fabulous line up of live concerts every weekend, which includes the group Morirán todos on 20th December, Sometimes for a Christmas special on 25th December, Little Big Rebel on Sunday 28th December and Cristina Ríos & Porno Surf on New Year’s Eve. There will also be a selection of in-house DJs on Thursdays and Sundays, as well as acoustic concerts every Tuesday. And if that wasn’t enough, guests at the Hard Rock Cafe Tenerife can enjoy the top-quality, freshly made products featured on the Hard Rock menu, based on entirely home-cooked dishes. The cocktails are all hand-made, as is the food, and are as authentic as the memorabilia hanging on the walls. During the Christmas period reservations can be made for groups or business celebrations with menus starting from €24 per person. Now you know where to head to this Christmas.
Pirámide de Arona
•
Roberto Pantaleo, winner of the Europe-wide BaRocker contest, representing Hard Rock Tenerife.
Avda de las Américas s/n, Arona. NEXT TO Mare Nostrum Resort
•
Telf.: 922 055 022
019
020 042
actor
Juan Rebenaque
He was combining school classes with making “churros” in his father’s cafe until a friend told him that there was a casting call for a movie. It was El Niño, a story directed by Daniel Monzón (Celda 211), partly filmed in the Canary Islands with Tenerife’s Tatiana Hernández (who won a Goya award for Lope), as costume supervisor. The huge success of this film (box office takings during its first weekend at the cinema exceeded that of Ocho apellidos vascos) was followed by Alberto Rodriguez’s La isla minima, which was premiered at the last San Sebastian Film Festival. The meteoric rise of this 21-year-old, blue-eyed boy from Cádiz is proof that sometimes, Spanish film stars can flourish. After just two films you have become a very popular actor. How has your life changed in recent months? On a personal level, it hasn’t changed at all. I still do all the same things and I’m trying to keep it that way. What did you do in the casting of El Niño that made them give you the role? I don’t really know, in fact I was leaving when the casting director, Yolanda Serrano, told me to stay. I guess she saw something in me that others didn’t. And how did you land your character in La isla minima, the story about the disappearance of two teenagers in a village in the marshlands? After finishing filming El Niño, I took a week or two off to rest and Yolanda Serrano called me back to do this film. I did a screen test with the lead actors Raúl Arévalo and Javier Gutiérrez and went straight from one film to the other. You’ve worked with some established actors; with Luis Tosar, Eduard Fernández, Sergi Lopez and Barbara Lennie in El Niño and with Raúl Arévalo, Javier Gutiérrez and Antonio de la Torre in La isla mínima. Do you remember any piece of advice or guidance they gave you? To be honest, I don’t. I got on very well with everybody but I didn’t ask them for advice. I just learned from watching them closely. Part of El Niño was shot in Gran Canaria. What do you remember about that time? Did you get chance to see any of the island or to try the Canarian cuisine? When we filmed in the Canary Islands all I did was work, I really didn’t have time for anything else. I went once to the Canteras beach (in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria). And as for the Canarian food...well, I had to try the wrinkled potatoes with mojo, of course. They were good. It’s not Andalucia, but it was good. El Niño has been shortlisted to represent Spain at the Oscars and it is rumoured that La isla minima could be one of the favourites to win at the next Goya awards. Do you see yourself in Hollywood or with a Goya for Best Newcomer? No, I don’t see myself in Hollywood or with a Goya. I don’t think about those things. I just see myself working and learning. I guess after the success you’ve achieved in film, you’re no longer thinking about becoming a footballer, which was your first calling... Yes, when I was younger that was my dream, but now I prefer being an actor.
In El Niño, you shot your own action scenes and didn’t use a stunt man. Did you ever find yourself in a really dangerous situation? Yes, the scenes we shot in the boat. There was a sheet at the front to prevent the water from splashing us, but the helicopter came too close and pulled it off. That did scare me a little. Is it true that you found the nude scene the most difficult to shoot? Not exactly, but it was my first shoot and it’s not easy to do a scene naked. It wasn’t difficult, but it was a bit stressful. Regarding the roles that you play in each film, who is most like Jesus Castro, your character in El Niño or the part you play in La isla minima? Neither. El Niño is a better person, he is not evil but he defies authority and the other is cold and calculating. I’m not like either of them. The plot of El Niño develops in the world of drug trafficking in the Gibraltar Strait. You’re from Vejer, Cádiz, have you experienced anything similar? Does fiction mix with reality here? I haven’t personally experienced anything like that, no, but during filming I learned a lot about drug trafficking that I had no idea of. The film is very realistic. Are you still helping your father out in his cafeteria and going to college or is that all behind you now? I’m not doing either right now, for the simple reason that I haven’t had time for anything, not even to take a break. All I’ve been doing since May is promoting the films. What does your family have to say about such huge and unexpected success? They are happy and proud and that is one of the best things about it. After these two films, do you have more projects? Not that I can tell you about... Which director would you like to work with in the future? I don’t have a favourite director. And I’m not going to get picky either. If somebody offers me something interesting, I’ll do it. But I’ve already worked with two of the best out there in Spain; Daniel Monzón in El Niño and Alberto Rodriguez in La isla minima.
JesĂşs Castro the rising star of Spanish cinema
042 022
art
The exhibition contains various pieces from the CAAM itself aslong with works from 16 other public and private collections from the Canaries and elsewhere in Europe.
CAAM presents the exhibition
Cruce de colecciones
The Centro Atlántico de Arte Moderno (CAAM – the Atlantic Centre for Modern Art) in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria recently presented the collective exhibition Cruce de Colecciones, to mark the 25th anniversary since the opening of the museum and art centre. The exhibition brings together works from over 105 artists from all over Europe, America and Africa, some of which belong to the CAAM collection as well as others that come from 16 public and private collections from around Spain. The exhibition was opened on 16th October in the presence of the local sculptor Martín Chirino, CAAM’s very first director, and will remain until January 25th in the halls of the museum, located in Calle de los Balcones. Opening times are from Tuesday to Saturday between 10:00-21:00 and Sunday from 10:00-14:00.
Made up of a total of 124 pieces the exhibition is based on a selection of 57 pieces from the CAAM’s archives and is paired with another 67 pieces that have come from other centres such as MIAC (Lanzarote), TEA (Tenerife), CAJI (Fuerteventura), the Canarian regional govenment and several private collections. There is also a selection of video projects from collections of
the ARTIUM (Vitoria), Es Baluard (Palma de Mallorca), CA2Mayo (Móstoles, Madrid) and the MEIAC (Badajoz). The exhibition takes you through emblematic pieces of huge importance, which reflect the main artistic currents over the past decades. Among these are examples from internationally know Spanish artists such as Martín Chirino, Óscar Domínguez, Manolo Millares, Juan Muñoz, Antoni Muntadas, Lara Almárcegui and Antoni Tapies. It’s a display that brings together several languages, combinations of materials and artistic styles and techniques that characterise the art of today, used to create paintings, sculptures, videos, photography, drawings and installations.
Showcasing three contintents In the central cube of the building, near the museum’s main entrance, three valuable works; by artists Manolo Millares from Gran Canaria, José Bedia from Latin America and the African artista Barthélémy Toguo, showcase the concept of tricontinentality, which defines not only the exhibition but the centre itself.
Along with these three pieces, the sculpture La Morateña. Crónica del siglo XX (The Morateña. Chronicle of the 20th Century) enjoys a privileged position. Created in 1997 by Martín Chirino, it’s an emblematic piece of the CAAM’s Collection, it stands as a tribute to Chirino; the centre’s first director, from December 1989 until January 2002.
Throughout the rest of the rooms, the exhibition includes well-known modern and contemporary artists, including several Canarian artists such as Felo Monzon, Jorge Oramas, Antonio Padrón, Santiago Santana, César Manrique, Tony Gallardo, Placido Fleitas, Juan Ismael, Juan Hidalgo, Félix Juan Bordes, Emperor Leopold, Fernando Alamo, Joaquín Artime and Cristian Sanchez, among others. THE CAAM COLLECTION The CAAM houses a unique collection of over 2,500 works of modern, contemporary art, by artists from all over Europe, America and Africa that include a wide variety of formats, techniques and styles.
It’s a legacy that has been defined over the past quarter century, composed of works ranging from the most current art techniques to pieces from throughout the most important historical art movements. In the CAAM’s early days, its collections were built up thanks to its main supporter, the Cabildo de Gran Canaria. New pieces have been added over the years from acquisitions, donations and deposits.
ABOUT THE CAAM Following its opening on 4th December 1989, the CAAM became the third contemporary art museum and centre in Spain. Marked by its strategic location in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean, the museum has consolidated itself as a reference point when it comes to cultural institutions in the Canary Islands. Along with the support of the prestigious contemporary art magazine, Atlántica. Revista de Arte y Pensamiento, the founding concept of tricontinentality raised by Martín Chirino (which sets this centre apart from others around the world) has also served to bring cultures together from either side of the Atlantic.
023
024 042
eating out
A sensory delight
Avenida de las Gaviotas, 4 Costa Adeje • Tenerife 922 782 374 - 661 339 390
Its name means Red over the Sea, inspired by the sunsets that we are fortunate to be blessed with every day in Costa Adeje, south-west Tenerife. Very few restaurants have the privilege of such a magnificent location, which manages to awaken all the senses. Let yourself be captivated by the aromas and flavours of the food, feel the gentle sea breeze on your face, take in the scenery and listen to the sound of the waves breaking on the shore. Could there be a better setting? The decoration and ambience of the restaurant also pays tribute to its name, offering vibrant, rich shades of red that are even more special at sunset. As night falls, the charm of the setting is made even greater thanks to carefully chosen lighting. Although Rosso sul Mare specialises in Italian food, there are also less traditional, more adventurous dishes on its menu, all perfectly presented, just like the restaurant itself - it’s no wonder that it has been seducing the palates of its loyal customers for the past eight years. After recently undergoing a complete refurbishment, which has created a unique, incomparable style, Rosso sul Mare is one of Tenerife’s finest, most delicious options when it comes to eating out. Those yet to discover its charms, or those who wish to relive the experience can take a virtual visit here: www.rossosulmare.es
025
042 026
health
Jack Hayes
When it comes to diet and lifestyle choices, it almost seems as though something new appears every week that soon becomes the diet of choice in the world of celebrities, and, consequentially, appears on the pages of all the glossy magazines until it’s the diet of choice for regular mortals, too.
Back to basics Names such as South Beach, Dukan, Macrobiotic and
necessary to stick to this increasingly popular but
Atkins will probably sound familiar, along with more
admittedly extreme lifestyle choice – whose celebrity
lifestyle-based choices such as vegetarian and vegan
fans include Donna Karen, Alicia Silverstone, Woody
diets. However, there is also a relatively new member of
Harrelson, Jason Mraz and Uma Thurman – are promised
the family; although, in actual fact, it is one of the oldest
a range of almost miraculous health benefits, as well as
diets of them all, dating back hundreds of thousands of
drastic improvements to emotional and psychological
years: the Raw Food Diet.
wellbeing. And think of the reduction in your energy bills!
When it comes to diet and lifestyle choices, it almost
Why raw?
seems as though something new appears every week
Firstly, most of us forget that every single living thing
that soon becomes the diet of choice in the world of
on the entire planet except humans eats exclusively
celebrities, and, consequentially, appears on the pages of
raw foods – we are the only species that cooks our food
all the glossy magazines until it’s the diet of choice for
before consumption.
regular mortals, too. A raw food diet is a natural diet in its purest state and So, what is the raw food diet? Well, the name is pretty
is usually vegan – in fact, before the invention of tools
self-explanatory: you don’t cook ingredients, making
for killing animals and the discovery of fire for cooking
it actually perfect for those too lazy, too busy or too
meant that we started eating meat, a plant-based raw
reluctant to spend hours in the kitchen preparing
food diet was the main diet throughout the majority of
dinner. Those who can find the dedication and willpower
the history of humankind.
“Cooked food is dead food,” explains David Wolfe, co-
cannot bring a person all the necessary nutrition, there
author of Nature’s First Law: The Raw Food Diet. “You
are almost no scientifically proven health risks for this
cannot revitalise living cells with dead food. Cooking
diet. Should you choose to eat raw meat or fish there is a
destroys the vitamins and minerals in your food and cooked
potential risk of food poisoning or salmonella, however,
food eventually damages and irritates all your internal
as cooking kills bacteria found in these products.
organs. It causes you to behave erratically. It causes you to degenerate prematurely and it creates diseases
As with many other diets, at the very start of this
artificially. All the diseases of civilization: cancer, heart
change in lifestyle it’s common to experience a reaction
disease, diabetes are all directly attributable to the
to the detoxification process, which can include nausea
consumption of cooked food.”
and headaches, but these symptoms generally only last a few days. Some medical experts question the benefits
What can you eat?
of the raw diet, stating that some phytochemicals – plant
Based on eating uncooked, unprocessed and, wherever
chemicals containing disease preventative properties –
possible, organic food, most people who follow a this diet
are more easily absorbed by the body when cooked, such
eat at least 75 per cent of their food raw, which means that
as carotenoids found in carrots and lycopene found in
it can’t have been exposed to heat higher than 40-45ºC.
tomatoes, while others say it is should be avoided by
The most common things to eat include: fresh fruits and
pregnant women, people suffering from anaemia and
vegetables, nuts, dried fruits, seeds and fresh fruit juices.
children under 16 years.
Health benefits
A diet for the planet
The fact is that people who follow this lifestyle even for
What is in no doubt at all is that the raw food diet
a short while do report incredible improvements to their
is unequivocally the best diet for the environment.
health. Most experts agree that you don’t need to follow
Stephen Arlin, co-author of Nature’s First Law: The
it 100% to feel the benefits, and that simply by increasing
Raw Food Diet is convinced that it is the only diet
the amount of raw foods we consume we will already notice
for anyone truly concerned with the state of the
a difference in our energy levels and state of wellbeing.
planet: “Cooked-eating environmentalists are total hypocrites. If they really cared about cleaning up the
Proven
benefits
concentration;
include:
lower
clearer
cholesterol;
skin;
increased
greater
environment, they would start by cleaning up their own
energy
bodies first. All pollution begins with cooked food...
levels; fat loss and improved digestion (raw foods
no exception. Look at a landfill. What’s in it? Cooked
are very easily digested compared to cooked foods).
food trash, cooked-food appliances, and cooked-food
People following this diet have also reported dramatic
technology. All trash is attributable to cooked food -
improvements in illnesses such as diabetes, arthritis
either directly or indirectly.”
and Crohn’s disease, etc. With the huge variety of delicious, healthy fruit and Is it safe?
vegetables available year round, the Canary Islands are
In a word, yes. Despite the fact that many (usually
definitely an ideal place to try out this diet for anyone
uninformed) people believe that a diet of raw foods simply
interested. We’d love to hear your experiences if you do!
042 028
fashion
Stylist Berta Makowsky and photographer Encarneviva recreate the collections from the latest catwalks of 2014 with a model that’s truly one of a kind
ALL BY HERSELF
Direction NICOLÁS ROSALES ORIGINAL IDEA DRAGOBCN.COm Photographer ENCARNEVIVA.COM Asst. Photo OSCAR DELGADO Wardrobe BERTA MAKOWSKY
Ferretti
CHANEL 029
DIOR 030
Dolce & Gabbana 031
CHANEL 032
VALENTINO 033
Dolce & Gabbana 034
Dolce & Gabbana 035
036
company profile
TOMS, When marketing and philanthropy go hand in hand Blake Mycoskie is a young, adventurous entrepreneur, who’s also a fan of original and revolutionary business ideas. During a trip across Argentina, he realised that in many villages the children didn’t have shoes to protect their feet, which led to a variety of diseases and deformities, not to mention preventing them from going to school. With the aim of doing something to help them, Mycoskie set up TOMS, a company focused on solidarity, whose primary initiative is that for every pair of shoes sold it donates a new pair to a child in need. And so, the One for One movement was born.
Planning for a better future The idea of donating shoes came from the conviction that a village with children that are both healthy and have access to education is more likely to improve the future of the entire community. Also in mind was the fact that many schools oblige pupils to wear shoes to school, in addition to the considerable number of kilometres that children often have to walk just to get to school in the first place. To date, a total of 35,000,000 shoes have been donated.
The designs TOMS designs are based on the type of footwear used to work on the land in the region of Argentina where he came up with the idea. Based on the original shape of espadrille (canvas) sandals, but with a colourful, comfortable and hard-wearing design, TOMS shoes have become a necessity for fashionistas and are sold as fashion items all around the world, greatly boosting business for One for One movement. The more shoes sold, the more donated. Sustainability and Responsibility The team at TOMS work closely with experienced NGOs in order to find the poorest communities, and to provide help to their children through health and education programs, while looking for the way to avoid damaging companies in the region in the process. A long-term commitment As the children grow up and their shoes become too small, TOMS works to be able to provide them with a new pair. In doing this, TOMS shoes has become a business that successfully manages to combine profitability with solidarity. At his young age, Blake Mycoskie is already the owner of a company that has an annual turnover of millions of dollars. He’s also written a book about his experience, explaining how you can set up a company that creates wealth while, at the same time, maintains strong humanitarian values and respect for human dignity.
042 038
we recommend
WOW!
If ever there was a gastronomic experience whose name perfectly encapsulated everything it has to offer, WOW! at The Oriental Monkey in Playa de Las AmĂŠricas is it.
From the moment you enter the restaurant, it’s clear that what you are about to experience is no ordinary tasting menu. Greeted by staff who present you with your round-the-world ticket to far-away lands, your 10-stop gastronomic tour begins, and ends, where else but right here in the Canary Islands. Then as you take your seat, the journey you are about to embark upon is explained in detail; a mouth-watering adventure through exotic destinations, starting with South America. From there it’s across the Pacific to Japan and some melt-in-themouth nigiri sushi, and on to South-East Asia with a spectacular Tom Yam soup, typically eaten in Thailand. Every stop along the way brings with it a completely unique combination of textures and flavours, magnificently presented and explained in detail. North America tempt you with a dish of Alaskan King Crab, while a journey through Africa sees you sample Tuna Tataki with couscous and smoked Aubergine. If the food alone wasn’t enough to create a wonderful dining experience – and it is – WOW! goes several steps further, by incorporating the latest technology which means you experience video projections on both the tables and the wall, throughout the experience, providing a landscape and birds-eye view of the same image and creating a unique dining environment. Conversation can flow naturally and you will suddenly notice pretty pink butterflies flying across your table, or colourful images of fish swimming below your plate. The vivid reds, yellows and blues that are projected to reflect Peru, beautifully accompanied by the captivating sounds of the pan pipes, then blend effortlessly into images of serene, exotic flowers. As all of this unfolds, the lighting in the room is also constantly changing, in harmony with the images and melodies being played. Table cloths, surrounding lights and even the wine cellar all merge from tones of blue to yellow, green, red and purple, as you lose yourself in this unique, ground-breaking dining experience. Two things really stand out about WOW! The first is the attention to detail – and we are talking about the finest, most intricate details that combine magically together to create a seamless evening. The handcrafted, specially designed bowls that resemble pieces of lava, which the aptly named Tierras Volcánicas (Volcanic Lands) dessert is served in, are genuine works of art. And the presentation of the food is so beautiful, that you almost, almost feel guilty destroying it to eat – but not guilty enough to not eat it, of course! The other element that makes this experience so unique is the sensory stimulation from start to finish: the selection of carefully chosen music, the beautiful, tasteful decoration and lighting, the variety of accompanying videos, the wonderful smells, the many different textures (from smooth chopsticks to stone plates and rustic wooden bowls) and, above all, the myriad tastes make this an unforgettable gastronomic experience, and a memorable night out. Launched in October 2014 in The Oriental Monkey restaurant along Tenerife’s Golden Mile in Playa de Las Américas, WOW! is the first experience of its kind in Spain and has to be experienced to be believed. Details for the Experience 8 course tasting menu with 2 desserts (approximately 2 hours) Price: 75 € Reservations: Monday to Saturday from 19.00-22.30 hours. Booking with reservation only. Please call us on: 608 595 491 www.grupomonkey.com/wow
Nacho Hernández, head chef at The Oriental Monkey was crowned best chef in the Canary Islands in 2010. What stands out about Nacho’s cooking is its incredible creative strength and personality, with a unique style influenced by oriental influences which combine aromas, tastes, colours and exhuberant textures. This is translated perfectly in the elaborate menu developed for the WOW! experience.
042
wow!
Chrystelle
Do you know a gamophobe? We all know of a friend or relative (maybe even you yourself) who is convinced that marriage doesn’t mean anything, and who never intends to marry. Experts have a name for this mindset: gamophobia. This disorder is characterised by an excessive fear of committing to another person. Sufferers can live as a couple for a long period of time but are afraid to sign a document that makes it official. The causes of this phobia can be developed by individuals well before reaching adulthood and experts believe it may be down to growing up in Backs of the future a home with divorced parents, with the presence of only one Doctors at a University Hospital in parent or due to a turbulent relationship between parents. Peking have performed the world’s first It can also develop in full adulthood, in which case the implant of a 3D-printed human vertebra. main cause is a nasty break up or divorce. But don’t A 12-year-old boy suffered an injury playing panic: just like all phobias, gamophobes can football and tests revealed a malignant tumour in be treated by an expert therapist and even his neck that required a type of surgery which included cured completely. the removal of the second cervical vertebra. Doctors at the hospital’s orthopaedic unit printed a new vertebra in 3D for the boy using titanium powder. According to the surgeon it’s much stronger than previous implants, it makes surgery easier and recovery is better. The hospital has been experimenting with Introvert 3D printing technology since 2009. To date the hospital’s or just born in winter? orthopaedic surgeons have performed implant surgery If you’re born in winter, you will be more in 50 patients. However, this is the first time a reserved. If you are born in summer, you’ll 3D-printed vertebra has been used an implant for be happier. And those born in spring will be spine surgery anywhere in the world. more volatile. It seems as though we’re talking about astrology, but it’s really something that science has observed repeatedly over the years: the season we are born in has a decisive influence on certain behaviours, ranging from personality traits, the likelihood of suffering from certain diseases and academic performance even to the probability of smoking or committing suicide. Recent research found that those born in summer are significantly more likely to suffer from mood swings, while people born in winter are less prone to irritability. As for autumn, there seems to be less chance of suffering from depression. But our question is, how does this work for people born here in the Canary Islands, where there are practically no seasons…?
THE WORLD’S LARGEST MUSEUM The Smithsonian Institution in Washington is the world’s largest museum and research complex, boasting nine research centres, a zoo and 19 museums within its grounds. Its many pavilions house 140 million artefacts, some of which are completely unique in the world, and around 6,000 people are employed at the institution. Such is its importance that there is even an asteroid, the 3773 Smithsonian, named in its honour, which was discovered in 1984. Aside from museums of natural history, art and others, the Smithsonian has several research centres, among which are the Astrophysical Observatory, the Environment Centre, the Centre for Earth and Planetary Studies, Centre for Conservation and Research, the Marine Station at Fort Pierce, the Centre for Tropical Studies and various libraries.
Tiramisu: born in a brothel? Despite a certain amount of debate regarding this fact, it is widely accepted that name tiramisu comes from an ItalianVenetian expression meaning “pick-me-up”, referring to its high energetic content and fix of espresso. What is clear is that this is a modern dessert born in the mid-twentieth century and while some say it was simply a means to use up leftover cake and old coffee, many rumour it to have emerged in the brothels of Treviso and Venice, used by prostitutes to give them a needed energy boost. The official credit for the invention of this delicious dessert goes to Roberto Linguanotto and the Beccherie restaurant in Treviso. INSOMNIA Another restaurant in the same town, CAN CHANGE BRAIN SIZE Toula, also claims to be the first place Recent studies conducted by a team of where it was offered to general public, scientists from the universities of Oxford, using sugar, eggs, coffee, chocolate England and Oslo, Norway, published in and lady fingers – no mascarpone the Neurology journal state that not only does and definitely no cream, unlike insomnia have a negative effect on brain function, the version globally reproduced but it could also alter the size, decreasing the volume these days. Toula still serves it of the brain. The study was conducted through a series of the original way... MRI tests (carried out every three and a half years) and backed up by questionnaires on the sleep habits of 147 adults between 20 and 84 years old. The decrease in the brain size of insomniacs was much more severe in people over 60 years of age. A total of Because they’re Happy… 35% of the volunteers for the study met the criteria of having There’s no denying that we humans “poor sleep quality”. This meant an average of 8.5 points love little more than a good ranking: it out of a possible 21 in the assessment of sleep quality, seems as though there is almost no limit which included aspects such as how long they to what we measure and quantify. Since 2006, slept, how long it took to get to sleep, the need the British Association NEF (New Economics for medication and several other factors. Foundation) has developed an alternative index for development and wellbeing based on life expectancy, attitudes towards the environment and how happy people themselves view themselves, in addition to more standard concerns such as GDP, sustainability, social benefits and the economic solvency of each country. Curiously, ten of the happiest nations in the world are found in Central America and the Caribbean. In 2014, for the second consecutive year, Costa Rica has emerged at the top of the list, ranking number one in the world when it comes to the happiest people. Countries such as the US and Germany have been badly shaken and are found We are unique much further down the list, and it’s blatantly obvious and unrepeatable that Spain is no longer the cheerful country that’s The University of California has always portrayed. In the latest Happy Planet conducted an analysis of genetic data Index, Spain ranks 38th on the list… from populations of Africa, Europe and Asia, in order to compare the genetic variation found in modern humans with the genome sequences of Neanderthals a n d h o m i n i d s . T h e s t u d y fo u n d t h a t t h e sequences from ancient humans are found within modern human diversity, which concludes that the variation we see in modern humans must have originated before the split between human and Neanderthal lineages. Animal faces are quite similar to each other, but humans have more, and substantial, differences; in fact, every face is unique and unmistakable and serves almost like a fingerprint as a way to distinguish ourselves from others.
043
044
046
fashion
Ver贸nica Franco
An ordered chaos From abandoned child to firmly established superstar of the fashion world, Marc Jacobs has had a meteoric career with one clear objective always in mind: to stun the world of fashion with his designs. At only 51, he has done absolutely everything. Since leaving Luis Vuitton a year ago, he has devoted himself fully to the creation of his own brand. Described as irreverent, chaotic, opportunistic and visionary, he surpasses all definitions. With a mysterious internal guiding force he has overcome all obstacles on his way to the top, whilst all the while laughing at the apparent chaos. He knows exactly how and where to go. And at this point ...who could stop him?
Marc Jacobs 46
With a life story full of apparent disasters, his life could have turned out very differently from how it is today. But Marc Jacobs has always had that certain something, which sets people apart. His father died when he was seven and his mother was left in charge of him and his brothers. She, however, she had psychiatric problems and left them all in order to go travelling on a cruise with her assistant. His brothers were placed into the care of the social services but he was lucky enough to move in with his grandmother, who became his muse and guide. An emotionally stable woman with a strong character, it was she that shaped Marc and gave him his sense of purpose. Marc Jacobs graduated with honours from the prestigious Parsons School of Design in 1984. In 1987 he became, at 24, the youngest designer to receive the Perry Ellis Award for best new fashion talent from the CFDA (Council of Fashion Designers of America). The award was life-changing for him as soon after, he and his business partner Robert Duffy were hired by Perry Ellis as creative director and president. Jacobs was a frantic misfit, eager to draw attention to himself but his talent was such that his foibles were largely overlooked. He focused on capturing, absorbing and expressing the grunge culture of the early 90s, which led to his mythical 1993 spring-summer collection, now a cult classic. A parallel would be Vivienne Westwood’s punk clothing of the late 70s. Jacobs’ catwalk shows, accompanied by Nirvana songs, shocked both the fashion establishment and the press, who were normally more receptive to new ideas. Soon afterwards, Jacobs and Duffy were dismissed. The Perry Ellis label was unable to explain to its clients why they were being asked to pay a small fortune for a distressed cashmere sweater or for flannel shirts more suited to lumberjacks than fashionistas. Jacobs was misunderstood. In hindsight, it is pretty clear that they did him a favour.
Louis Vuitton While Jacobs and Duffy desperately searched for ways to promote their own label and the indie rock songs of the time continued to form the soundtracks to their catwalk shows, Duffy received a phone call from ‘God personified’: Bernard Arnault. The LVMH president was looking for a new image, placing the control of the traditional, old French labels into the hands of daring young designers wanting to shake up the world – he had Alexander McQueen at Givenchy, John Galliano at Dior and Narciso Rodriguez at Loewe. Arnault’s decision to call Jacobs was almost certainly influenced by the fact that Kate Moss and other supermodels modelled his collection for free following the incident with Perry Ellis. Negotiations took 18 months, but eventually an agreement was reached. Jacobs would become the creative director of Louis Vuitton, as well as creating a ready-to-wear line for both men and women in order to position the company beyond its image as a bag only brand. What’s more, with a stroke of genius he also ensured the continuity of his own brand, Marc Jacobs, persuading Arnault to invest in it. However, Jacobs’s huge desire for perfection coupled with his fear of failure, led him down the dangerous road of drug use and his consumption of illegal substances could not be ignored. In the fashion industry drugs are rife and their use – in small measures – to help withstand the pressure doesn’t generally cause alarm, but in the case of Jacobs it was beginning to be catastrophic. Eventually he was persuaded by his friends and Duffy (as his long-standing partner and close friend) that it was time to go into rehab. Today Jacobs is completely clean, except for the gallons of caffeine he consumes each day.
047
Victoria Beckham and the fake Vuitton Jacobs’ muses have always been alternative women. His soul mate Sofia Coppola exemplifies this, but there are also the likes of also Chlöe Sevigny, Christina Ricci and Sonic Youth singer Kim Gordon, for whom Jacobs’ creations transcend the cool and go well beyond a simple collection of exclusive fashion garments. In the case of Victoria Beckham, it was all a little different. In 2002 Jacobs caught her holding a fake Vuitton bag (no less!) on the cover of a magazine. Immediately, he sent her a genuine one. Far from blushing, much less apologising, Victoria was delighted. They spoke on the phone and friendship blossomed. With his support Victoria stepped effortlessly into the world of fashion and in 2008 she starred in an ad campaign for Marc Jacobs signature label, where she was photographed emerging from a package. The idea, according to Jacobs, was to treat her like an object, since there was no better example of the self-made woman. “She has created herself,” said Jacobs. “She deserves it”. That same year, Victoria Beckham launched her own label, quickly earning herself a reputation in the fashion world. And it all started with a fake Vuitton, Jacobs’ insight and Victoria’s ability to see an opportunity. A magnificent combination. Goodbye Vuitton, hello Marc Jacobs In October 2013, Jacobs bid an amicable farewell to Vuitton so that he could fully devote himself to his own brand, Marc Jacobs, which was about to enter the stock market. In truth it has been a shrewd investment by Arnault, who in recent times has witnessed how the brand, Marc Jacobs, has gone from strength to strength. Though it got off to a rather slow start, the label now has the third highest sales of all his luxury brands. The ideal time to take a chance. The launch campaign was led by the controversial singer Miley Cyrus, photographed by David Sims, after Jacobs’ usual photographer, Juergen Teller, refused to photograph the singer – being shocked by her notoriety; something which Jacobs saw as ironic.
048
The new photographer was the first indication that things have definitely changed. The second was the transfer of the brand’s headquarters to London. ‘Marc by Marc Jacobs’, his second signature line, is more casual, more eccentric and above all, a little more accessible in economic terms. The line has been entrusted to Katie Hillier, one of the founding names of the London scene and former brand consultant. They have moved the studio to a former Victorian school in Shoreditch and have taken on Luella Bartley (creator of the defunct brand Luella) to design the line. Both women agree that the idea is to “have fun again” and with that idea in mind there is really a carte blanche for Jacobs’ must-have items: transgression, eclecticism, impossible combinations, references to the world of manga and the world of independent music ...it all helps to create larger than life designs full of personality, which have characterised Jacobs’ creations since the beginning. Permanently dissatisfied, Marc never even contemplates taking a break. The world of designers does not allow for down time and his enthusiasm is very hard to break. He never gives up and never admits defeat. His private life is equally frenetic. Openly gay, he has never had any problem with displays of affection for his partners, even when they are porn stars like Harry Louis; a recent love affair of Marc’s. However his deep sense of loyalty has meant that he has never wanted to be separated from his friend-father-brother, Robert Duffy, with who after many adventures, he has managed to create a great empire. Together they managed to find their way.
“This may be the most chaotic time of my life, but chaos has a reason for being. It works. It is a continuous hell. And that’s fine. As long as it is a new hell every day, and not the same monotony day in and day out.” This phrase defines him perfectly. It is this belief that has kept him going all this time and it is this that guarantees his future.
050
fashion
Valerie O’Connor
Take one of the most exciting cities in the world and add to it the British Fashion Awards and you have a recipe for unparalleled glamour, talent and an A-list red carpet that really had to be seen to be believed: Rihanna, Kylie Minogue, Tom Ford, Rita Ora, Kate Moss, Cara Delevingne, Victoria and David Beckham, Anna Wintour, Alexa Chung and Lewis Hamilton were just some of the beautiful celebrities to attend the eagerlyanticipated event, held at the London Coliseum on 1st December.
British Fashion Awards 2014 More than 2000 people attended the celebration to find out who would take home highly coveted awards such as 2014 Model of the Year, Brand of the Year, Emerging Talent, British Style Award, Menswear Designer and Womenswear Designer. Voted for by over 400 members of the global fashion industry, it was a night that highlighted and celebrated the enormous talent, creativity and vision of the British fashion industry, which continues to go from strength to strength. Winners included the gorgeous Emma Watson, who won the British Style Award; Cara Delevigne, Model of the Year; Anna Wintour OBE, Outstanding Achievement Award and Victoria Beckham, who gave an emotional acceptance speech on being presented with the Brand of the Year award, in which she thanked her husband David and her fellow Spice Girls.
052
ecology
El Hierro T h e Ca na r i e s ’ f i r s t G e opa r k
Its geological richness, natural beauty, unique seabed, experience in seismicvolcanic matter, its environmental programs, the development of its primary sector or the aspirations to become the first energy self-sufficient territory using only renewable sources are just some of the factors that have contributed to UNESCO granting the title of Geopark to the smallest of the Canary Islands: El Hierro.
But it’s not only for the reasons listed above that El Hierro has become the first Geopark in the Canaries, the tenth in Spain and the sixtieth member of the European Geoparks Network; it’s also thanks to its status as Biosphere Reserve since 2000 and the six Protected Natural Areas (PNA) that cover 60% of its territory, including the Integral Marine Reserve of the Sea of Calm (Mar de las Calmas). The island can rightly ‘boast’ of being an international benchmark when it comes to sustainability and a destination that really stands out for its extraordinary natural and cultural heritage. This hallmark, supported by UNESCO and greatly respected on a European and global level, strengthens the image of El Hierro and has many benefits for tourism. It also allows the island to benefit from the collaboration of a network for the capture of resources as well as UNESCO’s support in promoting the island internationally and participating in funding framework programs.
What is a Geopark? A Geopark is defined as a populated territory with an important geological heritage in terms of their scientific value, rarity or aesthetic or educational value, in addition to other elements of natural and cultural wealth, in which a management strategy is applied based on sustainable development and geo conservation, based on the community.
The Cabildo de El Hierro and the town halls of La Frontera, El Pinar and Valverde, in collaboration with the Ministry of Industry, boosted its bid to join the European Geoparks Network (EGN). This would never have been possible without the efforts of local institutions to improve the situation of the island and the tourism possibilities, especially following the underwater eruptions that took place to the south of the island in 2011. To achieve these improvements a number of works were carried out, the most noteworthy of which include: the refurbishment of the Cueva de la Pólvora (Gunpowder Cave); the opening of the Cueva de Guinea, the first volcanic tube open to the general public; improvements made at the Arbol Garoé visitors centre (replacement of panels with improved information) and the reopening of El Julan Cultural Park (with guided tours providing ethnographic, historical and geological information), among others. www.geoparqueelhierro.es www.elhierro.travel
053
054
exclusive interview
Sarah Hutchings
It’s not an easy task to sum up someone like Sir Richard Branson in the amount of space we have allocated in this issue of The Showroom Mag – it would be a difficult task to sum him up using an entire issue. As founder and Chairman of the Virgin Group, one of the most respected, most successful and best known brands in the world, Richard has built up a network of over 200 companies worldwide, employing around 50,000 people in 50 countries – a far cry from when he set out in 1970 as a mail order record company. The tie-hating, mountain-climbing, devoted family man, who is about to become a grandfather for the first – and shortly afterwards second – time (both daughter Holly and son Sam are about to become parents for the first time, within weeks of each other) also has a reputation for being a boss in a million. When you consider that the most recent initiative he implemented was to inform his personal team of 170 staff based in the UK and US that they can take as much holiday as they like, whenever they like, with no need for approval, his popularity is quite understandable. Never one to think inside the box, his imagination and drive seem to know no bounds – a passion that he applies to every facet in his life, and a magnetic charisma that draws people in from all walks of life, desperate to listen to and learn from his incomparable wealth of experience and wisdom. But two things set Branson apart from other global billionaires. Firstly, in addition to admiring him, people also genuinely like the man – probably due to the fact that, billionaire status aside, he’s actually a very nice, warm, down-to-earth guy. And secondly, he has earned himself huge recognition as a dedicated campaigner for the environment. Ironic, people may think, for a man who owns Virgin Airways and Virgin Galactic, and who, on the face of it, has a much bigger carbon footprint than most… Heavily involved in a number of initiatives created (in many cases by Richard himself) to tackle climate change and promote sustainability, these include the Virgin Green Fund, Virgin Unite – a non-profit organisation that is partnered with over a dozen charities all around the world whose aim is to provide sustainable solutions through economic development in places where it is most needed – and the Carbon War Room. Founded by Branson, the Carbon War Room (CWR) brought together some of the world’s finest entrepreneurs in an NGO designed to discover and implement market-driven solutions for climate change. CWR covers various areas, including transport, industry, agriculture and energy supply, and examples of some of the many operations currently in place include renewable jet fuels, shipping efficiency and Smart Island Economies. In what could potentially be a very interesting initiative here in the Canary Islands, Smart Island Economies essentially aims to help and encourage islands to use 100% renewable energy, and to break down the commercial barriers that exist which currently prevent this from happening. There are often elaborate plans in place directed towards energy self-sufficiency, however these often fail to be implemented. That’s where the CWR steps in. A particularly interesting project within the Smart Island Economies is the Ten Island Challenge. The aim is for ten island nations to sign an agreement committing themselves to using renewable energy, with a goal of becoming self-sufficient. So far, Aruba, St. Lucia, the British Virgin Islands, Dominica, Saint Kitts & Nevis and Turks & Caicos are among the islands to have signed up, with Branson offering his own Caribbean island, Necker, as a test site for renewable technology. We were honoured and delighted to be able to talk with Sir Richard himself about his environmental commitment, and what he felt could be applied to the way we live here in the Canaries, to design a cleaner, safer future for the region. After all, as the slogan for the Carbon War Room states so clearly: There is no Planet B!
The Branson effect “The Canary Islands might have already taken some great steps in the renewable direction” Sir Richard Branson
055
How realistic does your goal of having all Virgin aeroplanes running on clean fuels by 2020 and launching Virgin Galactic on completely clean fuels seem as the situation stands today – is this on track? Aviation connects the world, and much of our globally interconnected life depends on it. But just because aviation finds itself hooked on fossil fuels today doesn’t mean it always will. Virgin Atlantic are hoping to start sourcing more sustainable jet fuel made in 2016. And the Carbon War Room’s renewable jet fuels operation is working hard to address the barriers that have prevented low-impact renewable jet fuels from taking off at scale. As for Virgin Galactic, I feel that space exploration can be a wonderful test bed for renewable technologies that could have huge potential for sectors like commercial aviation. Fuel costs for a rocket launch are a much smaller fraction of the overall cost than, say a transatlantic flight. And space flight developers work incredibly hard to de-risk novel technology. I and many others also hope that by taking more people into space, more and more humans will experience the ‘overview’ effect, where, upon seeing the whole world from above, they’ll come back down to Earth with a renewed sense of preserving and cherishing our planet and those that live on it.
You have admitted to being something of a sceptic in the past when it came to climate change – a far cry from your heavy commitment to sustainability issues these days. Al Gore and his An Inconvenient Truth have been credited with changing your mind, but what then inspired your significant involvement in environmental issues? I grew up in the British countryside, very close to nature, and was fortunate enough to travel to some of the world’s most beautiful and fragile natural environments. So I would say that I’ve always been passionate about conservation and protecting the planet and the people who live here. When it comes to climate change, speaking with the likes of Al Gore, James Lovelock, Jim Hansen and Sir Crispin Tickell was a huge eye-opener for me. And looking at the scope of human greenhouse gas emissions, coupled with a growing population, competition for resources, economic instability and environmental degradation, it became clear quite quickly that unabated climate change would have devastating consequences for life on our planet. You’ve mentioned the joy that the idea of becoming a grandfather brings you, while at the same time, your concerns over the condition of the planet they will inherit. This sentiment, I feel, is shared around the world, and yet there seems to be still huge reluctance for people to change their way of life to work towards creating a healthier planet. Why do you think this is? Is it ignorance, capitalism, apathy or something else entirely? I think you have to demonstrate that there are simple behavioural changes every single one of us can make that will leave everyone better off. I believe strongly that ignorance offers a huge opportunity for enlightenment. And where there’s apathy, there are opportunities to inspire hope. Many people have criticised the fact that, while at the same time as fighting for global warming issues, you are also developing Virgin Galactic – Space Tourism, which many see as hugely negative in terms of emissions and greenhouse gases.
056
“Changing to clean and secure sources of energy could be a triple-win for small island economies - financially, environmentally, and socially”
Living as we do in an area where sun, wind and waves are pretty much year-round constants, how feasible do you view a similar initiative to the Ten Islands Challenge in the Caribbean, and a concerted move towards achieving Smart Island Economies? What would be the first step? In general, helping to wean islands off fossil fuels and reduce the dependency they currently have is probably a good idea! And changing to clean and secure sources of energy could be a triple-win for small island economies – financially, environmentally, and socially. I think that making small islands renewable can also set a good example for bigger nations who want to become more energy independent. So in that sense I imagine that the Canary Islands could well be an ideal place for a similar initiative. As a first step maybe the Carbon War Room team should visit the Canary Islands. The smallest island in the archipelago, El Hierro, was recently declared the first energy self-sufficient island in the world. Were you aware of this? I’m afraid I wasn’t; but it sounds like perhaps the Canary Islands might have already taken some great steps in the renewable direction. And if people say that it can’t be done, well then you can go and show them that it can!
The Showroom Mag is now engaged in further discussions with the aim of bringing the Carbon War Room team to the region. We will keep you informed of developments.
058
green news
Valerie O’Connor
There’s so much to love about Citizen Japan’s gorgeous Q&Q SmileSolar watches. Powered by the sun and a thin, mini solar panel that is cleverly hidden around the inside rim of the watch casing, just one hour of sunlight is enough to charge the battery for three whole months. Completely waterproof and available in 16 colourful designs, their very reasonable retail price of $60 (€45 approx.) means that you could easily purchase a few to coordinate with your chosen outfit of the day. And perhaps the best bit of SmileSolar is that part of the proceeds are donated to Table for Two, a non-profit organisation that provides children in Africa and Asia with school meals. A win-win all round, really.
As the world’s first electric wooden bike with paddle assist, there is something very special about the E-Bough. Created by Dutch designers Jan Gunneweg and Piet Brandjes of Bough Bikes, both passionate about wood, nature and sustainability, the E-Bough boosts your own pedal power with a lightweight electric motor in the front wheel that can take you at speeds up to 24km per hour. Made from sustainable French Oak, the battery has a range of 48km on fat ground and takes 3 hours to charge 80% or 6 hours to fully charge. Priced at €2,500, the E Bough went down a storm when it was unveiled in New York and is sure to become very popular.
Believe it or not, there is no mobile phone charger in the world that doesn’t consume standby power. Until now. Meet the ASMO: the first of its kind, designed by a very smart Finn, who has managed to create a charger that saves energy and money. The ASMO automatically stops drawing energy from the mains when the phone is unplugged, but as soon as the phone is plugged back in, it starts up again immediately. Currently in a Kickstarter campaign, we have no doubt that we will soon be seeing ASMO on the market.
You only have to look at the Ekocycle Cube to want one. Striking modern design, clean lines, it’d look good in practically any home. But what does it do? Well, thanks to a collaboration between 3D Systems, Coca Cola and Will.i.am, it takes old, used plastic bottles and gives them a new lease of life with just the touch of a button. Ekocycle creates exciting new designs such as phone cases, guitar picks and rings, and is able to print objects up to 15cm in size, using print filament that is partly made up of recycled plastic. Set to launch at the end of 2014, it comes with a price tag of around $1,200 (€930).
Time for the planet Bright, fun, easy to wear and, better still, solar powered, these fabulous little watches are a must have.
www.smile-qq.com
On your bike! Wooden, electric, and absolutely beautiful - cycling has never seen such a win-win situation for you and the planet!
www.boughbikes.com
Standby, not me! The idea may be a simple one – but until now no-one had thought of it. Take note of the name, this little gizmo is going to be huge.
www.asmocharger.com
Printing Perfection Take some old plastic bottles, add some genius, mix with a Will.i.am and what do you get? A 3D printer that is so cool, everyone will want one.
www.3dsystems.com
059
060
architecture
Sarah Hutchings
Holy Ship!
C o n t a i n e r S t r u ct u r e s
2
In the architecture world, there can be few trends experiencing a bigger boom over recent years than that of using recycled shipping containers. Everything from houses, jails, offices and even bridges have been made using them, ranging from low-budget projects to ßber-luxurious properties with a suitably exclusive price tag. It’s not hard to see why architects are seriously turned on by the idea of working with containers, there are many important benefits involved. In all honesty, top of the list when it comes to the advantages people see in using containers probably has less to do with environmentrelated reasons and more to do with the unique opportunity to tailor-make your home or building exactly the way you want it, to stand out from the crowd, let your imagination run
wild and create something with added wow factor. Another big incentive is affordability. Finding a home you love and can afford in your dream location is not easy, whereas the abundance of containers and their low price (some sell for as little as â‚Ź700) make them a very attractive alternative. Containers are also strong, durable, easy to use, and can be transformed into whatever you want them to be in a very short space of time. There are some downsides too, however. One thing few people realise is that in order to make the containers durable for transporting them across oceans, they are often coated in a material that contains a number of harmful chemicals, such as lead-based paints, as well as having their wooden floor linings treated with toxic chemical pesticides
Take old, abandoned shipping containers, add some imagination and the sky’s the limit. From portable homes and health centres to magnificent mansions and even a Starbucks, when it comes to architecture fashion, containers are most definitely the new black.
like arsenic to keep away unwanted pests. And though upcycling an old container is a commendable sustainable choice, there is often a lot of energy required to transform containers into habitable spaces, including moving the container wherever it needs to go. The relatively low heights and typical dimensions of a single container also mean that as a rule, several containers need to be used to provide sufficient living space, including having to fully insulate them – this also requires a lot of energy. A world of possibilities We’ve hand-picked a selection of container structures to highlight just how versatile they are and the standard of construction these unassuming former transport vessels are being transformed into.
1. Based on traditional Nordic values held dear by its creators, Copenhagen-based Arcgency, such as flexibility, a minimalist look, long-term solutions and especially the firm’s motto of “Resource Conscious Architecture”, the beautiful, highly practical and remarkably clever WFH house actually uses less energy than it produces. Made from three stacked containers the carbon-neutral prefabricated house also features a sustainable bamboo façade, a rainwater collection system and a solar roof. Inside its bright, spacious and intelligent use of materials and design make this a very attractive, ready-to-go product that is sure to become very popular. 2. Made using an incredible 134 shipping containers, the Bharati Antartica Research Station allows scientists to
061
4
6
conduct their work in safety, despite the extremely harsh weather conditions they find themselves in. Designed by Hamburg-based Bof Arkitekten, the self-sufficient energy station is surrounded by an aerodynamic metal skin, providing much-needed insulation. In compliance with the strict regulations established in the Antartic Treaty System, the facility has been built in a way that means it can be completely disassembled and transported to another location without leaving a mark on the landscape. 3. Over in Park City, Utah, the new headquarters of the Hoonigan Division motor racing team are another example of just how modern, fresh, funky and versatile container structures can be. The vast work space was created using 17 recycled containers and is divided evenly into two spaces: a creative office space which can accommodate up to 25 employees and a workshop where the team’s race cars are serviced. 4. Designed by Sebastián Irarrázaval and located in Santiago de Chile, the Casa Oruga or Caterpillar House was created as a family home for an art collector and his family. A total of 12 containers were used to build the 350m2 property – five 12-metre, six 6-metre and one 12-metre open top container for the fabulous swimming pool. 5. First Prize Winner in the Ariel Sharon Park Competition, the 160-metre Econtainer Bridge is currently under construction and will serve as the gateway to the Ariel Sharon National Park in Tel Aviv. The project, designed by Israeli firm Yoav Messer Architects, is comprised of a continuous line of containers, with balconies providing somewhere to stop, take photos and admire the views. The bridge will serve pedestrians and cyclists, and although its
062
5
8
main purpose is to provide access to the park, it’s sure to become a worthwhile destination in its own right. 6. Bearing more than a passing resemblance to a stack of Lego bricks, the quirky, colourful Amin Library in Batu, Indonesia was designed by dpavilion Architects as a sophisticated meeting place for locals. Made from seven containers positioned on steel stilts, the library offers 6,000 free books, a health clinic, a reading terrace, and even a separate reading room for women. The different colours uses to paint the containers each represent a different function. For example the red container houses the science and technology books, the blue is for entertainment and the green is the main lobby. 7. In Maine, USA, architect Adam Kalkin magnificently positioned three cargo containers inside a larger steel structure to create the gorgeous Adriance House. The containers are partially used for structure, to support the glass frame that envelops the home, and also for the kitchen, reading room and bedrooms of the stunning twostorey, semi open-plan property 8. Until the likes of Norman Foster or Zaha Hadid embark on skyscraper projects using containers, the bar has been raised, or rather catapulted off the scale, by ZieglerBuild’s Todd Miller’s spectacular home in Brisbane, Australia. With a total floor area of 560m2, the three-storey house is made up of 31 containers, making it the largest container house to date, and took just 5.5 months to build. Stunning both inside and out, with features that include a graffiti mural, wood panelling and a gorgeous swimming pool, this breath-taking creation really is in a class of its own.
fashion
and the robot attack
Direction | NICOLÁS ROSALES ORIGINAL IDEA | DRAGOBCN.COM PHOTOGRAPHER | Airam Abella PHOTOGRAPHY ASST. | ALBERTO MIRANDA Y PEDRO ALAYÓN PRODUCTION | A. G. LORENZO PRODUCTION ASST. ı J. S. ANTOIMA WARDROBE | BERTA MAKOWSKY MAKE UP AND HAIR | FERMÍN DÍAZ MODEL | SONSOLES GARCÍA ROBOT DESIGNER | Rafa Ramos Reciclado ROBOTS | RAFA RAMOS Y GREGORIO MARTÍN
065
COVER IMAGE - Glasses and Earrings The Small Boy ı Jacket, Dress and Gloves Vintage Makows
Jacket Dicky Morgan ı Shoes Cuplé ı Hat, Gloves and Skirt Vintage Makows
Trousers, Blouse and Hat Vintage Makows ı Club Armasport
066
067
Top Miriam Fashion XL 覺 Hat & Skirt Vintage Makows
Skirt & Jumper Vintage Makows 覺 Shoes Cupl矇 覺 Brooch Maite Antiguedades
068
069
Dress Vestidor Vintage
Shoes Cupl矇 覺 Jacket, Skirt & Gloves Vintage Makows
070
071
072
Hat Miriam Fashion XL 覺 Shoes Cupl矇 覺 Dress Vintage Store 覺 Bag, Gloves & Cape Vintage Makows
Bag, Gloves, Skirt & Watch Vintage Makows
073
074
fact sheet NAP network access point The ALIX initiative is fast turning Tenerife into one of world’s communication capitals. The initiative aims to turn the island into a major hub for the global telecommunications network by developing a neutral point of Internet access (or NAP) for West Africa and the Canary Islands, the Insular Communications Ring and the CanaLink Project. The geographical situation of the Canary Islands, a key point between America, Africa and the rest of Europe, makes the archipelago a hugely important tricontinental bridge. The advantages that come from being the platform between three continents are many, and in various fields: cultural, social, economic, business ... Any area of our daily lives can benefit from the correct management of the Islands’ location in this globalised world.
The Nap (Network Access Point) of West AfricaCanary Islands is this element of management that enables us to exploit our potential as a tri-continental bridge, starting with the most important aspect of all: communications. The NAP, situated in Granadilla, houses various links of existing submarine cables and other lines that are being prepared both between the Islands themselves and also between the CanariesEurope-Africa-America. The project aims to reduce connectivity costs by introducing the added factor of the liberalisation of the communications market in West Africa, which will result in the economic improvement of the regions involved. The NAP is a neutral data centre that serves not only as a point of concentration and distribution of international connectivity, but as a basic infrastructure for local companies interested in competing overseas, or international companies wishing to operate in West Africa using Tenerife as a platform, with the legal security that comes from being situated within the EU and the additional tax benefits associated with the islands’ status as an ultra-peripheral region.
075
076
music
Juan Rebenaque
Christmas is just around the corner, which means it’s time for you to rummage through your pockets to find some spare cash to buy that special someone a killer new album. Here are our suggestions when it comes to new releases scheduled for the end of the year – just don’t expect to find any Christmas carols or annoying seasonal percussion tracks on our list.
If you’re still yawning after listening to Songs of Innocence, U2’s album that came as a surprise to everyone when it was released (and free on iTunes) last September, prepare yourself because the Irish band are threatening to release another. The
genuine new album (the last one was nothing more than a boring collection of rejects, which Apple paid them a fortune to record) is called Songs of Experience and is expected to be released in time for Christmas or in the first weeks of 2015. Don’t say we didn’t warn you... Thankfully, we’ll always have David Bowie, albeit in small doses. The magnificent White Duke is releasing compilation album to celebrate his 50 years in the music business. Entitled Nothing Has Changed, it includes some of his greatest hits along with remixes and some rather strange offerings, as well as a new song called Sue (Or In A Season Of Crime), which David has recorded this year with producer Tony Visconti.
Christmas Others celebrating a career birthday are Wilco (who have now been in the business for two decades). They also want to earn some more money to buy a whopping turkey for Christmas this year, and are releasing their greatest hits album. Eminem is doing exactly the same, hoping to rake in the cash with Shady XV, a double album that includes his hits and also new material. The Foo Fighters have recorded their new album in eight different studios in eight different cities (Chicago, Austin, Nashville, Los Angeles, Seattle, New Orleans, Washington DC and New York). Called Sonic Highways, it was produced by Butch Vig (Garbage), who also produced Nirvana. Some are calling it epic rock, while others use the term heavy rock (heavier than holding a cow in your arms). The most refined among you will be pleased to learn that TV On The Radio also has a new album, Seeds, or that She And Him are releasing their fifth album, entitled Classics. The new offering from Zooey Deschanel and M. Ward consists of 13 tracks recorded with an orchestra of 20 musicians. The powerful soul voice of Mary J Blige makes a return with The London Sessions, an album that, as its title indicates, was
recorded in the British capital. It includes collaborations by Disclosure, Sam Smith, Emeli Sandé, Jimmy Napes, Naughty Boy and Rodney ‘Darkchild’ Jerkins. William Orbit has confirmed that he is producing Queen’s new album (yes, you did read that correctly) based on demos left recorded by the band’s late singer. It might be given the name Queen Forever, and will include songs that Freddie Mercury recorded with Michael Jackson in the 80s. What a gathering of grave said. As for Spanish talent, Pecker has surprised us with a popdance-punk-rock-funk album that is fresh and energising. Amaral is also just about to release their latest disc but we have no clue as to its contents, which is also the case for Xoel Lopez. Pablo Alborán is threatening to spoil our holiday fun with yet more of the boring material he usually records – if I were you I’d pass on that one. And finally, there are rumours that before the end of the 2014, we might well see new releases from Madonna, Rihanna and Adele, but I’m not sure whether to believe it...
078
music
Arthur Goldsmith
Lady Gaga, Rihanna and Katy Perry should be watching out for this pint sized pop star (who at just over five feet tall doesn’t quite live up to her name). At 21 she is conquering the music market in the United States and is on track to replace the stars previously mentioned in the fickle hearts of America’s high schoolers. Born in Florida but of Italian descent, she began her acting career in the TV series Victorious and has now sold millions of copies of her second album, My Everything.
“My ass is much nicer than that. The photos that claim to show me naked are not genuine. I want everyone to know that.” That was Ariana Grande’s firm statement on Twitter in response to the scandal in September that involved the leak of intimate pictures of over 100 celebrities whose electronic devices were hacked into. Ariana’s fans breathed a sigh of relief. Or perhaps they were disappointed – there are all sorts of fans out there. Whilst all this was happening, the youngster reached the number one spot on the list of best-selling albums in the United States with her second LP, My Everything; making her one of the few female singers to achieve the feat less than a year since the her debut album, Yours Truly, achieved the same in September 2013. She’s now on the cover of pretty much every magazine in America, and respected publications such as Rolling Stone and Pitchfork, have written rave reviews about her. People have compared her to Mariah Carey, but
luckily for us, Ariana weighs much less and her wardrobe is less conventional. Before the release of My Everything, four of her singles had already achieved No. 1 in the iTunes charts of half the world: Problem (with Iggy Azalea), Break Free (with Zedd), Bang Bang (with Jessie J and Nicki Minaj) and Best Mistake (with Big Sean), with digital sales totalling more than five million. All four songs were included on the list of best-selling singles in the United States, including three in the Top 10. She’s also won an MTV award for Best Video (Problem) and two Teen Choice Awards in the categories of Best Female Artist and Best Single (Problem). “The basis lies in the idea that if you are kind to others, good things will happen to you.” Well, she must be lovely in that case, because great things are happening to Ariana Grande recently.
“I lost faith when the Pope said everything that I loved and that I believed in was wrong. I needed something different to believe in,” said the singer, who since began to follow teachings of the Kabbalah.
Ariana Grande’s year
080
health
Noah Hayes
New Year = New You Just like every car needs a good MOT every now and again, to make sure that all its parts are in good working order, so, too, do we need to give our overworked, neglected and often abused bodies a thorough examination, to avoid running into serious problems later down the line. And what better time than the start of a new year to decide to take better care of your body (and your mind, too, but that is an entirely different article). An obvious first step is a general blood test, which will instantly flag up any clear problems such as anaemia. But here are some other things you should watch out for - often the symptoms will turn out to be nothing that some simple diet adjustments and a few decent nights’ sleep won’t fix.
Take
20min and give yourself a Mini-MOT
Eyes Dark puffy circles under the eyes are usually a result of a lack of sleep, a sign your skin is thinning with age or even just inherited. However, they can also show that you have an allergy, in which case make a note of what you have been eating or doing prior to them appearing. A thin white line circling the edge of your iris could mean you have high cholesterol levels. Other signs to look out for are yellow, flattish spots on the eyelids or around the eye. Hair As we get older, and depending on hormonal factors, stress, etc. we all go through periods of losing more hair than at other times – up to 100 hairs a day can be perfectly normal. But, if you notice your hair is very brittle and snapping, as well as thinning, there’s the possibility of an underlying thyroid, adrenal or liver condition. It could also be alopecia, caused by stress or a problem with your immune system. Teeth & Gums There’s nothing nicer than a big smile. But gum disease – red, swollen gums that bleed easily when you clean your teeth or eat – is very bad news for your teeth and can also be dangerous for your general health if bacteria from infected gums gets into the bloodstream. Research has proven a link between gum disease and heart disease. Also check your mouth for any sores or ulcers that bleed or don’t heal.
Breasts Despite what many people believe, it’s important that both men and women perform regular breast checks. First be sure you know what is normal for you in terms of appearance of the breast itself, the surrounding skin and nipple area. Then check to see if there are any changes, be it obvious ones like a lump or less publicised factors such as puckered skin. Digestive system We all overdo it at times and have the occasional stomach ache, but if you find that you frequently suffer from abdominal bloating, cramps or discomfort, it could be that you are intolerant (and even allergic) to something you’re eating. To be sure, keep a food diary, making a note of everything you eat and how you feel an hour later. Skin Skin tends to get drier with age, but pale, flaky skin could also be a sign of an underactive thyroid; other symptoms of which include weight gain, lethargy and sensitivity to cold. An overactive thyroid, however, is characterised by all-over itchiness or raised itchy patches on the lower legs. Skin cancer is rising every year, and the cases of malignant melanoma, the most deadly form, is increasing dramatically. Living in such a sunny destination as the Canaries extra special care must be taken of our skin. Do a regular mole and freckle check and pay particularly close attention to any moles that grow, become ragged around the edges or multi-coloured, or that itch, crust or bleed. Hands & Fingers Cold hands and toes? This is a sign of poor circulation, often caused by smoking or stress. Cold hands that can’t be warmed up could also be a sign of Raynaud’s Disease, which causes small blood vessels in the fingers, toes, nose and ears to contract in cold weather. Elbows An itchy rash on your elbows could indicate eczema or an allergy; if, it’s also coupled with persistent diarrhoea, you might have coeliac disease - a common condition that means you are intolerant to gluten, a protein found in wheat, rye and barley. Symptoms can include mouth ulcers, weight loss, unexplained bloating and abdominal pain.
082
motor
Isidoro Castro
What took you so long, Mercedes? Mercedes has finally been inspired to release its first plug-in hybrid. The Mercedes Benz S 500 Plug-In Hybrid recently made a big entrance into the Spanish market with a price tag of €112,200. The European Union will demand C02 emissions of 95 g/ km in 2020, and Mercedes has put itself ahead of the game by trying to achieve these figures way ahead of the EU’s time limit. Drivers who don’t usually reach excessively high speeds can even use the car almost entirely electrically, with virtually no harmful emissions. And it’s not lacking in strength, either; don’t forget that this is a Mercedes and, as such, has all the power of their traditional engines. It comes with a warranty for six years and 100,000 kilometres for the hybrid system.
Electrical and divine Aesthetically speaking, the Volkswagen Passat GTE is both elegant and exclusive: features include detailing such as the use of blue for the line of the grille and brake callipers, or specifically-designed bumpers complete with LED lights to complement the chic, light blue, interior ambient lighting. But aside from these visual delights, the car combines a 1.4-litre, 156hp TSI petrol engine with an 85kW electric motor for a combined output of 218hp. With a full tank and charged battery, it can offer a range of 1,000
Bye-bye, people carrier
kilometres and is capable of going from 0-100
That’s right, people carriers are last season.
in 8 seconds - not bad at all for a hybrid. Okay,
Now it’s all about the crossover. And the new
it’s not a Ferrari, but at least it’s something
Renault Espace V combines all the virtues
you could actually buy.
of a traditional people carrier with perfect aesthetic lines and the ability to adapt to any type of terrain, making it the best choice for discerning drivers who, nevertheless, have a large family to move around. After 30 years of Espace, we’re confident that the latest offering from Renault will be just as successful as its predecessors, soon becoming the best-selling car in France and throughout Europe. The new model, released at the Paris Motor Show, will be available in mid-2015 with 5 and 7 seats. And, according to reports, with an incredible launch price.
084
motor
Isidoro Castro
Object of desire The Paris Motor Show (which was held this year from the 4th-19th October) wows every year with the latest developments and futuristic projects that may see the light someday over coming years. This time, one of the highlights that everyone was clamouring to see was the amazing, powerful and beautiful Ferrari 458 Speciale A. The “A” refers to the fact that it’s a convertible (Aperta) and the model is so exclusive that only 499 units have been manufactured. And it’s not worth asking the rather obvious question of why not make 500. If you ask someone at Ferrari they’ll tell you “because that’s how we are” and what can you say to that? This Ferrari model is actually the most powerful ever produced and goes from 0 to 100 in just three seconds. Best not to ask the price unless you happen to be an Arab sheik.
Chevrolet = WiFi The promise has been fulfilled. In 2015, several models of Chevrolet will have a built-in WiFi system, the Chevrolet OnStar 4G LTE, which provides excellent signal quality and bandwidth for up to 7 devices. The access point of the cars to the network provides a better in-car experience than the smartphone and the stronger signal offers a much faster, much more reliable connection. When once the initial configuration is completed, the WiFi will automatically be activated when the car is switched on. Available in Volt, Malibu, Impala, Corvette and Equinox models, though a limited number of models have already been launched in the US, 2015 will be the year when this new technology really establishes itself in the market, and other manufacturers such as Audi will enter the race to eclipse Chevrolet.
The mysterious Fiat 500X Its marketing campaign was certainly very curious: a girl on a swing in a deserted city while reciting the alphabet, while the car searched for her. Fiat has this strange, special way of launching its cars. But in the end, it was worth it. The Fiat 500X is tiny, compact, crossover and extremely elegant, with that special something that characterises the brand. Some are calling it the Italian cousin of the Jeep Renegade, only softer and with that urban feel that all Fiat vehicles have. There’s no release date for Spain as yet, but it is expected to go down a storm in its home country in 2015.
086
gadgetopia
Manuel Gorostiza
1
1. Animal, vegetable or mineral? Who cares, it’s iBeacon Many of us tend to carry our mobile phone around in our pocket, sending out continuous information about our location, where we’re going, where we’ve been, how long we stay somewhere, how fast we move, etc. But what about the objects around us? That’s where iBeacon comes into play, converting everyday objects into “nearables” or “intelligent” devices, simply by using a small sticker. Estimote has launched the first commercial iBeacons; small wireless sensors that use Bluetooth to relay information across short distances. Each pack contains 12 stickers, and costs €95.
2
2. Say cheese, thieves With its latest creation, ArcSoft offers us many more possibilities than a traditional home security camera. Simplicam is a surveillance camera that, aside from enabling us to store recorded footage in the Cloud, also has the considerable added benefit of being able to detect and recognise faces. The company proudly assures that the configuration is simple and takes just three minutes. Video footage captured has a resolution of 720p, and there is also the possibility to stream live recordings to a mobile phone, as well as data storage in the Cloud. 3. Light at the touch of your Smartphone Do you remember those lamps that could be switched on or off just by clapping your hands a couple of times? Well, now we once again have the power of light safely back in our hands thanks to Emberlight. This device aims to make any light bulb in the home ‘intelligent’ through the use of an adaptor connecting the bulb and the lamp or light fixture itself, which means we could then control it using our Smartphone. Super easy to install, you just screw it in and hey presto! Then through WiFi and, when once you’ve configured it, the mobile app, you can turn lights on, off, dim them or just play around for hours on end, all remotely. Priced at just €50, Emberlight is bound to become very popular. 4. Where’s the umbrella-ella-ella? Behold the no-umbrella umbrella: a brilliant idea from a Chinese inventor that works by creating a force field over your head that repels water before it falls on you. The only problem is that it will probably get anyone around you completely soaked, though we suppose they’ll be working to correct that. The air umbrella is powered by a lithium battery and a small engine that, using a high-speed rotary mechanism, shoots air upwards displacing drops of rain and forcing them to the sides. You can also change the pressure, depending on how heavy the rainfall is. The project, launched in late September on crowdfunding platform Kickstarter, had a target of $10,000, but in just four days managed to collect around $86,000. A clear sign of a bright future ahead…
3 4
Sponsorizado Sponsored by Lalo por Lalo Electrónica Electrónica www.laloelectronica.com www.laloelectronica.com 922922 241241 149149
5
5. Control it all with Ninja Sphere Every day we move a step closer to the moment when our entire house is full of gadgets connected to the Internet each with their own individual characteristics and set of functions. And how can we unify them all? How can we control them all from one central place, without having to use dozens of different systems? Ninja Sphere has been created specifically to answer these questions. Through the use of GPS, ZigBee, WiFi and Bluetooth, this small device can locate every single object connected around the home and create a map which can then be controlled from one centralised point. Temperature, lighting, movement sensors and energy systems are just some of the things Ninja Sphere can help us to control. 6. Drunk, yes; poisoned, no Personal Drink ID, also known as pd.id, enters our lives with one goal – to let us enjoy a drink with complete peace of mind. Big names in cinema like Snow White would have dearly loved to have one of these handy little gadgets. Similar in size and shape to a USB Pen-Drive, this new accessory analyses liquids and detects whether there are any substances that shouldn’t be there. Its creator, J. David Wilson, explains that the device is based on technology used by America’s Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA), only in much smaller dimensions. By measuring a liquid’s density, temperature and electrical resistance, it can detect the presence of several different drugs. Clever indeed.
6
7. Recharge with your key ring We’ve all left the house on our way to work and realised when we get there that our phone isn’t charged and, on top of that, we left our charger at home. Then we either have to ask around to see if we can borrow one or face the unthinkable: a day with no mobile. The solution to this scenario is NomadKey: a key ring with a USB at one end and a micro USB or Lightning cable at the other, similar sized to a normal house key. Certified by Apple, it will work with iPhones and iPads, and, while it’s true that there are already several chargers like this on the market, NomadKey is flexible, made from rubber, which makes it much easier to connect to ports where other, more rigid versions, can’t. 8. Colouring just got cooler Scribble INK is pretty much the coolest thing to happen to colouring in a long, long time. You know the little dropper symbol in Photoshop, which can copy any colour from an image and apply it to wherever you choose? Well, Scribble INK does exactly the same, only using real-life objects such as clothes, fruit, you name it. This incredible little gizmo can reproduce over 16 million colours, and can store 100,000 in its 1GB internal memory, once they’ve been scanned. When once the colour has been captured, it can be transferred to a tablet or Smartphone to draw or colour whatever you feel like. Kids will love it – especially the grown-up ones. Expected to retail at around €140. 7 8
Sponsorizado Sponsored by porLalo LaloElectrónica Electrónicawww.laloelectronica.com www.laloelectronica.com922 922241 241149 149
090
habitat
Chrystelle Into the abyss… The London design studio created by Chris Duffy, has come up with a gorgeous coffee, which has been baptised with the rather suggestive name of Abyss. Its structure took a whole year’s work to complete and alludes to the depths of the ocean. The design is based on a 3D contour map showing the geological layers in different shades of turquoise, representing the different depths of water. Entirely hand made by wood and glass specialist artists, its price reaches a similar height to its beauty: though if you’re interested, you will first need to find £9,800 and secondly, you should move quickly – only 25 were made. Exclusive and exquisite.
Flower Hour The prestigious Swiss Vitra Design Museum has recently presented a re-edition of a collection of famous clocks created by the late George Nelson, one of the most important American designers, architects, interior designers and writers of the 20th Century. The re-released items all remain very loyal to the original designs and have been produced using metal and wood, with different colours and finishes that make them worthy of a place in any home. The collection comprises 30 clocks that were originally produced between 1948 and 1960 and make perfect collection pieces.
Make reading sweeter with Anita Fragile, precious, delicate and elegant. This is how best to describe the Anita floor lamp, a design by Nicola Conti that is reminiscent of a delicate, fragile flower. With such a striking look, Anita sets the tone of the room it’s placed in, and, of course, doesn’t just fit in anywhere. Its minimalist and contemporary design does, however, make it ideal for open-plan spaces. Its structure boasts a small flat surface for books, magazines or newspapers, making it the perfect lamp for reading corners. Its rotatable foot also allows it to provide light in different areas of a room. The Anita lamp transmits balance and harmony anywhere it is placed and is much more versatile than a fixed-position lamp – not to mention more beautiful.
A neat new seat India-based Acid Studio, has come up with this striking design for a chair, the Cetka chair, inspired by the weaving process involved in producing fabric. Made from lightweight plastic, the lines of material are interlaced at right angles, which gives the chair its distinct, original pattern as well as making it surprisingly strong. Acid Studio is well known for experimenting with materials that can adapt to suit functional problems, in this case structures made of only one piece that are strong, malleable and, thanks to its rounded corners, easily stackable. Available in a range of bold colours, this makes a vibrant, quirky, and very useful addition to any room.
A bed for everyone We spend eight hours a day, 56 hours a week, 240 hours per month and a whopping 2,920 hours every year... sleeping. Seriously. In other words, we spend a third of our entire lives in bed (minus the odd siesta on the sofa), and if we take an example of someone living to 90 years old, that means we’d be talking about 30 whole years spent sleeping. So, the next time you’re planning to buy a new bed, or, if you’ve just realised that maybe you should invest in a better place to spend a third of your life, check out the weird, wonderful and highly original options available on the website www.boredpanda.com/cool-and-unusual-bed-designs. This excellent selection of 26 beds is bound to have something for you – take your pick from the funny, unique, weird but extremely comfortable options available.
Deep sea dining The Ocean Kitchen is a huge aquarium covered with an L-shaped slab of Corian, which lifts up with just the touch of a button. Each aquarium is a one-off, limited edition piece, tailored to the dimensions of the house or kitchen in question, and the units come with plenty of hidden storage space to keep the kitchen nicely organized. Created by Dutch designer Robert Kolenik and inspired by the colours and shapes in nature, the Ocean Kitchen boasts an impressive and functional design that combines an aquarium, bar and table top that can turn your otherwise-normal kitchen into an oceanic wonder. Extractor with the X Factor Extractor hood company Pando is involved in the development of several technological research projects with various universities and has just completed the first design workshop where students of the ELISAVA Postgraduate Diploma in Product Concept presented five innovative projects aimed at discovering new types of products for Pando – the leader in the sector for extractor hoods. The project produced various interesting proposals for new models, some of which were very striking, holding the idea of the extractor hood as the heart of the home. The Zephyr model pictured, which almost resembles the gills of a fish, plays with sounds, scents and temperatures as well as illumination. The hoods were also given the added benefit of mobility, making them small standalone appliances that can be used in different areas of the house.
091
Travel and Leisure magazine
Where shall I go? Where should I stay? Where could I grab something to eat? Where’s best for cocktails? We’d like to answer all of these types of questions, and many more besides, with careful, well thought-out responses that come from first-hand experience and thorough investigation with you, our readers, firmly in mind. Room 25 is a new supplement that will feature in every issue of The Showroom Mag from now on, where you’ll find experiences, sensations, inspiration and recommendations on topics like travel, getaways, hotels, gastronomy, culture and more; all so that you can make the most of your valuable free time. What’s more, Room 25 is really about you: so we’d like nothing more than for you to share with us your own personal tips and recommendations on where to go and what to do. Share your experiences with us by sending an email to
room25@theshowroommag.com
WO R L D
Wanderlust, n. desire to travel
European Capital of Culture 2015 The highly sought-after title of European Capital of Culture is awarded every year to two cities from two different EU member states. Past examples include Cork, Salamanca, Liverpool and Lille among others. For 2015 the chosen cities are the little-known Belgian city of Mons and the more familiar Czech city of Plzeň or Pilsen; known around the world for its Pilsner lager. Considered the 3rd largest in the Czech Republic, this charming city also offers a rich cultural history, as well as something nice to wash it down with!
Rock in Río
heads to Las Vegas
From May 8-16th, Las Vegas will fall under a spell of rock and pop magic: a music festival with a killer line-up that includes something fir every taste: Metallica, No Doubt, Taylor Swift, Bruno Mars, Linkin Park, Ed Sheeran, Sepultura, Deftones, etc. are just some of the acts confirmed for this, the first time Rock in Rio – one of the all-time great musical events held every year since 1985 – will be celebrated in Las Vegas. Tickets have been on sale for some time now but there’s still time to get yours….
094
Well this is the perfect time of year to catch sight of this stunning natural phenomenon. All you need to do is travel slightly further north than the Arctic Circle and have a little – or a lot – of patience, as they are rather unpredictable. Nordic countries are ideal destinations to witness the Aurora Borealis, and there is a wide selection of travel packages combining flights and accommodation to choose from if you dream of experiencing first-hand one of the most moving, unique displays produced by our skies. Avoid going when there’s a full moon or staying in heavily lit areas, and above all take plenty of warm clothing with you!
WO R L D
Want to see the Northern Lights?
Extreme retail therapy Situated in the central China city of Chengdu, the mammoth New Century Global Center is the biggest standalone building on Earth. Measuring a mind-boggling 500 x 400 metres and 100 metres high, it could fit 16 Wembley Stadiums or 20 Sydney Opera Houses under its vast glass roof. Designed to be a self-contained town the 18-floor centre is home to its own hotels, an indoor beach area that is over 1km long, a water park, ice rink, university campus and the biggest shopping mall in the world for dedicated shopaholics. A 150-metre-wide LED screen television even shows images of tropical sunsets to swimmers.
095
Happy Rizzi House WO R L D
this happiest building on earth
In perhaps the most unlikely of settings; the ancient, conservative, traditional city of Brunswick in Germany, a place that is uninclined to change and innovation, visitors suddenly stumble upon something totally unexpected. A bold, colourful, smiling building appears among the sad, grey walls, standing out against the gloomy skies. The wonderfully named Happy Rizzi House is one of a kind: a unique, cheerful, bright, innovative building that is serves as a perfect example of how to restore an area in ruins and turn it into a place full of character that is also, of course, the most visited part of the city.
James Rizzi, a New York pop artist, Olaf J채schke, the owner of an art gallery and Konrad Kloster, an architect, got together in 1997 to bring a completely new project to life: to reform and radically change the stables of a palace that stood in complete ruin. The results transformed the area into a landmark of the city and a brick-built tribute to modern art. Colourful and smiling, the Happy Rizzi House is not just a building that attracts the attention of children; it has also become, in just a few short years, one of the most visited places in central Germany. + info www.rizzi-haus.de
096
E SC A P E
LONDON
simply the best
Sarah Hutchings
That’s not to say it’s perfect, of course. Like any major city, it has its share of drawbacks. London recently overtook Hong Kong as the world’s most expensive city to live and work in, largely due to soaring property prices. Getting anywhere can take what feels like forever and the unattractive combination of huge crowds and public transport, combined with the sheer volume of things to see and do can leave you exhausted at the end of each day. But there is a very good reason London is the most visited city on Earth: it’s amazing. Writer Samuel Johnson once famously said that “By seeing London, I have seen as much of life as the world can show,” and that was back in the 18th Century – imagine what he’d make of it now! But in a city of limitless possibilities of attractions to visit, restaurants to eat in and areas to walk around, choosing what to do and where to go can often be more tiring than the activity itself. And if you have no personal recommendations, it can simply be a matter of luck (good or bad) on whether you make the right decision, and ultimately, on your impression of London as a whole. Lucky for you, we at The Showroom Mag are slightly obsessed with the British capital, and have been fortunate enough to have visited a few times this year already. So here is our guide to a pretty perfect weekend in one of the world’s greatest cities.
Getting around
Firstly, pack your trainers. Wherever possible, London is one of those cities that needs – demands, even – to be experienced on foot. Head underground and you miss all the many architectural wonders the city is home to – not to mention spending all-important shopping money. Of all London’s attractions, its museums are perhaps the most popular. Nearly all are free to enter, and house some truly spectacular artifacts. The British Museum is worth visiting, even if you only choose one of its many collections (we recommend the Egyptian), and the Natural History Museum, aside from its world-famous dinosaur collection, deserves a visit for the building itself: it’s like something straight out of a fairytale. Museums aside, London’s parks are adored by tourists and residents alike, and most visitors are surprised at just how green London is. Hyde Park needs no explanation at all, Regents’ Park is home to some beautiful flower gardens and a ridiculously charming boating lake. Hop on a water taxi down to Greenwich, where the vast park provides incredible views over to Canary Wharf and is home to the famous Prime Meridian. Here you can take the almost compulsory photos of yourself stood astride the meridian, with one foot in either hemisphere. St James’ Park is the perfect short cut to reach Buckingham Palace and offers one of our favourite views of all – sit on the grass, looking at the swans in Her Majesty’s lake and look out to see Big Ben, Westminster Abbey and the London Eye towering above the skyline.
098
The most visited city on the planet, the newly crowned financial capital of the world and, reflecting the modern times and social media-obsessed world we live in, the number one selfie capital; few people have ever been able to resist London’s charms, and most simply don’t want to.
E SC A P E
London’s charm lies not so much in its countless museums, although they are fascinating and home to some incredible collections, but more in the way it effortlessly combines the most historic, traditional architecture with 21st Century living.
Up, up and away…
Two attractions that should definitely be on your list are the London Eye and London’s newest attraction – and Europe’s tallest building – The Shard. Both provide an unbeatable backdrop for perhaps the most practiced activity in London these days: the selfie. Situated on the South Bank, opposite Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament, the London Eye has been a hit with tourists ever since one of the strongest cranes in history hauled it into a vertical position. Enter the capsule for your 40-minute journey as you gain fabulous views over the Thames and the city. >
099
LONDON
E SC A P E
A word of advice though: the queues can be long, although the volume of people that can enter into each capsule and the efficiency of the staff mean that you shouldn’t have to wait too long for your turn. Also bear in mind the time of day you visit – obviously, wherever possible you should aim for a clear day, but the position of the sun can mean your views – and photos – are less than perfect. Between 11 and 4 is ideal for this time of year. Finish off with the fantastic 4D experience – a beautifully made video that shows London and the Eye in all its glory.
Save time…
Save yourself time, hassle and a lot of money by investing in a blue Oyster card as soon as you arrive. You may well have seen everyone else touching in and out of the bus, underground, train, etc, and these little cards will save you over 50% every time you use public transport. You can purchase one at any underground station (for £3), and top up as and when you need to.
Directly overhead of London Bridge station, The Shard is truly a thing of beauty – especially when the sun catches it, lighting up its glass walls and illuminating what feels like the entire area. Europe’s tallest building is home to offices, shops, bars, restaurants and a Shangri-La Hotel, but what everyone is, quite rightly, talking about are the views. Towering over the city, at almost twice the height of any other viewing platform, The View from The Shard provides incredible 360º views from its sheer glass windows – which are not for the feint-hearted and definitely not for vertigo sufferers. Take the modern lift up a head-spinning 68 floors, then walk up to 72 yourselves; on a clear day you can see for a whopping 40 miles! Enjoy a glass of champagne to toast the occasion. This is bound to become the place for wedding proposals over the next year or so.
After Dark When the sun goes down and the shops begin to close (which happens a lot earlier than in Spain), London’s other side comes to life, the one filled with packed pubs, chic bars and, of course, theatre performances. Those who feel frustrated by a language barrier or who find themselves easily bored might not want to sit through a drama performance, but music speaks to us all. The Lion King is simply amazing, but those searching for a modern day example of London talent should definitely catch STOMP! This talented group of musicians manage to make music from everyday household objects such as shopping trolleys, pipes and even the kitchen sink, and their funky, humorous show will leave you completely amazed. Michael Jackson fans won’t want to miss Thriller Live – from his early days in the Jackson Five to global hits like Bad, you’ll be on your feet and dancing to the infectious tracks performed. And the tribute dancer is so good, and so Michael, that you will have to remind yourself at least twice that you’re not watching the great MJ himself. 100
When hunger strikes…
E SC A P E
You, friend, are in the best city in the world when it comes to eating out. Why? Well, because name a cuisine and you can almost certainly find it. Japanese, Lebanese, Thai, Chinese, Australian, American, French, Moroccan, we could go on.
Our tip, and you will thank us, is Mexican market food restaurant Wahaca. Originally only in Covent Garden, Wahaca now has an incredible 14 branches throughout Greater London, and the youthful, funky vibe of the restaurants themselves are every bit as wonderful as the food itself, which, in one word, is heavenly. This is your chance to try cactus if you haven’t yet – and yes, they do remove the prickles. A stroll through Borough Market is another must, and if you’re hungry when you go, even better. There is so much on offer, and so many wonderful, freshly prepared dishes, that choosing can be a
real problem. Relax, safe in the knowledge that whatever you pick will be amazing – so the problem is really quite a pleasant one, isn’t it?! And we couldn’t fail to share with you a chaotic, marvelous little place in Covent Garden called Food for Thought. This tiny vegetarian restaurant offers eat-in and take-away options, and you’ll find it by looking out for a queue that forms around 1pm in the street. Healthy, delicious veggie food, generous portions and very reasonably priced. It’s worth squeezing up to a complete stranger for, which, if you eat in, you’ll have to do.
Sleeping in the city: Z Soho When it comes to where to stay in London, options are endless: from the quintessential English opulence
HOTE LS
found at the world-famous The Ritz Hotel, to the charming Victorian townhouse Bed and Breakfasts, to the cheap but clean easyHotel chain. But the relatively new chain of Z Hotels has it all: affordable prices, comfortable and modern rooms and, best of all, f antastic locations. Z Soho is possibly the best situated; a stone’s throw from the West End, Covent Garden and the theatre district, you practically roll out of bed and directly into China Town.
Rooms are compact but luxurious, with state-ofthe-art showers, flat-screen
The building itself is nothing short of impressive; a designer conversion of twelve Georgian townhouses that, while from the outside appears to retain classic architecture, inside surprises with an ultra-modern central courtyard and towering spiral staircase. And guests at the hotel also benefit from a daily cheese and wine service, completely free of charge, between 5-8pm each day, where you can enjoy a selection of delicious cheeses, breads, crackers and houmous, accompanied by unlimited glasses of red or white wine. www.thezhotels.com
televisions and spacious, inviting beds. The Z Café downstairs offers one of the best buffet breakfasts you’ll find in London, for a very reasonable price: the finest smoked salmon, fresh breads and pastries, honey straight from the honeycomb and much more, all washed down with freshly ground coffee. 101
Amazing Freedive with A DV E N T UR E
THE OCEAN BROTHERS The underwater video Amazing Freedive with The Ocean Brothers is a project by three local men from Tenerife and El Hierro that has got many people talking in recent months: not only did it go viral and spread out of control online, clocking up over 500,000 hits between Vimeo and Youtube, it has also been named the winner of the prestigious international festival of underwater image and video at the World Shootout 2014, celebrated each year in Eilat, Israel.
Davinia S. Armas
There’s no doubt that The Ocean Brothers, as these lovers of nature, film and marine life from El Hierro are known, had no idea of the phenomenal success their video would achieve, bringing them the third official recognition of their work; they have previously won the short film section of the San Sebastian Underwater Film Festival in 2013 and they also received a special mention at the Canary Islands’ Environmental Film Festival. From what they tell us, what this video brings us is a new insight into the feelings and sensations that can be experienced under the sea, with no special effects, tricks or tweaking. They wanted to convey their own experiences and way of feeling the - with a considerable amount of preparation and training involved to prepare every little detail, of course. Fun and freedom as well as serious amounts of concentration are just some of the sensations passed to us through each shot, from a superman who, instead of flying through the air flies underwater to a free diver floating above or under the sea (depending on how you look at it) or crossing through walls of water. An endless selection of scenes that will make you doubt whether what you’re witnessing is real life or the product of an overactive imagination.
102
The 3 Aqua Musketeers
A DV E N T UR E
There is no doubt that El Hierro’s ocean depths stand out for their unique nature, and for their enormous wealth in marine flora and fauna - people have even gone so far as to call them magical. Proof of this comes from the video created by these three professionals, which shows a special journey linked to the sea. Armando del Rosario Pinilla (S / C de Tenerife, 1975). Degree in Environmental Biology. He showed a special interest in nature from early childhood and has always wanted to find answers to the many mysteries of marine life. On finishing his degree he specialised further by studying for a Masters in Coastal and Marine Environment at the University of Las Palmas, Gran Canaria. He has since worked on numerous scientific projects with both universities in the Canaries. He has visited many parts of the world searching for comparisons to help him increase his knowledge on his primary scientific field: The young fish of the most representative species found in the waters surrounding the Canary Islands. Francisco del Rosario Pinilla (El Hierro, 1977). Francisco was just 10 years old when he began to show an innate creativity and great skill at playing a large number of musical instruments. Self-taught from this early age, he has gained extensive knowledge of programs for creating and editing audio-visual footage, which makes him able to greatly enhance any underwater production. He has worked as both a writer and editor for Apnea and Buceadores magazines and was once the director and presenter of the sports section on TV channel Shark Tube. A member of the Canarian free diving team, he was the Spanish champion in the constant weight without flippers category in 2006. Internationally, he took 17th place in this discipline at the AIDA World Free diving Championship (Egypt, 2007), beating the Spanish national record at a depth of 40 metres. He has since given numerous courses and open days on this sport. Armiche Ramos Quintero (S / C de Tenerife, 1978). Degree in Environmental Science. His capabilities and organisational work have always stood out. Besides being an environmentalist he is also an agricultural engineer who has held important positions in the private sector and as Environment Coordinator of the Cabildo of El Hierro in 2007 and 2008. Since 2009 he has dedicated himself to his true vocation as a biology and geology teacher. He has enjoyed strong connections with sport and the sea ever since childhood – he is a long-distance swimmer, scuba diver and free diver as well as practising bodyboard when the sea conditions allow it. In audio-visual productions he found a way of conveying the feelings and emotions you experience from being in contact with the oceans. Armiche has collaborated on numerous editions of the Open Fotosub Isla de El Hierro. He has also organised several sporting contests (open water crossings in the Sea of Calm and triathlons in El Hierro) and social events (music concerts and cultural events).
+ INFO: www.theoceanbrothers.com www.facebook.com/pages/The-Ocean-Brothers/576801409049143
103
TREAT YOUR SENSES
with Vinotherapy
SPA
Rejuvenated skin, a reduced abdomen and firmer breasts and buttocks are just a few of the benefits of the Vinotherapy treatment offered exclusively in the Canaries to clients in the Spawellplus Centres of Health and Beauty. It is a holistic treatment for all five senses which, far from giving off the intense wine smell we are used to, is a very pleasant experience that can be enjoyed in many different ways, such as the Bacus bath, a peeling, wrap or relaxing wine massage. Several years ago, the managing director of Spawellplus, Elba Leandro, came up with the original idea of working together with wineries in Tenerife to offer workshops in which, aside from traditional wine tastings, had the added bonus of this treatment – offering an alternative use for the “grape juice” and providing a much more complete experience. As well as fighting aging and preventing the appearance of wrinkles and blemishes, enotherapy or vinotherapy “nourishes” all five senses: for touch, you can feel the seeds and the skins of the grapes; sight is stimulated by the use of colour therapy to provide a greater sense of relaxation. The sounds of different products can be appreciated as they are applied, while customers will also enjoy the pleasant aromas of the various products. Taste comes through sampling the wine in question, of course!
Enotherapy or vinotherapy nourishes and stimulates all five senses
SP OR T
Activate Sports Club
With its gorgeous, modern design and wonderfully inviting atmosphere, Activate Sports Club may just be the club that is capable of converting even the most passionately anti-sports people into running, jumping health fanatics.
Recently opened in Costa Adeje as part of the beautiful Baobab Suites hotel, there’s an inviting, relaxed vibe about Activate that stands in stark contrast to the typical cold, impersonal training environments we see so often. Open to hotel guests as well as the general public, Activate offers you the chance to experience a genuinely different kind of sports club; an unpretentious, dynamic environment, where children can run and play in the sand while mum does a Zumba class and dad enjoys a nice cold beer after an exhausting game of padel. This family-orientated concept and warm, encouraging atmosphere is what sets Activate apart, and what is sure to 104
make it a reference point synonymous with sport, socialising and entertainment in the south of Tenerife. Its facilities and team of instructors are all first class, and services offered include classes such as Yoga, Zumba, Zumba kids, Pilates, Spinning, Kick Pulse and Pole Dancing as well as 4 padel courts; a sandy beach volleyball area; a heated pool for personal training and hydrotherapy sessions; a fabulous children’s play area; boules; a sports store; a large lawn area for outdoor classes, training sessions and events. The personal training studio, equipped with the very latest in fitness technology, offers expert sessions using the Functional Training method, and private swimming lessons and coaching sessions are also available from one of Tenerife’s top experts. But above all this, Activate is just a really, really cool place to hang out. So if you don’t fancy sweating, no worries: head straight to the bar/restaurant and choose from a fabulous range of delicious, nutritious food, or lay back in a hammock and happily watch others do all the hard work.
The best way to take care of your body
SANTA CRUZ DE TENERIFE
Discover the SPA Sensations of the IBEROSTAR Grand Hotel Mencey, a unique space of 4,500m2 dedicated to health, relaxation and sport. Enjoy the most innovative facial and body treatments, massages and exclusive beauty rituals performed by our expert therapists. In addition, we offer a spectacular hydro-fun circuit and a fully-equipped state-of-the-art gym with personalised training programmes and numerous instructor-led activities. A luxury only within the reach of stars. Stars like you.
grandhotelmencey.com - 922 609 924
Views to treasure
Archipenque Lookout Point, Los Gigantes E XP LO R E
The majestic cliff face at Los Gigantes needs no explanation. Take a stroll around the coastal tourist town and it’s impossible not to be wowed by the sheer scale and impossible natural beauty of these seven millionyear-old rocks. The best place to appreciate them is from the Mirador Archipenque (Mirador = Lookout Point), which is easily visible on the road that leads into the town. The view is especially captivating at sunset, then the cliffs glow with golden shades of yellow, orange and pink. Whatever you do, remember your camera!
A gastronomic treasure chest GOU R ME T
Olé Espacio Gourmet
La Pepa Food Market in Los Cristianos is a veritable melting pot of different tastes, aromas and experiences. Olé Espacio Gourmet is a perfect example of this. Here, in what can best be described as a gastronomic treasure chest, you’ll discover Iberian hams and cold meats such as chorizo; Canarian cheeses; smoked salmon; dried fruits and nuts; jams and preserves; mojo sauces; oils; vinegars; salts and a variety of honey – a delicious selection of products that makes a visit obligatory. You can also purchase one of the best Serrano hams in the world, the 5 Bellotas de Sánchez Romero Carvajal. Stay and eat at La Pepa or take it with you to enjoy later on – the choice is yours.
OLÉ ESPACIO GOURMET
La Pepa Food Market (Stands 21 y 22) C.C. Pasarela Oasis - Av. San Francisco Los Cristianos - Tenerife Opening times: 10:00-23:00 (midnight on Fridays and Saturdays)
106
H10 Gran Tinerfe ****
An adult-only paradise next to the sea H OT E L S
H10 Gran Tinerfe is the perfect hotel for those seeking a tranquil, exclusive atmosphere to unwind as a couple or have fun with friends. Wonderfully positioned on the frontline of one of Costa Adeje’s finest beaches, the hotel has recently undergone complete refurbishment and now boasts a striking, modern design. Recommended for adults aged 18 and over, the hotel boasts several luxurious settings such as its terraces with spectacular ocean views, as well as a wide range of services including the Despacio Spa Centre and the Privilege service that includes exclusive rooms and added benefits. All this, combined with the wonderful gastronomy and enormous variety of leisure options for adults, make this the ideal hotel to discover more of that Tenerife has to offer.
Weddings& Celebrations
H10 Gran Tinerfe is the perfect setting to celebrate your big day. Say “I do” on the beautiful terrace, looking out across the sea, and enjoy an unforgettable reception in a unique venue with the finest gastronomy. The hotel’s dedicated team of professionals will take care of all the little details to ensure that your celebration is everything you dreamed it would be and more.
107
BAOBAB SUITES ***** a different world H OT E L S
The large majority of hotels fall predominantly into one category or another: perfect for relaxation, ideal for families, the ultimate couple’s retreat, and so on. Baobab Suites, on the other hand, proudly stands in a category of its own; an enviable position to be in, which comes from the fact that this unique hotel is pretty much whatever its guests want it to be.
108
Created with one desire firmly in mind – to offer clients the flexibility to truly enjoy their holiday exactly the way they want it to be – there is a tangible sense of freedom and a refreshing lack of limitations at this new, ultra-modern, fivestar hotel in Costa Adeje.
hand will find a huge selection of shopping and facilities nearby, along with the beaches of El Duque and Fañabe.
The elegant, minimalist suites, which range from studios to a four-bedroom penthouse, are perfectly equipped with everything you could possibly need in order to really feel at home, including comfortable living areas and state-of-theart kitchens. Spacious terraces offer spectacular sea views while features such as private swimming pools and inviting Jacuzzis help to create that much sought-after “X Factor”, which all helps to make Baobab Suites that extra bit special. Those wanting to stay in their suite and disconnect from the world for a week will find everything they need to do just that – even the breakfast of your choice is delivered to the suite in the morning so that you can gently start your day from the comfort of your living room or terrace, in total privacy. Families with children will love the private pools and even small private beach areas provided in some of the suites, as well as Saplings, one of the largest, most innovative kids clubs in Tenerife. Guests seeking entertainment on the other
Both hotel guests and members of the public are spoilt for choice when it comes to gastronomy at Baobab Suites. BB Pool Bar & Brasserie offers a delicious range of breakfast, lunch and dinner options, accompanied by breathtaking panoramic views, while bite. delicatessen & café is a veritable Aladdin’s cave of gastronomic treasure where you will discover freshly baked breads, mouthwatering cakes, nutritious fresh salads and a wide selection of coffees, teas and fresh juices as well as a gourmet section to stock up on the finest delicacies. For a fine dining experience, Sucás also offers the chance to enjoy a selection of sublime, innovative dishes in chic, sumptuous surroundings.
FOOD, GLORIOUS FOOD
Other hotel facilities include the Baobab Experience Centre, SensCare health and beauty institute and the brand new Activate Sports Club. Baobab Suites is perfect for those who like to think a little outside the box.
Spring Hotel BiTácora H OT E L S
A Family Haven
Wonderfully positioned just a stone’s throw from the fabulous range of beaches and services found at the perennially popular destination of Playa de Las Américas, but, at the same time, providing a peaceful, relaxing ambience, you’ll find Spring Hotel Bitácora.
Many hotels claim to be family friendly, but Spring Bitácora serves as a reference point of a hotel that has families right at its heart. Everyone knows that the key to a perfect family holiday is making sure the children are happy. Bored, unhappy children makes for miserable, stressed parents. Children staying at Spring Hotel Bitácora really are spoilt for choice when it comes to choosing what to do, and can enjoy a range of activities and services especially designed to entertain them throughout the day and into the evening.
Fun all the way! The energetic, friendly animation team is on hand with a range of games and sports events but the star of the show at Bitácora is the fabulous SpringlyWorld; one of the largest, most modern parks and play areas in Spain. Here, parents can expect to lose their children for hours on end in this attractive, colourful, and, what’s even better, largely shaded paradise. SpringlyWorld was conceived specifically with the smallest guests in mind and offers an endless selection of things to try for children of all ages and personalities so everyone can join in the fun – from the quietest, inquisitive little minds to most daring adventurers.
Paradise for kids
With the help of five specially designed fictional characters who, based on their abilities and personalities, can help guide children round the park, parents can truly lie back and relax safe in the knowledge that their little ones are not only well looked after, but also having a fantastic time.
110
Comfort comes first Rooms at Spring Bitácora are comfortable, bright and spacious, and unlike many other establishments, can easily accommodate a family of four, while the staff go out of their way to make children feel at home. A perfect family hotel.
hot
Daida
Brito P
ut
ogr
ily Gro up her R osti Fa m
Chi ef S ara hH ke utc tin hin g gs Ch rys te lle Ro sa les
yo
aph
er
roduct
ed érc M r lla cto Abe ri e m D ira ial rA nc ato n a i rd Fin Coo
ion
lmas Las Pa
Berta Makowsky Stylist st
Staff
as
S. Arm
Co n
ag
er
tri
ni
Cruz S Emma
nS upp
O’C o
rI sid or
nno
r
oC as
tro
zo
má
to
en
Guz
rie
or .L
ales
ort
lea
oC
Val e
.G rA
Viñas
Tat i
que
to
en
bu
bu
a Vanes
o enk rov a Ya Irin
or
uan R ebena
tor
tri
n Co
Sales
Sales J. S. Antoima
aM
Write rJ
ribu
n atio nsl Tra
t| l lis ia B y n t o S ir S Ha n rtí Ma s a Elí
Con t
Ma n
r St
t ylis
st rti A up ke a M
ng
U Make azorla C a n e r
ai oH anc
avinia
te D Delega
Culture Editor Verónica Franco p Arti
Yu
z
ére
P es
Ma r
La
Edi tor in
Ar
Jua nm iM árq uez P
Publis
r irecto puty D tro De les Cas s Rosa r Nicolá gne esi cD phi Gra ras r arre c to aF ire tD
n Ele
m .co cn ob ag Dr
An aB ran qu inh o
Director Antonio Rosales
staff
Zo il
042 112
+info The Small Boy C/ el Juego, 7 La Laguna
Cuplé C/ El Pilar, 12 S/C de Tenerife
Maite Antigüedades Santa Rosalia 32 S/C de Tenerife
Vintage Store C/ Nicolas Estevanez, 8 S/C de Tenerife
Dicky Morgan C/ San Agustín, 75 La Laguna
Armasport C/ Suárez Guerra, 10-12 S/C de Tenerife
Vestidor Vintage C/ La Rosa, 3 S/C de Tenerife
Miriam Fashion XL C/ J.R.Hamilton, 3 S/C de Tenerife
contact
info@theshowroommag.com • publicidad@theshowroommag.com • prensa@theshowroommag.com www.theshowroommag.com • facebook.com/theshowroommag • twitter.com/TheShowRoomMag