JANUARY 2019
KEIRA KNIGHTLEY Talks corsets, playing Colette and being a working mum
SHINE A LIGHT
A guide to the installations brightening up the month
AND RELAX...
The world’s best wellness retreats reviewed
THE WANDERLUST ISSUE Adventures on land, sea and skis
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EDITOR’S LETTER
T
here’s a great deal to look forward to in the next 12 months and here at Canary Wharf, one of the highlights of my year takes place in the coming few weeks. So while the trees and twinkle may have disappeared and the memory of the New Year’s Eve firework spectacular is fizzling out, lights are set to continue to illuminate our community. The Canary Wharf Lights festival opens throughout the estate on 15 January and will, I am sure, brighten the sometimes depressing final two weeks of the month. Keith Watson is the curator of the art installations and works for Canary Wharf Group at One Canada Square. On page 21, Keith explains how he attends various light shows around the world, to see the artworks in real-life before commissioning them to be displayed at Canary Wharf. Sustainability and the environment is the overall theme this year and Keith says his team wanted to capture the awareness of environmental issues and the willingness of the nation to move towards a better future. This is also the time of year when my inbox is filled with predictions from industry leaders and companies telling us what they perceive we will all be wearing, visiting, buying and talking about in the next 12 months. One trend that does seem on an upward trajectory is that, in terms of travel and holidays, many more of us are seeking out the unusual – adventures and experiences rather than pure sand, sea and sunbeds. On page 90, travel writer Julia Zaltzman investigates the very best in expedition cruises – a far cry from the usual Med or Caribbean cruise. As Julia discovers, these experiences allow travellers to immerse themselves in spectacular environments, whether island-hopping in Papua New Guinea, taking the Ernest Shackleton hike in South Georgia or diving in the magical Sea of Cortez among the abundant sea life. This issue is dedicated to wanderlust – whether you yearn to hit the slopes in the coming months, or try something entirely new. I hope it inspires you and, like the light installations, brightens up your day. Wishing you a happy and successful new year.
DAWN ALFORD Content Director 8
JUBILEE PLACE . CANARY WHARF . +44 (0)20 7538 2332 . DAVIDMROBINSON.CO.UK
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CONTENTS ISSUE NO. 162 – JANUARY 2019
R EG U L AR S 12
CO NTR I B U TO R S The writers behind this month’s issue
37
BEAUTY NEWS Zara launches its first beauty line
38
SURVIVAL OF THE FITTEST The ultimate workout accessories
46
FASHION FORWARD Chic salopettes and slick ski goggles
56
KIDS’ CLUB Tips, tricks and knits for a family ski holiday
83
PACK YOUR BAGS The hottest hotel openings of 2019
90
F E AT URES 14
CORSETS, COLETTE AND KEIRA KNIGHTLEY The actress returns to the screen in a timely period drama
26
HAUTE COULEUR Terry de Gunzburg on By Terry and creating Touche Éclat
40
MAN ON A MISSION Explorer Bertrand Piccard’s mission to save the planet
48
SLOPE STYLE Winter sports wear from Sweaty Betty
58
78
48
58
MONSTERS, INC. Putting Lamborghini’s new SUV to the test
64
BORN TO ICE Photographs from Paul Nicklen’s new book
68
PEAK LUXURY Super-luxe slope-side escapes
74
COURCHEVEL What stands the villages of the French resort apart
78
TOP OF THE WORLD Exploring St Moritz, the world’s first great ski resort
TRAVEL 84
SPA STRUCK Check in at the world’s best spa retreats
90
TALES OF THE UNEXPECTED Embrace your inner voyager on these expedition cruises
PR O PERTY 113
68
HOT PROPERTY A five-bedroom family home in Blackheath
1 14 SPOTLIGHT
One Park Drive sells 65 per cent of its units
CONTRIBUTORS CONTENT DIRECTOR
Dawn Alford
CONTRIBUTING EDITOR
Richard Brown
DEPUTY EDITOR
Ellen Millard
DIGITAL EDITOR
Mhairi Graham
EDITORIAL ASSISTANT
Abisha Sritharan
CLIENT CONTENT MANAGER
Sunna Naseer DESIGNER
AN N A B EL HA R R I S ON Annabel Harrison is Luxury London Media’s editor-at-large, specialising in fashion, beauty and travel. In this issue, she interviews beauty extraordinaire Terry de Gunzburg (p.26).
PAUL N I CK L EN Canadian photographer and conservationist Paul Nicklen captures the Arctic world at its best angles. See his captivating snaps from his new book on page 64.
J ER EM Y TAYLOR Jeremy Taylor is a freelance writer and contributor to the Financial Times and The Sunday Times Magazine. On page 58, he road tests Lamborghini’s new SUV.
R OW E N A CA R R -A LL INS ON
Ismail Vedat PRODUCTION MANAGER
Alice Ford
MANAGING DIRECTOR
Eren Ellwood
GENERAL MANAGER
Fiona Smith
COMMERCIAL DIRECTOR
Rachel Gilfillan
BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR
Colin Saunders
BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT EXECUTIVE
Madelyn Curnyn
Rowena Carr-Allinson is a freelance writer whose stories have appeared in Elle and The Guardian. This month she compares Courchevel’s highest – and most luxurious – towns (p.74).
PUBLISHED BY JANUARY 2019
KEIRA KNIGHTLEY
Talks corsets, playing Colette and being a working mum
SHINE A LIGHT
A guide to the exhibition lighting up the month
AND RELAX...
The world’s best wellness retreats reviewed
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THE WANDERLUST ISSUE Adventures on land, sea and skis
Parka Jacket, £525; Aurora II Skinny Pants, £330, all Perfect Moment, photography by Theodore Muse, perfectmoment.com (p.46).
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CORSETS, COLETTE AND
KEIRA KNIGHTLEY IN HER NEW ROLE AS COLETTE, ONE OF FRANCE’S MOST LIBERATED, OPEN-MINDED FEMALE WRITERS, KEIRA KNIGHTLEY ONCE AGAIN PROVES THAT PERIOD DRAMAS ARE A PERFECT BACKDROP FOR STRONG WOMEN. AS SHE EXPLAINS, NOT ALL CORSETS ARE CONSTRICTING WORDS PETER WALLACE
THIS PAGE KIERA WITH CO_STAR DOMINIC WEST © LEV RADIN/SHUTTERSTOCK.COM OPPOSITE PAGE KEIRA KNIGHTLEY IN COLETTE
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INTERVIEW
K
eira Knightley is well known for her cut-glass accent and English rose image, but her latest film project is continental in nature and a shade saucier than many of her previous ventures. Colette, the eponymous biopic of the celebrated French novelist SidonieGabrielle Colette, presents Knightley with a new challenge on her return from a one-year Hollywood hiatus. Colette’s status as one of literature’s most compelling female figures, known for her personal independence as well as her clear-eyed exploration of women’s place in the society of the time, perhaps reflects Knightley’s modern, mature public persona. After all, in recent times the Teddington-born actress has become a leading voice of the cultural sea change currently shaping women’s roles in film and beyond – and Colette’s story epitomises this contemporary ideal. “I don’t think it’s a coincidence that the funding finally came together after such a long struggle to get this movie made,” the 33-year-old says. “We’re living in a time where women’s stories are suddenly being viewed as important and we’re now starting to see many more films and television series where women occupy the major roles.” Knightley says it was a privilege to play a woman who fought to find her own voice and escape from her husband’s shadow. “Colette believed that both men and women had the right to experience and give pleasure and her writing openly challenged traditional notions of femininity. When she fell in love with someone, it didn’t matter whether they were male or female and she was very open and shameless about that. She was a powerhouse.” The same term could well be applied to Knightley, with respect to her return to the silver screen. She took time off in 2015 to care for her new-born daughter Edie. She married musician James Righton – formerly of new-rave band Klaxons, now with Shock Machine – in 2013. Now the star, who was recently honoured with an OBE, has once again become a familiar face at premieres around the globe from this year’s foremost Christmas flick The Nutcracker and the
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Four Realms to upcoming projects The Aftermath and Berlin, I Love You. The Aftermath, being a post-World War II drama, plays to Knightley’s perceived strengths as a staple of historical features in the mould of Pride and Prejudice, Atonement, and now Colette. “I’ve always been drawn to historical fiction and I love exploring the past,” she agrees. “I enjoy relating to characters in period films and I have a completely different feeling when I feel I’m reliving another era as opposed to when I’m playing on contemporary stories. There’s something about the escapism that makes me want to do period drama and I often relate to those characters much more strongly. “But sometimes those kinds of movies have been the only ones that offered me the chance to play strong, independent women. I can’t tell you how many scripts I’ve read where women are subjected to violence or portrayed as the passive girlfriend or wife. At least the period films I’ve done have enabled me to tell stories about some very formidable and fascinating women.” In the case of Colette, Knightley’s return to the corseted characters that have at times defined her cinematic career has actually allowed her a new freedom. As well as portraying the multitudinous trysts of the authoress’s life, the film is set amid the fantastically Bacchanalian surroundings of the Belle Époque – the golden age of art, literature and culture that spanned the period from the end of the Franco-Prussian war in 1871 to the outbreak of World War I in 1914. “The Belle Époque was an era where they were breaking taboos in a massive way and Colette was a leading figure in that movement,” explains Knightley. “We might think that the sexual revolution took place in the 1960s but there were actually several earlier periods where barriers were being broken down depending on where you lived. England was going through the Victorian era while France was experiencing a completely different kind of evolution.” We have, she says, become more puritan since Colette’s time. “People then seemed to revel in the spirit of that era – they indulged in sex and alcohol very freely and were very open and tolerant. We haven’t really gotten any further along at all and we’re still debating those same questions of sexuality and gender.”
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THIS PAGE © TWOCOMS/SHUTTERSTOCK.COM OPPOSITE PAGE © KATHY HUTCHINS/ SHUTTERSTOCK.COM; KEIRA KNIGHTLEY IN COLETTE
The openness in Colette’s works – including the highly popular Gigi, which tells the story of a courtesan-in-training who marries her wealthy lover – not only made the film’s real-life inspiration an “extraordinary being”, but also allowed Knightley a “way in” to the mind of her character. “It enabled me to embrace her fearless way of going about her life,” says the actress. “She was writing about those issues and especially about female pleasure in the late 1890s and the 1900s and those ideas are still revolutionary today. Colette was so open about her relationships and very fearless in the sense that she lived her life the way she chose to and had no shame when it came to her sexuality. She lived unapologetically, and I would like people to feel empowered after seeing the film and learning more about her.” Colette’s partnership with her husband is also central to her story. Henry Gauthier-Villars, a fellow author who went by the nom de plume Willy, is played with characteristic brooding charm by Dominic West. Willy’s desire to boost his professional kudos leads him to use Colette as a ghostwriter and, once her novels became a critical and commercial hit across France, to set out to take credit for his wife’s words. “Their relationship was fascinating,” observes Knightley. “It’s important to understand that they were a celebrity couple of their time. He was the biggest star in Paris and everyone was drawn to him because he was so incredibly charming and charismatic, and it was easy for Colette to fall in love with him. It’s true that he marketed their relationship and exploited her talent – he took credit for her first four novels – but he also mentored her at the beginning and it’s because of him that she took up writing.” Colette, however, followed her own path. “Although she did fall under his sway at the beginning of their marriage, she needed time to find her own voice, step out from under him, and become her own woman,” says Knightley. “And after she left him that’s exactly what she did.” 18
Apropos of Colette’s cultural significance, Knightley has seemingly found the perfect vehicle to emphasise her own desire to prove that films – even those dressed up in period clothing – can help us reflect on our own society’s dearth of female-led stories. “I think Colette should serve as an example of how women can make their mark on the world,” she says. “Women need female heroes like her because it’s vital that young girls in school learn about the contributions that women have made in history. Usually we only hear about male heroes or great male figures, so women need to learn more about remarkable individuals like Colette. We need to be inspired by her story and by those of so many other women in history whose lives and accomplishments have often gone unrecognised or not received the kind of attention they deserve.” And there it is: the strand that connects Knightley’s performance, philosophy and personal life. It’s been more than a decade and a half since her breakthrough in coming-of-age sports comedy Bend It Like Beckham and nearly as long since she first appeared as Elizabeth Swann in Pirates of the Caribbean. Yet Knightley’s propensity to choose roles that portray women seeking to make their own mark in a man’s world – be that as a female football player or a governor’s daughter turned cutlasswielding pirate – remains as keen as ever.
“I think Colette should serve as an example of how women can make their mark on the world” Seen in this context, her recent revelation that Disney classics The Little Mermaid and Cinderella have been banned in her house seem less controversial than the press would like to make out. After all, Knightley’s entire career up to and including Colette has been grounded in her portrayal of patriarchy-defying daughters, wives, and mothers, something she hopes her own daughter will one day emulate. Her own mother, Sharman Macdonald, also provided a strong role model; a successful playwright, the author of When I Was A Girl, I Used To Scream And Shout, she is also a long-time activist. “She’d always get together with what would now be called LGBTQ+ communities to protest,” Knightley recalled in a recent interview. Elsewhere, she added: “She’s always said, ‘Live your life like the title of that play. Scream and shout until people hear you.’” Macdonald’s work ethic was also an inspiration. “I grew up the daughter of a working mother, and I know how important it was to me and my sense of self to see my mum working,” nods Knightley. “I want my daughter to see that I’m doing something that I love. I want her to know that whatever field she chooses, she can have a kid and she can still pursue a career.”
INTERVIEW
COLETTE: THE GRANDE DAME OF FRENCH LITERATURE Sidonie-Gabrielle Colette, universally known simply as Colette, was a French novelist, journalist and actress, born in 1873. Her first four novels, the Claudine quartet, a piquant coming-of-age series, were initially published under her husband’s name. Author and publisher Henry GauthierVillars, who used the pseudonym Willy, was notorious for his own affairs and encouraged Colette’s lesbian relationships, as well as pushing her to write. They divorced when Colette was in her early 30s, and Colette took to the stage to support herself. She subsequently remarried and had a daughter. As well as the Claudine books, Colette’s best-known novels include Chéri, the story of a young man with an older female lover, La Vagabonde, and La Naissance du Jour, both of which explore women’s place in society at the time. She is also famous for Gigi; the Broadway stage version starred Audrey Hepburn while the Hollywood musical, with Leslie Caron in the title role, scooped a clutch of 1959 Oscars, including Best Picture. Colette was not only an immensely popular writer but also a very serious literary talent: she was nominated for the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1948. On her death on August 3, 1954, she was refused a religious funeral by the Catholic Church on account of her divorces but was given a state funeral, the first French woman of letters to be granted the honour.
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THE CANARY WHARF WINTER LIGHTS FESTIVAL RETURNS FOR A FIFTH YEAR THIS JANUARY. WITH MORE THAN 200,000 VISITORS EXPECTED, THIS TIME THE FESTIVAL IS SET TO BE BIGGER, BRIGHTER AND MORE ECO-FRIENDLY THAN EVER BEFORE RECYCLISM BY ART OF OK
WORDS ABISHA SRITHARAN
PRISMATICA, RAW DESIGN - CINDY BOYCE
LET IT SHINE Keith Watson, curator of Winter Lights Canary Wharf, discusses the theme of this year’s event.
W
e have had a single light artist creating various pieces in Canary Wharf since 2004, but in 2015 we decided to make it bigger and do a festival that spans across the Estate. We attend various light shows around the world, to see artwork in real life, as it is always better to see pieces and experience them yourself rather than see them through photographs. We also find our artists through recommendations or choose artists who we have known for many years and whose artwork we think would be a good fit. As well as choosing existing pieces, we sometimes invite the creators to see the space first, and then they design their piece around it so that it is bespoke to Canary Wharf. This year we did this for the Crossrail Place Roof Garden. It is really important to get recognition for the artists, as it is an art show, not just a light show. With the installations at the festival, we have a mixture of pieces to see and pieces to interact with; it is important to do that so people can experience the artwork up close and really interact with it all. We work all year round. As soon as one finishes, we start work on the next. We already have some ideas for the 2020 festival. But the main bulk of it begins around three months before the festival takes place, and the mountain of work – such as erecting the installations – begins the weekend before with a large crew. Sustainability and the environment is the overall theme this year. We wanted to capture the atmosphere of the nation in moving towards a more sustainable future and have collated artworks which are profound in their creation and appearance. By incorporating themes around the relationship between everyday materials and the environment, we want to continue pushing the conversation about waste across all generations. We have tried to make the whole thing as eco-friendly as possible, for example we used LED lights and encourage artists to use shared transportation. There will be a food market this year at Cabot Square, making the space a festival hub for people to take a break while touring the installations. The fountain there will also have a mini light show. This should make the festival all the more exciting.
AURA, RONAN DEVLIN
HEDFON LIGHT MAZE, BEN BUSCHE
QUAYS CULTURE
IN RESIDENCE Anthony Rowe, artist and founder of creative collective Squidsoup, explains the inspiration behind his immersive light experience My art collective, Squidsoup, has two pieces at the Winter Lights festival this year. The first is called Submergence, an immersive walk through space for which we used thousands of points of light to create the illusion of movement and presence. This will be the largest version of the piece we have ever done and will include 24,000 points of light. We are really looking forward to seeing it at such a large scale. The second piece is called Flow; it is not a brand new piece but it is new in some ways because every installation is different as it responds to the environment it is in. The lights are laid out on the ground to simulate fictional energy flows that occur within that space. Submergence came about as part of my PHD and was very much about trying to break down the boundaries of the screen, which can be a barrier in immersive pieces. You could look at this piece like an exploded screen that you can walk through.
Flow is inspired by Aboriginal and Japanese art, and is a response to the space it is in. My career has spanned all kinds of industries, including being a sailor; I sailed the Atlantic Ocean alone. My first degree was in mechanical engineering and my second degree was in art and design, so I wouldn’t say I have wanted to do this since I was a child. The name of our collective, Squidsoup, stems from the idea that the team has different skills – so different ingredients – and we reach into different worlds, so our tentacles are in various areas. But we actually came up with the name in a Southeast Asian restaurant in London, and the Squid Soup there was delicious. Winter Lights at Canary Wharf, 15-26 January, canarywharf.com
BEST OF THE REST
WINDOW GALLERIES CANADA PLACE Showcasing up-and-coming artists, designers and craftspeople showing this month until 26th January
ALL THE MUST-SEE DISPLAYS AT THE FESTIVAL THIS YEAR
ART WINDOW CANADA WALK
BIT.FALL BY JULIUS POPP
• Prismatica by Raw Design consists of 50 pivoting prisms that act as kaleidoscopes and can be seen in Jubilee Plaza • Whale Ghost by Pitaya has been recommended as a ‘must-see’ piece. It showcases animal extinction and the impact humans have on endangered species • Stuart Langley’s Two Hearts can be seen lighting up the area from the Cubitt Steps • Heofon Light Maze by Ben Busche is a light maze in Cabot Square that can be enjoyed by all • Blue Neuron by Zac Greening is a kinetic light sculpture made up of reused plastic bottles, perfectly fitting this year’s theme. • Time & Tide by Paul and Pute can be seen in all its colourful glory in the Colombus Cortyard • Ronan Devlin’s piece, Aura, combines art and technology to create a stunning spectacular at the North Dock • Colour Moves by Rombout Frieling Lab is a mind-bending immersive piece on the perspective on colour • Martin Richman’s, We Could Meet, is one of the permanant installations on the estate. It can be seen at Crossrail Place • Enchanted Connections by Tine Bech Studio invites visitors to interact with light (and each other) in a unique way • Last Parade has been created by Alexander Reichstein and can be seen sitting at Crossrail Place • Light, Stone, Pavement by Raoul Simpson is hopscotch like you’ve never seen before. You’ll definitely want to join in • Floating Islands has been designed by Murude Mehmet and local schoolchildren from Tower Hamlets. The eco-friendly creation can be seen in Jubilee Park • Angels of Freedom by Oge Collective (pictured below) has travelled around the world and is now on show at Canary Wharf for the Winter Lights festival. This insta-worthy installation can be seen at Jubilee Place.
NUNZIO PRENNA ©
OSKAR KRAJEWSKI
artofokay.com / art-recyclism.com Krawjewski’s Recycled Future is made up of 25,000 small pieces. “I started putting it together and saw that it looked like a small town – in my imagination, at least – so I made it into a cityscape. I love travelling and watching sci-fi movies so both of these contributed to it . The message behind it is about not wanting to be a part of a culture that consumes”.
DESIGN WINDOW JUBILEE WALK
DÉSIRÉE KOLAREC desireekolarec.com
Désirée Kolarec has used her designs to express her personal beliefs and tell stories of enlightenment. Every day Désirée witnesses people moving through their lives in a state of apathy; living in a bubble while being glued to our phones can diminish our emotions. This type of lifestyle limits how we perceive the world. She seeks to disrupt this. Her Make Light, Share It jewellery features a light source to encourages people to stop for a moment and focus.
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Citibank Europe plc is authorised by the Central Bank of Ireland and by the Prudential Regulation Authority. It is subject to supervision by the Central Bank of Ireland, and subject to limited regulation by the Financial Conduct Authority and the Prudential Regulation Authority. Details about the extent of our authorisation and regulation by the Prudential Regulation Authority, and regulation by the Financial Conduct Authority are available from us on request. Citibank Europe plc, UK Branch is registered as a branch (registration number FC032763) in the register of companies for England and Wales. The registered address in the UK is Citigroup Centre, Canada Square, Canary Wharf, London E14 5LB. Citibank Europe plc is registered in Ireland with number 132781, with its registered office at 1 North Wall Quay, Dublin 1. Citibank Europe plc is regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland. Ultimately owned by Citigroup Inc., New York, USA. Š Citibank N.A. 2018. CITI, CITI and Arc Design are registered service marks of Citigroup Inc.
HAUTE COULEUR WHEN BEAUTY BECOMES BESPOKE: BY TERRY, AFTER TWO DECADES IN BUSINESS, HAS LAUNCHED THE PALETTE FACTORY WORDS ANNABEL HARRISON
INTERVIEW
I
’m wearing a lab coat as I use a long-handled, spatula-like spoon to scoop up 2.5g of shimmering, pale gold pigment before pressing and packaging it. I feel as though I’m back at school, but I definitely didn’t leave any science lessons with my own bespoke eyeshadow palette. Just five minutes ago, I used an iPad to choose my colours – one can make powders, blushers, bronzers, highlighters or eyeshadows and there are more than 5,000 possible combinations – before the ‘recipe’ was printed and a beauty consultant guided me through the pigment pressing process. This, the By Terry Palette Factory line, is beauty for the 21st century: bespoke beauty, inspired by “the young people” and her own fascination with technology, founder Terry de Gunzburg tells me. “I wanted to make it very scientific, but not boring” – which, she says, meant a huge amount of work. “I wanted to reinvent what I started from scratch 20 years ago and make each customer feel she is her own beauty designer. We worked on the Palette Factory for five years.” ‘We’ is de Gunzburg and her daughter Marion Assuied, who is the CEO of By Terry. “It’s modern luxury,” says de Gunzburg. “The customers [here in London] are very open-minded – they are ready to discover something different and new.” Turning ‘something different and new’ into a cult favourite is what de Gunzburg does best. Touche Éclat launched 26 years ago, but half a dozen of these genius click-pen concealers still sell every minute worldwide. Although branded with the name Yves Saint Laurent, this now iconic product was de Gunzburg’s creation, as make-up designer of YSL Beauté for 15 years. After all this time, Monsieur Saint Laurent continues to inspire her. He once told de Gunzburg: “When you think it’s done, push beyond your own limits and you will discover a new energy in your creative process.” De Gunzburg recalls: “He gave me this confidence to open my mind. The sky is the limit. Why not?” Why not indeed? De Gunzburg’s enthusiasm for knowledge, fired by innate curiosity, a scientist husband and four children, is undimmed by decades in the industry. “I have to learn one new thing every day. And I check Instagram first thing when I wake up.” She apologises for her “bad English” but her turns of phrase are charming and she’s only an eyeliner flick away from fluent (while my French is passable, at best). She has a strong creative streak and “loves science” – resulting in make-up that women actually want to wear. “Technology teaches me to reinterpret all my knowledge. I am not a fashion-show girl – I prefer to be in the lab with ‘geek’ people and to learn from them. I want my customers to feel good in their skin, and happy in themselves, so I have to deliver results through my products.”
“The customers [here in London] are very open-minded – they are ready to discover something different”
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And this approach is clearly working. Her business has seen double-digit growth every year for 10 years – “we’re in London, Paris, New York, and opening next year in Asia” – and I’d bet this is because de Gunzburg is her own customer. “She is inspired by luxury – modern luxury. She knows what she wants. She has style, freedom, a hint of exuberance. She likes to discover things. She wants to be her own guru, but to be taught by someone she trusts. She’s taking care of her skin but she’s doesn’t want to wear 10 layers or look fake, or pretend to be 20 if she’s 60.” De Gunzburg’s own essentials are her new Baume de Rose lip balm, her Lash-Expert mascara – “all-in-one, elongating, volumising” – and her Light Expert click-brush foundation. She explains that if she surprises herself with a product, she will also
ALL IMAGES COURTESY OF BY TERRY
surprise her customers and make them happy. “That is what I am very proud of. I don’t want them to be me, or the influencer – I want them to be themselves.” Brands cannot dismiss the fact that millennials pore over social media as they once used to scrutinise fashion magazines, snapping up their idols’ must-have products in a matter of clicks. De Gunzburg says she is “part in, part out. We can’t ignore it. When I started, top models were the face of brands and dictated the colours that everyone wanted. And everyone wanted to look the same.” Next, she says, came “the trend for being yourself, and social media is open-minded – anyone can become the new face of the world. It’s influenced sales, the market, creativity, new business, a new way to think, create, learn.” It all comes back to learning and inventing. It’s the Palette Factory now, but I’m interested to see what de Gunzburg will dream up next year. Endearingly, her husband calls her Ingu – at first I think this is a term of affection in another language, but no. It stands for I Never Give Up. She doesn’t – and she believes in delivering true luxury in the process. She aims, she says, at “something creative, done with authenticity, integrity and quality. Luxury is not just the stamp of a brand on a box. It has to be based on savoir faire, deep feeling and it has to come from the soul. Integrity will be the new luxury.” Our time is nearly up, so I ask de Gunzburg – who splits her time between London, Paris and New York – what appeals to her about our capital city. “I love everything about it!” she exclaims. “The British people are so civilised and polite. My treat, my luxury, is to have my walk in Hyde Park – the office is 10 minutes from my home near the Natural History Museum – near Kensington Palace and the Diana memorial. I stop to buy my tea and the staff are so nice and happy to see me. People are not complaining. London has all the good energy of New York, with a European sensitivity and an international open mind.” And we welcome Terry de Gunzburg, with her own energy and open mind – here’s to another 20 years in business. Palette Factory By Terry is exclusive to Selfridges; By Terry is available at Space N.K., Cabot Place,
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SOMETHING VERY DIFFERENT FOR A LITTLE BIT LESS Make Canary Wharf your home at Lincoln Plaza London. With a socially-conscious ethos, two restaurants to choose from including a signature Indian restaurant, and two bars, this hotel offers a unique taste of London. • Mr Todiwala’s Kitchen by Cyrus Todiwala, OBE, DL • Jack Speak Cocktail Bar and Terrace • Food Store Bar, Restaurant & Grocer http://group.curiocollection.com/CanaryWharfMag
Opening Offer
15% OFF
all bedroom bookings* Quote group code CWM15 when you book. Call 0207 987 1157 * Offer ends 31 March 2019. Subject to availability. For full terms and conditions see online.
C WG N E WS
WINNERS OF THE WILDLIFE PHOTOGRAPHY COMPETITION 2018 ANNOUNCED
TOP: HITCHING A LIFT BY VICTORIA JONES, WINNER OF CANARY WHARF WILDLIFE PHOTOGRAPHY COMPETITION 2018, CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: HAGGARD LEAF BY NATHAN-PHUA, SILVER AND BLUE BY ROB WILKINSON, ONE CANADA NONSQUARE BY CANDY BLACKHAM, FERN FROND BY ELENA CHAYKINA
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fter much deliberation from the panel of judges, the winners of Canary Wharf Wildlife Photography Competition 2018 were announced at an awards ceremony on Friday 7th December. Now in its fourth year, the competition is open to all amateur photographers and invites residents, employees, tenants and visitors to photograph the diversity of flora and fauna around the Estate. Last month, twenty-five shortlisted entries were on display in Adams Plaza Bridge. From these shortlisted entries, a winner from each category was selected. The winner of the ‘Junior’ category
was Nathan-Phua with his striking and colourful photo, Haggard Leaf. Securing the ‘Around the Streets and Gardens’ prize was Rob Wilkinson with his submission, Silver and Blue. Candy Blackham won the ‘Close Up and Personal’ category with her beautiful Fern Frond image and Elena Chaykina won the ‘Geometric and Organic’ category with One Canada Nonsquare. Lastly, the ‘Wildlife and Water’ category was awarded to Victoria Jones for her work, Hitching a Lift. From these category winners, the overall winner of the 2018 Wildlife Photography Competition was Victoria Jones who submitted two photographs: the first,
showcasing Sammy, the resident seal of Canary Wharf, and the second, the winning photograph of a Great Crested Grebe carrying its young on its back, captured between North Dock and Blackwell Basin. The winner of each category received a £250 Canary Wharf Gift Card, with the overall winner receiving a further £750 Canary Wharf Gift Card. This year, a Director’s Choice Award was also introduced which was awarded to Ronin Erdemgil in the ‘Junior’ category for his Fish Supper and to Mark Roman Gold in the ‘Wildlife and Water’ category for his Raising Baby image. Each won a £250 Canary Wharf Gift Card.
ca n a ry w h a r f. c o m @ST RO N GI S LA N D EAST
CARLI WHEATLEY
WORLD OF WELLNESS AN EXCITING NEW WELLNESS FESTIVAL LANDS IN CANARY WHARF, EXPLORING WAYS TO FUEL A HEALTHY AND DYNAMIC LIFESTYLE THROUGH EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE WORDS SUNNA NASEER
This month, a festival focused on wellness education and experience will bring together leading brands, names and innovators in the health and wellness sector. Curated by Carli Wheatley, Strong Island will provide the Canary Wharf community a window in to the world of wellness. Wellness has infiltrated into every aspect of our lives through mainstream and social media. Strong Island aims to explore its key themes and trends to deliver an inspiring programme of classes, workshops and talks tailored to the questions you want answered. What is the concept behind Strong Island? Strong Island is landing in Canary Wharf for the very first time in January 2019. It will explore and bring the best of what is available in London to the community at Canary Wharf for one week.
Who is it for? The event is for anyone who wants to make more time to prioritise their mental health and wellbeing. Whether you’re a wellness warrior or new to the idea, you’ll leave feeling inspired to find more time and space to nurture and look after yourself. For Strong Island, I am working with an amazing team and we’re excited and ready to educate, motivate and challenge you. Will there be classes and workshops to take part in? Yes! All week long. Whether that is listening to a lead meditation, educating yourself on misleading food labels or taking part in a workout from Third Space, Barry’s Bootcamp or Body Reform. The event will also showcase many other hidden gems like sound baths offering you a chance to breathe, relax and feel well.
How has the wellness industry changed in the past few years? People are better able to communicate their needs, they may not quite know the solutions but I believe there is a greater awareness of personal wellbeing needs. At Strong Island you can find the support you need – all you have to do is turn up and try! What advice do you have for people wanting to improve their wellness? Keep it simple. Start with a yoga class or practise eating foods that will nourish your mind and body. Myself and my friends will be landing in Canary Wharf on 28 January to 3 February. Come and join us! There are inspirational panel discussions, healthy food, mocktails, DJs, live bands, discounted treatments and a fabulous goody bag. Boys and girls get booking your tickets today. For more information and updates on Strong Island, visit canarywharf.com or @strongislandeast on Instagram
AND RELAX... STEP INTO AN IMMERSIVE, MIND-CLEANSING EXPERIENCE WITH JOYFUL MUSIC, DELICIOUS FOODS AND HEAVENLY DECOR AT SOFT LANDINGS
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n Friday 1 February, a new concept is launching at East Wintergarden to transfom Canary Wharf into an inner-city retreat. From the highly acclaimed community-building platform, Tamuka Productions, comes Soft Landings – a space where you can come to receive joy, nourishment and stillness in the city. Enjoy a full day of multi-sensory wellness experiences complete with orchestra-accompanied yoga, performances from Felix Buxton (Basement Jaxx) and surprise guest appearances. Tamuka are known for their inclusive, empowering and entertaining experiences such as the original sober morning rave, Morning Gloryville. At Soft Landings, guests will be gifted new names for total anonymity and can enjoy a range of all-day experiences. Choose your experience with a carefully crafted journey of uplifting music, meditation, organic foods, art installations and performance. There will also be three special shows taking place throughout the day. As Canary Wharf wakes up and fills with the hustle and bustle of city life, take a moment to yourself to enjoy inspirational live orchestral music and a 40-piece sound healing ensemble with yoga, meditation and qigong from 6-9am. Arrive at work feeling refreshed and relaxed. Between 12-2pm, Soft Landings aims to energise with Superstar DJs giving you a rhythmic re-boot. You can also visit the self-care Love Doctors and pick up some delicious vegan street food for lunch. If a busy day at work has left you feeling stressed, wind down and nourish with friends and loved ones at the sunset event taking place between 5-9pm. Immerse yourself in an after-work concert with amazing live acts and plenty of tasty food. Soft Landings is the answer for anyone feeling stressed or seeking connection and a restored sense of purpose in the city. Founder Samantha Moyo says, “Soft Landings is a space where everyone is welcome and where nourishment, playfulness and fitness meet. We believe in everyone’s right to happiness and have created this event for people who’d like to challenge their daily rhythm. We love Londoners and this new experience is our way of hugging you all.”
A space where you can come to receive joy, nourishment and stillness in the city
£30 per session / £50 all-day pass / Team packages available Soft Landings is part of Strong Island, Canary Wharf ’s first fitness and wellness festival, visit canarywharf.com for more information Soft Landings, East Wintergarden, softlandings.space
WHARF KITCHEN
JUBILEE PLACE
Canary Wharf’s vibrant market hall bursting with delicious street food from across the globe. From colourful Caribbean cuisine, grilled Greek delicacies and fried chicken, to feel-good health foods, fresh dumplings and vegan burgers, Wharf Kitchen showcases flavours from far and wide all under one roof. Canary Wharf Magazine_Wharf Kitchen_Artwork.indd 1
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VURGER CO
The very first all-vegan restaurant in Canary Wharf serves up juicy plant-based burgers jam packed with a stacked patty, delicious house-made sauces and plenty of crunchy toppings to showcase just how satisfying plant based burgers can be. Choose from a selection of fries, slaw or their famous mac ‘n’ cheese on the side and treat yourself to a shake if you’re feeling indulgent. Vurger lovingly crafts its food with locally sourced, totally natural, simple and wholesome ingredients. All of their lettuce is grown in the UK and their micro herbs are grown right here in Canary Wharf. With fresh ingredients like these, their food is full of flavour. Co-Founder Kate Hugh enthuses, “Flavour is a big thing for us, so we try to ensure all of the elements balance each other. The patty in our classic burger was created to hold its own, with house-made burger sauce and crunchy toppings to complement.”
"Our burgers leave you feeling totally full and satisfied. I challenge anyone to say they're hungry after! – Rachel Hugh, Co-Founder thevurgerco.com Canary Wharf Magazine_Wharf Kitchen_Artwork.indd 3
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RAINBO
Out of a pure and undying love for gyoza, came Rainbo. Their mission? To spread the word... and the word is dumplings... Starting life in 2012 as a food truck specialising in gyoza dumplings, Rainbo was born in London and inspired by Tokyo. Since then, it has grown, with the menu expanding to include Japanese delicacies with a focus on food that is fresh, vibrant, exciting and delicious – all created with Rainbo’s own unique twist. From Katsu wraps, teriyaki pulled oyster and pork belly rice bowls to their famous breakfast bao buns and signature homemade gyoza topped with pickled shredded mooli, Rainbo dipping sauce and chilli oil.
"Everything we've worked towards for the past few years has been leading up to the opening of this flagship in Wharf Kitchen. - James Palmer, Director
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BIRD
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Tender, saucy and decadent. That’s how Co-Founder, Cara Ceppetelli sums up the food from London’s original fried chicken and waffles joint. Born in Shoreditch in 2014, BIRD has become synonymous with fun, fresh food and of course, awesome fried chicken. From wings in a choice of house-made sauce to a range of mouth-watering fried chicken burgers: bacon cheese or buffalo blue for cheese lovers, Nashville hot or green chilli cheese for spice fans, and the must-try famous waffle burger. It’s the perfect mix of salty, sweet, crunchy and soft. BIRD chicken is delivered fresh every day from a family-run farm on the Yorkshire Wolds. It’s then brined in buttermilk, tossed in a secret (gluten-free) spice mix, fried in 100% British rapeseed oil and made fresh to order. Served alongside a range of amazing sides, their own beer and fresh glazed doughnuts, you’re truly spoilt for choice.
"The juicy, crunchy fried chicken combined with the soft, fresh waffle is beautifully tied together with Canadian maple syrup and honey butter. - Cara Ceppetelli, Co-Founder birdrestaurants.com Canary Wharf Magazine_Wharf Kitchen_Artwork.indd 7
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THE ATHENIAN
Born and raised in Athens and Cyprus, Efthymios Vasilakis and Neofytos Christodoulou launched The Athenian in 2014 to bring healthy street food to London, offering freshly made souvlaki and gyros prepared in the healthiest, most authentic way possible. “Souvlaki literally means little skewer. In Athens this has become the name for the whole wrap. Gyros on the other hand is the name for the meat that literally gyrates on the spit and then gets shaved off and served inside a wrap,” says Efthymios. Find a variety of succulent grilled meats wrapped in soft pita, as well as vegetarian and vegan varieties made with grilled mushrooms, halloumi or organic seitan.
"Our pita bread and halloumi are handmade specifically for us in Greece. The cheese is creamier and less salty than what you´d normally find in London. - Efthymios Vasilakis, Founder theathenian.co.uk Canary Wharf Magazine_Wharf Kitchen_Artwork.indd 8
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MAMA´S JERK Mama’s Jerk is a Caribbean street food company famed for their fiery, succulent Jerk chicken. Their BBQ marinade is a secret recipe created by Mama Charlotte, founder Adrian Luckie’s late grandmother, and is used to marinate the chicken for 24-48 hours before slowly smoking and grilling. Adrian has had over 20 years’ restaurant experience and a lifetime of his grandmother’s and mother’s cooking which he has passed on to his kitchen crew. Dishing up authentic home-cooked cuisine, they offer vegetarian, vegan and fish options in fresh tropical salads, innovative rice dishes and roti wraps. Their Jerk Biriyardi with diced chicken and plantain is most popular with a twist on curried goat and vegetable curry launching this month.
"Caribbean food is made with love and passion from recipes passed down generations, using the vibrant colours of natural ingredients to infuse the delicious flavours in our foods. - Adrian Luckie, Founder mamasjerk.com Canary Wharf Magazine_Wharf Kitchen_Artwork.indd 11
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AHI POKÉ
Transport yourself with signature bowls packed full of sunshine and feel-good flavours with a Californian fuelled take on Pacific poké. With a menu centred on sustainably sourced fish and vibrant, fresh vegetables from local suppliers, Ahi Poké is a healthy and energising choice. Try their most popular bowl, Oahu, made with Ahi tuna, red onion, radish, fried onion, carrot and coriander. Or there’s spicy chicken and edamame, salmon and avocado, or miso tofu varieties. If you’re feeling adventurous, build your own bowl choosing fish and veggies, sauces and fresh, techicolour toppings including kimchee cucumber, coconut sweet potato and confit ginger.
"We're working on some brand new vegan dishes - look out for them this month! - David Bellaiche, Co-Founder
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PALEO SUPPLY Designed to work in conjunction with your body, Paleo Supply provides the healthiest of foods. Founder, Carli Wheatley explains, “Our food contains nutritious protein, healthy fats, superfoods and less refined carbohydrates.” Simply put, ‘paleo’ refers to eating the way that our ancestors did. Sourcing the best ingredients, Paleo Supply serve grab-and-go dishes as well as personalised meal plans to help you lose weight, lean up and feel more energised. Their most popular dish, Caveman Guac, is made with organic chicken, greens and gorgeous guacamole. For breakfast, there are paleo sandwiches, acai bowls and protein shakes and smoothies packed with greens, adaptogenics and organic ingredients for that much-needed energy boost.
"Eating paleo generally means you develop a wholesome and natural eating style, and acquire a better palate to seek out healthy food options long term. - Carli Wheatley, Founder @paleosupply Canary Wharf Magazine_Wharf Kitchen_Artwork.indd 15
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B E AU T Y
GET LIPPY
Calling all Zara shoppers, this one is for you: as well as helping you upgrade your wardrobe for the New Year, the fashion retailer is now also on hand to help you fill up your makeup bag with its brand-new cosmetics range. Designed in LA, produced in France and now available in the UK, the new Zara Ultimatte Collection – which features twelve velvety-matte lipsticks, eight ultra-matte liquid lipsticks and a lip liner – comes in a range of colours including Pantone’s Colour of the Year 2019: coral. Customers can choose to buy each lipstick individually or purchase a limited-edition three-piece lip kit, which comes in a handy makeup case. From £7.99, Zara, Cabot Place
BEAUTY NEWS STEAL THE SCENE IN 2019 WITH THESE SHOW-STOPPING BEAUTY PRODUCTS WORDS ABISHA SRITHARAN
OIL LANG SYNE
Previously only available at the Ritz Spa in Paris, Chanel’s exclusive line of body massage oils is now available in stores for all to enjoy. The light-weight body oils are 98 per cent natural and melt into the skin to moisturise, revitalise and nourish. Choose from four varieties of delightful scents, including vanilla and jasmine. £172 each, Boots, Jubilee Place
CLEANSE YOURSELF
Liz Earle is launching a fragrant limited edition version of its signature Cleanse and Polish range. The Bergamot and Juniper hot cloth and cleanser has been created to revitalise and cleanse skin while removing the effects of makeup and pollution, leaving it feeling refreshed and hydrated. £23.50, Boots, Canada Place
DRY JANUARY
Natural, organic and animalfriendly beauty brand Green People has launched a hand cream to help fight the negative effects of winter skin. The Manuka and Lemon Tea Tree hand cream allows you to wave goodbye to chapped and dry hands with intense moisturising that soothes and protects skin. £12.50, greenpeople.co.uk LU X U R Y L ON D ON .C O.U K
MAKES SCENTS
Jo Malone London is adding to its Cologne Intense Collection with the new Bronze Wood & Leather Cologne Intense. The new fragrance – like others in the collection – is rich with precious ingredients, and crafted to ignite the senses. The Bronze Wood & Leather fragrance can be mixed with other scents in the range to create a gorgeous medley of aromas. From £75, Jo Malone, Cabot Place 37
HITTING THE RIGHT NOTES Bang & Olufsen has introduced special editions of its popular Beoplay A1 portable speaker and Beoplay E8 wireless earphones – the ultimate workout accessories. Both sound systems have been re-launched in Late Night Blue, a colour inspired by jazz, music clubs and the flashing neon signs of New York. Find your favourite workout playlist and turn the volume up. From £229, B&O, Cabot Place
PUKKA UP
WEIGHT A MINUTE Bala Bangles are the world’s first wearable weights. Available in a range of colours, the bracelets look just like jewellery and can be worn around the house, on walks, or even at work. Weighing just one pound each, Bala Bangles add a constant but comfortable resistance to your workout, burning fat and building muscle as you go.
Pop the kettle on: Pukka Herbs has launched a new range of delicious teas and herbal superfood lattes. The new drinks, which include the indulgent Cacao Maca Magic latte and the detoxing Feel New Tea, an aniseed, fennel and cardamom blend, are a great way to unwind post-workout. From £2.99, Holland & Barrett, Canada Place
£36.30, sodasays.co.uk
SURVIVAL OF THE FITTEST IF YOU HAVE TAKEN A STEP (OR 10) BACK FROM YOUR FITNESS ROUTINE THIS FESTIVE PERIOD, THEN NOW IS THE PERFECT TIME TO GET BACK INTO IT, AND WE HAVE THE BEST PRODUCTS TO HELP YOU ON YOUR WAY WORDS ABISHA SRITHARAN
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H E A LT H & F I T N E S S
KEEPING TRACK
AYEM IN THE A.M
The MZ-20 Scales are the latest creation by fitness brand Myzone. The digital, Bluetoothenabled scales deliver data – such as your body fat, muscle mass, body mass and other information – straight to your phone via the Myzone app. Take your pick from black or white designs, and plug in to keep track of your data (such as weight gain and weight loss) easily and effortlessly.
Breakfast-loving brand Ayem has launched its new range of breakfast pots. Each protein-packed pot is made from a nutritious blend of almond, fruit and seeds, and is designed for busy, health-conscious people who are seeking feel-good feasts in the mornings. The breakfast bowls come in three flavours, and can be delivered to your home, your desk or even your gym.
£49.99, myzone.org
£2.49, myayem.co.uk
THAT’S HANDY A new non-surgical treatment is available to keep hands smooth and soft throughout the cold winter months. By boosting the production of elastin, hyaluronic acid and collagen in the skin’s cells, skincare expert LPG Endermologie can help keep hands soft, supple and looking young through a speciallycurated electronic massage tool. The brand, which has been developing beauty devices for more than 30 years, wants to encourage people to ‘fight for natural beauty’, and has a number of treatment centres across London. POA, endermologie.com
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MAN ON A MISSION “EXPLORATION SHOULD NOT BE ABOUT DISCOVERING NEW TERRITORIES; THE NEW GOAL IS TO IMPROVE QUALITY OF LIFE ON EARTH. WE HAVE SO MANY THINGS TO CHANGE: POVERTY, EDUCATION, HEALTH, HUMAN RIGHTS, GOVERNANCE, SUSTAINABLY — IT’S ALL YET TO BE ACHIEVED.” RECORD-BREAKING BALLOONIST AND ENVIRONMENTAL EXPLORER BERTRAND PICCARD IS EMBARKING ON HIS GREATEST ADVENTURE YET — PROVING TO WORLD LEADERS THAT ENVIRONMENTALISM REPRESENTS THE BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY OF THE CENTURY WORDS RICHARD BROWN
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ine in the morning. 1 March 1999. A full six hours after crew members had begun the process of inflating the Breitling Orbiter 3’s enormous, shinyskinned envelope, the siren of a fire engine and the ringing of church bells announced the moment when the chief of staff severed the final rope tethering the giant, silvery inflatable to the ground. The Bristol-built balloon, 55m tall, rose slowly at first, ascending gently over Château-d’Oex, a small Swiss village 53 miles south-west of Bern. Inside the egg-shaped, bright red, carbon-composite craft that hung beneath the globule of hot air and helium were Brian Jones and Bertrand Piccard. Nineteen days, 21 hours, and 47 minutes later, having manoeuvred into a series of jet streams that took them to altitudes of 38,507ft and speeds of 185mph, the two men touched down in Egypt. They had become the first people to circumnavigate the globe non-stop in a hot-air balloon. ‘We brought the balloon down to 6,000ft,’ Piccard later wrote, describing an experience eight days into the flight. ‘Below us the Pacific Ocean lay totally calm… When we climbed out through the top hatch for a few moments we sat there awestruck by the utter silence – no cry of a bird, not the slightest sound of wind or sea.’ LU X U R Y L ON D ON .C O.U K
With a family like his, Piccard was never destined for a job in IT. His grandfather Auguste, a professor of physics at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, devised the first pressurised gondola for high-altitude flights, as well as a bathyscaphe for deep-sea exploration. “My grandfather invented the pressurised cabin,” explains Piccard. “He wanted to show that it was possible to fly above the bad weather in thinner air where the fuel consumption would be lower. Having made the first balloon flight into the stratosphere in 1931, he was the first person to see the curvature of the earth with his own eyes.” In 1960, Piccard’s father, Jacques, became one of two men to dive to the bottom of the Mariana Trench for the first time when he took the bathyscaphe his father had designed to a depth of 10,911m. The Piccard family thus had the unique distinction of breaking world records for both the highest flight and the deepest dive. Piccard and I are speaking at the Breitling Summit, a press conference held in London last autumn. The Swiss horologist has just launched a new family of dress watches. The Swiss balloonist is here as an official brand ambassador – the upshot of an opportunistic phone call he made to the watchmaker in 1992. “I was invited to be the co-pilot of a fellow balloonist in a race across the Atlantic,” explains Piccard. “I called the then owner 41
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of Breitling and said, ‘Look, I’m a medical doctor taking part in a trans-ocean balloon race and I need two months’ salary in order to compete. Would you agree?’ He said, ‘Well, it’s my birthday today and I’m in a good mood, so yes, come along tomorrow and you can collect your cheque as well as a complimentary watch.’ He forgot all about it until I won the race, at which point he came back to me and said ‘I never expected it would be such a big success – if you ever have another idea, let me know.’” The Breitling Orbiter was that next idea. Despite being scared of heights as a child, the romance of exploration was instilled in Piccard at an early age. During his youth, he was taken by his father to the launch of several space flights from Cape Canaveral. Astronauts became his idols. “The astronauts of the early American space programme, the astronauts of the Mercury and early Apollo programmes, those that appeared in [the 1983 space film] The Right Stuff – they were friends of my father and I met them all when I was a kid. I thought, ‘Wow that’s the life I want to have.’” Unsurprisingly, perhaps, Piccard developed an interest in flight and human behaviour in extreme situations. He gained a degree in psychiatry at the University of Lausanne before becoming an expert in hypnotherapy, teaching and supervising at the Swiss Medical Society for Hypnosis. During the 1970s, he was one of the pioneers of hang-gliding and microlight flying, crowned European hang-glider aerobatics champion in 1985. He went on to obtain 42
“It’s ethereal, unreal. The propellers are turning, there is no noise, no fuel, and it is running just from the sun. It’s like being in a fairy tale” licences to fly balloons, aeroplanes, gliders and motor gliders. “My hang-gliding experience showed me how you can deal with risk, danger, crisis, problems, difficulties in life just by managing yourself better,” explains Piccard. “When you take risks, you are more aware of yourself, more present. When you are pushed to your limits, you feel most alive – your performance, your agility, your awareness of situations all increases. I use a lot of hypnotherapy with my patients because it helps them connect with a deeper part of themselves in order to solve the problems of their lives. Flying was my own psychological laboratory.” Shortly after his successful round-the-world balloon adventure, Piccard had another idea. The Breitling Orbiter 3 had burned 3.7 tons of fuel while circumnavigating the globe.
INTERVIEW
ANDRÉ BORSCHBERG AND BERTRAND PICCARD MEETING US CONGRESSMEN IN 2013 © SOLAR IMPULSE
Piccard wanted to do the same journey without using any petrol, oil or gas. In 2003, he announced a project in cooperation with engineer André Borschberg and the École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne to develop a solar-powered, long-range aircraft named Solar Impulse. In March 2015, following years of development and test flights, Piccard and Borschberg took off from Abu Dhabi in Solar Impulse 2, a carbon-fibre aircraft that had a wingspan larger than a Boeing 747 yet weighed roughly the same as a Range Rover. The plane had 17,248 solar cells on its wings, fuselage and tail, which charged four lithium batteries that drove its four propellers. Solar Impulse 2 was the first solar-powered plane capable of flying through the night. After stopovers in India, Myanmar, China, Japan, Hawaii, California and Phoenix, the men achieved their objective when they touched down in Abu Dhabi on 26 July 2016, more than 16 months after they’d left. A year later, Piccard announced the formation of the World Alliance for Efficient Solutions. “The Solo Impulse flight was the symbolic part, catching the attention of the people,” he says. “My goal then turned to bringing together all the startups, corporations and research labs who are currently working on profitable solutions that protect the environment.” The World Alliance for Efficient Solutions acts as a bridge between the protagonists involved in developing and financing products, services, processes and technologies intended to protect the environment in a profitable way. The body assesses solutions submitted by members, and, with the help of independent technical and financial experts, plans to select 1,000 of the most promising schemes. “I have always said that protection of the environment would become a reality only if it requires no financial or behavioural sacrifices,” says Piccard. “Who would renounce driving their car or heating their house because of sea levels rising in 20 years’ time? The truth is that today, even if climate change didn’t exist, building clean and efficient infrastructures would make sense. They represent the greatest industrial market ever, with the introduction of electric mobility, fully insulated constructions, heat pumps and LED lighting, smart grids and modern industrial processes. Clean growth is certainly better than the dirty status quo we have today. It’s a win-win situation.” So far, around 1,300 companies have signed up to the World Alliance. More than 600 have submitted solutions, of which 50 have been ‘fully labelled’ – that is, assessed as financially and environmentally credible. The plan is to have the other 950 solutions certified by the end of 2024. “We keep setting goals for 2050, 2040, 2030,” says Piccard. “I hate this because it is too far away – no one feels accountable or responsible for such a distant target. Decision-makers need to focus on solutions and shorter-term achievable goals. “At the end of 2024, I will travel around the world again, delivering a portfolio of 1,000 solutions to governments, companies and institutions. The portfolio must be so heavy that when I put it on the desk, it will break the table.” LU X U R Y L ON D ON .C O.U K
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COCO NEIGE, CHANEL.COM
P I ST E D E RÉSISTANCE WE’VE GOT YOUR WINTER BREAK COVERED, FROM LUXURY LODGES TO SLOPE-SIDE ESCAPES, STYLISH SKIWEAR AND MOUNTAIN-READY MOTORS
FA S H I ON F O R WA R D WORDS ELLEN MILLARD
ICE, ICE BABY Combining fashion with function, Perfect Moment’s new range features its technical fabrics reworked in a host of new styles – from striped thermals to star-print snow suits. Complementing fur-trimmed helmets and kitsch bum bags complete the collection. From £65 for a hat, perfectmoment.com
CREATURE COMFORTS Massimo Dutti’s après-ski collection is more sofa chic than slope-side style, with supple 100 per cent cashmere tracksuits, fair isle knits and suede and shearling jackets – the ultimate wardrobe staples for both slalom spectating and Netflix marathons. Massimo Dutti, Cabot Place
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STYLE NEWS
COLD SHOULDER Net-A-Porter is a one-stop-shop for stylish ski and activewear, with accessories by Moonboot and Calvin Klein and outerwear by Moncler and Fendi, all of which look just as good off-piste as they do on. net-a-porter.com
POLO BEAR Calling on classic sports styles from the 80s and 90s, Ralph Lauren has unveiled its Downhill Skier capsule collection, a range of heavy pullover tricot jerseys, trackpants and puffer jackets decorated with nostalgic graphic prints. From ÂŁ65 for a hat, Polo Ralph Lauren, Cabot Place
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FREE STYLE SEAMLESS LONG SLEEVE BASE LAYER, £65; FREE STYLE SEAMLESS SKI LEGGINGS, £65; SOREL EXPLORER CARNIVAL SNOW BOOTS, £120, ALL SWEATY BETTY, CABOT PLACE & JUBILEE PLACE
SLOPE STYLE BRILLIANT BASE LAYERS AND STAND-OUT SALOPETTES FROM SWEATY BETTY
CHENILLE BOBBLE HAT, £45; METHOD HYBRID SKI JACKET, £385; ASTRO SOFTSHELL SKI SALOPETTES, £285, ALL SWEATY BETTY, CABOT PLACE & JUBILEE PLACE
SLOGAN BEANIE, £45; EXPLORATION SOFTSHELL SKI JACKET, £385; SKI BETTY SEAMLESS LONG SLEEVE BASE LAYER TOP, £65; ASTRO SOFTSHELL SKI SALOPETTES, £285, ALL SWEATY BETTY, CABOT PLACE & JUBILEE PLACE
CHENILLE BOBBLE HAT, £45; FESTIVE STAR SEAMLESS LONG SLEEVE BASE LAYER TOP, £65; FESTIVE STAR SEAMLESS BASE LAYERS LEGGINGS, £65; TECHNICAL SKI SOCKS, £20; SOREL EXPLORER CARNIVAL SNOW BOOTS, £120, ALL SWEATY BETTY, CABOT PLACE & JUBILEE PLACE
SLOGAN BEANIE, £45; SKI BETTY SEAMLESS LONG SLEEVE BASE LAYER TOP, £65; SKI BETTY SEAMLESS BASE LAYER LEGGINGS, £65; TECHNICAL SKI SOCKS, £20; SOREL EXPLORER JOAN SNOW BOOTS, £135, ALL SWEATY BETTY, CABOT PLACE & JUBILEE PLACE
LUXE SNOW PUFFER, SUPERDRY, £224.99 PINNACLE SNOW GOGGLES, SUPERDRY, £59.99
MANOU JACKET, SNOW & ROCK, £870
GET SKI SEASON READY GOLDBERGH ALICIA JACKET, SNOW & ROCK, £445
PREPARE AND PROTECT YOUR BODY FOR THE SLOPES, FROM CORE STRENGTHENING WORKOUTS TO SPECIALIST SKIWEAR DESIGNED TO COMBAT THE ELEMENTS ALL AVAILABLE AT CANARY WHARF SNOW CAT SKI DOWN JACKET, £299.99 SNOW RESCUE JACKET, £279.99
SNOW & ROCK Modern sporty designs come in specialist fabrics with high quality waterproof finishings and layers of added protection. Visit the Boot Room for complimentary custom ski and snowboard boot fittings. Snow & Rock, Crossrail Place BOOT ROOM, SNOW & ROCK
FORMULA MEN’S JACKET, £699
MANOU JACKET, £870
SCHOFFEL KEYSTONE FAUX FUR JACKET, £570
J. LINDEBERG CRILLON DOWN MEN’S JACKET, £500
SOREL MEN’S CARIBOU WOOL BOOT, £160
EMERGE MIPS HELMET, £136
SNOW ACTION JACKET, £249.99
SUPERDRY Combining style with performance, the ski-wear collection features winter prints with contrast trims and premium fabrics for ultimate warmth and comfort. Superdry, Canada Place
SNOW DOWN MEN’S JACKET, £259.99
SNOW ACTION JACKET £249.99
SNOW SERVICE MEN’S JACKET, £249.99
ULTIMATE SNOW ACTION MEN’S JACKET, £249.99
SNOW LOGO BEANIE, £19.99 CARBON BASE LAYER LEGGINGS, £34.99
SNOW PANTS, £149.99
SKI FIT THIRD SPACE
PURE SPORTS MEDICINE
SPIN: Poweride is a competitive group cycle class that uses live visual data to improve the power you can generate. Great for working the lower body in preparation for your ski trip!
PILATES: Improve your muscle tone and balance with a Pilates Instructor for 1:1 bespoke sessions on the reformer. Alternatively, book in with a Strength & Conditioning Coach who will create a tailored programme for you.
CORE: If you want to improve your core strength and posture, this focused workout class will put you to the test.
PHYSIO: If you have any injury concerns before your trip, it’s best to speak to a physiotherapist who can offer you vital treatment and advice.
TRX FIT: For the perfect blend of strength and cardio, TRX Fit will build muscular endurance and burn fat with hearthumping cardio challenges.
MASSAGE: After your ski trip, don’t forget to remedy any sore, tired or tight muscles by pre-booking a relaxing massage treatment with one of the many expert Massage Therapists.
Third Space, Canada Square, thirdspace.london
Pure Sports Medicine, Cabot Place, puresportsmed.com canarywharf.com
@yourcanarywharf
@canarywharflondon
KIDS’ CLUB HIT THE SLOPES IN STYLE WITH THE BEST FAMILY SKI COMPANIES AND COOLEST COLD WEATHER GEAR WORDS MORAG TURNER
SKI FAMILLE
SNOW TIME
The burning question this winter isn’t where to do you stand on Brexit – it’s have you got your skiing holiday booked yet? With Easter falling so late in 2019, (Good Friday is 19th April) February half term is selling out fast, as is anything after that. But fear not – there is still availability with some fantastic companies. Just don’t leave it too much longer. If you need some high-end ski holiday inspo then your first ports of call should be family favourites Powder Byrne (powderbyrne.com), Ski Famille (skifamille.co.uk) and VIP Ski (vip-chalets.com). All have amazing, catered chalets and hotels dotted throughout the best European resorts. They totally understand what families want from a ski holiday – great nannies and brilliant lessons that keep the kids happy – allowing parents the peace of mind to enjoy the slopes too. With some of these operators you can book just accommodation and childcare, while others will arrange flights and transfers too. Check out 56
their websites or give them a call to get a tailormade package put together. Scott Dunn (scottdunn.com) is another family ski expert, which is a particularly good choice if you fancy going further afield to destinations such as Canada or the USA, but still want to make sure your kids are well catered for. Those with older children who don’t need a nanny or a creche
should also consider Ski Collection (skicollection.co.uk), which has added 17 great new properties in the French Alps for this coming season. All of the companies above can also put together an entire itinerary packed with wonderful winter activities such as tobogganing, ice skating and horse-drawn sleigh rides – so there is something fun for everyone to do on and off the slopes.
KIDS
MUDDY PUDDLES
THE COOLEST KIT
Kids’ ski gear has never been cooler, with so many brands offering amazing, cosy collections to wear on piste – and that will also come in handy on cold days back in the UK. Swedish company Polarn O. Pyret mixes simple, stylish designs with its expert Scandinavian knowledge of keeping warm in freezing conditions. Think useful balaclavas and neck warmers that will keep little skiers from shivering as the temperature drops. For bright, fun ski jackets and salopettes, check out Muddy Puddles, which also make great accessories such as gloves and mittens. (muddypuddles.com) Of course, family favourite Boden has joined in the alpine fun too. The brand’s snow boots are ideal for other winter activities such as sledging and après (boden.co.uk). As are the super stylish sweatshirts and tops from St Bert’s which feature retro ski prints (stberts.com). For base layers, you can’t beat Uniqlo; the label’s simple collection of HeatTech thermals is as economical as it is warm (uniqlo.com). For big name brands and a great selection of skiwear, check out Alex and Alexa (alexandalexa.com) which stocks the likes of Spyder, Poivre Blanc and Bollé. Or pop into Snow and Rock in Crossrail Place, where you’ll find literally everything you could need for a ski holiday (snowandrock.com).
KIDS TAKEN CARE OF
If you’ve found your dream chalet in the perfect spot, but it doesn’t offer any provision for the kids, don’t panic – simply put in a call to My Travelling Nanny. This UK-based company provides lovely nannies who will happily join you pretty much anywhere in the world. The specialist ski nannies take the kids to and from lessons and entertain them back at the chalet. Super flexible, they can also look after those too young to ski during the day and babysit in the evening, allowing the grown-ups to enjoy the après. ST BERTS
mytravellingnanny.co.uk
WINTER SUN CARE
It’s cold on the slopes, but it can also (hopefully) be sunny. Don’t forget to pack a great sunscreen to slather all over your little ones before they disappear with their instructors, or they will come back with very rosy cheeks. La Roche-Posay’s factor 50 is one of the best on the market. It’s waterproof too so when they roll around in the snow at lunchtime, it won’t come off. Result. From £14, Boots, Canada Place
PRACTICE MAKES PERFECT
It’s a long 51 weeks from one ski holiday to the next and it’s easy for youngsters to forget what the term ‘snow plough’ means, let alone how to put it into practice. If you’d like your kids to brush up on their skills before hitting the slopes, or even if they are complete beginners, consider lessons at Chel Ski, London’s largest indoor ski centre offering the very best hi-tech slopes. But, there’s a catch: there’s not an ounce of snow. Instead the slope, which moves under skis like a giant treadmill, is made of astroturf-like material and sprayed with water to give it grip – a world away from the dry ski slopes of old. With lessons for all ages and abilities it’s the ideal place to take the kids. From £34.99 for a junior session, including boots, skis and helmets, chel-ski.uk LU X U R Y L ON D ON .C O.U K
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MONSTERS, INC. SIX YEARS AFTER LAMBORGHINI DECLARED THAT IT WOULD REDEFINE THE SUV SEGMENT, CANARY WHARF MAGAZINE GOES CROSS COUNTRY WITH COMPANY CEO STEFANO DOMENICALI TO SEE IF ITALY’S MOST ICONOCLASTIC MARQUE DELIVERED ON ITS PROMISE WORDS JEREMY TAYLOR
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I
celand is known as the land of fire and ice, but it also boasts a fledgling car industry, too. The Isar Torveg is a monster SUV designed to tackle the country’s brutal back roads during the winter months. Equipped with 54-inch tyres and 18 seats, the Isar was created for ‘safe, non-destructive travel in wilderness areas’. Icelanders definitely like their SUVs big, so how will the relatively tiny Lamborghini Urus fair when the going gets rough? To say Stefano Domenicali is a stickler for detail is an understatement. I’ve just parked a Lamborghini Urus at Dyrhólaey lighthouse, on the southern tip of Iceland, when the Lamborghini CEO notices a speck of condensation inside a headlight unit. Considering we’ve crashed across some of Iceland’s lesserused tracks in a colour-coded convoy of automotive exotica, perhaps it should be no surprise that one of the seven Lambos on tour has taken a hit. The former team principal of Ferrari Formula One is having none of it. A mechanic is dispatched with pit lane-esque speed, whisking away the key so my SUV can be removed and parked in a more discreet location. Stone chip or not, nothing must de-rail Lamborghini Avventura Iceland – the Italian company’s car launch of this century. The Urus is arguably the most important model in Lamborghini’s 55-year history. It may not have the astounding beauty of the Miura, the madness of the Diablo, or even the craziness of the Countach, but the pretty Urus is about to give Lambo sales a welcome shot in the arm. It is already a sell-out for the first year of production and the Italians are looking to double sales volumes in 2019 to around 8,000 cars. The majority of owners will be family folk who would never have considered a psychopathic Huracan or Aventador in a million years. No wonder Domenicali is smiling. After a string of launch events on tarmac, the raging bull has arrived in Iceland to prove that a pretty, 4.0-litre, twin-turbo SUV can cope with off-road terrain and the odd stone chip. Can 60
it really scrabble up a volcano – the 641bhp should help – or will it crumble like a Gucci handbag dragged down a cobbled street? “Lamborghini is still a macho car – we are not softening the brand with an SUV,” insists Domenicali, who claims a sports utility vehicle was already on the cards when he joined Lamborghini in 2016, following his brief stint with Audi. “The first reaction to the Urus from our traditional owners was sceptical. Then they drove it and said ‘Wow’! If you want hairychested then it’s still there with our supercars. Lamborghini had to develop for the future if it was going to survive and have the finances to build more supercars like the Huracan and Aventador. In the past we polarised people – you either loved our cars or you hated them. With the Urus you either love it or you don’t like it. That is a big step forward, although I’m sure you are going to love it.” Lamborghinis are traditionally painted in a range of funky, tutti-frutti colours. There has been Verde Ithaca (lime green), Giallo Horus (yellow) and Viola Ophelia (purple). Our Icelandic seven pack was a rather sober mix of black, white, blue and yellow. The drive to Klettsvegi on the south coast road includes a chance to try the Urus on more extreme gravel tracks. The SUV features Neve, Terra and Sabbia modes – snow, earth and sand. They combine with the usual Strada (street), Sport and Corsa (track) modes already found in other Lamborghinis. The Kötlujökull glacier is famous for its multi-coloured ice layers – it also provides some of the most challenging driving on Lamborghini’s Icelandic adventure. This is no Land Rover, but the Urus can cope with challenging terrain, even shod with standard road tyres. The most popular T-shirt in the tourist shop at Hjörleifshöfði reads ‘If you don’t like the weather in Iceland, just wait five minutes’. Unlike your average supercar, Domenicali is keen to prove the Urus glides effortlessly across the snow in Neve mode. On the road, the Urus is a totally different beast. It out accelerates any current SUV model – even the Bentley Bentayga W12 with which it shares many VW Group underpinnings.
The Urus is arguably the most important model in Lamborghini’s 55-year history
LAMBORGHINI URUS Price: from £160,000 Weight: 2197 kg Engine: 4.0-litre twin turbo V8 Power: 641bhp Performance: 0-60mph in 3.6 seconds Maximum speed: 189mph Economy: 23mpg (combined)
The V8 engine delivers power to all four wheels via an eight-speed automatic gearbox, slightly biased towards the rear for better handling. The air sprung suspension can be adjusted through six different driving modes, as well as raised for off-road work. Even driven aggressively there is little body roll. It may not be as good in the rough as a Range Rover or Bentayga, but on tarmac it feels every bit as comfortable. Inside, choose between four or five seats. Boot capacity is 616 litres, which is about the same as a Porsche Cayenne. An infotainment system is driven by two touchscreens and the sound system is excellent. I ask Domenicali why I should choose an Urus over a Bentley Bentayga? “With all due respect,” he says, “because this is a Lamborghini! Let’s not forget these cars have very different souls. Bentley is an incredible brand and part of the same Volkswagen Group, but it appeals to a different type of customer.” The Italian says his goal is to ensure stable sales growth and prepare the company for the challenge of hybrid and electric power plants. “This is a moment of big change in the industry. I will be here for the arrival of Lamborghini’s first hybrid and possibly the first all-electric car, but that is still many years off. We don’t need to be the first in that segment, but we need to be the best.” Domenicali still lives in Monza, not far from the Formula One track where he once watched his F1 heroes race. He spends weekdays in Modena and also has a holiday home in the Dolomites. “I have a family so now, with the Urus, I can drive home in a Lamborghini. Believe it or not, my garage is empty. I used to have several motorbikes but my wife said I was too old – and she is the boss.” Would he ever return to Formula One? “No, but never say never. I wouldn’t go back into a team because I did it for 22 years and I still have a little hair left. As a sign of respect, I don’t like to
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talk about what has happened to my former team. “I’m very happy with what we are doing at Lamborghini. Urus is going to open up a whole new market for us and introduce the brand to a lot more customers. There’s no other car that does everything quite so well.” That’s open to debate. By the time you have added some desirable options the Urus will easily top £180,000 – a total that can buy an awful lot of car. Among them are models which share that same Volkswagen Group platform. The Bentayga is certainly more luxurious, the Cayenne equally as sporty and the much cheaper Audi Q7 far more practical. But what will make this SUV extra desirable is the Lamborghini DNA. It oozes from every nut and lightweight bolt. The Urus may share turbochargers with an Audi but even the keyfob feels sexy. And it has all the usual equipment you would expect in a luxury four-wheel drive: electric tailgate, superior leather trim, electrically adjustable heated front seats and a pair of excellent LED headlights that can cut through the worst Icelandic fog. I doubt the Lamborghini will ever offer ‘best in class’ handling off-road, but on tarmac it’s stunningly quick and will exit a corner like a ‘proper’ supercar. The steering is light and responsive, the seats are supportive and that rasping exhaust adds to the drama. We didn’t have the opportunity to try the Urus on a circuit in Iceland but I’ve no doubt it would be more than competent. Expect Lamborghini to launch a racing series for the Urus within the year. Until the Aston Martin DBX arrives later in 2019, Domenicali will have plenty to smile about.
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THE RAMBO LAMBO – THE ORIGINAL LAMBORGHINI SUV With all the fuss surrounding the Urus, it would be easy to overlook the original Lamborghini SUV. LM002 first appeared in 1986 and had the design subtleties of a brick. Styled like a Hummer army truck, this enormous sports utility vehicle was powered by a V12 marine engine that produced a thunderous 444bhp and a 368 lb ft of torque. It needed it to haul 6,780 lbs of car around – that’s easily more than twice the weight of your average family car. Filling up with petrol was an experience too because the LM002 was equipped with a 290-litre tank. The Urus weighs 4,850 lbs or about a third less. However, the new model has 45 per cent more horsepower and over 70 per cent more torque. With such thirsty habits, LM002 was the kind of car that would only survive as long as the global economic boom of the era did. When the bubble burst, the ‘Rambo Lambo’ went too. Just 301 were built. 63
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BORN TO ICE PAUL NICKLEN, PHOTOGRAPHER AND FOUNDER OF CONSERVATION CHARITY SEALEGACY, UNVEILS HIS LATEST BOOK WORDS ELLEN MILLARD
THIS PAGE, FROM TOP: FACE TO FACE, SVALBARD, NORWAY, 2018; ORCA BALLET, NORTHERN NORWAY, 2018 OPPOSITE PAGE: BORN TO ICE, ROSS SEA, ANTARCTICA, 2018; ALL PHOTOGRAPHY © 2018 PAUL NICKLEN, © BORN TO ICE BY PAUL NICKLEN, PUBLISHED BY TENEUES, TENEUES.COM; ALL RIGHTS RESERVED; SEALEGACY.ORG
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THIS PAGE, FROM TOP: ICE WATERFALL, SVALBARD, NORWAY, 2018; WINTER’S FEAST, LOFOTEN, NORWAY, 2018; NATURE’S MASTERPIECE, ANTARCTIC SOUND, ANTARCTICA, 2018 OPPOSITE PAGE, FROM TOP: EVOLVE, ROSS SEA, ANTARCTICA, 2018; LEAP OF FAITH, ROSS SEA, ANTARCTICA, 2018 ALL PHOTOGRAPHY © 2018 PAUL NICKLEN
© BORN TO ICE BY PAUL NICKLEN, PUBLISHED BY TENEUES, TENEUES.COM; ALL RIGHTS RESERVED; SEALEGACY.ORG
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BORN TO ICE BY PAUL NICKLEN Naturalist, wildlife photographer and ocean-conservationist Paul Nicklen shares his love of the arctic through his arresting snaps. In his new book, Born to Ice, the photographer captures the polar world at its best, from freezing oceans to fluffy penguins, craggy icebergs and curious sea creatures. Between images, he shares his experiences shooting in the natural world, and highlights the importance of protecting the earth’s ecosystems. ₏100, published by teNeues, teneues.com. For information about SeaLegacy and for works available as fine art, contact zoe@sealegacy.org
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LUXURY
FROM LAVISH SPAS TO THEIR OWN PRIVATE CINEMAS, THE LATEST SKI CHALETS ARE GOING BEYOND FIVE-STAR LEVELS TO OFFER SUPER-LUXE LIVING IN THE SNOW WORDS ANGELINA VILLA-CLARKE
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CHALET N, OBERLECH, AUSTRIA
Describing itself as six-star, this 10-bedroom chalet is indeed as stellar as it gets. It is perched on the slopes of Oberlech, above the elegant village of Lech, and blends traditional alpine-styling with high-end interior design. With ski-in/ski-out access and panoramic views of the famous Arlberg massif, this is like something out of a James Bond movie (it even has bullet-proof windows just in case the real life equivalent checks in). With its own cinema, wine cellar and a whole floor dedicated to a spa – featuring a swimming pool, whirlpool, two saunas, a salt mine steam bath and hair salon – nothing has been overlooked, including a welcome massage for guests on arrival. It also comes staffed with a butler, concierge, chef and chauffeur – so all you have to do is ski. Talking of which, the heated in-house skiroom guarantees the most pampered way to start your day in the snow. From €210,000 per week, fully serviced, leotrippi.com
CHALET ZERMATT PEAK, ZERMATT, SWITZERLAND
This rock-star-ready home is no ordinary mountain chalet. Accessed via a tunnel carved out of the mountain, it’s a thrill-aminute from the moment you arrive. Firstly, there are the views – perched on the side of a peak, the floor-to-ceiling windows look out across the valley of Zermatt and the Matterhorn for endless, spectacular vistas. Spread across six floors, catering for 10 adults and three children, there are five bedroom suites, including a master with a jacuzzi and a top-floor gallery bedroom, which has a glass roof for the ultimate in star-gazing. Brazilian stone floors, private balconies with bio-fire coffee tables and a floating glass staircase give enough design highlights to impress even the most jaded architect. A double-height living space, meanwhile, is lit up with handmade Murano crystal light fittings and, for those in search of the perfect spot to relax, there’s even an ergonomic De Sede moving sofa. As well as a fitness floor with indoor-outdoor pool, a steam room and two saunas, the chalet offers its own wine cellar and a ski room with digital surroundsound TV and heated boot warmers. From £46,225 per week, leotrippi.com 70
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CHEVAL BLANC CHALET, COURCHEVEL, FRANCE
Offering a sensational mountain experience, this chalet in the grounds of the renowned Cheval Blanc hotel in Courchevel makes for a magical escape. The sprawling property has elegant interiors, courtesy of French designer Sybille de Margerie, which reference the destination with cow hides, faux fur and leather seating. From the padded, suede walls to the popart animal sculptures – there’s also a sense of fun with pops of burnt orange, gold and amber giving an uplifting feel. Highlights include its own cinema and suspended, rotating fireplace – plus you can luxuriate in a chromotherapy hammam
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or a Nordic bath. The latter is found on the terrace allowing you to soak up the mountain air, enjoying the views over the Saulire summit. But it is the exceptional service, and attention to detail, which stands this chalet apart: nothing is too much trouble with ski boots warmed for you each morning and skis laid out ahead of a day exploring the Trois Vallées ski area. You can also access the hotel’s Louis Vuitton store, Guerlain treatments and the three Michelin-starred Le 1947 restaurant. Don’t miss the breakfast in Triptyque with its bounty of artisan breads, locallysourced cheeses and fresh honey. POA, chevalblanc.com
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LE GRENIER, MERIBEL, FRANCE
Renowned for its hand-picked chalets dotted across the French Alps, Consensio’s latest find – Le Grenier in Meribel – goes one step further in the luxe factor. Sleeping 12 guests across six bedrooms, the five-floor chalet is ultra-extravagant with its own lift, games room and library. Interiors are by the well-known alpine interior designer Nicky Dobree and have tactile details, such as velvet sofas, fur throws and roaring fireplaces. Best of all is its own spa in the basement with a sunken jacuzzi, sauna, massage room and gym.
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The chalet is handily situated opposite the Morel Ski Lift and Hulotte Piste, allowing guests to ski in and out of the private boot-room with no need for schlepping around. Elaborate marble bathrooms, panoramic windows with captivating mountain views and mood lighting give an extra dose of the wow factor, plus there are bespoke meals conjured up by a personal chef, PerrierJouët champagne on tap and a chauffeured 4x4 to ferry you around the resort. From €29,000 per week, catered, consensiochalets.co.uk
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SEVERIN’S THE ALPINE RETREAT, LECH, AUSTRIA
Exclusivity is the byword at the nine-suite wonder that is Severin’s The Alpine Retreat. But for something even more ‘haute’, book the adjacent four-bedroom private residence. Here, the reclaimed PHOTOGRAPHY BY KLOCKE VERLAG Tyrolian-wood walls are lined with artwork by Roy Lichtenstein and Julian Opie – thanks to a partnership with a gallery in Vienna – and the plush furniture has been designed by Minotti. As well as its own cinema and al fresco hot tub on a heated terrace, there’s a grand piano for those wanting to tickle the ivories, and, if not, there’s a state-of-the-art Lowes sound system. A double-sided fireplace divides the huge living area into lounge and informal dining room, while bedrooms have roll-top baths offering mountain views, palatial dressing rooms and sumptuous beds. Lech now boasts a chairlift to St Anton, making the Arlberg region Austria’s largest inter-connected ski area, with a wide choice of runs. After a day on the slopes – via the heated ski lockers – you can tuck into chef Stefan Kriegelstein’s inventive Alpine dishes at the intimate, nine-table restaurant, with a bottle from the top-notch wine cellar. Or tap into all the facilities at the hotel, such as the state-of-the-art Technogym, the underground swimming pool or the infra-red cabin. From €4,990 per night, severins-lech.at/en
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CHALET BIOLEY, VERBIER, SWITZERLAND
This upside-down chalet may have a focus on high-end design and plush furnishings, but it also makes for the most perfect home for large groups or families wanting to learn to ski. Found close to Les Moulins’ beginners piste, in the heart of Verbier, there is a host of nursery slopes on the doorstep, and for more advanced skiers, there is Le Rouge Piste just metres away. Inside, there are enough fun and sophisticated elements to keep everyone happy – from the outdoor hot tub and fire pit to the wine cave (ideal for a spot of après-ski relaxing). The living space has been designed with group gatherings in mind – with oversized sofas, a retractable large flat-screen TV and Bose sound system. A glamorous bar, with green velvet stools, is just the place to sample the range of cocktails that can be shaken up for you. When it’s time for bed, you’ll be spoilt for choice. The five bedroomsuites have a contemporary alpine feel, with the star of the show being the top-floor master, with its far-reaching views over the valley. From £32,112, catered, brambleski.com
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COURCHEVEL A TALE OF TWO VILLAGES COURCHEVEL’S LOWER HAMLETS MAY OFFER A LAID-BACK, OLDWORLD CHARM, BUT IT IS THE RESORT’S HIGHEST TWO TOWNS THAT HAVE BECOME THE BRIGHTEST JEWELS IN FRANCE’S FABLED THREE VALLEYS – SO WHAT SETS THE GLITZY ENCLAVES APART? WORDS ROWENA CARR-ALLINSON
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ourchevel has come a long way since I last skied there as a child during the 1980s. Now synonymous with all things bling, it has a reputation as being one of the swankiest ski resorts in Europe. Courchevel actually consists of four satellite villages – historically known as Courchevel 1330, Courchevel 1550, Courchevel 1650 and Courchevel 1850. During the 2011-2012 season, however, the resort decided to scrap the association with altitude and the villages were rebranded. Courchevel 1850 became simply Courchevel; Courchevel 1650 was renamed Courchevel Moriond; Courchevel 1550 is now called Courchevel Village and Courchevel 1330, aka Le Praz, became just Courchevel Le Praz. Connected to the Three Valleys and its 600km of ski slopes, the Courchevel domain has its own 150km of pistes, where it’s possible not just to ski, but also to snowshoe, snowmobile and luge (Courchevel Moriond has a new 3km-long racing luge track). There’s also an entertainment programme that runs throughout the villages, comprising everything from giant snowball fights to nightly firework displays. While Courchevel might attract the global elite, you don’t need to be an expert to ski here. Thanks to an entire Zen zone, with 19 green and 35 blue runs, it’s fantastically beginner-friendly. Just as well for a fairweather skier like me who’s always been more about the après. It might be the sheer size of the skiable area, or the -12C temperatures, but, even in high season, the mountains are blissfully quiet. When the sun’s out, the views are jaw-droppingly beautiful and, despite the biting cold, I’m starting to realise why Courchevel is considered a must for real ski-lovers.
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LOW RES
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Top-rated service is the norm across the highest of Courchevel resorts
COURCHEVEL (1850)
Courchevel is a surreal Alpine hideaway. Significant for being the first resort in France to be constructed from scratch, rather than based around an existing village, it has become a playground for the super-rich. This is where the likes of Cartier, Louis Vuitton and Chanel have stores. For the ultimate selection, and if you need a €3,000 (approx. £2,700) Fendi ski suit, pop into Bernard Orcel, the top-of-the-line ski gear supplier where you can also pick up some Swarovski-encrusted Uggs for a few thousand more. It’s worth a browse, because you have to see it to believe it. In 2011 France introduced a new tier to its hotel ranking system, with Palace status awarded to five-star hotels that far exceed the requirements at this level. So far, only 25 hotels in the entire country have received the rating. Three can be found in Courchevel – Le K2, Les Airelles and the Cheval Blanc Courchevel. This, alongside a vast choice of five-star establishments, has ensured that top-rated service is the norm across the highest of the Courchevel resorts. Want to arrange your transfer by Rolls-Royce? No problem – stay at the Six Senses Residence. Fancy a caviar and cryo treatment? Head to the Spa Diane Barriere at Les Neiges – it will only set you back €720 (approx. £650). There are a range of more affordable treats, however, which, given your surroundings,
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will make you feel like a million dollars. 1850 is home to eight Michelin-starred chefs. Head to familyrun hotel Le Strato, where Jean-André Charial of L’Oustau de Baumanière fame runs the Baumanière 1850. Forget the traditional fondue, it’s all about the Provençal influence and very haute cuisine. Try the famous smoked egg white spaghetti or the Savoie pork with truffles. If you are a sucker for truffles, like me, the rather romantic Comptoir de l’Apogée also serves a mean truffle risotto. My top tip? Stop for a truffle-rich cashew nut moment with an apéro by the fireplace first. Odd as it may sound, sushi is also big news in this alpine hotspot. For the most authentic Japanese experience, Nama at the Aman Le Mélézin guarantees a real change of ambiance. Nama means raw and the restaurant is run by master chef Keiji Matoba, who takes sushi to an art form with his washoku Japanese cuisine. Don’t miss the Maguro tuna tartare or the Tokusen Wagyu sirloin steak. For cocktails, Le Bizan at Les Grandes Alpes is an eclectic mix of funky contemporary art, Japanese food and the best barman in town. Let the kitchen take care of the food with an omakase menu chosen by the chef, while super-sommelier Stefano takes care of the wine pairings. He’s also an expert mixologist and his Bellini is, as they say, to die for.
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COURCHEVEL MORIOND
Two hundred metres lower, Courchevel Moriond, while still chic, is an altogether more down-to-earth, and affordable, offering. A quick drive, or free ski shuttle transfer, transports you to another world completely. For one thing, here you can sample authentic fondue and crêpes – all but extinct in 1850. Moriond is not as chocolate box pretty as 1850. Its grey slate and wooden chalets remind me of American resorts. That said, it’s sleeker and sexier than your usual French village, clearly developed with taste to appeal to a certain clientele. There is more self-catering accommodation ‘down’ in Moriond, but also a good choice of restaurants, ranging from the fancy Manali to the more local Le Petit Savoyard (excellent for fondues) and the family-friendly La Table de Marie. The village also has a lively bar scene. You’ll find the seasonaires celebrating at Le Bubble and the Funky Fox, making the most of the mulled wine and warming génépi liqueur shots. A handy spa in the town centre even stocks Marmite and Cheddar cheese. We stayed at the swanky, newly built Le C – the first and only residence in Courchevel 1650 to boast a restaurant, spa and a ski room. It’s a design fiend’s dream, from the warm mocha sofas covered with heavy fur throws and scattered with leather and faux shearling pillows to the giant TV screens in each bedroom. A small but well-equipped kitchen proves highly convenient,
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especially when travelling en famille, and there’s room service if you have a sudden urge for frites, foie gras or tiramisu. Downstairs, the offering at Bistrot Le C stretches from gourmet tapas to full-on slow-cooked confit pork with truffled chorizo and basil scallops – more than enough to compete with 1850. The apartment is just a stone’s throw from the Ariondaz gondola. A final tip? Forget the ESF (English-speaking French ski school) and instead book the New Generation instructors, who teach small English speaking groups or offer one-on-one tutoring. Definitely a vast improvement on my experience in the 1980s – even if some outfits seem to have come full circle. Le C, from €2,250 per week for a two-bedroom apartment with Alpine Resorts, alpine-residences.fr; Book group lessons with New Generation from €199 for five days, skinewgen.com
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TOP OF THE WORLD A LONG WEEKEND IN THE OLDEST HOTEL IN ST MORITZ, THE WINTER SPORTS RESORT THAT SPAWNED THEM ALL
WORDS RICHARD BROWN
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etting to the top of the world typically involves a two-hour flight to Zurich followed by a three-hour transfer to a steep, secluded, south-facing, hillside spot, midway between the summit of the 3,056m Piz Nair and the wide, flat, lake-lined Engadine valley, that famously pretty geographic quirk that snakes its way through south-east Switzerland before petering out just before the Austrian border. Leave London early enough and you’ll be on the slopes of St Moritz – officially the Top of the World since the town’s tourism board trademarked it as such in 1987 – by mid-afternoon. Unless, that is, an outbreak of arctic air carries all the way from Siberia to
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Heathrow – the Beast from the East, remember that? – in which case your flight will be delayed four hours before being redirected via a three-hour stopover in Frankfurt. Then it’s simply a five-hour jaunt – four trains, one bus, with ski bags, in ski jackets, Oh what fun it is to ride – before a final alpine slog up the vertiginous Rhaetian Railway, a journey that’s interrupted by an abrupt moment when all the lights go out and carriages are plunged into darkness. It’s at this point that an Englishspeaking Swiss robo-voice crackles onto the tannoy to explain that you’ve just entered the Albula stretch of the track, one of only two train lines on the planet to have been granted UNESCO World Heritage status, a railway whose operators
rightly believe is all the more enchanting for being viewed from the intimate darkness of an unlit cabin. Silhouetted, saw-toothed summits; knolls of sparkling diamond snow; stars like backlit pinpricks in a Vantablack sky – you might have left the house more than 18 hours ago but in this implausible, magical moment you couldn’t give a flying funicular that it’s just gone 11pm and your bed for the night is still hiding out there somewhere in the arctic dark. We checked in just after midnight. First thing next morning we discovered why St Moritz’s official emblem is the sun. Yawning open the wooden shutters of our fifth-floor bedroom windows admitted a light so bright we were forced to retreat back into the room and return
F E AT U R E OPPOSITE PAGE © FILIP ZUAN; THIS PAGE, CLOCKWISE FROM LEFT THE KULM HOTEL ST. MORITZ; RED TRAIN OF BERNINA SWISS WINTER, COURTESY OF SERENAROSSI/ SHUTTERSTOCK.COM; SUNNY BAR BY CLAUDIA CANESSA AT THE KULM HOTEL; ST MORITZ BOB RUN, © FILIP ZUAN
to the ledge only once we’d located our Ray-Bans. Below lay sprawling, sparkling St Moritz, one of Europe’s – ergo the world’s – great ski resorts (the world’s first great ski resort); a multifarious assortment of turreted palace-hotels, ancient stone churches, insipid mid-rise apartment blocks, slate-grey shopping arcades, slushy cobbled streets, tarpaulincovered cranes and closed-for-the-winter construction sites. A hulking great mass of stone and stucco that tumbles towards an immense expanse of perfectly flat snow, a halo of pine trees serving to mark the perimeter of the town’s eponymous lake, on which the high-status Snow Polo World Cup plays out each January, and which hosts the arguably even higher pedigree White Turf horse races every February. The lake serves to separate St Moritz into two distinct
villages. The less developed, valley-floor Bad generally offers more affordable accommodation while serving up significantly less wow factor (the titanic, five-star, superspa Michelin-starred Kempinski Grand Hotel des Bains aside). Steep, historic, hillside Dorf is home to high-fashion emporiums and the swankiest of hotels – from one of which we’re peering out of now. (There’s also Celerina, a village three kilometres in the opposite direction, where you’ll find Suvretta House, one of the valley’s other great spa-equipped hotels – this one set in its own private grounds.) Less villagey than Verbier, certainly less charming than Megève, St Moritz is more a Monaco-on-snow – an old-money enclave surrounded by mountains, built on a reputation for entertaining royalty and movie stars. Like the Riviera principality, it’s been scarred by the march of the modern identikit apartment block. Far better to be uptown looking down at the lake, than down at the lake looking up at the town. Bally, Bottega Veneta, Brunello Cucinelli, Bulgari, Ermenegildo Zegna, Harry Winston, Hermès, Jimmy Choo, Loro Piana, Moncler, Prada, Roberto Cavalli, Valentino – if LU X U R Y L ON D ON .C O.U K
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LEFT BADRUTT’S PALACE HOTEL; ALL OTHER IMAGES ST MORITZ, © FILIP ZUAN;
you travel to ski resorts to shop in the same stores you can find on Bond Street, you’re exceedingly well catered for. Less true for any sybarite looking for a high-spirited session of après-ski. You won’t be clinking steins and dancing on table tops in your ski boots here – many visitors to St Moritz have no intention of going anywhere near a pair of ski boots. As in Monaco, much of the fun in the world’s oldest alpine playground happens behind the closed doors of castellated hotels. Here, sunny St Moritz comes into its own. It all began in 1855, when a former farmer by the name of Johannes Badrutt acquired and subsequently purchased a 12-bedroom property in the centre of town. In 1859 he added
Outside, there’s bobsledding, dog sledging, curling, snowshoeing, hiking, kite skiing, ice skating and Europe’s longest sledge run two storeys and opened St Moritz’s first purpose-built hotel – the Hotel Engadiner Kulm (known simply as the Kulm today). Five years later, in a bid to drum up some off-season custom, Badrutt invited four of his English summer guests back for the winter. If the men failed to be titillated by the merits of St Moritz in the snow, Bradrutt promised that he’d reimburse their travel costs. Otherwise the men were free to stay for as long as they liked. Staring at a win-win situation, the venturesome aristocrats arrived shortly before Christmas and sojourned until Easter. In the next two decades, both Switzerland’s first electric light (Christmas Day, 1879) and first public telephone network (1889) were installed in the Kulm hotel – which is also credited with inventing the concept of the hotel lobby (a large reception area having been added in 1887). In 1896, Johannes Badrutt’s son Caspar opened the lakeside Badrutt’s Palace. Its green, bird-box-like turret became the resort’s most famous landmark, capping a hotel visited by the likes of Bardot, Dietrich, Hepburn, Hayworth and Hitchcock – the last of whom choose to stay at the hotel during his honeymoon. Our time at the Kulm was characterised by lie-ins, late 80
breakfasts and lazy afternoons whirlpooling al fresco. If the hotel’s lobby and grand ballrooms are a maximalist mash-up of Corinthian columns, floral wallpaper and kaleidoscopic carpet, its chic, subterranean, straight-line spa – complete with indooroutdoor swimming pool – couldn’t be more modern. Large, fluffycarpeted bedrooms sit somewhere in between. The hotel is run by husband-and-wife management team Heinz and Jenny Hunkeler – voted hoteliers of the year by Swiss newspaper SonntagsZeitung in 2016. Perhaps that’s why, despite its size – comprising six interconnected blocks, seven restaurants and 172 rooms, it’s as long as a street – the Kulm feels more home than hotel. During dinner at the hotel’s top restaurant, The K by Tim Raue, we got chatting to a couple of location scouts on a recce for the BBC’s Amazing Hotels: Life Beyond the Lobby. The show profiles the best hotels on the planet. Did the Kulm make the cut? The BBC ran it as the 2018 Christmas special. Outside the hotel, there’s bobsledding, dog sledging, curling, snowshoeing, hiking, kite skiing, ice skating and, between villages Preda and Bergün – a 20-minute ride away on the Rhaetian Railway – Europe’s longest sledge run, a 6km slide through tunnels and viaducts that’s floodlit at night. It’s breathtaking. For foodies, there’s the annual nine-day St Moritz Gourmet Festival (usually held in January) where top chefs are invited to explore a particular subject. The theme in 2015 was British travel to St Moritz and the festival attracted the UK’s Jason Atherton, Angela Hartnett, Isaac McHale and Nathan Outlaw. For thrill-seekers, there’s the Cresta Run, the world’s oldest toboggan track. It was built in the grounds of the Kulm hotel in 1885 and reopened in 2017 following a £9m upgrade by Lord Foster, British architect and seasonal St Moritz resident. The track is open to complete beginners – as long as you book. The club’s cosy, wood-panelled restaurant is an ode to tobogganing, with antique sledges hanging from the ceiling and memorabilia lining the walls. It serves steak alongside some terrific Italian dishes. There’s skiing, too. Fifty-seven lifts, 170 snow cannons, 350km of runs, mostly intermediate, some available to ski at night, spread across five separate ski areas, connected by bus. But who’d want to do anything as strenuous as ski?
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CANARY WHARF
ARTS + EVENTS EXHIBITIONS Lobby, One Canada Square Free, open daily Sparks Fly Sculpture by Katherine Gili, 1974 to 2018 14 January – 1 March katherinegili.com
Well-regarded for her sculptures in mild steel, this exhibition traces Katherine Gili’s creativity and skill in using this heavy industrial material over five decades. One of the many sculptors who benefitted from the example of Sir Anthony Caro at Saint Martin’s School of Art, where he taught from 1953 to 1981, Gili developed a highly individual way of working iron and steel, moving on from making welded compositions in steel sheet to creating forged elements brought together through welding. This exhibition shows how the density and inherent weight of iron can express levity, precarious balance and the energy of movement. Much of her work is large, but she also works to medium and small scale, experimenting with clay and bronze, fine examples of which are included.
Exhibition Tour Tuesday 12 February, 6.30 - 7.15pm Curator Ann Elliott tours the exhibition with Katherine Gili.
Katherine Gili, Angouleme, 2006-2009, Forged mild steel Photograph © Orlando Gili.
Free but please contact Canary Wharf Public Art Office to reserve a place: publicart@canarywharf.com
Community Gallery Canada Place Until 5 March Abbey Manor College Citi Community Development & Citi Center for Culture have partnered for the last six years with Abbey Manor College, an 11-16 Alternative Provision based in south-east London. AMC is committed to giving students every opportunity to excel academically, to build relationships with others, and to make contributions as independent and confident learners. The aim is to equip students for reintegration, Further Education or employment, by providing them with a curriculum that gives them a chance to succeed beyond their statutory education into adulthood. On display is a group of self-portraits by BTEC First Award Art and Design students, which capture their unique spirit and personality. Citi sponsors 8 Bursaries which enable the AMC students to undertake Level 3 Qualifications helped by the vital added financial support.
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MELIÁ SHANGHAI PARKSIDE, SHANGHAI, CHINA Located off the main entrance of Shanghai Disneyland, and only a short distance from the largest airport in Shanghai, Meliá Shanghai Parkside will be the perfect pick for both leisure and business-focused guests. The hotel has 88 rooms and will be providing its guests with top-quality facilities and services with Spanish touches. Meliá Shanghai Parkside will have direct access to Shanghai International Tourism and Resorts Zone, as well as an array of entertainment, culture venues, dining and shopping options. Q1 2019, prices TBC, melia.com
PACK YOUR BAGS
CHECK IN AT THE HOTTEST NEW HOTELS OF 2019 WORDS ABISHA SRITHARAN
LELEWATU RESORT, SUMBA ISLAND, INDONESIA Ideal for an Indonesian getaway, the Lelewatu Resort on Sumba Island is set atop a secluded cliff-side overlooking the Indian Ocean. The resort’s 27 luxurious villas are designed with authentic Sumbanese wooden interiors, hand-woven ikat fabrics, indoor marble baths and private pools. Guests can sample exquisite local delicacies at two gourmet restaurants, be pampered at Maraga Spa, and experience a host of activities including yoga, horseback riding, trekking, and exploring the beautiful coastline, traditional villages and waterfalls. Surrounded by jungle and ocean, this picturesque hotel, launching in April, offers guests a perfect piece of paradise. April 2019, lelewatu.com SANTARENA HOTEL, LAS CATALINAS, COSTA RICA The Santarena Hotel in the Costa Rican town of Las Catalinas is the perfect escape from busy city life. The hotel, launching in February, will consist of 45 guestrooms including three suites, as well as a rooftop lounge and pool, a large event space and three eateries which all focus on sustainability. There is a wealth of wellness and adventure activities on offer within the hotel, plus you’ll find a range of shops, parks, restaurants and a day spa just a short walk away. FIRST ROMA DOLCE, ROME, ITALY Opening in February, the First Roma Dolce is a one-of-a-kind patisserie-themed hotel. During a stay at The First Roma Dolce in Rome, guests will enjoy a welcome gift of homemade pastries in their room, which also boasts a library stocked with pastryinspired books. An innovative patisseriestyle restaurant will serve sweet treats and
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offer guests gourmet experiences such as chocolate tastings and a traditional English afternoon tea. The boutique hotel will be home to 23 elegant, yet comfortable, suites and guestrooms – each of which is equipped with in-room fitness equipment. The hotel is ideally located within walking distance of some of Rome’s most iconic landmarks, including The Vatican.
February 2019, from £173 per room per night, santarenahotel.com
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SPA STRUCK WINTER TIME CAN PLAY HAVOC WITH YOUR HEALTH, BUT AN ESCAPE TO A DESTINATION SPA HOTEL IS A SURE FIRE WAY OF PUTTING YOU BACK ON TRACK FOR THE NEW YEAR AHEAD – WHETHER YOU ARE AFTER A DETOX OR A REBOOT WORDS ANGELINA VILLA-CLARKE
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BEST FOR CLEARING THE MIND: VILLA D'ESTE, LAKE COMO, ITALY
With a glorious setting on the shores of Lake Como, Villa D’Este ramps up its picturesque value by also boasting 10 acres of magical gardens filled with topiary, statues and tinkling fountains. Dating back to 1568, when it was the summer residence of a cardinal, it was transformed into a hotel in 1873 and has long been a bolthole of choice for a range of A-listers, writers and royalty. As well as guided walks, tours to historic sites and an impressive range of sports activities – such as squash, tennis and stand-up paddleboarding – the lavish hotel offers four stand-alone private villas for those wanting to really get away from it all. The wellness offering is all-encompassing – after all, you can’t help but feel good with a combination of exceptional cuisine, historic rooms and stunning location. The grandeur continues in the spa, where you can dip into a menu of bespoke wellness therapies created around the hotel’s own line of advanced cosmetics. The spa’s signature treatment is the Power Peel – which includes an exfoliation and application of a protein-rich cream – aimed to rejuvenate the skin. To finish, head to the hotel’s iconic floating pool on the lake – and soak up the views. villadeste.com
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BEST FOR FINDING YOUR INNER YOUTH: THE LANESBOROUGH, LONDON
With its Neoclassical columns, polished floors and Baroque gilding, entering into The Lanesborough – which has a majestic position overlooking Hyde Park – is like stepping back to an altogether more elegant era. While the hotel oozes classical charm, its stand-out Club & Spa is more about urban sophistication, with tailored programmes on tap and lavish surroundings to enjoy. One of London’s most exclusive private member health clubs – it is also accessible to hotel guests – the design is a modern take on Roman baths – with marble, silk wallpapers, wood paneling and leather upholstering giving a sleek, luxury feel. Named as England's Best Hotel Spa 2018, at the World Spa Awards, The Lanesborough Spa is one of the industry leaders partly due to its impressive line-up of internationally-recognised experts that they have collaborated with. One of these is Anastasia Achilleos, a ‘facial innovator’ who has spent 20 years developing her unique style of treatment that goes beyond a normal facial. The first spa in the UK to offer ‘The Method’, you can expect an immersive experience that uses massage and steam to rejuvenate and release muscle tension, leaving you feeling superrelaxed and looking about 10 years younger. Afterwards, bask in your glow and relax in the opulent spa lounge – which offers a spa butler service to attend to your every whim. lanesboroughclubandspa.com 86
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BEST FOR REJUVENATING BODY AND SOUL: BELMOND LA RESIDENCIA, MAJORCA, SPAIN
Framed by Majorca’s Tramuntana Mountains, La Residencia is the most peaceful spot for those wanting to take some time out. Found in the artistic enclave that is the hillside village of Deià, the hotel is carved out of two 16th-century manor houses and a 14th-century watchtower. Traditional Mallorcan styling means a rustic-chic aesthetic with terracotta tiled floors, antiques and a rich collection of artworks. Days here can be spent exploring the grounds, with its winding streets, olive groves, a sculpture garden and tiered terraces. As well as art masterclasses, there are bike trails and coastal picnic trips on Vespas to enjoy. Best of all, though, is the stand-alone spa, found in its own honey-coloured stone building with sun-drenched terraces. As well as beauty treatments using locally-grown ingredients, there’s also Tai Chi and al fresco yoga on offer. Our tip is to check in when alternative therapist Anja Burkhard is in residence (once a month, for a week-long stay). During her ‘ Body Talk’ consultation – a hands-on holistic treatment combined with a high-tech computer assessment – she is able to diagnose problems and ailments in the body, and identify how everyday stresses are creating discomfort. It’s guaranteed to put the spring back into your step. belmond.com
BEST FOR DESTRESSING: ALPINA GSTAAD, SWITZERLAND
For spa aficionados, Alpina Gstaad needs no introduction. Found in 20 hectares of parkland above Gstaad Village – the pretty, chalet-style hotel is best known for its top-end Six Senses Spa. New for this year, it is introducing a range of holistic wellness programmes to fit in with its ‘come up, slow down’ philosophy. The four-night East Meets West retreat, for example, combines Eastern wisdom and Western knowledge, with a specific focus on the core muscles to improve strength and calmness. Breathing techniques are combined with calming and detoxifying treatments. As well as Pilates and core exercises, there are also body treatments, Thai massage and Shiatsu included – all designed to continue working even when you return home. For those wanting to delve deeper, this March (11-17th), Tibetan monk and scholar Lharampa Tenzin Kalden will be in residence, and will offer a Tibetan Healing Retreat, which will include Tibetan yoga "Lu Jong" and meditation sessions. thealpinagstaad.com LU X U R Y L ON D ON .C O.U K
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The light-drenched spa is renowned as one of the UK’s best and comes with an impressive indoor pool BEST FOR A WEEKEND RETREAT: CALCOT & SPA, THE COTSWOLDS, UK
This tranquil hotel has a polished farmhouse feel aimed at a well-heeled crowd. Despite its immaculate design, it is far removed from the stuffy formality that can come with country house living. The perfect escape for a wind-down weekend, you’ll rest your head in pretty bedrooms, ramble around the serene grounds and tuck into locally-inspired cuisine in laid-back dining rooms. The light-drenched spa is renowned as one of the UK’s best, and comes with an impressive indoor pool, outdoor hot tub and spa lounge complete with roaring fire. There’s a wide range of well-thought-out treatments from Caci, Biotec, Elemis and Aromatherapy Associates, including the Tranquil Sea massage – a nurturing therapy for those undergoing cancer treatment. This January, working the mind as well as the body, the hotel continues its ‘In Conversation at Calcot’ series with Ella Mills, the founder of Deliciously Ella, talking about nutrition and diet (24 January 2019). Food for thought. calcot.co
BEST FOR PURE ESCAPISM: CHABLÉ RESORT & SPA, MEXICO
When this 18th-century hacienda hotel – found in the Yucatan jungle – opened in 2016, the world’s travel connoisseurs went in a spin due to its blend of historic and modern interiors, daring cuisine and attention to detail. It has already won a tranche of awards with a second property recently opened. Tropical gardens envelop the hotel’s 38 casitas, with private pools, and many with nods to the surrounding wild nature and the building’s past as a working hacienda (think: crumbling walls, winding tree roots and lanternladen trees). While some new hotels open the spa as their last project, Chablé 88
has instead placed its retreat at its heart. Based around a natural cenote (a freshwater sink hole), the spa offering is based around an immersive range of journeys, based on ancient rituals and ageold wellness heritage. As well as the cenote, there are medicinal healing gardens and three lodges for temazcal ceremonies conducted by visiting shamans. Treatments, such as salt therapy, rebirth massages and re-awakening ceremonies, are designed to inspire the mind and lift the soul, and are based on traditional Mayan techniques. Book in for the Full Moon Jungle Bathing for a totally tropical experience. chableresort.com/yucatan
BEST FOR A HEALTH REBOOT: SIX SENSES ULUWATU, BALI
Known as the wellness capital of the world, Bali’s latest opening may be one of the islands most inspiring. Perched on top of a cliff, in the southernmost tip of the island, Six Senses Uluwatu has spectacular Indian ocean views and traditional Indonesian interiors. You can be pampered with specialty treatments, which are based around a ‘farm to massage’ concept, using locally-sourced ingredients. The spa has also called in some of the best experts in alternative medicine. Yoga practitioner, Ivor Young, for instance has worked all over Indonesia and Bali and brings a wealth of knowledge to guests. As well as morning yoga sessions in an al fresco pavilion, guests can enjoy one-on-one lessons and expert tuition. Personalised wellness programmes are also a focus at Uluwatu, with guests undergoing a wellness screening first, before embarking on a dedicated programme to enhance sleep, fitness or diet. For a pampering treat, try the Royal Lular Beauty Ritual, which dates back to the 17th century, and includes a body massage, body scrub, a cooling yoghurt application and a herbal bath. Pure bliss. sixsenses.com
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ONEOCEAN EXPEDITION GUESTS CAMPING IN ANTARCTICA ©DAVE BROSHA
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TALES OF THE UNEXPECTED SET FOR SAIL ON THE BEST EXPEDITION CRUISES AROUND THE WORLD, FROM AN ARCTIC VOYAGE TO ISLAND-HOPPING IN PAPUA NEW GUINEA WORDS JULIA ZALTZMAN
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xpedition cruises are all about immersing yourself in a spectacular setting, and embracing unforgettable encounters. From historically significant sites to unique wildlife unafraid of humans, being able to reach areas that are removed from any infrastructure is exceptional. When paired with shore excursions to rival all others, they are simply mind-blowing. Take the Shackleton hike in South Georgia, for example, retracing the last several miles walked by Sir Ernest Shackleton. Trek across polar ice caps in Greenland, and view the vast icy landscape stretching for miles around. Witness the legendary land diving on the remote island of Pentecost in Vanuatu. Experience a sunrise landing in South Georgia, where hanging glaciers take on a pink glow in the ‘golden hour’ of sunlight. Or take a polar plunge on Deception Island; a quick dunk into ice-cold waters. The edge of the world is within reach.
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THIS PAGE, FROM TOP A CLUSTER OF PENGUINS RETURNING TO THEIR COLONY IN ANTARCTICA ©DAVID MERRON; ONEOCEAN EXPEDITION GUESTS HIKING IN ANTARCTICA ©BOOMER JERRITT; A POLAR BEAR ON ICE ©ROGER PIMENTA;
ANTARCTICA There are few areas on earth more inhospitable than Antarctica. There may be no native population within 500 miles of Antarctica’s coasts, but its sea abounds with life. Toothed, Baleen and Humpback whales, seals, birds on the wing, and Gentoo, Adélie and chinstrap penguins flourish here. Creating a seamless link between boat, sea and shore, OneOcean Expeditions runs a kayaking and camping excursion that takes up to six passengers paddling across ice cold waters before setting foot on the Antarctic mainland to camp for two nights. Strict Antarctic safety guidelines ensure the ship is never too far away, but being at one with towering glaciers and monolithic icebergs brings ‘getting away from it all’ to a whole new level.
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“It’s simply an incredible experience to go ashore and sit amongst 20,000 penguins,” says Ben Lyons, co-founder of Expedition Voyage Consultants, “deafened by the raucous noise of the colony, watching them on their penguin highways.” In addition to kayaking, Quark Expeditions offers standup paddleboard excursions on its newest ship, the Ocean Endeavour; it’s not uncommon to find clusters of penguins popping up around you as they return to their colonies. For the more daring, OneOcean Expeditions’ Off the Beaten Track offers guided backcountry skiing and camping excursions, while its Marine Wildlife voyage enables guests to travel alongside experts in geology, polar history and marine wildlife.
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THIS PAGE, FROM TOP MONACOBREEN GLACIER IN SVALBARD IN THE ARCTIC ©ACACIA JOHNSON; GUESTS IN A ZODIAC EXPLORING THE RAJA AMPAT ISLANDS IN PAPUA NEW GUINEA ©NATHALIE MICHEL; ASMATS IN CANOES IN PAPUA NEW GUINEA WITH A PONANT CRUISE LINER IN THE BACKGROUND ©NATHALIE MICHEL
SVALBARD IN THE ARCTIC
Located higher north than Siberia or Alaska, wildlife-rich Svalbard provides some of the most spectacular scenery on the globe. A Norwegian archipelago between mainland Norway and the North Pole, it is best known for its rugged, remote terrain of glaciers, fjords and frozen tundra, which shelter polar bears, Svalbard reindeer and Arctic foxes. The Northern Lights are visible during winter, and summer brings the ‘midnight sun’ – sunlight 24-hours a day. Some of the best expeditions include a naturalist-led guided hike across the spongy tundra to see Arctic foxes in their brown coats, moulting caribou, lazing walruses and the remnants of this region’s beluga whale-hunting history. Be prepared for armed polar bear guards to follow you onto land for some up close and personal polar bear spotting, or weave on a Zodiac through the icebergs, including the smaller chunks of ice known as ‘bergy bits’ and ‘growlers’. You’ll also zoom by the steep, rocky cliffs of islands inhabited by thousands of raucous sea birds. For Lyons, it’s the long hikes across the tundra, and the ability to get more inland in a Polar environment that truly sets this expedition region apart. “Guests can walk through reindeer and bird cliffs, as well as discover how polar plants survive in that environment,” he says. Aboard both Hapag-Lloyd’s new expedition ship (launching in October 2019) the Hanseatic Inspiration and Ponant’s vessel Le Champlain, immerse yourself in the glow of perpetual dusk. Visit the peaceful village of Ukkusissat, where the inhabitants’ lives have changed little over the years, and they provide impressive insights into their traditions. Quark Expeditions also offers nine to 13-day trips to Svalbard on two of its ships, Ocean Adventurer and Ocean Nova. By reading the weather, understanding the wildlife and being flexible enough to go off-plan, Quark’s experts seize every moment to create life-affirming experiences in one of the last great wildernesses on the planet.
PAPUA NEW GUINEA South Pacific expedition cruises offer a balance of culture and nature. The islands’ relative isolation has protected native traditions there more so than in many other regions, and numerous shore excursions take cruise travellers to visit those whose ancestral lifestyles are part of their day-to-day functioning. Snorkelling and diving among the coral reefs is also a key attraction, as are the numerous military wrecks from World War II; planes, destroyers and tanks beckon underwater explorers. Historical artefacts can be found ashore, as well, adding additional interest for the expeditionary history buff. Papua New Guinea is a seemingly enchanted land brimming with rainforests, tropical islands, and some of the most vibrant biodiversity in the world, but it’s the indigenous Melanesian cultures that will inspire. Aboard expedition vessel Spirit of LU X U R Y L ON D ON .C O.U K
Enderby, Adventure Life’s itinerary takes in the hidden gems of Papua New Guinea and the Solomon Islands. From the culturally-rich arterial of the Sepik River (the longest river in Papua New Guinea), sail north across the Bismarck Sea to the remote shores of Manus and Mussau Islands, where you can visit indigenous communities and witness or take part in their rituals and traditions. Spend time with the local people to learn about their special culture and life on this remote outpost. Explore the colourful markets with your guides, and take the opportunity to view and buy the distinct handiwork of the local artists, such as their famous bark paintings. “Expedition cruises to Papua New Guinea are all about the culture,” says Lyons, “going ashore and having an authentic ‘sing-sing’ or welcoming ceremony, full of costumes and enthusiasm. It’s hugely memorable and immersive.” 93
SEA OF CORTEZ
THIS PAGE, FROM TOP A SCHOOL OF BOTTLENOSE DOLPHINS BOW RIDING LINDBLAD’S NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC SEA LION IN THE SEA OF CORTEZ, MEXICO ©RALPH LEE HOPKINS; A CURIOUS YOUNG CALIFORNIA SEA LION WITH SNORKELLERS UNDERWATER AT LOS ISLOTES IN BAJA CALIFORNIA SUR ©MICHAEL S. NOLAN; LINDBLAD GUESTS TAKING A ZODIAC CRUISE AROUND THE ISLA SAN JOSE IN PUNTA COLORADA, SEA OF CORTEZ ©RALPH LEE HOPKINS; OPPOSITE PAGE A BREACHING HUMPBACK WHALE IN LA PAZ BAY, SEA OF CORTEZ ©RALPH LEE HOPKINS
The Sea of Cortez has an almost legendary status among divers and marine naturalists; Jacques Cousteau famously called it “the world’s aquarium”. The 60,000-square-mile gulf is divided between a temperate zone and a warm-water ‘Panamic’ zone. The subtle mixing of these two ecosystems partly accounts for its richness: some 900 fish species and 32 types of marine mammal. Massive blooms of plankton mean that even elusive blue whales are often spotted. However, this rich sea is in stark contrast to the forbidding desert at its edge: giant cardon cactuses (some weigh 20,000kg and are more than 500-years-old) stretch to the horizon where the mountains cast a great blue shadow in the midday heat. This lunar desert landscape also lends itself to what has become known as ‘painting with flashlights’; photography with torches in the sunset hour, says Patty DiskenCahill, director of communications
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at Lindblad Expeditions. “To top off the day, many of our guests often linger on shore to photograph the landscape at twilight. As the constellations become visible in the heavens above, we make images with long, 30-second exposures while painting the foreground cacti with flashlights. Our Captain often puts the finishing touches on the masterpieces by lighting up the area with the ship’s searchlight.” Other excursions on board Lindblad’s National Geographic Venture include examining the intriguing geological layers of Espíritu Santo from the water during a kayaking excursion, before going ashore to see compacted volcanic ash blanketed by solidified lava flows. Enjoy time to go beachcombing, or opt for a walk along rocky cliffs to spot brown pelicans, gulls, wandering tattlers, and boobies. Cap off the day with a beach barbecue, gather around a bonfire to share stories from the day’s adventures, and take in a stunning display of stars.
T R AV E L
LU X U R Y L ON D ON .C O.U K
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T R AV E L
THIS PAGE, FROM TOP A GALAPAGOS SEA LION WITH LINDBLAD’S NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC ENDEAVOUR CRUISING IN THE BACKGROUND ©RALPH LEE HOPKINS; KICKER ROCK AT SUNSET IN THE GALAPAGOS ISLANDS ©MARCO RICCA
THE GALÁPAGOS ISLANDS Considered one of the world’s foremost destinations for wildlife-viewing, the Galápagos Islands is a volcanic archipelago in the Pacific Ocean. Famed scientist Charles Darwin visited in 1835 aboard survey ship HMS Beagle, and his observation of Galápagos’ species later inspired his theory of evolution. According to Lyons, the Galápagos Islands provide “off the chart wildlife interaction” for those who hike this unique biosphere. “You’re walking amongst so many different species of animals,” he says, “you have to literally step around them, and you’re very much on their territory rather than the other way around. Guests get blown away by the sheer numbers, and how close you can get.” Accompanying every expedition is a diverse team of experts who share their knowledge and insights into the wildlife, landscape and local culture. Lindblad’s expedition cruise on board National Geographic Islander provides the opportunity
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to take nature walks alongside renowned marine biologist, Sylvia Earle, among others. Swim, snorkel or explore the coast by kayak or Zodiac, or brave the unpredictable temperatures of the water to dive with sea lions, whales, Galápagos penguins and schools of hammerhead sharks. At Isla North Seymour encounter both marine and land iguanas, Galápagos fur seals, and colonies of sea birds. At Isla Bartolomé hike to the top of its volcanic cone for a stunning view of Pinnacle Rock. Isla Isabela is home to abundant sea turtles and the only species of flightless cormorant in the world. On Isla Santa Cruz visit the Charles Darwin Research Station, and tour the captive breeding programme for endangered Galápagos giant tortoises. Spot swallow-tailed gulls, Española mockingbirds, boobies, and waved albatrosses on the birder’s paradise island of Española. There is no other place like it in the world.
LU X U R Y L ON D ON .C O.U K
Collect Harrods Rewards points with every holiday booking
EXPERIENCES ARE EVERYTHING Take the scenic route on a life-changing holiday in Egypt A hot-air balloon ride above Luxor is just one of our amazing experiences, find out how to add this to your dream tailor-made holiday Visit A&K on Harrods’ Lower Ground Floor for more information
0203 814 0760 abercrombiekent.co.uk
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DISCOVER YOU FIND BESPOKE HOLIDAYS DESIGNED WITH YOUR TRAVEL PERSONALITY IN MIND, COURTESY OF THE TRAVEL EXPERTS AT LEADING LUXURY TOUR OPERATOR, CARRIER
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climb up to the peaks in a battle against the elements or a dive into the deep amongst colourful coral – which would you choose? Illustrating the ultimate bespoke level of service, leading luxury tour operator Carrier has launched ‘Discover You’, a curated edit offering luxury travel experiences that transcend just the destination to help you discover yourself and become the person you want to be. Head of Marketing, Natasha Towey, from Carrier says, “Luxury travellers have evolved, they no longer ask the question where to go, but rather who they can be. For these travellers who can afford the very best that wealth can buy, the possibilities and opportunities can be endless. ‘Discover You’ focuses on who these travellers want to become and provides unique luxury experiences that look beyond the ordinary.”
THE PIONEER Your idea of the perfect trip doesn’t mean visiting the most famous and popular spots in the world; you travel with originality. With a penchant for authentic, one-of-a-kind experiences, you seek out lesser-known parts, world firsts and unique encounters. Traverse Uganda for exceptional wildlife viewing experiences, head to the Himalayas for a spiritual journey or wander through the monastery-strewn mountains of Bhutan. Connect to your inner explorer and start creating your life-defining memories.
Offering world-class living both above and below the waves, The Muraka at Conrad Maldives Rangali Island is the first residence of its kind. Its location away from the main resort offers serious privacy, while the undersea master bedroom will delight with otherworldly views of the vibrant coral and sea life. Four personalised itineraries enable guests to curate their dream escape. For a winter get-away, the unique art installation that is the ice-hotel in Jukkasjärvi, northern Sweden, is undoubtedly the world’s ‘coolest’ hotel. Created afresh each year, no two ice-hotels are ever the same. But for a truly exclusive experience, there’s opportunity to design your own bespoke Ice Suite in conjunction with an ice-hotel designer.
PA R T N E R S H I P
THE ADVENTURER White water rafting, cross-country skiing or majestic mountain hiking, there’s not much that’s out of bounds for you. A curious culture seeker and true adrenaline junkie, you travel to experience things you’ve never tried before and thrive off of out-of-the-ordinary encounters. Explore India’s classic Golden Triangle on a luxuriously private journey enhanced with stays in the world’s most prestigious hotels. Gain insight into Indian history in Delhi, take in the magnificent majesty of the Taj Mahal in Agra and spot tigers in the wild in Ranthambore. You are the adventurer; always aspiring and always achieving. For a truly solitary camping experience, opt for the overnight stay at Camp Cloud at Clayoquot Wilderness Resort in Canada. Ascend by Jet Ranger helicopter to 4,500 ft above sea level to the peaks of Ursus and spend the day paddle boarding, kayaking, and swimming in the clouds at your very own private mountain lake.
THE FREQUENT WEEKENDER
THE SELF-IMPROVER
A lack of time doesn’t need to mean lack of enjoyment. A stolen weekend break provides just the right amount of unfettered culture and exploration to re-engage and re-kindle. Send your phone to voicemail, switch off those emails and dig out that weekend bag; unleash your inner spontaneity with a bite-sized break. Those who revel in city heritage should head to Dubrovnik. Renowned for its medieval ramparts and history, this waterfront city will not disappoint. Following its extensive six-month renovation, the stylish seaside retreat Hotel Bellevue Dubrovnik is perfect for exploring the Old Town. Visit during the annual Summer Festival when the piazzas are filled with a manifestation of open-air cultural performances. If a glamourous vibe is more for you, then New York’s Fifth Avenue has plenty to offer, including an eclectic and mesmerising art scene. Receive exclusive early access and tour the prestigious Metropolitan Museum of Art with an engaging expert for an intimate view of art spanning over 5,000 years. The Peninsula New York is the quinessential address to stay, itself showcasing many original Beaux Arts features.
For you it is not enough to simply visit a destination; instead you see travel as a way to better yourself. Whether you view holidays as a chance to learn new skills, tap into your creativity or improve your state of mind on a wellness-inspired getaway, allow Carrier to introduce experiences that will positively impact your life, even upon your return home. Jet setters should start their journey to a happier, healthier version of themselves at the serene Six Senses Kaplankaya, Turkey. The celebrated Six Senses spa, with its salt grottos and steamy hammams, uses a mixture of high-tech science and high-touch therapy through a range of personalised programmes, which focus on obtaining optimum well-being, sleep, mindfulness and nutrition. Those with a penchant for exotic flavours, on the other hand, can explore the connection between Moroccan culture and food with an interactive hands-on cookery class led by the resident chefs at Kasbah Tamadot. Be guided through how to cook authentic cuisine such as soups and tagines using a traditional Moroccan stove and pick up cooking techniques and recipes for you to recreate back home.
To discover more travel personalities and receive further information, please call 0161 826 1912 or visit carrier.co.uk/discover-you
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PROPERTY
MODERN LIVING THE FINEST HOMES ON THE MARKET THIS MONTH
The city living apartment.
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Waterman Building, E14 • A duplex penthouse apartment with 4 private terraces • Benefitting from 1 allocated parking bay • The development offers 24 hour concierge and security services Waterman Building is located within 0.6 miles of Canary Wharf and all of its shops, bars and restaurants as well as transport amenities including Heron Quay DLR (0.5 miles) and Canary wharf Jubilee Line (0.6 miles). All times and distances are approximate.
Our Canary Wharf expert, Christopher Paxton, looks forward to helping you. christopher.paxton@knightfrank.com 020 3641 9294 07789 868673
knightfrank.co.uk
Guide price £1,250 per week
Connecting people & property, perfectly.
Available furnished All potential tenants should be advised that, as well as rent, an administration fee of £288 and referencing fees of £48 per person will apply when renting a property. There will also be a £48 charge to register your deposit with the Tenancy Deposit Scheme if applicable. (All fees shown are inclusive of VAT.) Please ask us for more information about other fees that will apply or visit www.knightfrank.co.uk/tenantfees. Knight Frank is a member of the ARLA Client Money Protection Scheme and our redress scheme for consumers is Property Redress Scheme.
The ideal turn-key apartment.
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Tower Bridge Wharf, E1W • 24-Hour concierge service • Reception room with floor to ceiling windows • Exceptional views from the balcony Located on the river in west Wapping, moments from the attractions and amenities of St Katharine Docks and Thomas More Square.
Our Wapping expert, Paul Read, looks forward to helping you. paul.read@knightfrank.com 0207 4806848 0781 6145958
knightfrank.co.uk
Guide price £725 per week
Connecting people & property, perfectly.
Available furnished All potential tenants should be advised that, as well as rent, an administration fee of £288 and referencing fees of £48 per person will apply when renting a property. There will also be a £48 charge to register your deposit with the Tenancy Deposit Scheme if applicable. (All fees shown are inclusive of VAT.) Please ask us for more information about other fees that will apply or visit www.knightfrank.co.uk/tenantfees. Knight Frank is a member of the ARLA Client Money Protection Scheme and our redress scheme for consumers is Property Redress Scheme.
Mayfair Showroom 66 Grosvenor Street, London, W1K 3JL 35 offices in central London and over 70 across the capital
Western Gateway, E16 ÂŁ1,400,000
Arranged over two floors, a three double bedroom penthouse apartment with far reaching views of the city and ideally located in Royal Victoria Docks. There is an open plan kitchen/reception room including integrated appliances and a wrap-around balcony, energy rating c. Dexters Canary Wharf 020 7517 1199
Telfords Yard, E1W ÂŁ1,400,000
Located on the third floor of this converted warehouse, a three double bedroom apartment with exposed brickwork throughout. There is a large reception, a separate kitchen and two bathrooms. There is also allocated parking, 24-hour concierge and share of freehold, energy rating d. Dexters Wapping 020 7650 5350
dexters.co.uk
Lincoln’s Inn Fields, WC2A £4,250 per week
This charming Grade II Listed Georgian townhouse has five bedrooms, a double garage and direct views over the gardens. The property is arranged over six floors and further benefits from a large kitchen/ breakfast room, an internal courtyard garden and a cinema room, energy rating d. Dexters Covent Garden 020 7067 2400
Vaughan Way, E1W £1,300 per week
A brand new three bedroom apartment in the sought after London Dock development located next to St Katherine’s Dock and Tower Gateway. There is a large open plan kitchen/reception room, three bathrooms and two balconies, energy rating b. Dexters City 020 7392 9111 Tenants fees apply: £180 per tenancy towards administration, £60 reference fee per tenant and £144 for a professional check in (All inc of VAT).
Capital Wharf, West Wapping E1W ea2 are pleased to be able to show you this bright 2 bedroom 2 bathroom apartment with stunning River views from the balcony on the second floor within The second bathroom is also an en-suite in the second bedroom, bedroom. Wooden floors throughout and has cloak room. 24 hour concierge and use of residents gym. Secure underground 2 double 2 storey house set within thisa separate gated CCTV development. The property has been fully modernised toparking. include Closeglazing, to transport links to canary wharf wood and the floors, city. double replacement ceilings, , alarm, central heating system operated via remote control, smart phone or
this sought afterTerrace, development.Wapping The master bedrooms Wellington E1Wen-suite comprises of a 4 piece bathroom suite.
internet. Lounge. Fully fitted kitchen. Double bedrooms with fitted wardrobes. Garden. Secure Underground parking space. Potential to extend into the loft subject to planning permission. Close to Wapping station and local amenities.
Waterman Way, Wapping E1W Benson Quay, Wapping E1W
£695,000 £1,175,000
Price: £1,450,000
ea2 are very pleased to offer for sale this rare to market circa. 1835 sq ft 6 double bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, 3 storey house set within this quiet development with extensive ea2ofare pleasedBasin to offer this modern built 2 bedroom, 2 storey house. Thea property benefits from lounge, separate kitchen, 3 piece views Shadwell andfor thesale Canary Wharf district. The property benefits from spacious fully fitted kitchen, dining roomfully andfitted spacious lounge. Garden. Balconies with bathroom suite. Garden. Garage and secure street allocated parking space. stations Views over canal. providing Close to Wapping station andCity localand amenities. extensive views. Double garage, circa. 270 sq ft. off Close to Wapping and Shadwell andornamental local bus routes easy access to the the Canary Wharf district. Tudor House,Tower Bridge, SE1 £1,595,000 Local amenities to include ‘Waitrose’ supermarket and a parade of shops in Wapping Lane.
6th floor luxury 2 Double Bedrooms, 2 Bathrooms, Open Plan Reception Room, large balcony. Master bedroom with en-suite and walk in wardrobe. Modern Integrated Kitchen, Balcony, 24 Hour Porter by Harrods Estates, Residents Gymnasium, Swimming Pool, Lifts to all floors. Close to Local Shopping Facilities, Walking Distance to London Bridge.
ea2 Estate ea2 Agency Heritage || 35a Court Wapping | 8-10High Sampson Street ||Wapping | Wapping || London | London E1W E1W ea2 Estate EstateAgency Agency 35a Wapping High StreetStreet Wapping London E1W 1NR 2PL 1NA t: 020 7702 3456 t: 020 7702 3456 | f: 020 7702 9168 www.ea2group.com | enquiries@ea2group.com www.ea2.co.uk | property@ea2group.com
£795,000
Capital Wharf, Cinnabar Wharf,West WestWapping WappingE1W E1W
Hermitage Waterside, West Wapping E1W
ea2 are pleased to offer to let this modern built 2 bedroom, 2 bathroom ea2 are pleased to offer to let this modern built 6th floor sub penthouse ea2 are pleased to be to show you this bright 2 bedroom 2 bathroom apartment with stunning Riverwithin views from the balcony on the second within benefits from separate apartment this secure development. The floor apartment apartment within thisable sought after popular Riverside development in West fitted kitchen, balcony. Floor toisceiling underground parking Wapping. apartment comprises ofE1W 2 bedrooms double bedrooms, open planoflounge andbathroom this soughtThe after development. The master en-suite comprises a 4 piece suite. The second bathroom also anwindows. en-suite inSecure the £1,300 Wellington Roding Mews, Terrace, Wapping Wapping E1W £695,000 per week space. caretaker. Close to Tower Hill stations and St Katharine’s Dock. kitchen and balcony views theset River Thames, Tower and the second bedroom. Wooden floors and separate cloak room. 24 Shard. hour concierge andOn-site usewith of residents gym. Secure underground 2 double ea2 arebedroom, pleased to2with be storey able house toofthroughout show you within thishas this 6abedroom gated Bridge CCTV 4 bathroom development. house The for rental property has a garden. been fully This modernised property isto a parking. include Climate Secure parking space. Hour Concierge. Closeglazing, to control. transport links tounderground canary wharf and the floors, city. double very unique replacement property andceilings, has views wood over the canal. ,24alarm, Would central suit heating 6 professional system operated people. Close via remote to Tower control, Hill and smart Wapping phone or
internet. Overground Lounge.and Fully close fitted tokitchen. Waitrose. Double bedrooms with fitted wardrobes. Garden. Secure Underground parking space. Rental £495 per week Rental Price: into £620 Potential to extend theper loft week subject to planning permission. Close to Wapping stationPrice: and local amenities.
Waterman Way, Wapping E1W Waterman Way, Wapping E1W
£1,175,000
Wine Close, Wapping E1W
ea2 are pleased to offer to let this charming 1 bedroom modern built apartment Ea2 are pleased to offer for rent this spacious 3 bedroom, 2 storey house.The ea2 arethis pleased to offer saledevelopment this modern in built bedroom, 2 storeyThe house. The property benefits lounge, of separate fullylounge, fitted kitchen, 3 piecediner, 3 piece bathroom suite within popular canalfor side the2heart of Wapping. apartment propertyfrom comprises a spacious fitted kitchen bathroom suite. Garden. Garageand andbenefits secure from off street allocated parking space.a fully Views over ornamental Close to Wapping local amenities. has been refurbished recently a modern shower room, and patiocanal. garden. Laminate woodstation floors.and Located close to Wapping and Shadwell Tudor Cascades House, Tower, Tower Docklands Bridge, SE1 E14 £500 £1,595,000 per week fitted semi open plan kitchen and lounge. Laminate wood floors.Views of ornamental stations and local bus routes. 6thcanal. 2floor double luxury bedroom, 2 Double 2station, bathroom Bedrooms, 11th 2 Bathrooms, floor Openwithin Plan Reception this secureRoom, modern large development. balcony. Master Comprising bedroom a reception with en-suite Close to Wapping local bus routes andapartment amenities.
androom walk with in wardrobe. water/ City Modern views,Integrated fitted kitchen, Kitchen, master Balcony, bedroom 24 Hour withPorter walk-inbywardrobe Harrods & Estates, en suite Residents bathroom, Gymnasium, additionalSwimming Pool, shower Lifts to room. all floors. Balcony. Close Swimming to Local Shopping pool, Gymnasium Facilities, & Walking Tennis court. Distance Concierge. to London Bridge. Rental Price: £350 per week Rental Price: £595 per week
ea2 Agency Estate Agency Agency 35a Wapping High StreetStreet Wapping London E1W E1W 1NR 1NA ea2 Estate || 35a Wapping Street || Wapping || London E1W 2PL ea2 Estate Heritage Court | 8-10High Sampson | Wapping | London 0207702 7702 3456 t:t:020 3456 t: 020 7702 3456 | f: 020 7702 9168 www.ea2group.com enquiries@ea2group.com www.ea2group.com | |enquiries@ea2group.com www.ea2.co.uk | property@ea2group.com
£795,000
Manor Way, BR3 £1,950,000 F/H
Located on arguably the most sought-after road in Beckenham, is this stunning detached home finished to an exceptional standard.
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Wickham Court Road, BR4
Jackson Road, BR2
A truly unique, stunning detached period cottage, situated in one of West Wickham's most sought-after areas.
Stunning, extended and fully renovated four double bedroom 1930s family home located on a quiet residential road in Bromley Common.
£750,000 F/H
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The Acorn Group Incorporates
£775,000 F/H
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langfordrussell.co.uk @langfordrussell /langfordrussell
Chislehurst Road, BR1
Knoll Rise, BR6
Built in 2014 and located on one of Chislehurst’s premier roads, is this exceptional five bedroom detached family home.
Located in one of the most sought-after parts of Orpington and within walking distance of the high street and mainline station.
£2,400,000 F/H
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£950,000 F/H
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The Hillside, BR6 £1,595,000 F/H
Beautifully appointed and positioned on an elevated plot of half an acre, offering 3,490 sqft of versatile family living space.
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Find out more about us at acorngroup.co.uk
Westcombe Park Road, SE3 £449,995 S/O F/H
A truly remarkable one bedroom conversion flat, located in the heart of Westcombe Park, close to Greenwich Park and the open heath. 1
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Ormiston Road, SE10
Handen Road, SE12
£925,000 F/H
£999,950 F/H
Presented to the market is this truly stunning five bedroom Victorian mid terrace family home. Located within one of the most sought-after school catchments in Greenwich and close to excellent transport links.
A beautiful four bedroom Victorian detached family home benefiting from open-plan living accommodation and a superb kitchen extension, whilst retaining much of its original charm and many period features.
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The Acorn Group Incorporates
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johnpayne.com @johnpayne
Ashburnham Grove, SE10
ÂŁ699,995 L/H
Beautifully presented two double bedroom splitlevel period conversion apartment with private entrance and south facing garden. 1
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Cedars Close, SE13
Guide Price ÂŁ625,000 S/O F/H
Stunning, light, and supremely spacious hall floor conversion flat in this elegant mansion house within an exclusive gated development. 1
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Find out more about us at acorngroup.co.uk
johnpayne.com @johnpayne
£2,200 PCM
£2,950 PCM
Seren Park Gardens, SE3
Greenwich South Street, SE10
A modern townhouse located on a quiet residential road in East Greenwich.
A rare opportunity to rent this stylish penthouse with a private roof terrace.
An exceptional house offering versatile living, situated in a Conservation Area.
Commerell Street, SE10
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£3,500 PCM
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Contact East Greenwich 020 3846 1414
Contact West Greenwich 020 8858 9911
Caledonian Point, SE10
Princes Rise, SE13
Lee Road, SE3
Positioned on the 8th floor of this luxury apartment block, close to great transport links.
A well presented house located equidistant to Blackheath Village and Lewisham.
Furnished 1st floor apartment, close to Blackheath Village, with space for one car.
£1,550 PCM
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£1,425 PCM
£1,850 PCM
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Contact Blackheath Village 020 8318 1311
Contact Blackheath Village 020 8318 1311
Wycherley Close, SE3
Glenluce Road, SE3
Burnt Ash Road, SE12
Located in a quiet residential cul-de-sac, close to great transport links and amenities.
A stunning Victorian house in a great location benefiting from a wealth of period features.
Characterful Victorian conversion flat close to local amenities and Hither Green Station.
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The Acorn Group Incorporates
£1,200 PCM
£2,500 PCM
£1,600 PCM
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PROPERTY
HOT PROPERTY A FIVE-BEDROOM FAMILY HOME HITS THE MARKET IN BLACKHEATH
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his four-storey property in the heart of Blackheath makes for an ideal family dwelling. The heart of the house, the kitchen, is located on the ground floor and is equipped with integrated Miele appliances and a spacious dining area, which leads to a butler’s pantry – complete with dumb waiter – and a wine cellar. Outside, there is a large garden which is accessed via the kitchen’s French doors. Upstairs, a large reception room boasts a bespoke built-in library, while the neighbouring reception room benefits from a Juliet balcony. The five bedrooms are spread across the top two floors, with the master harbouring an en suite bathroom and a walk-in dressing room. Located on Liskeard Gardens, the house is handily located just a short distance from Blackheath Village and Greenwich Park, and is within walking distance of Blackheath station. £2.2m, Savills Canary Wharf, 20 Canada Square, E14, savills.co.uk
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PROPERTY
SPOTLIGHT TWO ONE PARK DRIVE BUYERS REVEAL THE THOUGHT PROCESS BEHIND THEIR INVESTMENT
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anary Wharf’s newest community space, Wood Wharf, is set to launch in 2019, and with it comes the arrival of One Park Drive, the first residential building in the area – which is due to complete in 2020. More than 65 per cent of the units have already been sold since their launch in May 2017. Geoff and Stephanie Rampton are among the buyers who’ve snapped up a three-bedroom Loft apartment; the self-employed management consultant and property investor were looking for a home they could continue to work from. The couple has lived in east London for the best part of five years and have seen the area – and particularly Canary Wharf – change drastically. “We love the interiors in the apartment, especially the wonderful bathrooms, with exquisite tiling and other fittings,” Stephanie said. “The wraparound terraces in the Loft apartments will provide amazing views, and from our eighth floor setting, we 114
are looking forward to being able to having the vistas over the waterside. “The Estate is clean, safe and well-maintained, and the developers are investing in the full development of the area by creating a two-form primary school, GP surgery and green spaces. Every time we visit at the weekend, we see lots of other families around and we’re sure it will be a great new community.” In addition to their One Park Drive property, the Ramptons have purchased a one-bedroom apartment on the 23rd floor of nearby 10 Park Drive for investment purposes. They will move into their new home when it completes at the end of 2020. For more information about One Park Drive, contact Canary Wharf Group on residential.sales@canarywharf.com or visit canarywharf.com/residential LU X U R Y L ON D ON .C O.U K
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