THE DESIGN EDITION Be inspired
ISSUE NUMBER 89 - OCTOBER 2017
JUST A THOUGHT Dear Passionate Readers, I am writing you this letter just as I return from the Milan Fashion Week, and what a week it was! That experience made me truly stop and rethink my definition of fashion. It is not only about the 1 trillion-dollar industry that employs 25 million people. It is not only about the glitz and glamour, the designers and the models. Fashion is, I realized, the most aesthetic reflection of human aspiration. When the designers push themselves to create and then transport us into a parallel world of beauty, creativity, audacity, taking every aspect of what constitutes our uniqueness of being human and magnifying it to a level where the whole world stops to get inspired… that is true fashion! And it is amazing how much power the momentum of fashion has. It impacts the whole city! Walking down the streets, you cannot but admire the seemingly effortless style of the people walking around, from day in to night, everyone simply looks good! And by ‘good’, I mean they have obviously been touched by the fire of fashion. Fashion… the power of imagination... the limitless ability to create... the opportunity it gives us to recreate ourselves... an invitation to human elevation... May we always live to re-create of ourselves a better version, every day closer to the image of our ideal selves … One day, that ideal world, shall be created… by us! Till next issue….
Zeina Mokaddam Managing Director
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ON THE COVER: October 2017 Design. It’s a favourite topic of ours, and this annual Design Edition is the one we look forward to most of all. This year we handed over the reins to Amira Behbehani and asked her to curate a few of the most eloquent and erudite of the region’s design ambassadors for us to explore. With the select grouping of Jassim, Aseel, Abdulla and Ghada, we’d say she’s pretty much nailed the Zeitgeist of regional art-led design today. All-in-all, it makes for happy reading here, there’s plenty more from Jassim and Aseel in extended interviews online at passionsarabia.com Be inspired.
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Nouf Al-Hajri LEGAL CONSULTANT Khaled Al-Kandari Al-Kandari Law Firm PUBLISHED BY
MANAGING DIRECTOR Zeina Mokaddam GENERAL MANAGER Chimene Ibrahim DIGITAL DIRECTOR Ali Sultan
CONTENTS 14
Amira Behbehani ( rig h t) Artist, designer, activist, curator and now Guest Editor of this special Design Edition of Men’s Passion magazine.
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Jassim Al Saddah There are a small number of names that crop up in every design or architecture-related conversation in Kuwait. Jassim Al Saddah is one of those names.
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Aseel Al Yaqoub We first became aware of Aseel Al Yaqoub some years ago now. Our meeting involved a curious incident with a teddy bear. You too may remember her as the brains behind 2010’s Year of Teddy - but there’s oh-so-much more to learn about her.
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Abdulla Al Awadi No stranger to regular readers, Abdulla guest- curated 2016’s issue of The Design Edition, and we felt there could be no better time than now to catch up with him and his news of the past twelve months.
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Ghada Khunji Eloquent in the extreme, any art or design- themed essay from her is going to be enlightening and entertaining. Our most recent was no exception.
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Saudi Design Week The Kingdom’s annual exploration of design returns for its fourth year
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Beirut Design Week The first edition of what will become an annual event. Here’s what caught our eye.
34 Design Destinations Be inspired by our choice of design hotels and great destinations.
MANAGING EDITOR Simon Balsom EDITOR Rawan Qabazard IN-HOUSE PHOTOGRAPHY Maher Al-Nouri
PH7 is a specialized publishing house based in Kuwait. Telephone +(965) 2572 0810 Fax +(965) 2572 0860 Website www.ph7-kw.com To maintain the desired quality of our publication, your contribution and feedback are welcomed. Please email your suggestions to info@ph7-kw.com For advertising, please contact info@ph7-kw.com For subscription, please email your details to info@ph7-kw.com PH7 wishes to state that the opinions expressed in MEN’S PASSION are those of the authors concerned and not necessarily those of the publisher. BPA Audited - 2015
Style is automatic.
THE LIFE REFINED DRIVE 38 40 41 42 44 46 48 49 50
Flavio Manzoni Creating sculpture in motion at Ferrari Panamera Sport Turismo Avant garde design and a 4+1 seat concept Aston Martin x Red Bull The Innovation Partnership Maserati Gran Turismo First drive - and it’s bellisima Bentley redefines Grand Touring The Continental GT McLaren Special Operations Modern elegance and historic colour Ferrari Portofino A grand tourer par excellence Harley Davidson New touring bikes for 2018 Riding for a Dapper Cause The Distinguished Gentleman’s Ride - Kuwait
WATCHES 52 54 56 58 60 61 62 63
Lange 1 Moon Phase A moon for days and nights Hublot Techframe Ferrari 70 Years Tourbillon Chronograph Omega Seamaster Aqua Terra Welcome on board Panerai’s Green Dials Three new creations Rado DiaMaster Grande Seconde Classic timepieces for a gentlemanly aesthetic Tissot Everytime Swissmatic Style is automatic Certina DS Podium GMT Chronometer Because time knows no borders Hamilton Khaki Navy Colourful and stylish approach
STYLE 64 Corneliani - Fall / Winter 17-18 Beyond Appearances 66 Dolce & Gabbana The New Princes 68 Dolce & Gabbana’s Not-so-secret Show Millenials, and by invitation only 70 Versace - Fall / Winter 17-18 The brotherhood of Versace 72 Hugo Boss Boss Stretch Tailoring 74 Hugo Boss Fifth store for Kuwait 75 Givenchy Gentleman Sensitively masculine CULTURE & DESIGN 76 78
Beirut Art Week Putting the ‘public’ in to public art Yarmouk Living Studio Toggle’s contemporary two-family solution
SAIL 80 Tankoa’s new M/Y Vertige Breaks the waves at this year’s MYS FLY 82 Bombardier’s All-New Premier Cabin Establishing a new standard in cabin design CONCIERGE 84 Nomad 85 Smoked House Specials 86 Mandarin Oriental, London 87 Le Gray, Beirut WELLNESS 88 Fight off the signs of ageing 89 Lose those love handles ONLINE 90 Trending on passionsarabia.com What’s trending at the online home of Men’s Passion? EVENTS 92 Kuwait happenings A round-up of the previous month’s events of note CALENDAR 100 Listings What’s on and where to go this month
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“For the Design Edition, I selected people that I can talk to and who I can feel what they mean... what they’re aiming to deliver... in their work”
Amira Behbehani Artist, designer, aesthete
S
he’s known to most simply as an artist. But this is by those who know only the thinnest veneer of Amira Behbehani, her life, her talents and her passions. Artist - yes... but it goes deeper than that. Through her continuous exploration as an artist, she delves in to the spheres of architecture, design and curation. Her curiosity takes her throughout the region - where she’s a well-known and respected commentator, and a true aesthete. She was a natural choice as curator and guest editor for our special annual Design Edition. She has a clear eye upon Kuwait and also across the Middle East. She’s passionate about her country and her people, and is excited by the dynamism and level of work that is currently being created. However, she knows that to achieve greatness for the region, we must work together and follow a common path of openness and creativity, and that it takes five fingers to make a hand. Amira Behbehani’s introduces her special selection for The Design Edition.
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“I relate on a personal level to their work. They move me – I feel emotional about their work. I believe in them. I believe that each and every one of them is creating something of value for our society. They’re all people that I can talk to and who I can feel what they mean... what they’re aiming to deliver... in their work. I first met Jassim Al Saddah back in the 90s when he came to me with a project – I was working at Boushahri at the time. The project was a model that needed photographing – I knew even then that he’d be a great architect. Aseel Al Yaqoub is extremely talented. I love the way she builds her concepts and ideas – and then executes them patiently, and to perfection. Aseel has a depth and curiosity which I find very rare these days. She’s very professional on every level. I met Ghada Khunji through Facebook, and we became very good friends. I love her work, I love her personality. She is a very strong and deep artist. All of my selection for this special edition have depth to their work – this is very important to me. The continuity of this, and to see them taking it to different levels – they all do this and they know it’s important to not to stick at one level and never move – is essential for the creation of enduring work.
1. Pari This is my aunt whom she passed away while I was preparing for my November Exhibition. Her name is Parivash and they call her Pari. 2. The Chair This is my grandfather’s chair that he had for almost 50 years. It’s been with me since 1997, I’m fond of collecting chairs. 3. Sketch Follow Amira at @amira.behbehani
Abdulla Al Awadi has moved in to different categories of work. He’s remained true to his values, but experiments with different media. I like this a lot. It’s important for artists and designers to work this way in the modern world.”
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Bab.nimnim derives from Arabic – ‘bab’ meaning door and ‘nimnim’ meaning small detailed trinkets. Find them at babnimnim.com Follow @babnimnim
Jassim Al Saddah Founder, bab.nimnim
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here are a small number of names that crop up in every design or architecture-related conversation in Kuwait. Jassim Al Saddah is one of those names. His company, bab.nimnim, was established at the beginning of the decade although, such has been its influence on our society, it feels like Jassim and bab.nimnim have been around far longer.
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“we do not need to recreate our design identity - or create cartoony versions of it - it’s already there”
Who better to address for us the role of design for 21st century Kuwait? Recent years have seen a rapid change in the direction of design in the city. Projects that once appeared impossible are now regularly being manifested in the heart of downtown and throughout the suburbs. Kuwait has, at last, gained confidence in design and architecture. Jassim is keen to discuss further, “To be frank,” he begins, “for design in the sense of architecture and product design, Kuwait is quite young and is not a player within the global design scene. Whereas, within the region I think we can compete across certain areas of the food and beverage sector, as there is a huge influx of new local concept eateries opening up which are very interesting. “I do foresee a future where Kuwait could fulfil the role of being a player in the global design field by opening up its market and being more of an international city - perhaps somewhat like Dubai. “What would definitely accelerate this development is by being more supportive and inclusive of the different spectrums of talented young people locally, and by focusing on supporting the arts and culture from the inside and being inspired by the outside. Currently we remain heavily dependent on the outside - this needs to change”. Design, be it architecture, graphic or any discipline, has its trends. He is clear and concise on the current trends in Kuwait and the region. “Well certainly the current trend, and it’s one which no one could have failed to notice, is the ‘speak-easy’ theme. This has a little bit of retro blended with a huge focus on the modernization of heritage. It’s being delivered through clean lines with minimal finishing and a sharp - yet warm - look. “Sometimes it could also involve the occasional ‘unfinished’ concrete wall or some exposed brick similar to those we see in New York lofts. “But this is not the only popular theme, there has been a huge
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Projects: 1. Al Daleel Office 2. Al Saddah Mosque 3. Private Villa 4. Dar Hamad
“What truly needs to be embraced is the now! Not to follow trends or fads but to reanalyze, readapt and implement what we learn from the global scene of architecture, as we must accept that we’re living in a globalized world. ” revival of many different vintage and retro design looks. These are fun and more colorful than others, and we have reached a point where we can recycle any era we find interesting”.
to our modern world with the advantage of how technology is developing and the unprecedented speed of human intellectual evolution is truly changing the way we live, work and function.
We’d all do well to benefit from his advice. I’m happy to listen:
“Finally, ‘god is in the details’ - the finesse and acknowledgement of good design is defined by the level of workmanship and detail applied within the project itself”.
“Approaching a new design can be worked at based on these simple directions: 1. For graphics: use a simple and clean font or typography for the logo. Apply some simple embellishments on it like an axonometric extrusion or some simple and clean graphic lines that may initially represent the logo. Long are gone the days where the logo is the main focus, now the main objective is have a very strong font that is clear and easy to read and notice. 2. For architecture: it really depends on what the newest material is that’s being used and its detailing, or reinventing the conventional use of a simple and known material. Facades of buildings are very important and surely designing a beautiful exterior should be reflected within the interior. The form of a building is usually what makes it iconic yet the interior function is as important and should follow form, and vice versa. The modernistic ideals of Le Corbusier and Adolf Loos do not apply
For sure, Jassim Al Saddah is only just beginning. A few short years in to a career that will stretch fruitfully before him, and for the enrichment of our society. There’s more to be said, much more, and our full dialogue can be read online at passionsarabia.com A final word from Jassim for now though; wonderfully upbeat too, as is his genuine way: “What’s exciting me right now is this surge of energy from the younger generations. I truly feel there is a huge wave of change, especially with the aid of technology where hidden-truths are starting to be exposed! I do hope that I can inspire and nurture graduates and young designers with my experience and then let them go off in to the world in order to see them develop beside me whilst I continue to encourage them.
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To read the full dialogue with Jassim Al Saddah, visit passionsarabia.com
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Aseel Al Yaqoub
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Visual artist, designer, occasional provocateur
e first became aware of Aseel Al Yaqoub some years ago now. Our meeting involved a curious incident with a teddy bear. You may remember her as the brains behind 2010’s Year of Teddy. Of course, there’s far more to Aseel than this. Her work has been exhibited at Edge of Arabia (London), Boiler Room (New York), A1 Gallery (Dubai), Design Terminal (Budapest), Museum of Modern Art (Kuwait), Contemporary Art Gallery (Kuwait) and The Sultan Gallery (Kuwait). Photograph of Aseel:
Maher Al-Nouri Find Aseel at:
aseelalyaqoub.com
Follow Aseel at:
@aseelalyaqoub
We’re keen to learn her thoughts of Kuwait as a design city, and understand how she rebuilt connections with the city after her return from Europe and the United States. Kuwait is only part of your story – yet it is (at least for now) your home. Living and studying abroad is certainly good for opening horizons – but how do you feel now you’re home? Outsider? Insider? As the beautiful singer Sade once said: “I think you only really feel like an outsider if you’ve been an insider”. I find it less precarious to be both rather than one or the other. I enjoy this dichotomy; I am both insider and outsider. Do you feel it’s given you the advantage of seeing the country from a unique viewpoint? Does this enhance your work in Kuwait? The insider me is somewhat socially integrated, yet I am free of its repercussions because I also stand on the edge. In my artistic practice I have one foot in the past and another in the present. Over the years I have come to the realization that I am immensely fascinated with Kuwait as a nation-state and with its social structure. It is such an interesting case study and contains a bundle of topics that can be easily universalized. It became clear to me during my MFA that my thesis and exhibition had to be about
THE DESIGN EDITION
“In order for Kuwait to have a strong design ethos we need to challenge what exists and manufacture new ideas that are sustainable”
Above: The Fidelity of Images by Aseel Al Yaqoub Left: Sooner or Later by Aseel Al Yaqoub
Kuwait. By positioning myself on the buffer zone, I can be a part of the issues that take place and at the same time present them from an outsider’s perspective; unbiased. I enjoy being in the middle of the road and the one I choose is here. It may be possible for everyone to ‘learn’ the rights and wrongs of design, but we feel designers succeed or fail in the way they put their inspiration to good use. Where do you look for inspiration? In history books, postcards, heritage sites (the very young, fake ones) and national institutions. Sometimes I’ll read intense books on post-colonialism and establishments. I read them like a boat looking for the beacon from a lighthouse in the night. Maybe it’s a quote or a piece of information that makes me gasp. That line or paragraph then coaxes me to look at the
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Images and details from Culture Fair by Aseel Al Yaqoub Read our full dialogue with Aseel Al Yaqoub at passionsarabia.com
“Over the years I have come to the realization that I am immensely fascinated with Kuwait as a nation-state and with its social structure” postcard differently and place it over the current situation or environment. That’s when the questions start emerging as a teleprompter: Why? How? Who? When? We’d like to see a strong Kuwait design ethos evolve. Do you feel Kuwait’s value of good design is improving? Is good design appreciated? In order for Kuwait to have a strong design ethos we need to challenge what exists and manufacture new ideas that are sustainable. It is a process. Kuwait has nomadic tendencies, which is the main obstacle. Sometimes demolishing what exists isn’t the solution. The best solution for design is to merge it with another, or to introduce an element not yet entertained. One of the lessons I learnt in art school is that art has no
function. It wasn’t until I heavily studied Conceptualism that I began to realize that an idea could carry a form more so than traditional aesthetics or material concerns. The same goes for design; it’s not what you build it with but rather its purpose and the way it serves it. This can all be possible if we have a solid critical platform. Criticism that uses positive language to elicit a solution is vital, however people tend to take it a bit too personally here. If we want to engage or appreciate design, if we want discourse, then we need criticism. Until then, there won’t be space for improvement or development. As Kuwaiti do you feel an obligation to reflect your heritage in your work? There has long been a rush to mimic western styles – we feel sentiment is changing and there’s a movement to reflecting Arab heritage. What are your
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“Kuwait as a nation-state has a young history. Can we claim anything prior to the nation’s formation as Kuwaiti? ” thoughts on the pros and cons of this? Firstly, we need to define what Kuwaiti heritage is. Are they national sites? Are they traditions passed down? Is it pre-oil era? I’ve been investigating the past and how it emerges into the present. Kuwait as a nation-state has a young history, which confuses our understanding of heritage. Can we claim anything prior to the nation’s formation as Kuwaiti? This is why I use nostalgia as a critical tool in my work rather than a longing for the past. Heritage is formed from a series of events or processes that is significant within the memory of a group. It becomes problematic when these memories are romanticized. It becomes blurry and subjective. I’ve been exploring the
invention and reinvention of heritage and tradition in Kuwait and I label our heritage as such because it goes hand in hand with the state’s patriotic discourse. There’s been multiple attempts to solidify visual representations of our heritage i.e. renovations of the old city walls (Al Soor). We’re grasping for what’s left in the wake of modernization. With that being said, Arab heritage is even more arbitrary. What is considered heritage in Egypt is not the same in Lebanon, and very different from Jordan. The indigenous architecture in Yemen is different than Bahrain. There was once the Utopian notion of Pan-Arabism, but the only thing we share today that’s ‘Arab’ is language. This might be the main reason why there’s a tendency to veer towards Western styles or towards Islamic ones.
Naturally talented and endlessly curious, it’s good to see the return to Kuwait of someone with Aseel’s undoubted insight. For sure, the nation’s design future is secure in the hands of her and other equally enlightened peers.. Read more at passionarabia.com
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Abdulla Al Awadi Architect, designer, lecturer, aesthete
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o
stranger to regular readers, Abdulla guest-curated 2016’s issue of The Design Edition, and we felt there could be no better time than now to catch up with him and his news of the past twelve months. An architect teaching at Kuwait University, he lives and breathes design in its many forms. As an artist he’s had solo shows at the country’s major galleries, and he’s participated with group shows too.
He’s involved himself in the world of theatre alongside Kuwait’s leading contemporary playwright, and been invited to curate exhibitions for the same designers and artists he once aspired to call his peers. In 2014 he played a key role at the Venice Biennale through his participation at the Kuwait Pavilion, and last year as a guest artist at an international pavilion. Also representing Kuwait and himself at Design Days Dubai, he is currently working with Samovar Carpets, the country’s leading carpet salon, and creating modern expressions of traditional rugs. He’s one of Kuwait’s hottest tickets in the world of design. Last time we were with you, we talked about your collaboration with Samovar Carpets. What’s the update from here? How’s it going? The collaboration is still going strong, and we have produced several new pieces this year. It’s been an exciting experience, and the collaboration is giving me a new and interesting way
to express my points of view through art.
Follow Abdulla Al Awadi at
Where has your work been shown over the past 12 months? And what did you show?
To read more about him, visit
During the year I was nominated for Emerging Designer of the year by Harper’s Bazaar Arabia Interiors for my carpet - but I didn’t win! I was also chosen as one of “the makers” in a new book, and as part of this I displayed a carpet and a special necklace made for the show which accompanied the book launch. I also participated in the exhibition of “Abolish Article 153” with one of my necklaces. When the new Bikar Gallery opened here in Kuwait, I was part of a group show with a digital print illustrating the choices a girl has in her life. What have been your personal design highlights of the past 12 months? What have you seen that inspired you? Who
@abdullalawadi
passionsarabia.com
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have you seen that’s doing good work? This year has been a tough one teaching at Kuwait University as the number of students has doubled and I was given year
one, so the amount of work and concentration has been
immense. As usual, the response I got from my students was pleasantly surprising - not only did these young architectsin-the-making meet all the design challenges I set them, but
some of them surpassed them and ensured to me that there is light at the end of the tunnel and that I have played my small part in the future of my country. I am very thankful for that.
“I’m designing to open a conversation. I believe that the more we start to understand each other, the more we will accept each other”
I just came back from the Venice Biennale and was blown away with the ‘Treasures from the Wreck of the Unbelievable’
by Damien Hirst. Regardless of whether one likes the aesthetic
of the end result of the project, there is no way that one is not impressed with the idea and the dedication of the artist and his team to pull it through in that scale.
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Portrait by
Loredana Mantello Follow Ghada Khunji
at @gkhunji
Ghada Khunji
A
A Letter from Bahrain
graduate of two of New York’s premiere arts institutions - the Parsons School of Design and the International Center of Photography’s documentary program - Ghada recently returned to her native Bahrain after many years ensconced in the Big Apple. A tough transition? Well, it was not without its challenges. However, she’s uniquely placed to judge design in the region, and retains one foot in the east and one in the west. Eloquent in the extreme, any art or design-themed essay from her is going to be enlightening and entertaining. Our most recent was no exception. “The 70s in our region; mostly focusing on Bahrain, was a time
brownstone buildings are being replaced with sheet rock
of fascinating architecture. One can still see the remaining
rooms that can be deconstructed easily.
facades of buildings from that era and that are quite unique. Sadly, most are being demolished and replaced with copy /
Whether it’s the Old Souk in Bahrain or the little intimate
paste housing high-rises. Buildings that are there to cheaply
stores in Soho that have now been replaced by robotically
facilitate as opposed to fascinate.
molded shopping malls.
Yet, I have to admit that in my years of living in New York,
In my opinion, Bahrain has had a much longer yet slower
the same has been happening there. The days of intricate
journey of design values; whereas other Gulf States - such
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Ghada’s latest installation is an extension of her recent work, which surveys the dichotomies of mortality, gender and identity. She mirrors her theoretical queries of juxtaposing concepts with aesthetic experimentation into the duality of black and white; night and day; the past and untold future.
as Dubai and Qatar - were mostly barren back then and only recently boomed through the super-highway of design. When I left for college in the 80s the Gulf States, including Bahrain, were still relying on the influences of the West when it came to design. From fashion and Top of the Pops music charts of London, to the latest hairstyles of Beirut. In the past decade or so the Gulf States, thanks to an amazing jumpstart by Dubai, have focused their money “in land” - if you gwt my point. Instead of merely visiting other countries and being influenced by the West, they transported the West to the East. Starting with architecture / infrastructure and now through to art and design as well. The Lego generation of building started and sprung up as quickly as Las Vegas.
In this piece, Baba & Mami, she pays homage to her family’s heritage and history by taking a page out of the story of her grandfather’s arrival to the shores of Bahrain many decades ago. Her grandfather, a pearl merchant, made this country his home. As a reflection of this voyage, she will be erecting two sails, made out of ABAYAS and THOBES collected from members of her family. Her sails will stand tall on barren land, the land that has been reclaimed and has swallowed the vestiges of the past. By these means, she conveys a nostalgic salutation to the past and an idealistic gaze towards the futures. Although her metaphorical and invisible vessel is drowned in the sand, it will, through the strength of family bonds and pride in our histories, will sail onwards to an ordained greatness she romanticizes.
Yet, we still had to bring in foreigners to head the jobs; mimicking what was being done in the West. What was missing - yet hopefully will change with time - is using our own local people to forefront our taste. One problem is, only recently have our parents started to agree that studying art and design is worthwhile. Back in the day, we were told that we should study business, law or medicine. The newer generations are now starting to fill these necessary spaces that lacked in our society before bringing a fresher outlook to what Gulf art and design can be. In Bahrain, we have been very fortunate to have Sheikha Mai Al Khalifa whom, under the umbrella of The Sheikh Ibrahim
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The Word Whisperer by Ghada Khunji
Center, has been beautifully and intricately preserving our heritage by restoring old houses that give one the essence of what architecture and homes looked like in our history. Onr example is these homes possessed wind towers to help cool the house when air conditioning did not exist. Last year, I was chosen to be a part of an initiative called 15/15. Although I am predominantly a photographer, it inspired me to go back in time and create a piece solely based on the memory of the place that was chosen for me. Within the House of Poetry I made a huge “bisht” inspired piece (shown left) that not only reflected the essence of who Ibrahim Al Arrayed was as a noted poet, but I also infused the the idea of the material tarps that hang in the Souk to keep the sun from glaring down. I learned so much from being in New York for so many years, yet, upon returning to my homeland of Bahrain, I opened my eyes to how my own region can influence and reflect my art in a differently personal way. For another installation I made, BABA & MAMI, I reminisced about my late grandfather - a pearl merchant. I asked my family to donate their used abayas and thobes to construct two enormous sails; one black made of cut and reconstructed abayas and the other of white reconstructed thobes. Playing not only with male and female, black and white, but also the importance of the pearling industry in Bahrain. It was returning home that brought these ideas out; if I had remained in New York I’m not sure this twist of fate would have manifested. My point is that history recycles, and the more knowledge and experience we get from others helps us mold into who we become. So, it’s important to learn from the masters; whether they are from the West or elsewhere, but one must also infuse their own culture to fully make it your own. In my case, I am fusing what I experienced in New York as well as my soul as a Bahraini. One can inspire society by easing our way in. As much as my family has supported me for the photographs I’ve taken and loved them, nothing moved them as much as the two installation pieces I mentioned above; because they now saw something that was a part of them and their custom yet presented in such a unique and different way. I am not trying to impose my western values on them yet to use and infuse the knowledge I gained abroad to make art that reflects the here and now.
THE DESIGN EDITION
Maria by Ghada Khunji
I can’t particularly chose one place in this region or the World that is getting “design right” at the moment. We have been so overwhelmed with possibilities since technology has advanced. For example; every other person claims to be a photographer thanks to mobile phones. People are forgetting that art and design take years to be cultivated. Obstacles create necessity and not the opposite; we can’t trust the latest technologically advanced camera to choose our shots; we need to see first otherwise we are creating mass amounts of virtually blind shots. So, really what its still comes down to is the person making the art itself that makes one stand out from the bunch. The current generation of designers have been given more of an opportunity because one no longer has to travel abroad to study and learn from the best; the internet brings it to them. There is no longer the excuse that you are better off by going there and studying such and such. It’s the will of the individual the determines the rest. Google has become an open source of knowledge and visuality. It’s time to look within and around our own societies and culture to get inspired and not just rely on the West. It’s more about Arabisation than re-Arabisation of design, and a lot of regional artist’s are moving forward and accomplishing that. We are now taste worthy and have our own messages and subtleties that make us uniquely Arab. What’s important is to think globally; be a Leonardo Da Vinci; a master of many thoughts and gestures and also not to just focus on such a thing as an Arab theme or so-called Middle Eastern Art. My home is my temple; almost literally. It houses and encompasses furniture, art and objects from all over the World; collected over the years. Most of my furniture is recycled old furniture from my mother and father’s house; sculptures and art that I found on my travels to India, Africa and elsewhere; even pieces that people discarded outside in my Brooklyn neighborhood as garbage! I even have my dog’s ashes next to a painting my friend did of him. My closet is filled with outfits that reflect many different regions of the World. One day I look Spanish, the next day, Arab, then perhaps, Indian or New Yorker. In one’s personal space there should not be ground rules. Surround yourself with what makes you happy. My house is a multi religious and multi-faceted journey of the lifetime I’ve had; what has made me who I am today. It’s a museum of my soul.”
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Saudi Design Week
The Kingdom’s annual exploration of design returns for its fourth year
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rom 5th to 8th October 2017, Saudi Design Week returns to transform Saudi Arabia’s capital of Riyadh into a dynamic and interactive design platform. This year’s theme explores the concept of “Design in Motion”. Designers will study that sense of motion figuratively by showcasing the stories behind their products as they move from sketch to shelf, or seek a more literal understanding by exploring the intersection of design and sports, and even motion in design through multiple dimensions such as time. Oasis Magazine and the Saudi Design Week team are launching their fourth annual design event devoted to exhibiting innovative product design, and supporting national and international designers. It brings the masters in the creative industries together with emerging talents, giving them a communal space to share in their common passion as one community. Alongside site-specific installations, Saudi Design Week 2017 brings together over 50 unique designers both local and international with a special focus on promoting the talents within Saudi Arabia and creating a dynamic platform for exchange across the designers encouraging and following the direction and vision of Saudi 2030. Sponsors are also taking an active role in this year’s theme and creating special exhibitions for the audience to enjoy. Considered to be Saudi Arabia’s leading design festival, Saudi Design Week features curated exhibitions, workshops, dedicated design forum and market and related activities, making this the place to be to discuss, debate and delight in great design. We’ve selected a few of our favourite pieces from the forthcoming festival. We’ll see you in Riyadh.
THE DESIGN EDITION
Opposite page: Book stand created by Nada Debs, presented by Cities. This page, clockwise from left: ‘Lattoo’ spinning stool by Coalesce Design Studio, presented by Antidote; Styleframe by Tahreek; Modern pouffe by Karkashan Design; Poids plume by Saccal Design House. Follow @saudidesignweek
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THE DESIGN EDITION
Beirut Design Fair
The first edition of what will become an annual event. Here’s what caught our eye.
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very city worth its salt has at least one annual design event. Now, Beirut has two. Joining the longstanding and very successful midyear Beirut Design Week is the Beirut Design Fair - an adjunct to the eighth edition of the city’s Art Fair. The first edition of Beirut Design Fair, took place from 20 to 24 September, gathered 44 exhibitors and represented the work
of some one hundred designers from Lebanon and around the world.
The principal objective of Beirut Design Fair is to highlight the best galleries and established designers alongside rising stars from today’s emerging generation of creators.
The galleries selected for the fair revealed the effervescence
of a creative scene at once global and rooted in tradition — one which constitutes an important meeting point for local and international energy and inspiration.
As a sign of their intent, Beirut Design Fair’s selection committee included a number of high-powered names - Aline Asmar d’Amman (architect, interior designer and artistic director), India Mahdavi (architect, designer and interior designer),
Marc Baroud (designer, director of the design department of the Lebanese Academy of Fine Arts), Marianne Brabant (from
the Modern and Contemporary Department of the Musée des
Arts Décoratifs de Paris), and Mathias Orhel (founder of m-O creative recruitment consultancy).
We took a mooch around the halls, and here we share with you just a small number of the many highlights.
THE DESIGN EDITION
Opposite page: Karina Sukar Interior Architecture and Design; Rani Kik. This page, clockwise from left: Tarek Elkassouf; Paola Sakr; David & Nicolas; Fabraca Studios; Guillaume Credoz. Follow @beirutdesignfair
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THE DESIGN EDITION
Design Destinations
Be inspired by our choice of design hotels and great destinations
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he time’s going to come when you’re in need of solace, inspiration, or simply a downright blatant slice of luxury. Going luxe is easy - doing it in the finest of aesthetic surroundings takes a little more skill. So, we turned to our friends at Leading Hotels of the World for some advice. We wanted it luxury, we wanted it stylish. We wanted to be able to step out of the lobby and be further inspired by what lay in front of us. And here’s what they came up with in London, Tokyo, Rio de Janeiro and Tortuga Bay. We admit we included this last destination more for its beaches than its design credentials. But, we’re only going to live once, aren’t we?
THE DESIGN EDITION
Admire some of the world’s most fashionable hotspots and Leading Hotel masterpieces. See more at lhw.com and passionsarabia.com
One Aldwych, London
Tortuga Bay, Dominican Republic
Located in the former Morning Post newspaper building designed by star-architects Charles Mewes and Arthur Davis, One Aldwych is a stunning hotel with a striking contemporary design.
Nature takes center-stage at this boutique-sized enclave, part of the Puntacana Resort & Club development. Five miles of pristine private beachfront the property, which is nestled in a 1,500-acre ecological reserve.
Situated in the heart of London’s theatre district, it is a short walk from the shops and restaurants of the capital’s bustling West End and close to the financial district. Indigo is popular with locals and guests alike with its British gluten- and dairyfree menu; whilst the new restaurant, Eneko at One Aldwych – in partnership with three Michelin-starred Chef, Eneko Atxa – offers his inventive interpretation of traditional Basque cuisine.
The leafy setting inspired fashion designer (and Dominican Republic native) Oscar de la Renta, who created the plantationstyle suite interiors here. All have balconies and feature such touches as Frette linens and Oscar de la Renta amenities. At the end of an active day, the Six Senses Spa (the only one in North America) beckons; many of the treatments are allnatural, making it a great fit for this special place.
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THE DESIGN EDITION
From London to Tokyo, Rio to the Dominican Republic Leading Hotels of the World - lhw.com - has got your style cravings covered with these inspirational locations
Imperial Hotel, Tokyo
Hotel Fasano, Rio de Janeiro
Opened in 1890 on request of the Japanese aristocracy, the Imperial Hotel Tokyo boasts an impressive historic pedigree and is truly a one-of-a-kind landmark.
Located on Rio de Janeiro’s legendary Ipanema Beach, star designer Philippe Starck’s first hotel in Brazil pays homage to the golden age of bossa nova.
Two pleasures not to be missed here are the daily chanoyu (traditional tea ceremony) and the Old Imperial bar, an elegant Art Deco space containing pieces of murals and terracotta from the original building, designed by Frank Lloyd Wright in 1923.
Channeling the heyday of Jobim and Gilberto, the staff wears Ocimar Versolato–inspired uniforms. Distinctly Brazilian materials like Îpe flooring and the enormous piquiá tree stump used for the reception desk are mixed with Grecian marble, 19th-century Argentinean brick and Chinese onyx. The guest rooms have Sergio Rodrigues furnishings and Starckian earshaped mirrors and come with private balconies affording sweeping views.
Set in the very heart of Tokyo, the hotel is within steps of fabled Ginza shopping, the emperor’s palace, Hibiya Park and central Marunouchi and Kasumigaseki.
THE LIFE REFINED Our carefully curated guide to the finest from the spheres of horology, automobiles, style, travel, design and much more. In The Life Refined we look at the best, and meet the people that are making it happen.
THE LIFE REFINED
Flavio Manzoni
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Creating sculpture in motion
here can’t be many other jobs with titles quite as exciting as that of Ferrari design chief Flavio Manzoni – and neither can there be many other jobs quite as exciting. A recent project of his was to oversee the genesis and evolution of the marque’s 812 Superfast – and look how astonishingly well that went. Yet, life isn’t all about creating fantasy automobiles – his customers are amongst the world’s most demanding, as are his shareholders and CEO. He’s also balancing Ferrari’s legacy of 70 years whilst looking to the future. Still, who wouldn’t swap their job for his? He trained as an architect, and is a compulsive scribbler – always keen to get ideas and inspiration down on to paper. We met him recently during our tour of Ferrari’s Maranello factory. It’s a place where efficiency and perfection are the watchwords - how else are you going to build the world’s most desirable sportscars? His approach is identical. Look again at the next Ferrari you see - notice the attnetion to detail. Notice how the body is sculpted to appear visually light in addition to being physically light too. We’re keen to know Ferrari’s future. Will there be an SUV? What are his thoughts on the current ‘retro’ trends in automobile design. And what about electric - if not when (it’s already happened for Ferrari, firstly with the LaFerrari), then how wide? His answer to every question comes from the same approach. That is, ‘is it true to Ferrari’s style, and will it make a better car than the one before?’ An SUV is ruled out on the simple basis of the driver’s seat position. You sit ‘in’ a Ferrari with arms and legs outstretched, you sit ‘on’ an SUV. This is enough of a break from Ferrari’s DNA to prohibit the segment’s inclusion in the range. Electric, though, is a different matter altogether. Last year, CEO Sergio Marchionne announced that all new models will be hybrids from 2019. Today, Flavio has the enviable task of helping shape the future. In design, it is often said that great designs are achieved where the designers matches form with function. We contend that, rather, the very greatest designs are created by those who acknowledge the form and function are one and the same thing. Flavio Manzoni is indeed one such designer. Through his pen (and sometimes stylus), he’s shepherding the Cavallino Rampante onwards with the challenge to exceed the benchmark of the latest model, time and time again.
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THE LIFE LUXEREFINED CARS
Panamera Sport Turismo
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Avant-garde design and 4+1 seat concept
nsurprisingly, last month’s focus was on Porsche’s new E-Hybrid Panamera. The future is (at least part) electric, but that doesn’t mean gas-only automobiles don’t still have legs. Take the Sport Turismo, for example. The new and, as yet, unique Porsche model is a versatile and practical alternative to the saloons in the luxury segment
With the Panamera Sport Turismo, Porsche is introducing an avant-garde touring car to the luxury segment whose triple pillars of dynamics, comfort and versatility represent a unique alternative to the traditional saloon. Following on from the Panamera sports saloon with its optional long or short wheelbase, the new Sport Turismo is now the third model to bring fresh impetus to the luxury segment with its dynamic design. With its completely redesigned rear, the designers in the development centre in Weissach have changed the design impression, the package and the character of the large Porsche. Michael Mauer and the head exterior designer Peter Varga were able to further refine the lines of the concept study presented at the 2012 Paris Motor Show and transfer this to mass production. Numerous elements ensure a powerful design, not least the pronounced shoulders in the style of a sports car. Based on the Porsche Design DNA, a Panamera version was born that is just as homogeneous and definitive as the sports saloon. The Panamera combines high levels of comfort, typical Porsche sportiness and an avant-garde design with high versatility. This
makes it an exception in the luxury segment, and represents an alternative for all those for whom the fixed interior structure of a conventional saloon offers too little flexibility. The new Panamera Sport Turismo underlines the unique selling point of the model line with an even more versatile rear. The new model is the first Panamera to leave the Porsche plant in Leipzig with a three-seat rear bench. Two individual seats in the rear are still available as an option. The already generous luggage compartment volume of the sports saloon has now also been enlarged by 20 litres in the Sport Turismo (plus 50 litres when the seats are folded down and the space is loaded up to the roof). The luggage compartment of the fiveseater configuration is particularly large, holding up to 520 litres. When loaded to roof height, the luggage compartment volume increases to 1,390 litres. Porsche offers the new Panamera Sport Turismo in five different powertrain versions with power ranging from 243 kW (330 hp) to 404 kW (550 hp). All engines – V6 and V8 – are new developments that were first presented with the secondgeneration Panamera. The Sport Turismo is available as a petrol engine, diesel and plug-in hybrid. All petrol and diesel engines share an engine concept with an innovative central turbo layout, with the turbo/biturbo systems integrated in the inner V of the cylinder blocks. The direct fuel injectors also have injectors positioned centrally in the combustion chamber.
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Aston Martin
x Red Bull - The Innovation Partnership
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ston Martin and Red Bull Racing have further strengthened their Innovation Partnership with the announcement that the Formula One team will compete as ‘Aston Martin Red Bull Racing’ from 2018. The successful partnership, that has already produced the soldout Aston Martin Valkyrie hypercar, will yield future products and an exciting new Advanced Performance Centre that will open on the Red Bull Racing campus in Milton Keynes later this year. The British luxury carmaker will also evaluate the opportunity to be involved in the team’s power unit from 2021 after being asked by the FIA to join discussions on future engines for F1TM.
Aston Martin will feature prominently across the Aston Martin Red Bull Racing team from the start of the 2018 season
Aston Martin President and CEO, Andy Palmer, said: “Title partnership is the next logical step for our Innovation Partnership with Red Bull Racing. We are enjoying the global brand awareness that a revitalized Formula One provides. The power unit discussions are of interest to us but only if the circumstances are right. We are not about to enter an engine war with no restrictions in cost or dynamometer hours but we believe that if the FIA can create the right environment we would be interested in getting involved.” The relationship between Aston Martin, Red Bull Racing and AF Racing began in 2016 after the companies combined cutting edge F1TM technology and Aston Martin’s signature sports car design to produce a ground breaking hypercar. The Aston Martin Valkyrie, which sold out on launch, is set to be the first in a line of incredible products to be borne of this Innovation Partnership will make its first run in 2018 before being delivered to customers in 2019. The new Advanced Performance Centre, which will create 110 new jobs, will also house Aston Martin’s second dedicated design centre and engineering personnel who will be working on future sports cars. The new centre will allow a closer working relationship between the two leading brands in their respective fields which will see the adoption of both F1TM and road car technology. Christian Horner, Team Principal of Red Bull Racing said: “Our Innovation Partnership with Aston Martin has been pioneering”.
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THE LIFE REFINED
Eminently driveable, you could own one of these and use it as your daily drive. Not only could – but should Read more at passionsarabia.com
Maserati GranTurismo
First drive - and it’s bellisima
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s grand tourers go, Maserati’s GranTurismo has been around pretty much the longest. Ten years, and counting. To look at the original and 2018 models side-by-side, for sure you’ll notice its evolution. Yet, visually at least, it’s still fundamentally the same car - it was a design classic straight out of tthe box. Maserati have been wise not to mess with its looks. Mechanically though, it’s a whole new ball-game. Refinement after mechanical refinement has produced an automobile whose curvy looks hide a razor-sharp driving experience. If you’ve got continental-miles to do, and you want to get to your destination with a smile still on your face, then here’s the GT for you. We took the GranTurismo and the GranCabrio for a spin through hills around Brescia.
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If modern motoring has a downside, it’s that recent generations of designers and engineers have sought to distance the driver from the joy of actually driving an automobile. Too many, some of them even the finest engineered of cars, make the driver feel like an unnecessary guest. Maserati is one of few who have retained the magic of engagement - to sit behind the tridentbadged steering wheel is to be welcomed aboard, and tingles with the anticipation of adventure.
Unleashed, it has all the poise and raucous wail of a sportscar, yet it maintains the elegance of a grand tourer. In the world of grand tourers, and updated for 2018, it enhances its claim to be the king of them all and, whether you’ll agree with that or not, one thing that anyone with a shred of automotive passion will be unable to do is to step out of a GranTurismo at the end of a long drive, without a huge smile on their face. Can you say that about your current car?
For the marque that claims to have created the world’s first grand tourer in 1947, with its A6 1500, there’s always a lot resting on the successful launch of the latest model. 70 years later, the 2018 version – particularly the MC Coupe variant - illustrates the perfect evolution of the species.
Simply, bellisima.
Enough of the romance, how’s the drive? A few facts and figures first to help set the context. The front-mid-mounted 4.7-litre Ferrari-built V8 will help you out to the tune of 454 hp. In this 1,800kg GranTurismo, that’ll translate to 100kmh in 4.8 seconds, and to a maximum of 300kmh. Impressive. Yet it won’t be the fastest around the racetrack, and it isn’t the most powerful at the ‘lights. What it does do, though, is something that Maserati are amongst the very best at – it’ll enable you to travel long distances fast, but also in comfort. It represents the perfect grand tourer. Eminently driveable, you could own one of these and use it as your daily drive. Not only could – but should. However, something to know about driving in Europe these days is that the authorities will do their best to make sure you’re not able to have too much fun. Ever lower speed limits and ever more speed cameras put paid to on-the-limit testing of the GranTurismo – at least until we arrived at La Forella. Somehow, and I suspect this could only happen in Italy, Maserati had persuaded the local carbineri to close around 4 km of public roads – a mountain pass to be specific – to enable us to push on, back-and-forth, in a hillclimb format of test experience. The best thing was, not only did none of the locals noticeably complain, instead many of them lined the road, sitting on rocks and grassy verges whilst munching on sandwiches as they watched. So, launch control implemented, take-off delivers a smooth yet solid punch to the small of your back. As the pass winds up and through the steeply-sided mountains, there’s barely a need to brake (except for the one essential hairpin). The car isn’t on rails, and the suspension is softer than you’d otherwise think would be useful for this sort of driving – but we’re taking this grand tourer well out of its comfort zone here. We’re asking it to become a sportscar - something the GranTurismo was never intended to be, but that the MC Coupe is knocking on the door of.
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THE LIFE REFINED
Bentley redefines Grand Touring
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The all-new Bentley Continental GT
he third generation of the legendary Bentley Continental GT is designed, engineered and handcrafted in Great Britain, ensuring the highest levels of attention to detail, artistry and cuttingedge technology are blended together to create the finest Grand Tourer ever produced.
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Designed, engineered and handcrafted in Great Britain, ensuring the highest levels of attention to detail, artistry and cutting-edge technology The new Continental GT features an all-new, enhanced version of Bentley’s celebrated 6.0-litre, twin-turbocharged W12 TSI engine which, for the first time, is available with a dual-clutch eight-speed transmission. The sprint to 100 km/h takes 3.7 seconds (0-60 mph in 3.6 seconds) with top speed reached at 333 km/h (207 mph). The New Continental GT also has a Grand Touring range of 740 km (460 miles). A new, technically advanced, adaptive chassis uses Bentley’s intelligent 48-volt Dynamic Ride System to ensure a responsive ride and exceptional handling and refinement in all road conditions. The new system controls ride comfort and lateral roll, cushioning passengers from excessive movement as well as making the car feel effortlessly precise. The more sculptural and sharply defined muscular exterior design is complemented by a luxurious interior packed with exquisite details that showcases major evolutions in Bentley’s unique application of technology, including an advanced, fully digital, driver-focused instrument panel and revolutionary Bentley Rotating Display. The limited edition Mulsanne Design Series by Mulliner also debuts at Frankfurt. Inspired by the latest trends in high-end interior design and fashion, the new model – debuting in striking King Fisher Blue – pushes the boundaries of what is possible with carbon fibre. It features an all-new tessellated coloured carbon fibre, inspired by high-tech sportswear, and available in a choice of three signature Mulliner colours, including King Fisher, Metallic Silver and Metallic Bronze. This accent colour continues through the interior cabin and is featured in the Hidden Delights areas of the car. On the exterior, a gloss black vertical vane grille, side vents, window surrounds, dark tint ‘Flying B’ mascot and 21” Speed wheels with a bespoke finish give the car a purposeful stance.
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THE LIFE REFINED
McLaren Special Operations
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Bespoke modern elegance with historic colour produces striking MSO Collection 570GT
limited number of bespoke McLaren 570GT models will this month become available to a fortunate few McLaren buyers in the UK and Europe. Commissioned from McLaren Special Operations as an MSO Collection, the six cars are finished in McLaren historic ‘XP Green’ exterior paint – the same colour as the famous F1 XP GT ‘Longtail’ homologation model built in 1997. The Saddle Tan leather interior additionally features green leather inserts in the seats and green contrast stitching, as well as a dedication plaque mounted on the centre tunnel beneath the infotainment screen identifying each car as one of six in the Collection. The McLaren 570GT is the most luxurious and refined Sports Series model
The exterior of the car is adorned with Saddle Tan aero pinstriping edging the front aero blades, side skirts and rear diffuser, while each door carries a stripe of the same colour that runs rearwards from a subtle Union Jack emblem finished in silver-grey. MSO Black exterior components replace the front splitter, door inserts, side air intakes, side skirts and rear bumper, diffuser and spoiler, all of which would usually be finished in Dark Palladium or body colour.
deck, as well as an instantly recognisable identity. Chassis settings deliver the additional comfort expected from a car designed for touring, with spring rate stiffness reduced by 15% at the front and 10% at the rear compared to the 570S Coupé. The 570GT remains though a serious sports car, its 3.8-litre twin-turbocharged McLaren V8 engine producing the same outstanding 570PS and 600Nm as the Coupé, with performance to match.
“Any McLaren is a very special vehicle, but we are also seeing an increasing number of buyers expressing a desire to personalise their cars with additional features and options as well as colour and trim choices outside of the core specification offered,” explained Jolyon Nash, McLaren Automotive Executive Director, Global Sales and Marketing. “As well as making it possible for individual McLaren owners to have exactly the McLaren they want, McLaren Special Operations will continue to create limited-volume collections such as these six 570GT models in XP Green, to further extend customer choice.”
The inspiration for the MSO colour and trim enhancements on the six 570GT models in the Collection is a combination of traditional British automotive hues and a very special car from McLaren’s own history – the F1 XP GT.
The McLaren 570GT is the most luxurious and refined Sports Series model, providing long-distance comfort and increased versatility while retaining a thrilling driving experience. Subtly visually different to the 570S Coupé, its classic GT lines sweep down into a side-opening rear glass hatch to provide an additional 220 litres of storage on the leather-lined touring
Although conceived as a road car, the McLaren F1 enjoyed significant motorsport success, including victory at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1995 on its first attempt. This meant that further track competition beckoned and to keep pace with dedicated racing opposition, a ‘Longtail’ GT race car was developed. F1 XP GT, instantly recognisable by the extended rear bodywork and distinctive colour, was the original roadgoing prototype built to satisfy the homologation requirements of motorsport governing body, the FIA. The car’s deep bottle green paint finish, cherished as XP Green in McLaren Special Operation’s historic paint palette, is now reserved for bespoke commissions.
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Any McLaren is a very special vehicle. Read more at passionsarabia.com
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Ferrari Portofino The Italian Grand Tourer par excellence
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he Ferrari Portofino is the new V8 GT set to dominate its segment thanks to a perfect combination of outright performance and versatility in addition to a level of driving pleasure and on-board comfort unparalleled on the market. Capable of unleashing a massive 600 cv and sprinting from 0 to 200 km/h in just 10.8 seconds, the Ferrari Portofino is the most powerful convertible to combine the advantages of a retractable hard top, a roomy boot and generous cockpit space complete with two rear seats suitable for short trips. The new car, which takes its name, Portofino, from one of the most charming villages on the Italian Riviera, an eponym for stylish elegance, is the most versatile model in the range. A Ferrari designed to be driven every day that also effortlessly converts from an authentic ‘berlinetta’ coupé to a drop-top capable of delivering a unique Ferrari soundtrack and superb driving pleasure even in day-to-day situations. The retractable hard top (RHT) has been completely redesigned and can now be opened or closed in just 14 seconds on the move at lower speeds, making the car even more practical. Careful modelling of the RHT housing now allows the luggage compartment to hold two cabin trolleys with the roof down and three with the roof up. Ideal for any occasion, the Ferrari Portofino represents the perfect combination of design, performance and technology. The Ferrari Portofino delivers a significant weight saving with the adoption of new components using innovative designs made possible by the use of cutting-edge production techniques. This, combined with a 40 cv higher power output than the California T, has resulted in a significant hike in performance and a corresponding drop in emissions. Vehicle dynamics benefit from the introduction, for the first time on this model, of electric power steering, the 3rd generation electronic differential (E-Diff3) and the latest evolution of the electronic suspension control system (SCM-E) integrated with Premium 9.1 ESP. The V8 power unit, which has won the outright International Engine of the Year award for two consecutive years in 2016 and 2017, Ferrari’s engineers worked on several different fronts to deliver a power output of 600 cv at 7500 rpm, the equivalent of 156 cv/l, introducing new mechanical components as well as specific engine management software. Maximum mechanical efficiency is guaranteed by the use of high-resistance aluminium alloy pistons and con rods with innovative geometries and specially-shaped high-tumble intake manifolds. Combustion is optimised across the engine’s rev range by an ion-sensing system with adaptive ignition
and multi-spark functionality. Losses in the intake have been reduced by new more linear high- and low-pressure air ducts while the all-new exhaust system benefits from a single-piece exhaust header. Mechanical efficiency is further optimised by a variabledisplacement oil pump that reduces hydraulic power requirements by up to 30% compared to a conventional pump. The adoption of a new intercooler to simultaneously minimise fluid-dynamic losses and increase air cooling also contributes to the engine’s performance.
A perfect combination of outright performance and versatility.
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Harley Davidson Five stunning new touring bikes for 2018
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he 2018 Harley-Davidson® motorcycle lineup introduces the most robust array of custom Touring bikes the company has ever produced, boasting show-stopping style and plush comfort ready to smooth rough city streets or attack winding desert roads. styling. Three new completely restyled Touring models enter the limited-edition Custom Vehicle Operations™ (CVO) family with the largest-ever stock engine from Harley-Davidson, while new Street Glide® Special and Road Glide® Special models get sinister, blacked-out styling. The CVO tradition of giving customers the ultimate in HarleyDavidson styling, innovation and performance continues in 2018 with the CVO Limited, CVO Street Glide and CVO Road Glide. Each offers its owners a fully customized, limited-edition motorcycle straight from the factory with a two-year unlimited warranty. Starting with the largest stock engine ever offered by the Motor Company – and available only in a CVO machine – all three bikes have upgraded Screamin’ Eagle™ power, with the 1923cc Milwaukee-Eight® engine delivering up to 166Nm of torque. CVO models are limited in number and this year’s bikes feature some of the most distinctively crafted paint offerings the company has ever designed and produced. Also new for all three is an advanced integrated communication technology that features a wireless headset interface module. Customers can use the included Bluetooth headset to communicate with the motorcycle Infotainment system, their passenger and other riders. Find more about the Harley Davidson 2018 line-up online with us at passionsarabia.com
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THE LIFE REFINED
Riding for a dapper cause
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The Distinguished Gentleman’s Ride - Kuwait
n Sunday September 24th 2017, tens of thousands of distinguished gentlefolk in hundreds of cities worldwide donned their cravats, tweaked their moustaches, pressed their tweed and sat astride their classic and vintage styled motorcycles to raise funds and awareness for men’s health, specifically prostate cancer and men’s mental health. In Kuwait, we did it a day before. The Distinguished Gentleman’s Ride was founded in Sydney, Australia by Mark Hawwa. It was inspired by a photo of Mad Men’s Don Draper astride a classic bike and wearing his finest suit. Mark decided a themed ride would be a great way to combat the often-negative stereotype of men on motorcycles, whilst connecting niche motorcycle communities together. That first ride in 2012 brought together over 2,500 riders across 64 cities. The success of the event encouraged the founder to consider how it could be used to support a worthy cause. • In 2013, over 11,000 participants in 145 cities around the world raised over $277k (USD) for prostate cancer research. • In 2014, over 20,000 participants in 257 cities in 58 countries raised over $1.5M (USD) for prostate cancer research. • In 2015, over 37,000 participants in 410 cities in 79 countries raised over $2.3M (USD) for prostate cancer research. • In 2016, over 56,000 participants in 505 cities in 90 countries raised over $3.6M (USD) for prostate cancer research and men’s mental health programs in partnership with the Movember Foundation. Influenced by the tragedy of losing one of their ride hosts to depression, from 2016 it has seen a change in its health fundraising goals. Now, the funding of men’s mental health programs is a Distinguished Gentleman’s Ride focus, in addition to prostate cancer research through their new official charity partner The Movember Foundation and the support of title sponsors Triumph Motorcycles and Zenith Watches. The focus is on gentlemen who have been dealt a tough hand in life. In particular, it’s raising funds for research into prostate cancer and mental health programs as part of a mission to support men’s health globally. These funds are invested by their partners the Movember Foundation, the world’s largest men’s health organisation.
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Around 20 dapper riders set off in Kuwait. Gathering at Green island at around 6am, they headed for the Kuwait Towers. After that to His Essentials barber shop, where they were treated to free trims. Then on to their desitnation of Urban Café at Mayar Complex. There’s still time to donate. Find out how at passionsarabia.com
PROSTATE CANCER Prostate cancer is the second most commonly diagnosed cancer in men. The Movember Foundation is the largest funder of prostate cancer programs in the world. What is prostate cancer? The prostate is a gland located immediately below the bladder, in front of the bowels. It produces fluid that protects and enriches sperm. Prostate cancer occurs when some of the cells in the prostate reproduce far more rapidly than normal, resulting in a tumour. If left untreated, prostate cancer cells may eventually spread from the prostate and invade distant parts of the body, particularly the lymph nodes and bones, producing secondary tumours in a process known as metastasis. One of the most worrying aspects of the disease is that most prostate cancers develop without men experiencing any symptoms in the early stages. MENTAL HEALTH 3 out of 4 suicides are men 510,000 men die from suicide globally each year. That’s one every minute. This has to change. The causes of suicide are complex. There’s no single reason why men take their own lives, but we do know that by improving overall mental health we can reduce the risk of suicide. We need to address untreated mental health conditions among men. Too many men are toughing it out and struggling alone. There’s no shame in checking in your own mental wellbeing, and those close to around you. Our friends over at Movember have produced some handy guides, that might help take the sting out of broaching the subject. For more information on prostate cancer and mental health, visit the ‘your health’ section on Movember.com
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The Lange 1 Moon Phase is available in white gold/ black, pink gold/argenté, and platinum/rhodié case/dial combinations.
Lange 1 Moon Phase
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A moon for days and nights
n 2002, the Lange 1 Moon Phase enriched A. Lange & Söhne’s most successful watch family with a model featuring the popular astronomical complication. Following the Lange 1, it has now been endowed with a new movement as well. It takes a new and particularly realistic approach by combining the moon-phase display with a day/night indicator.e.
WATCHES
The 70 parts for the moonphase display were so cleverly integrated in the L121.3 manu-facture calibre that it is only marginally larger than the calibre L121.1 inside the Lange 1. The asymmetric solid-silver dial sets a remarkably harmonious stage for the luminous time and power-reserve indications complemented with an outsize date, the moonphase display, and the day/ night indicator.
More than 50 years after the first spacecraft landed on the moon’s surface, we have still not yet unlocked all of the secrets of our planet’s companion. Thus, even in 2017, scientists cannot conclusively answer questions about the origins of the moon. This mystery keeps humankind interested in our closest celestial neighbour and underpins the fascination of one of the most coveted astronomical complications: the moon-phase display. It tracks the lu-nar cycle – with an average duration of 29 days, 12 hours, 44 minutes and 3 seconds – so accurately that it takes 122.6 years for the display to deviate from the true synodic period by just one day. The arrangement of the display is based on a new, particularly realistic concept. A separate solid-gold moon pursues its orbit in the foreground. Behind it, a celestial disc – also made of solid gold – performs exactly one revolution every 24 hours. On the
disc, the different times of day are represented by varying blue hues caused by interference effects. During the day, it shows a bright sky without stars, while at night it depicts a dark sky with prom-inently contrasting laser-cut stars. Thus, the moon always orbits against a realistic back-ground that doubles as a day/ night indicator when setting the watch. The new 20th Lange calibre with a moon-phase display is based on the LANGE 1 movement introduced two years ago, and it has the same performance attributes. This includes the characteristic twin mainspring barrel with a maximum power reserve of 72 hours and the precisely jumping outsize date display. The Lange 1 Moon Phase also features an escape-ment with a cam-poised balance and a free-sprung Lange hairspring. Suspended beneath the hand-engraved balance cock, it beats with a frequency of 21,600 semi-oscillations per hour.
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Hublot Techframe Ferrari 70 Years
H
Tourbillon Chronograph in PEEK Carbon & King Gold
ublot joined in on Ferrari’s 70th anniversary celebrations in Maranello by producing a special limited edition of its Techframe Tourbillon Chronograph, sold at auction.
2017 is well and truly the year of the prancing horse, as Ferrari’s extraordinary story enters its seventh decade. The company’s history has been marked by its outstanding achievements in competition, together with the unparalleled range of sports cars it has created over the years. Hublot watches have been linked with this motoring legend for five years now, and in fact the partnership has just been extended. It’s a meeting of minds between two brands in search of absolute excellence: a perfect union between the two worlds of motoring and watchmaking. On September 9, Ferrari celebrated its 70th anniversary in Maranello, during which an auction featuring exceptional cars and accessories emblazoned with the prancing horse logo
was held. The Swiss watchmaking brand has developed a limited edition watch for the occasion – a unique design based on the Hublot Techframe Ferrari 70 Years Tourbillon Chronograph. Unveiled at this year’s Baselworld show, this collection is the result of an intensive collaboration between car designers and high-end watchmakers. It’s also the first non-automotive object that has been designed by Ferrari’s in-house team, Centro Stile, led by Flavio Manzoni. Taking the movement of the Hublot Tourbillon Chronograph (the “engine”) as a starting point, the Italian designers developed the watch following the same creative processes as those used for
WATCHES
“Ferrari represents the very pinnacle of automotive art, something that we at Hublot are proud to be associated with. The unique Hublot Techframe watch is the result of a team effort – this is a timepiece that combines our expertise in a process that started at Ferrari HQ in Maranello and ended with Hublot in Nyon. It’s our way of wishing the Cavallino Rampante a happy anniversary.” Ricardo Guadalupe, CEO of Hublot
sports car chassis, to achieve minimal weight combined with a solid frame. The Swiss watchmakers then inserted a high-performance “engine” into this structure: the HUB6311 calibre hand-wound manufacture movement, containing a total of 253 components and with a 5-day power reserve. This one-of-a-kind mechanism is fitted with a tourbillon with exclusive operation, and also has a chronograph feature. Following this design, the unique model to be offered at auction is set apart by its skeleton case middle – the chassis – which is made from uni-directional carbon, PEEK (polyether), a multi-layer hypoallergenic material, and the case – the engine cover – made from King Gold, the celebrated gold/ceramic alloy developed by Hublot. The dial, which features both the Hublot and Ferrari logos, takes inspiration from the counters on Ferrari’s instrument panels. The open design leaves the movement visible, and allows a glimpse of the beautiful ruthenium anthracite finish. This exclusive watch went under the hammer on September 9 at the auction organised by RM Sotheby’s, and sold for 150,000 Euros.
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Omega Seamaster Aqua Terra
“A
Welcome on board
qua” and “Terra.” These two Latin words not only describe the world beneath our feet, but also the origins of OMEGA’s Seamaster collection. In sea and on land, the famous line has been confidently worn and trusted for almost 70 years. It has been taken from the decks of ships to the floors of oceans. It has travelled across continents and into the collections of the best-dressed people. Certainly, the Seamaster has always been the complete lifestyle watch. So, in 2002, when a new model was created, it seemed perfectly natural to give it a name that represented the heritage and versatility that the Seamaster was known for. Hence, the Aqua Terra was born. 15 years later, it has evolved to become one of OMEGA’s quintessential pieces. Striped across its dial like the decks of luxury yachts, it has the look, and now the proven precision, to take you anywhere you want to go.
CASTING OFF - In 2002, OMEGA introduced a bold new range of timepieces to its famous Seamaster family. “Aqua Terra” was the Latin name chosen for the collection, honouring the spirit of the original OMEGA Seamaster models, which were known for their reliability both on water (Aqua) and on land (Terra). With 40 models offered in four different sizes (41 mm, 38 mm, 35 mm and 28 mm), the first Aqua Terra line delivered a “refreshing contrast” of style and innovation that could easily fit an active lifestyle. The minimalist design worked perfectly for business days and social nights yet the watches remained
WATCHES
100 percent Seamaster at their core, with a performance that was solidly backed by anti-shock technology and water resistance to 15 bar (150m / 500ft). THE LOOK - The blend of city chic and ocean ingenuity was seamless. For customers with classic tastes, the Aqua Terra cases were crafted with twisted and facetted lugs that recalled the OMEGA designs of the 1960s. These pure lines gave the Aqua Terra a distinctively timeless feel, while the crisp, clean dial with its triangular hour markers also paid homage to the styles of the past. And as always with OMEGA, the attractive aesthetics went hand-in-hand with technical innovation. This was the first time that a Co-Axial movement had been used in a collection other than the De Ville family and therefore represented a major new development in the Seamaster collection. CHANGING TACK - Since its first appearance in 2002, the Seamaster Aqua Terra collection has continued to evolve, but always ensuring that the watches remain contemporary and relevant. While the typical Aqua Terra design aspects (case shape, dial elements and handset) have remained constant, almost every other element has been reimagined over the years. Most
notably, it was
the inclusion of the “teak” pattern
dial in 2008 which has now become one of the Aqua Terra’s defining trademarks. Modelled after the wooden decks of luxury sailboats, the teak dial has become a firm favourite amongst
British actor Eddie Redmayne perfectly fits the role of on Aqua Terra fan. Just like the watch, he embodies a dashing edge and classic style, but also has the ability to master the most complex challenges
OMEGA fans. Other additions include the added minute track and updated materials which today include 18K Sedna™ gold. MAGNETIC VARIATION - Perhaps the biggest revolutionary moment came in 2013 with the introduction of the OMEGA Seamaster Aqua Terra >15,000 gauss. This new model helped to forever change the way that the watchmaking industry approached the challenges of magnetic fields. Instead of protecting the movement with a traditional inner case, the new Aqua Terra made use of selected non-ferrous materials in the movement itself, and guaranteed magnetic resistance up to 15,000 gauss. It was another milestone moment in OMEGA’s long history of anti-magnetic breakthroughs. Today, the Seamaster Aqua Terra continues its journey. Just as it was originally designed to do, the timepiece remains a trusted companion on land yet robust enough for weekends on the water. And with a fresh wave of models arrived in 2017, its popularity is as strong as ever.
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Panerai’s Green Dials
O
Three new creations from the manufacture in neuchâtel
fficine Panerai presents three new creations which share an original combination of colours with a powerful sporty appearance. With the three historic Panerai cases – Radiomir, Radiomir 1940 and Luminor 1950 – and an impressive combination of different functions for each model, the distinctive feature shared by the three new watches is an intense dark green dial, against which the luminous beige hour markers and gilded hands elegantly stand out. An original combination of colours for three new creations from the haute horlogerie manufacture in Neuchâtel
A strong strap of natural brown leather with contrasting beige stitching, stamped with the OP logo, completes the three models which are available exclusively at Panerai boutiques throughout the world: the Radiomir 8 Days Titanio – 45mm, the Radiomir 1940 3 Days Acciaio – 47mm and the Luminor 1950 Chrono Monopulsante 8 Days GMT Titanio – 44mm. The new Radiomir 8 Days (PAM00735) has the cushion case in brushed titanium, 45 mm in diameter, with the characteristic wire loop strap attachments and the conical winding crown which have been features of this model since it first appeared in 1936. The polished bezel surrounds a matt, dark green dial of sandwich construction, setting off the large luminous beige hour markers and the small seconds dial at 9 o’clock. The date at 3 o’clock is read through a small round lens integrated in the crystal and all the hands are gilded. Overall, the design of the case and dial is minimalist and harmonious,
with balanced colours and all indications displayed with exemplary clarity. On the back of the case, the finish of the hand-wound P.2002 calibre, completely developed and created in the Panerai Manufacture in Neuchâtel, can be admired through a sapphire window. The three spring barrels connected in series provide a power reserve of eight days, the indication of power remaining being visible on the back. The P.2002 calibre also has the device for zeroing the seconds hand to enable very precise synchronisation, and the mechanism for moving the hour hand forwards or backwards without affecting the movement of the minute hand. It is waterresistant to 10 bar (a depth of about 100 metres). The case of the new Radiomir 1940 3 Days (PAM00736) has the simple, elegant lines of the Radiomir 1940, the lugs being
WATCHES
integrated with the case formed from a solid block of AISI 316L stainless steel and the cylindrical winding crown carrying the OP logo in relief. The diameter of 47 mm is that of the historic Panerai models, a tribute to the watches specially made for the commando frogmen of the Royal Italian Navy, and the sapphire crystal is slightly cambered. In this model too, the indications on the green sandwich dial are luminous with beige Super-LumiNova® and they are in the classic Panerai style: large figures and linear hour markers, small seconds counter, and date window at 3 o’clock. The P.3000 hand wound mechanical calibre of the Radiomir 1940 3 Days, with a power reserve of three days, is 16½ lignes
in diameter, a dimension which originates from that of the movements fitted in the historic Panerai models. Solid and reliable, the movement has three brushed-finish bridges protecting the mechanism and a bridge with twin supports for the balance wheel 13.2 mm in diameter, which oscillates at a frequency of 3 Hz. Entirely developed and produced in the Panerai Manufacture in Neuchâtel, the P.3000 calibre also has the device for rapidly adjusting the hour hand. It is waterresistant to 10 bar (a depth of about 100 metres). The new Luminor 1950 Chrono Monopulsante 8 Days GMT Titanio (PAM00737 - above) has a brushed titanium case 44mm in diameter with the classic bridge lever device, patented by Panerai in the 1950s, to protect the winding crown and to help ensure the water-resistance of the watch (10 bar, a depth of about 100 metres). The bezel has a polished finish and on the caseband at 8 o’clock is the push-
button which controls the start, stop, and reset operations of this chronograph with its many functions and advanced technical features. The dial is easy to read and it clearly displays the indications of the functions of the hand-wound P.2004 calibre with a power reserve of eight days, achieved by having three spring barrels in series. The linear power reserve indicator is at 6 o’clock, while the seconds counter and am/pm indication relating to the central second time zone hand is positioned at 9 o’clock. The minutes of the chronograph are measured by the small counter at 3 o’clock and there is a central seconds hand. All the hands, apart from the GMT function, are gilded
and they coordinate harmoniously with the beige markers on the green sandwich dial. The P.2004 calibre, entirely developed and realised in the Panerai Manufacture in Neuchâtel, employs high-end technical solutions such as the column wheel, visible through the sapphire crystal porthole in the back of the movement, and the vertical clutch. The chronograph minute hand moves in jumps, making it easier to read, and the watch can be synchronised with great accuracy thanks to the device which stops the balance wheel and zeroes the seconds hand when the winding crown is pulled out to make the relevant adjustment. Like the other models of this series, the Luminor 1950 Chrono Monopulsante 8 Days GMT Titanio is presented in an elegant green cherry wood box. Inside the box are a replacement black rubber strap, the tool for replacing it and a screwdriver.
For sale exclusively in Panerai Boutiques: each has a dark green dial with luminous beige markers and gilded hands, a steel or titanium case and a strap of natural brown leather
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Refined and dependable, this is the ideal piece for men and women seeking a watch with a softly masculine look to accompany them for a lifetime.
Rado DiaMaster
the Grande Seconde - Classic timepieces for a gentlemanly aesthetic
R
ado is adding two new timepieces to its distinctive DiaMaster Grande Seconde family – welcome news for watch aficionados who cultivate a gentlemanly aesthetic. The Rado DiaMaster Grande Seconde is notable for its asymmetrical dial design, which features two stacked sub-dials, one for hours and minutes and the other for seconds. Updated details make these two new models a beautiful reminder that time is of the essence: Roman numerals have been added, and a sunray pattern in greyish brown or strong blue frames the subdials. The 43 mm case is outfitted with a colour-coordinated leather bracelet in either brown or black for an overall look that is at once edgy yet comfortingly familiar. A time for comfort - The DiaMaster Grande Seconde is crafted from one of Rado’s signature materials, plasma high-tech ceramic. To create this extraordinary material, finished white
ceramic components are fired in a plasma oven, where gases activated at 20,000°C give rise to an otherworldy metallic shine on the surface – without using any metal at all. This means that the DiaMaster Grande Seconde has the look of a classic metal wristwatch while offering the benefits of hightech ceramic construction. High-tech ceramic is 25% lighter than steel, which creates a wearing experience that is as easy on the eye as it feels on the wrist. High-tech ceramic weds this impressive lightness with an equally impressive level of scratch resistance, resulting in a material that is up to five times harder than steel. Rado’s ceramic timepieces are also hypoallergenic and adapt readily to the temperature of the body.
WATCHES
Tissot Everytime Swissmatic Style is automatic
T
issot is adding a brand new movement to its collection, integrating it to one of its winning watches. A classical, timeless design, the sleek and clean face of the Tissot Everytime singles it out as a very modern watch. Adding to the contemporary essence of this timepiece is the Swissmatic movement, which allows the brand to offer an automatic watch at an unbeatable price. The secret lies in the automated process of its fabrication. Additionally, it provides up to three days of power reserve.
Choices are infinite Wearers will delight in discovering the different options, whether it’s a vintage-inspired stainless steel bracelet, a luxuriously smooth or crocodile-style leather strap, or even a trendy NATO strap, the result is sure to be spectacular. Whichever your style or mood of the day, there is a Tissot Everytime to match. Style is automatic! Technical features • Swiss Made • Swissmatic movement with up to three days of power reserve • 316L stainless steel case with scratch-resistant sapphire crystal • Water-resistant up to a pressure of 3 bar (30 m / 100 ft) 316L solid stainless steel bracelet with jewellery clasp • • Leather strap, fabric strap or synthetic strap with standard buckle • All rose gold execution is PVD coating • Diameters: 40mm
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Certina DS Podium GMT Chronometer Because time knows no borders
T
ravelling through time? No problem. The new DS Podium GMT Chronometer from CERTINA places the whole wide world on your wrist. This sporty yet elegant watch has been specially designed for adventurers and cosmopolitans who feel at home in more than one time zone. With a separate 24-hour indicator styled like a globe and officially certified chronometric precision, the watch brings life to life – whether you’re off on your travels or your other half is on the other side of the world. The separate 24-hour indicator at 9 o’clock makes it possible to read the time at home and the time in another destination or reference city at a glance. The auxiliary dial has been designed to look like a stylised globe viewed from the North Pole. A bright red hand together with segments in contrasting colours to represent daytime and night-time provide optimum legibility. The timepiece’s inner workings boast internationally coveted qualities too: The precision of its Precidrive quartz calibre has been certified by the world-renowned Official Swiss Chronometer Testing Institute (COSC). With a stainless steel case measuring 41 mm in diameter and a bezel with minute markers, the DS Podium GMT Chronometer offers truly limitless time measuring possibilities. The dial is silver-coloured with a rose gold PVD coating on the hands, index markers and time zone grid; a stylish combination that ensures the wearer will always look elegant and sophisticated, no matter where they are or what the time is. The cosmopolitan timepiece is finished with a brown crocodile-grain strap made of calfskin leather. Models with a stainless steel bracelet are also available (the dial of which can be black, grey or blue), as well as models with the case and bracelet made of titanium. The one thing all models have in common is that they are highly durable, a property which is assured by the DS or Double Security concept – perfect for anyone who likes adventuring through time and space.
WATCHES
Hamilton Khaki Navy Scuba
Colorful, functional and offering a stylish approach to adventure, the Khaki Navy Scuba is inspired by last year’s highly successful launch of the Khaki Navy Frogman
L
ess rugged than the tough model that inspired it, and as perfectly suited to summer days at sea as it is to a day at the office, the sturdy Khaki Navy Scuba offers faultless precision in a range of three colorful, fun variations. Emulating the triangular hour-markers of its stylish predecessor each combines a fun and youthful diving appearance.
Solid hour markers stand out on a crisp black dial, ensuring easy reading and contributing to the powerful, look of this must-have summer timepiece. Available in three sizzling options, the Khaki Navy Scuba’s unidirectional rotating bezel is animated with bright orange detail, complemented by a matching second hand and minutes track, and available with stainless steel bracelet or two-tone, “soft feel” NATO strap designed for maximum wearer comfort on the wrist. Additionally, a full black bezel and dial is also available and be fitted with a triple-row stainless steel bracelet secured by a smart adjustment folding clasp. Powered by an automatic movement with 80-hour power reserve, every watch in the Scuba line is water-resistant to 10 bar (100 meters). Whether by the seaside or on deck, the Khaki Navy Scuba is the ideal watch for a summer in 2017.
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Corneliani
Beyond Appearance - Fall Winter 2017
A
n emotional way of life: going beyond the whims of the season so you can create your wardrobe with consistency and imagination, staying true to yourself and your own style. Corneliani’s choice is a radical one based on a few fundamental principles.
STYLE
Chromatic Rhythm: a continuous game of tones and nuances, as original as they are sophisticated, which encapsulate a distinctly Italian sensibility stemming from our familiarity with the beautiful. From deep blue mixed with shades of brown through to burgundy combined with navy blue: the colour palette perfectly blends earthy tones with natural semi-tones going right up to teal. Black and grey with vibrant touches of violet are essential. Hybridization: this is the keyword for the autumn-winter 2017 collection, the most modern contamination of tailored garment and sportswear. Timeless Design: a stylish answer to the most contemporary requirements with full respect for the classic rules, as seen in
the LIGHT LIVING project which is further developed in the autumn-winter season. In fact, the iconic jackets with chest piece now offer different customisation possibilities: available in a wide array of materials and colours, the chest pieces are interchangeable and everyone can create their own combination according to their mood and the occasion. Design with Purpose: details, materials and craftsmanship contribute to the creation of items that are functional as well as aesthetically exemplary. The entire collection, both the tailored garment and sportswear, is distinctive for its use of WOOLSPHERE wool: thanks to technological treatments and special coatings, this noble yarn guarantees very high levels of comfort, versatility and incredible lightness.
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Dolce & Gabbana The New Princes - Fall Winter 2017
W
e all dream to be the kings and queens of this social media world yet, of course, very few of us make it. In a nod to the illusion and for their Fall 2017 men’s collection, Dolce & Gabbana sent tween idols, social media glitterati and a smattering of the noble privileged down their catwalk. Beyond the hype, there stood a lavish collection.
STYLE
Fashion can only be this much fun if you’re committed to taking it very seriously. Light relief, and an alternative form of happy ending.
Back to the hype... the headline figures from the show were the 17.4 million followers of Cameron Dallas (job title: ‘global social media star’) and American singer Austin Mahone’s 9.9 million. American rapper Diggy Simmons could only muster a measly 1.2 million - but as the son of Rev. Run from RunD.M.C. he pretty much has a free pass to anywhere he wants to go anyway. Domenico and Stefano know how to play the game - and even prior to the show crowds of followers for this digital elite were gathering outside the venue. Much posting, tagging, reposting and liking would soon ensue. The daughters of Sly Stallone came along too. Sistine with her 310,000 followers and Sophia with 322,000 made it to the catwalk. The youngest, Scarlet, with her 155,000 was confined to view from the seats - front row though, so not too shabby. All were dwarfed by the arrival of XueDong Chen with his 24.5 million followers. Weibo followers though - although we’re not sure what the current conversion rate is, we reckon he’s safely rated super-stellar and we currently have 0 followers on Weibo, so, who are we to judge? When it began, the show was nothing short of a baronial fiesta. A sweeping staircase, towering candelabra and more lavish embroidery than was healthy for any of these young stars to be exposed to. Standard D&G motifs appeared - uber-tailored three-piece suits, silk pyjamas, distressed and / or gilded sportswear. At one point the designers planted gold crowns on the heads of the pretty boys just to force home the social-royalty thread a little further. In the end, what did we have? Light relief, and an alternative form of happy ending. A whole lot of fun, and a masterful demonstration by our two most favourite Milanese designers. Fashion can only be this much fun if you’re committed to taking it very seriously.
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Dolce & Gabbana’s Not-so-secret Show Millennials, and by invitation only
I
t may have been the worst kept secret of this year’s Milan Fashion Week, but it was the hottest ticket in town. The day before their scheduled Sunday show, Domenico Dolce and Stefano Gabbana invited the most exclusive set to the city’s Bar Magenta. At this millennial-themed bash, ‘who was there’ was just as important as ‘what’s this all about’ - and, as you’ll learn, celebrities weren’t merely confined to their seats either, many took to the catwalk too. So, firstly, we’ll name names. From real-royalty in the form of Lady Amelia Windsor, to the offspring of pop-royalty with Noel Gallagher’s daughter Anais, and the once widely acclaimed ‘most beautiful girl in the world’, Thylane Blondeau, the Secret Show became the most talked about event of the night. Tess Ward (think, Harry Styles), and Lady Kitty Spencer (think Princess Di) were amongst those strutting Dolce & Gabbana’s latest. Accompanied by their beaus-for-the-night, they were dressed in the label’s latest high eveningwear. “We have a big collection of evening dresses”, said Gabbana when quizzed about this early show. “We have pre-, cruise, main, evening, and it’s impossible to show everything in one show. Tomorrow we present our prêt-à-porter, our point of view about fashion. This one is fashion, but out of fashion. Every woman wants to look sexy, attractive, desirable.” It was a capsule of their weekendlong Alta Moda (high-fashion) focus, and featured lovingly embellished looks styled alongside golden jewels, and opulent tiaras. After 32 years in the business, Domenico and Steffano show no signs of diminshed energy levels. Beyond their main presentation and their Secret Show, they also hosted three events at Milanese department store Rinascente.
STYLE
See more styles from Dolce & Gabbana’s Secret Show online at passionsarabia.com
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Versace - Fall / Winter 2017
The brotherhood of Versace – the strength of individuals, the power of unity.
P
ride in identity, the coming together of clans, and the sense of belonging from new archetypes for a male wardrobe.
Pride in identity, the coming together of clans, and the sense of belonging from new archetypes for a male wardrobe. Outerwear includes long, knitted coats that wrap the body, or sharply tailored coats that are held by belts to dramatize the silhouette. Prints throughout are like mark-making, as if the hand-painted pattern of an ancient tribe. The prints unify and blend the collection between formal and casual. Nylon trenches have light yet dynamic volume, with doublelength belts to hold and exaggerate their elegant fluidity. Photographic prints of classical sculptures are collaged with
STYLE
images of hardware, symbolising the idealistic beauty of male power through the ages.
is now neat to the body, with a soft constructed shoulder for the way men wear tailoring today.
Shearling coats bring the survival instincts of the wilds to the city, while plaid shirts are rugged for the urban landscape.
Hiking sneakers punctuate the silhouette with their energising shape, often mixing traditional shoe detailing with a technical sole.
Positive words of hope are embroidered on the chest of shirts and nylon zip-ups, with hidden messages of affirmation also sewn inside coats to embolden the wearer. The pattern and beauty of African textiles are found in jacquard coats that are woven like blankets, or graphic sweaters that were proudly knitted by hand. The Versace suit is refreshed and lightened: the strong silhouette
See more shots from Versace’s Fall / Winter 2017 Collection online at passionsarabia.com
Empire bags have been hand-painted in the marks of the collection, while the new Palladian bag is neat, compact and versatile. The V-Extreme Pro watch brings the rugged outdoors into the urban environment, while a special edition of the Dylos with grey stone or total black is sleek for the city.
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Hugo Boss
Boss Stretch Tailoring - tailoring for ultimate comfort
I
ntroducing new BOSS Stretch Tailoring, the latest suit development, engineered for freedom of movement. Offering the next level in comfort, the new design has been created with the demands of modern lifestyles in mind – whether it’s global travel for business or a busy day at the office. Stretching from inside to out, the suit employs two layers of expanding fabrics. The outer is made from innovative mechanical stretch fabric that is 100% wool, with the yarn woven in a springlike structure. On the inside allowing for double performance, the lining is woven from stretch fabric. These two layers work to complement each other, flexing equally with the body’s movements. The result: the design has a sharp, sartorial look along with the comfort normally associated with a jersey suit – even in slim and extra-slim fits. As a sportsman who is constantly on the move, star footballer Mats Hummels knows the importance of an impeccable look and clothing that performs. To put this technology to the test, he performed a series of shoots and tricks while wearing the new suits, demonstrating their capabilities. The suits are available in a range of designs including a sharp business style in navy, a classic business look with pinstripes and a modern design in burgundy, as worn by Mats Hummels. Special stretch shirts have been created to complement the suits, while tailored jackets available as separates feature the same technology.
STYLE
Tailored for ultimate comfort: the new suit technology is put through its paces by footballer Mats Hummels How does it feel to wear new BOSS Stretch Tailoring – how does it compare to the normal tailored suit? Wearing BOSS Stretch Tailoring feels great – it’s a different feeling and it’s really comfortable. Moving and stretching is much easier, you don’t feel constrained by the fabric. Tell us about performing the series of tricks with the ball wearing the suit. Did you manage just as well as in your football shirt? To be honest, I was a little skeptical about performing tricks in a suit. At the beginning, I was really careful in my movements, but I quickly felt that jumping and performing usual soccer tricks was definitely feasible in the Stretch Tailoring suit. In which situations would you choose to wear BOSS Stretch Tailoring? I think it would be good for business travel, especially for flights. Wearing a suit makes you look good in every situation and with Stretch Tailoring, you also feel comfortable, so it would be perfect for this purpose. How about wearing it on the football pitch – how would that be? As a sportsman, I am used to moving a lot at high impact levels. Usually the clothes I wear at matches are developed to get stressed to their limits. I believe wearing the suit on the pitch would be quite an interesting product endurance test. (smiling) Which was your favorite suit in the stretch tailoring collection and why? The burgundy suit is my favorite. I like the color combination with a black turtleneck sweater.
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Hugo Boss
T
Fifth store for Kuwait
he 360 MALL, Kuwait’s iconic shopping center owned by Tamdeen Shopping Centers, has signed an agreement with HUGO BOSS to bring its fifth Kuwait store to the mall, offering its shoppers the latest trends from the fashion world. HUGO BOSS is one of the market leaders in the upper premium segment of the global apparel market, and is a lifestyle brand impeccably designed with the highest quality and sophistication reflecting the contemporary and confident character of a successful man. The collection to be showcased at 360 MALL will include BOSS menswear designed to offer sophisticated business wear and exclusive sportswear, BOSS Athleisure offering a collection of modern sportswear and active performance wear, and BOSS Casual offering an urban casualwear collection.
STYLE
Givenchy Gentleman
I
Sensitively masculine
t takes nerve to unveil one’s sensitive side, and courage to opt for delicateness. Givenchy Gentleman dares to be gentle. An unexpected floral twist, like a gentleman with his own, unique take on elegance. The classic touch of lavender is altered by noble iris, that master perfumers Nathalie Lorson and Olivier Cresp placed at the heart of the fragrance. It brings nobility to the composition, ensuring a powdery, sophisticated – and, yes, seductive – facet. Especially when combined with smooth, sweet pear in a rather unlikely addition of tenderness. By contrast, in a subtle nod to the original 1975 release, a patchouli-leather accord bursting with character elegantly structures this new woody floral fougère fragrance. With these multiple facets and strong personality, Givenchy has dared to offer a delicate yet dauntless fragrance, creating a timeless trail for the modern man who fully accepts his nuances and paradoxes. A contemporary gentleman who exudes refinement without ever seeming to try.
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Beirut Art Week
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Putting the ‘public’ in to public art
rom September 19 to 26, Beirut Art Week continued its annual tradition of bringing contemporary art to the heart of Beirut. This unique, offsite program included 27 offerings that highlight the cultural heritage of Beirut, deployed in public spaces and in some of the city’s most prestigious shops. Part of Beirut Art Fair, it is supported by Lebanon’s Ministries of Culture and of Tourism, the Municipality of Beirut, Solidere, and by participating boutiques. This artistic circuit showcased important works including one by Romero Britto in partnership with the Beirut Marathon, in addition to the monumental sculptures of Mauro Corda and of Helidon Xhixha. An open-air cinema also unfolded on the terraces of the Opera Gallery in collaboration with the Festival of Lebanese Film. Dedicated to short films, this projection paid homage to internationally renowned and award-winning directors. In this, its eighth edition, the Beirut Art Fair continues its commitment to a strong and unique engagement with the world of contemporary art in highlighting the artistic scenes of Lebanon and the Arab world. International recognition of the fair continues to grow alongside the number of participating artists, reflecting the global interest surrounding the preoccupations, concerns and interests which inspire their work. It is the Fair’s wish is to amplify these voices, and this year the fair presents a hitherto unseen selection of both new galleries and focused exhibitions, including one specifically tied to the notion of Arab identity. Laure d’Hauteville, the Fair’s founder and director, “The focus of the 2017 edition of Beirut Art Fair is threefold: to foster a spirit of expansion and renewal, to promote the discovery of young talents, and to unfold a new perspective on the recent history of creation and collecting in Lebanon.” Beirut Art Fair offers a singular space characterized by a degree of freedom of expression and cultural diversity unmatched in the region, helping it to highlight and promote the specificities of the Middle East’s vibrant creative art scene.
ART
Opposite page: Philippe Hiquily, La SecrĂŠtaire, 2010, Bronze & typewriter This page, clockwise from the top: Saloua Raouda Choucair, Bench, Courtesy of Solidere; Luis Lleo, The Skyring, Courtesy of Solidere; Arne Quinze, The visitor, Courtesy of Solidere
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Yarmouk Living
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Studio Toggle’s contemporary two-family solution
tudio Toggle was established in 2011 by Hend Almatrouk and Gijo Paul George, both graduates of the Universität für Angewandte Kunst, Vienna. The studio focus on logical design and problem solving techniques with specific emphasis in Architecture and Urban design. Studio Toggle believes in employing scientific research and computational methods to tackle specific form/space finding and environmental challenges. This Kuwait City house by Studio Toggle is home to two independent young families. The volume is divided in the middle into two identical units housing the private quarters of each family. These identical units are capped on the top and bottom by a shared roof terrace and a shared basement that has parking facilities for 10 cars and a banquet hall. The client’s brief called for a very dense program relative to the allowed footprint and also for the two units to be identical and side by side. This posed multiple challenges to the architects in terms of finding a balance between enclosed and open spaces, as well as bringing sufficient natural lighting to all areas of the house. The architects chose to address these challenges in an incremental manner by creating light wells, balconies and decks affording varied degrees of transparency and porosity throughout the building. This approach resulted in a choreographed sequence of naturally lit spaces with a welldefined hierarchy dictating its degree of privacy. The exterior of the house is finished in an austere palette of white cement render contrasted against the rough grey finish of the window frames and louvers. The louvers afford necessary privacy to the stepped entrance foyer and the roof garden. The louvers also soften the contextual impact of the crisp white massing. The materiality of the interiors is driven by the hierarchy of the space, ranging from a dramatic music room finished in an aptly titled scandalous marble, to the almost Scandinavian simplicity of the upper levels that houses the bedrooms, pantry and the informal reading room. Subtle warm tones, achieved by a combination of silver travertine cladding with white oil finished ash parquet, set the mood for the ground floor living and dining areas. Strategically located gardens, so private they could be secret, fosters greenery and light for the social spaces including the banquet room in the basement.
DESIGN
Architects: Studio Toggle Year of completion: 2017 Site Area: 750 m2 Built up area: 2,300 m2 Location: Al Yarmouk, Kuwait Design Team: Hend Almatrouk and Gijo Paul George Photography: Gijo Paul George
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Tankoa’s new M/Y Vertige Breaks the waves for the first time at the Monaco Yacht show
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ankoa, the first boutique shipyard with a multicultural approach to yachts construction, revealed the new S501 M/Y Vertige which made her official debut at the Monaco Yacht Show 2017 (27 to 30 of September). M/Y Vertige, the second unit of Tankoa Yachts - sold in February 2015 to an experienced French client – after a successful delivery and a busy charter season in the Mediterranean made her official debut at the latest edition of the Monaco Yacht Show just a few weeks ago. Tankoa S501 Vertige represents the quintessence of the result between a high quality builder and a marketing and sales organization that is in daily contact with yacht Owners, Captains and Surveyors. S501 M/Y VERTIGE DESIGN STATEMENT Tankoa’s management team worked in close collaboration
with Francesco Paszkowski to design the project and fulfill the following set goals: - Achieve a perfectly balanced, fluid and timeless design that will not look like what is currently offered on the market. - Offer perfect circulation flows for owners and guests, providing them with the possibility to move from deck to deck and from
SAIL
Concept and Exterior Design: Francesco Paszkowski Interior Design: Francesco Paszkowski in cooperation with Margherita Casprini
inside to outside area without interfering with the working crew, while at the same time giving the crew total freedom of movement to carry on with their tasks. - Provide a 499 gross ton package for the Owner with amenities and features commonly found on much larger yachts. - S501 hull N°1 is a six cabins yacht that includes: main deck full beam Owner and Vip suite, two Vips and two guest cabins on the lower deck, gym, home cinema on the upper deck, a 7-meter tender garage, two jet skis and rescue tender forward. Other amenities include floor to ceiling windows, foldout hydraulic terraces in the owner’s suite and on the aft deck increasing the already considerable available space. Allowing permanent visual contact with the sea was one of the other tasks assigned to Francesco Paszkowski’s design team. Interiors, as per client’s request, were designed by Francesco Paszkowski Design Studio in cooperation with Margherita Casprini and reflect a “modern but warm” atmosphere. The result is simply one of the most beautiful 50-meter yachts ever build under 500 GRT. The level of detailing, both inside and outside, is in line with what everyone usually expects to find onboard much larger yachts. Tankoa Yachts reported excellent results after the S501 M/Y Vertige recent sea trails. According to contract specifications, top speed was to be 16 knots at half load. While performances of 50 meter long Vertige were to be measured in calm seas and five knots of wind, actual sea trails took place with over a meter waves and a crossed choppy sea with northerly wind gusts up to 30 knots. Edoardo Ratto, General Manager of Tankoa Yachts, commented: “Since for the very first sea trails, which lasted about eight hours, were simply incredible. Vertige reached a top speed of 16.5 knots at 60% load (about 33,000 liters of fuel and more than 20,000 liters of water). S501 has a range of over 5,000 nautical miles at 12 knots, which really makes a difference when going for Atlantic crossings. There were no vibration at all and the decibel readings were inferior to contracted levels – in the owner’ssuite and Vip cabin, levels were below 50 decibels”. During the first trails, while performing all the maneuvers foreseen by international standards, the Vertige’s excellent handling was confirmed: even when the stabilizers were not enabled, the yacht demonstrated excellent stability.
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Bombardier’s All-New Premier Cabin
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Establishing the standard in contemporary interior design
ith an exceptionally smooth ride, Global aircraft offer the most comfortable cabin experience of any business jet. The new Premier cabin features architectural design and commonality with the entire Global family. Contemporary Premier design accentuates the spaciousness of a cabin interior already the widest in its class. Hand-stitched seats, intelligent ergonomics, streamlined galley, elegant flooring options, the industry’s fastest Ka-band in-flight Wi-Fi connectivity and the Venue™ advanced cabin management system are among the highlights. Bombardier has unveiled the highly sophisticated and meticulously crafted new Premier cabin for its Global 5000 and Global 6000 business jets. The new interior’s striking aesthetics, intelligent ergonomics and advanced connectivity features are showcased on board the first Global 6000 aircraft equipped with the Premier cabin, which is on static display at
the 2017 European Business Aviation Convention & Exhibition in Geneva. The all-new Premier cabin – now available on Global 5000 and Global 6000 jets – has a bold and fresh contemporary interior that brings a new level of refinement to the cabin experience, establishing a superior design commonality to the entire portfolio of Bombardier aircraft. The design draws inspiration from the high-end craftsmanship in luxury automotive interiors and the spaciousness, comfort and productivity of the Global 7000 and Global 8000 aircraft cabins.
FLY
Bombardier’s All-New Premier Cabin on Global 5000 and Global 6000 aircraft establishes the standard in contemporary interior design
“Cabin comfort and sophistication are top priorities for our customers. Global aircraft already lead the industry with spectacular cabin interiors, and our new Premier cabin demonstrates that we are committed to remain ahead of the curve across all of our products,” said David Coleal, President, Bombardier Business Aircraft. “The refined aesthetics, luxury and ambience of our new Premier cabin, combined with an advanced cabin management system and Ka-band connectivity, will result in an even more productive experience for our Global 5000 and Global 6000 aircraft passengers.” Among the cabin’s new highlights are the stylish seats and sleek side ledges. These elements heighten the feeling of a clean design aesthetic in a cabin that is already the widest and most comfortable in its class. With its impeccable lines and flawless hand-stitched finishing, the new seat design offers improved ergonomic features, such as higher armrests, a sculpted backrest, and crisp, clean lines throughout. The galley has been streamlined and modernized to a contemporary form, and visually stunning hardwood and stone floor coverings are available in the galley and lavatories. The level of refinement is further elevated by the Global family’s unmatched cabin functionality, featuring the fastest in-flight WiFi connection in the skies and the most reliable and most intuitive cabin management system available. Finally, Bombardier’s advanced and unique wing design on Global aircraft provides passengers with a restful flight and a smooth ride. Global 5000 aircraft: By combining expert engineering and superior craftsmanship, every detail on the Global 5000 aircraft has been meticulously designed to deliver an exceptional private jet experience. With a cabin that is nearly a foot wider (30 cm) than its nearest competitor, coupled with an advanced wing design that optimizes speed, range and control, the Global 5000 aircraft delivers maximum comfort and a remarkably smooth and comfortable ride.
The Global 5000 carries up to 16 passengers and can travel nearly 6,000 miles nonstop
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Nomad
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It’s a journey
he ending of the summer edition series may mean the digging up of the tree of life, but fear not because this weekends opening ceremony also means a whole other wave of ethereal, thought provoking, spirit guiding production guaranteed to have you on sensory overload. Opening the season, and making her NOMAD debut is none other than Mood Records Head Honcho Nicole Moudaber, who tells tribe members to “expect nothing shiny, it’s just you, me and the music”. It doesn’t stop there as she hands over ceremonial duties to Techno hypnotist Petar Dundov. NOMAD it isn’t just a party, it’s a journey, it’s love, it’s an experience that goes way deeper. Whether you start it on the beach, over lunch or turn up as the sunsets over the famous bougainvillea draped arch, expect the weird and the wonderful, the brave and the bold. Expect fearless leaders who dance to the beat of their own internal drum, most of all as dusk turns to dawn expect NOMAD to tell a story; one that intends to stay with you forever. Entry to Nomad is complimentary. Restaurant bookings are recommended in advance on +97154 449 6464.
CONCIERGE
Award-winning restaurant delights guests with its specialty this month
Smoked House Specials At Jumeirah Messilah Beach Hotel & Spa
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umeirah Messilah Beach Hotel & Spa, Kuwait’s idyllic resort, introduced a variety of new culinary surprises in September, one of them is the Smoked House Specials served at the resort’s award-wining Steakhouse, Pepper. The luxurious restaurant with its signature vibrant atmosphere continues to offer its diners their favourite premium meat cuts, this time with a special menu devoted to wood-smoked treats. Guests will discover a choice of Mesquite Smoked Angus Brisket with candied sweet potato and BBQ bean, Oak Smoked Angus Rib-eye Steak accompanied with crispy onion rings, aromatic Baby Chicken with Apple Compote, Duck Leg garnished with garlic mushrooms and tender Lamb Shank. All dishes are expertly infused with a variety of Hickory, Oak, and Cherry woods to create the unique and authentic smoky flavours combined with fresh local ingredients.
dining area coupled with creative romantic arrangements of their choice. Recently awarded as the best Luxury Steakhouse and Luxury Hotel Restaurant for 2017 by the World Luxury Restaurant Awards, the hotel’s premium Steakhouse offers a memorable dining experience in classy and extravagant surroundings ideal for business and leisure occasions.
For those looking to host an intimate special occasion, guests can savour their dishes in the warmth of the restaurant’s private
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Mandarin Oriental, London
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Unveils first phase of significant renovation
andarin Oriental Hotel Group’s European flagship Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park, London, has unveiled the first phase of its extensive restoration, designed to confirm this historic hotel’s position as one of the best in the world. The hotel remains open throughout the renovation which will be completed in the third quarter of 2018.
The first phase of the renovation includes the launch of 95 new and luxurious guest rooms and suites in the Knightsbridge wing. In addition, the hotel’s classic entrance, notable main lobby and reception lounge have been reconfigured and redesigned to maximise natural daylight, and the building’s iconic façade has been revitalised. Internationally renowned designer, Joyce Wang has been commissioned to oversee the property’s overall design concept, and has taken her inspiration from the building’s Edwardian heritage, the hotel’s peaceful park side location, as well as the glamour of the early 20th century’s Golden Age of travel. Art deco inspired features including carefully curated artworks and custom-designed furniture have resulted in a warm and inviting environment.
CONCIERGE
Le Gray, Beirut
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The Levant’s favourite hotel gets a new face
e Gray, Beirut recently unveiled its Events and Conferences Spaces which is part of an extension project including additionally a lobby lounge, an exhibition venue and 16 new guestrooms. With this addition and a prime central location on the very entrance of Beirut Downtown, the flagship of Campbell Gray Hotels enlarges the scope of its business to attract the MICE market in addition to the leisure and business markets. The project was overseen by Interior Designer Galal Mahmoud in close collaboration with Gordon Campbell Gray. The new guestrooms complement existing accommodation in the same contemporary-classic style, incorporating light-filled interiors overlooking the bustling city. The extended lobby area underneath the atrium and its new Lobby Lounge provide a welcoming space where guests can unwind with family and friends or catch up on work. A new pedestrian entrance will welcome guests into the new space directly on Weygand Street. The new facilities are sure to impress Le Gray’s loyal clientele and attract new guests with additional spaces. The Boardroom, a dramatic 20-people meeting business venue; The Muse Room, a multi-function venue equally great for business meetings and social gatherings; The Screening Room, a brand new 53-seat mini cinema fitted out with state-of-the-art audiovisual equipment and comfortable seating -4k projection and Dolby Atmos sound system; The Atrium, an exhibition and art venue at the heart of the central atrium and Le Grand Salon, a 400sqm banquet facility with a unique, dazzling led light ceiling. Le Gray, Beirut burst onto the hotel scene in 2009 and has become one of the city’s hottest hubs at which to stay and be seen. Located in the heart of Beirut on Martyrs’ Square, close to the business district and near to the city’s prime attractions, the hotel will now feature 103 spacious rooms and suites, with two Presidential Suites sharing the fifth floor encompassing generous private terraces. The hotel current facilities include the glamorous rooftop restaurant, Indigo on the Roof, the tranquil PureGray Spa, as well as a state-of-the-art gym. With the current additions, Le Gray, Beirut will have completed the canvas, becoming thus Downtown first and only hotel with such facilities.
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Fight off the signs of ageing Check out your skincare regimen. Are you getting what you need?
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very single one of us can’t escape aging. We all know that. It’s inevitable. Once fine lines, wrinkles, and crow’s foot start to appear on our face means goodbye to our younger years and say hello to the new age – the winter/autumn of one’s life.
1. Wash your face regularly – Do it in the morning and right before going to bed. Wash your face with lukewarm water then soap it. Afterwards, rinse it with cold water. 2. Moisturize often – After every wash, make it a habit to apply moisturizers. Skin needs to be hydrated and so don’t leave the house or sleep at night without moisturizing your face. 3. Slather sun protection - The sun’s ultraviolet rays causes premature aging. So best to apply SPF30 or higher before you expose yourself to the sun. Opt for a lotion, which offers protection for both UVA and UVB. There is no magic cure to cast those wrinkles away but, read on...
Several causes contribute to the crease in our face as we age. Environmental factors, less collagen and elastin production, genes, smoking and unhealthy lifestyle are examples that affect skin’s health. Getting rid of the signs of aging is a process. Men have become more conscious about it than before. Different kinds of treatment from anti-aging products to surgical & nonaggressive solutions have loomed over the years and sprawled over the market. Which is why, we’ll spare you from all the troubles of selecting which one of the products or procedures is the right one for you. So in the quest to fight aging, this simple skin upkeep could do the trick. We have rounded up a quick and easy routine to help you.
4. Combat lines with LPG Face Endermologie Sessions – As we grow old, the skin doesn’t produce as much collagen and elastin, a protein that is responsible for skin’s strength and flexibility. And so to help you boost the natural synthesis of essential youth substances, LPG Face Endermologie is needed. It massages the skin tissue stimulating the production of collagen, elastin and hyaluronic acid. Try the new LPG Cellu M6 Alliance. It is a solution that is 100% natural, non-invasive and non-aggressive. The new endermologie patent combines the best efficiency two technologies for more intense and faster skin stimulation. Lastly, change your lifestyle. There is no magic cure to cast those wrinkles away. Eating healthy, exercise regularly, and have a well balanced life will surely give you extra punch to naturally ward off the signs of time.
WELLNESS
Lose those love handles
Why men turn to endermologie treatments to lose love handles
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ove handles, belly fat, potbelly, muffin top whatever you call it, is where ‘stubborn fat’ usually love to thrive, especially for men. Oh yes! This is the first place lads gain it, and sad to say, the last one to get rid off no matter how long they stay in the gym to do their workout. Nevertheless, though this may seem to be pretty tough to handle, it is without any doubt that you their folks can win your fight against the ‘love fat’ with a little bit of perseverance – mind setting. First thing, let’s get to know it up close and work our way to destroying them for good. How do we get them? There are many causes muffin top develops - genetics, age, sedentary lifestyle, unhealthy diet (sugary stuff, processed food, sweetened beverages, etc.), stress and poor sleep. Moreover, talking about physiology, guys particularly do store fat cells in this region. No, having these bulges in the midsection don’t just happen overnight. The fat accumulates over time and stays in your belly. Can we get rid of it? Now that you know the root cause of the build up of fat in the belly, the next thing to do is plan a major shift. Shifting lifestyle to a more active and healthy one is always a good start. Nutrition plays a vital role as well in shredding off extra fat there. Watch out your food intake. Eat more veggies, fruits, grassfed meat, eggs and carbs frequently in a good portion. Starving yourself is a big no-no as burning fat will be less of a priority and you’ll just find yourself binging on sugary
packed food. When your body is all packed with the good stuff, do accompany it with some muscle-conditioning exercises and a cardio regularly.
Love handles, pot-belly or muffin top. Whatever we call it, none of us want them.
For better results, incorporate your regime with a little help from LPG Endermologie. The structured program of natural and non-invasive treatment works effectively in a man’s genetic composition of the connective tissue. It mechanically massages the skin tissue thereby stimulating natural lipolysis by 70% releasing localize stubborn fat and toxins in the stomach, love handles and legs. Additionally, the upper body will be re-sculpted - abs will be firmer, waist, stomach and pectoral muscles (chest muscles) will be reshaped. Using the new LPG Cellu M6 Alliance, you can try the 40-minute Endermologie ID treatment, which specifically targets the arms, back, pecs, waist, stomach and thigh. The Alliance motorized head makes it possible to slim these areas, even the parts of the body most resistant to exercise and diet, while precisely adapting to the needs of each skin type. So, didn’t we say we can defeat the pot-belly? Keep this in mind and your on your way to having a good physique free from this love handles.
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Trending on passionsarabia.com
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What’s trending at the home of Men’s Passion online
look at the hottest stories from the past month on Men’s Passion’s online home at passionsarabia.com. Follow us on Instagram @passions.arabia for a regular dose of the styles, the trends, the brands, the maisons and the marques... with stories of the passionate people who are maikng it happen. The Original Thouqers In 2004, when Ahmad Al Ghanim and Bader Al Hejailan got together with Sheikh Hamad Al Sabah and Saad Al Humaidi – two other Kuwaiti creative entrepreneurs – to launch the lifestyle magazine ‘Thouq’, perhaps no one realised the impact it would have or how, nearly a decade-and-a-half later, it (and they) have evolved and maintained its relevance and context at the cutting-edge of regional style.
passionsarabia.com/the-original-thouqers
Farah Al Humaidhi “It makes me proud to see more trust expressed in local talent, our work has proven itself and we have established what we are capable of. In addition, interior design is not just about learning how to design; you need to learn how to read your clients, as most clients come to you without any idea of what they exactly want.”
passionsarabia.com/farah-al-humaidhi
Bentley Take a leap into the fast, powerful and luxurious world of Bentley. Featuring The Bentayga and The Mulsanne EWB
www.passionsarabia.com/bentley
PASSIONS ARABIA
Cole Haan - Extraordinary comes to life Cole Haan, the innovative American lifestyle brand and retailer, is teaming up with artists from New York City Ballet for its latest campaign, which debuts the GrandEvølution, GrandMøtion and next generation StudiøGrand collections.
passionsarabia.com/cole-haan-extraordinary-comes-life-2
Ferrari 812 Superfast – Welcome to the machine On paper, it’s the most boisterous GT to come out of Maranello. Front-engined, rear-wheel drive and 800 horsepower, the 812 Superfast’s dramatic theme has echoes of the recent – and much acclaimed – F12berlinetta.
passionsarabia.com/ferrari-812-superfast-2
Zenith and the Distinguished Gentleman’s Ride Zenith is supporting the gathering around the world, and creating on this occasion a magnificent PILOT TON-UP watch in bronze, engraved with the effigy of The Distinguished Gentleman’s Ride. Only 5 of these watches will be produced, and gifted to the finest donors to the cause. Number 0 will be auctioned at a special event held in Milan on the same day.
passionsarabia.com/zenith-gentlemans-ride
Globetrotter’s Guide – travel and arrive in style As present-day Kuwait-based travellers we’re almost unavoidably air-travellers. Today, the region is the global hub of aviation… but we’re still a long way from anywhere. So, any journey we make is going to be lengthy, and yet we’ll want to hit the ground running and in the best of shape. passionsarabia.com/travel-and-arrive-in-style
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Cadillac Art Night 2017 Emerging artists exhibtion
EVENTS
As patrons of the arts and culture, and as part of their outreach program, Cadillac Alghanim organized an art exhibition in their showroom in Al-Rai for six local emerging Artists: Omar Jassim Althafiri, Zainab Dashti, Yaqoub Yousef Al-Ali, Ahmad Muqeem, Mariam Hamad Al-Ghaith and Anwar Nasser. To further encourage the artists, Cadillac Alghanim held a competition where each artist submitted a work depicting one of Cadillac’s models. A panel of highly renowned established Kuwaiti artists including Redha Salem, Suheila Al-Najdi and Ibrahim Al-Atiyi were joined by Nadeem Ghareeb, Regional Marketing Manager for Cadillac Middle East, to judge the awards. The audience also had a say in the voting and each attendee was handed a link where they could cast their votes. The final combined scores of the judges and audience determined the winners. Cadillac Alghanim awarded the first two winners with a 3-night, all expenses paid, business trip to Dubai with tickets to attend an art exhibition and ‘Sole DXB’, a highly-regarded lifestyle event in the city. The first winner also received a cash prize of KD500 The first prize went to Ahmad Muqeem. The second prize went to Omar Jassim Althafiri. All 6 participants where commemorated by Cadillac Alghanim’s General Manager, Mohamed Eltalkhawi, for their contributions, efforts and artistic talents and each received the gift of a 2-day test drive of a Cadillac. Mr. Eltalkhawi commented “We are very proud of the youth in Kuwait and the artistic talents they exhibit, it is indeed Cadillac’s ethos to collaborate with them to highlight the importance of culture and the arts in building the future. I want to take this opportunity to thank our esteemed judging panel who have given their time in the promotion of the arts, and to all those who have attended today for their belief in art as a mission. We look forward to more collaborative events to come.”
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Salonatcom goes live Kuwaiti app to change the way we book salons
Lexus has partnered with Salonatcom to launch an exclusive salon manager app - Salonatcom.com - a Kuwaiti online booking website and application that links hundreds of wellness spas, barbers and beauty salons to thousands of existing and potential clients.
allows its users, both men and women, to search for their next salon or spa service and book their appointments with just the touch of a button. More than 200 salons (male and female) from different areas across Kuwait are now available on the application.
The launch event was attended by social media celebrities, owners from popular salons across Kuwait along with distinguished members from the press and media.
According to Faisal Al Ghadhouri, General Manager of Salonatcom; “We started in Kuwait but our vision is to become the leading online salon and spa booking platform in the Middle East. And like the speed of technology itself, Salonatcom is soaring up towards limitless possibilities.�
Providing a quick and easy online booking facility, Salonatcom
EVENTS
Zuhair Hassib at Boushahri Syrian artist opens ‘Evini’
Syrian artist Zuhair Hassib opened an exhibition of his latest work at Kuwait’s Boushahri Gallery, entitled ‘Evini’. The evening was attended by many of Kuwait’s arts community, including artists and collectors. Zuhair Hassib, of Kurdish origin, was born in Hasaka, Syria, in 1960. He graduated with a diploma in the arts and is a member of the Association of Fine Artists in Syria. His works are in the Ministry of Culture, Ministry of Defence, the National Museum, The Opera House, Beirut, Dubai, Oman, Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Germany, Switzerland, Sweden, Paris, and
several other countries around the world. Kuwait’s Boushahri Gallery is one of the longest established in the country. Throughout the season, from now until the end of May 2018, you can expect numerous art exhibitions featuring local and other Arab national artists across media including paintings, sculpture, and drawings.
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Spread The Passion Closing ceremony of the Professional Volunteer Program
On Tuesday, September 19, 2017, the closing ceremony of the Professional Volunteer Program was held by Spread the Passion (a Kuwait-based non-profit organization) under the patronage of the Kuwait Foundation for the Advancement of Science. Dr. Fatima Al Moussawi, Founder of Spread the Path, thanked all the attendees and all the companies supporting the program. Maryam Madid, Communication Officer at Spread the Passion, reflected on the success of the professional volunteer program and that he achieved all the desired objectives,
including training the volunteers through the workshops and by providing volunteers with volunteer opportunities to acquire new skills such as writing and photography. The ceremony also included honoring the volunteers who participated in the program and those who cooperated in the external visits. Dr. Fatima Al Moussawi also honored the Kuwait Foundation for the Advancement of Sciences for sponsoring the program and all the supporting companies of the program are Oredoo Communications Company, Moulin Le Blue, PH7, Atta Hab, Al-Sayer Holding Group, the Ministry of State for Youth Affairs, the General Authority for Youth, the Kuwait New Project and Kuwait University.
EVENTS
Four Seasons Hotel Editor’s dinner
To mark the recent opening of Four Seasons Hotel Kuwait at Burj Alshaya, the venue held an exclusive Editors’ Dinner at Dai Forni, the hotel’s dynamic Italian restaurant on the 21st floor with incredible rooftop views. Dinner was hosted by Didier Jardin, General Manager, Four Seasons Hotel Kuwait at Burj Alshaya on the city’s Soor Street, who shared details about the property’s sleek, avantgarde luxury design and signature Four Seasons service. Be sure to check back with us next month for a full look at the hotel in the November issue of Men’s Passion magazine and online at passionsarabia.com
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Euromoney Kuwait, 2017 New Kuwait – financial challenge or financing opportunity?
Under the Patronage of Kuwait Ministry of Finance, Euromoney held its 9th instalment of its Kuwait Conference on Tuesday September 26, 2017 at the JW Marriott in Kuwait City. This year’s conference was inaugurated by keynote speakers: H.E Mr. Anas Al-Saleh, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Finance, State of Kuwait and H.E. Dr Mohammad Yousef AlHashel, Governor, Central Bank of Kuwait, with participation of key business figures and dignitaries delivering their view on the theme -’New Kuwait – financial challenge or financing opportunity?’
EVENTS
The Athlete’s Foot Revamped store is the largest TAF store in the world
During September, The Athlete’s Foot (TAF) relaunched its flagship store located at The Avenues Mall, Kuwait’s most iconic shopping destination, under the theme ‘Sport with Style’. The revamped store is the largest TAF store in the world and was designed to capture a pre-digital, traditional shopping experience embodying a modern and modular vintage feel. Commemorating TAF’s shift from athletics to athleisure under the slogan ‘Sport with Style’, the open and inviting space is the world’s largest TAF store offering customers and sneaker
enthusiasts alike a wide selection of stylish, athletic-inspired footwear and apparel, including the latest styles and emerging niche brands as well as renowned global brands Nike, Adidas, Reebok, Puma, and much more. Bringing people back to the store, the launch event combined popular trends of the country in accordance with the store’s trendy new Sport with Style look. TAF stores can be found in The Avenues Mall, Discovery Mall, Al Fanar Complex, Gate Mall, Marina Mall, The Promenade Mall, Mishref Co-Op and Kuwait International Airport.
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Listings
Our essential guide. What not to miss in October Mohamed Abouelnaga What: Art exhibition Where: Dar al Funoon, Kuwait When: 9 - 28 October 2017
Top Pick
Mohamed Abouelnaga is a multidisciplinary visual artist, art professor, curator and developer. Throughout his colorful career, he created award winning art projects, fulfilled his responsibility towards his community and brought up new generation of young artists with his teaching, workshop and his multitude of practices. daralfunoon-kw.com
Dar al Athar al Islamiyyah What: Cultural season Where: Various venues across Kuwait When: thru’ May 2018
Saudi Design Week What: Design show Where: Riyadh, Saudi Arabia When: 5 – 8 October 2017 This year’s theme explores the concept of “Design in Motion”. Designers will study that sense of motion figuratively by showcasing the stories behind their products as they move from sketch to shelf, or seek a more literal understanding by exploring the intersection of design and sports, and even motion in design through multiple dimensions such as time. saudidesignweek.com
Now launching its 23rd annual cultural season, DAI has always presented a veritable selection of activities to inspire individuals from all walks of life and every interest imaginable, these activities include: lectures, concerts, educational opportunities, workshops, cultural excursions, film screenings, theatrical productions, and special events. darmuseum.org.kw
Scouting For Girls What: Rock, pop, jazz Where: Dubai Opera When: 20 October 2017 Celebrating a decade together English pop rock band, Scouting For Girls, will be playing a special gig at Dubai Opera on 20 October. Bringing an electric atmosphere to Dubai Opera for our first ever fully flat-floor concert, sing-along to She’s So Lovely, Heartbeat and many more! dubaiopera.com
Tamawuj - An unpredictable expression of human potential What: Part of Sharjah Biennial 13 Where: Beirut Art Center, Lebanon When: opens 14 October 2017 Rather than asking for solutions and sketching utopias, an unpredictable expression of human potential seeks to respond to the present global moment, one in which a paradigmatic shift can be tasted in the air, where young people are frustrated and protesting against decisions imposed on them by older generations, to an inheritance they did not ask for and did not shape. beirutartcenter.org
HUGO BOSS AG Phone 940 7123 49+ hugoboss.com The Art of Tailoring Kuwait Boss Store 360 Mall Opening Soon Kuwait Boss Store Prestige The Avenues T: 22288020 Kuwait Boss Store Mariam Complex Salmiya T: 22288021 Kuwait Boss Sportswear Store 2nd Avenue The Avenues T: 22288010 Kuwait Boss Sportswear Store Marina Mall Salmiya T: 22288023
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Big Bang Unico Perpetual Calendar Sapphire. Scratch-resistant sapphire case. In-house perpetual calendar and chronograph UNICO movement. Limited edition of 50 pieces.
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