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VAMPMAGAZINE
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S/S TRENDS FOR MEN
YAK 01 WE CHECK OUT A MODERN HOUSE LOCATED IN BANGKOK, DESIGNED FOR A SMALL MODERN FAMILY.
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EARTH GARDEN ‘13>> GET YOUR EARTH GARDEN CALENDAR OF EVENTS INSIDE! [PAGES 65–72]
TRIANGLE OF PEACE BY RICHARD ENGLAND [PAGE 48]
H A P P Y
D I A M O N D S
C O L L E C T I O N
LEVEL 1 BAYSTREET – ST.JULIANS – WWW.MANGANO.COM
Bisazza Street, Sliema
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SLIEMA
ST. JULIANS
FROM THE EDITOR
After much deliberation, we decided to make this the ‘The Thailand issue’. Usually, Vamp focuses on one city, but I felt that, when it comes to Thailand, you can’t not include the rest of this vast country – and neither can anyone who travels there understand all its layers until all of what it has to offer has been experienced. It is where gentle Thai Buddhism co-exists with blatant materialism, the monarchy safeguards democracy and friendliness is a virtue. As usual Vamp offers a mixture of topics inspired by the chosen city, or country. So besides meeting an Englishman in Chiang Mai, and seeing a modern home in Bangkok; Professor Richard England reveals his idea for a sacred building that represents a ‘triangle of peace’; Architect Chris Briffa presents his new studio in Valletta; and David Schembri explains the idea of Déjà vu and the advantages of recycling.
19. SKIP IT Some people have succeeded in supporting the hungry
while the rest of us have some recycling to do.
23. ANATOMY Essential fashion items for men this Spring. 27. ART AT WORK
Chris Briffa Architects reveal their new studio in the heart of Valletta and recent collaboration with an art gallery.
30. OFF THE HOOK! A short selection of cool gadgets for spring 2013.
You can read all this before cooking yourself a spicy Thai soup!
32. THAT FAMILIAR FEELING David Schembri investigates the theory we claim
Till the next issue, Sawat diikha kh(goodbye). Sawat dii
34. YAK01
to be: Déjà vu.
Have a look at this modern family home in Bangkok.
48. TRIANGLE OF PEACE Richard England proposes a new building – a Triangle
of Peace – to reach out to a contemporary community.
52. “HOT IS VERY SEXY” Get cooking with an original Thai recipe for a spicy treat! Editor Lily Agius Design / Publisher Chris Psaila Photographers Karl Cutajar Anne Galan Stylists Kira Drury Andrea Lopez BDV Management
Sales & Marketing Manager Matthew Spiteri 7724 2490
Magazine Coordinator Sam Psaila 7788 0300 Contributors Alex Putnam Ayutt Mahasom Ayutt Ma BDV Management Chris Briffa Clinton Chetcuti David Schembri Karl Cutajar Richard England Sandra Calafato Tamara Burr Printers Print It
Reproduction in whole or in part without written permission from the publisher is prohibited. All rights reserved. Dates, information and prices are believed to be correct at the time of going to press but are subject to change and no responsibility is accepted for any errors or omissions. Neither the editor nor the publisher accept responsibility for any material submitted, whether photographic or otherwise. While we endeavour to ensure that the organisations and firms mentioned are reputable. The editor can give no guarantee that they will fulfill their obligations under all circumstances. © Copyright 2013
59. THE CHIANG MAI HIDEAWAY
Meet the Englishman in Chiang Mai at the enchanting Tree House Hideaway.
Join VAMP group on facebook.com
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VAMP MAGAZINE UPDATE
> GUERLAIN CILS D’ENFER MASCARA The eyes are the windows to the soul, so they say. Thanks to this new mascara’s innovative texture and efficient brush, you can see that her heart is immense, her love is deep and her soul is as pure as a crystal ball through eyes hemmed with ultra-thick lashes. There’s nothing quite as effective as this attention-grabbing black cloak to showcase the enchanting transparency of her eyes and to make yours stand out: pure perfection! Guerlain is distributed by X-Treme Co. Ltd
< PRESENTING ELEGANCE From French lighting company Forestier, and renown designer Arik Levy, comes a timeless collection of poetic lighting. Created from a philosophy inspired by a mix of the design values of yesteryear with the demands of tomorrow. Each of these lamps is elegant in its own right and comes from a team of spirited designers. Loft – Triq San Pawl, Naxxar Tel: 2099 9966 www.loft.com.mt
CARPISA S/S 2013 Mother’s Day is approaching. What to give to such a special person? You might find the right gift from Carpisa! Choose from bags, luggage and fashion accessories. Discover the Carpisa collection in the stores of Sliema and Birkirkara and choose the right gift for her. Carpisa – 108 Naxxar Road, Birkirkara, Tel. 2149 1962 & Tower Road, Sliema, Tel. 2133 6656
NINA L’EAU IS A WHITE SWIRL Nina Ricci’s new perfume – for that moment of awakening when girl becomes woman. It is, of course, fresh – very fresh – with frosted neroli, but also with the gentle femininity of apple blossom, the voluptuousness of gardenia and the rounded notes of white musk. The breath of youth: sharp, light and sensual. A fresh, fruity floral fragrance created by Olivier Cresp, master perfumer for Nina Ricci. A new opus of delectable fragrance, enclosed in a soft pink frosted glass apple with silver leaves. Distributed by Ta’Xbiex Perfumery Limited Tel: 2133 1553 012
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VAMP MAGAZINE UPDATE
< VERSACE EROS –
NEW FRAGRANCE FOR MEN
‘I designed my new fragrance Eros for a man who is both heroic and passionate, like a Greek God. Eros is a scent which depicts and emphasises power and sensuality’ – Donatella Versace
Love, passion, beauty and desire is the key concept of the new men’s fragrance. The perfection of the male body is fused with the allusion to greek mythology and classic sculpture that has characterised the Versace world since the beginning. Versace Eros is a fragrance for a strong and passionate man who is a master of himself. Versace Eros is distributed by X-Treme Co. Ltd.
> BAREFOOT
RUNNING WITH NIKE FREE Feet are the foundation of movement and should be allowed to flex and stretch. This is the insight that led to the creation of Nike Free Shoes. This season’s running shoes retain the well-known flexibility of Nike Free’s articulated outsole, whilst introducing three new upper designs for enhanced natural motion. Nike Free presents five new styles across running and training – the Nike Free 5.0+, 4.0 and 3.0 in running; the Nike Free TR Breathe for women’s training; and the Nike Free Trainer 5.0 for men’s training. The Nike Free collection is available at all Urban Jungle Stores and online at www.urbanjunglestore.com.mt
CLARINS BODY LIFT CELLULITE CONTROL… FOR THE ULTIMATE SUMMER BODY.
“MORE ESSENTIAL MORE SENSUAL” THE NEW MORELLATO ADVERTISING CAMPAIGN FOR SPRING/SUMMER 2013 Morellato’s new spring/summer advertising campaign will once again be showcasing stunning Irina Shayk, the international face that embodies the mood “More essential More sensual” to perfection. This fresh yet sensual image for Morellato is thanks to Irina, a star with a presence who dedicates her time to a number of causes, as witnessed by her latest photos for the environmental protection project Natural Beauty. The Morellato Group is one of Europe’s most important watch and jewellery groups with all-Italian capital, and a world leader in the watch-strap sector. Under the guidance of Massimo Carraro, the prime mover behind the group’s robust development, The Morellato Groupnow reigns supreme in the market with its brands: Morellato, Sector, Philip Watch, Chronostar and Bluespirit (the largest chain of Italian jewellery and watch goods, with 220 stores in seven countries worldwide). It also has brands under licence, including Just Cavalli, John Galliano, Maserati and Miss Sixty. Morellato jewellery is available in Malta from Sunlab and other select retail outlets.
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Clarins Body Lift Cellulite Control is the first slimming treatment that prevents and corrects the appearance of cellulite at every level, visibly smoothing hips, buttocks and thighs for a slim, beach-chic shape. Its unique combination of active ingredients helps reduce cellulite and firm and refine the contours. It is an outstanding skin care product that targets both new and stubborn cellulite. Available from the Clarins Beauty Centre, Ta’ Xbiex. Tel: 2133 9256, 2133 8404 & Clarins authorised outlets. Clarins products are exclusively distributed by von Brockdorff Imports Ltd. Ask for our Clarins Loyalty Card.
Exclusively Distributed by Taâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Xbiex Perfumery Limited Tel: 2133 1553
VAMP MAGAZINE UPDATE
NEW RENAULT CLIO – HIGH ON EMOTION! The new Clio is the first model to feature Renault’s sensuous, all-new brand identity which is all about passion on the inside as well as the outside. New Clio packs standard features that are normally associated with larger cars, such as touchscreen navigation and USB port, air conditioning, 16” alloys, traction control and ESP. New Clio’s powertrain includes the 1.2 75bhp and new 3-cylinder TCE 0.9 90bhp petrol engines, as well as the 1.5dci 90bhp diesel engine. Come and see the new Renault Clio at Auto Sales Ltd – Kind’s, Lija or call 23311126/131 for a test drive.
ORAL-B LAUNCHES THE NEW PRO– EXPERT TOOTHPASTE Oral B launches a toothpaste as good as their toothbrushes! This new toothpaste from the well-known Oral-B toothbrush brand has been in development for more than a decade. It contains the revolutionary Stabilised Stannous Fluoride considered by experts as affording outstanding benefits, and in clinical trials Oral-B Pro-Expert delivered unprecedented results. Unlike ordinary toothpaste, Oral-B Pro-Expert Toothpaste has been proven to deliver comprehensive care and protection, in all the eight areas your dentist checks most: cavities, gums, plaque, sensitivity, enamel, tartar, surface stains and fresh breath. The Oral B Pro-Expert Toothpaste protects against decay, whitens, defends gums, freshens breath and reduces sensitivity. The full range includes Oral-B Complete Extra Fresh, Oral-B Complete Mouthwash + Whitening, Oral-B Pro-Expert Whitening, Oral-B 123 Fresh Mint, Oral-B Pre-expert Sensitive + Gentle Whitening, Oral-B Pro-Expert Enamel Shield and Oral-B Pro-Expert All-Around Protection. For local trade enquiries please call VJ Salomone (Marketing) on tel. 8007 2387. Visit www.oralb.co.uk for more details.
< THE WAREHOUSE VINTAGE STORE FOR AFFORDABLE HIGH QUALITY BRANDS
The Warehouse Vintage store exists out of love for vintage clothing. There are creations from each decade, as we handpick through the most unique and fashionable examples of our high quality brands, which include Diesel, Levi’s, Fred Perry, Dockers, Redskins and Kookai. We have a wide selection of each iconic brand, such as the western shirt (in denim and checks), the trucker jacket and, of course, the original jeans – the Levi’s® 501® jeans – as well as vintage dresses, skirts, shirts and accessories from the 1960s to the 1990s.
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In addition, some pieces have the Tailored Vintage tag and we also have a tailoring service to fit individual pieces to your needs and today’s fashion. We change our vintage pieces every 15 days and apart from the vintage area, a small selection of the current dsl55 collection will also be available.
Enjoy the outdoors in style this summer. Mdina Glass offers a range of individual pieces and sets from their handmade LIFESTYLE line in various colours, sizes and finishes. Each range comes with a fantastic 20 per cent discount. Available from all Mdina Glass outlets throughout Malta and Gozo and online at
The Warehouse Vintage Store, street level, Savoy Arcade, Republic Street, Valletta. Tel: 2123 3771.
www.mdinaglass.com.mt, with free delivery on orders of €25 or more.
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A TIMELESS LUXURY. Visit our store in Zachary Street, Valletta and behold the beautiful range of luxury pieces by Lineargent.
Jewelbox â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Zachary Street, Valletta. Tel: 2722 0113
+356 2010 6066 / 9990 6066
ECO: SKIP IT?
I
n November last year, a court put three men on probation for stealing a truckload of electronic appliances dumped at the Wasteserv civic amenity site and selling them on. This upset Wasteserv, their employer, as it had planned to sell this waste for recycling, which is presumably why they ended up in court in the first place. Apart from tempting journalists to waste half their word count littering every other sentence with rubbish-related puns, this incident raises an important question: Is it rubbish if you can sell it?
room for the new 42-inch plasma screen rubbish if it still works, or is it just a waste? Does dropping an iPad into the bin suddenly make it unusable and only worth its weight in whatever it’s made of just because it languishes in a container designated for unwanted items? I hazard to suggest that the answer is ‘no’. In countries where large supermarket chains rule the roost, vast quantities of food are discarded for some reason or other – most of the time because it has expired and as such cannot be sold from the supermarket. But being unsellable does not make food inedible.
freegans, or dumpster divers, go through stock discarded in the skips outside supermarkets and take whatever suits their fancy. Some freegans depend entirely on what they can pilfer from skips for their diet, and have a strong anti-capitalist ideology underpinning their lifestyle, others see it as a win-win situation where waste is being curbed and they’re getting their food for free. There’s so much food to go round that on November 18 last year, food waste campaigners successfully fed over 5,000 people in Trafalgar Square using ingredients which had been discarded. >>
A STUDY BACKED BY THE UNITED NATIONS FOOD AND AGRICULTURE ORGANISATION LAST YEAR ESTIMATED THAT AROUND A THIRD OF THE FOOD PRODUCED FOR HUMAN CONSUMPTION WORLDWIDE WENT TO WASTE Convention would have it that once something is dropped in the garbage bin, then it becomes rubbish. What’s left of the sandwich that you were handling, raising up to your face and coming into repeated contact with while you were eating becomes something you wouldn’t dream of touching once it reaches the bottom of an empty, clean bin. Most times, things are thrown out because we can’t find a use for them anymore – a pen that’s run out of ink, a leaflet you picked up in a museum knowing you wouldn’t have another look at it – and perhaps rightly so rightly so.
Just ask the thousands of people across the world who can loosely be described as “freegans”.
But is rubbish still rubbish if, despite it languishing at the bottom of the bin, it could be sold on to someone else? Is a television that had to leave to make
Reacting to this culture of waste or driven by economic necessity (two words: student loans),
A study backed by the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation last year estimated that around a third of the food produced for human consumption worldwide went to waste – and consumers and retailers in industrialised countries waste around 222 million tons– mostly by throwing away perfectly edible food.
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ECO: SKIP IT?
“REDUCINGWASTE REDUCING WASTENEEDN’T NEEDN’TMEAN MEANGOING GOING THROUGH THE CONTENTS OF SUPERMARKET SKIPS – BUT IT STILL MIGHT REQUIRE GETTING YOUR HANDS DIRTY.” DIRTY. Sam, a 22-year old student living in the UK has only recently started “skipping”, but sees himself doing it for the long term:
might be consigning to the dump might be just what someone else needs, and nowadays, there are many ways of getting them to it.
“Of course there is the great benefit of getting food for free, but it is also well worth using up all of the waste food that we have, particularly given rising food prices and the energy costs of animal good and processed foods. It seems a shame that it is necessary to go into bins, treading on uncertain legal ground in order to achieve this. There are some charities in the UK doing good work with waste food, such as Foodcycle, and some supermarkets are happy to donate waste food to these schemes. But some refuse to, as far as I can see for no good reason at all. I think that skipping should be a socially responsible exercise; if there are people who need it more than you – such as the homeless – who are willing to take the food then they should get it, particularly if the company in question is not willing to help off its own back.”
Freecycle is a website which is meant to prevent waste. On this website, users can offer up items they no longer need and find used items they might need. In the little time I have been using the site, I found two solid wood Ikea shelving units and a swivel chair for the room I rent; in the meantime, I managed to pass on my growing collection of empty wine and beer bottles to a couple who were trying their hands at bottling their own booze.
Reducing waste needn’t mean going through the contents of supermarket skips – but it still might require getting your hands dirty. When spring-cleaning, we often come across items which are still perfectly usable but which, in all likelihood, we will never use again. Chances are, however, that what you 022
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Much like the three enterprising souls from Wasteserv, some see waste as a business opportunity. Elvis & Kresse, a London-based designer duo, collects decommissioned firebrigade hosepipes, cleans them and makes them into handbags, wallets, belts and phone covers. The company’s products have been featured on Vogue, and the bags are sold at a price to match. The creative couple behind the company have also had their house featured in the press, as most of the fabric of their dwelling has been made of pre used material which they have invested time and energy into making their own home with. Perhaps these examples might not strike you as so drastic. After all, the Maltese, living on a small island which for years
depended heavily on (quite expensive) imports, still have the “waste not, want not” credo lying round somewhere in their psyche. With consumerism only having reached our shores a couple of decades ago, the answer to our sustainability woes just might be lying in the recesses of our memory – and perhaps we should thank those three employees for one fine piece of consultancy. V
WHERE TO START Making stuff last longer: > Buy things which you find beautiful and worth repairing. That way you won’t be tempted to dump them at the first sign of trouble, and that extra touch of quality pays for itself in the long run. > Find a technician/electrician you can trust. See above for why. > Don’t buy more than you need. Pretty self-evident. > If you have to let it go, see if someone needs it. It’s not that difficult to let the world know you have something up for grabs: Facebook, classifieds and auction sites and Freecycle.org all work well in this regard. And if you do dump it, take it where it can be recycled. That means a civic amenity site. Somebody will find a market for it, one way or another.
Trade Enquiries VJ Salomone Marketing tel: 8007 2387
Finally, a toothpaste as good as our brushes. For years we’ve made the UK’s favourite toothbrushes. Now we’ve squeezed all our oral care expertise into our new toothpaste, Oral-B Pro-Expert. Unlike ordinary toothpaste, Oral-B Pro-Expert protects all the areas your dentist checks most.
N TO MY
BIANCA@BDVMANAGEMENT.COM + 34 635 274 250
WORDS: TXELL TOUS @ BDV MANAGEMENT WWW.BDVMANAGEMENT.COM
MAKE UP: ALIZIA MORENO MODEL: MYKOLA @ BLOW MODELS
S/S ESSENTIALS 2013
PHOTOGRAPHER: ANNE GALAN @ BDV MANAGEMENT STYLING: ANDREA LOPEZ @ BDV MANAGEMENT
FASHION TRENDS
WHAT ARE THE ESSENTIALS EVERY MAN SHOULD HAVE IN HIS WARDROBE THIS SPRING? HERE IS A SUMMARY OF THE “WHO IS WHO” THIS SEASON: >>
BY BDV MANAGEMENT - BARCELONA
Polo Shirt: Coss, Trousers: Carolina Herrera, Socks: Coss, Shoes: Fred Perry, Cap: Stussy
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“BOLD PRINTS ARE BACK IN THE FORM OF FLORAL AND GRAPHIC PATTERNS”. >>
BRIGHT COLOURS Summer calls for bright colours, and spring/summer 2013 will see vibrant secondary hues: orange, purple, turquoise and pink. We can use them in a monochrome look or just combined with natural colours. WHITE As we have seen on the catwalk, white is taking more and more power, either in monochrome looks or used in combination with the ever-present and elegant black. METALLIC Last season we saw hints of the metallic trend on the catwalks, but this year it was out in full force. Designers showcased it through tailoring in the form of trouser suits - an option that is gaining more followers. PRINTS Summer begs for prints: they’re bright and fun. Bold and colourful prints are back in the form of floral and graphic patterns. DENIM Denim is always the material of the season. It was on every catwalk in a variety of washes and cuts. T-SHIRTS AND POLO SHIRTS: T-shirts, made from linen or cotton, are basic and natural items of clothing and are a welcome return to basics. Polo shirts are both classic and fifties inspired and show a casual but at the same time always chic and elegant man. TROUSERS The SS13 trousers clearly have two definite silhouettes: the carrotshape leg and high waist, for that comfortable and casual look that freshens up the summer heat, and the well known slim-fit trousers for night suits. SHORTS When we talk about summer, we talk about shorts. They are being worn under suits, to make a new smart look, and come in all shapes and sizes.
T-Shirt: Stussy, Jeans: Levi’s Bracelet: Vintage Tocado on Head: Visori fashionart for Selim de Somavilla
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SHOES Sneakers and lace-up shoes are always part of a man’s wardrobe but we have to say that sandals are back. From modern gladiators to fishermen’s sandals, they are the ‘must-have’ accessory for SS13.
Belt: El Colmillo de Morsa, Shoes: Natalio Martin for Selim de Somavilla 4. T-shirt: El Colmillo de Morsa, Trousers: Diesel, Shoes: Zara, Bag: El Colmillo de Morsa.
1. Pull-over: Calvin Klein, Belt: El Colmillo de Morsa, Trousers: El Colmillo de Morsa, Shoes: Gant, Bag: Mus&Roew. 2. Jacket & Trousers (suit): Selim de Somavilla, Shirt: Hugo Boss, Bowtie: Carolina Herrera, Belt: El Colmillo de Morsa, Shoes: Adidas 3. Shirt: Selim de Somavilla, Trousers: Selim de Somavilla,
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ART AND ARCHITECTURE
VAMP ASKS CHRIS BRIFFA ABOUT HIS RELATIONSHIP WITH VALLETTA, HIS PROCESS OF DESIGN AND APPRECIATION FOR ART Why did you choose a derelict house of character rather than a new building for your new studio? I feel that a big part of my upbringing, and pretty much most of my day-to-day work, has evolved around old buildings. I grew up in a house of character in Birgu, and as a child I played and ran around the narrow, stepped streets. When I moved out of my parents’ house I lived in a couple of ‘suburban’ Maltese towns and big cities overseas, but I soon found myself settling in Valletta. I don’t think there is any other place in Malta where I see myself living and working, at least for the time being. Why did you choose to work in Valletta? What future do you see for Valletta? I believe that Valletta will soon become one of the top urban areas on the island and, indeed, a most unique and great city to live in by any international standards. Yes, there are social problems that need to be addressed, and perhaps other issues such as parking and accessibility, but in the end I am convinced about its comeback, and its steady appreciation in terms of real estate. I also feel that forming a positive part of this energy will undoubtedly lead to clients sharing similar visions. The challenging projects with which we are entrusted today will play a big part in the city’s regeneration, and every modest act of restoration will have its own domino effect. This is reflected by the fact that we chose one of the most derelict (although very accessible) parts of lower Valletta for our studio and we cannot wait to see Fort St Elmo come back to life!
ART AT WORK Your office building has some very interesting design features: retro bathroom tiles vs traditional floor tiles / smooth plastered walls vs old walls... How would you describe your style & decisions when it came to designing the office? And is there a set design process for old buildings? I don’t think that our designs reflect any style in particular. We respect and restore the old, but with a contemporary approach. Our style is definitely not ‘modern’, although at times it can be minimal and perhaps a little retro, with
experimental textures and materials. In general, I think that our projects end up looking quite timeless, with a great deal of attention to detail and a balanced sense of natural materials. My staff is like my family, and the building was pretty much designed like my childhood home: a big house on many floors with different functions on each one. There is only one floor with computers, and the best part of the building is the shared recreational areas on the top floor. >> THAILAND ISSUE
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ART AND ARCHITECTURE
“DRAWINGS, PAINTINGS AND CONSTRUCTION ALLOW US TO WORK IN A TERRITORY FREE OF THE CONSTRAINTS OF ARCHITECTURE”. Does that process change when designing for a client? A lot of clients typically walk into my studio knowing what they want. Whatever the case may be, they all come with their own stories, and my job is to listen to those stories and reinterpret them in a functional and beautiful way. There is no set process, and I do not believe in designing everything from the start and then simply executing all the shop drawings. Design is a process that starts at the first meeting and ends on the day we effect the handover.
Architecture is located somewhere between art and function. There is no architecture without emotion, and there is no shaping of one’s daily life without a functional programme. Drawings, paintings and construction allow us to work in a territory free of the constraints of architecture. I think it was Kafka who said that being able to see beauty is one way of never growing old. 030
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The five-story studio building also doubles up as an art gallery curated by Lily Agius Gallery (LAG). This is a new approach to an art and design gallery that we have decided to offer and develop with time, and as an extension of LAG.
interiors, and in some cases the clients are art collectors themselves. I don’t think a home can be called a home without art, and in a working environment, art can have some very interesting effects. At home we have a striking painting of two fighting dogs about to tear each other apart. I’m not sure if it is there to scare intruders or to simply remind us that sometimes life is a fierce fight for survival. V
How do you choose the art to fit your office or home? The art at home is constantly changing - sometimes paintings go on the floor or on a piece of furniture for months, and at other times my girlfriend and I run around making new holes in the walls.
Chimaera, drawing, by Julien Vinet
Your home and office is filled with art. How do you feel about art the art-scene in Malta?
The contemporary art scene in Malta is going through a very strong revival, and in the near future I think it will also become a very valuable cultural and economic asset.
... and is artwork part of the interior design plan, or final decision, when designing a home for a client? For clients, some areas are specifically designed for artwork at an early stage while others somehow develop into that. In general, we normally suggest which artists or artwork to use for our clients’
For an appointment to view the art at Chris Briffa Architects you can call 9929 2488 or email info@lilyagiusgallery.com Exhibition supported by Paul Anthony Bonnici Ltd
DESIGNS FOR LIFE
OFF THE HOOK! FROM FUNCTIONAL ‘BEATLES’ INSPIRED TEA INFUSERS TO CRAZY COCKOO CLOCKS. HERE ARE FIVE SMART GADGETS WHICH STOOD OUT THIS MONTH.
SPRING IN YOUR STEP The adidas miCoach Pacer Bundle will revolutionise your run. miCoach takes the guesswork out of interval training by using the heart rate monitor to simplify the science of running so you can reach your goal and see results. With 98% accuracy, the stride sensor tracks your pace, distance and stride rate and relays each back to you through real-time audible coaching. Push on it at any time to hear real-time audible reports on pace, distance, time, heart rate and calories burned.
CUCKOO CLOCK POP Graffiti artist Stefan Strumbel has moved on from street art to design stunning objects of folk art that refer to the clichéd notions of home, folklore and popular piety. Strumbel exaggerates these objects of popular cult and culture with elements of urban art and pop art. By doing so, he puts these objects into a new, partly provocative context. Significant elements of the cuckoo clock, such as traditionally carved ornaments are replaced by aggressive motives which refer to violence, love and death.
CRAZY FLAVOUR Preparing a cup of perfectly steeped tea is always within reach when you’ve got these high-tech companions in your kitchen! These radiant tea infusers now make infusing loose tea as easy as using a tea bag. Designed by Ori Saidi and Dani Gassner.
THE HYBRID BACK PACK London-based designer Nicomede Talavera has teamed up with Eastpak once again for a second release of limited edition bags and accessories. His latest collection includes a minimal and stylish series of reconstructed hybrid packs, backpacks, duffle bags and a wallet with straps accompanied by oversized silver holographic leather zipper charms.
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STONE SHADES After the success of their handcrafted hardwood eyewear, Schwood is now releasing a limited run of 200 pairs of their most innovative sunglasses to-date. Behold the Stone Collection, a culmination of slate, premium birch wood and hand-poured pewter inlays to complete the look, striking the perfect balance between rugged and refined. Each pair comes packaged with a custom felt pouch with embroidered leather patch.
DIESEL STORE: Merchants Street, Valletta St. Anneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Square, Sliema
Tel: 2258 4434 diesel.com
THAT FAMILIAR FEELING.
I
t’s 2pm, you get an email, your colleague across the room asks you where the stapler is. A notification pops on to your screen, and the grey desk sits underneath the burden of old printouts you have yet to go through. And it still feels as if you’ve seen it all before.
(Saint) Augustine of Hippo wrote a strong rebuttal of this theory. Writing in On the Trinity, he says it could be the case that these instances (not yet called déjà vu) were “untrue recollections”, the kind of false memories we have when we are asleep. The other possibility he mentions is that people experiencing déjà vu might be “affected in this way at the suggestion
Whatever your language, you’ll think: “I’ve already seen this” and if you speak French, two words pop up: “déjà vu”. Because things sound better in French, these two words have been adopted (this is true, but they still appear in italics in the dictionary) to describe that familiar feeling one gets when experiencing a situation that seems to be identical to one that has happened before. This uncanny, somewhat disconcerting, occurrence has attracted much by way of interpretation through the ages, and was (and perhaps is) often seen as a manifestation of the realm of the supernatural, or a window into the true nature of things; a glitch in the matrix, an accidental loop in the algorithm that our life may as well be. Ovid, the Roman poet, considered instances of déjà vu as evidence of reincarnation and the eternity of the soul that flits from body to body, carrying its memories as it did so. In his case, the evidence for this was that he saw the shield that he had carried in battle in a previous life. Aware of the influence this interpretation of such a common occurrence could have on fundamental theological beliefs, the philosopher and Father of the Church
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phenomenon is given in Charles Dickens’s Oliver Twist, when he writes of “some experience of a feeling, that comes over us occasionally, of what we are saying and doing having been said and done before in a remote time – of our having been surrounded, dim ages ago, by the same faces, objects, and circumstances – of our knowing perfectly what will be said next, as if we suddenly remembered it”. As fertile a field as it is for writers and theologians, it was finally time for science to try and come up with an explanation of these “precognitions”. The first recorded attempt at explaining away this slippery client was detailed in a book by Sir Arthur L. Wigan, who, sleep-deprived and famished, was very near fainting after standing for four hours during the funeral of Princess Charlotte. He recalls he “felt not merely an impression, but a conviction, that [he] had seen the whole scene before on some former occasion, and had heard even the very words addressed to [himself] by Sir George Naylor”. His conjecture was that déjà vu only occurred when the subject was tired, and one of the brain’s hemispheres did not function properly. His ideas, however, were not widely accepted, although further studies did point towards a correlation between déjà vu and tiredness. Sigmund Freud, the father of psychoanalysis, saw déjà vu as a link between the conscious and unconscious: a spontaneous reminder of an unconscious fantasy which, in turn, gives us the impression that we have seen it before.
of malignant and deceitful spirits, whose care it is to confirm or to sow some false belief concerning the changes of souls, in order to deceive men”. The idea of external influences was also found in the work of F.W.H. Myers, a founding member of the British Society for Psychical Research. In his booklength article entitled The Subliminal Mind, he ascribed what he called “precognitions” to the “reasoned foresight of disembodied spirits”, and what he called “retrocognitions” to their “surviving memories”. Whatever the case, the idea of déjà vu continued to intrigue writers. Perhaps the most famous description of the
Indeed, one of the latest psychological studies suggests that visual stimuli play a very important role in the déjà vu experience. A study led by psychologist Anne Cleary at the University of Colorado found that test subjects were most likely to experience déjà vu when the scenes they were shown were similar in terms of their spatial layout, but not similar enough for the resemblance to be consciously identified. There is a lot yet to be discovered about what causes déjà vu. The next study that comes out is unlikely to be able to explain the phenomenon in its entirety – and it won’t be the first time that’s happened, either! V
THAT FAMILIAR FEELING
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AK01 is a new, modern house located on Yen Akat Road in Bangkok and is specifically designed for a small modern family, to get away from the big and hectic metropolis. YAK01 is composed of 560 sq.m of private land and 500 sq.m of usable internal space. Even though the usable space of the land is limited, the client still wanted a large area of greenery to enjoy, as well as a modern house with shade from the sun and protection from the rain. After numerous hours of design planning
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and meetings, the architect proposed cantilevering almost half the house over the ground floor area. This would offer more space in the garden while complying with the regulations. The house is designed in an L-shape to maximise the usable space and green area and one wall is next to an adjacent plot of land to make the most of the green space. The bathrooms, service areas, storage areas and staircases are located on the southern aspect as buffer zones to absorb the heat and provide more privacy for the main private space.>>
YAK01: BANGKOK
Project name: YAK01 Year: 2011-2013 Architect: Ayutt Mahasom Interior Designer: Ayutt Mahasom Landscape Designer: Ayutt Mahasom Client: Rawin and Supamas Boonyanusasna Site area: 560 sq.m. Construction area: 500 sq.m. Location: Yen Akat Road, Bangkok, Thailand Photographer: Piyawut Srisakul Website: http://aadprojects.wordpress.com Designerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s email: projects.progress@gmail.com
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“THE ARCHITECT’S MAIN CONCERN WAS TO KEEP THE BUILDING COOL DURING THE DAY AND PROVIDE CROSS-VENTILATION FROM FACING WINDOWS IN EVERY ROOM”. 038
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YAK01: BANGKOK
Most of the glass walls are in the northfacing part of the house to make the most of the natural sunlight, since the northern sunlight is the least intense in Thailand. In addition, 50 per cent of the land is an open space for gardens that can be seen from every part of the house. The swimming pool is positioned alongside the house to draw cool air into it. The architectâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s main concern was to keep the building cool during the day and provide cross-ventilation from facing windows in every room.
The layout not only satisfies the clientâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s requirements, but also provides remove natural ventilation and a generous outdoor area compared with that of a small plot with similar surrounding properties. The ground floor is designed as a typical Thai house with a central courtyard that functions as a feature before accessing the main living space. A staircase enclosed in glass gives the impression of floating over the underlying front garden
to provide a main feature of the entrance. The main living space is located in the centre as a floating pavilion where the family can enjoy the garden and swimming pool. This connects directly with the terrace, garden and swimming pool with double-height folding windows that facilitate the fusion of spaces. The provision of a swimming pool at the back of the house produces an adaptable space that can be used for a variety of purposes. >>
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YAK01: BANGKOK
The master bedroom upstairs is entirely cantilevered over the entire length of the front foyer. It is designed in a cubic shape to create a feature architectural element. This not only enhances the aesthetic element but also shades the house in the same way as a traditional Thai house. To give a modern feel to the house, the architect used customised silver aluminium extrusion strips vertically on the wall of the master bedroom and master bathroom that make the house look like a silver box floating on a black granite sheet. These aluminium strips are also designed to provide air buffer insulation to cool the main bedroom space. The other two bedrooms are located on another side of the house on a cantilevered concrete slab extending over the swimming pool that is enclosed by a large glass wall with black composite aluminium cladding. This clever design at play not only manages to merge its outdoors with its interiors, but effectively turns the inner volumes themselves into gravity-defying courtyards. V
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PHOTOGRAPHER: KARL CUTAJAR STYLIST: KIRA DRURY MODEL: KSENIA @MODELS.COM.MT HAIR: CLINTON CHETCUTI AT VIGOROUS MAKE-UP: TAMARA BURR
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PE CE TRI NGLE OF
BY RICH RD ENGL ND
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TRIANGLE OF PEACE
– TEILHARD DE CHARDIN
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ver since his earliest existence, man has felt that, in relation to the vastness of the cosmos and immensity of the divine, he plays but a small diminutive part. In order to come to terms with these forces beyond human recognition, man has directed prayer and made offerings to his gods or pantheon of gods, depending on his creed and belief in the different periods of history. It is a truism to say that the greatest architectural works of all civilisations have been accomplished in buildings of worship, reflecting man’s respect and homage towards the divine. It was Nietzsche who said: “If man never built houses for gods, architecture would have remained in its infancy”. In building for his gods, man attempts to leave a permanent sign of reverence beyond his own limited time, as if to fix spatio-temporal coordinates over his earthly passage. The prayer spaces of today, if they are to be valid and reach out to the community, must be conceived in relation to a contemporary comprehension of their respective creeds and faiths. While these must still function as arenas of prayer, they must also be meaningful to contemporary beliefs and understanding. The prayer spaces of the third millennium must read as places of welcome and convocation; spaces of convergence and dialogue, with their main objective remaining that of re-energising a sense of gathering and community while ensuring that members of the congregation remain active participants. Ultimately, contemporary prayer spaces must be seen as loci where sacred time and sacred space are brought together to evoke the ritual of an eternal presence. The essential foundations on which religions and beliefs are founded must remain the same, but their historical reality and concrete contemporality must change in order to keep pace with today’s ever-evolving world. Despite the fact that the past century has provided great and significant strides
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in the field of science, technology and communication, to this day man still knows least about what matters most. The problem of the contemporary concept of sacredness and of bringing the divine into the third millennium becomes even more complex in today’s secular and profane society. There is little doubt that, today, humanity is facing not only an ecological crisis but a far more intense spiritual one. What might well be the fundamental key for survival is a spiritual reawakening more perhaps than any scientific or technological progress. As science continues to advance, it may well be that, in the future, it will answer all questions relating to man’s existence of how, when and where. The why, however, will always remain essentially the realm of faith. Hence, it remains an essential necessity for man to continue to measure himself against the immeasurable and create sacred spaces conducive to meditative prayer in order to obtain a contemporary version of that rarefied quality which Mircea Eliade so adequately termed “hierophany”. In today’s fast, chaotic, contemporary life, man has, unfortunately, diminished the vast ocean of knowledge and wisdom of all religions – particularly those of the three monotheistic faiths – into a meagre pond of ignorance, in the process forgetting that the word “religion” stems from the Latin word relegare meaning to bind and Alex Munthe’s words that “the soul needs more space than the body”. Conflicts in the name of God are still rife, although the three monotheistic beliefs share a common origin as offspring of Abrahamic faith, with the conflicting differences being perhaps simply misreadings of the same holy books. It is difficult to understand how still, to this day, man seeks peace through war, for no religion ever preaches hate. Order can never be obtained through disorder and peace can only be attained through unification. With the passage of the last century, the bloodiest in all of mankind’s history, it is unfortunate that the start of the present century has produced little change. The world today is both spiritually and morally bankrupt and man is fast losing both
his physical and his spiritual heritage. Therefore, it is now vital for man to search for a new spiritual ecology, as the fundamental key for the survival of species and planet. In religions, two wars still rage: a theological battle between believers and non-believers and an even more devastating conflict between believers themselves – all ironically lifting their disparate voices to the same God. The greater part of contemporary world problems actually stems from a misconceived creed of difference which preaches “if your belief differs from mine, you are wrong, and you must be corrected and taught”, a theme so ably tackled by Jonathan Sacks in his book The Dignity of Difference. Difference must not be approached by attempts to convert or conquer, nor must it ever be translated into diffidence. My proposed Triangle of Peace project attempts to achieve a triptych of religious unity. The project envisages the construction of a triad of sacred spaces dedicated to the three monotheistic faiths: a bridge of reconciliation of these beliefs in the hope of possible future unification. The project proposes the construction of an equilateral triangular platform, the apexes of which will house a Christian chapel, a mosque and a synagogue. The location (still to be chosen) will either be on a small piece of land on Malta or Gozo or, alternatively, on a floating platform on the coastline of either of the two islands. The Maltese Islands, as the umbilical centre of the Middle Sea, remain the ideal reconciliatory arena for the three faiths which, for too long, have been involved in heated disputes in this area. Each of the prayer spaces will be accessible through a walk-way with entrance to three of the shrines through a symbolic embracing passageway between the other two. In this manner, reverence is paid by the practitioner of that particular faith to the others. A water threshold (if the project is located on land) or the sea itself (if the floating platform solution is opted for) provides a threshold of ablution. The aquatic cleansing passage also functions as a meditative preparation arena bridging secular and sacred spaces.>>
TRIANGLE OF PEACE
The Triangle of Peace aims to collate the prayers of the three different faiths incarnate with the ultimate aim of a pacific unification. The location of this proposal echoes the ancient role of the Maltese Islands in the Neolithic period, when it is thought that the island may have functioned as a sanctuary of peace or as a sacred island for the Mediterranean basin. Out of the dark caverns of hostility,
the Triangle of Peace will rise as the light of three candles merging their luminance into a candelabrum of peace, as if to echo the ancient words of wisdom that “no man …can be apart. We are all brothers after all”. This proposed mandala of peace, this miniature oasis of reconciliation – paving the road towards a renewed spiritual
awakening – is conceived as shared communal religious spaces of veneration and sanctity: an altar of truce for our turbulent era to unify man’s sacred beliefs. The proposal embodies the essence of prayer spaces of all ages overlaid with the spirit of a new beginning. The walls of this hallowed space will resonate as psalms of unification and paeans of peace. V THAILAND ISSUE
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HO T IS VERY SEXY. EVEN IN THE SCORCHING TEMPERATURES OF CHIANG MAI, THAIS WILL EAT HOT AND SPICY FOOD TO THEIR HEARTS’ CONTENT. WHY SHOULDN’T WE? HERE ARE TWO POPULAR THAI SOUPS TO TRY AT HOME, FROM THE BAAN THAI COOKING SCHOOL. LET’S GET COOKING! ... LILY AGIUS >> 054
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hai cooking is a fast and fresh approach to eating and can be a healthy choice of food. With a little practice you will find Thai recipes easy and fun, as well as satisfying, with a selection to please all tastes. I visited a cooking school in Chiang Mai for a full day with other foreigners, where we could all share the food we cooked together, including soups, curries, stir-fries and desserts. The cooking experience has continued at home in Malta and I hope that you too are inspired to bring Thailand to your kitchen. It makes for a great dinner party and a hearty meal on any day of the week.
HOT AND SOUR PRAWN SOUP (TOM-YUM-KUNG) Serves 1 Ingredients: 75g 30g 2 3 1 1-2 3 1 2 3 tbs 3 tbs 1 tsp 1 tsp 1
prawn or chicken or sea food straw mushrooms (can use local) cups water fresh or dried chillies medium onion, quartered tomatoes, quartered lime leaves* stalk lemongrass, sliced diagonally slices ginger* lime juice fish sauce sugar roasted chilli paste for tom-yum coriander, finely chopped spring onion, finely sliced
Method: 1. Place water in pan over high heat 2. Add lime leaves, ginger and lemongrass 3. When boiling, add prawns, chicken or seafood 4. Add straw mushrooms, onion, and tomato 5. Add lime juice, fish sauce /soy sauce, sugar, chillies and chilli paste for tom-yum 6. When cooked pour into a serving bowl and top with coriander and spring onion. Tips: Coconut milk or fresh milk can be added for more flavour. *Thai kaffir lime leaves and galangal ginger have a particularly strong smell and taste and add a unique flavour to the dish. If you can get your hands on some of these special ingredients, use them for a much more authentic result. * This is the hottest soup from Thailand. Reduce the chillies according to taste. >>
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CHICKEN IN COCONUT MILK (TOM-KAA-GAI) Serves 1 Ingredients: 75g 30g 2 3 1 1-2 3 1 2 3 tbs 1 tsp 1
chicken/sea food straw mushroom cups coconut milk fresh or dried chillies large onion, cut into quarters tomatoes lime leaves* stalk lemongrass, sliced diagonally slices of ginger, slices* fish sauce sugar coriander, finely chopped spring onion, finely sliced
Method: 1. Place the coconut milk in pan over a low heat 2. Add lemongrass, ginger & lime leaves 3. Add chicken/seafood and leave until cooked 4. Add onion, tomato/es and mushrooms 5. Add fish sauce, sugar and lime juice to taste 6. Pour into bowl and serve, topped with chopped coriander, spring onion and chillies Tips: Fresh milk can be substitituted for half the coconut milk, if desired. When using seafood, add sweet basil (about 7 leaves) when serving. V
To cook this recipe for more than one person multiply the ingredients accordingly.
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THE CHIANG MAI HIDEAWAY
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lex Putnam is a 30-yearold from England. He is a tour operator and a travel consultant who provides tailor-made holidays. After many years of travelling in the region, Alex finally settled in Chiang Mai in 2008. He and his wife, Oppy, live in the trendy “West End” of Chiang Mai city, otherwise known as Nimmanhaemin Road. How did you discover Thailand and Chiang Mai? Thailand was planned as a stop-off onroute to Australia for my gap year in 2001. Going “down-under” was all the rage back then – although now it seems that
Southeast Asia is the new destination! For a young man who grew up in England’s rural Somerset, arriving in Bangkok came as quite a surprise. The overwhelming heat, vivid colours, exotic faces and food were all new and intriguing to me. It was a feeling of having gone travelling and getting away from all that I knew. No more scrumpy cider and Sunday lunches: I was out of my comfort zone and I loved it! From Bangkok I caught the overnight sleeper train to Chiang Mai and arrived just in time for the Loy Krathong Festival, a magical event that happens every November and involves the releasing of floating krathongs into the many rivers
TRAVEL: CHIANG MAI
ALEX AND OPPY PUTNAM HOST GUESTS FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD, OFFERING THE EXPERIENCE OF A LIFETIME AT THE TREE HOUSE HIDEAWAY IN CHIANG MAI, HIGH UP IN THE MOUNTAINS NESTLED ABOVE A FASTFLOWING RIVER. AFTER HAVING EXPERIENCED THIS MAGICAL PLACE FOR MYSELF IN FEBRUARY, I LEFT WANTING TO KNOW MORE ABOUT THE PLACE ITSELF, OUR HOSTS AND THE VILLAGERS WHO MADE OUR STAY SO SPECIAL. THIS IS WHAT ALEX HAD TO SAY. BY LILY AGIUS
and waterways of the Thai kingdom to honour a water goddess and celebrate the end of the rainy season.It is a spectacle that involves lots of fireworks – I’ll never forget driving across the famous Narrawhat bridge on the back of a motorbike and being fired at with selfpropelled rockets! The celebrations have calmed down a lot since then. Although I had planned to only spend a week in Chiang Mai and the North, its cultural and laid back lifestyle (which it still retains to this day) meant that I ended up extending my trip for nearly two more months. I did eventually make it to Australia, but not before making a pact with myself to return to Thailand. >> THAILAND ISSUE
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TRAVEL: CHIANG MAI
in basic hospitality skills, so that they can make a stay at the Tree House a comfortable and memorable experience. The Tree House is a place where you can experience a traditional mountain lifestyle and also explore some beautiful mountain landscapes. There are various trekking routes available from medium to difficult, all involving a stop at a local waterfall. Of course, staying in the Tree House is one of the highlights of the trip, but we do encourage guests to get out and about in the local area and engage with the local people: the local village tavern is a popular place to visit. The Englishspeaking hosts go out of their way to make a stay at the Tree House Hideaway as relaxing and enjoyable as possible, but don’t just take our word for it, check out our 5-star reviews on OrientXplorer.com What advice would you give anyone wanting to move to Thailand? Do you ever miss England? And do you ever go back? Family and old friends are what I miss the most, as well as the surreal British humour and – believe it or not – the BBC! I try and go back every year: my last trip was last June. Oppy and I had our wedding party the theme of which was ‘Mad Hatters’. It was a great night of live music and dancing – believe it or not, the British really know how to party! You and Oppy have been together for five years and were married recently. Do you ever feel as if you are being scrutinised by people who do not know you as ‘another European marrying a Thai’? I would be lying to you if I said that we had not experienced such prejudices. However, we tend to break the norm when it comes to such stereotypes: we think less about our racial identity and more about our global identity as citizens of the world. Between us we have worked and travelled in over 20 different countries. When people meet us for the first time, any presumption or stigma about our relationship soon fades away as they realise what a wonderful and fulfilling life we lead together. How did you discover the Tree House? We discovered the Tree House in May 2010, via a good Thai friend who happened 060
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to be helping with the design and construction of the place. Prior to the building of the Tree House, Lung Sook had welcomed people into his home and accommodation was provided in smallscale shacks on the side of the mountain. The Tree House was a creative extension of this concept – allowing guests to experience the villager’s unique mountain lifestyle and explore the surrounding mountain landscape, whilst staying in your very own spacious Tree House, complete with western-style toilets and a minibar! What started out as a simple idea to help bring guests to the Tree House has slowly built up to become a successful business, also for the Tree House family – in the high season November to April we are pretty much busy every day with guests. Word is spreading about the unique and excellent tours to the Tree House Hideaway and we hope to welcome many more people in the future.
Like all adventures, living in Thailand will open your eyes to a new way of life. Embrace it, and enjoy the diversity it can offer. And most importantly try to learn the language even if it is just a few sentences. Thais really appreciate it when you try to speak their mother tongue. V
What do guests expect to see and experience at the Tree House? The Tree House is constantly evolving. It now has a hardwood terrace floor (before it was just bamboo) – perfect for yoga sessions and retreats. The season is now slowing down so this is the time to upgrade all the bedrooms with new sheets and mosquito nets, and repair the thatched roof before the arrival of the monsoon rains! In terms of service we are continually training the local family
Baan Thai Apartments, 34 Nimmanhaemin Rd, Chiang Mai, 50200.
Merchants Street, Valletta St. Anneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Square, Sliema
DIESEL STORE: Tel: 2258 4434 diesel.com
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