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Excitement is in the air as Toronto’s Bathurst Street stands on the cusp of a long-term revitalization plan. An elegant boutique hotel and luxury residence project led by Lanterra Developments is fuelling the buzz, alongside city-led proposals to transform the Glen Park neighbourhood. At the intersection of Bathurst and Glencairn, Glenhill Condominiums will merge seamlessly with the Glenhill Hotel in a magnificent nine-storey building offering incomparable services and amenities.

A perfect addition to the community

Residents and visitors alike will be accommodated in 127 residential units and 23 hotel suites in the up‑and‑coming area, which is already home to community services and well-loved restaurants. The Glenhill project shares a 260-foot border with the adjacent park on the west side and will house 1,020 m2 of ground-floor retail and commercial space.

 

“Glenhill Hotel will mark the first hotel in the area as the Glen Park neighbourhood becomes an increasingly desirable destination. Integrated with one of our most elegant and luxurious condominium projects yet, this will be a perfect addition to the community,” says Mark Mandelbaum, Chairman of Lanterra Developments.

 

 

“Glenhill Hotel will mark the first hotel in the area as the Glen Park neighbourhood becomes an increasingly desirable destination. Integrated with one of our most elegant and luxurious condominium projects yet, this will be a perfect addition to the community.”

– Mark Mandelbaum, Chairman of Lanterra Developments

Thoughtful spaces, impeccable design

Lanterra Developments entrusted the design of the Glenhill Hotel and Condominiums to two local firms. IBI Group is behind the project’s iconic structure, featuring a green roof and cascade of upper-floor balconies. The Porte Cochère Entrance and Glencairn Residential Entrance in the precut framed base each lead to their own grand lobby, welcoming hotel guests and residents into its quietly sophisticated fold. Lavish touches by Studio Munge dress the interiors with impressive natural stone columns and custom-cut marble floors.

 

 

The generously fenestrated building offers two- and three-bedroom residential suites, ranging from 1,000 to over 5,000 sq. ft., and hotel suites of 500 to 1,000 sq. ft., with ceilings of up to 10 ft. Buyers can adapt their spaces to their lifestyle by choosing custom finishes, including a soaker tub or glass panel shower, perfect for luxuriating at the end of a long day.

Lavish amenities

In addition to dedicated recreational and functional spaces made available exclusively to either occupants or guests, as well as common areas accessible to all, the Glenhill Hotel and Condominiums provides every conceivable luxury to its patrons. Fitness, relaxation, business, casual gatherings, formal events, and day-to-day living are supported and enhanced by luxury facilities and a 24-hour concierge. With expertise honed in part by his prior ownership of Toronto’s Thompson Hotel and Le Germain Hotel, hospitality consultant Tony Cohen of Global Edge Investments ensures the hotel experience is unmatched.

 

 

Occupancy and hotel grand opening set for winter 2024

Residential units starting at $1.1 M

Glenhill Amenities

  • 24/7 concierge service
  • Porter service
  • Parcel delivery room
  • Dedicated lobbies for hotel guests and condominium residents
  • Porte Cochère Entrance
  • Glencairn Residential Entrance
  • Meeting rooms
  • Indoor and outdoor lounges
  • Banquet facility
  • Private event space
  • Bar
  • Indoor and outdoor pools
  • Cabanas
  • Hot tub and saunas (dry and steam)
  • Treatment room
  • Fitness room
  • Yoga studio
  • Second-level terrace with landscaped deck
  • Outdoor gazebos and seating areas
  • Outdoor shower and foot bath
  • Stretching area
  • BBQ areas
  • Library
  • Green roof

 

www.glenhill.ca

 

Writer: Jennifer Laoun-Rubenstein

Photos: © Lanterra Developments

In 2020, Chanel celebrated the 20th anniversary of the J12 with the perfectly transparent J12 X-Ray. This year, the J12 Diamond Tourbillon shows once again that even the most cutting-edge watchmaking expertise can be entirely subordinate to aesthetics. Here, a solitaire diamond rotates on a flying tourbillon: pure poetry.

 

In collaboration with Europa Star

 

The Chanel J12 occupies a very special place among the iconic designs of contemporary watchmaking. Since its release in 2000, the masterfully subtle design by Jacques Helleu, Chanel’s artistic director at the time, has demonstrated an astonishing versatility, and the enduring ability to constantly reinvent itself without losing any of its essence.

 

The J12 has not only showcased the unique properties and varying hues of ceramic; over the years it has explored chronographs and aluminium; it has been fitted with an Audemars Piguet mechanical caliber; it has reinvented high jewelry, with a setting of 724 black ceramic baguettes around the dial; it has been transformed into a dive watch on a rubber strap, with a 300 m depth rating and, starting in 2005, has been equipped with a long series of tourbillons.

 

 

The 10th anniversary marked the J12’s debut into the world of haute horlogerie complications, with the J12 Rétrograde Mystérieuse. A duet performed by Chanel Watchmaking Creation Studio, Place Vendôme, and Giulio Papi, proprietor of the Vallée de Joux manufacture Renaud Papi (now owned by Audemars Piguet), this watch incorporates a tourbillon movement, retrograde minute display (to sidestep the obstacle represented by the vertical winding crown inserted into the dial), and an additional magnifying aperture for the interim minutes display. In its perfectly round black ceramic case, this is completely ably the J12. And it provides a virtuosic demonstration of how technical solutions can fulfil a conceptual and aesthetic brief.

 

Since then, Chanel has made multiple incursions into haute horlogerie, systematically developing its own manufacturing capacities to keep pace with its ambitions. In 1993 Chanel acquired the G&F Châtelain manufacture in La Chaux-de-Fonds. That was where the Maison began manufacturing ceramic components. In 2016 Chanel began to build in-house watch movements, and thus became a watch manufacture in its own right.

 

Recently, Chanel has expanded its capabilities even further by taking a stake in the new Kenissi manufacture, alongside Rolex and Tudor. Chanel now has complete mastery of the technical tools and expertise it needs to create exceptional watches, entirely in-house.

It all begins with the Chanel Watchmaking Creation Studio

For Chanel, creativity and style set the tone for technical execution. Technical considerations are entirely linked to the intention of the Studio de Création Horlogère in Paris, under the direction of Arnaud Chastaingt since 2013. Since then, he has designed the Boy.Friend watch, Monsieur Chanel (the maison’s first explicitly masculine watch), the Code Coco and, more recently, the wonderfully original Mademoiselle Privé Bouton collection.

 

As Arnaud Chastaingt states: “Every creator working for Chanel uses a common vocabulary.” Watch after watch, Chanel creates surprise. Sometimes, if necessary, they startle – as we saw with the recent J12 Electro capsule collection.

 

But let’s get back to the J12. Arnaud Chastaingt began by performing what he calls a “surgical operation” on the original design, carefully dissecting the case, dial and bracelet. Gloves most definitely on. “It’s a structural process,” he explains, “It’s often far more complex than creating something from a blank page.” Mission accomplished. The J12 emerged regenerated, with its identity intact.

 

2020 marked the launch of the exceptional J12 X-Ray. Nothing remains of the dial but its essence: the pure geometry of a circle in the center, imprinted with a slender minutes track, and baguette diamonds floating freely above the watch’s open heart to mark the hours. The central movement appears to be suspended in the void, inside its completely transparent sapphire case. Beyond the edge of the bezel set with 46 baguette-cut diamonds, the case merges into a bracelet carved out of translucent sapphire – a major watchmaking first.

 

 

The watch is equipped with the proprietary Caliber 3.1, made in its entirety by the Chanel Manufacture. The movement architecture was dictated by the Studio de Création, which specified that it should appear to be suspended inside the cavity of the watch. It is a magnificent achievement and a superlative example of what is possible when movement architecture is subject to creative constraints.

For Chanel, creativity and style set the tone for technical execution. Technical considerations are entirely linked to the intention of the Studio de Création Horlogère in Paris, under the direction of Arnaud Chastaingt since 2013.

The J12 Diamond Tourbillon

The next step was the J12 Diamond Tourbillon, introduced this year. The genesis of the idea took place, naturally, in Chanel Watchmaking Creation Studio. The concept was to insert the biggest possible diamond inside the watch and make it rotate. The visual effect of this jewel, revolving in place at the rate of a second hand, is hypnotic and utterly breathtaking.

 

In order to achieve this spectacular effect, it was decided to mount a diamond on the cage of a flying tourbillon. The tourbillon in question is the Caliber 5, the fifth haute horlogerie movement to leave the Chanel Manufacture in La Chaux-de-Fonds.

 

 

This was no easy task for the Manufacture’s master watchmakers. Unlike a traditional tourbillon, whose cage is held both at the bottom and at the top, the delicately constructed cage of a flying tourbillon is supported only at the base. But this means that, without the upper bridge, the tourbillon is fully visible.

 

The technical masterstroke here lies in setting a solitaire diamond into a flying tourbillon cage that performs one full rotation every 60 seconds. The balance must be perfectly calculated, because the lighter the cage, the more precise the tourbillon. A special diamond cut was developed with 65 facets, to ensure that the reflections from the diamond set into the cage were perfectly calibrated to the 60-second rotation, generating the stroboscopic effect demanded by the Creation Studio. And it had to fit in a vertical dimension of no more than 6.35 mm.

 

The frame that encircles the cage is also set with 26 brilliant-cut diamonds, creating the impression that the solitaire is flying above a circle of diamonds. The architectural composition of expanding, interlocking rings is further accentuated by the bezel paved with 34 baguette-cut diamonds (or, in the second model, 34 black ceramic baguettes).

 

In the center, slightly raised, the baton hour and minute hands, also set with brilliant-cut diamonds, promenade around a minimalist minutes railroad track, visually separated from the wheels and circles of the black movement below. This interplay of light and contrast magnifies the blaze of white from the diamonds set against the black dial, enclosed in a case of ultra-hard black ceramic that merges into a bracelet made from the same material, fitted with a white gold clasp.

 

 

Looking through the sapphire case back, the Chanel Caliber 5 is inscribed with a beautifully executed lion’s head, Maison’s signature for in-house movements. A close inspection reveals the small details that make all the difference: the rubies are rounded and oversized, focusing attention on their splashes of red. The outer edge of the baseplate appears to be trimmed, a nod to the haute couture aesthetic of the maison. The architectural composition of the movement is a collage of interlocking circles, just like the face of this exceptional watch.

 

The J12 Diamond Tourbillon is presented in two versions: matt black ceramic and steel, with a bezel set with ceramic baguettes, or glossy black ceramic and 18K white gold, with baguette-cut diamond-set bezel. Both are limited to 55 pieces.

 

The J12 Diamond Tourbillon, equipped with Chanel’s first flying tourbillon that has a diamond to enumerate the seconds, marks the beginning of a major new chapter in the Maison’s watchmaking history.

 

www.europastar.com

 

Writer: Pierre Maillard

Art and nature meld perfectly in the Fondation Louis Vuitton, perched like a graceful bird in Paris’ Bois de Boulogne. Dedicated to showcasing and promoting art, the museum designed by Frank Gehry is a masterpiece in and of itself. With a breathtaking permanent collection and temporary exhibitions—plus stunning recitals, performances, and events—the museum preserves modern and contemporary art in all its forms, immersing treasures and visitors alike in its refined beauty. One has only to step through the doors of the dazzling Fondation Louis Vuitton to fall under its spell.

 

© Iwan Baan

Monet–Mitchell: A Thrilling Convergence

In staging an unprecedented conversation between painters Claude Monet and Joan Mitchell, the museum’s two temporary exhibitions reveal the unique, immersive perspectives of both extraordinary artists. “Claude Monet–Joan Mitchell, Dialogue” and “Joan Mitchell, Retrospective” (until February 27, 2023), gather over 100 iconic works spanning multiple floors of the museum—presenting two attuned perspectives of the same scene and Joan Mitchell’s most significant retrospective in 30 years. The result of prestigious partnerships with the Musée Marmottan Monet (“Claude Monet–Joan Mitchell, Dialogue”) and the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art and Baltimore Museum of Art (“Joan Mitchell, Retrospective”), the two exhibitions guide visitors through a captivating landscape, showcasing the remarkable visual and thematic correspondences between Monet’s famous water lilies and Mitchell’s abstract depiction of the lush aquatic plants. Strong, graceful echoes resound between the restoration of Monet’s motifs and their transposition through Mitchell’s memory, highlighting the sensitivity of these two great artists and their masterpieces. Stirring and touching, Monet–Mitchell is nothing less than the meeting of two masters of 20th century art.

 

Joan Mitchell, La Grande Vallée XIV (For a Little While), 1983. Oil on canvas, 280 x 600 cm. Musée national d’art moderne, Centre Pompidou, Paris. © The Estate of Joan Mitchell

Claude Monet, Le jardin à Giverny, 1922-1926. Oil on canvas, 93 x 74 cm. Musée Marmottan Monet, Paris

An immersive, multisensory experience

Beyond its extraordinary temporary exhibitions, the Fondation Louis Vuitton occasions many constant delights and unforgettable memories, from architecture to art, performance to gastronomy. Architect Frank Gehry aimed to “design a magnificent vessel in Paris,” successfully creating an enchanting destination in a bold, innovative setting. With a permanent collection counting more than 100 internationally recognized artists, along with concerts, recitals, dance performances and workshops, the Fondation Louis Vuitton will whet your appetite for beauty—providing the perfect opportunity to dine at Le Frank and taste the marvels of Michelin-starred chef Jean-Louis Nomicos. From morning to evening, Le Frank revisits the classics of French cuisine with a dash of creativity and flavours influenced by the exhibitions, in an atmosphere that only adds to the restaurant’s refined fare. The evening service (by reservation only) is a perfect way to cap off a day of high art.

 

Joan Mitchell, Quatuor II for Betsy Jolas, 1976. Oil on canvas, 279.4 x 680.7 cm. Centre Pompidou, Paris, on loan to the Musée de Grenoble. © The Estate of Joan Mitchell

Claude Monet, Nymphéas, 1916 -1919. Oil on canvas, 200 x 180 cm. Musée Marmottan Monet, Paris.

Claude Monet, Les Agapanthes, 1916-1919. Oil on canvas, 200 x 150 cm. Musée Marmottan Monet, Paris.

A World of Wonders

The Fondation Louis Vuitton has established itself as a Paris landmark. Showings from the Open Space creative program, extraordinary concerts, and other events are constantly being added to their marvel-packed calendar. The Fondation is worth the visit for the location alone. The Bois de Boulogne boasts 28 km of horseback riding trails and 15 km of foot trails, streams, ponds and the Grande Cascade waterfall, and has been delighting Parisians for more than two hundred years. The mirage-like museum is now a must for itineraries through the City of Light.

 

www.fondationlouisvuitton.fr

 

Writer: Alexandra Pastena

Cover photo: © Iwan Baan

Right in the middle of the 1st arrondissement, this five-star hotel has been adding to the gilded glory of Paris for two centuries. The art of living reaches the height of refinement at Le Meurice, perfectly situated across from the Jardin des Tuileries along the iconic arcades of the rue de Rivoli.

 

A veritable Versailles, Le Meurice is among France’s ultra-select Entreprises du Patrimoine Vivant (living heritage companies). Anyone seeking a princely stay in Paris should luxuriate at least once in this elegant Dorchester Collection hotel. Combining sumptuous classicism and ultra-modern comfort, the beauty of Le Meurice is rivaled only by that of the nearby Louvre and the Place de la Concorde. The hotel’s beautiful history is brought to life by the works of art adorning its walls.


Live the legend

Night or day, the 17th century splendour of Le Meurice astounds. Though it’s the hotel’s rich history as much as its unparalleled opulence that makes it outshine other sumptuous establishments. The soul of the hotel’s master builders and the artists who have stayed here continue to inspire. Dalí and Warhol came to Le Meurice to paint, Zola to write Paris, Picasso to get married, and to this today, Ducasse crafts the finest cuisine in the world between its walls. Yet the hotel transmits its glittering heritage discretely, at every affecting detail, meal, and courtesy.

 

Exceptional suites

The luxury hotel’s 160 rooms, spread out over seven floors, are full of precious furnishings and tasteful decor. The suites—classic, superior, deluxe, executive and prestige—are all unique, offering stunning views of the Eiffel Tower, the Jardin des Tuileries and the Paris skyline. No detail has been overlooked: the suites are plush with silky fabrics, decorated with antique engravings, and fragrant with fresh flowers. The signature Belle Etoile Penthouse Suite reigns supreme among these oases of rest and enchantment, with a 250-square-meter terrace offering a 360-degree view of Paris, direct elevator access, dressing room, dining room and kitchen fit for a private chef and maître D.

 

A top gastronomic experience from Alain Ducasse 

With two restaurants, three bars and a pastry shop run by great chefs Alain Ducasse and Cédric Grolet, Le Meurice guarantees you’ll dine divinely during your stay. Passion, creativity and excellence are key to Restaurant Le Meurice’s two Michelin stars. The boundless inventiveness of each menu leads to its own, unique pleasures of French gastronomy. Taste the height of happiness whether you sit down to dine at Le Dalí for local and seasonal cuisine, at Le Meurice Alain Ducasse for quintessence of subtlety and technical finesse or the Pâtisserie Le Meurice to savour the desserts of the best pastry chef in the world. And if ever you’d rather rest in bed, the room service is just as delectable. The hotel’s sommeliers, mixologists, maître Ds and fine crews promise an invariably impeccable experience. The afternoon tea is a must, whether you opt for a classic cuppa as a pick-me-up or a glass of champagne.

 

Prized by lovers of luxury the world over, Le Meurice is a stand-out establishment. Treating yourself to a one night’s stay ensures a lifetime of priceless memories.

At a glance

  • Perfect location opposite the Jardin de Tuileries, a stone’s throw from the Louvre and Place de la Concorde
  • 160 unique rooms
  • Two restaurants (including the Michelin-starred Le Meurice), three bars and a pastry shop
  • Salons and banquet rooms fit for the wedding or event of your dreams
  • Beauty spa with exclusive Maison Valmont anti-aging treatments
  • Exceptional concierge and room service

 

 

www.dorchestercollection.com

 

Writer: Alexandra Pastena

The Musée d’art contemporain de Montréal (MAC) brilliantly attests to the enduring importance of contemporary art in our society, boasting a collection of over 8,000 works of art from all over the globe. The first institution in Canada to be entirely devoted to contemporary art, the MAC has been a must-see for aesthetes of their own era for over fifty years now.  

 

Decade after decade, the MAC has been driven by a mission to support, promote and conserve contemporary local and international art. The site of unexpected and moving experiences, the museum showcases today’s art of all forms through the work of over 1,800 artists. It’s the best place in Montreal to understand the world through the most creative perspectives of our era.

Major exhibitions and works

There’s always something fabulous to not just see, but also do and learn at the MAC. Beyond their stunning temporary exhibitions and rich permanent collection, the museum hosts creative workshops for people of all ages and opportunities to meet emerging and renowned artists.

 

Leonard Cohen – A Crack in Everything

Until February 2024, Leonard Cohen devotees can enjoy the virtual exhibition A Crack in Everything (available in Canada only). The online-only exhibition lets you to take in the MAC’s visually and sonically immersive experience of the same name from 2017, even if you missed it the first time. The addition of fifty-some works from the MAC’s permanent collection explores Cohen’s ties to contemporary art and offers plenty new to view as you delve into Cohen’s universal themes.

 

Leonard Cohen © Lorca Cohen

Nelson Henricks – New Works

Montreal artist Nelson Henricks presents two new works made specifically for this not-to-be-missed exhibition, which runs until April 2023. Heads Will Roll is a four-channel video installation, while Don’t You Like the Green of A? offers a surrealist interpretation of abstract painter Joan Mitchell’s beloved works.

 

Nelson Henricks, Heads Will Roll (drum)

Andy Warhol – Screen Tests

As part of his New Works exhibition, Nelson Henricks has carefully curated a program of 15 of Warhol’s Screen Tests, produced between 1964 and 1966. The selection brings the two artists’ work into conversation, revealing not just their avant-garde visions, but also the notions of queerness and community echoing between their practices.

 

Andy Warhol, Donyale Luna [ST195], 1965. 16mm film, black-and-white, silent, 4.5 minutes at 16 frames per second. © The Andy Warhol Museum, Pittsburgh, PA, a museum of Carnegie Institute. All rights reserved. Courtesy The Andy Warhol Museum

The Fondation du Mac raises more $1 million with its annual ball

More than 950 public figures walked the red carpet for the 2022 MAC Ball. After a two-year hiatus, the event raised a record-breaking million dollars. The funds will be used to promote contemporary Quebecois, Canadian and international art, enrich the museum’s collection and produce exceptional exhibitions and educational programs.

 

This year’s theme, Idylle, brought together the crème de la crème of artists and businesspeople to celebrate contemporary art in the remarkable Salada Market at the Royalmount. Beyond the divine meal and cocktails, guests were treated to immersive experiences and could participate in a silent auction featuring works by such greats as Marc Séguin, Caroline Monnet, Kim Dorland and Janet Werner.

 

Keeping it contemporary

In line with its mission, the cutting-edge museum is undergoing its own transformation in the heart of the Quartier des Spectacles. Until the renovations are completed in 2025, you can find it just a few steps away at Place Ville-Marie. Its temporary location promises new programming for art lovers, surrounded by Montreal’s best shopping and fine dining.

 

www.macm.org

 

Writer: Alexandra Pastena

When something extraordinary happens, there’s nothing like opening the cellar doors and celebrating in style. In collaboration with the SAQ, this is the occasion to joyfully taste, celebrate and share the best. This is the pinnacle of the art of wine.

 

In collaboration with: SAQ

White Wine

 

 

La Chablisienne Château Grenouilles Chablis Grand Cru 2018

France, Bourgogne, 750 ml

SAQ CODE: 14921265

PRICE: $120.00

Limpid and brilliant, this Chardonnay offers floral, lightly oaked notes. The texture has great finesse, the nose is sustained. Delicate and sophisticated in the mouth, with aera-tion, it becomes more intense, cloaked in mineral freshness and a superb aromatic after-taste.

 

 

 

 

Domaine de Montille Puligny-Montrachet Premier Cru Les Chalumeaux 2018

France, Bourgogne, 750 ml

SAQ CODE: 14859836

PRICE: $146.00

A fresh Chardonnay with an assertively floral character and brilliant colour. A long, well-balanced mouth lets the fruit express itself fully. Superior aromatic purity offers a bal-anced and complex finish, saline with a delightful hint of bitterness.

 

 

 

 

 

Maison Champy Corton Charlemagne Grand Cru 2020

France, Bourgogne, 750 ml

SAQ CODE: 14977971

PRICE: $237.25

A wine of pure joie de vivre! This deep golden Chardonnay expresses the natural strength of Corton-Charlemagne. A delicate citrus palette, mineral clay and oaky com-plexity meld as the strength of tradition blends perfectly with youthful freshness.

 

 

 

M. Chapoutier Ermitage De l’Orée 2018

France, Vallée du Rhône, 750 ml

SAQ CODE: 14778518

PRICE: $312.75

A dry white wine with strong character, this Ermitage is vital and generous. The intense golden yellow colour echoes a nose that is both floral and fruity. Round and complex, full-bodied and spicy in the mouth.

 

 

 

 

Red Wine

 

 

Domaine Camille Giroud Clos de Vougeot Grand Cru 2019

France, Bourgogne, 750 ml

SAQ CODE: 14965778

PRICE: $372.75

Supple and velvety tannins are on offer in this gorgeous garnet-hued Pinot noir. A round body and exceptional length create a perfect balance between fruit and oak. The animality of the Côtes de Nuits is revealed on the nose and in the mouth.

 

 

 

 


Roberto Voerzio Fossati Barolo 2017

Italy, Piedmont, 750 ml

SAQ CODE: 14803859

PRICE: $453.75

A Nebbiolo vintage emblematic of the subtlety of its territory. A light, aromatic body, with rich tannins and floral notes on the nose. With strong, lively acidity and a lingering, earthy finish, this Piedmont wine is energetic, complex and intense.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Carruades de Lafite Pauillac 2018

France, Bordeaux, 750 ml

SAQ CODE: 14200927

PRICE: $516.75

This rich dark red Pauillac is a quintessential Lafite, with tannins so fine as to give an almost powdery texture. The nose is elegant and strong, with almost iodine notes of berries. Generous and refined in the mouth, with a long, lingering finish.

 

 

 

 


Luciano Sandrone Vite Talin Barolo 2015

Italy, Piedmont, 750 ml

SAQ CODE: 14799351

PRICE: $537.25

Full-bodied and contrasting, this well-structured vintage Barolo with deep tannins of-fers an enveloping finesse. Expansive on the nose, with aeration, it reveals all the flavours of sun soaked red fruit, leading to a smoky finish with notes of dried herbs.

 

 

 

 

 

Fabio Mazzeo Architects’ twenty-year portfolio of timeless and extraordinary spaces includes a breathtaking award-winning residential project. Like a fine sculpture atop its pedestal on the promontory of Abbiadori, the Villa at Cala Volpe stands above its namesake bay, echoing the natural beauty of the Sardinian landscape.  

 

 

Lead architect and founder Fabio Mazzeo’s holistic approach to design puts the three-storey Villa in direct communication with nature, from the inside out. Travertine in a multitude of finishes covers the entirety of the building’s exterior, allowing light to dance along the surface. The natural stone extends into the interior, its reflective properties enhanced by floor-to-ceiling windows with dazzling views.

 

© Massimo Camplone

 

Expansive terraced gardens with an integrated infinity pool connect the villa’s smooth, asymmetric structure to the neighbouring organic terrain in an aesthetic communion that is at once contrasting and harmonious. As with any art piece occupying space, the villa is best appreciated from all sides: the west characterized by its stark, imposing construction; the south and east sides allowing the Pevero beach and the garden, respectively, to shine through glassed facades. On the north side, the main entrance beckons from an impressive alcove of cut marble strips rippling towards a deep-set polished steel door with abstract sandblasted forms.    

 

© Massimo Camplone

© Massimo Camplone

 

“Our way of designing and building is deeply rooted in an ideal of Italian beauty that is never static, but rather is translated each time into a unique style that grows out of the customer’s desires. This is a goal we achieve by engaging cross-functional talent and skills. Artists, artisans, decorators, painters and all the creatives and designers of the Fabio Mazzeo team, in a holistic and organic vision of architecture.”

— Fabio Mazzeo, founder and lead architect at Fabio Mazzeo Architects

Inside, nature permeates all corners of the villa as an extension of the architecture. Natural light and greenery are balanced by the elegance and fine craftsmanship that are hallmarks of the Mazzeo project. The mood is set throughout the villa by lighting design featuring chandeliers, wall fixtures and sconces by Vistosi, Lolli e Memmoli, Catellani & Smith, and Visionnaire. Custom furnishings by master artisans anchor the contemporary design of each room, while artfully selected accessories complete the luxurious feel of the space. A dramatic theatre room with gilded hand-plastered panels and oak-panelled wine cellar provide entertainment and enjoyment within arm’s reach. Transitioning from one area to the next is effortless, as different parts of the home gracefully flow into each other. Retiring to the master bedroom area, outfitted with two decadently appointed sea and botanical-inspired marble bathrooms, is nothing short of a Mediterranean dream.

 

© Massimo Camplone

© Massimo Camplone

 

Location: Sardinia, Italy (Abbiadori, Arzachena)
Floor area: 1,270 m2
Landscape design area: 5,000 m2
Architecture and interior design: Fabio Mazzeo Architects
Client: Exclusiva Design

 

 

Writer: Jennifer Laoun-Rubenstein

Cover: © Massimo Camplone

This exceptional 910-carat, Type IIa rough diamond was found in 2018 and has given rise to one of the most extraordinary high jewelry collections ever created: Legend of Diamonds by Van Cleef & Arpels.

 

In collaboration with Europa Star

 

Woven into the story of every great jeweler are the world’s most remarkable stones. The story of Van Cleef & Arpels began in 1906 and since then some of the world’s most exceptional stones have passed through its workshops. For example, the highlight of an exhibition and sale held in 1921 was a necklace set with the Prince Edward of York, a pear-shaped, brilliant-cut diamond of more than 60 carats, recovered from the Kimberley mine in South Africa in 1894. When it went on display, crowds formed outside the Van Cleef & Arpels boutique on Place Vendôme.

 

Necklace set with the Prince Edward of York, a pear-shaped, brilliant-cut diamond of more than 60 carats, recovered in 1894 from the Kimberley mine

 

Then there is the Blue Heart, a 31-carat, heart-shaped, blue diamond discovered in South Africa in 1908 and purchased by Van Cleef & Arpels in 1953. Or the Princie, a 34.64-carat, cushion-cut, pink diamond acquired at auction in 1960. “All my life I have been searching for a pink diamond,” Louis Arpels told journalists at the time. “The moment I heard one was for sale, I hurried to see it. This was in London but rest assured I would have travelled to India, to China, to the furthest corners of Africa or America.”

 

The Blue Heart, a 31-carat, heart-shaped diamond, discovered in South Africa in 1908 and purchased by Van Cleef & Arpels in 1953

The Blue Heart diamond, circa 1953

Pierre Arpels shows the Princie diamond to the Maharani of Baroda (1960)

 

At a sale at Sotheby’s London in December 1964, Jacques Arpels acquired a historic diamond that had once belonged to France’s Crown Jewels: the 30.58-carat Mazarin. There have been others, of course. Over the years, new acquisitions have written fresh chapters in the Van Cleef & Arpels story, up to the most recent as revealed in July: Legend of Diamonds – 25 Mystery Set Jewels.

A remarkable stone

This new chapter began in 2018 with the discovery of the Lesotho Legend, a diamond weighing 910 carats. Or rather “that weighed”, as this stunning gem was then cut and facetted into multiple stones. Van Cleef & Arpels was alerted to its existence by Taché, a diamond dealer and the jeweler’s long-time partner. CNBC reports that it sold for US$40 million.

 

The Lesotho Legend is the fifth-largest diamond ever mined and of the highest quality. In addition to its perfect D colour, it is a Type Iia: the purest, rarest and most sought-after. Of all the diamonds mined worldwide, only 1 to 2 per cent are Type Iia. What does this mean? Every diamond contains chemical impurities, the most common being nitrogen which alters the stone’s natural colour. A Type II has no measurable impurities and is considered to be colourless. The Lesotho Legend joins a prestigious lineage of Type Iia diamonds that includes, most famously, the Regent, the Star of the South, the Cullinan and the legendary Koh-I-Noor, which was extracted from the (now exhausted) Golconda mines in India.

 

The Lesotho Legend, a diamond weighing 910 carats and discovered in 2018, was cut in several pieces to constitute the new Van Cleef & Arpels’ high jewelry collection © Ilan Taché

 

The Lesotho Legend was recovered from the Letseng mine, located in the Maloti mountains of Lesotho. The mine had already yielded some of the world’s biggest stones, including the Lesotho Promise – 603 carats, found in 2006 – and the 550-carat Letseng Star. This open-pit mine is owned by Gem Diamonds and the government of Lesotho. Since the discovery of the Lesotho Legend, a community project has been set up and sums have been awarded for communities in the vicinity of the mine.

A first for Van Cleef & Arpels

In order to maximise this rough, Van Cleef & Arpels and Taché turned to Diamcad, a highly regarded diamond cutter in Antwerp. After extensive analysis, Diamcad cut the rough into a number of magnificent stones, including three of respectively 79.35 carats, 31.24 carats and 25.06 carats.

 

“The Maison seldom works with rough stones. We traditionally start with cut and faceted stones that are already suitable for use in jewelry. This is the first time in decades that we have been involved in a project from its starting point – the extraction of the stone – to the creation of a high jewelry collection. The appearance of this extraordinary rough stone gave us this unique opportunity to tell a story around the diamond,” says Nicolas Bos, President of Van Cleef & Arpels.

 

Diamcad used 3D technology to map the future diamonds inside the rough. A year later, having determined the best possible plan, the stone was cleaved. The Lesotho Legend produced an array of 67 diamonds for a total of 441 carats.

 

The advantage of starting with a rough is to obtain stones of the exact required shape and size. The result – the Legend of Diamonds fine jewelry collection that was unveiled in Paris in July – is an alchemy of multiple elements: the dealer, the cutter, the diamonds, the other precious stones, the designers and the history and virtuosity of Van Cleef & Arpels.

 

Marc de Groot Legend of Diamonds collection 2022 / Marc de Groot collection Legend of diamonds 2022 © Van Cleef & Arpels

© Van Cleef & Arpels SA – 2022 par Marc de Groot

© Van Cleef & Arpels SA – 2022 par Marc de Groot

© Van Cleef & Arpels SA – 2022 par Marc de Groot

 

“Developing Legend of Diamonds took about four years from the time we first saw the rough stone to the release of the finished pieces. I think we have successfully shown that an exceptional diamond can be the starting point for an extraordinary collection that will be a milestone in the history of the maison,” Nicolas Bos declared.

Mystery setting

Each of the 25 pieces in the collection is designed around these spectacular diamonds and employs a technique that is also a signature of the brand’s expertise: the mystery setting. Patented in 1933, its secret is a groove cut into the culet; the stone can then be slid onto gold rails and its position precisely adjusted.

 

Van Cleef & Arpels’ famous mystery setting technique, patented in 1933

 

The result is a carpet of precious stones with no visible prongs or metal. These spectacular tapestries of rubies, sapphires and emeralds show off the diamonds better than any other technique. At the heart of the Atours Mystérieux necklace, for example, a diamond of 79.35 carats is a heart-stopping centrepiece, illuminated by swirls of mystery-set rubies.

 

Another highlight of the collection, the Chevron Mystérieux necklace is inspired by the crossover collars that were fashionable in the 1950s. It features not one but three center stones: a trio of majestic pear-cut diamonds of 31 carats (center), 12.18 carats and 12.07 carats. The chevron design is a composition of sapphires, emeralds and diamonds. As the most versatile piece in the collection, it can be worn in six different ways. The central element can be detached and worn as a pendant, while the other two large diamonds can adorn earrings.

 

 

It took Van Cleef & Arpels’ workshops in excess of 30,000 hours to bring to fruition what can truly be called a masterwork of high jewelry. A rough diamond of this size and purity doesn’t appear on the market every day. With expert help, Van Cleef & Arpels has made it the heart of a collection that will go down in high jewelry history. Collectors are in no doubt about its exceptional nature; they were out in force at the presentation in July in the hope of adding these rare creations to their personal jewelry box. Indeed, who knows when an opportunity such as this will come again…

 

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Writer: Isabelle Cerboneschi

Cover: © Ilan Taché