November 2015 ~ luxury

Sunday, November 29, 2015

The Constance Lémuria Seychelles.

Constance Lémuria is nestled on the white sandy fringes northwest of the Seychelles; roughly 5 minutes away from Praslin airport. The resort lives in complete harmony with its environment, surrounded by lush vegetation and clear topaz water.

A collection of suites and villas are endowed with plenty of space, views of the Indian Ocean and some are furnished with private pools. This is a great location for families; there’s plenty of things to do and a dedicated children’s club which deals in comprehensive activities to keep the little ones active and happy. Of course, there’s also a wealth of services for the adults – including land and water sports aplenty. Golf enthusiasts will be pleased to know that free green fees at the impeccable 18 hole golf course are offered to all guests who stay at the hotel, while the waters that surround the resort are renowned for the abundance of wreckages, reefs and exotic sea life. End your enthralling day of exploration, or relaxation, at one of the dining facilities on site – where you can enjoy a fine fare of food from across the world.

‘Perfect paradise setting for golfers and non-golfers alike; this verdant landscape with its picture-perfect shore offers fun times for families and tranquil romance for couples.’

More info & Online booking

Bombardier Global 6000 by Netjets

COVE 3 HOUSE by SAOTA | KNYSNA, SOUTH AFRICA

Along the South African coastline outside the town of Knysna, architecture office SAOTA in collaboration with Antoni Associates designed the ‘Cove 3′ house.

Nestled in the cliff-top estate “The Cove” in Pezula, Knysna, in South Africa, the Cove 3 house was designed by the architecture office SAOTA to be integrated into the topography & natural colour of the fynbos, maintaining a seamless connection with landscape and ocean.

Originally designed for a Johannesburg based family, the Cove 3 house can be used as a family home but is also the perfect place for holidays.

Contemporary architecture

Designed to optimize views and openness to the ocean, the architecture office SAOTA‘s primary idea was to create a single living space with a single roof element floating over it that responded to the slope of the site.

The Cove 3 house boasts an incredible roof set at a sufficiently high level, creating the illusion that one is sitting in the landscape rather than in a room. To reinforce the connection with the sky, the roof features a large triangular cut-out.

Moreover, the architecture office SAOTA undertook a very detailed solar analysis of the building to get direct sun out of the building. As a result, a midlevel horizontal sunscreen was added to the double height glass façade and the skylight is protected by a timber screen that hangs into the space to mitigate the scale of the double volume space.

Care was also taken in selecting performance-glass that would minimise the impact of direct sun.

To fade Cove 3 house into the landscape, the architecture office SAOTA mainly chose natural materials such as off-shutter concrete, Rheinzink roofing, timber cladding, stone and exposed aggregate.

All these elements, the high and sloped roof, the tall glass walls, the outdoor deck, the infinity-edge pool and all these natural elements, contribute to the residence’s south-facing orientation, to fade it into the landscape for complete intimacy and to preserve the natural environment.

Outstanding interior design

Inside the Cove 3 house, a spiral stair connects the living level to a private lounge and the master bedroom on a mezzanine level. This stair was conceived as a sculptural element in the large volume to again mitigate the scale of this space. This spiral drops through the floor to a lower level which houses a guest bedroom, a home theater and a living room.

“The interiors are uncluttered and reflect the easy living requirements of the clients. Spaces are sparse, and have been furnished minimalistically which emphasize the strong architectural lines and volume of the architecture. The furniture is modern, and a number of bespoke pieces were sourced from the designer’s retail outlet OKHA. A neutral palette of ivory, stone and shell complement the natural architectural timber and concrete finishes selected throughout,” says Mark Rielly of Antoni Associates.

Among the local legends that enchant visitors as they walk through its labyrinth of little streets, the story of the Bastide de Gordes starts a new chapter, as standard-bearer of Provencal culture over the Alpilles.

The extensive building project involved more than 150 people for several months. Built on the medieval ramparts, the 16th century Bastide has undergone a total transformation, successfully in keeping with its surroundings and the village’s history.

La Bastide de Gordes is having a revamp

La Bastide de Gordes, Leading Hotels of the World, closed its doors from Monday 6th October 2014 until Friday 5th June 2015, for huge renovation and refurbishment program. A total revamp with many new discoveries in store…

Having undergone painstaking refurbishment work, la Bastide de Gordes hotel now boasts ten thousand square metres of living space: 40 rooms and suites, 3 restaurants, 4 swimming pools, a 800 square meter spa, 5 conference and function rooms, – one of which is used for weddings, opening onto French formal gardens, – stepped gardens and 7 terraces, one of which is considered to be the most beautiful in Europe.

In order to preserve the beautiful views onto the valley, and create a true haven of peace and tranquility, a large vaulted tunnel lined with bookcases was built into the rock. This makes it easy for guests to wander from one building to another, allowing them the privacy of walking to the Sisley Spa (which is to undergo a total re-look next season) in their bathrobe should they so wish.

La Bastide de Gordes is already spectacular from the outside, but from the moment you pass through the entrance door the journey becomes breathtaking.

Resembling a family castle passed down through the generations, the décor was thought up by architect and interior designer Christophe Tollemer, who also worked his magic at les Airelles, le Chalet d’Ormello and le Chalet de Pierres.

Since January 2014, the design team has scoured the whole of France, visiting auction houses and big antiques dealers in Paris and Italy to turn this hotel into a castle where one truly feels at home.

No two rooms or suites are the same. Indian stretched canvasses, typical regional fabrics, pastoral toiles de Jouy from Pierre Frey and other prestigious fabric designers, give the impression of entering the private home of a grandmother from Provence, who would have collected ceramics and portraits all her life.

As a treat for your tastebuds, renowned Chef Pierre Gagnaire will be at the helm of the gastronomic restaurant, welcoming you to the warmest of settings. And to round off the new developments, an elegant reception lounge overlooking the valley will play host to your events.