sotheby's in residence oct-nov'14
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ISSUE 03 OCTOBER / NOVEMBER 2014
A New AestheticInside Dubai’s impeccably designed
Muraba Residences
TO MASTER AN ART WITH PASSION, INSPIRATION AND IMAGINATION, THIS IS MASERATI. EVER SINCE ITS FIRST INCARNATION, MASERATI’S FLAGSHIP RANGE REMAINS UNRIVALLED.
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QUATTROPORTE S 2979 CC V6 ENGINE – POWER OUTPUT: 410 HP – 8-SPEED ZF AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION – MAXIMUM TORQUE: 550 NM - TOP SPEED: 285 KM/H – 0-100 KM/H IN 5.1 SECONDS.
QUATTROPORTE GTS 3798 CC V8 ENGINE – POWER OUTPUT: 530 HP – 8-SPEED ZF AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION – MAXIMUM TORQUE: 650 NM - TOP SPEED: 307 KM/H – 0-100 KM/H IN 4.7 SECONDS.
OUR SIGNATURE COLLECTION. QUATTROPORTE BY MASERATI.
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Q U A T T R O P O R T E
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WELCOME
dubaisir.com
Welcome Letter
Managing Director Victoria Thatcher | Editorial Director John Thatcher | Business Development Directors Jason Brown, David Wade | Senior Business
Development Manager Rawan Chehab | Contributing Editors Tracey Scott, Eleanor Joslin | Contributing Deputy Editor Richard Jenkins | Contributing Features
Editor Lara Brunt | Senior Designer Adam Sneade | Designer Andy Knappett | Production Manager Chalitha Fernando | Photography Yulia Kochetova
To contact any of the below people, email [email protected]
Cover: Muraba Residences,
Dubai
A very warm welcome to this issue of In Residence. With the summer having drawn to a close, the property market will be abuzz once more, and one area where I expect to see growth is in the purchase of villas; I believe more and more people will see the value in investing in a family home if they’re planning on staying in Dubai for any length of time.
We have an enviable selection of exclusive properties on our books, many of which you can peruse in this issue. And for the first time we’ve also included a selection of luxury rental properties (page 65) to remind our prestigious clientele that we are able to service such requirements.
Elsewhere in this issue we head to Dubai’s beautiful Al Barari, where we speak to interior designer Lesley Zaal about her family’s vision for the area. We also see how designer-to-the-stars Carden Cunietti made its mark on a stunning family home in Cap d’Antibes, and report on how the art form of stained glass windows could soon find a home in the UAE.
I hope you enjoy this issue and all the wonderful properties within it.
Billy RautenbachManaging DirectorDubai Sotheby’s International Realty
BILLY’S MUST-SEE EXTRAORDINARY PROPERTIES IN THIS ISSUE
1. Superb modern Hattan Villa, The Lakes, page 63, AED18,950,000
2. Upgraded Bromelia Villa, Al Barari, page 64, AED19,500,000
3. Muraba Residences, Palm Jumeirah, page 64, price upon request.
4. The 118, Downtown Dubai, page 52, price upon request.
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CONTENTS
08|ReceptionLuxurious interior ideas and sophisticated lifestyle news
15|Style HunterA fantasy bathtub and gorgeous lighting are must-haves
20|Annie LeibovitzThe famous photographer talks us through her new coffee-table book
24|Accept No Imitations How is authentic design surviving in a market of copycats?
28|If The Cap FitsHow Carden Cunietti added style to a striking Cap d’Antibes home
36|CollectiblesMagnificent jewels and the world’s most expensive watch
44|The Storyof The Savoy As The Savoy celebrates its 125th birthday, In Residence tells its fascinating storyotel
48|Road ThrillOn the road with the exemplary Mercedes S65 AMG Coupe
THE GALLERY
54|UAE PropertyListingsThere’s no better time to buy an abode in Dubai – be it a beachfront villa on the Palm Jumeirah or a city escape with views of the Burj Khalifa, now is the time to pounce
67|InternationalProperty ListingsFrom the blue lagoons of Bermuda to Californian vineyards, In Residence has a home for everybody – but why stop at one? These properties are sure to tempt you
34|Back to NatureLesley Zaal on her family’s passion for natural splendour
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> Bored of the identikit wicker sun loungers that laze by every beach club the world over? Pull up a different seat with the Ovis brass deck chair and evoke memories of the seaside in times gone by. Seattle’s Ladies & Gentleman Studio has reinterpreted the nostalgic sling chair, harking back to sun-dappled afternoons with an ice lolly in hand and crossword before you. Find this contemporary classic, with leather seat supported by poplar wood and brass, via Bespoke Global, online specialists in custom-made commissions. bespokeglobal.com
ALL IN GOOD TIMEIn our tech-obsessed world, going hands free is the only way to go. This quirky QlockTwo is a typographical timepiece that writes the time as soon as the moment strikes, and helped count down the recent opening of the city’s most deluxe furniture store, En Vogue, in Jumeirah. Part of the launch collection, Biegert & Funk’s award-winning clock ‘floats’ on magnets and detects changing ambient light so even at night it creates a statement. It’s also available in 12 different languages. envogue.ae
> We spotted a canny new pairing at September’s London Design Festival. Japan’s long-established fine-furniture label Matsuoka – with 128 years of traditional craftsmanship under its belt – teamed with UK distributor Interio to showcase this beautiful Origami Chest in high-gloss charcoal Japonica and New Guinea walnut. matsuokafurniture.com
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It’s true that great design lights up a room, and Fiona Gall’s whimsical, botanical and ethereal creations draw clients like moths to a flame.
Mythology, flowers and nature have proven to be key sources of inspiration for
her fantastical chandeliers and dramatic installations – as well as a love for rummaging through ‘rubbish’.
“Research into grand houses, bygone eras and fairy tales are essential to my chandeliers,” says the bespoke lighting designer, surrounded by wires, brass fittings and bulbs in her East London workshop.
“If you look close enough you’ll see pieces of broken antique glass, old pipettes, magnifying glasses, padlocks and even fish knives in my lights.”
The old adage ‘one man’s trash is another man’s treasure’ was coined for Gall. Nothing excites her more than hunting for
gems in antique markets and car boot sales, for old curios that can be transformed into kitsch lighting accessories.
Wielding a brazing torch and a fanciful imagination, she casts a spell over her plunder and brings discarded trinkets back to life – alongside Swarovski crystals and custom-made motifs.
Such dramatic, opulent and otherworldly designs have taken her all over the world: she’s made glass and wire handbags for Hermès in New York; illuminating window displays for Selfridges in London; grand chandeliers for residences in Dubai; and sculptural installations for Lane Crawford in Hong Kong.
One of her most extravagant creations is Cinderella’s Revenge. Wanting to pay homage to her favourite rock ‘n’ roll cobbler, Terry de Havilland, she approached him with the idea of making an effervescent altar in honour of shoes.
“He loved the idea,” she enthuses. “I shadowed him in his workshop so I could
incorporate his craftsmanship and I used authentic de Havilland details and fabrics to echo the glamour of his material.”
Returning the compliment, he designed a pair of gold and silver iguana-skin stilettos for the chandelier’s apex. The optical homage became an eight-foot shower of tubular glass, metal chains, Swarovski crystals and miniature magnifying glasses cascading from the ceiling, with a train of luxurious stiletto heels sprawling across the floor. This is more than a chandelier, it’s true art and design.
What next for the imaginative, ethereal young designer, with the world already under her iridescent spell?
“I would love to work with Vivienne Westwood and make a chandelier for her – I don’t think she’s got that covered yet,” she muses. “She’s got some crazy ideas and I could make an over-the-top, opulent chandelier in her honour.” Vivienne, prepare to be dazzled. emeraldfaerie.com
THE LIGHT FANTASTIC
WORDS: ELEANOR JOSLIN
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What is the company’s background and why have you entered the UAE market?My wife Laura and I (John) have been involved in producing stained glass since 1984 when we began an intensive apprentice education at one of England’s oldest studios, founded in 1788. There we mastered the traditional skills used in creating new windows and in the preservation and restoration of existing windows. This type of education, with skilled and experienced craftsmen teaching younger artists, is very rare now that many of the large and long established studios have closed. We feel honoured that we can trace our professional lineage back over 150 years. It was a natural progression to set up our own company, and we started out in England before moving to Vancouver, Canada in 2005. We know that our art is always evolving, each commission is an exciting opportunity to use the traditional artistry of glass painting within a vibrant, contemporary setting, and in that regard Dubai is the perfect location for the next phase of our career.
What influence can stained glass have on a residential property and what sets it apart from other art forms?We believe that stained glass influences the architectural setting in a way no other art form can; casting hues of colour with changeable nuances and providing a new dimension each time it is viewed. Many of our design projects influence the artistic style and ambiance for the whole building, providing a stunning focal point or a soothing visual pathway.
For people who’ve never considered having a stained glass window at home, what type of designs do you think work best in a home?Each home is completely unique, a reflection of the people who live there and how they view their world. Our work evolves from that, so we would create a
GLASS ACTMeet Gilroy Stained Glass, the family-run firm bringing the centuries-old art form of stained glass to homes in the UAE
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glass together using ‘H’ section lead cames and soldering the joints. The window is strengthened by brushing a specialised oil-based putty into the spaces between the flanges of the leads and the glass. Lastly, the window is installed in position.
How would you describe the style of your work?Our technique of glass painting is almost a reverse pointillism that we have refined and continue to develop; creating complex depths of tonal values and contrasts of light and shade, emphasising the inherent jewel-like quality of antique mouth-blown glass. We never use airbrushing, and still adhere to painting by hand using brushes
and the point of a needle for extremely fine work.
What are the company’s areas of expertise?We specialise in traditional and contemporary glass painting at our studio in Vancouver, Canada, creating completely unique bespoke stained glass windows for discerning clients who value original art.
John will be in Dubai at the end of September and can be contacted directly through his website www.gilroystainedglass.com or through local representative Ayman Hannoud of Al Mubdeoun Decor +971 56 118 4424.
design that feels to the client as though it should always have been there.
Is it possible to create a window from a photograph – if someone has a particular photograph that they cherish? Any source can be inspiration for our work. We would pay homage to a beloved image, such as we did with our recent window celebrating Vermeer’s painting ‘The Glass of Wine’ (pictured left), translating it in such a way that the original essence remains yet it has all the qualities and structure that make for a beautiful and strong stained glass window.
What is the process for commissioning a window, from initial design through to installation? After discussions with our client, we create a scaled watercolour design that captures our vision for the unique commission. We always create our designs by hand using black ink and watercolour because we have found that this medium is the closest representation of the translucent quality of glass. The next stage is the production by hand of a full-size working drawing, known as the cartoon, that shows the painted details and tones and the positioning of the leads. From this a structural drawing, known as the cutline, is made, which contains information for the fabrication of the window, such as the width of lead cames to be used and the positioning of support bars. The cutline determines the exact shapes of the glass, and each piece is carefully selected with reference to the design for type and colour. When the glass selection and cutting is completed all the pieces are then laid on a light table to double check that they are working together as envisaged.
There are then several stages of applying paint to the glass, which combine to gradually build up the tonal values of the image. The colour always comes from the glass itself; the application of painted line and tonal values allow us to influence how the light is viewed through that colour.
The glass is fired in the kiln after each painting stage, which means that each piece can be fired several times before it’s finished. During firing, the temperature of the glass reaches approximately 700ºC fusing the paint into the surface of the glass permanently. The next stage is assembling all the individual pieces of
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Personal and mysterious, classic yet individual, Coco Chanel’s historic Parisian apartment is much like the lady herself. Left exactly as it was
when Mademoiselle Chanel was alive, the property, located atop the Chanel boutique in Rue Cambon, is the focus of a photography exhibition in London, which shows at the Saatchi Gallery until October 4. The showcase, which features a series of 45 never-before-seen images of the property’s interior, offers double-C devotees a rare peep inside the part-time home (on which, more in a moment) of one of the fashion world’s greatest designers. And the photographer charged with capturing the apartment’s storied interior? Artist, photographer and filmmaker Sam Taylor-Johnson.
Starting from the hallowed mirrored
staircase (pictured right, from which Chanel often watched her new collections being modelled) leading up to the apartment’s main living space, the photographs illustrate the numbers (the iconic number 5), patterns (the double C), colours (Coco’s signature black and white, among others) and animals (such as the gilded lions that represented her star sign Leo) that are synonymous with the French style icon’s creative lexicon. They, too, highlight the designer’s undeniable taste in décor – from the lacquered screens, which Chanel favoured over doors, to the gilt Venetian mirrors and rock-crystal chandeliers. Then there’s Coco’s choice of literature – walls stacked with leather-bound editions including Shakespeare, Voltaire and Brontë. So particular is the interior,
Taylor-Johnson says it “feels like she had meticulously chosen every object” herself. “The essence of Chanel is firmly rooted there in all of her possessions and I truly believe that her spirit and soul still inhabits the second floor,” she adds.
As pointed out by Odile Babin, a Chanel archivist, the apartment is missing one
thing: a bedroom. Mademoiselle Chanel never slept here, instead she had a private suite at the nearby Ritz Paris, which she frequented from
the 1930s until her passing in 1971. So fond of the hotel, located on Paris’ Place Vendôme, Chanel was once quoted as saying: “The Ritz is my home.”
Steidl has published a coffee-table book, entitled Second Floor, to accompany the exhibition of the same name.
HER SPIRIT AND SOUL STILL INHABITS THE SECOND FLOOR
Through the keyholeAn exhibition at the Saatchi Gallery in London offers a rare glimpse into Coco Chanel’s Parisian apartment. Naturally, the property is as stylish as the French designer’s fashion
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OCTOBER / NOVEMBER
Savour these lust-have items In Residence has set its sights on
Style hunter
Take a trip to South AmericaAndrew Martin scores a hat-trick with its new Ipanema collection. The tribal-style fabric combines the vibrancy of Rio’s beach culture and Peruvian textiles with the company’s bespoke tailoring service. The Ipanema fabrics pay homage to both indigenous and urban communities in South America: while traditional Andean weaving and patterns have been a popular trend for a while, the vibrant colours synonymous with this year’s World Cup host will start to make themselves known. andrewmartin.co.uk
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Walking on waterThis fantasyland shoe-shaped bathtub is the talk of the town. Not only is the 1.65-metre high heel an eye-catching sight at the Sicis showroom in Jumeirah, the tub merges a lady’s two best friends: shoes and soaks. Italian designer Massimiliano Della Monaca will create the avant-garde Audrey bath with precious glass mosaic tiles customised into a design of your choice, from floral swirls to feminine bows. Rest assured your feet won’t ache in this shoe, as massaging jets of water cascade down the heel for supreme relaxation. Audrey starts from AED62,500 – add an extra AED37,000 for a platinum upgrade. sicis.com
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You might not know it yet but you already love Lasvit’s exquisite lighting designs. The Czech company is a prolific glass lighting architect in the UAE and has created beautifully artistic installations for many well-known hotels, luxury retail outlets and private residences. If you’ve ever stayed in The Ritz Carlton in DIFC, or dined in Burj Khalifa’s
At.mosphere restaurant, you’ll no doubt have marvelled at the stunning lights shining overhead. This year Lasvit is launching ‘Alice’, a brand new concept of kinetic lighting that combines the qualities Lasvit has become much admired for: glass blowing, craftsmanship, design, technology and poetry. View it first at Downtown Design, October 28-31.
Look out for Lasvit
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Since the 1980s Annemette Beck has made waves in the surface sector by experimenting with materials, structures and unexpected combinations. The Danish textile designer’s handcrafted rugs, curtains,
fabrics and surfaces all celebrate the subject material through tactile juxtapositions that heighten the hairs, skin, metal and threads that pull the product together. Earlier this year she brought Adventure
to Dubai, an elegant yet fantastical wall covering made from rubber, brass and gold python skin. The colours favour the UAE market, where black and gold remain unfailingly popular. kensandcompany.com
Off the wall
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This autumn’s whimsical breeze is blowing bright birds and fanciful fauna into our homes, keeping the summer’s penchant for colourful accessories very much in vogue. Bring the aviary inside with this delightful Demi Grande Volière from French designer Mathieu Challières. The tropical feathered friends, perched on intricately shaped copper wire,
put an eccentric spin on ornamental lighting. These birds have staying power, too. Launched in 2008, Challières’ faux oiseaux volières sparked the start of the decorative birdcage trend that surged in popularity earlier this year. Available as ceiling lights, table lamps and floor lamps from Comptoir 102 in Jumeirah. comptoir102.com
We’re all a flutter...r...
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Photographer Annie Leibovitz tells us why her sumo-sized book of portraits is not your average coffee-table tome
I N T H EFRAME
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Tipping the scales at over 25 kilograms and displayed on a Marc Newson-designed stand, Annie Leibovitz, the latest sumo book from Taschen – a reference
to the German publisher’s 1999 Helmut Newton retrospective, Sumo, the biggest and most expensive book produced this century – is more art installation than coffee-table tome. “This is not a book that you’re going to put in your lap,” agrees the
renowned photographer, who turns 65 this October. “You’re going to look at it from a distance. One picture at a time. It’s nice to go through it in sequence, turning the pages, but I don’t know how many times anyone will do that.”
Measuring 50 x 69 cm, the 476-page limited-edition book contains over 250 startling images captured by Leibovitz over the past four decades, from the intimate reportage she created for Rolling Stone in the 1970s through to more stylised portraiture for Vanity Fair and Vogue. It is not, the celebrated snapper is at pains
to point out, a retrospective. “When you put so many of my pictures together, you can’t help but say, ‘Oh, is that her greatest work?’ But this is not a retrospective. It is a kind of potpourri. A rollercoaster. As you go through it, you forget what you saw in the beginning. You’re in another place toward the end,” she says.
The project took several years to complete and proved to be more challenging than the American had originally envisaged. Used to seeing the photographs in more intimate formats, Leibovitz initially assumed that she just
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had to imagine which images would look good as large prints. “It was more complicated than that,” she explains. “My books are usually arranged chronologically. There is more early work in the beginning of this book than later, but I tried to throw off the idea of chronology.”
There was also a lot of discussion about which paper stock was best to use to avoid glare when the book was viewed on its stand. “I didn’t realise at first why that was important. It’s hard to design a book that is not really a book. Everyone who worked on this built it as a book while trying to understand it as an installation. I’m not sure we succeeded completely, but we tried,” she says candidly.
Limited to just 10,000 signed and numbered copies, the book is available in four different dust jackets featuring actress Whoopi Goldberg, artist Keith Haring, musician David Byrne or singer Patti Smith. A supplementary book contains essays by Leibovitz, Graydon Carter, Hans Ulrich Obrist and Paul Roth, along with short texts about the subjects of each of the portraits. “I had thought that I would put a lot of photographs in this book that might not otherwise be used in a book. As it evolved, I found myself going back to some more popular photographs that seemed to be nice to have as statements. The book is very personal, but the narrative is told through popular culture,” she says.
Bookending the collection is a black-and-white photograph of Richard Nixon’s helicopter lifting off from the White House lawn after he resigned as president in 1974 and a formal colour portrait of Queen Elizabeth II taken in a drawing room of Buckingham Palace in 2007. In between are portraits of actors, dancers, comedians, musicians, artists, writers, journalists, athletes and businesspeople, including Leibovitz’s most famous image: John Lennon and Yoko Ono entwined in what would be a last embrace (just hours later, the former Beatle was gunned down by crazed fan Mark Chapman in New York). There are also still life photos, such as a television that Elvis used as target practise.
Performance is one of the book’s major themes, according to Leibovitz. “Having your photograph taken involves a performance, portraits particularly,” she explains. “The photographer provides the subjects with a stage – but then they have to project. You are taking a real picture in real time no matter how conceptual it is. There is a reality in the performance. My background as a photographer is as an observer. I’m a terrible director.”
Leibovitz was born in Connecticut in 1949. At 21, she took a job at Rolling Stone while still a student at the San
Francisco Art Institute. Over the next decade, she created legendary covers of the world’s biggest music stars, many of which became instant collectors’
items. In 1983, she began working for Vanity Fair, and then Vogue, creating provocative portraits of celebrities, including a pregnant and naked Demi Moore in 1991 that was voted the American Society of Magazine Editors’ second most memorable magazine cover of the last 40 years (her Rolling Stone cover of the ill-fated Lennon and Yoko took the top spot). During the late 1980s, Leibovitz started to work on high-profile advertising campaigns and she continues to shoot for clients such as Louis Vuitton, alongside publishing and exhibiting her work.
Of all the famous faces she has captured on film and digitally, it is comedians with whom she has the most rapport. “They’re sort of like manic depressives. I sympathise with them. They are usually also very intelligent,” she muses. “For me, the classic photograph of a comedian is Charlie Chaplin just leaning. That is such an extraordinarily funny picture. It’s as perfect a photograph as you could ever have of a comedian. The challenge for a photographer is to create a visually funny picture without it being stupid. It’s difficult to take a funny picture.” Funny or not, Leibovitz’s perfectly executed portraits continue to captivate. Taschen distributes its books throughout the Middle East via Dubai-based gallery Artspace, located at The Gate Village, Building 3, DIFC. taschen.com, artspace-dubai.com.
JazzlifeA thorough and imaginative visual record of American jazz at mid-century, featuring some of the most striking jazz photography ever seen.
THIS IS NOT A RETROSPECTIVE. IT IS A KIND OF POTPOURRI. A ROLLERCOASTER
GOAT, Champ’s EditionFull of stunning, exclusive photographs of Muhammad Ali, each of the 1,000 books is individually numbered and signed by the former boxer himself.
Elvis and the Birth of Rock and RollWith 50 per cent of the book made up of never-before-seen images, this tome brings together Alfred Wertheimer’s most remarkable Elvis shots.
Known worldwide for its limited edition tomes, here’s our pick of Taschen’s literary
collectibles…
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ACCEPT NO IMITATIONS
WORDS: ELEANOR JOSLIN
How is authenticdesign surviving ina market saturatedwith copies?
With the likes of Fritz Hansen, Herman Miller, Emeco, Vitra and Louis Poulsen descending on Downtown Design at the end of October, many
classic furniture designs will be making an appearance. With such respected alumni joining the
international exhibition for its second year, it’s no surprise that the chosen theme is ‘original design’. Critics have been quick to point out the irony of this concept in a city where fakes abound. Louis Vuitton does not travel on the Metro, but hop on for just one stop and you’ll soon see brown-and-black checkered totes making their daily commute to the office.
There are arguments on both sides of the fence. Of course one cannot beat the history, heritage, craftsmanship and ultimate durability that comes with authentic designs, while others point out that not everyone has the financial means to access such beautiful designs – and why should they be looked down upon?
However, industry professionals admit that copies have become the main competitor to designers and distributors alike. “Production methods are developing and it is becoming easier and easier to copy a product – legally or illegally,” warns Pia Knudsen, business area manager at Louis Poulsen, a brand making its debut at Downtown Design this year. “Investing time and resources in developing a new product is an expensive matter for a company, and if half of the sales are ‘stolen’ by the copies, this turnover will be missing for the development of new products and for paying royalties to the designer.”
With advanced manufacturing methods making it easy to reproduce lifelike imitations, consumers
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must be made aware of other values that are just as important as aesthetic, if not more so. For returning exhibitor Gaggenau, history and heritage create a far superior product.
“Centuries of manufacturing and innovation have led Gaggenau to become a pioneer in domestic kitchen appliances,” says Gaggenau’s brand manager Mouad Benmoussa, who heralds the company’s 331-year history as truly inimitable. “However, we are lucky to be in such a niche market as you cannot fake a cooker. But even if you could it would not be durable and last decades, or have the strong position, story and heritage that we have, so the value of our original product would never decrease.”
There’s no denying that copies have created a lucrative market for the unscrupulous manufacturer, and it’s an industry that’s as real as authentic design.
So, rather than focussing on an eddying presence of fakes, it’s the consumer we need to focus on – the consumer who could be cheated into buying an imitation instead of an original because of its lifelike similarities.
With this in mind, the design world holds a degree of responsibility when it comes to educating the consumer on the importance of heritage, quality and durability. This is the message that Downtown Design is hoping to spread by championing the superior-quality brands already here in the UAE and those from further afield, including Hansgrohe, Bang & Olufsen, Preciosa and Maffam Freeform.
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CONSUMERS MUST BE MADE AWARE OF VALUES JUST AS IMPORTANT AS AESTHETIC
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“One of our main focus areas at Downtown Design is to encourage quality-driven global brands to make their offerings accessible to the Middle East by establishing a presence here,” says fair director Cristina Romelli Gervasoni. “One thing that remains constant among all the brands that are present at Downtown Design is their focus on originality. We want to get the word out about its importance and help people recognise original pieces when they see them, just like a valuable piece of art.
“Good design, made with passion and creativity, withstands the test of time and ultimately becomes part of a legacy carried down from generation to generation, its value enhanced as time goes by. It is, therefore, the quality of materials, the attention to detail, the superior craftsmanship and the thoughtful design process
that distinguish an original piece from an imitation. But more importantly, it is the distinct feeling that each piece of original design carries the spark of inspiration that originally brought it to life. And that can never be imitated.”
So, what is being done to keep the legacy of authentic design alive? Emeco’s Navy Chair is 70 years old this year and is a great example of durable design. Originally made for use on submarines, it is a true tribute to quality craftsmanship – one which carries a lifelong guarantee. However, it hasn’t been left behind the times. A more recent collaboration with Coca-Cola redefined the famous 77-step manufacturing process to solve a huge environmental problem: recycling. The 111 Navy Chair in red is made from 111 recycled PET bottles. What kind of impact has this had on consumer waste? In the last four years this chair
ORIGINAL DESIGN CARRIES A SPARK OF INSPIRATION
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used over 13 million bottles, a number that strikes a chord with many eco-conscious consumers.
Louis Poulsen Lighting has been manufacturing Poul Henningsen’s pioneering designs for 100 years. In reaction to Edison’s revolutionary incandescent light bulb, Henningsen’s famous PH Lamp Shade focused on diffusing the harsh glare to create a more pleasing ambience around the room. While this lighting philosophy is still very relevant today, and his ultra-modern designs are seamless in contemporary spaces, the muse has advanced.
“We have to make sure that our fixtures will work with new light sources like LED, while maintaining all the good
qualities that the original version had, and this certainly can be a challenge,” says Knudsen. “Take his iconic PH Artichoke that was originally designed for the only existing light source, the incandescent bulb, back in 1958: if we cannot deliver it with LED now, sales will stop within the next year or two.
“Some designers are very humble towards our legacy and almost scared to come up with designs that are not design-related to the famous PH-lamp,” she adds. “But a new design should not be a new version of a PH-lamp. A new design reflects its time – keeping in mind the DNA of a Louis Poulsen product. That is good lighting.” Visit Downtown Design from October 28-31 at The Venue, Downtown Dubai.
1. Louis Poulsen2. Gaggenau 3. Emeco
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A spectacular new build on the Côte d’Azur proved the perfect blank canvas for Carden Cunietti
IF THE CAP FITSPHOTOGRAPHY ALEXJAMESPHOTOGRAPHY.COM
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We’d term it ‘Riveasian” says Eleanora Cunietti, when pressed for a succinct description of the style prevalent
in the stunning Cap d’Antibes home she designed with partner Audrey Carden. “The owners of the house are from Hong Kong and asked for us to think up a colourful combination of French and Asian styles. Their wish was to incorporate an extensive range of Asian art and accessories gleaned from years of travel, and fuse it with something reflective of the home’s French location.”
The stunning result proved yet another feather in the cap for Carden Cunietti, which, since setting up as a design consultancy in the mid-‘90s, has won global acclaim and a legion of celebrity fans (although the firm is far too discreet to kiss and tell, a few names do occasionally slip through).
With clients therefore falling over themselves to add the Carden Cunietti touch to their homes, what drew them to this particular house? “The size of the property, the views, and the fact it was a new build so we could work on all aspects of the interiors, from literally the ground up. The surrounding area is just glorious [Cap d’Antibes lies on the Côte
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d’Azur, between Nice and Cannes] and has one of the most beautiful bays in the Mediterranean. It really is a striking area, no wonder Fitzgerald wrote Tender Is The Night while here.”
For Eleanora, however, the location’s historical ties to glamour was something not to be pandered to when they planned the interiors. “We do pride ourselves on creating glamorous spaces and when it comes to glamour, this has to be one of the most enchanting we’ve ever worked on. Yet while David Niven, F. Scott Fitzgerald and Marilyn Monroe readily spring to mind, this is a contemporary home so we wanted to steer clear of the clichés.”
There are nods, here and there, to Antibes emblems, a duck-egg-blue chandelier references the Côte d’Azur against the beautiful white stone, but otherwise the space was kept very clean and uncluttered. Lots of dark wood has been used to offset the milky walls and the densely-covered pine and eucalyptus trees.
So which elements of their design is Carden Cunietti most proud of? “The spa area is very luxurious – it boasts a sauna, steam room and shower and is covered with very special marbles and tiles,” says Eleanora. “I also like the exterior areas of the property, as we designed the garden furniture and had it made bespoke in Bali. There are many different areas to relax, eat and hang out in. It’s a fantastic property.” carden-cunietti.com
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WE DESIGNED THE GARDEN FURNITURE AND HAD IT MADE BESPOKE IN BALI
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THIS HAS TO BE ONE OF THE MOST ENCHANTING HOMES WE’VE EVER WORKED ON
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About the designersAudrey Carden and Eleanora Cunietti met at a London antiques fair sourcing pieces for clients. They became firm friends and worked on a number of projects before opening a furnishings and antiques emporium in Notting Hill, London.
By the late nineties, demand for their glamorous international style increased and they started to outgrow their shop. Avalanched by requests from rock stars and international jet-setters who wanted Audrey and Eleanora to transcribe their trademark glamour to their own homes, the design duo shut up shop and moved to an expansive studio space near Little Venice, London, where they now lead a team of 12.
Carden Cunietti is recognised for its coolheaded elegance, sophisticated use of colour and meddling of materials and furniture styles. Its design personality is international and timeless, with luxurious twists.
Eschewing any cookie-cutter signature, Carden Cunietti believes that the key to timeless spaces lies in the mixing of contemporary and antique pieces to create an interior that is impossible to pinpoint in terms of date. Its eclectic style incorporates dramatic lighting, plus materials and artifacts from all periods and cultures.
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DESIGN
Dubai is much admired for its quick leap into the 21st century but Al Barari is perhaps one of the city’s most forward-thinking
developments. While other developers focus on manicured golf courses and densely populated communities, Al Barari takes a more natural approach.
From polishing recycled water to an on-site plant nursery, this luxurious eco-friendly estate in Nad Al Sheba is the only sustainable development of its kind in the UAE. Nowhere else comes close.
Sure, the tree-lined paths, idyllic ponds and diverse wildlife were initially contrived – what isn’t in Dubai? – but they’re now thriving habitats of their own accord. What’s more, they look natural, too.
“At first, people thought we were crazy and they didn’t understand the concept,”
Building Al Barari’s botanical haven is a real family affair BACK to NATURE
WORDS: ELEANOR JOSLIN
says Lesley Zaal, the wife of Al Barari’s founder Mr Zaal Mohammed Zaal. “They thought we were wasting space with trees when we could be building more houses. We could see there was a market for people wanting to live in a greener environment, where children can play outside and see animals – we have many birds, foxes and gazelles here.
“Al Barari has nine kilometres of walkways and many different gardens to walk through. Zaal and I take our grandson for walks around the lakes and you forget – even us – how beautiful it is here.”
Their prediction for market-demand was on the money. What started out as a far-fetched plan and empty desert is now a $3.2 billion estate spread over 14.2 million square feet. Demand remains strong, and the two latest developments to launch sold out almost instantly.
I meet Lesley at the Ashjar show-home, part of the stunning Seventh Heaven development, the second phase of this
eco-conscious community. Leaning back on a Bolia leopard-print armchair, the acclaimed interior designer seems right at home. And so she should – she designed it.
The spacious two-bedroom apartment epitomises the elegance that her company, Etcetera Living, is renowned for. But look closely at the details and it’s evident that the design is intrinsically linked to the natural world flourishing outside the wide windows, where an idyllic garden blooms around the veranda.
Our floral teacups sit on a Perspex side table, where trapped tree branches lie fossilised inside. I spot ornamental ammonite sculptures, shell-shaped plates and glass banana leaves in the living room. Mother-of-pearl splashbacks shine from the open-plan SieMatic kitchen and bamboo wall art decorates the bathrooms.
“It’s very important to make the most of the environment here and to bring as much of it inside as you can,” explains Lesley. “I sat with the architects and we
designed windows that open up fully and let lots of natural light in, and large terraces for families to enjoy barbecues in the garden. We even use the roof space, with seating and a bathroom so people can enjoy the amazing views of the Burj Khalifa on the skyline at night. I don’t believe in wasting any space. You are paying for that space, after all.”
This is evident throughout the apartment, where storage cupboards are hidden in walls and go right up to the ceiling. Even in the kitchen I find a cupboard just six-inches wide – providing enough shelving space for cups and saucers and making use of otherwise ‘dead space’.
“I didn’t want people to come in and change things – like the kitchen or windows, as many homeowners do when they buy property in Dubai,” she explains. “I want them to come in and say it’s perfect. Because I’m an interior designer and a mother of four children I’m very conscious about how families live in a space and what they need.”
Family values are clearly important to the Zaals. And turning this area from a baron desertscape into a luxurious botanical haven has been a dynamic family affair from the start. The couple’s four children have all played active roles in the development of this green enterprise.
Their eldest, Kamelia, surely has the most demanding task – as a landscape designer she’s responsible for the beautiful gardens and scenery and is constantly working on the grounds. Over 2,000 species of trees have been planted, which gives you an idea of the staggering scale landscaping Al Barari entailed.
Lesley sighs as she points out that her daughter’s hard work has had to be pulled up for the Seventh Heaven development. “But nothing has gone to waste,” she’s quick to clarify. “All the plants have been moved to our Greenworks nursery to be replanted. And all the deadwood is composted – Zaal calls this black gold because it’s so rich for the soil.”
Since graduating with a degree in property and sustainable development, their youngest son Haza’a is moving through each division of the family business to make sure the necessary green codes are being upheld.
Meanwhile, Mohammed took over the position of CEO from his sister Nadia, who helped her father run the business for a number of years. And while she still plays an active role in meetings she has since moved on to oversee the luxurious Nurai development in Abu Dhabi, an opportunity she couldn’t refuse. “Yes, the whole family is involved,” laughs Lesley. “But this business [Al Barari] is our home and we would never move, we love living here. There is no comparison for what your money buys you here. The difficulty is educating people to be eco-conscious. But it didn’t happen overnight in Europe and will take time here, too.” To see our exclusive properties in Nurai Island and Al Barari, turn to pages 61 and 64.
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To see Dubai Sotheby’s International Realty’s exclusive properties in these developments please view pages 61 and 64
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COLLECTIBLES
When Daniela Mascetti decided to swap digging for artifacts in southern Italy for studying art with Sotheby’s in London, did she foresee her toolkit
shifting from a mattock and trowel to vivid pink diamonds and cabochons? Absolutely not.
An archeologist by training, Mascetti entered the jewellery world “totally by default”. What started as a short sabbatical in the 1980s (“I found out that bureaucracy was not really agreeing with me and, unfortunately, if you work in archeology you have to deal with bureaucracy”) to study English in London (“I found that Sotheby’s, in those days, was running a one-year art course”), turned into full-time employment with the auction house’s jewellery division. “Sotheby’s sent me down to Milan, where they wanted to start a jewellery department,” says Mascetti. “I didn’t know much about jewellery, but I loved jewels. So from knowing absolutely zero 34 years ago, off I went to Milan.”
Fast forward and Mascetti is today revered as one of the jewellery world’s greatest influencers, with maisons around the world eager to work with her. Case in point: Bulgari.
The Italian jewellery house, which is currently celebrating its 130th year, first called upon the Geneva-based specialist 20 years ago to write a monography of its work. At the time, however, Bulgari’s laid-back Italian attitude meant order was out, chaos was in, and keeping an archive was almost
Having recently assembled a dazzling consignment of trinkets
for November’s Magnificent Jewels auction in Geneva, Sotheby’s international senior specialist in jewellery, Daniela Mascetti, takes time out to talk about one of the sale’s brightest stars
FOREVER FLAWLESS
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COLLECTIBLES
AT THE END OF ‘50S, BULGARI STARTED TO EMERGE WITH ITS OWN STYLE AND DESIGNS
that Bulgari is sailing through its 130th year. Aside from its successful
cultivation of prominent patrons like Sophia Loren and Elizabeth Taylor (a strategy
which has long been a key aspect of the jeweller’s reputation), Mascetti says it was Bulgari’s decision to break free from French fashion in the ‘60s that fuelled the world’s fascination with the jeweller further.
“Up to the 1950s, Bulgari followed the trends dictated by French jewellery. It wasn’t until the end of the ‘50s, the beginning of the ‘60s, that Bulgari started to emerge with its own style, designs and colours that were completely different to what the traditional French maisons were using – lots of contrasting colours, cabochon-cut stones and very strong designs. [This] all started to differentiate them from the delicate French style of the late ‘50s and early ‘60s. When we get into the ‘70s, Bulgari then started to refine its own trademark – the use of coins in jewellery and the use of the tubogas [a type of chain formed from a pair of interlocking gold strips]. Then, the ‘80s was the decade when Bulgari, design-wise, was really copied by everyone – the Parentesi motif, the modular jewels. And when you get copied by everyone it means that you have got the right idea.”
Referring to an Andy Warhol quote about Bulgari, “I think your jewellery is the ‘80s”, Mascetti agrees: “It was really true. Even now, 25 years later I can say
unheard of. Archive-less but enthusiastic,
Mascetti, along with her colleague and Bulgari historian,
Amanda Triossi, set about “piecing together bits from wherever we could find
them” – trawling libraries, reading documents and speaking to the Bulgari family. “We did a lot of research and we started at the core of what became a much bigger operation which has been carried on by Amanda, who is now looking after the Bulgari archive,” says Mascetti. The result of their search was a dazzling tome, entitled Bulgari, which chronicles the maison’s colourful past, from Sotirio Bulgari’s first pieces in 1884 through to the definitive designs we see today – coins, contrasting colours and cabochons.
Having amassed an encyclopedic understanding of the Italian jewellery house, powered, in part, by her literary connection, Mascetti is hardly surprised
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that jewellery-wise, internationally, the 1980s were driven by Bulgari designs.”
As Mascetti’s latest consignment takes to the auction block this November, what can bidders expect from Bulgari and beyond? If last year’s sale is any indication – which saw over $114.5 million in sales, with pieces ranging from the largest known fancy vivid pink diamond in the world to a 20th-century diamond tiara – then a top lot. From Bulgari, all eyes will be on the ruby and diamond parure, circa 1945, which, says Mascetti, is a primary example of “the time when Bulgari started to differentiate from the French tradition”.
So for a piece of history, grab your paddle and pull up a seat for what could be the sale of the year.
DANIELA MASCETTI’S TOP TIPS FOR COLLECTING BULGARI
1. First of all decide on what you would really like to wear because there is nothing worse than buying a piece of jewellery just for the sake of investment. Jewels have been created to be worn. 2. If you really want to collect you should collect things that are not made in multiples. And, rather than buying a bracelet with one coin, try to find a necklace that is made up of four.
3. If you buy Bulgari and you do not buy coin jewels, then buy colour cabochon stones – a Bulgari trademark.
THE 1980S WAS THE DECADE WHEN, DESIGN-WISE, BULGARI WAS COPIED BY EVERYONE
Sotheby’s Magnificent Jewels auction takes place in Geneva, November 12.
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In December 1999, as the old millennium came to a close, history was made. Sotheby’s once again wrote its name into the annals of time by auctioning the Henry Graves Supercomplication by Patek Philippe for the staggering
sum of $11 million. In Geneva this November, the watch finds itself up for auction once again. And as much as the auction is about the timepiece – a stunning example of Patek Philippe’s ingenuity – it’s just as much about the story behind it. The owner of this watch owns a slice of horological legend.
The story begins with Henry Graves Jr., one of the most well known collectors of fine watches in the 20th century. The son of a banker, the young Graves also made millions of dollars in banking and the burgeoning railroads, which were criss-crossing the United States in the early 1900s. Graves was an ardent watch collector with a particular penchant for one brand – Patek Philippe. He had a competitive streak stoked by his rival, automobile magnate James Ward Packard, and they both pushed themselves towards ownership of the most complicated watch in the world. Graves had patronised Patek Philippe through several lean periods in the company’s history, and helped keep it afloat when it looked like a dire market for luxury watches may cause the closure of its factories. As a mark of respect to its great patron, Patek Philippe didn’t flinch when Graves proposed this astonishing timepiece in 1925.
Fast forward an agonisingly slow three years of design and five years of painstaking production, and the Henry Graves Patek Philippe Supercomplication was born. In total, 430 screws, 110 wheels, 120 movable parts and 70 jewels combined to produce an at the time unheard of 24 complications including chronograph, minute-repeater with Westminster chimes, perpetual calendar, power reserves, sunrise and sunset times for New York City and a
celestial graph showing the constellation of stars in the sky over his country home in Ohio. The watch remained with Graves until his death in 1953, and indeed remained the most complicated timepiece for over 50 years, eventually overtaken by the Patek Caliber 89 and its 33 complications – which was only possible to make with computer-assisted machines.
In 1968 the Supercomplication was sold to the Museum of Time near Chicago, Illinois, where it remained until the fateful night in 1999 when the Sotheby’s auctioneer’s hammer came down at that incredible sum of money. The owner has allowed the watch to reside in the Patek Philippe Museum in Geneva, where it will remain until November 11.
With a presale estimate of $17 million,
the Supercomplication is a costly – yet endlessly fascinating – investment. And it’s worth bearing in mind that the presale estimate of the 1999 auction was a mere $3-5 million, only for the sale to rise to its record-breaking sum – so there’s no telling where November’s final total will fall. The sale, along with several other lots of important watches, is sure to generate fevered interest in collectors, and forms part of Patek Philippe’s 175th anniversary celebrations.
Sotheby’s has an illustrious past when it comes to selling watches, and in fact the auction house has taken in over $271.9 million in timepiece sales in the last five years. Sotheby’s Important Watches auction takes place in Geneva, November 11.
The SupercollectibleSotheby’s prepares to auction the most expensive watch in the world – the
1932 Henry Graves Supercomplication by Patek Philippe
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ART
THE POWER
OF PRINT
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WORDS: LARA BRUNT
Ahead of Sotheby’s New York prints sale, we explore the emergence of pop art in the 1950s and ‘60s that heralded a print boom
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Throughout history, art and technology have often been intertwined and none more so than in fine art printmaking. The Chinese pioneered printmaking in
the ninth century with woodcut, while Rembrandt’s use of etching, a technique first developed in Germany in the early 16th century, helped elevate printmaking to a fine art on par with painting and sculpture during the 17th century.Lithography, meanwhile, was invented in 1798, popularised during the mid-1800s by Goya, among others, and again found favour in the first half of the 20th century with artists such as Munch and Matisse.
It was the pop artists of the 1950s and ‘60s, however, who led a post-war print renaissance, with many members of the movement becoming inextricably linked to printmaking techniques, such as Andy Warhol and silkscreen printing or serigraphy. “Pop art coincides with the moment in which photography and printing techniques were developed very quickly in the mid-20th century and pop artists took advantage of all these new developments,” says Paloma Alarcó, head of modern painting at the Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum in Madrid.
Pop art emerged almost simultaneously in London and New York in the mid-1950s, with British artist Richard Hamilton’s seminal 1956 work, Just what is it that makes today’s homes so different, so appealing?, considered one of the first examples of pop. English art critic Lawrence Alloway is credited with coining the term, while Hamilton defined the bold new movement as “popular, transient, expendable, low-cost, mass-produced, young, witty, sexy, glamorous, and Big Business”.
Pop art exploded onto the American art scene in 1962 with The New Realists show at Sidney Janis Gallery in New York, which featured the work of Warhol and Roy Lichtenstein. The movement was in stark contrast to abstract expressionism, then the dominant art movement on that side of the Atlantic. “Pop art was a kind of reaction to abstract expressionism, which was very subjective and elitist,” says Alarcó.
Appropriation of popular imagery from advertising, comic books, film publicity
and consumer products was a major part of the pop aesthetic. “The movement’s wholehearted embrace of the new culture of technology and consumerism demolished the heroic, subjectivist aspirations of abstract expressionism and brought reality back to art,” she continues. “Pop artists favoured realism and everyday, even mundane, imagery, but not without healthy doses of irony, a dab of nostalgia, and, occasionally, a certain whiff of existential dismay.”
Artists such as Warhol, Lichtenstein, Jasper Johns and Robert Rauschenberg turned to commercial printing techniques, such as silkscreen and offset lithography, to produce their colourful, large-scale works. As Warhol, who first experimented with
silkscreen printing of images repeatedly onto a single canvas as early as 1962, famously told Art News: “The reason I’m painting this way is that I want to be a machine, and I feel that whatever I do and do machine-like is what I want to do.”
“Pop artists introduced something that was very important, especially now for contemporary art, in that the artist didn’t need to be the one to make the work,” comments Alarcó. “What is important is that Warhol, for example, was the one to choose the subject, decide the composition, but maybe someone else did the printing, which he would then manipulate. So the hand of the artist was not so important anymore, just the mind.”
Warhol committed seriously to screenprinting in 1967, beginning a series of thematic portfolios of 10 images each: Marilyn Monroe, Campbell’s Soup Cans I and II, Flowers, Electric Chairs and Mao. With his repeated borrowings of photographic images and unsigned, often unlimited, printed ephemera, Warhol challenged notions of originality and authenticity. “By substituting traditional artistic methods with every sort of mechanical reproduction, like photography and serigraphy, pop art dealt a mortal blow to the notion of originality,” says Alarcó.
Pop art met with international acclaim from curators, collectors and art audiences,
thanks to its accessible style. “Even now, it’s an art that is very attractive – strong images, very colourful, easy to understand,” Alarcó says. The critics, however, were less impressed. “In the United States, important art critics like [Clement] Greenberg or [Harold] Rosenberg who were promoting abstract expressionism, thought pop art was a very ephemeral movement that was not significant. It took time for pop art to start to be considered seriously,” she says.
Today, the appeal of pop art prints among collectors has not waned, which bodes well for Sotheby’s New York Prints auction, to be held on October 30 and 31. The sale will include Andy Warhol’s Marilyn (1967) screenprint in colour, which has a pre-sale estimate of $170,000-$220,000, along with the artist’s iconic Campbell’s Soup II (1969) screenprints (estimate $350,000-$550,000) and Roy Lichtenstein’s Two Nudes (1994) relief print in colours (estimate $180,000-$280,000).
Other highlights include lithographic works from Picasso, a prolific printmaker: Les Deux Femmes Nues (1945) series, comprising a unique red lithograph (estimate $150,000-$250,000) and a set of 18 lithographs including rare progressive proofs (estimate $100,000-$150,000). The complete set of Brice Marden’s six Cold Mountain etchings (estimate $250,000-$350,000), meanwhile, is also expected to attract spirited bidding. Sotheby’s Prints auction takes place in New York, October 30-31.
THE HAND OF THE ARTIST WAS NOT SO IMPORTANT ANYMORE
Opening page:Andy WarholCampbell’s Soup II, 1969The complete portfolio of 10 screenprints.Estimate: $350,000-$550,000
Opposite:Andy WarholMarilynScreenprint in colours, 1967Estimate: $170,000-$220,000
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HERITAGE
London’sgrandest
dameAs The Savoy celebrates its 125th anniversary, we look back at the hotel’s illustrious history
Stepping out of The Savoy’s chauffeur-driven Rolls-Royce Phantom beneath the iconic art deco sign, it’s impossible not to cast your mind back to the guests who have graced this famous forecourt. “Almost everyone who is anyone in the last 125 years has come to The
Savoy at one time or another,” says hotel archivist Susan Scott. “This has included royalty, presidents and prime ministers, writers and scientists, sportsmen and women, artists, actors and movie stars, composers, divas and dancers, and the occasional horse,” she laughs.
From the grand Savoy Court entrance – the only road in Britain where cars must drive on the right – to the nine personality suites, each named after one of the many celebrities who have made the hotel their home away from home, The Savoy oozes history. Opened in 1889 by theatrical impresario Richard D’Oyly Carte, it takes its name from the Savoy Palace that once stood on the same stretch of land between the Strand and the River Thames over 750 years ago.
Billed as London’s first luxury hotel, it incorporated numerous technological advances that D’Oyly Carte had experienced while travelling in the US producing Gilbert and Sullivan operettas. The Savoy was the city’s first hotel to have electric light and the first with electric lifts. Bedrooms were connected by speaking tubes to the valet, maid and room service waiter, and it later became London’s first hotel in which most bedrooms had bathrooms en-suite.
D’Oyly Carte recruited Swiss hotelier César Ritz as general manager and French chef Auguste Escoffier to head up the kitchens (the two were quietly dismissed
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WORDS: LARA BRUNT
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in 1898 on suspicion of stealing wine, and Ritz went on to open his eponymous hotel in Piccadilly in 1906). The Savoy was an immediate success, attracting an aristocratic and artistic crowd. “From opening, The Savoy has always been popular with artistes appearing in the West End, as the location made it the perfect place to reside, close to wherever one was appearing. These included the legendary French actress Sarah Bernhardt and operatic diva Dame Nellie Melba, while Maria Callas stayed frequently,” says Scott.
The elegant Edwardian hotel inspired creativity among its guests and its staff. Escoffier famously created two dishes for Melba: Melba Toast for when she was dieting and Peach Melba for when she wasn’t, while Whistler and Monet both painted the views from their bedroom windows. The hotel quickly became known as the setting for London’s most lavish parties, among them a 1905 bash thrown by American millionaire George Kessler that saw the courtyard filled with water to recreate a Venetian scene, with guests dining in a huge gondola.
During the late 1920s The Savoy embraced the art deco movement, decorating many guestrooms and public areas in this bold new style and installing its signature stainless steel sign. “Marlene Dietrich, a regular visitor from the 1930s onwards, has a suite decorated in the art deco style with which she, and indeed The Savoy, are strongly associated,” says Scott. “She continued to visit The Savoy into the 1970s, and her special requirements were always taken care of on her arrival – a dozen pink roses and a bottle of Dom Perignon in the suite’s fridge.”
In the 1930s, Vivien Leigh met her future husband Laurence Olivier at the hotel’s Savoy Grill, while Katharine Hepburn showed up in the late 1940s in her trademark trousers. “Trousers for women were not really acceptable wear in restaurants at this time, but exceptions would always be made, and one such exception was the redoubtable Miss Hepburn,” says Scott.
Around the same time, Princess Elizabeth was first seen in public with new husband Lt. Philip Mountbatten at a reception at The Savoy. When the Princess became the Queen in 1952, the hotel threw the largest and most lavish Coronation Ball in London. The new Elizabethan age saw a fresh generation of actors, film stars and politicians glide through its heavy mahogany doors, including Elizabeth Taylor, Sophia Loren and Marilyn Monroe. “The Beatles came in 1965 to meet Bob Dylan, who was living at The Savoy at the time,” says Scott. “They enjoyed meeting Dylan, and also testing the hotel’s room service to its limits, ordering pea and porridge sandwiches. Presumably these were served in due course!”
The glamorous address inspired loyal devotion among its high-class clientele and many had lifelong connections with the hotel. “During WWII Winston
ALMOST EVERYONE WHO IS ANYONE HAS BEEN TO THE SAVOY
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Churchill lunched at The Savoy so frequently with members of his cabinet that a suite was permanently reserved for him to enjoy one of his famous post-prandial catnaps,” remarks Scott. He continued to attend private meetings of his Savoy dining society, the Other Club, until his death. “In fact his final public appearance was at such a dinner in 1964,” she adds. Frank Sinatra was another long-time fan. “The Savoy was his London home before, during and long after his marriage to actress Ava Gardner, herself a loyal regular. Retired Savoy staff recalled him returning late at night from London concerts in the early 1980s, and unwinding by playing into the early hours on the piano in the Thames Foyer.”
In 2005, Saudi billionaire Prince Alwaleed bin Talal bought the hotel for £250m. Two years later, The Savoy closed its doors for the first time in its then 118-year history to undergo a much-needed restoration. Original features such as mouldings, fixtures and fittings were retained and incorporated into Pierre-Yves Rochon’s design, while new elements such as a Lalique crystal fountain and a lighter, brighter colour scheme were introduced. Originally slated to cost around £100 million and take 15 months to complete, the project was eventually completed three years later at a cost of £220 million (the refurbishment of the Royal Suite alone cost over £2.5 million). Restored to its former glory, the grand old dame rules London once again.
1. Louis Armstrong plays at The Savoy, 1956.
2. Mae West is mobbed by journalists in the hotel’s lobby, 1947.
3. Sir Laurence Olivier and Marilyn Monroe pictured at the hotel, 1956.
4. Fred and Adele Astaire dance on the rooftop of the hotel, 1923.
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MOTORING
Mercedes-Benz S 65 AMG CoupéSometimes it’s hard to pick between luxury and performance. For fans of Mercedes-Benz, that difficult choice just got a lot easier – don’t make it. The 2015 S 65 AMG Coupé launches in the UAE this autumn, and the list of its attributes makes for impressive reading: the AMG sports suspension is based on Magic Body Control and Curve Tilting technology, which delivers a unique driving sensation akin to the way a motorcyclist leans into bends. Powering these corners is a twin-turbocharged V12, blasting out 621 horsepower to a top speed of an electronically restricted 250km/h.
Inside the cabin, the top-spec model packs in every luxury touch imaginable. Heads-up display, touchpad controls on the 12.2-inch central console screen, 360-degree park assist, lane assist – you name it, the S 65’s already doing it. If there was ever a car for all seasons, occasions and indeed, all drivers – this is it.
ThrillRoad
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LISTINGS
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The GalleryFrom beachfront estates to graceful villas and chateaus, Dubai Sotheby’s International Realty has rounded up the most luxurious properties for sale in the UAE and beyond. It’s time to discover your dream home...
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AGENT PROFILE
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knowledge gleaned from this career my core belief is that I must satisfy my client’s wishes.
Is that ever straightforward? Different clients have different needs, of course, but to me they are all equal. Regardless of the amount of money they are spending or the number of properties they are buying, what they want is great service. You have to deliver great service when you work for SIR. You can’t fail in this regard. Even if my client wants something that I don’t have, I will find it! With a lot of clients you become a friend.
How has Dubai Sotheby’s International Realty helped you in terms of your client relations? With its heritage and global network Sotheby’s International Realty (SIR) really is a unique company to work for in this market, as it affords me the opportunity to showcase an international portfolio of properties to my clients. I have clients from abroad looking to buy in Dubai, and vice versa, so having the wider SIR network is a strong pull for my clients. Then there’s the fact that we tend to market properties that are exclusive to us; this means we can completely manage the property transaction to the benefit of both the buyer and the seller. Lastly, one of the other things that sets us apart at Sotheby’s International Realty is our commitment to marketing only quality properties. Irrespective of their price, the property will be of a very high standard and entirely suitable for our clients. It’s a brand name that implies trust.
And how about you personally, why do you think you’ve been able to attract and maintain clients?I’ve worked in sales and marketing for the past 17 years (eight years of that spent in real estate) and in addition to the
MY MUST-VIEW PROPERTY IN THIS ISSUE
Penthouse at Fairmont Palm Residences, page 56, Palm Jumeirah, AED19,000,000
‘You have to deliver great service when you work for Sotheby’s International Realty. You can’t fail in this regard’With an international client base, Dubai Sotheby’s International Realty’s Senior Global Property Consultant Julia Cauviere knows the importance of delivering on service
I’ve had international clients who, when visiting Dubai to look at properties, call me morning, noon and night with what may seem trivial questions, but that is part of my job. You have to be flexible in this role, and it’s important to listen to the client, not to yourself. Consequently, I’ve had the same clients for years.
Are there particular areas outside of Dubai that you know well? I have a thorough knowledge of Côte d’Azur, which is a popular area, and also parts of Italy.
And in Dubai, which areas of the city do you specialise in and where would you suggest a potential investor look?
Palm Jumeirah, Dubai Marina and JBR are my specific areas of expertise. Where I’d advise an investor to look obviously depends on their budget, but let’s say they’re looking to invest between AED2-5 million, I’d then suggest JBR. It offers a rental return of
around 7 per cent, which is good and can grow, and as well as that there’s the growth in the value of the property. It’s an area which will have fantastic amenities when complete, with the tram and the beach on your doorstep, so it’s always likely to prove popular with prospective tenants.
For more information on Julia’s properties please contact her on +971 55 113 3559 or email [email protected]
YOU HAVE TO BE FLEXIBLE IN THIS JOB AND IT’S IMPORTANT TO LISTEN TO THE CLIENT, NOT TO YOURSELF
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UNITED ARAB EMIRATES
Panoramic Views From The Burj KhalifaBurj Khalifa, Downtown Dubai
Dubai Fountain-View ApartmentThe Residences, Downtown Dubai
AED24,500,000
AED10,710,000
Svetlana Gorbach | [email protected] | +971 50 451 1750
Jihad Iqbal | [email protected] | +971 55 478 5130
The apartment comprises 4,279 Sq.Ft. of luxury living space and features high quality decorative finishes throughout, including premium marble and exotic hardwood flooring, large floor-to-ceiling windows, walk-in wardrobes and smart home system. The closed-plan, European designed and fully-equipped kitchen features Miele appliances, premium granite counter tops and marble flooring. All 4 bedrooms are en suite for further privacy. The property owns fabulous panoramic views of Dubai.
Live a fashionable lifestyle in Downtown Dubai. The Residences are part of an elite allocation of towers located directly on the lake housing the Dubai Fountain and therefore enjoy uninterrupted views of the majestic Burj Khalifa. Tower 4, as it is more commonly known, is considered the jewel of The Residences, being the only tower that has just two, 3-bedroom apartments per floor and its very own in-house gym, library, golf simulator and table tennis table.
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UNITED ARAB EMIRATES
Frond End, Signature VillaPalm Jumeirah
AED73,000,000Svetlana Gorbach | [email protected] | +971 50 451 1750
A truly unique opportunity to own a palatial villa on the world-famous Palm Jumeirah, offering some of the greatest views of the Arabian Gulf and Dubai Marina skyline. Entering into the foyer, it is clear to see that this is a one-of-a-kind residence. The vaulted ceilings open up the space and there are windows throughout that basks the home in golden light. This Signature Villa, designed with the entertainer in mind, has a beach room that looks out over the water and is perfect for taking in the sunrise. Other living spaces in this 7,000 Sq. Ft. property include a home office and conference room, a media room, staff quarters, open living room and dining room, 7 bathrooms and 5 bedrooms. The master bedroom has a sitting area, as well as his and hers bath closets. The enormous kitchen, fitted with modern appliances, has plenty of storage and counter space. Stepping out into the 13,000 Sq. Ft. manicured landscaped gardens there is a pool, gazebo, outdoor kitchen, and private access to the beach.
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UNITED ARAB EMIRATES
Spectacular Penthouse in Fairmont ResidencesPalm Jumeirah
Luxury Living By The Beach On The Palm Palm Jumeirah
AED19,000,000
AED27,500,000
Julia Cauviere | [email protected] | +971 55 113 3559
Sunshine Kewalramaney | [email protected] | +971 50 482 2515
The Farimont Residences offer a very exclusive type of home. This high-class penthouse is spacious, and well appointed with outstanding sea and Marina views. This unit is offering a living space of 5,050 Sq. Ft. and benefits from four bedrooms, service quarters, eat-in kitchen with modern appliances, as well as a spacious terrace that’s partially covered and features a private pool overlooking the Dubai Marina and Fairmont Palm Beach. Residents benefit from myriad hotel amenities.
Luxurious, Mediterranean-style, 6-bedroom, Great Rotanda Signature Villa situated on Palm Jumeirah, overlooking the beautiful Arabian Gulf. The villa sits on a 13,398 Sq.Ft. plot and covers a built up area of approximately 7,000 Sq.Ft. Beautifully planned with a formal living area, formal and informal dining areas, entertainment foyer, spacious kitchen, private staff quarters and a large garage for 2 cars. In addition, the villa has a private pool and landscaped garden that opens to a private beach.
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UNITED ARAB EMIRATES
Stunning Penthouse With Unrivaled Views Dubai Marina
AED15,000,000Leigh Williamson | [email protected] | +971 50 957 2575
This light and airy penthouse has an internal built up area of 5,468 Sq.Ft. and boasts several terraces to take full advantage of the stunning views. There are 3 en-suite bedrooms and the master suite also benefits from a walk-in wardrobe, Jacuzzi and private garden terrace. The open-plan living and dining area is a great space for entertaining, and when you need some quiet time the comforting family room will provide the luxurious surroundings you require. The finishing touch to this prime penthouse is its private swimming pool on the terrace. As you would expect of a property of this quality it benefits from a maid’s room, covered garage space, gymnasium facilities, concierge desk and valet parking services. If you are looking for a unique penthouse with high quality and great finishes throughout, this is highly recommended for viewing.
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ADVERTORIAL
W elcome to Muraba Residences, an architectural gem set on the Eastern Crescent of Palm Jumeirah. Comprised of just 46 apartments and 4 penthouses (ranging from 2-4 beds), each residence is perfectly aligned East to West, designed to make
the most of uninterrupted views across the water, right along the whole skyline of Dubai.
In fact, a key part of the building’s design is to balance maximum visibility with the requirements of each resident’s privacy. This is achieved by incorporating an innovative louvred glazing system into the exterior of every facade. It allows each resident to make the most of the vistas, whilst restricting the view into the apartment from other angles.
The sense of the infinite space surrounding you is mirrored
inside the apartments, where each room flows seamlessly into the next, although each has a clearly defined functionality. Yet the sense of connection with the whole space – an holistic living experience – is never lost.
Light is an integral element throughout; how it behaves throughout the day; how it moves through the rooms. The living room is defined by its floor-to-ceiling windows; the kitchen and dining areas by the clean lines and openness of their layout; while the master bathroom is bathed in natural light yet affords the upmost privacy where required.
For those who want to take the Muraba living experience to the next level, there’s the 4 penthouses. Each boasts an extraordinary amount of indoor and outdoor space – equally suited to entertaining or relaxing in private – with four double bedrooms (two with private balconies), extended living areas and a private elevator lobby. You’ll enjoy unmatched views over Dubai as they become the perfect backdrop to your life.
The Palm’s Architectural GemThe Muraba Residences is attuned to those with a different level of expectation
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In the extended kitchen and dining area there is a natural fluency between the cooking area, the indoor and outdoor dining spaces, and beyond to the city lights – ideal for entertaining. The master bedroom suite, meanwhile, is laid out in a linear progression that considers the dressing room, the bathroom and bedroom as a coherent space, culminating in the private balcony and panoramic vista across the Palm.
When it’s time to relax you won’t need to travel far. The Muraba Residences boasts a beautiful swimming pool area overlooking the Arabian Gulf and the city skyline to the East. The pool extends across the full width of the building’s facade and is connected to the fully-equipped indoor gym. For the ultimate in relaxation, enjoy the therapeutic Vitality Pool, Crystal Steam Room and Experience Shower. All amenities are available for exclusive use by residents.
Every aspect of the Muraba Residences is the epitome of considered design and flawless execution, expressed within a fluent international aesthetic. And once complete in April 2016, it will become Palm Jumeirah’s finest address.
To purchase, or for further information, please call Dubai Sotheby’s International Realty on 04 818 4999 or email [email protected]
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UNITED ARAB EMIRATES
Stunning Le Reve PenthouseDubai Marina
AED23,000,000Zoe Wang | [email protected] | +971 55 938 8636
Offering a built-up area of 6,100 Sq.Ft. this beautiful 4-bedroom penthouse offers luxury, quality finishes, facilities and the privacy demanded by the elite few that make Le Reve their home. The large lounge and dining area is to the front of the property, with floor-to-ceiling windows, marble floors and a private oversized balcony with enough space for outdoor dining and entertaining. The 4-bedroom suites are to be found to the rear of the unit, each with their own bathroom, fitted wardrobe and walk-in closet. Le Reve is a unique tower of only penthouse apartments, and thus is a very high-end and exclusive building. Your security and privacy is of the highest level and is guaranteed by the 24-hour exclusive concierge and security management teams on site.
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UNITED ARAB EMIRATES
Spectacular Beachfront EstateNurai Island, Abu Dhabi
Offers in the region of AED55,000,000Seran Gheorghe | [email protected] | +971 50 856 7553
On entering this magnificent Shoreline Beachfront Estate on Nurai Island you will be taken by the incredible double-storey atrium, around which the rest of the property pivots. The property comprises a huge living room, 6 bedrooms, games room, terrace, balcony, dry pantry, office, kitchen, dining room, maid’s quarter, chef ’s quarter, study, storage room, marble flooring, built-in wardrobes, floor-to-ceiling windows, smart home technology, Jacuzzi, irrigation system, barbecue, steam room and sauna. The villa’s setting, slightly back from the beach, allows for a luxurious private garden with a reflecting pool bridging the grounds to the terrace and the sea beyond.
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UNITED ARAB EMIRATES
Designer Entertainment Villa Emirates Hills
Price upon request Leigh Williamson | [email protected] | +971 50 957 2575
Located in the ‘Beverly Hills of Dubai’, this magnificent 6-bedroom villa boasts 42,000 Sq.Ft. of exceptional modern design, as it sits back on a prime location plot overlooking the Montgomerie golf course and Dubai skyline. From the moment you enter the villa you gain a sense of calm and welcome, as it has been fully Vastu and Feng Shui designed. The renowned Candy & Candy UK Design Team is credited as the inspiration to the layout and aesthetic design. This has resulted in grand spaces, beautifully proportioned rooms and plenty of natural light to match the lush green aesthetics of the surrounding grounds. It is the personal details in this villa that make it such a special home, including the pearl and 18-carat gold flooring throughout, the one-of-a-kind staircase and the indoor pool and spa area.
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UNITED ARAB EMIRATES
Graceful Valencia Villa On Golf CourseJumeirah Golf Estates
Superb Modern Hattan Villa The Lakes
AED12,240,000
AED18,950,000
Christine Park | [email protected] | +971 55 531 0045
Seran Gheorghe | [email protected] | +971 50 856 7553
This beautiful Valencia villa has a dramatic triple floor entry tower and elegant lobby with views through to the garden and lake beyond. The ground floor includes a guest bedroom, study room, reception, dining room, family room, show kitchen (with preparation kitchen), laundry, powder room and a maid’s room. There are 4 bedrooms on the first floor all with en-suite bathrooms and another family room along with powder room. This villa also boasts a spacious side and rear garden with swimming pool.
This villa’s superb contemporary design offers an abundance of natural light in its interior due to the floor-to-ceiling windows which can be fully retracted and lead out to the picturesque outdoor pool and barbecue area. The ultra modern design includes a formal reception area, chic family living area and dining room, which neighbours the upgraded kitchen fitted with Miele appliances. The stairway leads to the first floor and 4 en-suite bedrooms, followed by the top floor that houses the fifth en-suite bedroom.
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UNITED ARAB EMIRATES
Upgraded Bromelia Villa Al Barari
AED19,500,000Oliver Essex | [email protected] | +971 50 503 0817
A perfectly laid out, large, 5-bedroom villa, with 2 large studies, both of which could be considered as 2 extra bedrooms. The downstairs is open-plan, with an impressive designer kitchen and central island cooking facility. There are 3 main reception areas, leading off the impressive entrance hall. This exceptional villa comes fully furnished with the most luxurious furniture, most notably Baccarat chandeliers throughout. This outstanding property is a must-see, with a number of other upgrades both inside and out. Currently vacant, it can be viewed anytime.
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RENTALS | UNITED ARAB EMIRATES
Luxurious Family VillaJumeirah
Luxury 5-Bedroom Villa Umm Suqeim
Duplex Penthouse With Fabulous Marina and Palm ViewsDubai Marina
AED2,000,000 per annum
AED550,000 per annum
Jihad Iqbal | [email protected] | +971 55 478 5130
Svetlana Gorbach | [email protected] |+971 50 451 1750
This exquisite, Georgian-style, fully furnished villa consists of 5 en-suite bedrooms and both maid’s and driver’s quarters. This luxurious masterpiece dazzles with its functionality and spacious layout fit for a large family. On entering the villa one sees the grand staircase which leads to the family bedrooms upstairs and the entrance to the beautifully designed living areas on the ground floor. Located in close proximity to the upcoming Jumeirah Walk retail project, residents have a wealth of eateries and entertainment destinations within the area, and are also within a minute’s drive of The Dubai Mall.
This new villa development – Verve Jumeirah – comprises six attached units which are located in one of Dubai’s most prestigious districts. It is within close proximity and easy access to Burj Al Arab, Mall of the Emirates, schools, golf courses and beaches. Each villa has a 1,130 Sq. Ft. landscaped garden with a private 7m x 4m swimming pool. The ground floor consists of spacious formal dining and living rooms, a family sitting room, guest bedroom, large kitchen with walnut cabinetry, entrance hall and benefits from having a maid’s room with a courtyard. The first floor features the master bedroom and 3 additional bedrooms, all of which share a family sitting lounge.
This vacant, spacious and upgraded duplex penthouse is situated in Al Yass Tower – one of Emaar’s original six towers in the Dubai Marina project. It houses 3 bedrooms plus a maid’s room, and comprises 3,618 Sq.Ft. of internal area and 873 Sq.Ft. of terrace, offering panoramic Marina and sea views. All bedrooms feature walk-in wardrobes and en-suite luxurious bathrooms. The kitchen is fully equipped and has space for dining. Meanwhile, the building’s amenities and facilities inlude a shared swimming pool, gym, spa, sauna, and kids’ play area.
AED500,000 per annum
Svetlana Gorbach | [email protected] |+971 50 451 1750
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INTERNATIONAL
The BahamasHarbour Island
The BahamasParadise Island
The Bahamas Ocean Club Estates
The BahamasOcean Club Estates
$8,250,000
$2,200,000
$5,999,999
$21,500,000
Damianos Sotheby’s International Realty | Nick Damianos | 242 376 1841 | [email protected]
Damianos Sotheby’s International Realty | George Damianos |242 424 9699 | [email protected]
Damianos Sotheby’s International Realty | Samira Coleby | 242 376 6248 | [email protected]
Damianos Sotheby’s International Realty | Nick Damianos | 242 376 1841 | [email protected]
This beachfront home at The Dunmore Resort was created by award-winning architects, and boasts interiors by Alessandra Branca. It’s fully furnished, and houses 4 bedrooms, 5.5 bathrooms and stunning views. Owners have access to resort amenities, concierge and management services. The Bahamas has no income, capital gains or inheritance tax.
This second-floor, end-unit apartment is fully furnished and has 3 bedrooms, 3.5 bathrooms, and 2 balconies. It also affords beautiful bay views. Residents here get to enjoy an exceptional lifestyle at Ocean Club Residences & Marina, which has a beach club and world-class golf facilities. Residents also enjoy privileges at the nearby Atlantis hotel and One&Only Ocean Club.
This harbourfront estate home spans 6,500 Sq.Ft. and houses 5 bedrooms, 5.5 bathrooms and a swimming pool. It also offers panoramic views and 100 Ft. of riparian rights on the seabed, for docking private yachts and watercraft. World-class resort amenities include an 18-hole golf course, beach club and marina.
Villa Florentine is a grand estate situated in the prestigious gated community of Ocean Club Estates. Positioned for views down the central waterway, the estate sits on two lots comprising 1.4 acres with a 14,000 Sq. Ft. main house and a 10,000 Sq. Ft. guest villa, totalling 12 bedrooms. It also features extensive indoor and outdoor entertaining spaces and manicured tropical gardens.
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INTERNATIONAL
BermudaTucker’s Town
$38,250,000Rego Sotheby’s International Realty | Margaret Young | 441 534 9393 | [email protected]
Savour vibrant blue lagoons from this secluded estate. Located in the prestigious enclave of Tucker’s Town, Idolwood Lagoon comprises a magnificent main house of approximately 10,350 Sq.Ft. overlooking a tranquil lagoon with turquoise waters and a sandy beach. Additionally, there are three separate cottages. The stunning main residence features 5 bedrooms with en-suite bathrooms plus a study with a half bathroom. Adding to the property’s desirability are 4 garages, a gym, tennis court, an extensive orchard, nature trails and two docks with moorings.
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INTERNATIONAL
CanadaToronto
$3,600,000Sotheby’s International Realty Canda | Jim Burtnick | 416 960 9995 | [email protected]
Set on the 53rd floor of the Four Seasons Private Residences – affording stunning north/east city skyline views – this bright, 2,000 Sq.Ft. corner unit features floor-to-ceiling glass windows, fireplace, 12’ high ceilings, electric blinds, high-end glossy cabinet doors in the kitchen, private terrace and direct access to elevator at your door, plus a rear service entrance. 2 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms (2 en-suite), gallery walls, 2 parking spaces and a locker complete the package. Residents can also enjoy all the amenities Four Seasons Private Residences has to offer; 24-hour valet parking, 24-hour doorman, room service, spa, gym, indoor pool, housekeeping services, and much more.
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INVESTOR’S GUIDE
Golden TicketMany EU countries are now granting foreign investors residency should they purchase property there. In Residence gets the low-down on the ‘golden visa’ scheme from in-the-know lawyer Emilio Prieto
Inset: Tossa de Mar, Costa Brava, Spain. To buy this property email [email protected] or call +971 4 818 4950
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INVESTOR’S GUIDE
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What’s meant by the term ‘golden visa’ in terms of property purchases?The golden visa is a programme launched by EU members applicable for non-EU member investors, allowing them to obtain a residency permit in the corresponding EU member country. One of the ways the investor can obtain a golden visa is via a property purchase.
Which countries offer the golden visa?Spain, Portugal, Ireland, Cyprus, Greece, Malta, Estonia, Bulgaria, Latvia and Romania all do, while Holland, France, Belgium and the United Kingdom have special schemes, although with relevant particularities.
Beyond a residency visa for a particular country, what other benefits are there to holding a golden visa and, typically, how long do they last for?The residency permit allows its holder to live and move freely throughout the Schengen area (most of continental Europe, including 26 countries). Golden visas have different durations for each jurisdiction. In Spain and Portugal, for example, which are my areas of expertise, the visa is granted for an initial period of one year, whereas in the case of Greece, the visa is granted for an initial period of five years. Also, in Spain and Portugal, the residency visa covers both the applicant and his/her descendants aged under 18.
What happens when the visa expires, can it be renewed?Yes, the common element in the jurisdictions is that, regardless of the initial duration of the visa, the period can be renewed successively provided that certain requirements that were met when the applicant qualified for the golden visa are still maintained when the visa is intended to be renewed (basically, that the property that was used to obtain the visa is kept for a certain period of time, which is different in each jurisdiction). The duration of the visa extension differs in each country.
What happens to your visa if you sell the property during the term of your visa?Again, the regime is not the same in all jurisdictions, but it can be said that one of the commonalities in the countries with golden visa schemes is that the property shall be kept for a certain period. In
Spain, keeping the property is one of the requirements that shall be met to renew the visa, and in Portugal the property shall be kept for a minimum of five years.
What’s the process in Spain and Portugal – how does one obtain a golden visa there?The process to obtain a golden visa via a property purchase is pretty similar in both countries. In Spain, the visa applicant shall have acquired properties located in Spain for a total price of more than €500,000 (provided that the properties are free of charges or mortgages at least in the amount of €500,001). It is important to note that the property acquisition can be carried out either directly by the applicant or by a legal entity in which the applicant either owns, directly or indirectly, the majority of the voting rights, or is entitled to appoint or dismiss the majority of the members of the board. In no case, however, can this legal entity be located in a place considered a tax haven.
Other factors that are considered include the applicant being free of a criminal record; the need to hold health insurance granted by an insurance company with offices in Spain; and evidence that they have enough economic resources for himself/herself and, if applicable, for their family members.
Once in possession of the visa, the investor must also travel to Spain at least once during the period in which he/she is allowed to reside in Spain.
In Portugal, the property investment must also total more than €500,000, and the remaining aspects are pretty similar to those in Spain.
Are there any restrictions on the type of properties available in Spain and Portugal under the golden visa scheme?All property types qualify in both jurisdictions for golden visa purposes.Although the golden visa schemes are relatively new (less than two years old in Portugal and less than one year old in Spain), it has proved successful so far and every day more and more potential applicants are declaring an interest in acquiring a golden visa.
Emilio Prieto is Dubai Sotheby’sInternational Realty’s preferred legal adviser for golden visas.
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CanadaCaledon, Ontario
$19,995,000Sotheby’s International Realty Canda | Jim Burtnick | 416 960 9995 | [email protected]
Come home to Villa Florentine, an iconic estate that sits atop the sweeping hills of the Caledon countryside. The charm of old world antiquity meets modern extravagance in this impressive 10,000 Sq.Ft. home featuring two luxurious coach houses covered in climbing vines and a fully-outfitted equestrian facility. Exquisitely curated with the finest craftsmanship, both the main house and equestrian facility feature design details like custom marble, crown mouldings and bamboo floors, all tuned to perfection.
Switzerland Montreux
CHF2,720,000Cardis SA | Thomas Geiser | +41 21 962 86 62 | [email protected]
This magnificent building in a contemporary architectural style consists of two villas, each with two apartments. Located at Chamby-sur-Montreux, on the hillside overlooking the Riviera, it gives a panoramic view of the lake and mountains, and offers future residents an exceptional lifestyle. This is a new project currently under development, and represents a unique opportunity for non-Swiss residents to buy a property in Switzerland.
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INTERNATIONAL
Puerto RicoVieques Island
$7,800,000Puerto Rico Sotheby’s International Realty | Oriana Juvelier | 787 523 6503 | [email protected]
Discover the allure within this property perched atop the centre ridge of Vieques Island, a tropical paradise that lies a few miles off the eastern tip of Puerto Rico. Featuring the Caribbean’s most exquisite vistas, mountain-top estates, and white-sand beaches, this low-key chic island paradise has become the secret private escape for discerning luxury-lifestyle connoisseurs. In order to bolster a diversified economy, the Puerto Rican government has created an aggressive economic and tax incentives programme to enable the island to become more profitable to those companies which establish themselves here. These tax incentives were created to ensure Puerto Rico’s competitiveness in attracting investments, and they are an opportunity for companies all over the world.
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INTERNATIONAL
USAKapaa, Hawaii
$24,000,000Sleeping Giant Sotheby’s International Realty | Paul G. Kyno | 808 651 3287 | [email protected]
Situated amid 200 acres of paradise in the lush hills of Kaua’i, the historic Valley House Estate boasts architectural splendour and stunning scenery, including two landmark waterfalls that cascade over cliffs into pristine bathing pools. The Estate consists of three residences with equally magnificent views. The Cistern House, the primary residence of the estate, was constructed in 2006 and is a 4,000 Sq.Ft., 3-bedroom, 3.5-bathroom cantilevered home. The Valley House is the aptly named second residence. Built in 2004 it is a spacious home set discreetly into the landscape and situated on top of a hill. The Gate House, a 4,000 Sq.Ft. duplex, is the third residence. A vacation rental permit has been secured for the estate. This is a truly spectacular property.
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INTERNATIONAL
USASanta Ynez, California
$19,000,000Sotheby’s International Realty | Suzanne Perkins | 805 895 2138 | [email protected]
Majestic oaks and pepper trees stand watch over what is paradise to equestrian and sports lovers, located on approximately 65 acres in the spectacular Santa Ynez Valley, California. With expansive vistas across the varietal vineyards and lavender fields, this recently remodelled ranch style home is inviting and comfortable with fabulous views, offering a huge living/dining room, fully equipped kitchen, media room, superb master suite, 3 additional bedrooms, and a home gym, plus a guest apartment and guest cottages. A 25-metre pool, tennis/sports court, five-hole golf course and extensive horse facilities – covered arena, barns, pastures, paddocks, 2 irrigation wells and more – complete the offering. Great Oaks Ranch would be an ideal family retreat to enjoy the pleasures of sport and ranch life in a private setting, or equally serve as an excellent corporate retreat.
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INTERNATIONAL
USAAtlanta, Georgia
Price upon request
Atlanta Fine Homes Sotheby’s International Realty | Carol Dean Davis / Betsy Akers | 404 824 4100 / 404 372 8144 | [email protected] / [email protected]
Located in Atlanta’s prestigious Buckhead community, this compound is the epitome of grand southern living. Situated on over 23 acres overlooking the Chattahoochee River, the three residences on the estate illustrate extraordinary craftsmanship, timeless elegance and sophistication – a true private oasis within the city from the moment you enter the unassuming gates. Incredible amenities include a soccer field, lighted tennis court, field house, putting green, Olympic park fountain, gazebo, aviary and more. It’s a gardener’s paradise in every season, with the borders of the exquisite gardens arranged in alternating drifts of fall and spring bloomers with summer flowers sown in a wide, connecting swath throughout. Roses, peonies, phlox, sweet William, daisies and many others take their turn to perform.
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INTERNATIONAL
USAHouston, Texas
$43,000,000 Martha Turner Sotheby’s International Realty | Kellie Geitner | 713 213 2011 | [email protected]
Secluded on 2.5 wooded acres, this neoclassical, close-in Memorial-area chateau is a masterpiece of luxury and refinement surrounded by private, park-like grounds. The 27,000-plus Sq.Ft chateau is designed for elegant entertaining and the display of museum-quality art. Amenities include lavish gilt and delicately-wrought, hand-painted decoration; meticulously reproduced period molding; white marble tile and inlaid, hand-scraped hardwood floors; and antique boiserie, chandeliers, and marble fireplaces. Expertly proportioned principal rooms include a gallery/reception hall, Versailles room/salon, dining room, music room, east gallery hall, family room, sun room, and breakfast/informal dining room. The kitchen encompasses an elegant entertaining kitchen, catering kitchen, extensive butler’s pantry, and office. The setting and architecture evoke the grandeur of Versailles and the art-filled mansions of Paris’ 16th arrondissement.
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INTERNATIONAL
USAWashington, D.C.
USAWashington, D.C.
$2,395,000
$1,165,000
TTR Sotheby’s International Realty | Mansour Abu-Rahmeh / Karam Iqteit | 202 423 8332 / 202 360 3855 | [email protected] / [email protected]
TTR Sotheby’s International Realty | Mansour Abu-Rahmeh / Karam Iqteit | 202 423 8332 / 202 360 3855 | [email protected] / [email protected]
Grand, Victorian-style 10-room, 4-storey home with 3 bedroom suites, 1.5 bathroom and separate 1-bedroom apartment. Located on one of the most historic blocks in downtown Washington, D.C. The chef ’s kitchen has Thermador appliances, black honed marble counters and antique mirror backsplash. This home has 2 parking spaces and is located less than half a mile from the luxury shops at downtown City Center and one mile to the White House.
Stunning, 2-bedroom, 2-bathroom with garage parking in exclusive Residences at City Center. The custom details in this unit include Molteni cabinetry and Bosch and Miele appliances. The building amenities include residential roof parks, a gym, concierge, 24-hour private security and much more. Located in the heart of downtown D.C., less than a mile to the National Mall and White House, with the best shopping, dining and transportation options just outside the front door.
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INTERNATIONAL
USADuxbury, MA
USAScituate, MA
USADuxbury, MA
$1,560,000
$4,000,000
Macdonald & Wood Sotheby’s International Realty | Liz Bone | 866 934 2004 | [email protected]
Macdonald & Wood Sotheby’s International Realty | Marcia Solberg | 866 934 2004 | [email protected]
Water view, 3-bedroom colonial-style home on a quiet lane on Standish Shore. This bright and airy home is made for entertaining, boasting a flowing floor plan that includes a family room with fireplace, gorgeous sun room, and 23’ living room, again with fireplace. Enjoy the updated cherry kitchen and master suite with its private deck, and smell the salty air from your screened porch and/or covered porch. Other amenities include a 2-car attached garage, central air conditioning, and deeded beach access. Located 30 miles from Boston.
Fabulous opportunity to develop a 15-acre parcel in desirable Scituate, located 25 miles south of Boston. It comes with town-approved plans for building eight single family homes or 15 duplexes. The gently sloping sites are all in a good location.
This landmark waterfront property stands on over an acre of land on desirable Powder Point. It features 6 bedrooms and 6 bathrooms, with a private dock and 200’ of water frontage. A 2010 addition was a decorator granite kitchen, open toan inviting family room. This home boasts a masterful blend of antique charm with modern conveniences, including 5 fireplaces and a 3-car garage. Located 30 miles from Boston.
$3,499,000
Macdonald & Wood Sotheby’s International Realty | Donna Wood |866 934 2004 | [email protected]
80
INTERNATIONAL
USAMamaroneck, New York
USASanta Barbara, California
$8,595,000
$3,695,000
Julia B. Fee Sotheby’s International Realty | Jeanne Kiernan / Katherine Tamagna | 914 522 4223 / 914 772 0499 | [email protected] / [email protected]
Sotheby’s International Realty - Montecito Coast Village Road Brokerage | Tim Cardy | 805 637 0878 | [email protected]
Extravagant contemporary home in a gated enclave ideally located on 1.46 acres, with 350 Ft. of direct waterfront. This elegant abode spans over 8,500 Sq.Ft. and has soaring ceilings throughout. An open floor plan, panoramic views of golden sunsets, swimming pool and pool house – affording opportunities for grand or intimate entertaining – complete the offering.
This turn-of-the-century pagoda, with its sweeping roof lines and dramatic style, perches above downtown Santa Barbara, offering city, harbour, island and ocean views. This finely crafted home with its notable redwood paneling, high volume living spaces and mature specimen gardens, is a glorious example of gracious living in Santa Barbara.
USAAgoura, California
$1,299,000
Sotheby’s International Realty Pacific Palisades Brokerage | Enzo Ricciardelli / Shen Schulz | 310 255 5467 / 310 980 8809 |[email protected] / [email protected]
Finally a larger, 6-bedroom, 4.5-bathroom (5+3 up and 1+1.5 down) home that boasts a gorgeous pool/spa with waterfall in a secluded backyard formed from beautiful river rock and flagstones. This outdoor area also has a kitchen with granite counters and a stainless steel barbecue. Inside is a wonderful gourmet kitchen, with a centre island and huge pantry. Landscaping is also a feature.
