Arts and Culture
A modern day palace
If there is one word to capture the spirit of the Peninsula Hotel Group, it has to be – in the simplest but all encompassing of words – dedication.
It is dedication that has led to the expansion of the Peninsula Hotel with chains across Hong Kong, its original “birth place”, Shanghai, Beijing, Manila, Tokyo to New York, Beverly Hills, Chicago and recently, the first of its kind in Europe, Paris.
In an exclusive interview with Peninsula Paris’ Hotel Manager Vincent Pimont, The Sybarite gets a first glance at this modern day palace to discover...
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Remy Cointreau experience
Remy Cointreau is currently made up of 9 brands united with 2 divisions: The House of Remy Martin, which offer a great cognacs range of Remy Martin and Louis XIII, and its Liqueurs and Spirits section which include Cointreau, Metaxa, Mount Gay Rum, Bruichladdich, St Remy, Passoa and Izarra. However, it is surprising to know that even the wines and spirits industry has to compete and constantly deliver innovative products in order to continue attracting its audience. For 2014/15, The House of Remy Martin is seemingly confident with its approach for the financial year as they are “boosted by a new packaging facility and a new spirits cellar both of which were built while respecting the traditions and expertise of a House dating back almost 300 years, yet are modern. Beyond pricing, the ultra-premium strategy is based on a pursuit of excellence allied to renewed creativity, a source of modernity, innovations in the products and in the fields of digital and customer relations.”
Featuring Meditation packages and the Dalai Lama, to find your Zen
What if you could venture to a place where your mind’s noise and distractions are taken even farther to a place of deep serenity and calm – that is, if you can focus and find it. This month, The Sybarite focuses on finding your inner Zen, through some of these unique destinations around the world.
Featuring Beautiful Contradictions: Luxury for the Culture Aficionado
Sipping a cocktail on one of the many rooftop bars in the ancient district of Beyoğlu, Istanbul, it is safe to say your impression is both one of contradictions, and one-of-a-kind synthesis. As our conception of luxury moves further away from objects towards experiences, how we synthesise these unique contradictions in culture – scale and intimacy, spectacle and conversation – become unforgettable moments. Our desire for unique experiences is stronger than ever. Equal parts invigorating and dizzying, Istanbul has an abundance of them. Rest assured, your head will be spinning with (Turkish) delight once back on the plane, but undoubtedly, it’s worth every moment. For the one in the know, the historic capital offers a contemporary haven for the culture-seeking, discerning individual. Why not check into the newly designed Soho House Istanbul: a 19th-century Genoese palazzo complete with frescoed walls and Corinthian columns. With 87 rooms and two rooftop pools overlooking the Bosphorus, an aromatic Turkish coffee from its award-winning Cecconi’s restaurant will certainly rejuvenate you for the day ahead, if it’s Turkish-tiled rainforest showers haven’t already.
Featuring Chateau de Vallery, a destination without boundaries
Look no further, as The Sybarite thinks it’s found the ideal gem of a Chateau, where freedom and space is everything. You will often find, that on your search for the ideal Chateau, most will have time restrictions in how long you can dance and drink the night away, if not the capacity to accommodate guests overnight. It seems that there is always that “win or lose” situation when venue hunting for your wedding celebration – either you host your guests for a reception at a fancy restaurant by which it then becomes the dance floor for evening festivities only to manage to say farewell (if one is sober enough by then) to everyone and realize that it went by all too quickly, there was not substantial time to ask how everyone was. Most celebrations might happen that way and most couples might prefer it that way too, but if you’re one of those couples who have big families and intend to invite many guests (especially guests flying in from abroad) but prefer to have time for intimate gatherings and conversations, than why not consider renting out an entire Chateau that is exclusive to you and your guests only, for 1 or 2 nights?
Featuring Bespoke home libraries are still a luxury amidst the...
Anyone can have a few nice bookshelves put into his study, but what makes a library is the content. And while “browsing” is now similarly a word used in the online sense, it is more leisurely when you can actually walk through and touch the content all relating to a specific topic – though you may not exactly know what you’re looking for, it is the act of browsing books through bookshelves that has a certain experience to it. Heywood Hill, a bookseller from Mayfair that goes back to 1931, helps you fill your personal library with purveyed content to match. Whether you need 3,000 volumes on 20th century modernist art and design or a few dozen classics on foreign affairs to deck out that private jet, Heywood Hill will go out and find what you need so that you don’t end up with a Great Gatsby-esque wall of uncut encyclopaedias.
Featuring Open Book – meet the man behind private members’ club The...
But aside from his successful endeavours and business ventures, who is Ronald Ndoro really? And more importantly, what has the journey been like for a man who continues to wear many hats in an industry known for its numerous pitfalls. Like opening a book, The Sybarite sat down with Ronald Ndoro in one of The Library’s many eclectic rooms for an intimate conversation to explore the many adventurous and artistic voyages that ultimately led him to create a private members’ club. With an insatiable appetite for books, it seemed almost eerily fitting that after his mum’s charity shop in Holloway Street closed down, the plethora of leftover books would come to good use for his project so much so that it became the starting point for the concept of The Library. Covered in floor-to-ceiling bookshelves, patrons can easily reach out and grab a volume from every possible genre and indulge in a bit of reading whilst sipping a beverage from a drinks menu that presents itself as varied as the literary selection.
Featuring How to give Glastonbury a dusting of luxury this year
As one of summer's biggest Greenfield music and performing arts festivals, style is all the rage, even more so when it comes to finding accommodation that is just as tasteful. Much like the dazzling Coachella Festival in the Colorado Dessert, where they too offer exclusive campsites (and services) in the form of Safari Tents, it’s no surprise that Glastonbury has further amplified its variety of on-site accommodation with attractive extras to go along with it. Whether you’re looking to revel in the festivities or have your family in tow or maybe you prefer to indulge in the festival in style - well, this huge tented city is filled with options for the festivalgoer. Our mission is to discover how to appreciate Glastonbury in ultra comfort and style – take for example The Popup Hotel which offers a reserved site replete with security, private parking, spa, exquisite food bars, concierge service and a host of room types depending on the person’s preferences, and what’s more, the site is located a mere few minutes walk from Gate D.
Featuring The summer of Love at winterwell Festival
The swinging sixties is still known as the coolest decade – and you’re lucky enough to be invited there for one day only this summer. Winterwell Festival is back for its ninth year in its new location of Yarnton Manor, a beautiful seventeenth century stately home in Oxfordshire, with the theme of The Summer of 1967. On Saturday 29th August, Yarnton Manor will swing open its doors to revellers for a whirlwind weekend of festivities. Experience gourmet food and immersive theatre as well as submersing yourself in the history of the manor, exploring the secret sunken garden and the historic long gallery; treading in the footsteps of the likes of Charles I and John Betjeman, previous guests of Yarnton. Sign up for life drawing classes, race ferrets (if that’s your thing) or check into a massage tent if it’s pampering you’re after. As the sun lowers, the noise levels will rise, with live bands and headline DJs taking to various stages in the grounds, followed by an extraordinary fireworks display to take you through to dawn.
Letitia Casta, Parisienne Par excellence for Cointreau
Through history Cointreau has been close to women as they explore their creativity, embodying in many ways the free spirit of La Parisienne, the Parisian woman. As Creative Director of the House of Cointreau, Casta’s very first goal is to inspire women and dare them to be themselves, celebrating Cointreau’s signature art de vivre. For her first project Casta has chosen to celebrate Louisa Cointreau, due to her pivotal role for the House and her encouragement toward women to explore their creative side. “It’s the fragility of a women that touches me. Today we want to be too strong, today we want to be too perfect, and I think it’s completely wrong. We have to be in love with our femininity and this is the message I want to get across.” said Casta, whose project also involves selecting female artists from all over the world to share their own twist on life. This will happen both through a series of ‘webisodes’, each an opportunity to freely exchange ideas, but also creative evenings inspired by the Cointreau Cafe’ Society.
Featuring David Adjaye At Haus Der Kunst
“Form, Heft, Material,” displays miniature replicas of his biggest designs, alongside other contemporary objects. Taking a modernised and graphical approach, some might see his works as a reflection of the future. What appears to be simple has the power to make us question what architecture will become. Another form of art? Using an array of materials and complex ideas, he introduces us to new shapes and forms, while avoiding the use of barriers, allowing everyone an insight into his carefully constructed engineering. The exhibition runs until 31st May 2015 and hosts around 50 of Adjaye’s built projects.
Featuring Highlights of the London Art Fair 2015
Situated at the Business Design Centre in Islington, the UK’s premier fair for modern and contemporary British art housed 128 exhibitors from across the world, and played host to an exciting programme of exhibitions, films, talks and performances. As well as the inaugural Art Projects Artist Award, highlights this year included The Art Projects Film Programme, which took place in a purpose-built screening room curated by art journalist Pryle Behrman. The Art Projects also showcased a refreshing selection of contemporary and up-and-coming artists and installations. This year the fair provided a space entirely dedicated to photography. For their award-winning annual ‘Masters of Photography’ project, luxury spirit The Macallan partnered with famed photographer Mario Testino. There was even a 20-minute whisky tasting master class for visitors to enjoy. Other special events included a novel reading from Maeve Rendle exploring the curious relationship between freedom of thought and literal inspiration, and a Master Class in the Art of Interiors with Jade Thomson, Feature Editor at LuxDeco.
Featuring David Williams-Ellis: “The biggest joy as an artist is to...
“I absolutely adore the human figure,” exclaims David. “I want to make pieces that hit you in the pit of the stomach, that stops and arrests you.” The sculptor has certainly succeeded with this in his latest exhibition, ELEMENTAL, his first major one in London in a decade. We sit surrounded by his stunning pieces, girls who are twirling around; their bodies and movements shaped by wind and rain; stretching for something beyond sight, or comfortably enclosed within themselves. The so called “umbrella girls” lean in one direction while being safely held in the negative space around them by their umbrellas. It is a strikingly unique way of portraying female energy, their sheer beauty breathtaking. “I can tell when I'm making something good by a deep emotional feeling. I forget everything and reach a state of bliss - it's totally instinctive. I can't explain it,” says David, “other than the adrenaline high and feeling of being completely drained of energy afterwards,” he adds. David takes a few moments before carefully answering my questions.
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