Wall-tiles: Quintessenza Ceramics - Marea Collection

The Marea wall-tile collection of Quintessenza (www.quintessenzaceramiche.it) has really convinced us but not only us. It is also the winner of the Archiproduct Design Award 2022. 

https://www.quintessenzaceramiche.it

The Design was inspired by the sea but the reference to BAUHAUS is obvious. Nevertheless, the tile design does not look old-fashioned but very contemporary. With the offer of six different colors the tiles are colorful and bold and leave plenty of room for creative use in interior design. The three formats and two finishes allow for many expressions and combinations. Marea tiles have a white enamel body. The glossy and matte surfaces can be curated like works of art. 

We are very happy to be able to present these particularly beautiful and valuable tiles here on our blog. 

Hopefully this will be inspiration for very personal and individual projects.

Formats: Marea, Alta-Marea, Bassa-Marea

Finishes: Polished, Matt

Colors: white, pink, salvia, blue, porpora, black

 

https://www.quintessenzaceramiche.it

 

https://www.quintessenzaceramiche.it

 

Antonio Lupi and CRISTALMOOD - Bathtub REFLEX

We are big fans of Antonio Lupi's designs. Again he has developed an innovative material he baptized CRISTALMOOD. 

The material's weight is about 30% less than conventional materials and Lupi processes this lightness into an extraordinary bathtub REFLEX. The designer manages to create a tension between clear and solid design language and a kind of fluidity. 

antoniolupi.it

We like the translucent finish, especially when water pours in and blends with the sunlight like a touching piece of art. "The transparency of the surface makes it possible to observe the flow of the liquid, to read its movements, to follow its strength." (antoniolupi.it)

And the best thing is, that you can choose between fourteen enchanting colors to fit your style. 

antoniolupi.it

antoniolupi.it

Antonio Lupi shows once again that he is master of his trade. 

Antonio Lupi: https://www.antoniolupi.it/en/products/bathtubs/reflex

Miniforms "Soda"

How beautiful - how beautiful!

Like frozen water it stands in the house, the wonderful "Soda" side table by Miniforms. A hand-blown masterpiece. "Soda was born upside-down, with a puff of air. It weights 20 kilos, and it is blown, drawn out and shaped by three master glassmakers. The result is a single volume of glass with three large petals forming the stem" (miniforms.com).

Photo: Courtesy of Miniforms

When the light hits the masterpiece, you have the feeling that the water of a clear mountain lake or or liquid caramel has been shaped into a work of art. Immediately you want to touch this table. 

Photo: Courtesy of Miniforms

Only true masters like the glassblowers in Murano can create such a masterpiece. Even they cannot control all of the factors influencing this complex design. That makes this table unique and wonderful.

This furniture is exclusively and extremely desirable.

miniforms.com

FOLD - A monumental kitchen - designed by Martin Steininger

Photo: Courtesy of Steininger

This kitchen block takes up the space like a floating monument. The puristic design is reminiscent of the Japanese art of origami and creates a tangible tension between lightness and weight. The kitchen takes up the space like a great work of art. You want to touch and discover it immediately. 

"A specially selected, computer-based production technology shapes the metal into a fascinating kitchen object with millimeter accuracy. The precisely prepared alloy are completed by hand" explains Steininger at his homepage.

The kitchen provides the stage for an everyday necessity, an often banal act, to put cooking, the handling of food and consumption in a different light. The artistic design immediately raises the question of whether we appreciate our food and nutrition sufficiently. What dishes do you prepare on a sculpture?

Photo: Courtesy of Steininger

This is how this island becomes the central element of the new way of living. The kitchen as the center of everyday life is given a different status. It is not only a place of interpersonal communication but also becomes a place for an attitude in which everyday actions become art. An appreciation like in ZEN.

Photo: Curtesy of Steininger

Steininger: https://www.steiningerdesigners.com/kuechen/fold/

Vila Foz Hotel & Spa

"An outstanding experience in Porto..."

Facts

• medium-sized high-end luxury hotel in Porto (Portugal)
• member of DESIGN HOTELS with 68 rooms and suites (25 m² – 48 m²)
• seafront hotel 
• signature restaurant Vila Foz for fine dining (chef: Arnaldo Arzevedo) with focus on seafood 
• Flor de Lis (leisure) restaurant (chef: Arnaldo Arzevedo) 
• excellent bar
• spa: first class treatments; turkish bath, sauna, inside pool (access: 16+)
• gym, free bicycles for rent
• free shuttle-service to the old-town
• parking garage with valet service
• turndown service
• Check in: 14 a.m.; Check out: 12 noon.

 

Design 

Vila Foz is a smart combination of a carefully restored 19^th century villa in connection with contemporary, straight architecture which conveys the feeling of a small boutique hotel. During the restoration by the architect Miguel Cardoso from Porto, the focus was on preserving the historical substance. The famous artist and designer Nini Andrade Silva used a wide range of pattern, materials and textures for the interior decoration. The context between the new building and the traditional villa has been cleverly created through the use of lush, shimmering and glamorous design elements. The modern decoration communicates with the venerable interior and vice versa. A reference to the sea, the sandy beaches and the rocky coast is created with wave-like structures and shades between sage and tourmaline green and earth colors. The buildings are embedded in a well-arranged mediterranean garden. 

Well-being

The excellent champagne breakfast ensures your physical well-being in the morning. Everything your heart desires and more is served. 

The Flor de Lis restaurant offers a wide range of delicious local food in a relaxed atmosphere. We highly recommend the risotto. 

The fine dining, signature restaurant, with the wonderful, fantastically stocked bar, is a feast for the eyes, which the tasting menu is in no way inferior to. In both restaurants, fantastic sommeliers advice you to local wines. Try a nightcap in the in-house bar.
The spa with the Turkish bath and sauna is a calming retreat after an exciting day. The onyx, carefully laid out according to the grain, creates a calming cave atmosphere. To support the holistic experience, dry fruits, nuts and excellent teas are provided. 

If you like a traditional, holistic treatment, products from Maison Codage Paris and Elemental Herbology are used.

In the gym you’ll find everything you need for your personal workout. 

Arround

The hotel lies in the suburbs of the vibrant city Porto directly in front of the rough Atlantic sea. The district Foz do Douro is well known for excellent restaurants. We recommend for example Lapa Lapa or Praia da Luz which are located directly on the coastal promenade. In the vicinity you will find some fancy boutiques. The half hour walk to the Serralves Museum is highly recommended. There are some exciting architectural gems (private villas) to discover along the way. The Serralves Museum itself, embedded in an astonishing park, is a must for art and architecture lovers. While changing contemporary artists are shown in the museum, fixed installations by Olafur Eliasson, Ai Weiwei and others can be discovered in the park. The modernist Museum was designed by honorable Álvaro Siza Vieira. Casa de Serralves conceived in 1923 by architect José Marques da Silva on the other hand is an outstanding example of Art Deco architecture. Unfortunately, the villa was being renovated during our visit and could therefore only be admired from the outside. 
A bike trip along the coast to Praia do Aterro is a wonderful experience. On the trip you pass the surfing beach Praia de Matosinhos, the lighthouse Farol de Leca, and the large port of Porto. On the way back you will find excellent fish restaurants on Rua Herois de Franca - the street of the sardines. Or you take a walk (20 minutes) to the Felgoueiras Lighthouse and the Forte de Sao Joao Baptista from the 17^th century which lies at the mouth of the Douro River into the sea.
 
There is of course a lot to discover in the old town of Porto. 

 

Conclusio

This was an unforgettable and romantic stay in Porto - an ideal mix between the pulsating city, the wildness of the Atlantic sea and coast and the Vila Foz with all the amenities as a perfect retreat. The city offers an unforgettable experience with art, architecture, history, surfing, hiking, swimming and excellent Portuguese cuisine. We will come back. 

https://www.vilafozhotel.pt

https://www.serralves.pt

http://www.niniandradesilva.com/pt/

 
 
 
 

ART TO LIVE - Fog couch by Olafur Eliasson

We love the work of Olafur Eliasson (*1967). The artist is well known for his spectacular and poetical installations with light and water. And he combined our passion for beautiful furniture and art in Fog couch, 2018.

Fog couch is the outcome of many years of intensive collaboration with the Danish textile manufacturer Kvadrat. It was originally intended as a specific art-work for their headquarters. 

The ART-furniture is reminiscent of stones cut by waves. Each segment of the long sofa is composed in different dimensions. "The shape of each section depends on the relationship between the elliptical back section and the rectangular base - the angle at which the ellipse is tilted is determined by the size of the base section", explains the artist at olafureliasson.net. 

The knitted upholstering suggest the wavy sand that the sea leaves behind when it retreats. It is the result of more than five years research of textile techniques. 

What a treat for the senses!! 

olafureliasson.net

kvadrat.dk

Storytelling furniture

Anna Carnov and Clara Mahler designed delicate handmade side, coffee and bar tables 'Story' for Bolia, which are graceful in their simplicity.

The carefully selected FSC-certified oak provides airy insights into the interior, which can be filled with favorite things and thus connects the piece of furniture with the residents.

A sustainable piece that, like a small animal cage, can also capture the wild disorder of everyday life. The liveliness of the users is not completely hidden and thus their story is told in subtle ways.

Centerpieces for a lifetime!

www.bolia.com