Today, On The Miami River

For years, the Miami River area did not generate much interest: it was a working river, actually the shortest working river (5.5 miles long) in the United States. And because of barges and river traffic, it was also polluted.

One River Point: Two Glass Towers With Sky Club Connectingc

But now, the river and surrounding areas have been refurbished, cleaned, and new projects are being built along its shores. One of the visionaries responsible for this river renaissance is Shahab Karmely, developer of the substantial One River Point, the condominium tower that rises 780 feet above Miami and the Miami River.

Shahab Karmely, Developer of One River Point

One River Point consists of two glass towers, connected at the summit by a three-story glass sky bridge that opens to the elegant, members-only sky club. There is nothing like it.

Skybridge and Sky Club

Much has been written about One River Point, as two icons in the architecture and design industry have been associated with its mission, vision, and execution: Rafael Vinoly,the One River Point architect and Adrian Zecha, the hospitality and lifestyle designer of the Sky Club.

Rafael Vinoly, Architect of One River Point

The Sky Club itself is a unique differentiator in this significant urban resort. It spans 35,000 square feet, and is conceptualized to be similar to other elite UHNW gathering spots, such as Beijing’s Jockey Club, Hong Kong’s China Club, London’s Soho House, Aspen’s Caribou, and New York’s Core Club. The Sky Club will have three levels of amenities, including a 10,000-square-foot Skybridge Club garden and terrace.

Sky Club Exterior

Haute Residence interviewed Karmely about the original vision and ultimate finish of this extraordinary project.

Haute Residence: Your company purchased this Miami River waterfront parcel for $27 million. What did you see in the parcel that others didn’t see, and how did you envision this project in the beginning? Was it an immediate idea, or were you looking for a parcel like that for awhile?

Shahab Karmely: What immediately drew me to this parcel was its position on the river. I’ve always been a proponent of cities with rivers, which allow you to combine urban living with skyline views, with the beauty of water. Its unique position on the river is the only site that forms unobstructed views to the bay and the ocean.

One River Point on the Miami River

Also, its prime location directly across from Brickell City Center, which has been transformative in making the "new" Miami, was a great advantage. We were fortunate to be able to purchase the other two parcelsm allowing us to create a private gated park, which is the only spot in urban Miami giving you a curated garden experience in a secured environment.

One River Point Gardens

From the very beginning, we wanted our initial project in Miami to be a legacy address. To enter the Miami market, we insisted on having a site and setting unique enough for an equally unique building. We came to Miami with a narrow focus: we knew that we wanted to be on the river and within walking distance to Brickell. We were lucky this piece was available, and we transacted on it immediately.

HR: A certain developer we interviewed said that in order to have a great luxury development, you have to be both a visionary and an operationalizer. Do you agree with this? If so, do you have be of two minds most of the time?

River View Residence at One River Point

SK: I absolutely agree the art of development is having to be a visionary and operationalizer. Luxury is a combination of various elements that come together to make the whole greater than the sum. Development is very much a coming together of vision and aspiration with practical know-how and specific skill sets. To turn a dream into reality you need to be able to soar, but you also need to be able to walk through the mud when necessary.

Living Room, One River Point

HR: From a philosophical perspective, and in hiring Rafael Vinoly, how do you define his views of architecture as performance, especially as regards One River Point?

SK: When you set out to create something exemplary you should have courage of your convictions, but also the clarity of thinking to realize that great results are often the outcome of collaborative interactions. Rafael’s genius lies in his unique ability to see form, shape, and design in unique ways that are not obvious to others. He understands that architecture has to perform for those who occupy it and for those who simply gaze upon it.

Sky Villa Pool and Terrace, One River Point

HR: We would most appreciate some possible dates and numbers: When is One River Point scheduled to be completed? How many residences have sold so far? What are the price points, from the smallest residence to the Sky Villas?

SK: We don’t disclose sales figures, but prices range from $870,000 to more than $30 million for a Sky Villa. The completion date is anticipated for the first quarter, 2022.

Riverfront Bar, One River Place

HR: What is your favorite dimension of One River Place––the one aspect you would like to duplicate everywhere else?

SK: Of the many unique elements and perhaps the most striking features for me are the Sky Bridge, which houses the Sky Club, the glass oculus, and the loft residences. The ability to be suspended 780 feet in the air gazing out through 14-foot walls of glass, taking in those views across to the ocean, while surrounded by the details of the creative genius of Adrian Zecha, our Sky Club curator, is unparalleled.

Aerial View of One River Point

I want to emphasize that we go to great length and expense, in all of our projects to showcase and demonstrate with great specificity, exactly what the end-product, what our buyers, will call home, actually looks like and feels like. Whether it be choice of materials, or luxury brand partners or amenity operators, we pride ourselves on being specific, exact, and second to none.

Images courtesy of One River Point

The post A Q&A With Shahab Karmely, Developer of One River Point, Miami’s Newest Elite Urban Resort appeared first on Haute Residence by Haute Living.

Penthouse Gathering/Eating Area

With demand for oceanfront properties that are eco-sensitive, beautiful, and becoming rarer and rarer, 1 Hotel & Homes recently announced the release of one of its signature penthouses for sale, #1610, a $20 million duplex.

Conversation Area

With exceptional views of the Atlantic Ocean, the unit is a 3,955-square-foot home, with 730 feet of outdoor space, and 12.5-foot ceilings. It has four bedrooms, five-and-a-half bathrooms, complemented by balconies on both floors. It is also the most expensive apartment in the building.

Penthouse Kitchen Area

Furnished by Rose Ink Workshop in collaboration with the 1 Hotels design team, Penthouse 1610 highlights ocean views from the floor-to-ceiling glass windows and sliding doors throughout and intelligently placed mirrored walls in the kitchen and dining room.

Penthouse Bathroom

The interior taps into a mindful connection between nature and culture, through a myriad of unique design details. Among them is a custom lighting installation, made of many ancient, naturally formed quartz crystals, arranged to form the Sagittarius star constellation, representing optimism, discovery, travel, and an exploration into the mysteries of living.

Penthouse 1610

Another unusual feature is an organic root sculpture chandelier, mixed with a vertical garden of Vanda orchids, all of which hang at the stairs, naturally connecting upper and lower levels of the duplex penthouse.

The Penthouse Residence pays an interesting homage to ocean living with unique driftwood furnishings, designed to create an ocean environment, with ocean breezes and sunlight, moving from room to room. The Penthouses range in size, from 1,694 square feet, to 4,207 square feet, and have custom Italkraft kitchens, with imported Italian silver travertine, white quartz countertops, Wolf appliances, and Dornbracht faucets, with trash, composting, and recycling bins.

Penthouse Driftwood Decor

Each of the 29 penthouses in this collection is unique, with every floor plan varying from the others. There are only 12 penthouses still on the market, and 84 percent of the 1 Hotel & Homes inventory is sold out.

Images courtesy of 1 Hotel & Homes

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Lobby

The 270-room hotel is planned to be an exceptional lifestyle offering when it opens mid-2017. It will be sbe’s first hotel in the Middle East, as well as Wanders’ first hotel project in the region. Additional information about hotel’s design and entertainment features––including details on its eight restaurants and bars, nightclub zone, expansive ballroom, and a rooftop pool and bar, complete with a stained glass dome––were announced for the first time.

Stained Glass Dome Above Pool Area

Rise, the rooftop pool and bar on the 26th and 27th floors, is designed with black and white bricks, with an abundance of natural light that shines through the stained glass dome. This creates colored light prisms, and under this colorful sky is the pool area, which houses luxury wooden and crystal lamps, white leather seating, and wooden sun beds.

Atrium

The ballroom was also revealed at the conference. Noted to be the largest in the region, the ballroom is a space that can be adapted to suit extravagant weddings, award ceremonies, and other large functions. Brides may enjoy a memorable entrance in a 24-carat gold sculpted caged elevator that links the secret bridal suite directly to the ballroom.

Ballroom

“For the design of Mondrian Doha and everything we do, locale is super important,” says Wanders. “To create the hotel, we studied the city, we studied the people. We don’t create interiors, we create destinations, and Mondrian Doha is a destination in itself that needs to be discovered. Stepping into Mondrian Doha begins the first chapter of a wonderful story that unfolds and presents surprises around every turn.”

One-Bedroom Suite

In the lobby, an oversized gold leaf bell with a crystal chandelier welcomes guests, while in the lounge, a surreal white forest is characterized by giant white "Trees of Life."

One-Bedroom Suite Bathroom

Marcel Wanders’ mission is, in his own words, “to create an environment of love, live with passion, and make our most exciting dreams come true.” His chief concern is to bring the human touch back to design and to usher in what he refers to as design’s "new age." This new age defines a time when the visions of the designer, craftsperson, and end user are reunited. With the Mondrian Doha, Wanders' mission is becoming real.

Images courtesy of Mondrian Doha

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Richard Felix-Ashman

His vision for the project defines a type of technical fluency, ensuring spaces are both functional and materially balanced. Harmony of scale, tone, and texture are also vitally important to Felix-Ashman's style, something he credits to his London fine art training. The flow of movement within a room and the interconnection of spaces are fundamental to his design philosophy and have been operationalized in the Ten50 interiors.

Felix-Ashman's interiors at Ten50 are seen in the 151 one- and two-bedroom condominiums that reflect both the celebrated past of downtown Los Angeles and its contemporary, cutting-edge present.

Living Area, Ten50

Such an historic fusion of past and present define the urban resort mood and mode of the Ten50 experience.

Guest Bedroom, Ten50

The kitchens within each residence include Domus & Domus Italian cabinetry, Carrara marble and backsplash, a Bertazzoni electric cooktop, a wall oven, a Leibherr refrigerator, and a Bosch panelized dishwasher. Ten50 kitchens are ergonomically designed for efficiency and aesthetically designed for enjoyment.
The living rooms include hardwood floors that reflect natural light, provided by expansive windows. Residences feature living rooms designed to make use of space and allow for either a minimalist or an ornate design style.

The bathrooms feature porcelain tile, quartz vanity surfaces, Hansgrohe fixtures, walk-in showers, and Italian cabinetry.

The condos range in size from one bedrooms to two-story penthouses, with the largest spanning 3,575 square feet. Prices range, from the low $600,000s, to penthouses upward of $4 million.

Pool Deck, Twilight

Complimenting Felix-Ashman's balanced interiors is the exterior design of Ten50. This design also strikes a compelling balance of urban environment and outdoor landscape design.

Drone Ten50 Delivery Platform

Created by Lifescapes International, the outdoor area includes an entertainment area with a multiplicity of water-wise plant material, as well as cabana-lined pool deck and spa, barbecue grills, fireplaces, a fitness center, screening rooms, a lounge and conference center, a yoga garden, and even one of the country’s first drone landing pad (if not the first in a residential high-rise) on the sixth floor amenity deck. The drone will be able to accept packages from Amazon’s drone delivery service.

Pool Deck, Firepit

The landscaped exteriors areas include tree aloes, Japanese loquats, Kentia palms, and dozens of Japanese blueberry trees, all creating a breathable outdoor environment, with a diffuse flow of eco-sensitivity within the historic downtown South Park Los Angeles setting.

Twilight View From Pool Deck

Images courtesy of Ten50

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Fernando Mastrangelo With Escape Desk and Bench

Striations meld and fold into themselves, one color merges with another, yet maintains its own subtle identity. Silica, with its lava-like texture, often composes the foreground, and hand-dyed sands are stratified as they change in tone, suggesting layers of earth and distant mountain ranges. Powdered glass infers clear skies and bodies of water.

Escape Bench

Fernando Mastrangelo’s language speaks an intuitive, experimental, yet experiential phrasing of unusual material. The results are full of memorable possibilities, all of which allow the viewer to disengage from reality for a short time, and ponder the forms, functions, and materials that comprise Mastraneglo’s furnishings.

Escape Coffee Table

This month, Mastrangelo debuted the new Escape series at two galleries: Maison Gerard in New York City and Rossana Orlandi’s gallery in Milan, Spazio Rossana Orlandi.

Mastrangelo has always used atypical materials. In the past, he used salt, coffee, sand, glass, BB pellets, and cement to cast sculptural objects that combine fine art with sculptural furnishing principles. His work is both rugged and refined, durable and delicate, formal and functional.

Escape Book Case

He has exhibited extensively throughout the U.S. and internationally, and his work has been discussed in both print and cultural contexts. In 2008, the Brooklyn Museum acquired one of his works, subsequently exhibiting it in their critically acclaimed 2012 Connecting Cultures show. In 2016, Mastrangelo established FM/s (Fernando Mastrangelo Studio), an experimental art and design studio that specializes in unique sculptural objects, conceptual design, and comprehensive interior environments. Additionally, Mastrangelo is the founder of MMATERIAL, a made-to-order line of minimalist sculptural objects that he conceptualizes and creates from his studio in Brooklyn, New York.

Interior Environment

Mastrangelo has been a practicing sculptor for over a decade. In a recent interview, he said, “The idea of making furniture and using natural materials came from my sculpture practice. I've been casting unique materials for about eight years now, so it was a pretty fluid translation.

Powdered Glass Drift Mirror

“My sculptures were always highly engineered objects, and all of the technical knowledge was carried over to the furniture. As with most creative endeavors, you learn from work to work what is possible," he says. "Thinking about how I can push the processes of what we do at the studio becomes the main source of inspiration."

Escape Bench, front view

He feels that designing furniture with natural, often granular materials, “is our gateway to educate architects, interior designers, and collectors as to what is possible with the materials we use, coupled with the infinite amount of possibilities they present.” Using such unique materials in simple designs, the creative possibilities do indeed seem endless.

Escape Desk

Images courtesy of  Jacob Gossett

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The pair collaborated to present an exclusive design exhibition, called Wander from Within, featuring a new, artisanal furniture collection co-designed by Cheng and Uchida. Their collection, entitled Khora, consists of seats and tables attached to woven or gridded screens that cast patterned shadows. They are handmade, using Japanese bamboo and chestnut, and incorporate traditional lacquering techniques and Washi paper. The exhibition will run through April 8 at the Villa Necchi Campiglio, Milan, coinciding with the annual Milan Design Week, the Salone del Mobile Milano. The furniture designs explore the nuanced essences of the Japanese tea ceremony: peace, mindfulness, restraint, harmony, and quiet.

Uchida’s works are held in permanent collections at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, and the M+ Museum in Hong Kong, among others. Combined with Cheng’s unique use of fine detailing, the collection prompts a re-evaluation of space and nature-culture connections in sequestered settings.

The five-piece Khora collection was the last collection by Uchida-san, who died in November 2016 before the completion of the project. Thus, the Milan exhibition is also a tribute to Uchida and his exceptional career.

Shigeru Uchida

Guests at Wander from Within experience the development of the collection, including design concepts and a prototype of Uchida’s famous Tea Room, where he and Cheng held their final design meeting.

Throughout the journey, images and furniture are accompanied by haiku. On the opening night, master craftsman Chuzo Tozawa, who created the prototypes of the collection, was also present to demonstrate the compelling art of traditional Japanese craftsmanship, as it defines the furniture pieces.

“It’s a great honor to unveil my first furniture collection, co-designed with master designer Shigeru Uchida, during the Milan Design Week," said Adrian Cheng at the opening. "Unquestionably, furniture has always evoked a personal sentiment: It means home, it means relaxation, it also means family time. But what Uchida-san and I wanted to explore together was something beyond that."

The philosophy behind these furnishings infer traditions of the traditional Japanese tea culture, finding calmness in the state of sitting, as the mind focuses on the light and shadows of its immediate surroundings. The exhibition endeavors to craft spaces to allow the mind to both wander and focus, breaking away from internal and external enclosures.

Khora Exhibition

“What Wander from Within celebrates is the spirit of mindfulness. and Japanese tea culture combined with true craftsmanship. With this collection, we are re-exploring the power and role of furniture, particularly through the simple act of sitting.”

Images courtesy of Adrian Cheng

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'Liongate' Estate

He has been associated some compellingly large projects also: His update of the 24,000-square-foot Bel Air home, "Liongate," once owned by country singer Kenny Rogers, recently sold for $46 million. His designs can be seen at the Italian Renaissance-inspired "Hadrian Villa," a 12,000-square-foot suite at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas. And his Macau projects include the Venetian Macao, the Sheraton Grand Macao, and the Conrad Macao, among others.

'Hadrian Villa' at Caesars Palace, Las Vegas

The modern, luxurious aesthetic is a look that Nix has as his signature. In all, his vision avoids the trendier aspects of design, inclining rather toward colors and textures that last beyond the here-today, gone-today styles of the day.

Kirk Nix Bedroom

As founder of KNA Design, Nix oversees a staff of over 40 designers, deploying diverse ranges of design expertise, from architecture, to interior design, to furnishings. He has also created interiors for private estates and residences worldwide.

Trousdale Estate Living Rom

Most recently, however, Nix has moved into two new areas: partnering with Palecek, a luxury, eco-conscious furniture group based in the Bay Area; and Loloey, a luxury rug and carpet company based in Milan. For Palecek, he has created a new line of accessories, furniture, lighting, and wall decor; and for Loloey, he has created new rug designs.

Kirk Nix/Palecek Paxton Chair

Haute Residence asked Nix about these new ventures.

Haute Residence: In your residential interiors, and especially with the new Palacek dimension, how do you determine your design themes and language? 

Kirk Nix/Palecek Square Dining Table

Kirk Nix: I consistently feel like a diplomatic envoy navigating these waters! As from authenticated, Old World European interiors, to progressively contemporary environments, we are constantly developing a universe of new solutions. It is wise, always, to spend time with the client to understand what the architecture requires, what the end user desires, and ultimately, what they both need.

Kirk Nix/Palecek Living Room Detail

HR: In regards to your new line of furniture, did you feel this step was a natural progression for your interior design work, or was this something you had always wanted to do? 

KN: I have been designing bespoke furnishings for our hospitality and residential endeavors for what seems like eons. It was an easy transition to collaborate with the folks at Palecek to create 140 new pieces for our collection. A storied brand like Palecek has an illustrious history––once I immersed myself into their culture––it was effortless and fun to interpret it for the 21st century. The Palecek family has been enormously supportive of the work. I am honored to work with them. I am also honored to work with Loloey Rugs in Milan.

Kirk Nix/Loloey Carpet, New Oder 'Coup De Foudre'

HR: It has often been said that interior designers use a lot of more of their brain than others: You must be an artist, a spatial interpreter, and an architect. When did you know how to do these things?

Kirk Nix/Loloey Rug, 'Run For Cover'

KN: As a military brat from Alabama, our constant upheaval and travel instilled an early interest in the differences between each location. Yet, with each, the people were remarkably similar. As I developed an interest in design, I learned early on about the crucial nature of two influences: that of a building’s architecture and how that reflected the unique attributes of place and time.

Kirk Nix/ Palecek Lamp Designs

I truly believe that interiors must reveal themselves to their inhabitants as a series of seamless experiences. It is my job to ensure that client expectations are met, exceeded and ideally redefined. It takes practice and I strive to learn something new with every project.

Kirk Nix/Loloey Rug, 'Time After Time'

Images courtesy of KNA Design

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Woolworth Building

By the time Frank Winfield Woolworth was ready to build his corporate headquarters on 233 Broadway in New York, he controlled nearly 600 five-and-dime stores. He wanted his headquarters to be an elegant statement that would enhance his company’s reputation. And he got what he paid for, as the building, upon completion, was dubbed The Cathedral of Commerce. There were reasons for this: It was built in the neo-Gothic style, and looked very much like a cathedral. Ironically, the Woolworth Building outlived the Woolworth Company.

Woolworth's, 1960, historic image

The building is still an iconic silhouette on the Manhattan skyline, but it has now evolved into something new. The Woolworth Building will soon be home to 33 residences, spanning the 29th to 58th floors. While all the units are slated for completion in Fall 2017, Alchemy Properties, one of New York City’s leading real estate development and investment firms, recently revealed two model homes, 38A and 38B, that comprise the whole 38th floor of The Woolworth Tower Residences, with a private entrance at 2 Park Place.

Model Residence Living Area, 38A

Model residence 38A, a 3,282-square-foot, three-bedroom was conceptualized by Manhattan-based interior designer Alan Tanksley. Inspired by Woolworth's historic architecture, he used rich tones, offset by modern art, including works by Sarah Anne Johnson and Arne Svenson.

38A Kitchen

Alan Tanksley well understood the task of combining the early 20th century history with 21st century interior design, as he comments: "The trademark of The Woolworth Building is its extraordinary design and supreme craftsmanship. With that in mind, we paid microscopic attention to details and used the highest level of custom finishes, furnishings, and carpets at our disposal to be worthy of this iconic building."

38A Master Bedroom

Tanksley created a bespoke environment, enhanced by custom carpets by Martin Patrick Evan, hand-printed wall coverings by Fromental, and custom designed upholstery in collaboration with DUNE furniture. Special millwork was accomplished by the English company, Clive Christian Interiors. Three-bedroom homes at the Woolworth Tower Residences start at $9,575,000.

Model residence 38B is a 2,548-square-foot, two-bedroom home. Its design was conceived by Manhattan-based interior designer Eve Robinson, known for her regular participation in the Kips Bay Boys & Girls Club Decorator Show House.

"The new interiors of the model apartment reflect the elegance and sophistication of the original building and elevate them to a modern, fresh 21st century design," Robinson says. "We carefully curated a mix of important vintage and contemporary furnishings and created a space that is not only forward thinking, but also timeless. The colors from the sculptural terracotta ornament on the exterior of the window jambs served as inspiration for the interior palette in the apartment."

Model Residence 38B Living/Dining Area

The brightly colored terracotta window surrounds inspired her to pair golds, teals, and purples throughout the home with decorative wallpapers by Trove, Philip Jeffries, and Alpha Workshops to reflect and enhance the natural light. Works of art by Jessy Cho, Curtis Jere, and Eric Piasecki, among others, are shown throughout the residence. Two-bedroom homes at The Woolworth Tower Residences start at $7,250,000.

Master bedroom, 38B

These modern, historic, and timeless residences offer a reflective combination of 20th century architectural history and 21st century interior design. Alan Tanksley and Eve Robinson understood how the past informs the present, and depicted historic balance through their unique design language and artistic vision.

Second Bedroom 38B

These modern, historic, and timeless residences offer a reflective combination of 20th century architectural history and 21st century interior design. Alan Tanksley and Eve Robinson understood how the past informs the present, and depicted historic balance through their unique design language and artistic vision.

Images courtesy of Travis Mark

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Eric Chang and Daniel Hellman at work

Now, in its eighth year, the duo's company, Hellman-Chang, still Brooklyn-based, is now considered to be at the forefront of the ultra-high-end furniture industry––mainly because of the popularity of their furniture with their clientele. Hellman-Chang furniture can be found in the offices of Fortune 500 CEOs, and in the interiors of high-end hotels, including The Setai, The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas, The Waldorf Astoria, The Ritz Carlton, The Four Seasons (their first client), The Mandarin Oriental, and The Intercontinental. Their furniture is also featured on TV and in movie productions, such as The Today Show, Sex and the City 2, and Gossip Girl.

Chang’s personal style, reflective of his design style that defines minimalist yet elegant, led to a collaboration with the men’s fashion house, Canali. He was most recently featured on a VIP panel at Miami’s Art Basel. But where you really might have seen him, away from the woodworking space, is on UBS. He is currently the face of UBS Bank’s international rebranding campaign that features business leaders in creative industries. He was selected and photographed by Annie Leibovitz for the UBS campaign and is now featured in print, online, and outdoor ads. In addition, he has been named one of Cadillac’s brand influencers.

Haute Residence spoke with Chang about his origins and furniture philosophy and Hellman-Chang’s plans for the future.

Mercer Cocktail Table, Medium Walnut With Brass

Haute Residence: Where were you educated? What were your first design projects? And what did you learn, from both a challenge and a solution perspective, about your abilities? 

Eric Chang: Dan and I were self-taught in design. I studied finance and marketing at NYU Stern School of Business and Dan studied classical guitar performance at Northwestern. But we both loved woodworking and have been friends since sixth grade.

Our first design projects together were some coffee tables and bookshelves that we built over the summers during high school and college. After we graduated college, Dan and I started building furniture on nights and weekends, and shortly after, we designed our Z pedestal, the first piece introduced into our line. In the beginning, we went through quite a lot of experimenting and self-discovery to figure out our design language.

Sternum Chaise in Brandy Walnut

HR: On your website, this sentence appears: Recognized as an artist his entire life, his innate skills in sketching, photography and bold design define the look and emotional themes of Hellman-Chang. Can you explain what emotional themes there are and how they are translated through your interior designs?

Avery Chair, Walnut With White Upholstery

EC: There are visceral reactions we want others to have when they see our pieces. We want them to walk around it, explore all the details and touch the lines. As such, there’s a lot of movement in our design, and a strong focus on negative space and the way lines and surfaces interact with each other and with light. While it all has fluidity and dynamic movement, there is a similar emphasis on a sense of calm and balance.

Lin Dining Table in Ebonized Walnut

HR: We worked with a well-known interior designer, who said that if you put on your design glasses, good design and terrible design are everywhere. She also said that architects and interior designers see everything from a different perspective. Do you think you see things differently from others who are not designers?

Nola Round Table, Black With Gold Leaf

EC: I can only speak for myself, and I do break everything I see down with a critical eye. I’m always looking at proportion, texture, color, and just thinking about how the way things are designed to make me feel.  More often than not, though, I try to ask myself what the designer was trying to accomplish, or what they were feeling or thinking when they were designing. Or more importantly, who were they designing it for? I may suffer from design empathy.

Z Ebonized Pedastal

HR: What are your processes in the creation of a great furniture design? I have been told by other interior designers that there is a sense of lightness and rightness when you have conceived and executed a great chair, or couch or table. Is that true for you?

EC: It’s all about how it makes me feel. I know that when Dan and I feel excited about a new design, others will feel a similar reaction, and we have something to introduce into our line. It boils down to an aha moment of feeling. At the same time, the core principals of our design still rely on proportion and timelessness to ensure it will never go out of style.

Tao Daybed

HR:  Talk about what you are you are working right now and what you will be working on in the coming year.

EC: We are focusing heavily on rounding out our collection with a deeper seating collection. This is going to include a number of dining chairs, more lounge chairs, and sofas and sectionals. We will follow that up with a lighting line as well.

Tao Loungechair In Espresso Walnut

Sofa In Espresso Walnut And White Upholstery

HR: What are your goals for the future? What do you want to do, in terms of interior design and furniture design, that you have not done yet?

Parker Dining Table

EC: We eventually want Hellman-Chang to be synonymous with everything luxurious for the home. So, beyond furniture, this would include lighting and then hopefully textiles and possibly hardware and accessories. We learn tremendously by working with the best interior designers in the world who are able to reinterpret and help us understand how our clients visualize and use our pieces, and that knowledge continually improves our collection. It would certainly be fun to use what we’ve learned to create a full signature Hellman-Chang environment.

Sofa

Sternum Chaise

Images courtesy of Hellman-Chang

The post Eric Chang on Co-Founding Hellman-Chang, His Interior Design Philosophy, and Future Endeavors appeared first on Haute Residence by Haute Living.

The art hotel is a living trend, with The Thief in Oslo and The Cosmopolitan in Las Vegas leading the pack, due to their disruptive artistic differentiators.

Draw by Antony Gormley

The Thief in Oslo, Norway is full of original art: all 119 rooms, the lobby, and restaurant interiors and elevators, have contemporary artwork on walls, on floors, and near furnishings. Its art is a part of The Thief's circulatory system; the works have been integrated into an emotional dramaturgy, bringing the hotel into an art gallery dimension.

It’s been said that approximately $1 million of artwork embellishes each room. Upon entering The Thief, a cowering statue by Antony Gormley called Draw, is prominently positioned, giving the visitor a sense of the hotel’s contemporary Zeitgeist as soon as they walk in.

Cowboy, The Horse by Richard Prince

Once inside, a large floor-to-ceiling, inkjet-on-canvas work called The Horse Thief, by Richard Prince dominates the lobby. Also in the area is the colorful sculpture by Niki De Saint Phalle, Le Grand Rossignol.

Le Grand Rossignol Niki De Saint Phalle

Other works can be seen and touched: Andy Warhol’s from the Ladies And Gentlemen collection, plates by Damien Hirst, a new sculpture by Jeff Koons, digital prints by Marianne Heske, ink drawings by Bard Breivik, lithography by Bjorn Ransave, etchings by Astrid Sylwan, a series of photographs by Bryan Ferry, and digital elevator art by Julian Opie, where supposedly still video images of women blink and sometimes wink at those riding the elevators.

From Ladies And Gentlemen Collection, Andy Warhol

Much of The Thief’s collection is on loan and is switched out every six months from one of its partners, Renzo Piano architected Astrup-Fearnley Museum of Contemporary Art, which happens to be located next door to the hotel. The Thief seems therefore, to be the experiential adjunct to the Museum, where guests become art experiencers, rather than simply viewers.

TiTi Bird by Jeff Koons

In a similar, but more overwhelming way, The Cosmopolitan Las Vegas, is the 3,005-room Las Vegas resort that allows the guests to live and be immersed in art experiences, often through digital technology.

Moving Poppies, Lobby at The Cosmopolitan, Las Vegas

The Cosmopolitan has partnered with New York City’s Art Production Fund and Artspace, the leading online marketplace for contemporary art, to curate a collection of art within 46 high-end suites in the resort’s West Tower.

Art-o-mat by Clark Whittington

In addition, The Cosmopolitan features six Art-o-mat machines, each dispensing a variety of original artwork. Created by artist Clark Whittington in 1997, Art-o-mat machines are made from cigarette vending machines that have been repurposed as a vehicle, featuring small works of art by more than 400 artist collaborators from across the world.

No Feeling Is Final, Didgital art by Yorgo Alexopoulos

Throughout The Cosmopolitan, a variety of digital art is on display, and arguably, the most disruptive are the Lobby Digital Experience. Eight 15-foot digital columns and a panel spanning the length of the front desk continuously display a curated library of digital art, transforming the space into a living narrative, combining the constant movement of human shadows, flowers, fish, and landscapes.

Starbucks art

In addition, French artist and photographer, Georges Rousse, features his first-ever permanent public art installation inside The Cosmopolitan’s Starbucks location. So everywhere you walk, art is nearby, even in the garage.

Parking Garage, Renta Wallworks

The WALLWORKS garage is a mural and graffiti art installation in the multi-level parking garage and stairwell pool entrance areas. Artists Curtis Kulig, Shepard Fairey, Kenny Scharf, Shinique Smith, Retna and ESPO contributed to these lower area murals.

Black Pump, Roark Gourley

The interiors, including the rooms, garages, walkways, and lobbies, of hotels such as these are redefining the guest experience, and allowing guests to take artistic ideas away, with the possibility of creating similar art experiences in their own high-end homes. This is what art is meant to do: engage, immerse and sometimes disrupt. It has, within the past years, moved from the art gallery to the living space, expanding and combining the best of form and function.

 Images courtesy of The Thief / The Cosmopolitan Of Las Vegas

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The three criteria are: commodity, or how a building or chair serves a useful function; firmness, or basic endurance, how the building or chair stands the test of time; and delight, how much the viewer or owner finds pleasure in the beauty of the building or chair.

The Porsche Design Group, located near Stuttgart, Germany, is a substantial example of a company that has re-purposed these classic Vitruvian benchmarks into a substantial sports-lifestyle brand. The Porsche Design luxury brand was established in 1972 by Professor Ferdinand Alexander Porsche, grandson of Ferdinand Porsche, founder of the Porsche automobile company.

Today, Porsche Design creates clothing, Titanium eyewear, watches, leather products, and luggage. It has also created interior design products––kitchens, chairs, tables, sofas––all having the Vitruvian elements of endurance, functionality, and joy. There are Porsche Design stores worldwide.

The latest and most certainly imaginative evolution of the Porsche Design brand is the Porsche Design Tower in Sunny Isles, Florida. It will be opening soon, and is a showcase for the Porsche interior design collections. It is also the first of its kind with the Porsche Design name. Another is in process in Frankfurt, Germany.

One of its unique features is its Sky Garage system, a robotic parking garage, having 284 parking spaces for 132 units, allowing residence owners to park two or four cars right outside their unit. The owner’s cars can be driven to an elevator, called a Dezervator (named after the Tower’s developer, Gil Dezer) and sent up to the owner’s residence.

Dezer Development has sold 126 of the tower’s 132 units. But the good news is that the four-story penthouse is still for sale for $32 million.

The 19,000-plus-square-foot, four-level penthouse features full-length windows, 20-foot ceilings, and a private interior elevator. Arguably, the most spectacular feature is the in-unit garage, that has eleven garage spaces for eleven vehicles. The interiors of the Porsche Design Tower have been created by Porsche Design aided by Michael Wolk Design Associates, Miami.

The interiors and the public spaces combine Porsche Design dimensions of the old Vitruvian formula, but with an evolved, contemporary approach.

Images courtesy of Porsche Design Group / Porsche Design Tower

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