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IN HOUSE2

2014 is the Year of The Horse, one of moving forward and upward, and this could not be truer for Swire Hotels.

It is with great pride and pleasure that we present issue 10 of In House, in which we reveal a teaser of what is to come in the very near future for the ever evolving and exciting group, from The Temple House in Chengdu, the highly anticipated third property under Swire Hotels’ The House Collective opening later this year, and a sneak peek into EAST, Miami designed by the beautifully eccentric Clodagh, due to open in 2015.

Swire Hotels also continues its movement towards a greener future through its collaborations with like-minded and forward thinking partners. Dr. Simon Jackson, for example, travels to the far corners of the earth on expeditions to revolutionise the natural skincare market, while the EcoChic Design Award paves the way for a cleaner, more sustainable approach to the fashion industry.

In House also speaks with internationally acclaimed Chef Gray Kunz, who discusses furthering Café Gray Deluxe’s increasing involvement with local organic farms and the World Wildlife Fund’s sustainable seafood programme.

As we continue to champion those who dedicate themselves to making the world a better, more beautiful place, we hope that your encounter with Swire Hotels, however brief, leaves you feeling inspired.

Letter From The Editor

2 | Letter from The Editor

4 |Taking On MiamiNow in its 25th year, New York-based Clodagh Design remains one of the world’s most prominent innovative design studios. The eccentric and exceptionally talented Clodagh speaks with In House about her design philosophy and gives us a sneak peek into her plans for EAST, Miami.

10 | In The MakingMake Architects continues to bring its expertise in innovative and sustainable design to the world, quietly reconstructing skylines across Europe and more recently China. The award-winning agency offers a view of its unorthodox approach to the industry and a sneak peek into its plans for The Temple House, Chengdu.

16 |City Dreams There’s something special about Miami. It’s where the city meets the sea and much of the urban side of things is the work of renowned architectural firm, Arquitectonica, founded in 1977, where else but in Coconut Grove.

22 |In Fine Form Designed to resonate with Hong Kong’s dense urban conditions, acclaimed British sculptor Sir Antony Gormley’s experiential exhibition ‘States and Conditions’ transformed White Cube Gallery into a physiological testing ground that confronted the relationship between our inner state and the condition of our external environment.

28 |Waste NotIn Line with its commitment to sustainability, The Upper House partnered with Hong Kong-based NGO Redress to promote sustainability in Asia’s fashion industry and support eco-conscious designers through their EcoChic Design Award 2013.

36 |A Certain AestheticFollowing an intimate fireside event in honour of Matthew Williamson at The Upper House’s Sky Lounge, the British designer extraordinaire spoke exclusively with In House Magazine about his Spring/Summer 2014 collection, a bright and breezy range which captures the spirit of where it all began – Williamson’s first ever show in 1997.

38 |An Upward JourneyAs The Upper House celebrates its 5th Anniversary this year, In House takes you on a fashion journey through the highly acclaimed and accoladed hotel.

50 |Take It OutsideThe Upper House has perfected the art of bringing music to the masses with its understatedly elegant sessions on The Lawn. This spring, London rock band The Darling Buds, led by ‘Twilight’ actor Jamie Campbell Bower, serenaded the crowd to raise funds for FilmAid Asia.

54 |Blurring Borders A DJ, producer and master of all instruments, Bonobo’s ambient sounds take audiences to places both strange and familiar, his brooding and seductive tracks evoking feelings that flit from inspired to introspective to enthralled. In House speaks with Bonobo about his latest album, ‘The North Borders’, and how new technology has changed the way we listen.

58 |A Natural ApproachDr. Jackson’s formulations are rapidly becoming cult classics thanks to their exotic all natural ingredients and the intense research behind them that goes jungle deep…literally.

62 |Back To NatureAurelia Probiotic Skincare recently hosted an afternoon tea at Café Gray Deluxe at The Upper House in Hong Kong, introducing its line of products alongside a decadent menu of sweet and savoury treats, using organic ingredients inspired by the brand’s unique, all natural formulations. Aurelia founder Claire Vero shares the details of her journey.

64 |Beautifully BalancedNealy Fischer is a fitness and nutrition guru, mother and Founder of MAYYA Movement, a tried and tested transformation for women in Hong Kong and beyond to reach their full potential in health and wellness.

66 |Shades Of GrayGood food has returned to the fold, with diners growing hungrier for quality food that tugs at the heartstrings rather than just at their wallets. Chef Gray Kunz, with four stars under his belt and hailed as “one of the world’s greatest chefs” by many, shares what’s on the simple, sustainable and seasonal summer menu at Café Gray Deluxe at The Upper House.

70 |The Sky Has No LimitsThis summer, Dragonair’s First and Business Class menus take on a sophisticated Mediterranean twist through the airline’s latest collaboration with Sureño at The Opposite House in Beijing.

72 |The Candy CrazeTommy Palm is the Games Guru at King Digital Entertainment, the company behind the game that had everyone on the edge of their seats – and on their phones – Candy Crush. He talks to In House about the phenomenon that is the Candy Crush Saga, the new hit game Farm Heroes Saga, and the future of mobile gaming.

76 |A Floral AffairRoses, polka dots and pastels are what make designer Cath Kidston so endearingly British. Here’s what’s in bloom for the vintage-inspired label this season.

82 |A Love For The LandGetting back to nature is really about simplifying. Removing all outside noise, distractions and stress and stripping life down to its most simple form. At Big Sur’s Post Ranch Inn, you’ll find that less is certainly more…

88 |A Final Detail

IN side

Editor-In-Chief: Ann Tsang

Editor: Coco Marett

Graphic Designer:Carol Chan

Contributors:Carol ChanCoco MarettTim MoldenhauerAnn Tsang

Media Agents:

OMJ MediaSuite B, 15/F, Casey Building38 Lok Ku RoadSheung WanHong KongT: +(852) 2375 2311F: +(852) 2873 7442E: jeremy@omjmedia.com

Herb MoskowitzThe Media Representative CompanyT: +(852) 9276 1011F: +(852) 2572 5468 E: themediarep@gmail.com

IN HOUSE |The Magazine for Swire Hotels

Issue 10

Taking On MiamiNow in its 25th year, New York-based Clodagh Design remains one

of the world’s most prominent innovative design studios. The

eccentric and exceptionally talented Clodagh speaks with In House

about her design philosophy and gives us a sneak peek into her

plans for EAST, Miami.

Live

Location: Miraval Spa

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Taking On Miami

and connection. There is a musicality in design which can be interpreted as chamber music for the guestrooms, cool jazz for bars, and a flourish of grand opera for the public spaces.”

Clodagh’s designs focus on the creation of experiences and making practicality, functionality and the flow of good energy a firm priority. “Your first home is your body, which tends to override your brain on arrival when travelling,” states the designer. “To make a hotel feel personal, intimate and welcoming, I walk through the space in my mind without plans or elevations or materials. I put on the shoes of a traveller and then the support staff. By doing this I tap into what I feel will be the desires of the guests, the wellbeing of the staff, the brand of the hotel, or the demographic we are trying to capture.”

Clodagh’s unconventional approach to design has given character and charisma to homes, hotels, spas and commercial spaces around the world. She uses alternative methods to alter and enhance one's mood, cognitive function and overall health and wellbeing, including biophilia, the instinctive bond between human beings and other living systems; Chromotherapy, otherwise known as colour therapy; aromatherapy, which uses essential oils and other aromatic compounds; and light therapy. She also incorporates subtle elements of feng shui that are just enough to lift spirits and cultivate a sense of calm.

N othing arouses an epiphany like a near-death experience. Realising that life is too short after a year on her back following a bad horse riding accident, 17 year-old Clodagh left high school, dropped her last name and borrowed £400 from her mother to set up her own company.

“What would you tell your 17 year-old self now?” I ask the multi-faceted designer.

“Why didn’t you start earlier? What took you so long?” was her response.

Clodagh likes to call herself a “generalist” designer, using a multitude of disciplines, including interiors, graphics, product and landscape design. She has an instinct that is untainted by societal norms and textbook theories, which she channels to create spaces that manage to both surprise but at the same time leave a warm sense of comfort and familiarity.

“You are who you are wherever you are is my principal,” says Clodagh. “For both hotels and homes, I address all the senses, including the sixth sense, as there is a universality of desire for happiness, playfulness, harmony, vitality, a sense of place, romance, and a feeling of community

To me there’s no such thing as an inanimate thing or place. All matter is alive. It has a past a present and a future.

Location: Landmarc Restaurant, New York City

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“We share Swire Hotels’ passion for creating an exceptional experience. The company’s empirical knowledge of the industry drives us to set the bar high to exceed expectations.”

Believing that one can’t make a first impression twice, Clodagh pulls out all the stops in EAST, Miami’s lobby. Suspended from the ceiling is a great cluster of suspended burnished copper tubes, like an upturned pipe organ, delivering water to a recessed reflecting pool below to create a gentle sound sculpture while defining the bar area from the reception.

A monumental steel tube wall stands behind the reception desk, creating a playful experience of lenticular visual effects. Further afield, a grand stone staircase made from laser-cut metal walls leads to the ballroom, providing jaw-dropping views of the Miami skyline from a catwalk crossing a 30-foot window.

“Guests will enter onto a wide artisanal stone floor with an inlaid rug of great scale – and it’s low maintenance, which is an important part of our practice,” reveals Clodagh. “The Lobby bar transforms seamlessly from day to night, going from a lively bright coffee bar to a sexier glamorous cocktail bar in the evening and finally turning into a grand but quiet lantern during the closing hours.”

The understatedly elegant guestrooms at EAST, Miami evoke a different feeling, with each element designed to make gestures of luxury and space while making the rooms feel relaxing and intimate, and above all, comfortable. Vertical wooden slat walls separate the bedroom and bathroom areas, providing privacy, defining the gracious open feel of the room and gorgeous views through floor-to-ceiling windows.

“We want guests to enjoy a necklace of beautiful experiences, while feeling a sense of recognition that they have been here before. The target is to create a harmonious whole so that people feel wellness and vitality within the spaces without being necessarily aware of why. We introduce “wow!” moments in the public spaces that are surprising and unpredictable and “ahhh” moments that a guest will feel upon entering their room - a sense that they are in a private sanctuary to rest and revitalise,” says Clodagh, who hopes that each guest will be inspired by a feeling of nostalgia to return again and again.

In the more than capable hands of Clodagh, we can surely anticipate that EAST, Miami will be a place where everywhere you look and everywhere you walk, there will be something beautiful and inspiring to be discovered.

“Feng Shui informs our design. In itself, is not design. I often say that if I were a doctor I would be in integrative medicine. The mission is to create spaces that either throb with vitality such as the nightclub ‘Whiskey Blue’, or by contrast are as tranquil as a Zen garden in ‘Kyoto Prosperity’ is a very important element in feng shui, so we are careful to enhance the areas that relate to money. Not all our clients understand it at first, but they always do by the end, often when it has proven itself with the success of the project,” explains Clodagh, who believes that growing up in Ireland – where her family lived in an old Victorian home built by Oscar Wilde’s father, no less – a country rife with superstitions and ghosts stories, and later listening to village lore in Spain has made her a “magnet for anything paranormal”.

“I’m like a tuning fork. Good energy in a space will have me dancing on the tables and the bad energy will have me running out of the door. Over the years, in tandem with space healers, I’ve learned to cleanse a space of all its accumulated bad energy. To me there’s no such thing as an inanimate thing or place. All matter is alive. It has a past a present and a future.”

Clodagh’s extensive list of projects has taken her to over 90 countries, and travel and cultural experiences clearly have a heavy influence on her design.“I often feel that my studio could be an annex of the United Nations. We have architects and designers from a dozen countries, and all of that shared experience enriches the ‘broth’ of our design. When we reference another culture it has to feel totally authentic,” she states. “Travel also enriches me both as a person and as a designer. When I need a jolt of inspiration, travel is the best cure. I hop on a plane like a dry sponge, and return like a wet one. The search for authenticity always means delving deeply into indigenous symbolism, architecture, lifestyle, language and local customs.”

Travel has also inspired Clodagh’s philanthropic projects, including the Thorntree Project in northern Kenya. “Twelve years ago we started to work to educate the children of the pastoral nomads - the Samburu tribe whose families are mostly illiterate and coined the word ‘philanthropimania’ to describe our work there and in other countries. The simplicity of their lives and the vivid colours of their jewellery and robes have deeply inspired me.”

Amongst a profusion of fascinating and exciting projects, including resort and restaurant projects from Brazil to Portugal, Clodagh is the designer behind Swire Hotels’ latest venture, EAST, Miami. Due to open its doors in 2015, the designer believes that the hotel will “redefine the Miami Skyline and the city’s hospitality scene.”

Taking On Miami

Location: Miraval Spa, NYC Loft

Location: Miraval Spa, NYC Loft

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In The MakingMake Architects continues to bring its expertise in innovative

and sustainable design to the world, quietly reconstructing

skylines across Europe and more recently China. The award-

winning agency offers a view of its unorthodox approach to

the industry and a sneak peek into its plans for The Temple

House, Chengdu.

Live

Location: The Montpellier Chapter, UK

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In The Making

K en Shuttleworth, or ‘Ken the Pen’ as he was known in his early years as an architecture student at the Leicester School of Architecture for his impossibly fluid draftsmanship, knows a thing or two about architecture.

Shuttleworth was, after all, one of the brains behind some of the world’s most iconic buildings during his time at Foster and Partners, moving to Hong Kong in 1979 to oversee the design and construction of the iconic Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation’s headquarters, before moving back to the UK in 1986 to work on such buildings as the Carre d’Art in Nimes, Hong Kong’s Chek Lap Kok airport, London’s Millennium Bridge, and 30 St Mary Axe, otherwise known as ‘The Gherkin’.

But after 30 plus years at Foster and Partners, Shuttleworth decided it was time for a change and left to establish his own company, Make Architects, in 2004. “I watched Foster grow from 10 people to 500 people in 10 years and I looked on at the way the structure worked. It was a limited company with pretty much all the shares in one pot and I thought that was wrong,” Shuttleworth told online publication, Building. “I felt it would be good to split the shares among everybody and to give credit to people when they did a good job.”

This democratic approach, along with a carefully curated group of architects and designers from internationally renowned practices around the world, has proven to be a success not only in terms of Make’s growth and development as a key player in the industry, but also in sustaining the lives of its talented team of architects, with The Sunday Times, a leading newspaper in the UK, naming Make one of the ‘100 Best Small Companies to Work For’.

“We have a number of generous people initiatives and benefits which have contributed to us being listed. As a 100 percent employee-owned business, Make runs a profit share scheme through which the profit of the business is distributed amongst all its staff,” explains Katy Ghahremani, an architect and partner at Make. “Make has a flat structure where creativity is not stifled by hierarchy. Everyone is a partner, creating an egalitarian working environment with a united sense of purpose and commitment. Our staff feel valued and have a sense of ownership.”

In just 10 years, the thriving architectural firm has garnered an enviable portfolio of high profile clients and projects, expanding its reach with headquarters now in London, Hong Kong and Beijing.

Location: The Montpellier Chapter, UK

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“We have very high aspirations for our projects: to design the best buildings and places in the world. We are committed to designing spaces which are as striking and innovative as they are socially, economically and environmentally responsible,” says Ghahremani.

The firm’s extensive body of work to date includes luxury Cheltenham hideaway The Montpellier Chapter, The University of Nottingham’s energy-efficient Jubilee Campus and the award-winning Podium at Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park. “Between us we had completed a wide-ranging body of built work, therefore clients already knew that we were capable of delivering projects covering many sectors, scales and building types,” Ghahremani continues. “We were considered to be a trusted pair of hands and were therefore able to build on these existing relationships, as well as forge new ones.”

With metropolises sprouting at record rates throughout China, Make has begun to venture outside of the UK to take on various projects in China, including the Weihai Pavilion, a contemporary exhibition space on the picturesque northern coast of the Shandong Peninsula and the highly anticipated The Temple House in Chengdu, the third property from The House Collective by Swire Hotels, following The Opposite House in Beijing and The Upper House in Hong Kong.

“The design of The Temple House is grounded in the history, traditions and landscape of the Sichuan region. The restored heritage buildings will allow the hotel to offer a completely unique experience and create a strong sense of place,” Ghahremani enthuses.

The Temple House, due to open in the fourth quarter in 2014, will be a part of Chengdu Daci Temple Cultural and Commercial Complex, a large-scale mixed-use development in the city’s flourishing Jinjiang district, forming part of a city government conservation scheme.

Offering a contemporary interpretation of traditional Chinese design, Make’s design for the new hotel embraces a typical Siheyuan or ‘courtyard house’ design. The hotel’s entrance is set in a beautifully restored 100 year-old Chinese courtyard building first built in the Qing Dynasty, whilst a sequence of courtyards and lush undulating landscape are reminiscent of the terraced paddy fields of Sichuan’s steep hillsides, linking them at ground and lower ground level.

Although Chinese Emperors previously stayed at the thousand year-old Daci Temple, The Temple House evokes the understated luxury of modest houses provided to scholars who once upon a time would come from far and wide to study at the Temple.

“The Temple House is very different in design to both The Upper House and The Opposite House, as each is completely unique. However, in all the ‘Houses’ there is a recurring design theme of warmth and intimacy. Each reflects the character of the city in which it is located and has been carefully designed to become part of the local community. With The Temple House we hope to achieve the same level of connection and integration with local life in Chengdu,” concludes Ghahremani.

Watch this space…

In The Making

Location: Rendering of The Temple House, Chengdu

Location: Weihai Pavilion

Location: Weihai Pavilion

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Live

City DreamsThere’s something special about Miami. It’s where the city

meets the sea and much of the urban side of things is the

work of renowned architectural firm, Arquitectonica, founded

in 1977, where else but in Coconut Grove.

Artist rendering of Brickell City Centre in Miami, courtesy of Swire Properties Inc.

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IH: With such a big team behind Arquitectonica today – what is your day-to-day schedule as Principals? BF-B: As the firm grew, we realised we didn’t go to architecture school to spend time running a firm. Design is our passion, so we brought in a CEO to run the business and free ourselves up to focus on design. So our day to day is essentially design time, in a workshop atmosphere with our team of designers. We do spend time with clients because we need to get to know them, understand their objectives, and listen to their thoughts. We set aside time to present our projects because usually the person who designed each one can explain it best. We like to hear reactions too as all artists like to know what others think of their work, but 90 percent of our time is spent designing.

IH: What are some major changes in the industry you have seen since you started in 1977? LS: The biggest change was the arrival of visualisation tools through computers. Architects have ideas in their heads that get translated through drawings to real buildings. Computers allow us to see the ideas faster and to communicate them to our clients. The other big change is the ability to send images electronically and instantly to our clients and colleagues anywhere in the world. When we started, we remember travelling from Miami to Hong Kong with tubes filled with drawings. Today the drawings are sent electronically and we can check progress and send comments on stopovers (or while on vacation). This happens daily, hourly at the office, at home, on the boat, on a ski slope. Speed and accuracy have been a revolution and have allowed our firm to expand globally and enjoy a better quality of life, contrary to conventional wisdom.

IH: How has being in the industry for so long benefitted or hindered you as architects?BF-B: We started our practice when we were both 24. We built our first 42-storey building by age 26. So we learned to turn our ideas into real buildings very early in our careers. That can only be an advantage. The disadvantage is that some people know our portfolio and expect certain solutions that already worked well and want them again. Instead we are always looking at new solutions so there are bound to be surprises.

IH: What’s the secret to being happily married while running a wildly successful architectural firm together? LS: Everyone knows the full time dedication this field requires. Luckily we both share the same passion for architecture and landscape architecture, so we understand when the other one needs to work late on a deadline or travel to visit an overseas site. We still managed to raise our six children and two of them now work with us.

B ernardo Fort-Brescia and Laurinda Spear are the ultimate power couple if there ever was one. Since founding Arquitectonica together in 1977, at the age of 24 no less, the pair has almost single-handedly redefined the Miami skyline, watching the city evolve from a sleepy resort town to a thriving global metropolis.

Today, Arquitectonica has designed buildings in over 60 countries, their designs have won over 250 awards and have been featured in over 5,000 national and international magazines. We add yet another project to the list as we sit down with Fort-Brescia and Spear to discuss projects past and present, including the new US$1.05 billion Brickell City Centre, a mixed-use development in Miami’s waterfront Brickell neighbourhood, in collaboration with Swire Properties.

In House: Miami provides a stunning backdrop – how do you complement this with your buildings? Laurinda Spear: Geography is the most powerful influence in design. Miami's intertwining of water and land is like no other. The resultant forms are like a painting. It’s difficult to design in competition with such stunning nature and buildings are compelled to take advantage of the beauty of the views. Spaces need to open up to absorb the setting. In the end, simple pure forms are more compatible with nature than complexity.

IH: Bernard, which are some of your favourite cities in terms of architecture? Bernardo Fort-Brescia: I like so many places so I have a tough time selecting just one. In general, I like dense cities that are abruptly interrupted by large green spaces. I love Paris with prejudice, because of my French ancestry. I adore the boulevards and the sudden integration of the Bois de Boulogne or the Jardin du Luxembourg. Lima, because I grew up there and know its great secret places and I lived across from a park with an Inca pyramid in it. San Francisco, because of the views of the Bay from the hilly streets, the contrast of its relentless grid and the coastline. Rio, because of its crescent-shaped harbour and the Pão de Acucar. Hong Kong because of its energy and its green hills right in the middle of it all. Venice because I love water next to buildings. And of course, Miami, for many reasons.

IH: What is the key to designing a building that will outlive architectural trends?BF-B: Buildings should express their moment in history. One can trace the history of Rome or London by walking past their buildings. Our task is to teach history to the next generation through architecture that conveys the values, creativity and craftsmanship of our time. In doing so we need to choose what is good about our society and reflect it whilst avoiding short-lived trends.

City Dreams

Spaces need to open up to absorb the setting. In the end, simple pure forms are more compatible with nature than complexity.

Buildings should express their moment in history. Our task is to teach history to the next generation through architecture that conveys the values, creativity and craftsmanship of our time.

Laurinda Spear, FAIA, ASLA © Gary James

Bernardo Fort-Brescia, FAIAImage: Courtesy Arquitectonica

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IH: Why did you champion Arquitectonica’s movement to diversify from pure architecture? LS: We quickly realised the interdependence of the design professions. We introduced landscape architecture into the firm to ensure the coherence of buildings and their surroundings. I also looked at the spaces within our buildings as finished spaces ready to be lived in. So we started an interior design and industrial design group. Laurinda Spear Products creates designs of over 150 types of home products for some of the leading manufacturers. They range from furniture and fabrics to wallpaper, door hardware, light fixtures, bus stops and street furniture.

IH: Where do you turn if you get stuck in a creative rut? BF-B: When that happens we know it’s time to go fishing with friends in the Bahamas, surfing with our boys in Bali or Biarritz, or taking our granddaughter to Paris. There’s always something that can switch you off and on and generally, it involves our children.

IH: What were some important considerations when planning Brickell City Centre? BF-B: The most important consideration was to ensure Brickell City Centre fitted into the city fabric. The area encompasses five city blocks in the heart of the most active area of Miami. The design calls for the

city streets to continue flowing through and pedestrian bridges which connect the blocks. Brickell City Centre is a city within a city. It has shops, restaurants, theatres, hotels, offices, service apartments and a wellness centre all stacked vertically and horizontally. A sustainable canopy, called the CLIMATE RIBBON™, is a floating surface that protects the internal streets from rain, directs sunlight and channels the breezes of the Caribbean into a tropical environment of people and vegetation. It will become the meeting place of Miami.

IH: You have worked closely with Swire Properties for many years. Can you tell us more about that relationship?LS: We started working with Swire Properties in 1993 when we were asked to design Festival Walk in Kowloon. It was our first encounter with crowd management as we learned about the effect of two train stations meeting at a seven-level shopping centre with offices above. Since then, we have worked with Swire without pause. Our most recent completed work is Taikoo Hui in Guangzhou, a mixed-use complex of shops, offices and a five-star hotel. Working with Swire is not only about working with great professionals, it’s also about working with caring people who at every turn are thinking about the experience of the building’s users. Having worked for so long together, we understand each other, share values and work ethic. This makes teamwork natural.

City Dreams

IH: You’ve done some iconic art centres and museums, what draws these commissions and how do they compare to creating commercial buildings? LS: We like the diversity. Yes, we have done performing arts centres, museums, arenas, and courthouses and we enjoy designing them. These buildings symbolise our civic institutions and serve the public. On the other hand, our residential towers, hotels, shopping centres and office buildings keep us in touch with the daily life of the majority of society, the people that live, work and entertain in buildings. These private sector projects form a large portion of our practice and allow us to touch the lives of so many people.

IH: What would you say is Arquitectonica’s signature style, if it has one? BF-B: Our style is about avoiding one. We try to see every project as a new beginning in our career. We rethink our assumptions every time and design with an open mind. We hope we are not seen as a style. Some people think our work is about graphic clarity, others about sensuality, some about purity of form, and others about metaphor. We encourage any interpretation and we don’t mind any of them.

IH: Glass is a very prominent material used it nearly all of Arquitectonica’s projects – why glass? BF-B: Actually glass is not always the dominant material in our work; however in many cases it is the right material. It allows connection with the outdoors, it opens spaces to views, and it maximises daylight, an essential tenet of sustainability. It is in fact one of the most sustainable materials by virtue of its endless supply of its raw material. Technology has advanced glass energy values to new levels.

IH: Laurinda, as a former teacher at Harvard, what solid advice did you always give your students? LS: As a teacher I can only tell students to be true to their ideals. I don't promote anything specific, only to think big because there is a place for everything and for everyone.

IH: Are you more optimistic or concerned for the future of architecture and where it’s headed? BF-B: History has proven that man always finds a way to make things better. So I am not worried about where architecture is headed; the good nature of man has always prevailed.

Dense plantings at various heights provide ambiance and a feeling of shelter, yet allow sense of security and ease of orientation.Image: Courtesy of Swire Properties Inc.

Photo of the completed Third floor roof garden, with large trees and curved awning shading the dining area. Elegant walkways provide opportunities for strolling or sitting in the midst of the city. © Jonathan Leijonhufvud 2012, All Rights Reserved

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In Fine Form

Designed to resonate with Hong Kong’s dense urban conditions,

acclaimed British sculptor Sir Antony Gormley’s experiential exhibition

‘States and Conditions’ transformed White Cube Gallery into a

physiological testing ground that confronted the relationship between

our inner state and the condition of our external environment.

Create

“H ong Kong is a very good place to think about the human habitat. Why has our species chosen to concentrate itself in these high density environments, and what does that tell us about our relationship to our fellow humans?” ponders British sculptor Sir Antony Gormley, who credits the SAR as the inspiration for his exhibition ‘States and Conditions’ recently held at Hong Kong’s White Cube Gallery.

“The production of these spaces is due to the industrialisation of habitat. Most of them conform to the way that materials are processed and how they can be transported. They are actually more to do with the convenience of production as opposed to human need. In pre-industrial, pre-modern societies, there were hardly any straight lines. The industrialisation of our habitat has happened very rapidly over the last 150 years. I guess I’m asking what the effect of that is, what does it make us feel, and how alienated do we become as a result of these processes?”

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‘States and Conditions’ is the antithesis of a conventional exhibition. Rather than filling the gallery’s walls with visually pleasing objets d’art with the intent to sell, Gormley transformed the gallery space into an experiential testing ground, with the hope that viewers would then go out onto the street and look at their environment in a different way.

“I hope that by taking the physical space of the gallery as the primary material and catalyzing it through these inert objects, which, as I was suggesting, have their own logic of construction, somehow alters the way a viewer passes through these built spaces, and making that experience the subject and the purpose of the exhibition.”

A total of 11sculptures, including six new works created specially for the exhibition, were placed tactically throughout the gallery, including in its stairways and narrow passages. ‘Ease’ (2012), a collapsed blockwork resembling a resting body, blocked the main entrance of the gallery, while more linear works, like abstract steel sculptures ‘Secure’ (2012) and ‘Transfer’ (2011), were installed in the middle of the gallery’s upper corridor and library.

Serving the purpose of an obstruction, ‘Secure’ and ‘Transfer’ deliberately interfered with the traditional order of the gallery space, creating a sort of minimalist ‘fun house’ that encouraged awareness in viewers of their position in space and time.

It is the viewer's movement through the coordinates of the space of the gallery that is the real subject. It is what is happening within the viewer, not the objects in the gallery.

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In Fine Form

Gormley, who is widely recognised for his iconic piece ‘Angel of The North’, a 20 metre (66 foot) tall steel sculpture of an angel, with wings measuring 54 metres (177 feet) in Gateshead, England, is no stranger to producing behemoth sculptures. His piece de resistance of ‘States and Conditions’ is ‘Murmur’, a multiple ‘space frame’ constructed of stained stainless steel tubes, which took up the entire lower floor of White Cube. The artist encouraged viewers to enter the structure, and ponder the idea of objects of power and the power of objects, to allow for deep self-reflection.

“In my view openings are the best way to ignore art. The whole principle is to use a show as a space and if there are bodies all over the place it doesn’t work as well. It is the viewer's movement through the coordinates of the space of the gallery that is the real subject. It is what is happening within the viewer, not the objects in the gallery,” Gormley explains. “We have the space, we have the object and then we have the viewer. The viewer has the freedom of movement, thought and feeling so the idea was to make these conceptual spaces into some kind of psychological and sociological testing grounds.” All of Gormley’s work acts, in some way, as instruments for the perception and awareness of space, time, and come from a captured moment of highly intense conscious being.

In his essay ‘Sculpture of Mindfulness’, Gormley, a practising and devout Buddhist, writes that “primarily the practice of meditation, but also the artefacts associated with the thought field of Buddhism - has influenced me. It was Buddhism, rather than the western canon, which gave me the idea of the abstract body. It gave me the idea that you can make sculpture about being rather than doing.”

With no active protagonist and no obvious narrative to portray his story or intentions, the quiet genius of Gormley’s work allows viewers the opportunity for internal exploration while acting as, in his own words, “a very positive catalyst for somehow being in the world more effectively.”

“You like the word ‘catalyst’ don’t you?” I ask Gormley, taking note of its frequent use throughout his artist talk.

“I like the word because a catalyst doesn’t do anything. It doesn’t change itself; it affects change,” he responds. “It’s an inert chemical that causes the conditions around it to change and I think that’s exactly what art can be. You can choose to ignore it, in fact you can refuse to use it, but it’s there waiting for those who can.”

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In Fine Form

Waste NotIn Line with its commitment to sustainability, The

Upper House partnered with Hong Kong-based NGO

Redress to promote sustainability in Asia’s fashion

industry and support eco-conscious designers

through their EcoChic Design Award 2013.

T he textile industry is one of the world’s biggest culprits in terms of pollution, drawing heavily from natural resources such as oil and water, and using vast amounts of chemicals which create toxic carbon dioxide emissions and produce millions of tons of fabric, much of which goes to waste each year. According to the China Association of Resource Comprehensive Utilization (2013), in the PRC alone, the annual production of pre- and post-consumer waste is estimated to be more than 20 million tonnes.

“The need for designers to be more aware of sustainability, and in our case, textile waste issues, is very important,” says Christina Dean of Redress, a non-government organisation based in Hong Kong that promotes environmental sustainability in the fashion industry by helping to reduce the aforementioned problems.

In 2011, Redress launched The EcoChic Design Award, encouraging and inspiring emerging fashion designers to create mainstream clothing with minimal textile waste.

Just two years later, in 2013, The EcoChic Design Award proved so successful it branched from its Hong Kong roots, attracting aspiring designers from all over the world. Contestants from Mainland China, Taiwan, Singapore, UK, France, Belgium and Germany made their way to Hong Kong, where their accommodation was generously sponsored by The Upper House, to take part in the competition.

More than just a competition, Redress takes its finalists on an enlightening and educational journey, providing information,

resources, online tutorial videos and lectures over the competition’s nine-month period to provide contestants with the tools and knowledge to improve, change and revolutionise the future of fashion.

When it comes to game time, The EcoChic Design Award contestants are challenged to use one or more of the sustainable design techniques - zero-waste, up-cycling and reconstruction. Finalists are then selected first by a local, and then international, judging panel where they are marked against different categories including creativity, originality, sustainability and marketability, in order to make it through to the grand final.

“Designers must go through the process of sourcing their own textile waste. This further opens their eyes and minds to the levels of waste in the industry and, more importantly, it encourages them to forge new techniques and relationships with manufacturers, brands and suppliers to source textile waste,” says Dean. “We hope that many designers walk away with a heightened understanding of the issues and the knowledge to be part of the solution.”

“It must be clear to everyone that raw materials are becoming increasingly scarce and that things cannot go on like this. It is the task of the designers to think about new ways of production and distribution. The change starts with us designers thinking and creating in a different way,” says Karen Jessen, whose reconstructed futuristic-meets-tribal designs earned her the winning title in the 2013 EcoChic Design Awards.

Envision

Images: Tim WongLocation: The Upper House

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Waste Not

Jessen, whose parents run an environmentally friendly youth hostel, is no stranger to eco-friendly living. In 2012, she and two friends founded her brand ‘Benu Berlin’, which sources the majority of its materials from second-hand stores.

“I have built up a small fan base that provides me with worn jeans, I also work with remnants from the clothing industry,” Jessen explains. “Sustainability has always been an important part of my life and my education. For my Diploma collection in 2012 I created artworks out of t-shirts, jeans and leather couches for the first time. Titled ‘8 Acts of Rebellion’, this set an example for a better alternative to consumption and mass production, and built the foundation that ‘Benu Berlin’ is working on now.”

As the winner of Redress’ The EcoChic Design Award 2013, Jessen is now working with Esprit to create a capsule collection, which will be in stores in August 2014. “Esprit uses textile waste from its own production to create new fabrics. My task is to make these materials into new shapes that go with the Esprit brand identity,” she says, also revealing that her designs will include a range of denims and jerseys all made from recycled materials.

The effects of denim production were a strong focus amongst contestants, particularly for Hong Kong native Alex Law, who is passionate about informing the public about “the dirty secret” behind jeans. “Everyone has a pair of jeans but few are aware of the immense environmental impacts of denim production. A lot of heavy metals and chemicals are used to dye denim, which damages the environment and affects human health, he says. “However, denim is a durable, heavy-duty fabric that is perfect for recycling and reconstruction. For this reason, I think denim should be a prime focus when designing sustainable fashion.”

For Law, it was growing up in fast-paced Hong Kong where trends are constantly changing and evolving, and witnessing people growing tired of and throwing out garments after only a few wears, that led him to focus on the need for sustainable fashion. Currently, he sources materials for his designs from his college (the Hong Kong Design Institute), a jeans manufacturing factory and unwanted hand- downs from his friends.

“If the second-hand shops in Hong Kong can provide a wide selection of high quality clothing for consumers to choose from, wearing second-hand garments will become more appealing and consumers will begin to change their mindset,” says Law, who hopes that Hong Kong will soon follow in the footsteps of Europe and Japan where second-hand clothing has been popular for decades.

Although there can only be one winner of The EcoChic Design Award, none of the contestants walked away empty handed. All semi-finalists and finalists left the competition with career boosting prizes, from books about sustainable fashion through to mentorships. Louise de Testa, second place winner in the 2013 EcoChic Design Award, was invited by London Fashion Week’s Estethica curator (and the competition’s judge), Orsola de Castro, to join Estethica as a ‘new talent’ for2013 after meeting her at the competition grand final.

With people around the world becoming increasingly eco savvy in terms of the food, cosmetics and travel industries, sustainable fashion seems like a natural progression. Going green is definitely the new black.

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Waste Not

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Waste Not

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A Certain AestheticFollowing an intimate fireside event in honour of Matthew Williamson at The Upper House’s

Sky Lounge, the British designer extraordinaire spoke exclusively with In House Magazine

about his Spring/Summer 2014 collection, a bright and breezy range which captures the spirit

of where it all began – Williamson’s first ever show in 1997.

M y girl is growing up. She is no longer on a perennial vacation. She is the same free spirit inside but, like the rest of us, maturing," says Williamson, who was in Hong Kong to take part in The Upper House's Up Close With series, an invitation-only 90-minute fireside chat in the Sky Lounge with leaders and thinkers from the worlds of art, design, music, fashion, travel and more.

Williamson has been a firm favourite at London Fashion Week since, and his charming, unapologetically pretty designs that have earned him the loyalty of celebrity style icons such as Sienna Miller, Olivia Palermo and Paloma Faith.

In House: In a 2010 interview you said that your five-year plan included “striving for more of a balance” – four years down the track, is this the case? What’s your way of staying balanced with such a demanding career?Matthew Williamson: I find it incredibly difficult to switch off; my mind is constantly whirring even if I’m not in the studio. Finding balance is something you work at constantly and over the years I’ve learned that sometimes you just need to trust in the people you work with and make sure to take time out every now and then to refresh. IH: What happens in “a day in the life” of Matthew Williamson?MW: I’m quite organised and tend to like routine when I’m in the midst of working on a collection. I’m usually up by 7am and start each day with a strong cup of coffee whilst checking emails and my schedule for the day. I work off lists and write down all the tasks I need to stay on top of. I don’t take much time to get ready and am normally in the studio by 10. We have a team of around 50 people working in our Mayfair studio. I like being involved and up-to-date on each project so I’ll spend much of the day meeting with different departments. Depending where we are in the season, I might work on sketching ideas for the season ahead, or if samples have started coming through we spend the afternoon in fittings. There is always something to do in London, and I tend to have an industry engagement on most evenings. If I happen to have a free night I love relaxing at home with friends over a home-cooked meal. I’ll check my emails again and make my to-do list for the next day before heading to bed. IH: Having been in fashion for 16 years, in what ways have you grown as a designer? And in what ways do you think you’re still the same person as when you started?MW: I have always been clear about the message I wanted to convey in my designs and continue to be drawn to a certain free-spirited and undone glamour which continues to inspire my collections. I’m still learning new things, but the last 16 years have certainly taught me how to refine my message as a designer and also to work on developing and maintaining a viable business. IH: You seem to have an affinity for style that is slightly undone – from the models you choose to your boho-chic designs – what draws you to this aesthetic? MW: I grew up in the 70s and was inspired by women like Talitha Getty. There is a certain sense of optimism, glamour and exuberance I associate with the period of time that has always appealed to me.

IH: What have been some key highlights of your career as a designer?MW: There have been many, but the one which perhaps stands out the most was the opening of my store in Mayfair because it was a realisation of a childhood dream. IH: You recently launched an interiors line. How does designing wallpaper and home décor compare to designing clothes and accessories and what made you want to venture into interiors?MW: I have always been interested in interior design so the collaboration with Osborne & Little developed in a very organic way. The ‘Eden’ collection takes my signature aesthetic and pairs it with Osborne & Little’s expertise in wallpaper and furnishing fabric production. The use of colour and textures is perhaps the feature which most closely mirrors my fashion collections. Some prints were inspired by past runway designs. ‘Sunbird’ for instance was inspired by the print from my Spring/Summer ’04 ‘Flamingo Bay’ collection, however others designs are less literal and reference my design DNA and inspirations as a whole. IH: What advice would you have for women who are afraid to wear colour? Is there such thing as too much colour?MW: Take small steps by incorporating colour with your accessories - a bright necklace, clutch or shoes is a simple way to incorporate it into your wardrobe. I tend to like two or three colours in an outfit and often like playing with the contrast between warm and cool hues which I might mediate with a neutral shade.

IH: What is the sexiest thing a woman can wear?MW: Confidence. I think we’re always drawn to the woman in the room who is having the most fun and is not afraid to be the centre of attention. IH: You have been quoted as saying you are “such a cliché” – what did you mean by that?MW: People often have preconceived notions as to how they see my collections and me as a designer. However, it can be incredibly frustrating because people find it difficult to look beyond those preconceptions. On the other hand I’m very conscious that I have never really designed according to trends, but instead try to create pieces which I hope can be worn for years to come - things you can treasure. I have always been drawn to certain aesthetics and themes- colour, print, embellishment and exoticism for instance. These have naturally found their way into my collections in some form or another, though the inspirations each season are different. IH: Do you have a routine before you put on a fashion show?MW: I like to take a few minutes to calm my mind before the show, and a glass of champagne also helps…

My girl is growing up. She is no longer on a perennial vacation. She is the same free spirit inside but, like the rest of us, is maturing.

And though his latest collection does indeed stay true to his signature ‘modern bohème’ aesthetic, Williamson elevates it with more refined tailoring, intricate embroidery and fresh take on classic summer-in-London with flowing sheer fabrics held together with flattering cinched waists.

"I wanted to capture the spirit of the 1997 show and take a simplistic, naive approach," Williamson told Vogue UK. "We asked how this brand would look through the eyes of a child."

Location: The Sky Lounge, The Upper House

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Converse

An Upward Journey

Luxuriate

Photographer: Tim Moldenhauer

Art Direction: Ann Tsang

Stylist: Yasmin Tsang

Makeup: Karen Yiu

Hairstyling: Dennis Tsui @ A Ten Studio

Models: Alina T. @ Model Genesis, Iryna Tkach

Location: The Upper HouseJacket by Ann Demeulemeester at Lane Crawford; skirt by Versace; ring by Cushla Geary- Sayetatt; hat and veil stylist’s own

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Dress by Melissa Bui; shoes by Roger Vivier

An Upward Journey

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Coat, jacket and pants by Dior Jacket, top and skirt by Versace; shoes by Hermes

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An Upward Journey

Coat dress and gloves by Dior

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An Upward Journey

An Upward Journey

Dress by Ann Demeulemeester at Lane Crawford; bracelet by Y Paris

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An Upward Journey

Dress by Melissa Bui; shoes by Roger Vivier Jacket and pants by Hermes; shoes by Dior

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The Upper House has perfected the art of

bringing music to the masses with its

understatedly elegant sessions on The Lawn.

This spring, London rock band The Darling Buds,

led by ‘Twilight’ actor Jamie Campbell Bower,

serenaded the crowd to raise funds for FilmAid

Asia.

Take It Outside

Tristan Marmont, Jamie Campbell Bower and Dan Smith of The Darling BudsLocation: The Upper House

Image: Charles Pertwee

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Take It Outside

Off camera, Campbell Bower is quite the music buff, and says one thing that he must carry with him on the road is “a good set of headphones.”

The Darling Buds’ edgy pop-rock sound is a reflection of Campbell Bower and his band mates’ broad and eclectic musical influences. From heavy indie rock bands like Asking Alexander and Bring Me The Horizon, and alternative rock bands The Naked and Famous and The Joy Formidable, to folk classics such as Bob Dylan and Woody Guthrie.

The soiree took place on a chilly Friday evening and, after a long week at the office, I was more than pleased to be welcomed with a glass of bubbly. The wonderful team at The Upper House made sure no guests went thirsty, offering free flowing champagne and Jax Coco coconut water (a more responsible option for The Darling Buds’ many teenage fans) throughout the event.

The Lawn at The Upper House is truly like nowhere else in the city. Outdoor space in Hong Kong is a luxury in itself, let alone outdoor space like The Lawn which is green, tastefully designed and completely private. Guests attending events on The Lawn are surrounded by walls of creeping vines, while the subtle sparkle of tiki torches create an enchanting setting after dusk.

It was especially refreshing to see the delightfully simple set up of two microphone stands, an amplifier and a wooden box to be used for percussion.

I f there is anything that is sure in this world, it’s that nothing gets a young girl’s heart racing like a British boy with a guitar and a cheeky smile.

Enter London rock band The Darling Buds, led by actor, musician and recent face of Burberry, Jamie Campbell Bower. Campbell Bower is better known for his quirky acting roles including Anthony Hope in Tim Burton’s gothic musical ‘Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street’, Caius in the ‘Twilight’ saga and more recently, as Jace Wayland in ‘The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones’, the first film born from the wildly successful six-book series by American author Cassandra Clare.

In support of FilmAid, for which Campbell Bower is an ambassador, The Darling Buds performed a live acoustic set on The Lawn at The Upper House, with all proceeds going towards the not-for-profit charity which empowers refugees in the region through the art of film.

“I’m passionate about charity work where I can make a difference, so when FilmAid asked me to join them in a more official capacity I was happy to help out,” says Campbell Bower. “This is my second year on FilmAid’s Global Artists Council and we will be working together on its various Asia programmes which in the past have included films on landmine awareness and water sanitation.”

After allowing the crowd some time to mingle and gather, Campbell Bower and his band mates Tristan Marmont and Dan Smith came out to set up, greeted with screams and squeals before the band opened with their single ‘Better Man’.

“And every little step I take, and every single move I’ve ever made, and even though my heart still aches, makes me a better man,” sings Campbell Bower, and for a moment you forget that he is hot property in Hollywood. Right now, he’s just a boy from London with a guitar on his back, wind in his wispy shoulder length hair and a song to sing.

Between songs, Campbell Bower entertained the small but enthusiastic crowd with witty anecdotes, often poking a bit of fun at Marmont and Smith’s expense, or just thinking out loud. “I love the city life,” he muses. “My favourite thing about Hong Kong is the amazing food, and there is shopping everywhere!”

There is always something heart warming and uniquely personal about a live acoustic gig, and particularly one as intimate as what The Darling Buds put on at The Upper House. No fancy light shows or installations and not even a stage, but a slight partition between the band and their fans. It was nothing more than pure, unadulterated music in a cosy yet jaw-droppingly beautiful setting.

All in all, it was a perfect way to welcome the weekend, and we can’t wait for the next event at The Lawn.

Location: The Lawn, The Upper House

Location: The Lawn, The Upper House

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Blurring BordersA DJ, producer and master of all instruments, Bonobo’s ambient sounds take

audiences to places both strange and familiar, his brooding and seductive

tracks evoking feelings that flit from inspired to introspective to enthralled.

In House speaks with Bonobo about his latest album, ‘The North Borders’,

and how new technology has changed the way we listen.

I t’s dusk and what’s left of the sun bounces off a canyon of glass skyscrapers, setting a stunning scene for Sunday Sessions a recurring exclusive invitation-only event in which The Upper House invites international DJs and artists to perform in a chic, intimate setting on The Lawn. Champagne glasses in hand, people look up and wave as a flying GoPro drone whizzes over to capture what is essentially a playpen for adults here in the heart of Admiralty.

They’re all here for Bonobo who, behind the decks, seems somewhat oblivious to the heaving crowds surrounding him, only raising his head occasionally to let out a smile – acknowledging he’s doing something right, that he’s getting the crowd going, and then he disappears back into the zone.

“It was a different vibe to my usual kind of gig. It wasn’t a loud sweaty club, it felt a bit more formal,” recalls Bonobo (real name Simon Green). “I guess, because it was a more laid back atmosphere, I was trying to keep the vibe more subdued than usual. It was a great opportunity to play some music I wouldn’t usually play at a club. It was definitely more of a listening scenario. There wasn’t much dancing apart from a girl down the front. She was really feeling it (laughs)!”

I meet with Green at Café Gray Deluxe a few days after the show. He’s been enjoying the rare luxury of having a couple of days off catching up with friends. “I’ve eaten so much dim sum,” he says between sips of Hendricks and tonic, “and sightseeing before hitting the road for a dizzying lineup of Summer festivals around the world.”

“We have the Sonar Festival in Reykjavik, Iceland in a couple of weeks, then straight after that I’m off to Sonar in Stockholm and Finland, and then we’re into a big European tour before Coachella, Glastonbury, a big Central Park show in the summer in New York, and that’s just the tip of the iceberg. The big one is going to be Ally Pally in London at the end of the year. It’s going to be sort of the last North Borders tour.”

Green’s latest album ‘The North Borders’ moves away from the jazzy penchants of his past works, making way for a more electronic aesthetic with heavier bass lines, and presenting Green’s musical genius through a myriad of samples and sounds that have been chopped and mixed to create a rich, intoxicating soundscape.

Images: Charlie Toller

Location: The Upper House

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Blurring Borders

In House: If you had a song for every time you walked into a room, what would it be? Bonobo: Ooh… That’s a good one actually. Because every time I have a live show, we actually do this with our team if we have a piano in the dressing room. Everyone has a different tune; I think my one was pretty jazzy. It would actually be a tune by Bill Conti. It’s not a big rock & roll thing, it’s the end theme from ‘Rocky’; I think it was called ‘You Traitor’. It’s a big tune, very brassy. I actually played it for a friend when he walked down the aisle at his wedding.

IH: ‘The North Borders’ is more electronic compared to the material you have previously done, which has more live, jazzy elements…B: I feel like it’s a sort of evolutionary thing. In 2013 I wanted to move away from that jazzy down tempo style. I wanted to represent what I’m excited about at the moment which is music more informed by the London and UK-based scene. When I moved from London to Brooklyn I felt a kind of fear of missing out, so I probably paid more attention to what was happening in London than I did when I was living there. I was listening to Rinse FM every day rather than once a week and Boiler Room. I made a London record in New York.

IH: Do you think Brooklyn has influenced you in any way, other than making you miss London? B: I don’t think so because I don’t think music is as geographically specific as it used to be. Back in the day, you would take a bag of white labels to DJ in the US, play it to people on dub plates and they’d never

have heard it. But now because of Soundcloud, Boiler Room and the Internet, you can play a record in Berlin and reach everyone in San Francisco at the same time. It’s the same with music producers; there are people in California making the same kind of acid techno track as some kid in Romania.

It’s all a lot more connected as the Internet has kind of shrunk the world. I don’t think Brooklyn has had a sound since the glory days of hip-hop; pre-internet music was a lot more separate. It was more tribal. Nothing can thrive on an underground level any more and people are so quick to jump on the hype of something before it’s had the chance to develop.

IH: What was it like to work with Erykah Badu on the track ‘Heaven For The Sinner’ on ‘The North Borders’? You’d think she’d be more fit for your jazzy sounds… B: Yes… the track I gave her, she kind of went pretty wild with it. There was a lot of editing to get to the point it was. She’s very deep into her experimental phase and wants to be as out there as possible. So it was more of a case of bringing her back to that classic Badu era. But you know, it was an interesting process and we’ve become really good friends through it; she’s come out on the road with me, done shows and we just hang out. She’s got the same ideas about music and is super cool. She came out to San Francisco with us and we did our track together, as well as a 15-minute version of ‘Bag Lady’. It was amazing.

IH: It’s not what you listen to but how you listen to it. Would you care to elaborate? B: The “what’s your influence?” question comes up in every single interview, but it’s never as simple as just a list. It’s a constantly evolving aesthetic. Whatever music or cultural art is passing through your life is what you’re influenced by. It’s not like I’m striving to hit one specific thing, your goal posts change all the time and what I was influenced by three years ago is completely different to what I’m listening to now.

IH: And who are you listening to right now? B: In terms of new people there’s Lapalux of Brainfeeder and Cut Heads is really cool, really interesting stuff. There aren’t many people that can keep your attention consistently over 10 years, but Photek is one of them.

IH: Aside from ‘The North Borders’, you also released a mix album, ‘Late Night Tales’. What do you like about making mixes versus albums and vice versa? B: ‘Late Night Tales’ is different to regular DJ mixes as it’s more a reflection of what I’ve listened to in the last 15 to 20 years. Essentially it’s a curated selection of music from the entire spectrum of the past. I wanted to have a few recurring points in there, so one of them was solo piano music which is something that is key to a lot of my music. Bill Evans, Matthew Borne, and a few others, then there’s a bit more psychedelic jazz and how that connects into beats music, a kind of

join the dots from sample culture into groove and jazz, especially spiritual artists like Dorothy Ashby, how that connects into now. The idea is just to tie all those things together which maybe I did, maybe I didn’t. But I’m really happy with it.

IH: Do you still play all your instruments? B: I play a lot of instruments. The last record was a two-part process, I write orchestral arrangements then actually go in the studio with a string quartet and a horn section and a wood section. Having been on the road a lot, I’ve been forced to work more on my laptop now, so I’m making beats with headphones on in the back of a tour bus, but you know, I definitely prefer to be at home.

IH: Have you thought about doing scoring and soundtracks? B: Hollywood is a very difficult scene to break into. I’d love to do it and I have scored scenes in certain films, but in terms of getting into that world, a lot of the attitude of music supervision in Hollywood can be a bit close-minded. To them, there’s only one entity that makes electronic music and that’s The Chemical Brothers, there is nothing else, so you get the same repetitive uses; if it’s a nightclub scene, it’s the same track by the Chemical Brothers every time. In terms of actual soundtracking, yes I’d love to do it. I’ve been spending a bit of time with Johnny Marr from The Smiths, working with Hans Zimmer, who did all the playing on the ‘Inception’ soundtrack, so who knows what the future holds?

Location: The Lawn, The Upper House

Location: The Lawn, The Upper House

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Indulge

A Natural ApproachDr. Jackson’s formulations are rapidly becoming cult classics thanks to their

exotic all natural ingredients and the intense research behind them that goes

jungle deep…literally.

I think my ‘Eureka’ moment came when I was living in Sumba, Indonesia many years ago, and learning how local people used natural products for their primary health care,” says Dr. Simon Jackson. “I remember being in a rainforest riding a Sumbanese horse bareback, watching hornbills and parrots flying overhead, studying with traditional healers and thinking ‘Yes! This is what I want to do with my life.’”

Having studied pharmacognosy at King’s College in London, followed by a post doctorate at the Royal Botanic gardens at Kew, Dr. Jackson left the world of academia behind to spend over 22 years travelling to remote tribes and villages around the world in search of ways to revolutionise the way we care for our skin.

Learning from the likes of shamans in South America, healers in Africa, age-old principles used in Traditional Chinese Medicine and Ayurvedic medicine practitioners in India, Dr. Jackson seeks to heal with his line of cosmeceutical products that combine nature’s gifts with traditional methods that have withstood the test of time.

Passionate about sharing his findings and revelations, Dr. Jackson recently collaborated with Café Gray Deluxe at The Upper House to produce an exclusive afternoon tea menu featuring an array of organic delicacies inspired by the brand’s philosophy and flavours that reflect Dr. Jackson’s signature all-natural products including coconut macarons, passionfruit cheesecake with baobab powder and a fruit tartlet garnished with calendula petals, to name a few.

“Part of our philosophy here at Dr. Jackson’s HQ is about moderation,” he states. “We like to encourage people to try different things but only in small amounts; this goes for lifestyle and skin care advice too. A little of what you fancy doesn’t do you any harm.”

In House: How did you come to partner with The Upper House?Simon Jackson: It was all down to serendipity. Our partners at Net-A-Porter suggested that we launch our products in Asia at The Upper House in Hong Kong, and came up with the great idea of doing a Dr. Jackson’s inspired afternoon tea using some of the ingredients that we use in our products. It ran for the whole month of March 2014 and I must say, it went down incredibly well. It was so nice to see everyone enjoying the afternoon tea and the Expedition Packs we created, offering a sample of our products. It was a great success all round.

IH: For those who don't know, what are pharmacognosy principles?SJ: It’s a discipline of pharmacy/medicine that specialises in traditional healing methods, and drug advances from natural products. I use the principles of pharmacognosy (the knowledge of medicinal plant preparations and extracts) and phytochemistry (literally, ‘plant’ chemistry) in my cosmetic line. The application of pharmacognosy is used to ensure the efficacy, high quality and viability of my ingredients and medicinal plant and herbal products.

The principles of pharmacognosy dictate the approaches, methods and issues related to quality control, herbal potency, and the principles of extraction, synergy, and variability as they apply to the botanical industry.

IH: Having learned from traditional healers - tell us about some of the people you've met, where they're from and what their practices are.SJ: Most of my current work has been with African traditional healers, and my products reflect this. We have been learning about amazing ingredients like baobab oil - which is full of oleic acid - great for scars, stretch marks and healing skin, and another plant called kigelia (which I did my Doctorate on) used traditionally to give blemish free skin, and brighten the skin of African tribeswomen. More recently though I’m currently working on a project in Hong Kong with the University of China HK, looking at Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) and how we can learn from the old formulations and bring them into modern day China with proven scientific results.

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IH: Tell us a bit more about your foundation the Natural Product Community?SJ: Following on from plant research funding by the United Nations FAO (Food and Agricultural Organisation) we developed a foundation to carry on research into economically important plants. I like to call them ‘Cinderella’ species - plants that have been overlooked for whatever reason - and we are trying to show the phytochemical importance of these species, either for cosmetics, foodstuffs or clinical use. A percentage of after-tax profits goes back into the N.P.C, continuing the research of medicinal plants.

IH: What measures do you take to ensure that the ingredients used in Dr. Jackson’s are in fact organic, produced and grown ethically?SJ: This is one of our key principles within Dr. Jackson’s Natural Products. We aim to claim each ingredient as organic, and we like to know the complete supply chain so we can be totally transparent with the sustainability and work as an ethical brand.

A Natural Approach

I would also say not to use so many products. We have a principle in pharmacognosy that you should never put more than say five or six ingredients into a formulation; any more and they’ll start to cancel each other out. If possible, use products with a small list of ingredients. More ingredients does not mean higher quality. Less is more.

IH: What are some of the standout products in the Dr. Jackson range?SJ: My signature skin cream is a day moisturiser, which I personally formulated - a process that took four years - to be a light moisturiser with SPF20, so it’s perfect for using on a day to day basis. I formulated it with baobab oil for moisturising, kigelia for giving a brightening effect and blemish free skin, marula oil as a deep tissue moisturiser and shea butter for its topical effect.

I have also just launched a new product exclusively on Net-A-Porter, which is my 05 Face and Eye Essence. It’s a light eye serum with cooling aloe, perfect for hot, tropical days but it also contains kigelia, which is a natural skin tightener, making it great for around the eyes, especially if you’re a little jet lagged.

These are my personal favourites, but I must admit everyone loves the Coconut Melt. It’s a high quality organic coconut oil that has been purified to give a higher quality product, perfect for lips, cuticles and hair.

Most of our ingredients are harvested from the wild in rural communities, and we are working towards Fair Wild Certification. Currently our Coconut Melt is 100% organic and carries the Soil Association mark of approval.

IH: What measures do you take to ensure that Dr. Jackson’s supports indigenous tribes?SJ: Again this is one of our key principles and we make every effort to uphold it and support rural communities. We pay for the ingredients to be harvested in the country of origin, but we also like to do the initial processing in the country of origin as well to double the benefit to the rural community. The results are then sent over to be formulated and made in the UK.

Further still, profits from the products are put into our foundation, the N.P.C., so we can work with new species, and academic research institutions in the countries of origin.

IH: How have these practices been applied to the Dr. Jackson range?SJ: We try to mimic the traditional way of harvesting and processing as far as possible and use crude extracts of the plant material for our formulations, as it’s the synergy of the multi-compound mixtures that we feel give the best therapeutic effect, unlike the Western orthodox approach which favours a single compound. For example the kigelia plant is only harvested from the tree, not from the ground as it is easily contaminated, plus we only process these fruits in the dark, as exposure to sunlight biodegrades the active (photosensitive) ingredients. Then we formulate it into creams and oils that consumers can use on their skin.

IH: Where do you source ingredients?SJ: We feel that knowing the source of our products right back to the farmer who grew them assures us that each ingredient is going to be effective and of high quality. It is then backed up with scientific testing in the formulation process. Quality equals effectiveness.

We currently source from all over the world; we get licorice for our teas from China and Spain, baobab and kigelia from South Africa, and coconut oil from South East Asia. We have over 38 suppliers from over 20 countries and we are always looking for more. It’s quite a logistical challenge for my supply chain manager.

IH: What are one or two key pieces of advice you would give to people who are curious about natural skincare products?SJ: I would advise anybody who has not tried natural product cosmetics before to place a focus on high quality. There are many products claiming to be natural, but in fact contain very few, if any, natural ingredients.

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Back To NatureAurelia Probiotic Skincare recently hosted an afternoon tea at Café Gray Deluxe at The Upper House in Hong

Kong, introducing its line of products alongside a decadent menu of sweet and savoury treats, using organic

ingredients inspired by the brand’s unique, all natural formulations. Aurelia founder Claire Vero shares the

details of her journey.

T he world is slowly and steadily waking up to the myriad health problems caused by a modern lifestyle and all the toxic chemicals we are involuntarily exposed to, from pollution to undesirable preservatives found in food and cosmetics.

Enter Claire Vero, founder of Aurelia Probiotic Skincare, which combines science and probiotic technology with ethically sourced 100% BioOrganic botanical formulations to heal, improve and maintain naturally healthy skin.

Vero worked for nine years as a marketing director in the Global Dermatology Centre of Excellence at one of the world’s leading global pharmaceutical and consumer healthcare companies, GlaxoSmithKline. Here, she took a leading role in launching evidence-based technology into markets ,whilst identifying and considering the varying needs of different skin types around the world.

Naturally, Vero encountered countless patients with skin concerns that ranged from eczema to psoriasis to those simply seeking solutions for dry skin, protection from the sun and, of course, ageing.

“It was clear to me that reducing inflammation of the skin and balancing its defence system was critical to achieving and maintaining healthy, youthful skin,” says Vero, who officially launched Aurelia in January 2013, after 18 months of research, technology development, formulation

testing and selecting the right blends of essential oils. “I decided to launch Aurelia with a core capsule range of five key products which complement each other perfectly and form a simple routine designed to improve skin and tackle the challenges of aging.”

Aurelia skincare takes us back to basics, using exotic ingredients courtesy of Mother Nature, such as Hawaiian kukui oil and hibiscus in Aurelia’s Cell Revitalise Rose Mask, both of which have been used by ancient Hawaiian skin healers to promote anti-oxidant benefits, and not a single trace of parabens, sulphates, GMOs or synthetic fragrances. ‘No’ has never sounded so good.

In House: With so many skincare lines jumping on the organic bandwagon, how do you ensure that Aurelia stays ahead of the game? Claire Vero: It is not surprising that other brands are converting to a greener way of treating skin, as so many women are now much more wise to the ingredient lists that comprise so many well-known beauty products. At Aurelia we are devoted to our philosophy of natural, scientifically proven skincare that offers visible results from the first use without the need for parabens, sulfates, mineral oil, silicones, and so on. We are always pushing the boundaries of organic and natural skincare and we want our customers to actually enjoy using their anti-aging products by delivering luxury packaging and stunning essential oil blends with high-end natural ingredients.

IH: How do you ensure that every ingredient is in fact bio-organic?CV: The term 'bio-organic' encompasses the natural and ethically sourced plant and flower botanicals used throughout Aurelia's probiotic skincare range. These are also organically harvested in the majority of cases, and we work closely with our suppliers to ensure the quality and source of each and every ingredient we use can be verified.

IH: How do you find these ingredients? CV: During a research trip I took to Southern Africa last year I found myself trekking through remote forests and discovering unique botanicals to add to our scientific technology. I learned so much from watching the communities harvesting their crops of omega-rich baobab, and saw how supporting these villages was changing lives.

At Aurelia we are passionate about responsible sourcing. We partner with not-for-profit organisations that work on the ground to ensure a sustainable supply of unique botanicals for our research and development team. The ethics and organic practises are also reviewed to determine the best source for us. We pay a fair trade price to the communities that collect and harvest for us across the world in remote areas, which dramatically improves their quality of life, helping to provide additional income for food, schooling and housing. Wider benefits are also being seen in the increasing biodiversity of these regions; trees previously being cut down are now seen as valuable commodities and are being protected.

IH: Many people understand the role of probiotics to aid digestion and other internal functions, but what are the benefits of applying them topically? CV: So many challenges we face with our skin are due to cellular inflammation and the effect this has, not only on the aging process, but also on many skin conditions. Probiotic technology has the power to reduce inflammation within the skin cells resulting in a deceleration of the aging process, and in many cases, a dramatic improvement in more serious skin conditions. Scientific studies proved that probiotics balance the skin’s defence system, and can help to prevent accelerated skin aging.

It was vital to me that the technology behind Aurelia was scientifically proven, and I was thrilled to discover a naturally derived technology to fit perfectly with Aurelia Skincare. The probiotics themselves use immune modulatory glycoproteins from bifido bacteria to generate targeted responses in the skin, balancing stress-damaged skin and stabilising the skin’s defence system.

IH: What are some of your best selling products and why? CV: We are thrilled that all of our products have been received amazingly well since January 2013, and we are particularly delighted to have won awards for all five of the products we entered in the recently published Ultimate Natural Beauty Bible. However the standout favourites so far have been the Miracle Cleanser, Revitalise & Glow Serum and Cell Repair Night Oil. The Miracle Cleanser has been particularly successful due to the efficacy of the product itself; it removes all make-up, daily grime and impurities and with the bamboo muslin contained in the box the product rinses away perfectly without the need for a toner. With an uplifting blend of essential oils, the Miracle Cleanser quickly becomes addictive, and we have customers regularly buying three pots at a time.

IH: How did Aurelia come to collaborate with The Upper House for the Aurelia Afternoon Tea? CV: It was an honour to be chosen by our luxury retail partner NET-A-PORTER.COM for the collaboration with Hong Kong’s finest boutique hotel, The Upper House. Following in Jo Malone and Diptyque’s footsteps, we were so excited to take over the boutique tearooms. World-renowned chef at Café Gray Deluxe, Gray Kunz, created a bespoke afternoon tea menu inspired by our products and natural, organic ingredients. The decadent menu included rosemary infused focaccia, rose flavoured shortbread and chocolate jasmine tea praline, not to mention classic scones with lavender infused honey and homemade jams.

IH: How did these items reflect Aurelia’s philosophy and approach to beauty? CV: The items created for the sublime afternoon tea by Chef Kunz perfectly mirrored Aurelia’s attention to detail by incorporating the best of what nature has to offer with technical skill and an eye for design. All of the delicious items featured as part of the afternoon tea showcased a different element of the Aurelia skincare line. Our approach to beauty is all about seeking perfection in natural skincare, something that was reflected in the exquisitely made sweet and savoury creations served during our successful collaboration.

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W hile the majority of us struggle to commit to a week without carbohydrates or keep to a workout routine, Nealy Fischer has dedicated her life’s work to founding MAYYA Movement.

In a nutshell, MAYYA Movement provides the necessary tools and inspiration for women looking to lead healthier, happier and more balanced lives in demanding cities such as Hong Kong and beyond. Its bespoke approach to wellness brings A-list experts from around the world to deliver comprehensive wellness experiences, products and services straight to Hong Kong’s door.

In May 2014, MAYYA Movement brought world-renowned talent to Hong Kong to take part in an enlightening edition of The Upper House's Up Close With series, including Dr. Mark Hyman, an acclaimed American author Founder of the UltraWellness Center, and Medical Editor of the Huffington Post; and Lauren Zander, an inspiring Life Coach and Founder of the Handel Method in New York.

In the 90-minute fireside chat, guests were given the opportunity to take notes, ask their own questions and simply enjoy fun and intellectually stimulating evening with the leading health and beauty experts.

“I want to inspire women to lead healthier lives so that they can achieve their potential and ultimately raise happy families,” says Fischer, who is a busy and beautiful mother of four. “It’s not so simple for a woman to navigate her wellness options, with such a vast array of conflicting information about physical health, mental health, diet and exercise. Hong Kong has seen a boom in the health and wellness industry in the last decade, yet women continue to search for that elusive work/life balance. They crave concrete advice and time saving solutions. Nobody in this town has any time, but everyone wants to feel and be well.”

In House: For those who don’t know, what is the MAYYA Movement and why did you develop it? Nealy Fischer: I founded MAYYA Movement to help more people have access to, and even crave a healthy lifestyle. My aim is to make health and wellness more enticing and offer a discerning audience efficient and effective wellness solutions. MAYYA was born from my passion to inspire others to increase the quality of their lives by taking a 360 degree approach to their health.

IH: There are so many different approaches to health out there so it’s easy for people to become confused or overwhelmed by which might be the right one for them. How does the MAYYA Movement fit in?NF: I completely agree which is why MAYYA Movement was born. We take a bespoke and highly curated approach and only work with experts and methods that we believe are accessible, results oriented and that lead to long lasting transformations. Essentially we filter through the varying and often conflicting approaches to health and present the ones that work.

IH: Tell us about a time in your life where you recognised a need for transformation – and how did you see it through? NF: I had a stillbirth midway through pregnancy a few years ago. It was a wake up call to say the least, and I was faced with a burning need to make some immediate and long term changes in life: transform my body, change my perspective and heal my heart. I committed to upgrading my diet and exercising regularly and effectively and in a few months I was back in a body that I felt confident in again. I chose to keep better company with others and myself so that I could live more authentically. I finally stopped making excuses about my career aspirations and launched MAYYA Movement in memory of the baby we lost.

IH: What do you think is the key to happiness and balance in a demanding city like Hong Kong? NF: Find authentic friends and be one yourself. Schedule exercise sessions in the same way you schedule meetings. Shop online and have healthy foods delivered to your doorstep. Be selective when eating out and ask for fresh salads and proteins everywhere. Find time once a week to self-reflect somewhere away from the crowds. And finally, travel often!

IH: For those who are just beginning to improve their overall health and spirituality, what are some basic or key ways to get started? NF: We spend too much time working at computers. Start walking to and from all of your appointments and you’ll benefit from the cumulative effects of movement. Eat more vegetables, add in proteins and fats, and splurge on treats just once a week. Join a gym or pay for a workout or yoga class - the pain of wasting money is a good incentive to show up. Go to bed earlier every night and wake up earlier every morning. Read an inspiring book regularly. Spend three minutes a day alone, with your eyes closed and breathe. Find one thing a day to be grateful for.

IH: Where are some of your favourite places to shop for healthy foods/ingredients in Hong Kong? NF: I buy all of my supplements, nuts and herbs and dry gluten-free ingredients on Iherb.com. Eatfresh.com delivers all of my fresh kale. The wet market also has some surprising good imported fruits and veggies.

IH: What are some staples you keep in your kitchen?NF: Raw almonds, sunflower seeds, hemp seeds, chia seeds, coconut oil, olive oil, Himalayan pink salt, gluten free tamari, almond flour, almond butter, coconut flour, coconut nectar, quinoa, lemons, kale, spinach, apples, carrots ginger, garlic, fresh coconuts and dark chocolate.

Image: Oh Deer Production Location: The Sky Lounge, The Upper House

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Beautifully BalancedNealy Fischer is a fitness and nutrition guru, mother and Founder of MAYYA Movement,

a tried and tested transformation for women in Hong Kong and beyond to reach their full

potential in health and wellness.

Converse

Shades Of GrayGood food has returned to the fold, with diners growing hungrier for quality food

that tugs at the heartstrings rather than just at their wallets. Chef Gray Kunz, with

four stars under his belt and hailed as “one of the world’s greatest chefs” by many,

shares what’s on the simple, sustainable and seasonal summer menu at Café Gray

Deluxe at The Upper House.

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Shades Of Gray

I n the organised chaos and methodical madness that is the kitchen at Café Gray Deluxe, Chef Gray Kunz is experimenting with a fresh delivery of plump butter beans. “In my mind I already have six different things I can possibly do with them. What they will be at the end I don’t’ know. It’s a funny thing to say, but I talk to the product. I’ll say “what can I do with you, bean?” And people think I’m crazy but that’s how I begin my process. For example in France they put a little drop of hazelnut oil on top and a little broth, and a pinch of salt. It’s the best thing in the world!” says Kunz, whose style of cooking combines simple but standout ingredients with basic yet refined cooking techniques to bring out flavours that beg the question, “Where have you been all my life?”

“When you have a great piece of fish, you grill it and add lemon juice and olive oil. That’s it. Period,” he continues. “I really love that style of cooking, it will never go out of fashion. Café Gray Deluxe is not a trendy restaurant; and it will never be. We want to be the fashion house that sets the trends, not the one that follows.”

Café Gray Deluxe’ minimalist chic design by revered Hong Kong architect Andre Fu offers an environment in the same way that Chef Kunz approaches his food; enhancing what is already there to bring out the very best of what it has to offer. Whether it be it the jaw-dropping Hong Kong skyline, or a beautiful piece of fish at Café Gray Deluxe, it’s about working with, not against, and letting the magic transpire organically. “Every time you walk in, or at least every time I do, I feel comfortable. It’s a happy restaurant. A good restaurant,” he says.

“What ingredients are you most excited about for summer?” I ask the Chef who, in Spring, says he is still in the mindset of morels and asparagus.

“I would love to do something with zucchini flowers, I haven’t done that for a long time. I’m fantasising about this idea to do a crazy ratatouille. To me, summer is about ratatouille with its beautiful colours and flavours,” he says, his mind already halfway into the next ingredient. “I also see lavender fields and honey so we’ll definitely do something with those. Lavender and honey will probably come in the form of an ice cream or gelato.”

To say Kunz is trying to tone down the menu for summer would be the wrong thing to say, but rather to execute it in a much simpler way that will allow the produce to speak for itself. “The most difficult dishes to find are actually the simplest,” says the Chef, who reveals that his famously refreshing tomato coulis is likely to make a return to Café Gray Deluxe’s menu for summer. “We blend the best tomatoes we have and put the coulis on ice so it’s really ice cold. The reason for that is your taste buds change according to whether the ingredient is hot or cold. Generally you have to over-season the product when it’s cold just because there’s a little numbness going on in your mouth and the warmth brings out the flavour. So we chill this coulis down, season it with just salt, and add a little bit of pepper and sugar to take the acidity away. It’s a good example of how simple the seasoning can be, as long as you’ve got that wonderful, sun ripened tomato.”

Kunz says his primary goal, however, is to focus on how Café Gray Deluxe can forge even deeper into its sustainability efforts. The restaurant continues to work closely together with the World Wildlife Foundation (WWF), participating in its sustainable seafood programme as it has for the past two years, and sourcing local produce where possible from the growing number of organic farms in Hong Kong’s New Territories.

“It doesn’t have to be mentioned on the menu. We do not need to impress on the customers that it is sustainable or vegetarian or whatever. It’s a given that we do that research,” says Kunz, who grows his own garden of fresh produce in New York and is working on plans to start a garden for The Upper House in the near future. “That’s my job. It’s a very integral part of what I do and we want to translate it into the food. By doing so, customers can rest assured that when they come here, they will be contributing to the global environmental movements that are happening right now. It’s a complete circle.”

As we wrap up, Kunz tells me to wait in the restaurant. Minutes later, I’m presented with a bowl of butterbeans in a beautiful, slightly spicy Mediterranean-inspired tomato sauce that is so light it borders on being a broth, topped with a medley of fresh green herbs. It’s sensational. And I don’t even like beans… at least not until now.

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The Sky Has No LimitsThis summer, Dragonair’s First and Business Class menus take on a sophisticated Mediterranean twist

through the airline’s latest collaboration with Sureño at The Opposite House in Beijing.

F or years, Dragonair has been collaborating with premier restaurants in Hong Kong, Shanghai, Beijing, Taipei and Kaohsiung to bring wonderful cuisines and delicacies from the ground up to the skies for its passengers.

In its latest partnership, the airline is collaborating with The Opposite House’s revered modern Mediterranean restaurant, Sureño. “We are extremely delighted to collaborate with Sureño, one of the finest restaurants in Beijing to offer its signature dishes to our passengers. This is an innovative approach and will certainly elevate our passengers’ dining experience,” says Dane Cheng, Cathay Pacific and Dragonair General Manager China.

The airline has long been admired for its expansive inflight dining options, from its Asian Delight for Business travellers to its selection of special meals to meet various dietary requirements including vegetarian, fruitarian, low salt, low cholesterol, Kosher, Indian and children’s meals, amongst many others made readily available to all classes.

“We are aware that passenger tastes and lifestyles have changed in recent years and that they would like to enjoy a wide range of delicious menu choices on board. Hence we have been working hard to enhance the inflight meal experience,” says Carina Leung, Catering Manager - Planning, Policy & Standards for Dragonair. “We decided to choose Sureño after the first round of tasting in January 2014. Sureño is rightly renowned for its interpretation of real Mediterranean dishes that we believe will bring an extraordinary experience to our passengers.”

A total of 25 dishes, including soups, appetisers and main courses were introduced to Dragonair menus in May 2014 and will continue to be served on flights from Beijing to Hong Kong until May 2015.

The final selection of dishes includes meals inspired by cuisines from Spain, Greece, Southern France and Italy. The menus feature some of the Sureño’s signature dishes, including Braised Ossobuco with Mushroom Risotto, Chicken Stew with Mushrooms and Fino Wine Sauce, Caldereta De Pescado Soup, Teresa's Seafood Paella with Spanish Saffron Rice, and Foie Gras Terrine, Fig Puree, Grilled Brioche in Port Wine Balsamic.

“All ingredients are from local suppliers who can provide high quality seasonal produce. Our chosen suppliers deliver the goods to inflight kitchen on a regular basis to ensure the ingredients are in the finest condition,” says Leung. “Dragonair’s flight kitchen is strictly monitored to guarantee that the ingredients are from safe and reliable sources. As a company standard, catering facilities comply with strict hygiene requirements, where storage and handling of meals are carefully controlled to maintain food quality for service on board.”

To ensure the restaurant’s integrity and to maintain the original taste of the restaurant’s dishes, Sureño’s Chef Laia Pons Gonzales has worked closely with Dragonair’s flight kitchen team, providing the correct recipes, cooking methods and training necessary to provide high quality inflight meals.

Already looking ahead, Dragonair reveals that another The Opposite House restaurant, the recently opened Jing Yaa Tang by internationally recognised restaurateur Alan Yau, will follow as its next inflight menu collaborator. Peter Wynne, Area General Manager of Swire Hotels Beijing is enthusiastic about the continued collaboration saying, “We are looking forward to our next venture with Dragonair when we will present Chinese cuisine through Jing Yaa Tang, a restaurant concept with a menu extending to a wide range of dishes from various regions across China, bringing dining in the air to even greater heights.”

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The Candy CrazeTommy Palm is the Games Guru at King Digital Entertainment, the

company behind the game that had everyone on the edge of their

seats – and on their phones – Candy Crush. He talks to In House

about the phenomenon that is the Candy Crush Saga, the new hit

game Farm Heroes Saga, and the future of mobile gaming.

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W hen King Digital Entertainment debuted as a publicly traded company in March 2014, it was valued at a mind-blowing US$7.08 billion. A mammoth sum, yes, but it hardly came as a surprise.

Since the wildly addictive mobile game was released in 2012, it has been downloaded more that 500 million times and, according to reports, one out of every seven active players in the world are from Hong Kong. Take a walk or a ride on any form of transportation in the city and without a doubt you’ll find people on their phones, mesmerised by the unmistakable carnival-esque music, pings and pops of Candy Crush Saga.

It seems only natural then that King Digital would reciprocate the love Hong Kong has shown through a series of special events and collaborations throughout 2013’s Christmas and New Year period, including an epic Candy Crush-themed New Years Eve countdown at Hong Kong’s Times Square. On the night, 100,000 attendees watched as sweet, colourful Candy Crush graphics filled a 10-storey LED screen to usher in 2014.

The Candy Craze

“We’ve been really thrilled to see how much players love Candy Crush Saga. People in Hong Kong have proven to be big fans of the game, and we think it’s because it’s fun to play when you need a quick break from your busy day, whether it be on the way to work, sitting in traffic in a taxi or waiting to meet a friend. It’s a few minutes of play that helps you relax,” says Tommy Palm, employee and designated ‘Games Guru’ at King Digital.

Candy Crush also collaborated with EAST, Hong Kong, rewarding top players staying or dining at the hotel. Enthusiasts flocked to EAST, Hong Kong like kids in a candy store where, depending on their scores, they were able to enjoy a variety of prizes including complimentary drinks inspired by the colourful game, a box of Candy Crush candies that bring the game to life, a Candy Crush Rubik’s cube and Candy Crush Happy Socks.

In House: Can you tell us bout the 10-storey LED screen countdown? Tommy Palm: It was really special. The team at Times Square in Hong Kong wanted to do something a bit different for New Year’s Eve so it was exciting to work with them to create a huge, 10-storey Candy Crush-themed countdown. We hope that everyone who celebrated in Hong Kong that night loved it, and had fun counting down the candies!

IH: Why did Candy Crush/King Digital choose EAST, Hong Kong to partner on this collaboration? TP: EAST, Hong Kong is a gorgeous, fun hotel, with a great clientele including visiting guests, as well as Hong Kong locals who love to visit Sugar bar with friends after work and on weekends. We wanted to create some small moments of fun for our players.

IH: How are new games conceptualised at King Digital? TP: At King we have a special recipe for making games. We test concepts early on, on our website, and take ideas to reality with very small teams of just two to three people. This way we can test game ideas quickly without putting large resources into untested concepts. When we see that the concept works, we go on and add social features and more content.

IH: Who designs the graphics at King Digital? TP: This is handled by the games team themselves in their respective territory. We want them to have freedom and the right to decide the details of their own game. Farm Heroes Saga, for instance, is made by the London studio and the graphics are drawn locally by very talented games artists.

IH: How did Farm Heroes Saga come about? TP: Farm Heroes Saga was originally based on the game Farm King on our King.com website. If you compare the two you can really see the transition the game has gone through since that first version.

IH: What is the objective of Farm Heroes Saga? TP: Farm Heroes Saga, like Candy Crush Saga, is a social match-three-game, but in this game the mechanics works slightly differently. Perfect to play anytime, anywhere, Farm Heroes Saga challenges players to switch and match a selection of lovable ‘Cropsie’ characters in rows of three or more, within specified move limits. Additional gameplay elements include rechargeable boosters and regular challenging ‘Boss’ battles where players take on the evil ‘Rancid the Raccoon’ who is attempting to spoil the peaceful nature of the farm. It’s available to play for free on iOS, Android and Facebook.

IH: Being another match-three game, how did you make sure that Farm Heroes was still something fresh, different and exciting for Candy Crush players? TP: It comes back to our way of making games. We knew that Farm King was a popular concept on our website, so we were confident it would prove popular with players once we adapted it for Facebook and mobile devices.

IH: Why have you chosen to integrate social media (namely Facebook) with your games? TP: We strongly believe that games are more fun to play with your friends and family. Integrating the games with social media makes it very easy to share the fun with those closest to you.

IH: How do you see the smartphone/tablet games industry evolving in the next five years? TP: Even though our games reach more than 324 million monthly players (as of December 2013), we are still convinced that we are in the early days of social casual games. One of the most fascinating things with this industry is that we are now making games that are relevant to everybody. Just like new movies are a popular social conversational topic, we trust that games can take that role in society as well.

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A Floral AffairRoses, polka dots and pastels are what make designer Cath Kidston so

endearingly British. Here’s what’s in bloom for the vintage-inspired label this

season.

W here most companies have relished in the safety and universality of minimalism, Cath Kidston has stuck to her guns. Her eponymous brand is one of the UK’s greatest success stories, with her knack for wild and colourful vintage-inspired prints making her a household name.

In the UK and Europe alone, Kidston stores sell four of its signature ‘Day’ bags every five minutes, six mugs every two minutes and an ironing board cover every seven minutes, Not surprisingly, the company’s annual turnover topped £100 million for the first time in 2013.

As the brand continues to spread its colourful wings to Asia - it already has an incredibly strong following in Japan - Cath Kidston collaborated with Feast (Food by EAST), Hong Kong and local cake designer extraordinaire, Penney Pang, to bring a limited edition, quintessentially British ‘Brighten Up Your Day’ afternoon tea set as a fun way to introduce its Spring/Summer 2014 collection, which was almost too pretty to eat.

“The afternoon tea is extra special because all the sweet items have been carefully designed to match key prints from our Spring/Summer 2014 collection, in both design and flavour,” says Helen Lip, Director – Brands, Swire Resources Ltd. “The Earl Grey cupcakes combine a favourite British tea with our Westbourne Rose Slate Blue floral print, whilst the Field Rose Cream Macaroons are synonymous with the design. Finally an exotic and rich Safari Orange Blossom Bon Bon is the perfect way to get those taste buds tingling.”

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A Floral Affair

In House: Floral prints have been around for centuries. How does Cath Kidston maintain a fresh, modern approach to florals?Helen Lip: All of our floral prints have been inspired by vintage fabric, a photo from a day out, or a personal story. From this, the shapes of the flowers, background colours and materials are reworked to bring them up to date, but still maintain that nostalgic and whimsical feeling that really does help to cheer people up! Each season there are more conversational prints that tell a story; for example the Safari print this summer is reminiscent of family trips to the zoo.

IH: What was the inspiration behind the Spring/Summer 2014 collection?HL: Part of the collection was inspired from a piece of vintage fabric that had sketches of London streets and landmarks with huge, brightly coloured flowers mixed in. ‘Brighten Up Your Day’ is also a play on Brighton, so it seemed right to combine the two ideas and create a collection inspired by British summer time and the most popular seaside resort in Britain. One of the print designers paid a visit to Brighton and made sketches of landmarks such as the famous pier and Royal Pavilion. It has been so popular that a UK wide competition has been launched to find a town that will inspire the theme for the next collection.

IH: What are some of your personal favourite items from the collection?HL: I love the safari themed picnic gear. It’s the perfect look to take to the beach this summer, and so easy to pack up in the matching backpack. Day bags are one of the most popular shapes (they really do what they say on the tin – and fit everything you could ever need for a day inside!), and this season we love it in Westbourne Rose Slate Blue, which was actually the inspiration for the Earl Grey cupcake in the Cath Kidston themed afternoon tea at Feast (Food by EAST), Hong Kong. The small leather cross body bags are also a favourite, especially in sweet button spot pink which is another new print for the season.

All Cath Kidston items are designed to be practical, of good quality, and to bring a smile to the wearer’s face.

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favourite props were the oversized sunglasses which are actually part of our kids collection. To bring the ice cream van to life, we also served delicious ice cream bombs which everyone really enjoyed. It was a real day out at the seaside.

IH: Cath Kidston started her company with only £15,000 in her pocket. What do you think is behind the brand’s meteoric success?HL: The unofficial motto of the company is ‘Brighten Up Your Day’ and that’s exactly what the products have always done. Everything is designed to be as practical as possible too, and if customers have feedback about the length of a bag strap or the height of a wellington boot, then a lot of work goes into how it can be modified for the next season. It helps that there is something for every corner of the house, you can have a little bit of Cath Kidston in your kitchen, bedroom, living room, and even the loo!

IH: Where do you hope to see Cath Kidston in the next five years?HL: The last five years have been really exciting, with stores opening in Japan, Korea, Hong Kong and China, as well as the Piccadilly flagship in London which is our biggest store yet and offers some exclusive products and services, such as upholstery. Having a flagship in the centre of London will boost our presence in our home market, and our customers and fans from all around the world can visit and learn about our 20 year history. In the next five years, Cath Kidston will definitely continue opening in new markets around the world, and in Hong Kong we have plans to expand the product offering in popular categories such as fashion and Baby ‘n’ Kids. Our biggest goal in the next five years is to make sure we bring ‘The Home of Modern Vintage’ to life and keep showing our customers how the core values of the company are reflected in our products and the way we do business. Watch this space!

IH: How did the collaboration between Feast (Food by EAST), Hong Kong and Cath Kidston come to be?HL: Feast (Food by EAST), Hong Kong embodies the spirit of getting on and enjoying life, just like Cath Kidston. There is a big focus on quality and practicality at the hotel which is also a great match – all Cath Kidston items are designed to be practical, of good quality, and to bring a smile to the wearer’s face. Feast (Food by EAST), Hong Kong’s Executive Chef David Parkin is British too, so he totally understood the message that we wanted to portray to both new and existing Cath Kidston fans.

IH: How did the afternoon tea menu reflect the brand?HL: As a quintessentially British brand, it was obvious that a quintessentially British afternoon tea would be the perfect match for a foodie collaboration. Classic finger sandwiches, fruity scones with jam and clotted cream, and bite sized savoury quiches led all taste buds to London. Award winning cake designer Penney Pang did a great job working with Executive Chef David Parkin to bring all those prints to life, and to tummies!

IH: Tell us about the special Brighton Beach themed media preview for the Cath Kidston ‘Brighten Up Your Day’ afternoon tea…HL: As Brighton Beach was the main inspiration for the “Brighten Up Your Day” collection, we wanted to bring that location to Hong Kong. We arranged the products by print groups in four beach huts, just like the ones you see in Brighton. We even set up a pebble beach area with deck chairs and a parasol, although it was actually acting as an umbrella as we had the Great British weather with us, which somehow made the whole day even more authentic. Our fun photo booth was another Brighton Beach touch. We set up a traditional ice cream van with seaside props for our guests to take photos. Our

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A Love For The LandGetting back to nature is really about simplifying. Removing all outside noise,

distractions and stress and stripping life down to its most simple form. At Big

Sur’s Post Ranch Inn, you’ll find that less is certainly more…

Images: Kodiak GreenwoodLocation: Post Ranch Inn

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O ne of the driving thoughts behind the Post Ranch Inn, a luxurious boutique hideaway in the heart of Big Sur, was to create a place for people to come to relax and take refuge from the stress and connectivity of everyday life. Thus, no televisions or alarm clocks can be found in any of the Inn’s completely secluded suites.

In Big Sur, south of the Monterey Peninsula in California, the only sounds you are likely to hear are the wind, the waves and birds chirping as wildflowers bloom around you, California condors fly overhead and sea otters raft in the sprawling coast’s kelp beds. Surely, it doesn’t get more wonderfully simple than that.

“The guided property walks are truly the best way for a guest to not only acclimate themselves to the property, but a great way to learn more about the history of the property,” says Mike Freed, Founder and Managing Partner of Post Ranch Inn. “Morning yoga has proven to be immensely popular and a great way for guests to centre themselves and start the day on a high note. Big Sur is one of the best places on earth for stargazing as there are virtually no other sources of light in the area, making the stars even more visible on a clear night.”

It all began when explorer, adventurer and entrepreneur William Brainard Post acquired one of Big Sur’s first homesteads over a century ago. There, he married Anselma Onesimo of Costanoan Indian heritage and had two sons who, along with their own children and grandchildren, loyally and lovingly continued to preserve the Post family’s commitment to the land.

Over the years, traditional ranching fell into decline and in the early 1980s, Mike Freed approached William Brainard and Anselma’s great grandson Bill and his wife Luci, proposing the idea of transforming their abundance of land, which has prime access to Big Sur’s rich and wild surroundings, into an inn that would preserve the integrity and history of the family property.

They sealed the deal with a shot of Jack Daniel’s - which has since become the Post Ranch Inn’s unofficial drink – and the Inn officially opened for business in 1992.

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Today, Post Ranch Inn offers eight different room types for guests to choose from, including Cliff, Coast Mountain, Butterfly, Peak and the unique Tree Houses, which sit elevated above ground on stilts, and the more contemporary Pacific Suites, which offer panoramic ocean views and private hot tubs on the patio.

While each room is completely unique in its layout, the one constant is the feeling of privacy. The architects and designers of Post Ranch Inn went to extraordinary lengths to ensure that each room offers the utmost privacy while at the same time being completely open to its awe-inspiring and ever-changing natural surroundings, a feature William Brainard and Anselma would surely be proud of.

“While the Post family is no longer involved in the day-to-day operations of the Inn, the spirit of both Bill and Luci Post lives on at Post Ranch. Sadly both Bill and Luci passed away over the past few years,” says Freed. “They were both instrumental in the development of not just the physical building of Post Ranch, but also on the personal

side of things in terms of the open, genuine, friendly environment we have created for guests and for our staff.”

The spirit of the Post family certainly lives on, as each guest room and facility is named in honour of the family members and Big Sur pioneers, including Post Ranch Inn’s renowned ‘Sierra Mar’ restaurant, which is dedicated to the memory of Bill’s sister, Mary Post Fleenor.

Diners from all around the nation and the world have come to Big Sur for the sole purpose of indulging in a truly local gastronomic experience at ‘Sierra Mar’, one of only 12 restaurants in California to have earned Wine Spectator’s Grand Award. In the mornings, guests of Post Ranch Inn gather at Sierra Mar to enjoy a decadent complimentary gourmet buffet breakfast. By night, Executive Chef John Cox offers a spectacular nine-course, ‘Taste of Big Sur’ menu or a four-course prix fixe menu that changes nightly with an optional but highly recommended wine pairing to bring even more depth and exploration to a meal at the restaurant.

Post Ranch Inn’s wine list is curated under the guidance of Wine Director Dominique DaCruz, boasting over 15,000 bottles and 2,700 selections, and it has won Wine Spectator magazine’s prestigious Grand Award for the past two years.

Aside from his degustation options, Chef Cox offers menus that are seasonal in nature as he strives to incorporate ingredients native to the Central Coast and Big Sur into his dishes, using as many fresh ingredients from Post Ranch Inn’s organic garden.

Consistently setting the bar for luxe ecotourism, sustainability plays a crucial role in Post Ranch Inn’s daily functions; from the hybrid Lexus vehicles that shuttle guests around the expansive property to refillable glass bottles of water in guest rooms to the 990 solar panels that powers the property – one of the largest solar panel arrays in all of California.

Post Ranch Spa also makes all of its own products, using wildflowers picked from the high meadows on the estate. The spa is truly unique

in that the experience is not limited to the facility itself, but the entire property delivers a spa-like experience. From the infinity basking pools overlooking the Pacific Ocean to the soothing sounds of nature all around you and the massage tables in each guest room, the entire Post Ranch property builds upon the experience guests receive during their therapeutic spa treatments. The spa offers a comprehensive range of treatments ranging from the traditional massages and facials, to treatments unique to Post Ranch Inn such as The Big Sur Jade Stone Therapy body treatment, which uses Big Sur jade collected from nearby beaches to help relieve sore joints and aching muscles.

For those who prefer alternative methods, The spa offers an entire menu of Intuitive Healing treatments highlighted by Shamanic sessions with Post Ranch Inn’s resident Shaman, Jon Rasmussen.

Freed concludes, “We hope guests walk away from a stay at Post Ranch with a sense of calm and relaxation, and that they were able to enjoy a few days away from the noise and stress of everyday life and connect with themselves and their partner.”

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Return

Final Detail‘Dinosaur’ by Sui Jianguo

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