Dubai’s Luxury Metro
In Dubai, 30,000 workers labored over the course of four years to produce the city’s first metro system. Opened to the public in September, the $7.64 billion budget is double what developers expected, but the automated system is the longest in the world, with over 52 kilometers of track and 29 stations. Monumental air-conditioned pedestrian bridges protect riders from the desert heat as they approach stations, and once aboard, luxury compartments and wireless internet service pamper them between destinations.
Officials and residents hope that the metro system will initiate a wave of development in Dubai, where several projects have stalled or been abandoned due to the poor economic climate. Whether residents in the notoriously hot city will abandon their cars (running on $1.00 per gallon gas) remains to be seen, but officials say they expect annual ridership to exceed 200 million.
China’s Hakka Houses
In the Fujian Province on the southeast coast of China, photographer Ryan Pyle documents the traditional “apartments” inhabited by groups of Hakka throughout the region. Referred to as Tulou, they are typically round, multi-story structures, and were originally designed to act as both large fortresses and multi-family building complexes. To protect residents from attack, the Tulou have only one exterior entrance and no windows at ground level. Inside, living spaces look out onto an open central courtyard. The ground level usually serves utilitarian purposes (food storage, well, livestock, etc.) while upper levels contain actual family dwellings. Up to 80 families can live in a single Tulou.
Last year, UNESCO bestowed World Heritage Status upon the Tulou, describing the structures as “exceptional examples of a building tradition and function exemplifying a particular type of communal living and defensive organization.”
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Nomiya Restaurant at the ArtHome
At the Palais de Tokyo contemporary art gallery in Paris, artist Laurent Grasso and chef Gilles Stassart collaborated to create the Nomiya Restaurant. Part of the Electrolux sponsored ArtHome experience, it sits atop the gallery, where 12 patrons at a time can enjoy panoramic views of the city. The restaurant is a simple glass box, with perforated cladding covering the kitchen and preparation area. The glass walls are lit with colored LED’s, making the structure a visible beacon from miles away. Reservations are taken approximately one month in advance.
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Louis Vuitton City Guides for 2010
Now entering its 11th year in publication, luxury fashion label Louis Vuitton continue to provide tourists with a taste for the fine arts with their city guides, aimed at tourists looking for the upper crusts of select cities. As opposed to the normal travellers’ guides unveiling historical and tourist hotspots, Louis Vuitton’s city guides continue their theme of providing informed commentaries on fashion, design, art, hotels, and the latest trends on 40 cities in total, which include Basel, Deauville, Mykonos, Malaga and Tel Aviv among the usual suspects such as London and New York City. Available for purchase on the 15th of October, the guides’ design was inspired by vintage luggage labels on holiday trunks.
The Opposite House Hotel in Beijing, China
Swire Hotels commissioned Kengo Kurna & Associates to design the Opposite House Hotel, which opened in Beijing, prior to the Olympic games of 2008. The Opposite House is one of several boutique hotels from Swire, who have properties throughout China, Hong Kong, and the UK, each with their own unique contextual style. Minimalist, Chinese-inspired design permeates throughout the Opposite House Hotel. The 99 guest rooms employ muted color palettes, wood floors, and sliding panels made from wood, glass, and fabric as room dividers. The understated aesthetic and natural materials are carried throughout the lobby, pool, and outdoor decks. The hotel also contains several restaurants and bars, whose design retains subtle Chinese cues and utilize lavish materials and design flourishes such as tapestries draped from the ceiling and bold color selections. The contrast between the serenity of the rooms and the vividness of the restaurants and bars is where the name of the hotel is derived from.
See more images of the Opposite House Hotel after the jump.
Creators Inn
In Stockholm, the Scandic Malmen Hotel has developed a concept dubbed the “Creator’s Inn.” A suite designed by Swedish clothing brand Elvin will be available from August 1st through September 13th free of charge. The catch? Prospective inhabitants must submit a short narrative (just 250 characters) explaining why they deserve free lodging. According to the hotel’s website, “A valid reason is some sort of creative activity, preferably together with local creators or something that incorporates the city in some way.” Visitors from outside of the country will be given priority.
The suite is a small, but stylish abode that includes separate living and sleeping quarters. A few choice mid century furnishings lend an air of vintage sophistication, while unique touches such as a wall of clouds above the bed keep the mood light. The Scandic Malmen Hotel hopes that their offer will bring an influx of new talent to Stockholm, a city already rife with creative endowment. Visit their site for more information.
More images after the jump.
The Falkirk Wheel
In Falkirk, Scotland, city officials were faced with the task of connecting two waterways, vertically separated by a distance of 24 meters. These particular waterways were particularly vital to span due to their capacity to connect the Scottish capital of Edinburgh and its second city, Glasgow. Originally connected by a system of 11 locks and several canals, the connection eventually closed when the system fell into disrepair. Over the ensuing decades, they were filled and the land was developed.
To remedy the lack of connection between cities, the steampunk inspired Falkirk Wheel was constructed. Funded by the UK National Lottery, it cost 32 million pounds and was completed in 2002. The wheel operates on Archimedes’ Principle, which states that a floating object will always displace its weight in water. The two containers at either end of the wheel are kept in balance until a vessel is loaded. Once it is loaded and balanced, operators discharge enough water from the lower container to allow the heavier upper container to swing down under the force of gravity.
The Falkirk Wheel, aside from providing a vital and functional link between two cities, has become a veritable tourist attraction. It is open to the public and even features a museum and is portrayed on Scotland’s 50 pound note.
See more images of the Falkirk Wheel after the jump.
One & Only Reethi Rah, Maldives Resort
Atoll: a coral island consisting of a reef surrounding a lagoon. Familiarize yourself with this term as its key to uncovering one of the best kept secrets of the well-travelled. The Maldives is an island country made up of a group of atolls (26 to be exact) running southwest of Sri Lanka in the Laccadive Sea of the Indian Ocean. Situated on North Male Atoll is The One & Only Reethi Rah, a remote all-villa resort sitting on boundless white sands and surrounded by crystal blue waters. As secluded as it’s geographical location, each of the 130 villas offers its own secluded piece of sandy shore or private over-water deck. The design of the property is described as “sleek and elegantly tropical, using beautiful natural materials and contemporary styling.” With heavy emphasis on unparalleled privacy, One & Only Reethi Rah, is just what the doctor ordered for the whole family or just you and your lady. Especially if you screwed up recently, this is guaranteed to get you out of the dog house… and for villas ranging from $905 to $3,400 per night, it better!
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The Hergé Museum – Brussels, Belgium
A spectacular new museum dedicated to Hergé, the pen name of Georges Remi, who created the comic-book hero Tintin, opened in the Belgian town of Louvain-la-Neuve on June 2nd. It was designed by Christian de Portzamparc architects, a Pritzker-Prize-winner, and boasts a modern ode to the vibrant works of Remi.
The museum is located at the edge of the Source woods, with a viewing platform overlooking the town. The Hergé runs around a central atrium formed of curving walls in bold colours, pierced by high metal walkways. An internal lift shaft at the core of the atrium is painted with a chequerboard pattern, evoking the moon rocket in one of Tintin’s bestselling adventures. The structure stands on stilts in a park and visitors enter across a long wooden footbridge.
Amidst the museum’s architectural victories, the museum has another ambition: to cement the claim that Hergé, who died in 1983, was an important artist in his own right, whose talents as a graphic designer, painter and typographer were somewhat eclipsed by the runaway success of ‘The Adventures of Tintin.’
More images of Remi’s work and the museum are available after the jump.
Hotel Madlein In Ischgl, Austria
The Hotel Madlein in Ischgl, Austria offers year-round luxury accommodations for travelers. Located in the Tyrolean Alps, the resort is only steps away from the famed Silvretta Ski Area. If plans don’t include winter sports, the Madlein offers expansive pools and holistic spa treatments. Also located within the hotel, the Pacha Ischgl Nightclub is a popular local destination. The owners commissioned the design of the hotel with hopes of setting a new design standard, “one that is purist, basic, almost monastic in style.” The hotel exudes a minimalist aesthetic and features a limited palette of stone, wood, and glass. Their approach allows the Madlein to differentiate itself from nearby resorts and has created a popular mountain destination.
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