The 1970s saw the famous Italian carrozzeria showing off their creative talents in the form of innovative concept vehicles, many of which today still – 40 years on – come across as ultra-futuristic. Even though many of these dream machines never made it past the cutting room floor, they still reflect an era when automotive extremism was taken to a whole new level.
As another song might say: “It’s a mighty long way down the dusty trail (from Charlotte Road, London EC2)…”
Video: Edwin Europe
In his 350-page book ‘Voiture Minimum: Le Corbusier and the Automobile’, Antonio Amado describes the relationship between the creative virtuoso and the car. Indeed, aside from his multiple talents, the Swiss designer was an avid motorist, described as a ‘committed’ driver who yearned for a sense of speed.
It’s not known whether Le Corbusier himself favoured a particular brand of timepiece, but watchmakers from Le Corbusier’s home town of La Chaux-de-Fonds are very attracted to Le Corbusier’s works – hardly surprising, when examples of Corbusier architecture appear all over the Swiss city. The famous Villa Schwob is just one example: and the first of the three Le Corbusier watches is dedicated to his time in La Chaux-de-Fonds.
The great Le Corbusier is quoted as saying, “Chairs are architecture, sofas are bourgeois.” And, indeed, the Swiss designer’s Chaise Longue is far from the sort of thing you'd expect to find in a mainstream furniture store. This famous armchair, with its sleek lines and natural curves to mirror the form of the human body, has become synonymous with the name of Le Corbusier.
Ever wished you could conjour up an ‘Old Fashioned’ just the way Don Draper of TV drama Mad Men likes it? In the Gentleman’s Guide to Cocktails, Alfred Tong provides you with essential knowledge on the fine art of mixology: from explaining the tools of the trade, to cocktail etiquette and drinking tips, you’ll soon be shaking and stirring, merging and mixing like the 1960s advertising maestro.
Recently, a fully furnished mock-up room was unveiled to give future guests a glimpse of what awaits them, once the finishing touches have been made and the hotel is ready to open its doors.
World-famous hotel designer Jean-Michel Gathy – known for his slick, contemporary style – is the main architect behind the extensive project of transforming the drowsy mountain village of Andermatt into an all-season luxury destination, expected to rival existing high-end ski resorts in Europe.
As historians of motorcycle attire will know, Belstaff started life in Staffordshire in 1924. It was the first company to make garments from wax cotton and its products became the default choice of bikers throughout Britain, with the legendary 'Trialmaster' jacket being an essential part of every rider's kit. The firm went on the slide during the textile crisis of the early 1990s before being rescued by Franco Malenotti, one of its designers, who took the sad remnants of Belstaff and stitched them back together at a factory near Venice.