Antwerp: GRAANMARKT 13

July 19, 2014June 22, 2015 | Design & Culture by Ed

At the end of a square with 13 trees counted twice, there is a pretty large, cozy space called just like it’s address- Graanmarkt 13. Designed by Vincent Van Buysen, filled with palm trees, huge windows and various house decorations, we’ve got the most charming place in the whole Antwerpen. The store sells woman’s and men’s fashion brands like Isabel Marant, Marni or MSGM. You will also find fragrances by Maison Francis Kurkdijan… while the store itself is a fantastic place, they also have a beautiful restaurant downstairs which serves fresh and organic foodies. Graanmarkt 13 is not only a good place for shopping, but also a place where you must be while staying in Antwerp!

Graanmarkt 13 / Antwerp

Lynn Chadwick

May 7, 2014 | Design & Culture by Ed

Lynn Chadwick is an artist that’s mostly famous his for amazing metal sculptures. found international recognition when he became the youngest person ever to win the Venice Biennale’s prized sculptor award. His career spanned over 50 years, but he did not always plan on being an artist. Since I have seen his amazing works from 60-70’s I am seriously obsessed with metal sculptures and installations- one of my favourite is the Lion and the Detector. Recently his works are displayed by Blain Group in London, Berlin and soon in New York as Lynn Chadwick: Retrospectives!

Berlin: Andreas Murkudis

May 3, 2014June 22, 2015 | Design & Culture by Ed

Andreas Murkudis is not an ordinary store. It’s a place. A place, where it’s the best to simply BE. Why? Well, the whole fashion elite of Berlin gathers here. You may see cool dressed dandies, goth madames, Raf Simons geeks or the Celine girls… the labels sold in here are very various. You may find the luxurious names like Dries Van Noten, Maison Martin Margiela or Celine and also the niche ones: Yohji Yamamoto, Kolor, Mykita or Marsell. Andreas Murkudis is also a location known in Berlin for organizing art performances, cool parties and fashion shows for young Berliner designers. In other words, whenever I come here, I find something new and not banal. This is my favourite Berlin spot.

Potsdammerstraße 81E / Berlin

Frankfurt: Villa Kennedy

February 3, 2014February 2, 2015 | Design & Culture by Ed

Villa Kennedy, one of the Rocco Forte hotels, is located in a quiet Frankfurt neighbourhood surrounded with beautiful old buildings and parks. The hotel is kept in Colonial, a bit artistic way- full of wood and modern sculptures, it makes you feel like at home… Or even better! And, no wonder, the Villa is full of John Kennedy canvas photographs, making it feel pretty American. The restaurant is great with it’s Italian cuisine, and rooms are comfortable (and the balconies are really big!). This is certainly a lovely place.

Victoire de Castellane’s Animal Vegetable Mineral

January 31, 2014January 6, 2024 | Design & Culture by Ed

Victoire de Castellane is the couture jewellery designer of Dior. Known for using great traditional craftsmanship with Victoire’s artistic visions of colourful life kept within the diamonds, rubies and emeralds on her mesmerizing rings and necklaces, the new exhibition called “Animal Vegetable Mineral” just opened at the Gagosian Gallery on Maifair in London. An incredible display of gem snakes and flowers rest on pools of Australian opal, reassembling micro eco-systems. The exhibition is a second solo presentation of Castellane that definitely impresses as all with it’s beauty and detailing… And here is what the designer thinks: “Well, I love to play with nature, and I love to play with family and the idea of relationships. The relation between people and nature and how we manage to live together. It’s always so complicated. It’s three worlds coming together in one world. There are three families. But in the end they are all like human beings for me, they are little human beings – my babies”. That sounds deep…