chorografoi architects unveils ‘the white rock villa’, a summer house situated on a sloping site in mykonos, greece. amphitheatrically embedded into the landscape, the dwelling blends harmoniously with its surroundings, while remaining distinctly visible thanks to a white-plastered wall that embraces the hillside and opens towards the view of the aegean and the nearby islands.
the villa by chorografoi architects is divided into three different levels connected by an outdoor pathway with stairs. occupants access the plot at its highest level, welcomed by a path that leads to the main house entrance and a large outdoor space, as well as an independent guest room with an en suite bathroom. the outdoor space of this level includes a shaded area and the infinity pool, both overlooking the aegean sea. the use of a pergola intends to give guests the opportunity to enjoy the outdoor space throughout the day protected from the sun and summer winds. it hosts an open kitchen, bar, dining and living area right by the pool. the swimming pool follows the white curved wall enhancing a sense of fluidity.
image by cloudn9 studio
the white-washed stone building of the highest level accommodates the main residence housing the living room, dining room, kitchen, WC, auxiliary kitchen area, storage area, as well as four luxury suites with private bathrooms. following the natural slope of the terrain, the stairs lead towards a lower level where one can find an outdoor lounge area with a fireplace and another private guest suite with a bathroom. the lowest level and the most secluded area of the plot hosts three subterranean, luxury suites with en suite bathrooms.
image by cloudn9 studio
the villa blends into the hillside thanks to the extensive green roofs and the lush vegetation that seamlessly integrate the construction into the natural setting. the curved shapes, appearing in both the building design and the surrounding configurations, are inspired by the plasticity of the traditional architectural forms. in combination with the use of traditional materials, such as lime and local stone, elements in natural shades contribute to minimizing the imprint of the building and enhance the essence of the greek summer lifestyle.
name: the white rock villa, mykonos, greece architects:chorografoi architects design team: katerina dounavi, katerina papasifaki, minas bougiouris, maria apergi client: florios group location: mykonos island, greece total surface area: 598.5 sqm (6442 sqft)
designboom has received this project from our ‘DIY submissions‘ feature, where we welcome our readers to submit their own work for publication. see more project submissions from our readers here.
While most of us are trying to keep our head above water as we survive the holidays, Pantone is looking ahead — specifically to 2022 — by announcing the color of year. Dubbed “Very Peri,” the periwinkle-esque hue marks the first time the company has created a color from scratch rather than delving into its vast archive of options. “It was really important for us to come up with a new color, because we have a very new vision of the world now,” Pantone Color Institute’s executive director Leatrice Eiseman told CNN, adding, “It is literally the happiest and the warmest of all the blue hues.”
Interior design experts coast to coast couldn’t agree more, telling us (practically in unison) that Very Peri is ab-so-lutely a fit for home interiors. “It’s bold, but also serene; it’s equal parts lively and tranquil; it has some bright energy to it, but it also feels comforting,” explains Think Chic Interiors founder Malka Helft of White Plains, New York. “And I love that it can add a lot of design ‘oomph’ into a space quite easily.”
Bringing more color into the home, says Shaolin Low, founder of the Honolulu-based Studio Shaolin, is always a good thing. “I think after the neutral years of gray, this an amazing departure and moves us toward eclectic styles we are starting to see pop up,” she says, adding, “It’s soothing, playful and feminine, which always makes for a great space, and it’s going to blend easily with the coastal styles we see here a lot in Hawaii, so I think it’s kind of a neutral pop of color — present, but not dominating.”
Lance Thomas of the Louisiana-based Thomas Guy Interiors agrees, saying that the color is actually a versatile workhorse we should all have in arsenals. “Very Peri is a great color choice to warm up a cool-toned room while keeping in a similar color family,” says Thomas. “Table lamps or draperies would be a great way to do that. Conversely, Peri can also be used to cool down a warmer-toned room.”
So, how exactly do we infuse some Very Peri into our homes? Well, there are pretty much only two ways to do it — go big or go small. If you’re going to go big, you might consider swathing an entire wall or space in the hue. “We love using a color like this in a serene space like a bed or bath,” says Nina Grauer, principal and co-founder of Dekay and Tate Interiors, which has offices in Florida and Colorado. “It packs a punch, but still feels relaxing and moody, which is the perfect vibe for those areas. It’s probably best to use an accent wall, even on the ceiling!”
Zane Kearney, Ruggable’s senior director of art and design, advises, “If you’re a maximalist you’ll want to be sure you’re using a good range of complementary colors like a nice teal or sage blue-green to keep it fresh and fun.”
If that is a bit too daunting, baby steps are a better Very Peri tactic for you. “Bedding would be a wonderful place to start,” recommends Paige Gray, partner and lead interior designer at British Columbia firm Parker & Harlow. Gray adds that color can also be injected via some paint on the front door, stacked subway tiles in the bathroom or a textured seagrass wallpaper behind the bedroom’s headboard.
It’s true, Pantone’s Color of the Year can easily be mixed into any space (and with minimal investment), thanks to decor stalwarts like paint, rugs, throw pillows and blankets, artwork, vases, lamps and accent furnishings like an armchair or a console. Says Hillary M. Stamm, founder of Manhattan Beach, California-based firm HMS Interiors, “I love Peri for the interior color of your bookshelves, for the dreamy drapes in the kitchen — this color has so much depth and breadth, it can easily be folded into any room.”
Below, you’ll find your very own Very Peri home decor cheat sheet, brimming with pieces that can quickly and easily be added to your home.
Rugs are a designer’s secret tool for anchoring a space and creating distinct areas within a room — choosing one that blends in some Very Peri will hit two birds with one stone. “This rug would look great in a dreamy, whimsical bedroom with soft bedding and elegant accents,” recommends Leslie Murphy, creative director and owner of Murphy Maude Interiors in Memphis.
A big fan of channeling Pantone’s Color of the Year via bedding, Gray loves this set specifically for its fabric. “I love when the color speaks to the texture of a product, and for Peri, my mind went immediately to linen. Here, a soft, livable textile application on the bed makes the color the focus and lets the fabric sing its praises.”
A must-have Peri item on Grauer’s list? This set of gorgeous leather-textured lamps that are great for bedside tables or anchoring a living room console. Pro tip: Grauer recommends swapping out the shades for a custom option.
“I recommend using Very Peri in small doses as the vibrant color in the room,” says Sarah Stacey of Sarah Stacey Interior Design in Austin, Texas. “For example, when covering your whole room in color, you could use a muted petrol on walls, navy on your sofa and have hints of Very Peri on accent chairs or small accessories.” Case in point: This awesome geode that is bursting with periwinkle hues. “Decorating with natural stone is always elegant and timeless,” Stacey advises, adding, “Place some amethyst in bookcases for layered styling.”
“If you want to just add a few touches of Peri, think throw pillows, an accent chair, vases and even flowers,” recommends Grauer. Case in point: This stunning objet d’art from Baccarat. Uplifting to look at, the glinting crystal butterfly (in the purple hue!) is a gorgeous piece to add to a desk, coffee table or bookshelf.
Statement-making art that is also oversized and easy on the wallet? Yep, it exists — even in Very Peri hues. “I loooveee this piece and am planning on using it in a project,” says Low. “It’s feminine, playful and soothing, all the things I used to describe Peri packed into one piece of art. It’s simple and bold without being overwhelming.”
We all need an excuse for more Le Creuset in our lives, and luckily Stamm found one for us, saying that this periwinkle-hued Le Creuset coffee mug “is gorgeous for your open-kitchen shelving…and your early morning coffee!” You can get a set of four on Amazon for just under $60 too.
KDC Tile and Marble Blue Ceramic Subway Tile ($14.69 per square foot; wayfair.com)
“I love a bold powder room, and what better way to integrate Peri than to mimic the subtle gloss and watery hues of seashells in a stacked subway tile,” says Gray, who loves this long and narrow option from Wayfair.
Crane & Canopy Admiral Blue Fringed Throw Blanket ($130; craneandcanopy.com)
Pretty much every designer we chatted with recommended investing in a Very Peri-hued throw blanket, and this pretty option from luxe bedding and bath retailer Crane & Canopy is among our favorites.
“If you have a Ruggable, you already know our rug covers are interchangeable — so you can swap out your existing rug cover with a nice neutral-toned rug that uses Very Peri as a pop of color,” says Kearney, who suggests this lilac-and-gray geometric area rug.
More than 47,000 Amazon reviewers agree that these blackout curtains are worth the purchase — especially in Very Peri. Perfect for a nursery or kid’s bedroom, the curtains not only add a dose of Pantone to the room but also work to keep little ones sleeping by blocking out natural light.
Zhuzh up an accent wall with some color and texture. “The natural fibers of seagrass give subtle tonal variations to the Peri color here, which will result in a deepening presence on the wall,” advises Gray.
“Throw pillows are an easy way to add a pop of Very Peri into the home,” says Murphy, adding that this 18-inch-by-18-inch velvet option — which serves our purpose in the dark blue or purple colorways — would “add some drama in a black-and-white living room.”
Judy Pickett, founder of the Raleigh, North Carolina, firm Design Lines Signature, is all about channeling Very Peri into her clients’ spaces. “I could see this color used anywhere from a child’s room, to lacquered cabinetry in a sophisticated home bar, to the tile color on a spectacular backsplash,” she advises. We can see why she loves this 10-inch-by-14-inch artwork from Etsy — it’s the perfect way to add a pop of Peri into rooms big or small.
Both Thomas and Helft agree that this beautiful area rug is a surefire way to add a subtle dose of Very Peri to your space, whether it’s a living area or a smaller nook like a library, bathroom or mudroom.
Pottery Barn Teen Watercolor Rainbow Ombré Comforter & Sham (starting at $29.50; pbteen.com)
Multiple designers recommended bedding as an easy way to incorporate Very Peri into your bedroom, including Stamm. “Pottery Barn Teen has a fantastic ombré watercolor duvet and sham, which is gorgeous and full of Pantone vibes. I would anchor a teen’s bedroom with this and build around the color,” she says.
Love you some print? Luckily, so does Low. “I’m always down for a little animal print, and this pillow is the perfect muted, animal style to throw on a bed, a daybed or even the middle of a sofa,” she says.
We’re totally on board with the colored glassware trend right now, and this pretty champagne set from West Elm hits all the right notes. Says Stacey, “Champagne coupes are so fun to use, and these purple glasses add a pop of color and will look great amongst all of your clear barware.”
Lighten up your space with this one-of-a-kind beauty from direct-to-consumer vintage rug retailer Revival. Clocking in at a 4’11 x 8’5, the flatwoven rug is made from 100{6d6906d986cb38e604952ede6d65f3d49470e23f1a526661621333fa74363c48} hemp and features a minimalist design that puts the yarn’s periwinkle hue on display.
That’s the mindset at Phoenix Landscape Solutions in central Florida, where Shawn Logan launched an installation and maintenance firm at the onset of the pandemic.
In an area where landscape companies are a dime a dozen, finding legal and qualified labor is a struggle, and where corporate national players clench high-profile accounts, Logan jumped in with a Disney-service style, an industry track record and a shining reputation with past clients.
But would they spend extra money in May 2020 when he opened up shop?
“I wasn’t sure, and many people were getting laid off,” Logan says. “I hoped I’d be able to cover my bills, but I found out that everyone working at home was looking at their landscapes going, ‘I will spend money to make this look better because I don’t want to do it myself.’”
He and his wife, Kylee, decided to give the business a shot for 30 days — and with the fast success, they pushed that out to six months. By then, Logan had brought in about $30,000 in residential installation business.
“It snowballed and kept going,” he says, citing profit margins of close to 65{6d6906d986cb38e604952ede6d65f3d49470e23f1a526661621333fa74363c48} on this type of work. “It was nuts.”
Shifting toward commercial maintenance with residential installation as “icing” after business slowed down in February 2021 forced him to shift into sales mode, and he began calling on the type of accounts he was known for overseeing at previous positions: resorts, HOAs and other visible commercial properties.
Today, Logan has his eyes on a prize. He loves to pull into a resort property’s grand entrance and take in thousands of annuals that are “perfectly aligned and maintained,” he says. “I love working on the property and overhearing guests come in and say, ‘Wow! Look at this place.’”
When Shawn Logan first started Phoenix Landscape Solutions, he and his wife, Kylee, set a 30-day trial period.
Logan started working in the green industry when he was 18 years old, after tooling around a bit in the roofing and HVAC industries. “I’ve always been a work-with-your-hands type of person,” he says.
Then, he started working for a small residential landscape company that took care of about 150 houses in a nice neighborhood. “It was all push mowing, edging, trimming and general labor,” he explains.
Within a year and a half, he was running the truck all day and had learned the names of plants — taking a keen interest in horticulture. “I also knew how to deal with the guys,” he says of overseeing a crew.
He moved on within a year to a commercial landscape firm, where he built some leadership skills while running routes for accounts such as hotels, warehouses and retail centers. His next career move was maintaining high-end resorts, and he advanced to managing one of their key accounts and eventually became a branch manager. The operation grew from $1.5 to $3.5 million in a year.
From serving as a senior account manager to making operational decisions — shutting down an unsuccessful branch and overseeing a satellite office — Logan’s experience quickly escalated into leadership, yet always centered on clients and the team.
When BrightView recruited Logan, “it was an opportunity I couldn’t turn down,” he says of diversifying his experience by working in more of a corporate environment. He soon returned to the mid-sized company that had lost money and helped double their revenue from $2.2 to $4.5 million within four years.
But when COVID-19 hit, Logan began seriously thinking about making a change. Kylee is immunocompromised with lupus and is a cancer survivor. “He would come home from his other job and sanitize himself in the laundry room, everything would go into the hot wash — he was afraid to kiss me goodnight,” she says. “It was a scary situation for him to be in.”
This made the decision to start his own business easier.
“When we went out on our own, he could set that standard of safety for our employees and clients,” Kylee says.
“They appreciate it when we would come to their properties with masks on. It was a much better dynamic.”
Since starting the business in May 2020, Logan expects to round out 2021 with about $400,000 in revenue and is projecting 2022 to bring in $600,000 to $800,000. However, one hitch during the pandemic has been vendor terms, he says. “A lot of vendors are not giving credit, and where you might have been able to get 30- to 90-day terms on accounts, it’s harder now to get approved for even 15-day terms than it was two years ago.” This has demanded a close eye on cash flow, Logan says.
And that is fueled by gaining business, some of which by Logan has done by growing partnerships with reputable local businesses such as Aqueduct, an irrigation firm in Minneola, Fla., operated by Joseph Zeilic, who worked with Logan at a previous business.
When Phoenix Landscape Solutions customers need irrigation work, Logan sends the work to Zeilic. And when one of Zeilic’s irrigation customers asks about landscaping, he sends them to Logan.
By sending work to others in the industry he knows and trusts, Logan can continue growing at a fast clip without getting burnt out, he says. “Family is the most important thing to me in the world, and I will not sacrifice family time to grow the business,” he says, adding that playing video games with his son, watching movies with his wife, and reading books about dragons with his daughter keeps him balanced. While his wife first questioned sending projects elsewhere, Logan has found this allows him to focus on the accounts he wants to attract while maintaining some sense of balance.
What keep clients loyal and coming back is the customer service, says Zeilic, echoing Kylee’s remark that Logan treats accounts with a “you’re my only client mindset.” She says, “He has worked for successful companies and done so well that clients wanted him when he left. He keeps a consistent experience for clients.”
Zeilic adds, “(Service) is how he can make a bad situation — the pandemic — an advantage, because he answers, he calls and always gets back to you.”
Essentially, the Phoenix Landscape Solutions team treats landscaping as hospitality — and in many ways, it’s not all that different. People are the center, Zeilic says.
Logan stays in touch with former co-workers, which has turned out to be a good recruiting tool
Courtesy of Shawn Logan
Courtesy of Shawn Logan
FINDING GOOD PEOPLE
Like with Zeilic and building their business relationship, Logan finds that keeping in touch with former co-workers has also given him a pipeline of potential employees like Grimardhy Garcia, who has been with the company since May.
“I can trust to leave him in charge of the crew on any project while I am out on estimates,” Logan says. “His quality and quantity level are on the same levels as my own. Grimardhy is a key player that has increased our ability to handle more work each and every day. I have kept in contact with all of the hardest-working people that I have worked with over the years and Grimardhy is one of the best, even at his young age of 24.”
Logan says keeping in touch with those employees has been beneficial for both parties.
“It’s been a great strategy throughout my career,” he says. “Not only does it help keep hard working guys around, but it has helped me build some of the strongest friendships. I am not always concerned about how they can help me but more so how I can help them. I’ve always believed in giving others help even if they can’t help you in return.”
Logan also focuses on taking care of his own. If a crewmember who always stops at the gas station mini-mart to grab coffee before the day begins skips the routine, Logan wants to know why. If an employee who’s usually social and joking with teammates is quiet, he wonders, “Is everything O.K.?”
“I am more in tune with the guys who work with me and their personal struggles,” he says, comparing the relationship to when he was overseeing workers as a general manager. Sure, he knew everyone on a first-name basis and would talk to them about their families. “But those guys who are working with me now, I’m a whole lot closer to them than when I was running 12 trucks, and I pay attention to their overall health.”
The pandemic sharpened his already careful eye on cleanliness and safety protocols, and he leads his company with a genuine concern for the “whole person.” That extends to assuring their financial stability, which has been a real challenge for many families during the last 20 months.
“When I hired my first guy, I remember other companies were paying $8 to $10, and I said, ‘My employees will make enough to actually support themselves,’” Logan says, noting that the per-hour bar starts at $15 and goes up to $25. This also helps attract driven, clean workers in a tough labor market, he adds.
As for recruiting the type of ethical, high-performing team members that can keep up with the growth clip at Phoenix Landscape Solutions, Logan has a few ways of filtering prospects so he can focus the search on real prospects. For one, he watches the clock to see if an interviewee shows up on time. If not, why would they respect the workday schedule?
Also, Logan tunes into body language. “I can tell if they are lying to me,” he says. “I’ll ask, ‘Do you have any experience,’ and if they look away or at the ground or they say, ‘I can do everything,’ then I’ll grab an edger and say, ‘Start this.’”
You’d be surprised how many can’t get a hedge trimmer going, Logan says. “I’ve had someone say, ‘I can do anything,’ and he didn’t know where the on switch was.”
He pays close attention to how a candidate carries him or herself. “I look for people who are respectful, courteous, polite and can make eye contact,” he says.
Like any owner, he has learned the hard way about what to look for in a hard-working employee. “My first guy I hired was great for the first few months, then he got comfortable and just stopped doing the work,” Logan says.
For example, on a basic irrigation job where the task was to fix a break on the backside of a wall, Logan brought the supplies to the site and took care of maintenance in the front. At 6 p.m. that Friday, the homeowner called and complained of pooling water. “I went back to the property, which was about 45 minutes away from the shop, and literally, the parts were still sitting there,” Logan says. “He just didn’t do it.”
He needed to find labor in a fix — and reached out to industry connections at previous places of employment. “Now, I’ve got two guys I used to work with, and they have good attitudes, they work hard, and I have some lofty goals for them over the next six months or so,” Logan says.
For instance, a “small” contract for the major resort properties he is in discussion with is a couple hundred thousand dollars annually. “You need all the upfront overhead just to start the contract,” he says.
But he’s got a plan for this, too. With a home-equity line of credit in place to support capital expenditures and a frugal eye on cash flow and the budget, he is leveraging resources to continue growing the company.
After a dynamic and fast-growth first 20 months in business, Logan will continue to balance acquiring desirable accounts with attracting talent.
And as for retaining that Disney way of service, the Logan family live those reminders by enjoying the park where their mother is a guest services pro at least every other weekend. They can operate a business that focuses on health, safety, hospitality and delivering on promises.
Logan says, “I started Phoenix Landscape Solutions knowing that if I owned the company, my values would be upheld.”
Three new buses will be added to the Asheville Rides Transit (ART) fleet, under action taken by Asheville City Council. At their December 14 meeting, Council approved a resolution to purchase three 30-foot Gillig diesel buses to replace buses in the fleet as they near their useful service life.
During the last five years, the City of Asheville has purchased 16 transit buses to replace vehicles in the fleet that have met its useful service life. The buses purchased include five electric buses, seven hybrid-diesel buses, and four diesel buses. The three buses being purchased will also use diesel fuel. Included in this bus purchase are transit accessories and features such as bike racks, fareboxes, and transit security cameras.
This $1.6 million purchase is part of the annual bus purchases undertaken by the City to replace existing buses that have met their useful service life per the Federal Transit Administration’s (FTA) service-life policy and guidelines for transit buses and vans. This FTA policy establishes the minimum number of years (or miles) that transit vehicles purchased with federal funds must be in service before they can be retired without financial penalty. The minimum useful life for ART’s buses is 350,000 and/or 10 years.
The City uses a combination of funding sources to fund its bus purchases, which includes federal transit capital assistance, funds awarded by the French Broad River Metropolitan Organization (MPO), and the City’s General Funds. In addition to the annual transit federal formula funds allocated to the City, staff also applies for and uses competitive federal funds if awarded. For instance, in 2018, the City applied for and was awarded funding from the FTA’s Low No Emission grant funds that was used along with local funds to buy the five electric buses purchased in 2018. Additionally, federal flex funds received from the MPO were used to pay for the eleven buses that have been purchased to date. Some of the remaining MPO funds will be used for the buses being purchased in this fiscal year.
Upon receiving the buses, the Transit Planning staff will work with the City’s Contractor to complete required federal inspections before placing them in service. As recommended in the Transit Master Plan (TMP), staff plans to use the new buses to improve frequency on bus routes in the transit system. Specifically, this will help with plans to increase the frequency on the S3 and S6 Routes which serves residents in south Asheville. Planning efforts are currently underway to improve and increase the bus frequency on both routes from 90 minutes to 45 minutes. As such, the additional buses will assist with ongoing plans to improve and increase service reliability for ART riders.
The City believes that frequency and speed of service are the keys for current ART riders to continue using the transit service for their mobility needs, as well as attract new riders to use ART. We also believe this investment will help make ART convenient and more attractive as much as possible.
Asheville Rides Transit provides bus service throughout Asheville and to Black Mountain from 5:30 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sundays/holidays.
The ART Station is at 49 Coxe Ave. ART serves 19 routes with an annual ridership of 2.3 million, per pre-Covid data.
It costs $1 to ride the bus. A ticket booklet (11 rides) costs $9 and a monthly pass costs $20. Both are available for purchase at the ART Transit Center, 49 Coxe Ave.
The ART Transit Station, 49 Coxe Ave., has been completely renovated, including improvements to the interior of the station/lobby, additional outdoor seating, and upgraded lighting, as well as new lighted digital displays boards and public wi-fi.
If you haven’t already, we invite you to download the Transit app to your smart device, to help plan your trip for better efficiency. Visit the City of Asheville Transit webpage for more information or stop by the ART Transit Center.
Clearly, La Prairie’s patronage of the arts is much more than skin-deep. In 2021, the luxury Swiss skincare brand supported a range of cultural initiatives; from New York and Miami to London and Switzerland, each was as memorable as the next.
In May, when Frieze made its return to New York for the first time since 2019, La Prairie teamed up with Hong Kong and Berlin–based new media artist Carla Chan, whose practice explores the notion of time, inviting viewers to palpably witness and reflect on its passage. Her contemplative Frieze New York commission, Space Between The Light Glows, was inspired by the ever-changing sunlight during her recent stay at the Monte Rosa Hut, La Prairie’s very first residency, situated in the heart of the Swiss Alps.
The Monte Rosa Hut, La Prairie’s new art residency in the Swiss Alps. Courtesy of La Prairie.
“I am interested in creating a feeling of ambiguity, which allows the audience to wander in their own thoughts and imagination,” Chan said in a statement from the brand. “In this particular piece for La Prairie, I try to play with light and shadow, to fill in the imaginative space between the lights to leave a trace of nature.” The video installation recalled sun-dappled Swiss landscapes; without a clear sense of space or time, it created a much-needed moment of respite for fairgoers.
In the meantime, across town, one of MoMA PS1’s most adored exhibitions of the year came to life with integral support from La Prairie. “Niki de Saint Phalle: Structures for Life” brought together more than 200 works from the legendary French-American multimedia artist. With its diverse array of sculpture, drawings, videos, and paintings, the retrospective stood out as an overdue look at her highly influential and ahead-of-its-time oeuvre.
“Several years ago, I was doing research on women artists who made large-scale work and realized that Niki de Saint Phalle was really one of the first women artists to embark on such a monumental scale,” said the show’s curator, Ruba Katrib, in an interview with La Prairie. “Looking into this aspect of her practice further, I learned more about her ground-breaking strategies for realizing her artistic visions, all of which require a holistic approach between concept and the modes of production.”
“Structures for Life” showcased de Saint Phalle’s steadfast attempts to spark joy, despite her traumatic upbringing and an adult life marked by emotional turmoil. The artist’s works elicit a duality that honors the importance of playfulness, while also drawing attention to social and political issues.
A cunning businesswoman, de Saint Phalle funded her practice through many out-of-the-box enterprises. One such initiative proved highly influential for La Prairie: the artist’s own perfume, Flacon de Parfum. Set in the same cobalt blue that graces many of de Saint Phalle’s works, the bottle’s color was the direct inspiration for the design of La Prairie’s Skin Caviar collection.
Meanwhile, since 2017, La Prairie has lent its platform to emerging artists at Art Basel fairs around the globe. This year, the house staged activations during the Basel, Switzerland and Miami editions.
The Skin Caviar collection uses the cobalt blue that graces many Niki de Saint Phalle artworks, also the inspiration for Maotik’s recent La Prairie commission. Courtesy of La Prairie.
For the Basel fair in September, as well as Frieze London the following month, French digital artist Mathieu Le Sourd—also known as Maotik—was tapped to create Sense of Blue, an immersive installation that plummeted viewers into the dark of night. Using the same cobalt blue made famous by de Saint Phalle and adopted by La Prairie, Maotik’s virtual and augmented reality work allowed viewers’ movements to alter their environment through a shifting façade of light.
And this month, at Art Basel Miami Beach, La Prairie hosted its latest artist commission—Wen Chi Su’s Moving Towards the Horizon, which the Taiwanese dancer, choreographer, and new media artist performed on the sands of Miami Beach.
Wen Chi Su, Moving Towards the Horizon, commissioned by La Prairie for Art Basel Miami Beach. Courtesy of La Prairie.
Su’s performance, which took place as the sun set over the Atlantic Ocean, encapsulated the effect of light against water. Inspired by a trip she took in the summer of 2021 to study lakes across La Prairie’s home country of Switzerland, the artist physically embodied the natural elements, creating a sense of “liquidity” through her dynamic movements.
Many of La Prairie’s artistic endeavors have lives that extend beyond one-time experiences. Such is the case in their ongoing conservation project with Fondation Beyeler, Switzerland’s most visited museum, to restore four seminal works by Piet Mondrian, created between 1921 and 1938: Tableau No. I; Composition with Yellow and Blue; Composition with Double Line and Blue; Lozenge Composition with Eight Lines and Red.
With Switzerland’s Fondation Beyeler, La Prairie has supported the restoration of fourPiet Mondrian masterpieces. Courtesy of La Prairie.
With La Prairie’s support, the institution has employed a renowned team of researchers, scientific experts, and Mondrian scholars from the Kunstmuseum in The Hague, which houses the world’s largest collection of the Dutch painter’s works. The project began in 2017 and will culminate in a major retrospective of the Mondrian masterpieces at Fondation Beyeler next year.
Markus Gross, the institution’s chief conservator, said in an interview with La Prairie, “This unique opportunity to give something back to the world of art and culture, and also pay homage to the brand’s artistic heritage—greatly inspired by Mondrian’s minimalist aesthetic, geometric precision, and purity of form—is unrivaled.”
Just as Mondrian daringly explored the fundamental elements of art, the emerging artists that La Prairie champions today are also fearless innovators in their fields. With its ongoing efforts to help push the boundaries of culture, the brand promises to broaden and bolster the canon for years to come.
What if interior design was also exterior design? That’s the philosophy behind Manscapers, the New York– and Los Angeles–based landscape design firm that’s so much more than that. Founded by Garrett Magee, James DeSantis, and Mel Brasier, the firm helps tired outdoor spaces turn over a new leaf.
Garrett Magee, Mel Braiser, and James DeSantis, cofounders and leading team members of Manscapers.
Last week, Manscapers released their first book, Take It Outside, which offers a treasure trove of tips for taking your backyard from “blah” to “beautiful.” We asked them to give us the scoop on some of their favorite furnishings and outdoor decor—scroll on to see their picks!
“We are all about using modular furniture for outdoor spaces, like this pouf from Nordstrom that can be used as a stool or as a small side table.”
Blackhouse Diamond Pattern Pouf
For a pop of pattern and boho charm, this tufted pouf is shaped from hearty woven cotton with a striking geometric motif in black and white.
“Using textiles and layering different patterns and materials is a fast and easy way to get a lived-in, cozy vibe, especially on those cooler nights. This Pendleton throw is the perfect blanket to curl up by a fire pit with.”
“Mixing and matching pots is a great a way to make your space feel more worldly. You can get the high/low look by mixing some inexpensive terra-cotta pots with a few high-end pots like this one.”
“Everyone needs a good pair of pruners for an outdoor garden. Whether working with a small space or a large garden, they are our most used tools—and we love this pair.”
“Instead of bending over to pot plants, consider this teak potting table. If you have the space, this practical piece is both useful and beautiful—and it will save your back.”
“We love to add a whimsical touch to any outdoor space. Parks Project’s hammock can be a permanent fixture in your backyard, or a travel must-have on all of your wilderness explorations.”
“We are the queens of indoor/outdoor design! We love these pillows that can transition with the seasons. This color blocking print can work in most spaces, and they are crafted in a Fair Trade–certified facility.”
“We are completely obsessed with this outdoor rug collection by Turkish designer Begüm Cana Özgür. The magical quality of the gradient woven colors creates an instant soothing effect in your outdoor (or indoor) space. Place this rug near a water feature for the ultimate relaxed vibe.”
“The Sill is the ultimate in indoor plants, and we love love love the monthly plant subscription they offer. Their vibrant plant selections paired with chic ceramic planters can turn any novice into a green thumb.”
“After a long day of working with our hands, nothing is more soothing than a luxurious moment of self-care. That’s why we love this gift set from Aesop. Their products elevate any sink space (indoors or out!) while they cleanse and nourish the senses.”
“The doormat is the first thing your friends and family see when they come to your home. Why not make it fun and festive with this adorable holiday-themed welcome mat?”
“We love to decorate for the holidays (or any time we can find a reason to celebrate), and no tablescape is complete without the perfect candlelight twinkle. These Japanese-made tapered beauties add such a fun detail to any tabletop!”
