Design Is Art
In the name of beauty, many aesthetes seek fleeting moments that enliven their romance-infused souls. They revel in scenes of summer that bring to mind joyful postcards—think about beachside carnivals, new gallery exhibitions, museums, culinary delights, and whimsical gardens. At the heart of these experiences, lies the subtle recognition of how design paves the way for artful living.
Interestingly, the emerging field of neuroaesthetics has revealed the benefits of visual arts for our wellbeing. And with the COVID-19 pandemic slowly transitioning into an endemic, many countries are relaxing their travel restrictions and welcoming visitors again. A worthy recompense, therefore, should be a grand tour of places with cultural allure.
Paris scores high in aesthetic appeal with numerous design feats that will leave you in awe. For a taste of French elegance and savoir faire, a visit to Cheval Blanc Paris hotel isn’t to be missed. Designed by Henri Sauvage in 1928, the Art Deco building has been reimagined by architect Peter Marino to resemble an elegant Parisian apartment.
Featuring a neutral colour palette, it’s home to gilded bronze openwork design, bespoke furniture, a dreamy Dior spa, and an art collection with contemporary works by Georges Mathieu, Viz Munik, Philippe Anthonioz, and Sonia Delaunay.
Located a stone’s throw from Lake Como, the recently opened Passalacqua hotel celebrates the finesse and artistry that Italy is known for. Originally commissioned as a private villa by Count Andrea Lucini Passalacqua in the 18th century, it spills history and grandeur at every step.
Once frequented by Napoleon Bonaparte and Winston Churchill, the mansion has now been transformed into a hotel that boasts glimmering lakefront views, remarkable artworks, and verdant gardens. Part of its pastoral charm lies in reviving the lost art of ‘villeggiatura’—an intrinsically Italian concept that refers to escaping urban hustle for a stay with the sole purpose of rest and recreation.
In the UAE, a string of architectural marvels have emerged to the fore. The Museum of the Future in Dubai leaves guests speechless with its fascinating design elements like the torus-shaped building, clad in stainless steel spanning 17,600 square metres, a low carbon footprint design, and inspiring Arabic calligraphy that dares us to dream.
Overlooking the museum is the dazzling 25hours hotel, with design that offers a confluence of local tales and nomadic travel. The hotel is punctuated with creative spaces, such as a games room, and pottery and podcast studios. Perhaps, one of its most striking features is the Fountain of Tales library, shelved with thousands of books, and the wondrous ceiling artwork by artist Dominik Bulka, titled Under the Same Sky, which is a light-hearted representation of constellations.
And so, it’s fitting to say that the world of design and the meaning we lend to it will continue to shape the human experience, one cultural gem at a time.
Published in Villa 88 magazine.
© Image Credit: Tomas Marek/Shutterstock.com