The Montesol hotel in Ibiza. Photography by Karel Balas…
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A Balearic Party Island Welcomes a Refined Property
A sophisticated stay is debuting in Ibiza just in time for the season. The brainchild of French interior designer Dorothée Meilichzon, The Montesol is a sight to behold. Located in the UNESCO-listed old town, the 1930s neo-colonial property is considered to be the island’s first hotel and has hosted a range of bold-faced names over the years such as Pink Floyd and Orson Welles. Now, it has been restored to its former glory thanks to new-owner Experimental Group’s vision that blends traditional Ibizan architecture and contemporary design.
Inside, Meilichzon’s signature playful and bold style is on full display. Each of the 33 rooms features a distinctive aesthetic, with vintage finds and custom pieces coming together to forge a bohemian vibe. Think Diego Faivre’s Playdough Stools, minibars encased in Moroccan zellige tiles, and whimsical jigsaw-shaped furniture pieces. At the ground-floor restaurant, chef Alex Larrea turns out tapas-style dishes paired with some of Spain’s tastiest small-batch wines. Or head to the rooftop bar for artfully crafted cocktails, views of the ancient landscape, and a chiller vibe than Ibiza’s world-famous clubs. —Nate Storey
The Karl Lagerfeld Hotel in Macao. Photography by Derry Sio…
The grand opening of Karl Lagerfeld’s over-the-top Macao hotel is scheduled for June.
The grand opening of Karl Lagerfeld’s lavish hotel in Macao is slated for June following pandemic-induced delays. The 271-room, five-star hotel was designed entirely by Lagerfeld, who blended classic Chinese designs with contemporary Western touches such as Terzani chandeliers and sculptures by Jean-Michel Othoniel and Marcel Wanders. Amenities include a lounge with 4,000 books, an indoor swimming pool, and the Mesa Restaurant by Portuguese chef José Avillez, with rooms and suites ranging from 650 to 3,750 square feet.
Christie’s is staging a major jewelry sale, but Nazi origins are clouding the occasion.
Christie’s is selling more than 700 items of jewelry from the estate of the late Austrian heiress Heidi Horten. The Briolette of India, containing a 90-carat diamond, is predicted to bring in up to $7.8 million. Proceeds from the sale will go to a charitable foundation established by Horten, whose husband acquired businesses from Jewish owners at deeply discounted prices under duress from the Nazis during the Third Reich. Critics of the sale believe that the event obscures the origins of the Horten family fortune.
Estée Lauder has appointed Peter Hawkings as Tom Ford’s new creative director.
Estée Lauder is already making high-level appointments after completing its acquisition of Tom Ford. Guillaume Jesel has been appointed CEO of Tom Ford while Peter Hawkings will be creative director. The Ermenegildo Zegna Group, which holds the fashion license as part of the acquisition deal, is expected to appoint a CEO of Tom Ford Fashion in July to oversee collections, merchandising, production, retail, and wholesale distribution.
Grimes at the 2021 Met Gala. Photography by Theo Wargo/Getty Images…
Grimes is encouraging musicians to incorporate her voice into AI-generated tracks.
Grimes is inviting musicians to use her voice for AI-generated tracks, offering to split royalties 50/50 for any successful song featuring her voice. The singer said she was interested in being a “guinea pig” and open to the idea of all art being open source, saying she thought “it’s cool to be fused with a machine and killing copyright.” While the music industry grapples with the implications of AI-generated music, Grimes welcomed the idea of collaborating with AI and has stated she’s developing software that can simulate her voice for AI projects.
Two climate protesters smear paint on a statue’s vitrine at the National Gallery of Art.
In an act of protest against climate change, two individuals in black suits vandalized a small wax statue called Little Dancer Aged Fourteen by smearing it with red and black paint. The sculpture was protected by plexiglass, but it has been taken off display so experts can evaluate potential damage. The National Gallery of Art condemned the behavior, and security guards detained the two individuals. Climate protests in fine arts museums are becoming more prevalent with recent demonstrations in Europe, including attacks on paintings by Vincent van Gogh, Claude Monet, and Leonardo da Vinci.
Pakistani architect and activist Yasmeen Lari receives the RIBA Royal Gold Medal.
Yasmeen Lari, the 82-year-old Pakistani architect and activist, has been awarded the prestigious RIBA Royal Gold Medal for 2023. Lari, also known as the “barefoot architect,” is celebrated for her commitment to sustainability and contributions to the built environment in Pakistan. Though she retired from practice in 2000, Lari has been dedicated to humanitarian causes and empowering her country’s marginalized people through innovative and affordable architecture that addresses natural disasters’ physical and psychological damage.
Screenshot from BBC’s “Antiques Roadshow”…
Today’s attractive distractions:
Jermaine Stone’s popular podcast aims to diversify the wine industry.
There’s a war between teachers and kids playing games on laptops.
