15 ° C
Profile

Day: 29 April 2021

Design meets art at new apartment showroom in Monaco

by: Stephanie Horsman
29/04/2021

German design studio LenzWerk has opened a showroom in Monaco, giving visitors a glimpse at high-end living spaces created using German design brands and stunning art. 
The new showroom for Lenzwerk Monaco at the Villa Nuvola is a tribute to exclusivity and style, offering potential customers the chance to wander through a shop that is set up to look like a private residence, making it both inspirational and aspirational.
Spread over 800 square metres and six levels, the entire showroom is up for sale. Highlights include a hand-knotted Jan Kath rug from the ‘Erased Heritage’ series, Occhio lamps and living spaces designed by Walter Knoll, as well as items from brands such as Miele, WMF, Loewe, Dornbracht and select pieces from Lenzwerk’s own collections.

 
Open to all who have an appointment, the displays offer “holistic interior concepts”, giving visitors a whole picture of what their homes could be. They offer simple advice or more comprehensive interior concept mock-ups for apartments of all sizes, villas and even yachts.
In addition to the furniture and objects, the König Galerie Berlin has filled the space with works by sought-after contemporary artists such as Katharina Grosse, Jorinde Voigt, Anselm Reyle and Jeppe Hein as well as sculptures by Alicja Kwade.
 

 
Villa Nuvola is a stand-alone created as part of the ‘Le Stella’ complex done by architect Jean-Pierre Lott, who has altered the Monegasque skyline with his distinctive works over the years. The elegant curves and mosaic tiling on the outside are a reflection to the tasteful and stylish interior, which mirrors the curves in the voluptuous spiral staircases that link each floor to the next.
The Lenzwerks philosophy of “think holistically, plan economically and execute with high quality” is on full display at the location, giving Monaco shoppers and design addicts one more place to go for wonderful ideas and new acquisitions.
 
Click on the gallery below for more pictures…


 
Photos by LenzWerk
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Macron reveals timeline for France’s gradual return to normal

by: Cassandra Tanti
29/04/2021

The French President has outlined to the French press his plan to reopen the country ahead of the highly-anticipated announcement on Friday night.
In an interview with the Paris press on Thursday, French President Emmanuel Macron unveiled his plan for the gradual reopening of the country, which started Monday with the reopening of primary schools.
The schedule establishes four phases of three weeks to allow for the evaluation of measures before moving to the next phase, if the situation allows.
Stage one
As previously revealed by his government, 3rd May will mark the end of the 10 kilometre travel restriction and a return to school for middle and high school students.
Stage two
On Wednesday 19th May, all “non-essential” shops will be able to reopen. Museums, theatres, cinemas and performance venues with seated public (within the limit of 800 indoor spectators, and 1,000 outdoors) will also be allowed to open. Sporting activities, both indoors and outdoors, will once again be permitted. Football stadiums and other sports establishments may reopen on the same date. Gatherings will be limited to 10 people, up from the current six. People can return to restaurants, but only on the terrace and with a maximum of six people per table. The curfew, previously established at 7pm, will be moved to 9pm.
Stage three
On 9th June, the curfew will change to 11pm. Cafés and restaurants will be able to reopen completely with a limit of six people per table, as well as sports halls. Subject to the use of a health pass, culture and sports establishments will be able to accommodate up to 5,000 people. Under the same condition, shows and fairs may reopen. Foreign tourists traveling to France will need a health pass. Teleworking will be made more flexible.
Stage four
The 30th June will mark the last phase of deconfinement announced by Emmanuel Macron. The curfew will be scrapped completely and it will be possible to participate in events of more than 1,000 people, outdoors and indoors, with the use of a health pass, opening the door to festivals.
The timetable established by the president could obviously be changed in certain regions where the incidence rate is too high or if the intensive care units are close to saturation.
 
Monaco Life with Le Parisien. Photo by Paul Rysz on Unsplash
 
 

Be part of the F1 action

by: Stephanie Horsman
29/04/2021

Monaco is in the midst of Formula One fever and to help get everyone in the mood the Monte-Carlo Bay Hotel and Resort has installed two F1 simulators to give racing fans the feeling of what it’s like to be behind the wheel of the real deal.

The Monte-Carlo Bay Hotel and Resort is giving the public an incredibly immersive experience with a Formula One simulator in the hotel’s lobby until Tuesday 25th May.

Participants will feel what it’s like to be behind the wheel of an actual Formula One car, driving as if it were in real conditions. The simulators allow for acceleration, braking, drafting effects and even off-roading, making it as close to reality as possible.

The simulators were developed by Wave Italy and are used to train Formula Two, Three and Four pilots at their Professional Training Centre in Verona.

Details like a high-tech steering wheel, interactive seat beats, motion technology and racing pedals make it as close to the real thing as one can get. 

There will be two simulators on site at the hotel at different price points. The first is the Phoenix F1 Pro, which will set would-be drivers back €30 for a 10-minute experience. The other simulator is the Ghepard Maranello GT/F1 Simulator, which costs €20 for 10 minutes worth of thrills. Souvenir videos from each person’s “race” will be available on a USB key for €15.  

The basic package can be extended to 20 minutes in certain cases. There is no minimum or maximum age, but there is a height limitation of between 150 and 190cm.

Reservations to take a spin in the simulators are not required, but sessions can be booked in advance by calling or messaging +33 6 64 04 30 28.

 
Photo by Monaco Life
 
 

“Our attitude and courage makes us kings, not our social status”

by: Cassandra Tanti
29/04/2021

Monaco Life speaks with award winning Producer Valentina Castellani-Quinn, who will be presenting her new film ‘Polo’ at this year’s Cannes Film Festival alongside her work with the CC-Forum Monaco.
Valentina Castellani-Quinn announced the production of the film at the recent CC-Forum in Dubai, revealing a new story that revolves around the so called “sport of kings”, but highlights that “our attitude and courage is what makes us kings, not the sport or our social status”.
The film is produced by Quinn Studios Entertainment and Nereides Group, in partnership with the Royal Arab United Emirates.

“With this film, I want to create a bridge between Hollywood and the Middle East, bringing the high quality standard of Hollywood film-making with the professional technology and structures of the Emirates… quite a powerful combination,” Ms Castellani-Quinn told Monaco Life.
‘Polo’ will be presented at the Cannes Film Festival this July
In addition to being Chairman and CEO of Quinn Studios in Hollywood, Valentina has partnered up with Prince Nereides Antonio Giamundo de Bourbon to become Global Media Officer for the Parisian conglomerate Nereides Group and its divisions based in Place Vendôme.
Together, Valentina Quinn and Prince Nereides De Bourbon are developing a series of projects including two powerful documentaries, titled ‘The White Snake’ about Native Americans, and ‘The Albinos in Africa’.
“I like to go into dark places and open them to the world,” said Ms Quinn. “There is such beauty in turning on the light and helping those who need it most. They define you and expand you, and you can define and expand them.”
‘The White Snake’ will be narrated by Native American Chief Arvol Looking Horse who led the fight at Standing Rock, the Indian Reservation that is the site of the controversial Dakota pipeline.
“What happened at Standing Rock is an important tale to tell,” said Ms Quinn. “It was humanity against technology. The protests spoke loudly to the world about the importance of respecting the planet and the environment but, more importantly, to remember who we are as human beings, resonating together as one with the planet, with each other, and our soul. New technologies are out there that have proved successful in other countries that will ignite a new ‘system’ which beats in harmony with the heartbeat of the planet.”
With Quinn Studios Entertainment, Valentina embarked this year on a new initiative, co-producing the sustainability-focussed business initiative the CC-Forum with its creator Max Studennikoff. The forums take place each year in Dubai, Monaco and London.
“I love working on this new initiative, bringing a touch of Hollywood and the entertainment business to the forum,” said Ms Quinn. “I’m working with Max to expand the forum in a more kaleidoscopic way, involving sport and entertainment, health, education and social impact projects. The Monte-Carlo Forum is reflecting this new vision.”
Top photo: Valentina Castellani-Quinn, Cate Blanchett and Prince Nereides De Bourbon 
 
 

EU suing AstraZeneca, buying up Pfizer jabs

by: Stephanie Horsman
29/04/2021

The European Union has made a record-breaking agreement with Pfizer/BioNTech to buy up to 1.8 billion doses of their coronavirus vaccine, whilst gearing up for a court battle with another pharma giant, AstraZeneca, for non-delivery of agreed upon jabs.
The deal, announced by European Commission (EC) President Ursula von der Leyen on Friday at a Pfizer manufacturing plant in Belgium and not yet officially finalised, would see 1.8 billion doses of the jab delivered to the EU through to 2023.
It comes at an awkward time, just as mounting pressure is being put on developed countries to stop buying more doses than their populations require to ensure the rest of the world get their fair share.
Negotiations between von der Leyen, Pfizer CEO Albert Bourla and other officials were documented Wednesday in the New York Times, detailing the personal nature of the mediations between the pharma chief and the EU leader. Staying in contact via text and calls, the pair devised a scheme where more doses than the previously agreed upon 300 million could be offered.
“Multiple leaders of the world, they would reach out to me, from presidents or prime ministers and kings, and general secretaries of organisations,” Bourla told the New York Times. He went on to say that these discussions were not at all unusual given the circumstances.
For von der Leyen’s part, she says she pursued this new avenue due to AstraZeneca’s failure to deliver the agreed upon number of vaccinations.
“I knew that the upscaling of the deliveries would have a slow start by nature in the beginning, and therefore, I also knew the first quarter was going be tough,” she told the New York Times. “I did not expect it to be as tough, because we did not include the possibility that AstraZeneca would reduce deliveries by 75%. That was a heavy setback.”
According to the EC president, the agreement includes 900 million doses to start, with an option for another 900 million, though the EC has not officially confirmed this to be the case.
Meanwhile, the EC announced on Monday it was suing AstraZeneca over breach of contract. The months-long feud between the EU and the pharma company came to a head with this reveal.
The EU ordered 300 million doses of the AstraZeneca jab, with full delivery set for the end of June and the option to buy another 100 million doses. The drug-maker said they would only be able to deliver 100 million, a third of the originally agreed upon amount, in that same time frame.
AstraZeneca has repeatedly stated there has been no breach of contract, insisting the contract clearly states they would hit delivery targets based on the company’s “best efforts” to deliver on schedule.
Italian broadcaster RAI published the contract in full and notes there is a clause that seems to justify AstraZeneca’s claim, protecting the company from legal action in the case of delivery delays. Nonetheless, a court may say that their “best efforts” were not made to fulfill the obligation, making this less than a clear-cut case.
The next hearing is set for 26th May and a judge is expected to come back with a ruling three to six weeks after that.
 
 
Photo by Spencer Davis on Unsplash