Change : :

Sitting here in Montréal this winter, gazing out at the turbulent St. Lawrence River as it flows past my home, I watch the spume and the ice fog as it drifts up and away from the tumbling chunks of ice making their way to the Atlantic coast.

Colleagues have been remarking that this year - this year is a real honest-to-God good old-fashioned winter......huge snowfalls, temperatures that make your teeth hurt after being outside for even ten minutes. The whine and grind of the snow removal trucks in their continuing battle to clear clogged streets.

And yet. . . . . and yet there is growth. Growth is coming. We live here in a bitter cold environment like this, as they do in Ottawa, in Moscow - in Sweden, with the flash of hope, the sliver of confidence that soon, soon it will end and will transform into warmer weather, into spring - into growth.

And it is growth that this issue is centered around. As this enterprise/effort struggles to evolve
we find great and wonderful discoveries - about places, people, purpose even.

The following is a listing of the primary topics of this issue:

• Leonardo Bechini - is a master photographer with a Master's degree in same. He lives and works
       in Milan, Italy as the Chief Creative Officer for a well known European fashion and lifestyle
       magazine. I met Leonardo when he came to Montréal in the year 2000 to attend a special
       graphic design programme at College Inter-Dec.  He was my student in a Professional Practises
       and Print Management course. He had already built up a number of years of professional design
       credits in various design firms in Europe.  But since our course was totally business-centric,
       as his teacher, I had no reason to review or see his portfolio. . . . . until the second to last class.
       When he displayed his work to the class we were all, astonished, that this creative giant had
       been in our midst for those many weeks. Being humble and gentle as he is, his credential
       never became a part of the conversation.

      We established  a great bond in that course and when he returned to Milan we remained in
       touch, discussing frequently a desire to design, develop, produce a 'really cool' online design
       journal. Whenever he visited Montréal we spent tome together ....he became, a friend.

      But oddly enough, since I was completely aware of his vast talent, I never found reason to
      re-visit his online gallery. Until a couple of weeks ago......I was doubly astonished.
      You will also be, I believe, doubly astonished - for he granted me access to both a fantastic
       web-site he had just finished producing (his first, believe it or not) along with access to his
       newly revised photographic web-site.

      It is in part, his growth, that I refer to in my introductory comments......to view both
      simply follow these links.  Match      +       Leomore   And then come back
       and in concert, lets's all say to him, 'BRAVO maestro!'

• Elie Nehme, Interior Designer, Architect - Beirut, Lebanon
       Growth too is an important part of this profile....Elie is our Lebanon correspondent, and like
       Leonardo, he was a student in my Construction Detailing class at Algonquin College, Ottawa.
       Although a Canadian citizen Elie returned to his other home in Beirut to work with his family
       in design and construction. He also began his Master's degree in Architecture.
       Elie's work as a designer is predominantly in residential design - the very finest of residential
       interiors. So much of Beirut is built along the french influence in architecture, fashion and
       design. Elegance is the byword.

       It was to address that intrinsic elegance of Beirut inhabitants that the fine Swiss architectural
       firm of Herzog & Meuron approached their concept for les Terrasses de Beirut.
       An award-winning ground-breaking articulation of exquisite form/shape and style, the
       result is a unique one-of-a-kind architectural statement.

       It is in such an atmosphere that Elie carries out his work.
       In reviewing candidate projects for his first article in DRI Elie proposed that we do a
       feature on this wonderful architectural masterpiece.  

       info@elienehmedesign.com

•  Anna Kovalchenko - Moscow
      Anna is graduate of the KLC School of Interior Design in London, England.
      Her blog - her delightful blog -  L'Essenziale  is widely followed globally. She is also a
      frequent contributor to Architectural Digest - Russia edition. And she has just learned that
      her blog has won, for two years in a row, Best Interior Design Blog, Russia

      Anna has also written two books - one a must-have for all decorators, designers hoping
     to establish their own  p r o f i t a b l e   design enterprise. 'Marketing for Interior Designers'
     is a digital edition available on her site.  

      Anna and I have never met - we have corresponded for some years now as our philosophies
      are somewhat identical. She is a classicist, a problem-solver - she brings great  f l a v o u r
      to her stylings. How often have you heard of a designer as being able to provide flavour?
      Well, she does. She is also a presence on Facebook.   She recently re-located to Marbella,
      Spain from Moscow (may have had something to do with the Moscow/Montréal winters).

       Her sunny disposition will be found frequently on DRI with regular re-posts of her blog
       offerings.
      And of course, her career, her message is also in a vibrant state of growth.....be sure to
      check in with us regularly as she will be writing some great articles about design in the south
      of Spain, of her visits to Ronda and the Alhambra.

•  Alma Trelo - Architect, Engineer, Designer
    Growth, again. Alma is a colleague - a co-teacher at NOVA Career Centre. She emigrated
    to Canada from Greece, and rather than continuing her architectural practise (for the time being)
    she has turned to teaching. Her web-site provides much greater detail about her amazing
    architectural heritage.

    On Friday of this week she will be travellng to Toronto to attend the 2018 Toronto Interior Design
    Show. Her experiences, comments and reviews will appear in our next issue.
   And growth for her, for now - is growing out from and into, perhaps a different venue entirely.

• L E O N A R D O •  
We start here......with this wonderful web-site he designed for MATCH....
these are some of the images contained therein

....and, then, we visit his photography site.....www.leomore.it.
I have selected a few of what I think are the more powerful images, here : :

So - is it ME?
If it is, I would 'have a big house' and have a room that contains ALL these amazing images....

You may - or may not - agree......

This, is, his work - really only a small part of it...had to force myself to
s t o p
Incroyable!
all work, of course, ©leonardo bechini

There is this really cool site, www.uncrate.com......
it is
r i c h
in wild and wonderful content....

For example their coverage of the

SCENIC ECLIPSE DISCOVERY YACHT
Most ships are dedicated to either luxury or discovery. The Scenic Eclipse Discovery Yacht is designed for both. The tour brand's first ocean cruise ship, it measures 168 meters long, yet has just 114 suites, each with a private verandah. With 176 crew members, it offers as close to a 1:1 ratio as you'll find, which ensures you never have to wait to enjoy your next indulgence at the spa, pool, theater, lounges, or bars. It also carries its own Discovery team, who has a fleet of Zodiacs, kayaks, e-bikes, and other outdoor toys at their disposal to help you explore your surroundings in ways traditional luxury launches can't. Its maiden voyage launches in the Mediterranean next August, and current itineraries include trips through the Americas, Antarctica, Europe, and the Arctic.

Why is it in this issue?
Dunno - except that the lines, the style - the form shape
all speak
d e s i g n
to me

ELIE NEHME

Located in the heart of the Lebanese capital, ‘Beirut Terraces’ is one of the city’s
 latest sky-rise buildings that are shaping its horizon. Beirut has always been considered
the cultural and geographical connecting city between Europe and the Middle East.
The city’s social and cultural diversity are major factors that influenced Beirut’s
unique identity overs centuries. In Addition, the various epochs of Phoenicians,
Roman, Mamluks, Ottoman, and Colonials contributed in shaping its unmatched history
and built-environment. All these aspects have been delicately reflected in
Herzog and De Meuron’s design of their residential project in Lebanon.
The multilayered design of the building pays great respect to Beirut’s history
 in a very contemporary language that portrays the city’s futuristic perspectives.
Situated in Mina Al Hosn and adjacent to the new yacht marina,
 The Zaitunay Bay, ‘Beirut Terraces’ is the latest addition to the capitals’
 most prestigious residential area. The architect lists five design principles
that define their project: Layers and Terraces, Inside and Outside, Vegetation,
Views and Privacy, and Light and Identity.

Selected by ‘Architectural Digest’, as being among
The Most Influential Buildings of 2017, ‘Beirut Terraces’
is re-defining the way skyscrapers are designed. The 119 meters high-rise
tower is a combination of five modular floors repeated differently.
Each plate has its own extended views along with panoramic glazing that
 maximizes exposure to sunlight and provides exceptional views of the
Mediterranean and the city. The different perforations in the parameters
of each floor, allow vertical travel of sunrays from one level to another,
and provide the building with a distinctive identity by generating
 striking shadows.

The Green partitions and horizontal gardens emphasize the inhabitants
living experience. In addition, the structure of each floor slab is engineered in
 particular method to balance the temperature of spaces by absorbing the
cold at nighttime and releasing it during the day. These implemented features
made this sky-rise building a sustainable landmark, and will allow it to stand
out in Beirut’s master development plan.
Completed in 2017, ‘Beirut Terraces’ offer 57,000 square meters of high-end
luxurious apartments, 1,500 square meters of commercial space,
and 20,000 square meters of underground parking.

The commercial space recently
 hosted an exhibition by ‘Gabriel and Guillaume’, a travelling gallery for
decorative arts and furniture. The residential areas offer a variety of
apartment types ranging from 210 square meters to 985 square meters of
simplexes and duplexes. The spaces of ‘Beirut Terraces’ allow tenants to
visualize their homes throughout a luxurious environment,
each with a unique identity.
• development manager: benchmark
• design consultant: herzog & de meuron
• executive architect/engineering consultant: khatib & alami
• project manager: hill international
• main contractor: man enterprise
• structural & MEP consultant: arup
• landscaping consultant: vladimir djurovic landscape architecture
• lighting consultant: arup
• façade consultant: PP engineering
• technical controller: socotec
• pre-contract cost control: davis langdon
• project Year: 2009 - 2017

V  E  S  T  A  B  O  A  R  D  

?


Check it out......were you ever in a train station,
oh so many years ago, and were mesmerized by the
message display boards mounted high up on the wall,
that with a smoothly whirring clickety-clack,
rhythmically changed up the info re which train on which track,
arrival data, etc?

I remember them at Union Station in Toronto.

It was fascinating to watch.....
and the sound was rather comforting.
Almost like a little train running along a
little track
clickety-clack
•
Well these brightLights at VESTABOARD
have re-discovered that device and have
re-engineered it for use......anywhere.

In your home, in your office - airports, restaurants,
service counters....wherever there is a need for
instantaneous information updating.

And it's controlled form a smartphone or a computer.

---

Over 5 decades of design practise I have done my share of
residential interior design. From modest undertakings to the
conceptualisation, design and execution of mansions.

Throughout I have always been excited to work with clients
who understood, who were sensitive to, great wall coverings.

From beautiful textured grasscloths, to silk, to documentary
prints, wood veneers - all of it.

One company that has been a stand-out across more than a century
is Shumacher. They are in the same class as Brunschwig et Fils....
or vice versa.

SHUMACHER fschumacher.com/home/index

Originally, as I first knew the company, they were primarily fabrics and wallpapers.
Today they design, manufacture fine furniture, fabulous carpets, trimmings,
many wonderful accessories.
Always, chinoiserie, has been a favourite.....
and following here are a few of their current offerings:

How would you describe
c o o l  d e s i g n
?
We present here one project of an astonishing architectural practise in Spain

Mesura
From their web-site,
'We believe in reestablishing architects and architecture as leaders in the search for better cities. We design and imagine every project individually: from the largest scale to the smallest, seeking excellence in every detail. We strive to create an unbelievable experience, handcrafted and tailored exclusively to the miser of each distinct
client that exceeds his expectations.  
We are MESURA, Partners in Architecture
The photographs that follow are of an ongoing project

1735 - CAN LLIMONA

There's really nothing need being said.....
it is an example of a deft hand, a clear vision
and a distinctive grasp of

c o o l

and so, from the landOfCool...... sortof - actually H O T

see, here's the answer to many a dream
a really true functioning compact countertop dishwasher....
by HEATWORKS

With a smaller capacity than the average dishwasher available on the market today,
Tetra holds two full place settings (including plates, bowls, cups, and flatware) or
10 plates or 12 pint glasses. It's compact on purpose

“Our research indicates that although the average household is comprised of
2.58 people, the modern dishwasher holds place settings for 13 or more,” said
Jerry Callahan, CEO and founder of Heatworks. “This makes people believe
that they either need to handwash their few dirty dishes — which wastes 10
times more water than using a dishwasher — or wait for a fill load to run a cycle.
With Tetra, we hope to change people's mindset.”
Just think, if a two-person household were to switch from handwashing to a
dishwasher for one meal a day, they could save 1500 gallons of water a year.

There are no faucet connections required and water is loaded by hand so users
 know exactly how much water is being used - about a half a gallon per load.
There is also an internal detergent reservoir that will last dozens of cycles.
And the coolest feature? Tetra is transparent so you can see exactly where
in the dishwashing cycle it is.

The way Heatworks heats water is completely different.
Watch the second video here
Instead of having elements that get really hot and then transfer the heat to the water,
through our patented Ohmic Array Technology, we actually pass electrical
currents through the water itself. Using graphite electrodes and electronic controls,
we increase the energy state of the water molecules, so they move faster.
The faster they move, the more kinetic energy they have. This causes the molecules
to begin to bounce off each other; that kinetic energy turns into heat.
through direct energy transfer, your water is heated instantly, within (+/-) 1 degree
Fahrenheit of the temperature setpoint. With no coils or traditional heating
elements that can scale and rust over time, the water you get is purer than
what any other water heater can provide. That's good news for you and your family.

et finalement....à Québec

ce maison unique

La VILLA VINGT s’ancre sur un site en pente adjacent à la station de ski le Relais. Le terrain en altitude offre une vue magnifique sur les collines des Laurentides et le quartier résidentiel du Lac-Beauport.

Photographe : Adrien William
par les architectesBourgeois / Lechasseur
Bourgeois / Lechasseur architectes est une agence d’architecture
contemporaine réalisant des projets résidentiels et commerciaux
à travers la région de Québec et des Îles-de-la-Madeleine.

Ville de Québec:
261, St-Valier Est
Québec (QC)
Canada G1K 3P4
418-914-0590
ou

Îles - de- la - Madelaine
433, chemin de la Martinique
L 'Étang-du-Nord (QC)
Canada

From Steven Hu, currently in Guangzhou, China, these unusual items...

 The growth I referred to initially is centric to all of us.
Some deal with it better than others of course.
But growth is a measurable metric. . . . whether
one's height as a child, one's academic achievements,
pregnancies. . . . . sales - and all the other prime
elements of our lives as humans.

We, in our initiatives here at DRI are planning
our growth. . . . as strategically as possible.
Our growth, ultimately, will maybe provide you,
our readership, with another kind of growth.
One wherein our efforts to inform you of relevant
aspects of design, architecture - artistic achievement -
provide you with a satisfying growth through learning,
enlightenment.....and the satisfaction of expanding one's
understandings of a variety of creative initiatives in our world.

We will bring you the next issue in about 3 weeks.....
if anyone has a particular effort you might like us to focus on,
don't be shy. Reachable always at Inbox@DesignReview.International,
we'd love to work with you to explore and discover other growing
concepts, ideas and the réalisation of same.