London Views: ‘Mayfair – Scandal To Romance’

Intrigue and romance were synonymous with Mayfair long before Bridgerton appeared on our screens, discovers Carla Passino.

Carla PassinoMarch 15, 2021

If a part of London were ever to be crowned Queen of Romance, Mayfair would be it. The former home of Dame Barbara Cartland and the literary backdrop to Julia Quinn’s Bridgerton (although the Netflix series was mostly filmed in Bath for Regency authenticity), it has witnessed love affairs, romps and liaisons as entrancing as any penned by either author.

Its very foundation rests on a wedding: the one between heiress Mary Davies and Sir Thomas Grosvenor, whose descendants would become the Dukes of Westminster. Their eldest son, Sir Richard, was the first to embark on a building programme that would turn an unremarkable estate into one London’s most fashionable addresses.

By the 1790s, multiple dukes lived in the area, including a royal one, the Duke of Gloucester, and his daughter, Princess Sophia Matilda, who was born in Mayfair — as was, much later, The Queen (at her grandfather’s house, 17, Bruton Street, now demolished).

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Art & Nostalgia: ‘Glass, Meet the Future’ (Video)

This film was commissioned by North Lands Creative, as part of the UK in Japan 2019-20 bilateral campaign, a partnership between British Council Scotland and Creative Scotland. Supported by project partners Toyama Institute of Glass Art, Toyama Glass Art Museum and Museum of Arts and Design, New York.

The Premiere is part of the “Glass, Meet the Future” Film Festival 2021”

In Collaboration with Rusty Coin Production and Daniel Del Risco Animation.

Project Developed in part OUR COMMON HUMANITY

Commission for the Royal Edinburgh Hospital —
by Edinburgh Lothian Foundation

Large Scale Installation in Partnership with GRAS Architects ( project lead — Jan Hajek )

Edinburgh, Scotland
2016-2021

Morning News Podcast: Vaccine Blood Clot Risks, Hostage Diplomacy

Scattered reports of blood clots have sparked curbs across Europe, even though the jab is almost certainly safe. We take a hard look at the risks in relative terms.

After Canada arrested a Huawei executive in 2018, China detained two Canadians—we examine the hostage diplomacy still playing out. And how “non-fungible tokens” may benefit digital artists of all sorts.

Forest Homes: ‘Măgura – Eastern Romania’ (Video)

In Buzau Valley, following a charming road through forests, an unexpected view emerges: Carpathian Estate, a domain created as a micro-universe of relaxation and supreme comfort. Located on a previous 10 hectares orchard, the place enjoys a panorama that stretches to the balneary resort Sarata-Monteoru.

Măgura is a commune in Buzău County, Muntenia, Romania, located on the right bank of the Buzău River, in the hillside next to the Carpathian Mountains’ curvature. It is composed of two villages, Ciuta and Măgura. 

The rustic feel of the wood (Romanian pine logs) and natural stone (brought from the French Alps, Norway and Brazil) merges with contemporary elements that create a truly original building. The main residence has 1200 square meters and displays five accommodation areas, each with an individual design (3 double rooms with en-suite bathrooms and 2 apartments), a master bedroom area of 80 square meters with its own fire place, a day area with 2 fireplaces, open kitchen, lounge areas, generous terraces and a SPA with a 22 meters long pool, jacuzzi, sauna and steam bath.

The domain also features a farm, two lakes, a young orchard, 49 hectares of forest with oaks, cherry and lime trees, a garden with strawberry and raspberry and a greenhouse. The proximity to Dealul Mare creates proper conditions for exploiting a vineyard. Carpathian Estate represents an escape from the daily routine into a world subordinated to nature, harmony and well-being, where seasons enchantingly pass by and time has learned to be patient.

Winter Walks: ‘Sandefjord – Norway’ (4K HDR Video)

Sandefjord is a city and the most populous municipality in Vestfold og Telemark county, Norway. The administrative center of the municipality. The municipality of Sandefjord was established on 1 January 1838. The municipality of Sandar was merged into Sandefjord on 1 January 1969.