touropia(January 31, 2024) – One of the main places Europeans head on holiday, the Mediterranean is full of idyllic islands. Thought to number around 10,000 in total, their warm, sunny weather, sandy beaches and sumptuous food see many millions visit each summer.
Bordered by countless countries from Europe, Asia and Africa, the immense sea and all its islands have played a massive role in the history of Western civilization. Often boasting gorgeous scenery or crystal-clear waters, they’re the perfect place to relax and unwind in spellbinding settings. Here’s a look at the most beautiful islands in the Mediterranean.
the Luxury Travel Expert (January 27, 2024) – A tour of the The Alpina Gstaad, one of the best 5-star hotels in Switzerland.
Video chapters: 0:00 Intro 2:19 Arrival 3:51 Porte cochere 5:37 Lobby (ground floor) 7:27 Lobby (first floor) 15:41 Boutique & jewelry 19:26 Suite 26:07 Spa 30:30 Indoor pool 39:27 Outdoor pool 45:55 Gstaad village 50:18 Megu Restaurant & Bar 56:01 Sommet by Martin Göschel Restaurant (one Michelin star) 1:01:51 Swiss Stübli Restaurant 1:07:17 Breakfast 1:11:29 Skiing
Built on five acres of the Bernese Oberland, The Alpina Gstaad promises two views: mountain and valley. The first looks onto Gstaad and promises snow-capped sightings of Spitzhorn and Oldenhorn, while the second delivers rippling hilltops and stretches of lake over Schönried village.
The Met (January 19, 2024): Join curators Stephan Wolohojian, Adam Eaker, David Pullins, and Anna-Claire Stinebring along with their special guests as they guide you through the newly reopened galleries dedicated to European Paintings from 1300 to 1800.
The reconfigured galleries highlight fresh narratives and dialogues among more than 700 works of art from the Museum’s world-famous holdings, which include recently acquired paintings and prestigious loans, as well as select sculptures and decorative art, showcase the interconnectedness of cultures, materials, and moments across The Met collection.
Architectural Digest (January 16, 2024) – Today AD travels to Connecticut to tour Tirranna, one of legendary architect Frank Lloyd Wright’s final designs. The Rayward–Shepherd House, also known as Tirranna and as the John L. Rayward House, is a home in New Canaan, Connecticut originally built in 1955 to an design of renowned architect Frank Lloyd Wright.
Considered one of the greatest architects of all time, Frank Lloyd Wright produced over 1000 designs in a career spanning 70 years, revolutionizing architecture in the United States.
A pioneer of organic architecture, Wright believed any building should exist in harmony with its inhabitants and surroundings–a concept that runs through the veins of Tirranna. Join Stuart Graff, president and CEO of the Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation, as he walks you through one of the final designs of Wright’s career.
DW Travel (January 7, 2024) – The Philippines consists of no less than 7,000 islands, many of which have beautiful beaches and a fascinating underwater world. Two expert travel guides, Philippine-born Ave @avelovinit and her Norwegian husband Martin @martinsolhaugen show you their personal top travel destinations for the island state in the Western Pacific.
Video timeline: 00:00 Intro 00:58 From Manila to Boracay 01:54 Boracay island 04:05 El Nido, Palawan island 04:44 Manila 05:46 Siargao island 07:58 Sorsogon, Province of Bico, Kasanggayahan Festival
DW Travel (December 24, 2023) – DW’s Hannah Hummel hosts an experience of maximum Middle Ages. Regensburg in Bavaria is one of the largest preserved medieval cities in Germany.
Video timeline:00:00 Intro 00:55 Regensburg Cathedral 04:14 Stone Bridge 05:05 Stadtamhof quarter 05:25 Sausages with Sauerkraut at the Historic Wurstkuchl 06:46 Stroll through the Old town 07:37 Walhalla
Not far from Regensburg lies an important national monument for the Germans: the Walhalla. Find out what it’s like to visit the Germans’ “Hall of Fame”!
VernissageTV (December 6, 2023) – The 18th edition of Design Miami/, curated by Curatorial Director, Maria Cristina Didero. This year’s program explores the theme of The Golden Age: Looking to the Future, celebrating a tomorrow of our own creation.
The Golden Age is a metaphorical concept shared across cultures through time and space, whether applied to utopian futures or idealized histories.
Often invoked as an imaginary, past time of prosperity, The Golden Age also epitomizes hope for the future, lighting the path towards our highest aspirations. As the curatorial theme for the 18th edition of Design Miami, The Golden Age: Looking to the Future will celebrate a tomorrow of our own creation.
In a time when human beings are challenged in unprecedented ways, The Golden Age could become a source of inspiration to imagine and shape a brighter future for human beings and our planet.
The Local Project (November 24, 2023) – Located in a leafy pocket of Hawthorn is Shakespeare Grove by B.E. Architecture, a dream house designed as a family home and devised by a memorable palette of materials.
Video timeline:00:00 – Introduction to the Dark and Moody Dream House 01:12 – Designed as Two Halves 01:40 – The Decorative and Private Sector 02:00 – Incorporating A Sense of Scale and Sculpture 02:38 – The Casual and Family Sector 03:01 – A Reduced Material Palette and Light Quality 03:53 – Incorporating Custom Made Personal Items 05:12 – Enjoyable Aspects of the Design
B.E. Architecture’s overarching responsibility was to create a residence that responded to the area and catered to the council, town planners, heritage planners, neighbours and, ultimately, its clients. Designed as two halves, the dream house features a distinct façade that hides the intimate and warm interior. Furthermore, when looking to simplify the expression of the building, the team used consistent materials across both the interior and exterior. Moving the house tour inside, the front half of the home holds the master bedroom, ensuite and study, as well as the formal dining and living areas.
Though facing the street, the front half of Shakespeare Grove is kept private and offers an inward-facing inner experience. The interior design is typified by the inlaid timber ceilings and cocooning walls of felt, and the first half of the dream house is designed to be more decorative than the second. Also shown through the house tour is a generous architectural scale, as seen in the details of the staircase. Moreover, a vaulted hallway leads from the formal part of the dream house to the casual spaces. The rear of the dream house holds the social areas such as the kitchen, lounge and dining space – all of which are open to the natural surrounds and flow to the outdoor entertaining zones.
PBS Films (November 22, 2023) – Follow Cecil (Mark Umbers) as he provides a behind-the-scenes look at some of the iconic rooms, terraces, and views from Hotel Portofino.
Along the tour, he reveals insight as to what it’s like filming in the Mediterranean and even hints at what to expect in the show’s second season. This video was recorded prior to the ongoing SAG-AFTRA strike.
The Local Project (November 22, 2023) – Inside a magical home complemented by the ever-changing backdrop of the ocean, it is evident that Macmasters Beach House is a family residence that allows its owners to live peacefully alongside nature.
Video timeline:00:00 – Introduction to the Magical Home 00:45 – The Beautiful Coastal Site and Its Core Principles 01:25 – A Walkthrough of the Home 02:59 – Focusing on Indoor-Outdoor Connection 03:25 – Perfecting the Build and its Finishings 04:14 – Protecting the Surrounding Bushland 04:45 – Proud Moments
Nestled into the headland, there is a certain wild, Australian characteristic that is hinted at throughout the home’s design. Embracing the idea of barefoot luxury inside a magical home, Polly Harbison Design has imbued the coastal dwelling with principles of simplicity while offering the owners a home where they can experience unparalleled views. Featuring off-form and broad-form concrete as well as exposed eaves, the design and architecture of the beachside house allows the materials to speak for themselves.
Moreover, the remnant pocket of bush that surrounds the home is enhanced and carefully considered by keeping the footprint of the home as small as possible while still providing plenty of space for the family within. Polly Harbison Design has also retained much of the landscape to encourage the existing vegetation on site to regenerate. Once inside a magical home, the house tour reveals a deep connection between the natural and built elements.
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