Author: adm_f_club

Ladyburn Edition Two has been launched by world-leading rare whisky house, William Grant & Sons. The ultra rare 55-year-old whisky is paired with rarely seen images from the archive of British fashion photographer, Norman Parkinson, regarded as the father of fashion photography.

Following the release of Ladyburn Edition One in collaboration with David Bailey in 2021, Ladyburn Edition Two / Norman Parkinson captures the mood of the ‘Swinging Sixties’. The second edition in the Ladyburn 1966 triptych brings to life a ‘lost-gem’ distillery through the work of an era-defining creative icon, whilst celebrating Ladyburn’s revolutionary role in Single Malt Whisky during this decade of cultural, social, and technological change.

The Ladyburn Edition Two / Norman Parkinson collection is strictly limited to 210 hand numbered bottles. Each carries one of ten individual Norman Parkinson photographic works in colour, unseen for decades and the first time in print since first publication.

The first ten collections are accompanied by an eleventh ‘black swan’ bottle, featuring a monochrome image which is not available singularly. These complete sets comprise of 11 decanters and are accompanied by a specially commissioned display case. Each photograph within the collection was taken between 1960 to 1969, and nods to Parkinson’s ground-breaking approach, pioneering the practice of taking his shoots beyond the studio, on-location, showcasing the personality and verve of his subjects.

“Curating the Ladyburn Limited Edition series has been a fascinating journey,” says Jonathan Driver, Managing Director of William Grant & Sons’ Private Clients division. “It is indicative of the mood of the sixties and the spirit of our own family founders, that what was a conceptual, exploration project holds such tremendous legacy today.

“Less than two hundred Ladyburn casks remain in our care, so when we release one it is special. Norman Parkinson’s work is the most fitting partner. We have combined the rarest liquid with the mood of the time – until now this had not been done.”

As one of the oldest independent family-owned whisky distilleries in the world, William Grant & Sons’ Private Clients provides collectors with access to the finest and rarest whisky expressions. It curates unique items that celebrate heritage and can create a legacy. Ladyburn Edition Two presents an opportunity to acquire a cultural artefact that is imbued with the expertise of generations of whisky makers.

Ladyburn 1966 Edition Two is only available by appointment, and from William Grant & Sons’ The Distillers Library in Singapore, China, Bangkok and Ho Chi Minh City as well as The Warehouse in Taipei, Taichung and Kaohsiung.

For further information about William Grant & Sons Private Clients, please contact Jonathan Driver’s team at William Grant & Sons Private Clients at privateclients@wgrant.com.

As sustainability, green space and healthy city-living top the global agenda, Milan has become Italy’s most popular city among international buyers. Foundxrs Club gets an exclusive tour of Porta Nuova, a contemporary new district in the heart of Italy’s capital of fashion, style, and business, with sustainability and wellbeing at its heart.

Porta Nuova is the largest integrated regeneration project in Europe and a celebrated example of sustainable urban design. Developed by real estate company COIMA, the new neighbourhood is composed of a diversity of attractive residential buildings, including urban villas, courtyard buildings, town houses, and the emerald in the crown, the Bosco Verticale towers, popularly known as Milan’s vertical forest.

Bosco Verticale—the epitome of green living

Taking centre stage in the Porta Nuova district is the multi award-winning Bosco Verticale. The epitome of green living stands on the edge of the Milan’s third largest park BAM - Biblioteca degli Alberi di Milano, translated as library of trees­.

One of the most renowned symbols of green urban development in the world, the first ‘vertical forest’ concept by Stefano Boeri Architetti pioneers a unique approach to urban living – connecting people and buildings with nature, bringing essential greenery and biodiversity into increasingly dense cities, and reducing their environmental impact.

The ‘green icon’ comprises of 111 apartments across two buildings, 18 and 26 storeys respectively. They are fully enveloped and embraced by a self-sustaining living exterior featuring over 15,000 plants and 90 different species of trees, shrubs, and floral vegetation… the equivalent of a three-hectare forest!

Bosco Verticale’s fresh and innovative identity has deservedly won numerous international awards, including the International Highrise Award, 2014, Best Tall Building Europe, and Best Tall Building Worldwide, 2015.

The Bosco Verticale Penthouse

Nestled within the world-famous exterior of Bosco Verticale towers sits one of the largest, highest, and most exclusive properties in Milan.

Occupying the entire 26th floor of Stefano Boeri’s masterpiece, on the edge of the city’s newest park and botanical garden, the 493sqm (5,307sqft) property features a quadruple aspect for 360-degree views of the entire city, across the famous spires of the Duomo di Milano cathedral right out to the Italian Alps.

The penthouse feature bespoke interiors created through a collaboration between global interior and architectural designer, Dara Huang of Design Haus Liberty, and the quintessential Italian designer, COIMA Image.

Stepping outside, six tree-lined terraces act as private gardens in the sky. The terraces provide a magical variety of outdoor spaces on all four facades of the building, each enveloped in the fragrant trees, shrubs and plants that clad the landmark building.

Porta Nuova District

The pedestrian-centric neighbourhood is set around one of the largest open public parks and botanical gardens in the city. It comprises over 500 trees in 22 ‘circular forests’, vegetable gardens, a picturesque, flowered lawn, and some 135,000 plants, along with specially designed spaces to play, relax and exercise.

Now over 10 years into the regeneration, Porta Nuova is home to 30 business headquarters, attracting more than 65 brands of retail and restaurants and some 10 million visitors every year. It is a major economic hub, leading in the worlds of fashion, technology, and finance, with companies including Google, IBM, Alexander McQueen, Versace, Samsung and Amazon.

Reaching Porta Nuova

Super connected on all levels, Porta Nuova is served by four stations providing a host of underground and train routes, across Milan and further afield. They offer high-speed services to cities including Paris, Rome and Turin. Two international airports are within quick and easy reach - Linate around a 20-minute drive and Malpensa 45 minutes by car, with services to over 200 destinations combined.

About COIMA

Founded in Italy in 1974, developer and manager of Porta Nuova, COIMA has built an international reputation for its commitment to sustainable urban development, with a focus on creating spaces for people to live, and positive environments for wellness, socialization, and community engagement. It is a leading platform in the investment, development, and management of real estate assets on behalf of international and domestic institutional investors.

residenzeportanuova.com/en

Whether you want to upgrade your workspace or create flexible, multipurpose rooms in your home, emphasis on our living and working space as sanctuaries is here to stay.

With years of projects and experience under their belts, we asked industry experts from the Foundxrs Club what they anticipate will make a splash in 2023.

Ozge Lancaster, Director/CEO, OS Designs

Will homes be multifunctional? Absolutely. Corona made a huge difference. People are still choosing to work and spend a lot more time out of their homes. Homes are now head offices, schools, and are largely a reflection of our personalities. Coming home should be a soft landing, not turbulent, so a multifunctional home reflects what we require in order to feel happy, calm, safe and quite literally at home.

Areas people will spend the most money on will…depend on the lifestyle and floorplan of the property! Some may say kitchen, some the living room, and it could even be an entrance hallway. From appliances to durable cabinets and good functionality, it is easy to spend more and is difficult to cut costs. It is one of the areas that will incur the most damage so require good quality and durable materials and appliances that will last a long time.

Colours of the year…although pastel colours are on the rise, it really depends on the area of the project. Light has an important play, so the colour will vary if it is a basement project, a big house with a conservatory, or a penthouse with a lot of windows.

What do people no longer want? More and more people are taking away their cinema rooms. Particularly after Covid, people want multifunctional spaces – a place to work, a place for the kids to play, or a place to read a book.

The biggest waste of money is…feature walls and accent colours. They are old-fashioned, horrible, and out of date. It is important to be harmonious throughout a house, a colour story that exudes the personality of the client. A feature wall or a few random stand-out colours cut through and interrupt the language throughout the property.

Osdesigns.co.uk

Louise Rea, Creative Director, Matthews Rea International Interior Design

Trends for 2023 will… continue with the wellness at home theme, translated through natural materials – wood, cotton, wool, clay. Interiors are all about a creating a calm, organic environment. Having said that, we are told we will see a trend for a bit of a 70’s revival, with a mix of colours, prints, and shapes!

Will homes continue to embrace multifunctionality…Absolutely, many people are still working from home, and their spaces need to be flexible. However, we are not being asked for fully open-plan anymore, rather the opportunity to shut areas off for privacy and zoning.

Areas people will spend the most will be…the kitchen remains the big spend, so the pantry and additional storage are a must have. Games rooms, bars, or a space for the family to play and relax is also very important. Rather than a cinema room, clients want a cosy fun space where a family can watch TV, play games, be together. As self-care remains a strong theme, spa areas and treatment rooms give clients the opportunity to switch off and truly relax.

Colours that will dominate… a natural palette is key. We have moved away from taupes and greys, and are using more earthy tones – creams and ivory as a base, with nature brought in…rust, green, teal, olive, soft pinks.

People are now looking for…an overall more relaxed look. The formal dining room rarely gets used! We are moving away from generic schemes…people want to show their personality as they are continually spending more time in their homes.

The biggest waste of money is? For a new-build or large refurbishment, not appointing the right team, and not getting a QS involved. It saves so much money in the long run. Getting an interior designer on board at an early stage is imperative, avoiding costly issues throughout the length of a project and ensuring a great result.

Matthewsrea.com

Natasha Gupta, Founder, Blue Feather Designs

Trends for 2023 are…no trend is the trend! Recent events have helped people embrace their quirks and individuality more than ever, so trends will become more and more eclectic.

How do commercial spaces embrace a sense of multifunctionality? People have new ways of working and socialising and crave excitement, adventure, but also convenience. Multiple purpose space will have more longevity as it will appeal to more people at different parts of the circadian rhythm. For example, coffee shops being co-working spaces, then switching into a bar in the evening! The change has already started, and in order for business to remain successful it will be important to think outside the box in terms of what they can offer the ever more discerning clientele.

Colours or influences that will dominate? Sustainability is still on the rise, so biophilic design will continue to dominate spaces, both in interiors and in urban design. Expect lots of greens teamed with soothing shades of pastel or invigorating pops of neon.

People will no longer want…to come into an office that feels mechanical so will seek more interesting working environments. As the landscape changes, corporates will change too!

The best investment is…a professional team of designers for branding, web, and interiors! It is something you don’t always understand you need till you get it, then you wonder how you survived without!

Your favourite project so far? All of them! Every project has been a fantastic experience where I have been lucky to have worked with clients that appreciate the process and have trusted my vision. So many of them have become friends and I am truly grateful to be doing a job that doesn’t feel like a job!

Bluefeatherdesigns.co.uk

Shona Patel, Founder, SP3 London

What’s do you foresee will be the trends for 2023? We see the industry focusing more on the ethical and sustainable design. Whether it’s the use of materials or integration of the latest technologies, can help reducing the carbon footprint and improve the quality of life.

Do you think homes will continue to embrace a sense of multifunctionality? Definitely. Since the pandemic, many people have been spending a lot more time at home, especially working from home has become a new way of working life that many of us have adopted and are continuing even after. We started to pay more attention on how the space will be used and if it can be used in a different way, or in addition of.

Which areas of the home would you envisage people will spend the most? Due to spending more time at home, having an outdoor space or combining the indoor and outdoor living has been popular.

What colours or influences will dominate? I appreciate the complex mix of patterns and colours. At the same time, I like the challenge of creating a neutral scheme with different textures.

What do you think people will no longer want? I would say a bidet, or a built-in coffee machine.

The biggest waste of money is…artwork that doesn’t hold its value.

Your favourite project so far is…Barca, a full turnkey solution of a beautiful 3-bedroom apartment in Knightsbridge. Loved the client, the design, the FF&E and the artwork!

Sp3london.com

When a road accident changed Sheena Pirbhai’s life forever, she used her experience of trauma to drive better brain health and mental health treatment into the future

Sheena Pirbhai had the world in the palm of her hand. She had just graduated from the University of Cambridge and was looking forward to starting a new job in the banking sector when it was all cut short abruptly.

The young graduate was cycling in her university city when a lorry ploughed into her. “I remember it all so clearly. I thought I was going to die.” Sheena remained conscious throughout the near-death experience, suffering intense pain and trauma which was to stay with her for many years.

There was an initial three months in hospital, followed by many more gruelling months of surgery. “Doctors had to remove the tissue and skin on the right side of my body where the lorry wheel had stopped on me.

“I couldn’t walk for months. I had knee surgery twice, and after each surgery I had to re-learn everything. There were times I just lost hope of ever walking again.”

A year after the incident, Sheena took up the job offer in banking which had been deferred while she recovered from the accident.  But her underlying Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), coupled with a very stressful job, became hard to manage. “I couldn’t cope. I went to see the bosses and they said I should take a holiday. That holiday turned into extended medical leave, and I just never returned.”

Sheena started investing in treatment for PTSD, and was particularly drawn to EMDR therapy, Neurofeedback and psychiatry. She credits her doctor, Dr Michael Bott, for changing her life. “He taught me how to see life in the way I see it now – how to rationalise and process everything that I’ve been through. And he did it in a way that was completely in tune with who I am.”

As part of her recovery journey, Sheena spent time in India where she built a hugely successful company structuring finance for Indian film and television. “It gave me that last piece of the puzzle of complete independence, self-sufficiency, and responsibility for myself, for my decisions.”

She returned to London ten years later, ready to look at how she could use her trauma to help others, focussing on mental health from the perspective of the digital landscape.

“From my experience, a lot of solutions focused on cognitive function which involves logic and reasoning. But I knew from my own recovery, one of the key aspects was the treatment for the ‘emotional’ part of the brain which is not governed by logic and reasoning. When your nervous system is impacted by stress or anxiety, it impacts your ability to control that part of your brain for it to behave in a regulated manner.”

Sheena had been treated with EMDR and neurofeedback to deal with the emotional regulation part of her brain, but neurofeedback – though a very powerful treatment – was not widely available in the UK.

“I was lucky that I was able to receive treatment from some of the leading mental health professionals in the world…doctors and therapists at the top of their field.  But I strongly believe that any form of treatment, even in its basic form, should not be limited to those who can afford it.  Mental health is still a taboo subject, and even though we are getting better at talking about it in public forums, there are still so many people who are suffering in silence, unable to access treatment or afford the right treatment, particularly when it comes to PTSD.”

Reconnected with Dr. Bott, they came up with the idea that Neurofeedback could be incredibly effective if digitised and offered to anyone through their smartphone. Sheena reached out for a CTO, Dan Stevens, and they spent a year building a prototype for an app, and in 2019 tested it with a group of Dr. Bott’s patients, yielding incredible results. Stress Point Health had finally developed the technology to deliver digitised Neurofeedback.

Through their beta testing phase, Stress Point offered the app free to 450 users throughout the pandemic and saw meaningful improvement. “People were getting reduction in anxiety, reducing symptoms of stress, PTSD, which really gave us the confidence to take it forward.”

The full version of the app, SPHERE, was launched in 2021. Stress Point Health is currently working with clinicians, charities, corporates and organisations who want to improve mental health on a bigger scale.  Sheena also works with individuals who want 121 guided sessions to work on their mental health or improve high level performance.

“We’re talking about giving people the best chance of success for long term. We have to start bringing together digital solutions in the same way that people would if they were given a treatment plan by their doctor like I was. We need to use digital therapies to make genuine meaningful improvement in the mental health pandemic that we are facing. And how brilliant that we can do that cost effectively, at home, with no waiting lists.

“For 20 years or so, I really struggled with the ‘why’. But I genuinely feel Stress Point Health was what I was destined to do. This is my life’s work. I had to go through that to be this person in the world. It started with the view that if I help one person it’s still worth it. but as that grew, and we were helping more and more people, it all suddenly made sense.

“The priority mission for us is for everyone achieve good mental health, but also for people to understand that there is a whole eco system that you need to work within to achieve long term brain health.”

stresspointhealth.com

Interview by Nima Suchak

Photographs by Rory B. Gullan

Club member and founder of Dance to Inspire, Angelique Parvez danced her way out of the pain and fear of cancer, to empower other women.

The mother, university lecturer, trained dancer and fitness instructor launched her business formerly known as D-Style Dance, in 2012, a Bollywood dance and fitness company in East London. At the end of 2019, just weeks before the country was placed in full lockdown Angelique was diagnosed with breast cancer. The battle spurred her to re-evaluate her life and use the experience to help other women.

Before being diagnosed with cancer, Angelique was overworked and stretched. The former management consultant was juggling freelance work, lecturing, raising children, all while running her business and dealing with difficult relationships and inevitably, the pressure took its toll.

“We accept stress as part of life, but we really shouldn’t,” says Angelique. “As women, we tend to run ourselves to the ground and often put ourselves last. We do not make time to relax, meditate, pray, and to keep fit and do something we enjoy. It is critical we do these things as part of our daily routine.

“I was mentally, physically, and emotionally stressed and when your mental health is not at its best, it becomes a brewing storm which leads to disease. We’re so used to running on a hamster wheel, being ‘busy’ that it affects our hormones, makes us more stressed, and eventually we’re hit with something else.”

Feeling anxious, and generally unwell, Angelique knew something was wrong. She noticed pain in her chest and eventually discovered a lump. She sought medical help and wasn’t prepared to hear the news that she had early-stage breast cancer. Angelique was shocked and in full blown anxiety for a few days, till she eventually pulled on her internal strength and started to coach herself.

“I started talking to myself and trying to justify the situation,” she says. “I reminded myself that we are all going to have to die one day, and I’ve been fortunate to be given a new lease of life. I told myself to calm down because it could be so much worse.”

Angelique turned her attention to helping herself. She looked into meditation and visualisation, and turned to her faith, petitioning God to help her through the trauma. “The more I delved, the more I learnt and realised how much I hadn’t done for myself.  I had neglected to look after my mental health and had just continued to allow things that were not right for me.”

Angelique had to undergo a commanding tirade of scans, operations, radiotherapy, and hormone treatments, suffering terrible side effects at each stage. Yet, without revealing her cancer to the world, she continued teaching dance and fitness.

“Having the business was a big distraction. I hadn’t told my customers about my health issues, so was in full work mode managing the best I could with my situation.”

Just weeks later, Coronavirus gripped the world, and the country went into lockdown. Being confined to home served to assist Angelique’s recovery journey. “I could finally relax. I had my family around, I didn’t need to do school runs, and there were no physical classes.” Angelique decided to set up her dance studio at home and started to deliver her classes virtually. This is when she realised how vital it was for women to find support in each other.

“Lockdown had hit, and my clients were starting to panic—it was a scary, unpredictable time. People were struggling. I knew they were scared, but I had just been there. I realised I could make things better for them by keeping classes going and providing regularity. Dance and fitness could provide physical and mental wellbeing for women. And on top of that, it was a portal for us to talk, discuss what was going on, and just be together, albeit virtually. Yes, I helped them cope with what they were dealing with, but actually, it was them who were helping me cope. I had found a purpose which helped me focus on something outside my pain.”

The doctors were amazed at how quickly Angelique was healing due to her healthy and active lifestyle, which encouraged Angelique to eventually go public and share her cancer journey on a Facebook post. “I couldn’t be inauthentic. I am a fitness instructor, and my aim is to help others to be healthier. I was going through a huge health scare, so how could I keep that under wraps?

“It’s so important to talk. I didn’t know any women of my age who had been through the cancer journey because people – especially Asian women – tend to keep things quiet. That creates a massive problem for someone like me who didn’t know who to turn to. I wanted to get rid of the taboo of this illness, and even if I could help just one person, I would be happy.”

Angelique decided to reincarnate her dance business into the newly launched Dance to Inspire – a healthy living program aimed to help women live a happier, healthier life through dance, nutrition coaching, and good mental health practices. Dance, she believes, is the best form of exercise for mind and body health, and the proof lies in her team of coaches… Angelique’s own students help other women with their body and mind transformation. The programme teaches mental health techniques, nutrition, eating healthy, exercise, hydration to help women look and feel better, calmer, and happier. The classes are delivered virtually on Zoom, with meetings on the phone so anyone can join in globally.

“My experience has taught me that as women, we need to look after ourselves and put ourselves first, not last. When you are well only you can support your family and others. If you do, you’re stronger, happier, and 100% more productive.”

Dancetoinspire.co.uk

Photographs by Rory B Gullan