Tham & Videgard Hansson Arkitekts: Apartment at Humlegården, Stockholm

Love it or hate it, the recently unveiled Humlegården apartment unarguably has style.  Luckily the experimental design, from architects Tham & Videgard Hansson, also leaves plenty of room for charm and comfort.  The Humlegården, a lush sprawling park, is located directly across the street defining the concept – to reflect the changing seasons throughout the rooms of the apartment.

The private family dwelling has undergone several extensive renovations before its current reincarnation.  Originally built in the Art Nouveau period, the apartment had a series of owners, even becoming a small hotel at one point, which left it stripped of charm and craft.  Almost none of the original features, beyond the exterior lead windows have been preserved, leaving the architectural duo a clean slate to work with. Read the rest of this entry »

Reading Rebuilds

The New Yorker Hotel in Cologne will host a charity reading later this month in aid of the people of Haiti.

Ingeborg Semmelroth will read “Die Meistererzählungen” von Stefan Zweig.

Entrance is free, but donations will be accepted throughout the evening, with all proceeds going to their partner UNICEF.

Register your attendance by the 19th February 2010, the event takes place on the 24th February.

For more information contact the hotel directly on +49 (0)221 47 330, or check out their website.

Galerie Christian Ehrentraut. Shannon Finley “Spectars into Signals”

There’s no question that Berlin is known for its wild nightlife, evolving art scene and innumerable possibilities for creative endeavours.  In a city that is reputed to have over 450 galleries, even for insiders planning a Saturday afternoon of gallery visits becomes a tangle of who, what and where.  There are the classic galleries, those institutions that are almost sure to have thought provoking exhibitions by solidly established artists and the young galleries with all night openings packed with scenesters; but what about the galleries that stand in between?  Those that are mature enough to have a proper space and yet still young enough to present fresh faces to the Berlin scene?

Mitte-based Galerie Christian Ehrentraut is one of these spaces.  What sets the gallery apart is Ehrentraut’s belief in taking the artist-curator relationship slow.  The artists he represents have been carefully selected, a process that has sometimes taken years.  One of Ehrentraut’s defining philosophies is his devotion to his artists and their work.  He views art as far more than an investment, it’s something to fall in love with, and all the better when he can be the catalyst. Read the rest of this entry »

Venice – Carnevale and the Dorsoduro Sestieri

What better way to celebrate Ca’Pisani joining White Line Hotels than a ten-day citywide celebration?  Well, while we can’t claim Venice’s resurrection of the 18th-century bacchanalia as our own, we can say that Carnevale just one more way to celebrate this mysterious and magical city.

Carnevale is by far Venice’s biggest event with activities ranging from hot chocolate in costume to the 1200 Euro a plate, Ballo del Doge.  The theme of the 2010 Ballo del Doge, a ball renowned its sumptuousness and exclusivity, is Seven Dreams Seven Sins.  As always, costumes are hand crafted by Antonia Sautter in her Atelier Venetia.  If ever there was one, this is the night where anything can happen.

If it’s all a little too “Eyes Wide Shut” for you, there are plenty of other ways to enjoy the city.  The talk of the town at the last Venice Biennale was the newly opened Punta della Dogana, which presents a selection of François Pinault impressive contemporary art collection.  Just a few minutes away, after wandering through Venice’s small but impressive gallery district is Campo Santa Margarita.  This small piazza is Venice’s liveliest nightspot and is known for Ai Sportivi, a pizzeria even Venetians flock to.  Ai Sportivi serves up true Italian pizza at reasonable prices and does away with the coperto (cover charge), remarkable in a city where just sitting down is likely to cost you. Dorsoduro is an often-overlooked neighbourhood, yet it offers all of the postcard charm of Venice without the hassle of the crowded streets of the Rialto and San Marco areas.

Venice deserves its reputation as one of the world’s most charming cities – from Carnevale to the Biennales, the Rialto Bridge to Cafe Florian, there’s always something to discover just around the corner.

Carnevale takes place through February 16th.

Contributing writer: Alicia Reuter

Ca´Pisani Hotel, Venice joins White Line Hotels

We are delighted to share with you the latest indie hotel to join our collection – The Ca’Pisani Hotel in Venice.

With the Peggy Guggenheim, Punta della Dogana & Accademia Art Gallery as neighbours, the hotel is a firm favourite in the artistic quarters’ of Dorsoduro. There are many reasons for liking this hotel – one being that it is locally owned by a family with cultural interests and the other being the fab location – thankfully just off the main “must do I’m a tourist” radar – a more subdued, quietly sophisticated place, from which to meander or just jump on the next vaporetto and loose yourself.

Interiors capture the mood of the 30’s & 40’s, it’s a clever use of elements from the Italian Futurist movement and the velocity of the Art Deco that flavour the hotel. An exceptional eye for detailing, such as the marquetry and accuracy mixed with mod cons create a rather glamorous den.  Worth a mention is the wine & cheese bar -La Rivista,  crammed full of delicious Italian specialities.

A bold rest bite from the flamboyant “classical overload”, abundant in this floating city.

Start planning your next trip to Venice by checking out the Ca’Pisani Hotel here.

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