Summer in Tokyo...

Hi all, just got back from Tokyo and Kyoto a few days ago and still trying to recover from the holiday. It was really hot and humid in Japan especially Kyoto. As usual the trip was too short and not enough time to cover all the places we wish to see, do the things we wish to do and eat the food we wish to eat. :) 

Already planning my next trip back...

We managed to catch Nara Yoshitomo's latest exhibition at the Yokohoma Musuem and found our way to D+Department which was a nice way to end our trip. 

time out guide...

levitating? around tokyo midtown :)

happiest boy in the world...

entrance to Mei-ji shrine

wishes...

Inari Shrine, Kyoto

more wishes...

Gion, Kyoto for Geisha sighting

one of the few pics of u together...

all images by everybodylovesdesign

Amazing...

Amazing places on earth... Making it's way to my list of places to go...

bora bora

Capilano Suspension Bridge, Vancouver, British Columbia

lucca, tuscany, italy

Skaftafeli - Iceland

Blue Caves - Zakynthos Island, Greece

Marble Caves, Chile Chico, Chile

New York City



Petra , Jordan (night time)



Happy Weekend!!!

Hotel Daniel Vienna...

Aaahhh... Such a nice looking hotel...Makes me wanna book a flight to Vienna straight away.

Love everything about it. Not just the fact that it is located in a beautiful city but it has design streaming out from everywhere. The rooms, the bakery (open to everyone), the architecture and of course the affordable price, no wonder they brand it Urban Stay, Smart Luxury... Oh when will i get to be there?

all images via gessato

check out more pictures here





Taipei to do's...

Chance upon this wonderful blog Shu Flies by Catherine Hsu, a Taiwanese American. Whom has lived in the US for most part of her life, but has taken a chance at a new adventure in 2007 to rekindle herself with her native country and also to be with the love of her life.

Here she blogs really about everything and anything Taipei from an expats point of view to a certain extent. Mostly touching base with things close to her heart which is culture,arts, design and food. When she's not blogging away she's a journalist at Taipei Times.

So, needless to say, i'm pretty hooked on her blog. already found a few places that we will be going fo our up coming trip to Taipei, based on Shu's recommendation. Woohoo...

One of them is cafe T Loafer's. Cant' wait to see it in real life, the quirky architecture and the ecletic interior.

all images via shu flies

Another on our list is Mooi Trouve, located on lane near Shida Night Market.
Hope it will not be too difficult to find. It's a revival of a family home from the Japanese Colonial era.
Apparently the wood used in the ceiling is Japanese Cypress and it's one of the main feature of the building.
so be sure to look up. The shop also carries mechandise from Europe brougth back from the owner on his travels.

all images via shu flies

watch out for more on places to visit in the next few weeks...

Happy Friday...

It's Friday too soon,

Finally decided on the dates for out next trip... we are going to Hong Kong and Taipei.

Now all we need to do is book the hotels and plan our itinerary.

So much to see, am really excited as this will be our first trip in quite awhile. Also the HK Architectural Biennale is also happening. Will be sure to make our way there. Hoping to also catch some Star Architects, like the recent Pritzker price recipent, perhaps?

Wish we could stay at the Upper House... :)

images via

Casa Kimball...

Just the place we need for the weekend, Casa Kimball in Dominican Republic.
Own by Google sofware engineer, Spencer Kimball and design by New York architect Rangr.

A 20,000sqft villa with eight suites is up for rental if you have the moolahs!!!
Its going for USD18,000/week  and USD3,000/daily, during the low season (Sept-Nov).
For enquiry contact Casa Kimball.

all images : the coolhunter

Packing your bags yet?

everybodylovesdesign

Exclusively yours...

Imagine having a whole villa to yourself on your next vacation? Sounds amazing.
Tthrough desire to inspire, I discovered this great site call World Beyond.
Incorporated in 2009 by two Berlin-based brothers. Both having design background and a penchant for architecture, they carefully hand-picked and select vacation properties from around the globe.

Not only is World Beyond bringing us exclusivity and luxury, they are also channeling their profit towards social enterprise. Where they will be donating towards worthy projects - particularly efforts to provide shelter for communities in need.

First stop... Alemansy 5 in Girona, 1 hour from Barcelona, Spain. An exclusive 16th century home, own by Juan Manuel and his wife. This amazing vacation home, is situated strategically 1 and half hours from the mountains for skiing while it is only 40 minutes from the beach for a little sun and swim.

They took 3 years to construct the house and a lot of thoughts were put into the design and layout as his wife, an architect was adamant about keeping the old and mixing in the new with sensitivity towards the existing space and structure.

In the owners own words :
“My wife likes modern architecture. When she approached the old house, she did it in a modern way but also wanted a dialogue with the old. Like an evolution without breaking with the past. She worked a lot with natural light and the quality of the materials — stone, wood, iron and concrete. She is also very concerned about ‘healthy’ architecture, taking into consideration approaches like Feng Shui and the influences of water and energy currents. What is amazing, is that the main walls of the house, which is 500 years old, are perfectly places to avoid the bad energy currents in the living spaces. So you sleep very well and it gives you a lot of energy. We are very happy with the results. It’s beautiful and healthy.”

images : desire to inspire

Find out more about booking and reservation from Juan Manuel through World Beyond


Working towards this for my next vacation :)

E