Esther Perbandt has to be one of the most dynamic fashionistas of the modern day. Dressed in all black like the omen, she breathes fire into anyone in her line of sight. In fact, It’s one of the reasons why we all fell in love with her on Making The Cut. Recently, we literally bumped into her during a recent trip to Berlin. She’s an impressionable soul who breathes new life into someone who has been depleted by the daily grind or trauma. She moves like water, taking on the shape of whatever space she fills. “I would never have applied to the show because it’s really commercial,” Esther says of how she got on Making The Cut, “I was known in Berlin for being the arty Esther doing big fashion shows and theater. The word commercial was a no-go for me.” “When I read it (the invitation), I was like no way, not me,” luckily she didn’t answer right away, “but then I said: ‘Esther If you think twice, this is exactly what you need. Finally, the international attention.’ I was working my ass off at the time but it wasn’t really working.” The Queen of Black may not have won her Amazon Prime contest for a million dollars, but she’s certainly gained a million fans across the globe. Her supportive nature, loyalty, and tenacity have led to numerous collaborations, including the first-ever jewelry capsule with Adidas.
She admits that she isn’t as sustainable as she had hoped to be as a designer, but at least she is aware of her shortcomings. She does, however, state that she will drive two hours for locally sourced materials such as zippers made in Germany. “I have the goal to become sustainable or maybe 100% sustainable in ten years,” Esther states, “the vision of my brand in ten years is very digital, so I’m playing a lot with digital fashion…and also using it as a tool to become more sustainable.”
You’d have to be a fool to believe that this unpolished, meticulously engineered black diamond won’t have her moment to shine. Someone who has struggled on her path to success will eventually prosper. “People love to invite me to speak because I’m very honest,” Esther admits, “I talk about how bad it was sometimes that I was sleeping on the floor because I had to rent my apartment to get some money in, or how I had to take out large bank loans that I was almost unable to repay. But this is the life of a designer, and it was a decision. And it was also a decision not to have a family because I knew this job would be 24/7, and I wanted it and still want it.” Her passion for fashion, and meticulous attention to detail, combined with her monochromatic ensembles accented with gold accessories, will keep her on top. It is the reason why we celebrate her. Why we adore her. And how she takes on tasks at the drop of a hat – two collections per year, countless magazine covers, and speaking engagements in addition to Vogue editorials. Esther also held a solo exhibition of her artworks last year. “All of them were inspired by my collection. I used the same techniques and the same materials, but just created some 3D sculptures which you can put on the wall,” She explains. “I can’t focus solely on fashion for 365 days a year; I need some distractions,” Esther confesses. “So this art is part of it, and I’m hoping that this distraction will get me back into fashion, which is exactly what happened.” With so much talent at her disposal, she will stand the test of time, strangling fast fashion with her bare hands, just like her Avant trademarks. Her heart and keen ability to visually tell a story is what will propel her career forward.
MUSE, ROLLS-ROYCE ARTS PROGRAMME UNVEILS WINNING ARTWORKS INSPIRED BY THE SPIRIT OF ECSTASY
· Muse, the Rolls-Royce Arts Programme, unveils artworks created by winners of the inaugural Spirit of Ecstasy Challenge – a biennial initiative celebrating the symbol of Rolls‑Royce
· Three winners, selected by an expert jury, have created textile artworks inspired by Rolls-Royce and the Spirit of Ecstasy figurine
· Works by Bi Rongrong, Ghizlane Sahli and Scarlett Yang are on show in an exhibition at Cromwell Place, London from 5 – 8 October 2022, before proceeding on a global tour
“The Spirit of Ecstasy continues to be our muse for the ongoing pursuit of excellence. She embodies what we as the House of Rolls-Royce stand for: strive for perfection, attention to detail and timeless beauty. It is fascinating to see our icon being transformed into these three very unique expressions, pushing technical and conceptual boundaries. I would like to thank Bi Rongrong, Ghizlane Sahli and Scarlett Yang for their extraordinary masterpieces celebrating a different dimension of our iconic figurine, manifesting the exciting future of textile design.”
Anders Warming, Director of Design, Rolls-Royce Motor Cars
Muse,the Rolls-Royce Arts Programme celebrates the global debut of the artworks created by the winners of the Spirit of Ecstasy Challenge. These three unique pieces are being exhibited at Cromwell Place, London, from 5 – 8 October 2022, before embarking on an international tour.
The Spirit of Ecstasy Challenge is a new biennial initiative that invites emerging artists from a range of disciplines to create artworks inspired the Rolls-Royce icon – the beautiful figurine that has adorned the bonnet of every motor car created by the marque since 1911. Each edition of the Spirit of Ecstasy Challenge will focus on a different medium, challenging participants to push technical and conceptual boundaries. The inaugural 2022 edition explores the potential of textiles, inviting artists to create textile-based artwork.
The winners – Bi Rongrong, Ghizlane Sahli and Scarlett Yang – developed three unique interpretations of the Rolls-Royce symbol. As part of the creative process, the artists met Rolls-Royce’s master craftspeople to exchange experiences before bringing their ideas and innovative creations to life.
Stitched Urban Skin (2022) is inspired by the multi-layered landscape of cities and their mesmerising reflections on the glossy surface of the Spirit of Ecstasy. Old and new are woven together: the artwork consists of three suspended layers of two-dimensional sheets made from specially treated metal, an animated LED light sheet and a Perspex sheet incorporating a material created using a traditional Chinese crochet technique. The use of metal in the work is inspired by the Rolls-Royce car surface and pays homage to the exceptional craftsmanship at The Home of Rolls-Royce. The piece draws on Bi’s encyclopaedic archive of urban imagery, utilising both ancient craftsmanship and innovative technologies, interlacing different locations and histories.
“This piece wasn’t inspired by a singular thing, it’s a blend of patterns connected to cities and nature – the way they grow is very similar. People see only what’s on the surface – the architecture and the trees – but underneath are hidden interwinding roots”, said Bi. She continued: “The Rolls-Royce team gave me full artistic freedom, encouraging me to try new things and be truly brave. I experimented and changed the whole piece many times, which eventually made it even more captivating. This experience has presented me with new possibilities and opened up a different perspective which I will bring into my future work”.
Bi Rongrong “Stitched Urban Skin” via 360 MAGAZINE
Resembling two triumphant wings about to take flight, Sahli’s artwork Nissa’s Rina(Woman’s Song) (2022) is a joyous celebration of femininity and freedom. The artwork explores the beauty of metamorphose and is composed almost entirely of salvaged materials: plastic bottles, plastic tubes, caps, covered with white silk and gold thread purchased from the artisans in Marrakech’s Medina and copper embellished with gold leaf. For Nissa’s Rina(Woman’s Song), Sahli adopts her signature technique of wrapping cut bottles in thread, the “Alveoli”, and building up each element into wing-like structures evocative of the Spirit of Ecstasy.
“The Spirit of Ecstasy – that elegant, free woman who crowns the most prestigious car in the world. A symbol of power, she opens her wings to take flight, and rules the world. What a synchronicity for me! She embodies everything that I would like to express in my life today”, – said Sahli. “Nissa’s Rina, Woman’s song, aims to express the elegance, the femininity, and the freedom of the Spirit of Ecstasy”.
Scarlett Yang’s Transient Materiality (2022)is ahybrid work that consists of a physical and digital piece. The 1-metre-high sculpture is made of intertwining ribbons of synthetic biopolymer produced with liquid particles collected from the ocean and bound with algae photosynthetic organisms. The sculpture’s form, surface and colour all reflect the natural world: its unique texture was inspired the subtle intricacy of animal skin patterns and the structural resilience of translucent dragonfly wings. Made by pouring the liquid bio-polymer into a 3D-fabricated mould, while the ribbons’ green and purple hues were created through experiments with spirulina and other natural components.
Suspended in the air, the piece mesmerizes with its shimmering, iridescent qualities – an ethereal expression of elegance, reminiscent of the flying gown of the Spirit of Ecstasy. The accompanying digital element is a video documentation of the creative process as well as digital renderings of the sculpture, set to a futuristic soundscape.
“My work consists in exploring the physical properties that nature gracefully offers and enhancing them through a conscious and circular use of technology. The piece ‘Transient Materiality” is ultimately meant to embellish the human body whilst serving a truly positive approach for the future of design”, – commented Scarlett Yang.
Scarlett Yang “Transient Materiality” via 360 MAGAZINE
The artists, invited to create their proposals for the Spirit of Ecstasy Challenge, were nominated by an international expert committee. Their submissions were reviewed by a renowned jury consisting of Anders Warming, Director of Design, Rolls-Royce Motor Cars; Yoon Ahn, Creative Director of AMBUSH and Director of Jewellery at Dior Men; Tim Marlow, Chief Executive and Director at the Design Museum, London; and Sumayya Vally, Founder and Principal at Counterspace Studio, Johannesburg. In April 2022 Muse announced the three winners who were chosen to bring their concept to life with the Rolls-Royce support.
The Spirit of Ecstasy Challenge is the second commissioning initiative of Muse. While the Dream Commission supports artists working with moving-image art, the Spirit of Ecstasy Challenge celebrating the endless creativity within the world of materials and craftsmanship. Every two years, the Challenge will be repeated, each time exploring the limitless possibilities of a different medium key to Rolls-Royce craftsmanship, with the Spirit of Ecstasy serving as a point of inspiration.
Anders Warming, Director of Design, Rolls-Royce Motor Cars
About Muse, the Rolls-Royce Arts Programme
Muse is the Rolls-Royce Arts Programme, designed to foster and inspire creativity through collaboration with artists who share the marque’s passion for pushing technical and conceptual boundaries. Consisting of two ongoing biennial initiatives, Muse partners with some of the most respected and prestigious institutions in the world, such as Foundation Beyeler, Basel and Serpentine, London. Muse will provide selected artists with time and resource to produce art conceived, and to be experienced, without compromise.
Muse marks a new direction for the Rolls-Royce Arts Programme, which has, since its inception in 2014, invited Rolls-Royce patrons into the world of contemporary art. To date, leading artists Sondra Perry, Refik Anadol, Tomas Saráceno, Asad Raza, Dan Holdsworth, Isaac Julien, Yang Fudong, and Ugo Rondinone have collaborated with the Arts Programme.
About Rolls-Royce Motor Cars
Rolls-Royce Motor Cars is a wholly-owned subsidiary of the BMW Group and is a completely separate company from Rolls-Royce plc, the manufacturer of aircraft engines and propulsion systems. Over 2000 skilled men and women are employed at the Rolls-Royce Motor Cars’ head office and manufacturing plant at Goodwood, West Sussex, the only place in the world where the company’s super-luxury motor cars are hand-built.
Barnes’ winning installation, Rock | Roll, is designed to celebrate the communitieswho shape Miami’s vibrant, one-of-a-kind culture
Today the Miami Design District is pleased to announce that Germane Barneshas been awarded the 2022 Miami Design District Annual Neighborhood Commission. Following a competitive, invitation-only proposal process directed by curators Anava Projects, Miami Design District has selected the Miami-based architect’s concept, Rock | Roll, to be realized across the neighborhood’s public spaces, debuting in November for Miami Art Week and extending into the new year.
The curatorial brief for the year, Something to Talk About, called for neighborhood-wide site-specific design interventions that spotlight Miami-centric stories while also enlivening visitors’ experience of the Miami Design District during its busiest season. In response, Barnes conceived Rock | Roll as a multifaceted, multi-scale installation that draws on the vibrant visual language of Miami Carnival to honor the BIPOC communities that have substantially contributed to Miami’s one-of-a-kind, polyethnic culture, from the city’s earliest foundations to today.
For the neighborhood’s central pedestrian corridors, Barnes designed a series of whimsical, larger-than-life seating capsules that rock back-and-forth when activated by users and feature colorful, shaggy surfaces reminiscent of Carnival’s hallmark feathered costumes. With a nod to steel drums and the infectious joy of Soca music, Barnes has also designed brightly hued wind chimes, hundreds of which will be hung like melody-making ornaments in the lush native trees and palms planted throughout the neighborhood.
Fabricated by ALT BLD, Rock | Roll includes an architectural-scale, free-floating dome that recalls a giant disco ball in both form and function. Suspended far overhead and animated by light and sound, the shiny, faceted structure will serve as a programmatic marker to an outdoor gathering space dedicated to sharing and enjoying community-driven storytelling. For the duration of the Rock | Roll installation, the space will host Carnival-inspired playlists as well as a talks series developed in collaboration with University of Miami’s Center for Global Black Studies and the Institute of Contemporary Art, Miami. Program to be announced.
Barnes notes: “I saw this project as an opportunity to celebrate the unique character of the city that has become my adopted home and the subject of much of my most prominent research. Rock | Roll is an ode to the joyful spirit that persists in Miami’s Black communities—a spirit of self-care that is so perfectly embodied in Miami Carnival culture. This city would not be what it is today without significant contributions from people who, on the one hand, look like me, and on the other reflect deep ties to places beyond Miami, especially the Caribbean and Latin America. The moral to the story is that there is space for everyone here.”
“We are proud to welcome Germane Barnes’ Rock|Roll to the neighborhood and spotlight this tremendousMiami talent making international waves,” says Craig Robins, President and CEO of Dacra. “Each year, our Annual Neighborhood Commission invites creative visionaries to harness the power of art, design, and culture to provide original, engaging experiences for all our guests. The imaginative, local focus of this year’s site-specific installation is going to be a lot of fun.”
According to curators Anava Projects, “One of the things we admire most about Germane and his practice—and there are many—is his community-engaged approach, which exemplifies the most exciting directions in the field at this moment. His work is at once accessible and poetic, critical and uplifting. We’re thrilled to be collaborating with him.”
The first Miami-based talent to be selected for the Miami Design District Neighborhood Commission since its launch in 2015, Barnes is a Chicago-born, University of Illinois- and Woodbury University-trained architect regarded for his propositional practice dedicated to mining the ways that race and architecture entwine, implicitly and explicitly, historically and today. Barnes’ recent prestigious honors include the Rome Prize in Architecture, the Harvard Wheelwright Prize, the Architectural League Prize, and an inaugural grant from Theaster Gates and Prada’s Dorchester Industries Experimental Design Lab. In addition to running his independent eponymous studio, Barnes is an Assistant Professor and the Director of The Community Housing & Identity Lab (CHIL) at the University of Miami School of Architecture.
The Miami Design District is committed to enriching the neighborhood through cultural interventions that in turn support talented artists and creatives. Now in its eighth year, the Miami Design District’s Annual Design Commission is a family-friendly event intended to draw the community together. Past winners include: Studio Proba and Enjoy the Weather’s TomorrowLand (2021); gt2P’s Conscious Actions (2020); Fernando Laposse’s Pink Beasts (2019); Dozie Kanu’s Support System (2018); Charlap Hyman & Herrero’s White Rain (2017); Philippe Malouin’s The Speed of Light (2016); and Snarkitecture’s Holiday (2015).
The Guggenheim Museum Bilbao unveils Puppy’s new appearance after a special change of flowers for its 25th Anniversary
The Guggenheim Museum Bilbao has unveiled Puppy’s new image after completing the change in flowers this springtime, a process that is sponsored by Seguros Bilbao, a company that is part of the Catalana Occidente Group. The usual process of replacing the 38,000 plants that cover this floral sculpture, which takes place twice a year, has a different outcome this year thanks to the new design made by the artist Jeff Koons in conjunction with the Museum’s curators to celebrate its 25th Anniversary. This is the first time the sculpture has worn this design.
Instead of the flowers being arranged to create spots of color, this season the huge West Highland White Terrier puppy will be predominantly white, while some colored flowers will highlight its outline and texture. Given that the plants take a few weeks to blossom, Puppy’s new image will be in full bloom later in the season. Once it is, the new monochromatic design will make Puppy resemble the breed it represents even more, which served as the inspiration behind the initial concept of this important installation.
In Jeff Koons’s words, “In honor of the Guggenheim Bilbao’s 25th Anniversary, I worked closely with the talented team at the museum to unveil a new planting of flowers for Puppy in celebration of this incredible milestone. My original concept for Puppy was based on a white terrier, so our spring planting is a harmonious composition of mainly white flowers in the spirit of the original model. There are some yellow, orange, red, and blue flowers that add definition to the swirls and folds of the fur and form of Puppy but primarily the flowers are white. This monochrome arrangement conveys peace, renewal, and love. It continues to communicate acceptance and the live flowering plants are symbolic of life’s energy. I always wanted the work to be a place for the community to gather and experience transcendence. Since it was installed, Puppy has embraced millions of visitors at the entrance of the iconic Guggenheim Bilbao, so it is a sincere honor to have Puppy become a part of the anniversary celebration and greet visitors in this fresh new way.”
Regarding the flower species, this time white petunias, begonias, dimorphothecas, alyssum and impatiens predominate.
Giving Puppy new flowers is a complex, intense process that requires the prior planting of thousands of flowers specifically for this work, along with a team of 20 gardening experts who work against the clock under the oversight of the experts from the Museum’s Conservation Department.
Blending themes of morbid corporeality with the colorful, hyper-loony aesthetic descended from comics and cartoons, Nychos has developed a unique style that performs with powerhouse effect whether on the street or in the gallery.
Raised in a traditional Viennese hunting family, death and dissection were daily business for Nychos. The proximity to animal viscera had a profound effect on him psychologically and visually–he now explores the theme of dissection in his art, pushing it to playful extremes.
In Nychos’ world, Spongebob has a skeleton, people live inside rabbits and there is always something wicked underneath. Pumped up on the visual adrenaline of comics, heavy metal and graffiti, Nychos’ work reflects the immense energy and technical focus necessary to produce work on the massive scale he has reached on the streets.
Colliding style and subject matter, Nychos slices up animals and innocent childhood characters with unflinching graphic precision. His work confronts the viewer with wicked insistence, using the shock of cartoon violence as a vehicle for exploring subtler themesof mortality and temporality. Nychos pays homage to these deathless cartoon heroes by peeling them open and giving them human substance. His artwork reflects the psychology of an art scene in which creations are sometimes swept away as soon as created.
Nychos also uses subtle imagery such as plastic in an orca’s belly, weaving political commentary seamlessly into his pieces. Using delicious color-scapes and wild, fuming lines to create his characters–whether with paintbrush or spray can–Nychos works with unmatched dynamism.
His command over his tools indicates a work ethic that promises only more staggering output from thisartist. Nychos’ paintings and drawings have been exhibited in galleries worldwide, including six solo exhibitions (Turino, Detroit, New York, San Francisco, Singapore, Paris) in the past two years alone.
These pieces serve as unique compliments to his massive public works that give character to cities all over the world. The artist’s last solo show took place in Zurich and was opened in October 2015. A cooperation with Jonathan Levine is planned for 2016. Nychos currently lives and works out of Rabbit Eye Movement, his studio and art space located in Vienna.
The GOOD DESIGN® awards recognize the top new products bestowed annually by The Chicago Athenaeum in cooperation with the European Centre for Architecture, Art, Design, and Urban Studies. Founded in Chicago in 1950, GOOD DESIGN® is the oldest and most respected program awarding design excellence worldwide. This year, the museum received a record number of submissions from an international roster of top manufacturers and industrial and graphic design firms representing 50 countries.
“We are honored to receive these accolades for our work–a real measure of excellence–and we thank the distinguished judges and the design community as a whole,” said Lauren Rottet when referencing the Artis Chair, a sculptural swivel chair that exemplifies function and relaxation.
The Dichroic Table, Powerful Table Collection, Montauk Upholstered Guest, and Wood Float Chair and Sofa were also celebrated by the New York Product Design Awards. Rottet’s continued exploration of light, color, and reflection is highlighted with her Dichroic Table while her Powerful Table Collection elegantly promotes both beauty and function. The Montauk Upholstered Guest Chair embodies stability and comfort with a lively twist while the Wood Float Chair and Sofa explore the amalgam of solid walnut and clear acrylic.
About Lauren Rottet
Lauren Rottet is the Founding Principal and President ofRottet Studio, an international architecture and interior design firm, which has been recognized as one of the Top 3 Most Admired Design Firms in the World. The firm has an extensiveportfolioof corporate, hospitality, residential, and maritime projects for the world’s leading companies and brands, including Goldman Sachs, Disney, BGC3, New York Stock Exchange, Target, Four Seasons, Langham, Dorchester Collection, Marriott, Ritz-Carlton, Hyatt, Hilton, Belmond, Naftali Group, Extell Development’s Central Park Tower, Viking Ocean Cruises, and more. “I am not sure I have seen someone who is as skilled in such a wide vernacular of design styles from contemporary minimal to elegantly traditional in such an authentic manner,” said critic Paul Goldberger. Rottet’s product designs have earned many accolades, including Interior Design’s Best of Year, four gold medals for Best of NeoCon, and seven Chicago Athenaeum GOOD DESIGN Awards.
U2 Releases Achtung Baby 30th Anniversary Vinyl + Digital Box Set
“[Achtung Baby]… U2’s daring descent into darkness” – Robert Hilburn, LA Times
360 readers should check out both the vinyl release and the never-before seen tracks from the new 50-track digital box set that was released on December 3, 2021!
Island Records, Interscope, and UMe announced the 30th Anniversary Edition release of U2’s seminal album Achtung Baby, which will see a special Standard and Deluxe vinyl release on November 19, ahead of a 50-track digital boxset available December 3, 2021.
Thirty years ago, Bono described Achtung Baby as “the sound of four men chopping down The Joshua Tree” while Jon Pareles of the New York Times wrote that “stripped-down and defying its old formulas, U2 has given itself a fighting chance for the 1990’s”. The album won a Grammy Award for Best Rock Performance and became one of the most significant records of the nineties and of U2’s career.
Recorded over six months at Hansa Studio in Berlin and Windmill Lane in Dublin, Achtung Baby is U2’s seventh studio album. Produced by long-time U2 collaborators Daniel Lanois and Brian Eno with Steve Lillywhite, Achtung Baby was engineered by Flood and released on November 18, 1991. Lead by The Fly, four other singles followed: Mysterious Ways, One, Even Better Than The Real Thing, and Who’s Gonna Ride Your Wild Horses. Watch HERE.
The bonnet of the Trabant will be auctioned at Phillips, London, on December 9, as part of their New Now sale, with proceeds going to the Berlin Institute for Sound and Music.
Achtung Baby (30th Anniversary Edition) is available on Standard black vinyl and Deluxe color vinyl on November 19, with Achtung Baby (2018 Remaster) and Achtung Baby (Unter Remixes) also available digitally that day. A 50-track digital boxset – to include Uber Remixes, Unter Remixes, B-Sides with 22 tracks never-before available digitally – will be released on December 3, 2021.
U2 X-Radio, the band’s SiriusXM channel, will this month present an Achtung Baby special to include interviews with band members and album collaboration Daniel Lanois, Flood, and Anton Corbijn.
“[Achtung Baby]… U2’s daring descent into darkness” – Robert Hilburn, LA Times
Island Records, Interscope, and UMe announced the 30th Anniversary Edition release of U2’s seminal album Achtung Baby, which will see a special Standard and Deluxe vinyl release on November 19, ahead of a 50-track digital boxset available December 3, 2021.
Thirty years ago, Bono described Achtung Baby as “the sound of four men chopping down The Joshua Tree” while Jon Pareles of the New York Times wrote that “stripped-down and defying its old formulas, U2 has given itself a fighting chance for the 1990’s”. The album won a Grammy Award for Best Rock Performance and became one of the most significant records of the nineties and of U2’s career.
Recorded over six months at Hansa Studio in Berlin and Windmill Lane in Dublin, Achtung Baby is U2’s seventh studio album. Produced by long-time U2 collaborators Daniel Lanois and Brian Eno with Steve Lillywhite, Achtung Baby was engineered by Flood and released on November 18, 1991. Lead by The Fly, four other singles followed: Mysterious Ways, One, Even Better Than The Real Thing, and Who’s Gonna Ride Your Wild Horses. WatchHERE.
In celebration of Achtung Baby’s anniversary, the band have collaborated with Berlin-based French artist Thierry Noir(the first artist to paint on the Berlin Wall) for a special one-off installation at the legendary Hansa Studios in Kreuzberg. Thirty years ago, the band commissioned Noir to paint a series of now iconic Trabant cars, which featured on the album artwork, as well 1991’s Zoo TV Tour. U2 x THIERRY NOIR sees Noir return with a newly painted Trabant for 2021, as well as an exclusive mural painted on a section of the Berlin wall.
The bonnet of the Trabant will be auctioned at Phillips, London, on December 9, as part of their New Now sale, with proceeds going to the Berlin Institute for Sound and Music.
Achtung Baby (30th Anniversary Edition)is available on Standard black vinyl and Deluxe color vinyl on November 19, with Achtung Baby (2018 Remaster) and Achtung Baby (Unter Remixes) also available digitally that day. A 50-track digital boxset – to include Uber Remixes, Unter Remixes, B-Sides with 22 tracks never-before available digitally – will be released on December 3, 2021.
U2 X-Radio, the band’s SiriusXM channel, will this month present an Achtung Baby special to include interviews with band members and album collaboration Daniel Lanois, Flood, and Anton Corbijn.
The KBO Ranger is equipped with an 840Wh LG battery and a 750W motor that will give riders a range of up to 60 miles for long hauls, making it the ideal electric cargo bike.
Fitted with wider and smaller tires for a more stable ride over bumpy terrains. It’s a real adaptable car replacement that matches rider’s needs, whether they’re transporting huge loads or transporting their children to school.
FAQs:
What’s the top speed of a KBO Ranger?
KBO Ranger electric cargo bike has a top speed of 24 mph without pedaling, which is the legal speed limit for street legal e-bikes in most areas and in accordance with nationwide e-bike laws. The top speed can be up to 25+ mph with pedaling.
What’s the range of KBO Ranger per charge?
The range of the KBO Ranger is about 35 miles per charge with throttle only. The KBO Ranger cargo e-bike can go up to 60+ miles with pedaling. The maximum range of an electric bike is influenced by factors like cargo weight, incline, and pedal-assist levels. You can find the remaining battery capacity shown on the LCD display.
Does my height fit the KBO Space?
The recommended rider height is 4’11 – 6’3.
Will my KBO Space arrive assembled?
Your bike will arrive 90% assembled. With the tools provided and a comprehensive installation video, you can build your KBO electric bike within 20mins.
For more features and components info, please check here.
The pre-order is now open and early bird purchasers can receive a $60 discount by using the code RANGER60. Additionally, KBO is also giving away a KBO Rider package, which includes a KBO cap, a T-shirt, and a sports backpack.
Early Bird Discount Code expires at 12AM PST on September 30.
Nordelaia – a new masterpiece by the award-winning design studio These White Walls
A marriage between rustic and luxe deep in the heart of Piedmont
Independent boutique hotel Nordelaia, situated in the UNESCO world heritage site of Montferrat, showcases design spearheaded by These White Walls. The 12 room estate, set in an 800-year-old farmhouse, was respectfully reinvented by British design studio These White Walls – best known for the multi-award-winning interiors of HIDE restaurant in Mayfair, London.
Our design for Nordelaia is centred around wellbeing and escapism; the aim being to create a holistic and nurturing environment in which guests can relax, switch off and connect – not only with each other – but also with the stunning landscape that surrounds them”, – says Rose Murray, Founder of These White Walls. We define this design as ‘rustic-luxe’, where rest and reconnection with nature go hand-in-hand with cultivated indulgence. Designers decided to maintain most of the old building’s original rustic appearance, trying to maintain a balance between rich cultural history and modern luxury. This union between the old and the new, the rustic and the lux, is what sets this project apart and makes it feel truly special – Rose notes.
These White Walls have carefully planned the concept of the rooms, embodying the philosophy of freedom in it. Some bedrooms have two wardrobes and two workspaces, symmetrically positioned opposite each other, as a reminder that we are all independent individuals connected by a common experience. The idea of solitude and reconnection with nature continues with the absence of TVs – thus Nordelaia invites guests to enjoy the digital detox that is so necessary in the modern world.
Following the aim to save connection with the authentic look of the estate and its history, designers chose textures and materials for the rooms that are in harmony with the unique atmosphere of the place. Surrounded by ornamental green spaces that extend from the guests’ own terraces, the ground floor Garden rooms feature textured materials, including rustic woods, natural stone burnished metals, and wrought iron. These sit in contrast to the Legacy rooms on the second floor that feature a more dramatic feel with luxurious materials such as velvet and brass. Tucked away at the top of the building are the cozy and wonderfully private Attico rooms. Much of the furniture is bespoke, created by local artisans with some key pieces and fittings from notable Italian designers.
The design of the restaurants is also inspired by their surroundings: the ground floor reflects bonds between earth and nature, revealed in deep shades of green and a palette reminiscent of soil and roots. In contrast, the first-floor restaurant is a reference to a blooming garden, embodied in shades of pink and peach.
Every element of the hotel’s design is crafted with thoughtful attention and symbolism. The kitchen counter is decorated with laser-cut brass detailed with the image of a dandelion blowing seeds into the wind. Designers also decided to add laser-cut insects to the light fitting as a reference to the emergence and spread of new ideas into the world. Such a concept echoes Nordelaia’s dining concept: Michelin starred chef Andrea Ribaldone and the resident chef Charles Pearce aim to respect local culinary traditions while simultaneously pushing boundaries and inviting guests to a gastronomic journey with brave experiments.
Nordelaia sees in nature not only inspiration but also a healing power: the hotel’s swimming pool offers incredible views of Montferrat Valley. At the spa facilities – one of a kind in the region – guests will be able to enjoy privacy and peaceful tranquillity with hammam, sauna and Kneipp pool, as well as yoga and gym spaces.
With easy access from Milan, Genoa and Turin, this 12-room hotel is set among five hectares of agricultural land. The hotel, respectfully built around a farmhouse dating back to the year 800, has been restored in full respect of the building’s historical elements, and to create a direct connection to the local nature and terroir. A striking new three-tier structure houses the hotel’s restaurant, bar and events space. In addition to the out door pool, the property includes 450 m2 spa area, overlooking both the valley below and Cremolino castle, featuring wet and dry facilities, treatments rooms. A hammam, sauna, Kneipp pool and light sensory herb room make up the wet area. There is also a yoga room and NOHrD equipped gym.
About These White Walls
These White Walls is a multi-award-winning luxury-led and concept-driven interior design studio based in London. Founded in 2017 by Rose Murray, the studio is recognised for its blank canvas approach to creativity that results in unique and beautifully crafted interiors. The studio creates bespoke interiors for the high-end hospitality and residential sectors as well as private clients and commercial brands. Previous projects include the renowned HIDE restaurant in Mayfair, London.
