If you want something a little more exotic to hang in your hallway, then a $500,000 chandelier might be the answer.
The luxury light fitting, called Alice, is not only attractive to look at but is also programmable, to match the mood of the evening. According to the Czech company Lasvit, the light design company marketing the sculpture, it doesn't pulse but alters imperceptibly, the components changing as one to enhance the atmosphere.
Available to buy this month from Downtown Design, a luxury design trade event starting on October 28 in Downtown Dubai, the hand -made installation was created by Petra Krausova, a designer at Lasvit.
Her designs make Ikea look behind the times, not that she plays in the same league as Ikea. The Czech Republic, or more specifically the historical territory of Bohemia, has a tradition of glass-producing stretching back for more than seven centuries and its glasswork is considered a national treasure.
According to Lasvit, Alice is a wonderful piece of glasswork that is a one-off, never to be repeated, piece of art. The Czech company, in the space of eight years, has become a world leader in its sector, making an international name for itself by creating chandeliers that are pharaonic in size. It looks to modernise lighting by experimenting with all the known techniques, from complex mouth-blowing to moulding, and tested in every way possible.
It has created lighting for Burj Khalifa in Dubai, the Ritz-Carlton in Hong Kong (a project that kept the team busy for more than three months) and the shops of Tiffany & Co, City of Dreams in Macao with its 6-metre tall Anemone sculpture, and the latest Dior boutique in Paris.
Alice is the company's latest creation, with the company describing its inspiration as a "search for commonality in glass and nature".
While I’m not sure it has achieved this, there is something very natural and feminine about the piece while still being ultra-modern. The technology that enables the lights to dim and oscillate (it’s not just a dimmer switch, apparently) is being kept a trade secret, such is the effect it creates.
q&a Alice in Wonderland
Cristina Romelli Gervasoni, fair director of Downtown Design, reveals more about the luxury light sculpture called Alice.
What is Alice?
Alice is a kinetic glass art installation. It is a piece combining eight centuries old tradition of Bohemian glass making with contemporary design and advanced technology. The piece creates unforgettable atmosphere and lasting experience.
Why is it so valuable?
It is a collector's item. It is made of the highest quality crystal glass, hand made in the Czech Republic. The inspiration behind the Alice sculpture was a search for commonality in glass and nature. Glass, as in nature, is organic and unpredictable, where each leaf and tree is unique. Bringing these unique optical properties of glass to the sculpture evokes an experience underpinned by its name, a sense of Alice in Wonderland. Alice is a kinetic bloom, its traces to flowers equally fragile, original and unique. Since ancient times, flowers symbolised peace and love, values as fragile as the flowers themselves and an undeniable property of glass.
Where will I be able to see it?
Downtown Design, held from October 28-31 at the Venue, Downtown Dubai is the Middle East’s newest platform for global design. The exhibition is in it’s second edition and attracts global designers including Lasvit, Herman Miller, Fritz Hansen, Carl Hansen, Elica, Gaggenau, Hansgrohe and Vitra among others. Design enthusiasts can discover the latest trends, innovative products and installations from the world’s most influential design brands that are revolutionising the way we live, work and travel.
ascott@thenational.ae
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Cases of coronavirus in the GCC as of March 15
Saudi Arabia – 103 infected, 0 dead, 1 recovered
UAE – 86 infected, 0 dead, 23 recovered
Bahrain – 210 infected, 0 dead, 44 recovered
Kuwait – 104 infected, 0 dead, 5 recovered
Qatar – 337 infected, 0 dead, 4 recovered
Oman – 19 infected, 0 dead, 9 recovered
Ultra processed foods
- Carbonated drinks, sweet or savoury packaged snacks, confectionery, mass-produced packaged breads and buns
- margarines and spreads; cookies, biscuits, pastries, cakes, and cake mixes, breakfast cereals, cereal and energy bars;
- energy drinks, milk drinks, fruit yoghurts and fruit drinks, cocoa drinks, meat and chicken extracts and instant sauces
- infant formulas and follow-on milks, health and slimming products such as powdered or fortified meal and dish substitutes,
- many ready-to-heat products including pre-prepared pies and pasta and pizza dishes, poultry and fish nuggets and sticks, sausages, burgers, hot dogs, and other reconstituted meat products, powdered and packaged instant soups, noodles and desserts.
The National's picks
4.35pm: Tilal Al Khalediah
5.10pm: Continous
5.45pm: Raging Torrent
6.20pm: West Acre
7pm: Flood Zone
7.40pm: Straight No Chaser
8.15pm: Romantic Warrior
8.50pm: Calandogan
9.30pm: Forever Young
Tips for newlyweds to better manage finances
All couples are unique and have to create a financial blueprint that is most suitable for their relationship, says Vijay Valecha, chief investment officer at Century Financial. He offers his top five tips for couples to better manage their finances.
Discuss your assets and debts: When married, it’s important to understand each other’s personal financial situation. It’s necessary to know upfront what each party brings to the table, as debts and assets affect spending habits and joint loan qualifications. Discussing all aspects of their finances as a couple prevents anyone from being blindsided later.
Decide on the financial/saving goals: Spouses should independently list their top goals and share their lists with one another to shape a joint plan. Writing down clear goals will help them determine how much to save each month, how much to put aside for short-term goals, and how they will reach their long-term financial goals.
Set a budget: A budget can keep the couple be mindful of their income and expenses. With a monthly budget, couples will know exactly how much they can spend in a category each month, how much they have to work with and what spending areas need to be evaluated.
Decide who manages what: When it comes to handling finances, it’s a good idea to decide who manages what. For example, one person might take on the day-to-day bills, while the other tackles long-term investments and retirement plans.
Money date nights: Talking about money should be a healthy, ongoing conversation and couples should not wait for something to go wrong. They should set time aside every month to talk about future financial decisions and see the progress they’ve made together towards accomplishing their goals.
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Kumulus Water
Started: 2021
Founders: Iheb Triki and Mohamed Ali Abid
Based: Tunisia
Sector: Water technology
Number of staff: 22
Investment raised: $4 million
NO OTHER LAND
Director: Basel Adra, Yuval Abraham, Rachel Szor, Hamdan Ballal
Stars: Basel Adra, Yuval Abraham
Rating: 3.5/5
Cricket World Cup League 2
UAE squad
Rahul Chopra (captain), Aayan Afzal Khan, Ali Naseer, Aryansh Sharma, Basil Hameed, Dhruv Parashar, Junaid Siddique, Muhammad Farooq, Muhammad Jawadullah, Muhammad Waseem, Omid Rahman, Rahul Bhatia, Tanish Suri, Vishnu Sukumaran, Vriitya Aravind
Fixtures
Friday, November 1 – Oman v UAE
Sunday, November 3 – UAE v Netherlands
Thursday, November 7 – UAE v Oman
Saturday, November 9 – Netherlands v UAE
HOW TO WATCH
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The rules on fostering in the UAE
A foster couple or family must:
- be Muslim, Emirati and be residing in the UAE
- not be younger than 25 years old
- not have been convicted of offences or crimes involving moral turpitude
- be free of infectious diseases or psychological and mental disorders
- have the ability to support its members and the foster child financially
- undertake to treat and raise the child in a proper manner and take care of his or her health and well-being
- A single, divorced or widowed Muslim Emirati female, residing in the UAE may apply to foster a child if she is at least 30 years old and able to support the child financially
The years Ramadan fell in May
The specs
Engine: Turbocharged four-cylinder 2.7-litre
Power: 325hp
Torque: 500Nm
Transmission: 10-speed automatic
Price: From Dh189,700
On sale: now
Tips to keep your car cool
- Place a sun reflector in your windshield when not driving
- Park in shaded or covered areas
- Add tint to windows
- Wrap your car to change the exterior colour
- Pick light interiors - choose colours such as beige and cream for seats and dashboard furniture
- Avoid leather interiors as these absorb more heat
