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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Emergency
Director: Kangana Ranaut
Stars: Kangana Ranaut, Anupam Kher, Shreyas Talpade, Milind Soman, Mahima Chaudhry
Rating: 2/5
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Indian construction workers stranded in Ajman with unpaid dues
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
How much of your income do you need to save?
The more you save, the sooner you can retire. Tuan Phan, a board member of SimplyFI.com, says if you save just 5 per cent of your salary, you can expect to work for another 66 years before you are able to retire without too large a drop in income.
In other words, you will not save enough to retire comfortably. If you save 15 per cent, you can forward to another 43 working years. Up that to 40 per cent of your income, and your remaining working life drops to just 22 years. (see table)
Obviously, this is only a rough guide. How much you save will depend on variables, not least your salary and how much you already have in your pension pot. But it shows what you need to do to achieve financial independence.
COMPANY PROFILE
Initial investment: Undisclosed
Investment stage: Series A
Investors: Core42
Current number of staff: 47
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Ads on social media can 'normalise' drugs
A UK report on youth social media habits commissioned by advocacy group Volteface found a quarter of young people were exposed to illegal drug dealers on social media.
The poll of 2,006 people aged 16-24 assessed their exposure to drug dealers online in a nationally representative survey.
Of those admitting to seeing drugs for sale online, 56 per cent saw them advertised on Snapchat, 55 per cent on Instagram and 47 per cent on Facebook.
Cannabis was the drug most pushed by online dealers, with 63 per cent of survey respondents claiming to have seen adverts on social media for the drug, followed by cocaine (26 per cent) and MDMA/ecstasy, with 24 per cent of people.
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Three trading apps to try
Sharad Nair recommends three investment apps for UAE residents:
- For beginners or people who want to start investing with limited capital, Mr Nair suggests eToro. “The low fees and low minimum balance requirements make the platform more accessible,” he says. “The user interface is straightforward to understand and operate, while its social element may help ease beginners into the idea of investing money by looking to a virtual community.”
- If you’re an experienced investor, and have $10,000 or more to invest, consider Saxo Bank. “Saxo Bank offers a more comprehensive trading platform with advanced features and insight for more experienced users. It offers a more personalised approach to opening and operating an account on their platform,” he says.
- Finally, StashAway could work for those who want a hands-off approach to their investing. “It removes one of the biggest challenges for novice traders: picking the securities in their portfolio,” Mr Nair says. “A goal-based approach or view towards investing can help motivate residents who may usually shy away from investment platforms.”
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