| | Bill Prince, editor-in-chiefThe groundwork for Wallpaper’s annual Travel Issue – which winged its way onto newsstands this week – saw our editors cast off for new shores in more ways than one. Following in the footsteps of Odysseus and Onassis, we set sail across the Aegean to explore six slightly-lower-profile Greek islands (stars of our limited-edition subscriber cover, below right) in the Cyclades and Dodecanese and document the creative communities, permanent and transient, responsible for a recharged cultural energy there. |
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We also investigated a niche in the world of cruising as a new wave of sleek, smaller vessels usurp the floating behemoths, promising greater comfort, cooler surroundings and perhaps a glimpse of what keeps the tech barons besotted by boats. Pick up a copy of the issue for more on our sea-going adventures. Back on dry land, we camped out at Amangiri’s new six-bedroom private residence in Utah (go behind the scenes of our newsstand cover, above left), and checked into the restorative oasis that is the Six Senses London – find the full story below. Should you need further inspiration for your next escape, Weekendpaper* whisks you to a reimagined Napa Valley winery, takes an Ecuadorian architour, and pinpoints the perfect skincare travel kit for the pared-back packer. Thinking of a city break? Don’t forget your Wallpaper* Travel Guide. Bon voyage. |
Tour Ecuador through its architecture |
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Architecture in Ecuador mirrors the culture and landscape of the vibrant South American country. It is one of the region’s smallest, yet it displays one of the richest diversities, both in terms of natural environment and the people that inhabit it. It is exactly this that attracted photographers Francesco Russo and Luca Piffaretti, who, equipped with their cameras, toured the country capturing its wealth of architecture – both historical and contemporary, but always innovative and site-appropriate.
‘We were struck by the adaptability of architecture to different climates, terrains, and contexts, as well as the ability to produce compelling designs across a wide range of budgets. We documented a school on the coast built with a budget of just $5 per square metre, as well as a luxury villa with monumental steel columns overlooking an Andean valley, and everything in between,’ they say. The resulting book, Ecuador: A Journey through Architecture, Culture and Land, will be published in autumn by Park Books. Ellie Stathaki spoke with the duo to find out more about the project, its challenges and surprises.
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The room with a view to book at London’s new Six Senses hotel |
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If a biohacking recovery lounge and a longevity clinic don’t lure you to Bayswater’s new Six Senses hotel and spa resort, the rooftop Whiteley’s Suite certainly should. Newly opened this spring within the Whiteley – once one of London’s great department stores, a Grade II-listed landmark that underwent a £1.5bn redevelopment by Foster + Partners, including 139 apartments that launched in 2023 – the Six Senses marks the UK debut of the pioneering luxury wellness brand. The serene interiors, courtesy of design firm AvroKO with EPR Architects, unfold as a layered dialogue of the site’s past, amalgamating post-Victorian, art deco and early modernist influences. Plump for the Whiteley Suite, encompassing two huge bedrooms, two marble bathrooms, a large kitchen and a tree-lined terrace with sun loungers. ‘It channels the spirit of how William Whiteley’s personal residence might have looked if it had been frozen in time shortly after the building’s opening,’ says AvroKO partner Adam Farmerie. Read on and check in. |
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At this breathtaking Napa Valley winery, even the architecture has a sense of ‘terroir’ |
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Set within Napa Valley’s storied To Kalon Vineyard, Robert Mondavi Winery is widely credited with putting California wine on the global map. When it opened in 1966, its mission was as much cultural as oenological: to welcome the public into the experience of wine. Its iconic tower and sweeping arch – designed by midcentury designer Cliff May – served as both beacon and invitation, signalling a departure from European-inspired models towards something distinctly Californian.
Over time, however, as the brand expanded and the campus grew in an ad hoc, increasingly inward-looking way, its identity diffused. The facilities no longer reflected advances in winemaking or how visitors engaged with it, prompting a dramatic reimagining. For Aidlin Darling Design, the San Francisco-based practice known for finely tuned, site-driven work rather than large corporate commissions, it was an unexpected but compelling opportunity. ‘This is a project that’s way too important – we have to do it,’ recalls founding partner David Darling. The reimagined campus – spanning 216,000 sq ft – pairs restraint with clarity. Join Beth Broome as she finds out more.
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