Tierra Chiloe, Chile – hotel review

Published in The Independent on Sunday on January 23, 2016

You might not expect an angular wooden box to fit in on the pretty island of Chiloé. But while Santiago-based architect Mobil has created a striking silhouette, the design references the charming vernacular architecture of the local villages: its raised-up structure nods to the palafitos, houses on wooden stilts over water. The building is weather-proofed in the traditional way, with shingles made from larch, and with its raised position come views over the archipelago – also named Chiloé. Continue reading “Tierra Chiloe, Chile – hotel review”

A weekend in Lugano: a Swiss city with art and soul

Published in Evening Standard on October 19, 2015

Positioned around the lake of the same name, the small Swiss city of Lugano has long been associated with money: it’s the country’s third financial centre, once home to more than 100 banks. These days, Lugano — part of the Italian-speaking region of Ticino — is instead investing in culture. Continue reading “A weekend in Lugano: a Swiss city with art and soul”

The Ludlow: the latest hip addition to the Lower East Side

Published in The Independent on November 22, 2014

Named after its buzzing street on the Lower East Side, this new hotel is built up to 20 floors on top of a much older warehouse. Ludlow Street may have an old institution flagging its corner – Katz’s Deli, of “I’ll have what she’s having” of When Harry Met Sally fame – but along its length, swish apartment blocks, hotels and restaurants are sprouting above and around the shabby-chic, fire escape-clad tenement buildings that define the neighbourhood.

New York hotelier Sean MacPherson – who has form with hip establishments such as the Marlton and the Bowery – has got in on the act, opening The Ludlow with partners Ira Drukier and Richard Born this summer. The 184-room hotel may be a big new build, but it’s cannily tapped into the area’s vibe, blending the artfully dishevelled with contemporary chic. Continue reading “The Ludlow: the latest hip addition to the Lower East Side”