Published bi-monthly, Urbis features stylish interiors, spaces and objects, fascinating places, interesting people, technology updates and car reviews. Through its sophisticated design, Urbis appeals to design-savvy consumers and style-makers, as well as design and architecture professionals.
Editorial
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Shorts
Take me to Miami • Creatives and design aficionados flocked to the Florida coast to end out 2017 with the 13th annual Design Miami fair. Occurring alongside Art Basel Miami Beach each December and Basel, Switzerland, each June, the five-day design show features exhibits, furniture and products by top names and brands in the art and design world. Some highlights in 2017 included Pierre Paulin’s Multimo Sofa, which reminds us of a row of little toes, Stockholm-based artist Carsten Höller’s neon dance palace for Prada, which hosted Wyclef Jean on opening night, and the strangely voyeuristic recreation of Muller Van Severen’s living room for Airbnb.
In focus: Marcel Wanders • The Dutch designer, and art director at the Powerhouse Company studio in Amsterdam, is best known for his Knotted Chair, as co-founder of design label Moooi and for hundreds of collaborations for jaw-dropping homes, hotels, brands and products. Rufus Knight caught up with the creative ahead of his arrival in New Zealand.
Urban padding • Porous concrete and folded architectures made from textiles: we explore a softer, friendlier side to brutalism.
Hot House • Contemporary flair with a distinct Caribbean soul is key to the success of this idyllic jungle house on Mexico’s Caribbean coast.
Urbis Picks: Food and Drink • Queenstown, the adrenaline capital of New Zealand, also turns up the heat on après hospitality. Here are some of its newest and most-promising watering holes and restaurants.
The Urbanists • The people, places and ideas changing our cities, one enclave at a time.
Motoring • Andrew Kerr explores a Lexus, Range Rover and Volkswagen plus takes a BMW off road and talks shop with a Lamborghini expert.
Technophile • Dean Cornish looks into the near future of robots, turntables, baby changing stations and more.
Graphic light • A collection of suspended globes and cartoonlike forms double as conversation pieces.
Animated • Graphic textures and forms play with colour, light and reflection.
Inside Story • We take a look inside the Palm Springs-style South Auckland home of a couple of stylists and fashion photographers.
Karen and Avril’s favourite things
Inside Story • Ad man, design aficionado and father of three Ralph van Dijk shows us the objects he loves.
Ralph’s 10 favourite objects:
A laid-back approach • A combination of good design thinking and a dash of happenstance has resulted in a successful business for Mount Maunganui-based George & Willy.
A SLICE OF ETERNAL SUMMER • The Tuscany home of Italian architect and designer Piero Lissoni is an excercise in rural idyll.
ENDURING • The homeowner and designer of this renovation has created a new history for her family in a home that was built in 1862.
UNDER THE TUSCAN SKY • Set amongst olive groves and rolling hills, and with perfect sea views, this Italian villa serves as a rural retreat for iconic designer and architect Piero Lissoni.
HOME ON HIGH • A BALANCE OF TEXTURES AND LIGHT HAS TRANSFORMED THIS NEW YORK LOFT INTO A COMFORTABLE FAMILY HOME.
A MATTER OF CONTRASTS • THIS CLASSIC APARTMENT IN THE HAGUE PROVES THAT EVEN A SMALL, URBAN, RENTAL PROPERTY CAN BE TURNED INTO A SPECIAL AND VERY PERSONABLE HOME.
RICHNESS IN TEXTURE • A MODERN ADDITION BREATHES NEW LIFE INTO THIS 1929 HOME, WITHOUT OVERPOWERING ITS ORIGINAL GLORY.
WITH A BANG • DARING AND INTENSELY...
