The Dune House. A New Stunning Modern Beach Home in the Village of Thorpeness.

Mole Architects has collaborated with the Norwegian firm Jarmund Visgnaes Architects on this beautiful modern beach house which is located just south of the picturesque village of Thorpeness in Suffolk. The Dune House can accommodate up to nine people with its five bedrooms.

You can book The Dune House for a weekend (3-nights, Friday to Monday), a mid-week break (4-nights, Monday to Friday) or a week (7-nights, Friday to Friday. Prices start from just £760 for a 4-night break (the equivalent of £22 per person per night).




“For us the most interesting tension was to create something that would not only fit in with the local landscape and ‘society’, but would also be refreshingly new”, says director Hakon Vigsnaes. “The gabled roof is particularly ‘English’ – not something you would find in Norway – so we wanted to make a feature of that.”





The roof, clad in a lightly tinted orange steel alloy, reflects the changing colours of the sea and sky and the panoramic windows on the ground floor offer views of the sea, whilst giving the sense of the house being nestled in the dunes. JVA wanted to create more than just a space for sleeping upstairs, so each of the four double bedrooms has a bathtub in it, with windows carefully positioned so that one can lie in warm water and take in views of the North Sea and surrounding meadows. Separate shower and toilet facilities are attached to each room and there is a small library and roof terrace on this floor.






The home has four double bedrooms on the first floor (bedrooms 1 + 2 can be made up as twins), all with a bath in the room, and ensuite shower and WC. On the ground floor, there is one bedroom(with a single bed) and an ensuite shower and WC.








The ground floor, which comprises a living area, kitchen, terrace and further en-suite bedroom, is slightly sunken into the dunes to provide a sense of privacy and a measure of protection from the wind coming off the North Sea. Sliding doors at each corner further help to visually dematerialise the ground floor.



Polished concrete, glass and aluminium predominate on the ground floor, while the upper story is constructed from solid timber planks which are left exposed internally.

Enquire about booking the Dune House here.

Dune House - Project Team:
- Architect: Jarmund/Vigsnæs Architects
- Executive Architect: Mole Architects
- Contractor: Willow Builders
- Structural Engineer: Jane Wernick Associates
- Engineer (Timber superstructure) Eurban
- Quantity Surveyors: Boyden Group LLP
- Clerk of Works: Steve Foot, Techs Project Management

Living Architecture partners at The Dune House:
- Kitchen appliances provided by Miele UK
- Kitchen equipment provided by David Mellor Design
- Bed linen by Peter Reed luxury linen

images courtesy of Mole Architects, Jarmund/Vigsnæs Architects and Living Architecture

The Coqoon Treetop Spa Provides Mid-Air Pampering At The Indigo Pearl, Phuket.

Award-winning 5-star Phuket resort Indigo Pearl has just opened a cutting-edge designer spa, most unique for its suspended treetop room providing mid-air pampering.



Modeled on the boyhood vision of internationally renowned designer, Bill Bensley, who is responsible for the entire resort’s raw-industrial meets sensual-chic styling, Coqoon Spa takes guests on a ‘journey of discovery and healing’.






It is set amongst lush tropical rainforest as the resort’s very own ‘Garden of Eden’ and uses a banyan tree as the hanger for its signature treatment room.




Coqoon Spa features six deluxe treatment rooms as well as an exclusive ‘Coqoon Suite’ complete with private pool, rain shower, steam room, sauna and Vichy shower available for private hire for up to 3-days. It comes complete with a spa butler for ease and convenience of multiple treatments throughout guests’ stay.





The ‘pièce de résistance and must-try for all spa enthusiasts is ‘The Nest’ – a luxurious spa suite suspended midair and accessed by a flying bridge, allowing guests to get up close and personal with nature.





Coqoon Spa is adorned throughout in silvery-blue palms and hues of plumbago. It takes the typical ‘zen’ approach to spas and gives it a lively / unusual twist with industrial touches and a fresh colour scheme. Its treatments menu is steeped in Thai tradition whilst embracing holistic ideals in the pursuit of better health and wellness.



On offer is a range of aromatic body treatments, scrubs and wraps, Anne Semonin facial treatments, hand and foot care, and beauty treatments. Rare plant essences, Andaman elixirs and Thai herbal spices excite the senses and rejuvenate the mind, body and spirit, administered by highly qualified therapists ensuring guest comfort and privacy at all times.



This wellness journey extends to the privacy of guests’ own accommodations with custom-designed ‘D-Buk’ spa suites, where individual experiences can be tailored to suit special requests and needs – with spa executives designing an individual treatment programme which is both enjoyable while also meeting specific goals and objectives. These can incorporate diet, exercise, activity, rest and relaxation with spa treatments to ultimately rejuvenate mind, body and spirit.


In celebration of the Coqoon Spa opening, Indigo Pearl is offering the “Coqoon Revival” package, a delicately designed package to revitalize and nourish body and soul available at THB 22,500 net from now until 15 April 2011.



The acclaimed 5-star Indigo Pearl is a fusion of modern architecture and Thai tin-mining heritage next to Nai Yang Beach, just 10 minutes from Phuket International Airport. The resort has been hailed as a design masterpiece by global media publications and boasts easy access with direct flights to Phuket from almost everywhere in Asia.


Indigo Pearl Coqoon Spa

+66 (0) 76 327 006

Le Royale Monceau Hotel. Now Transformed By Philipe Starck.

After undergoing two full years of important renovation work, Le Royal Monceau - Raffles Paris, which had closed down in June 2008, opened its doors in October of this year with a whole new look for the luxury hotel.






With new decor by Philipe Starck, only minutes from the arc de triomphe and a curated collection of art, it's no wonder it has quickly become THE place to stay.




Impelled by Qatari Diar and Alexandre Allard the creative director, designer Philippe Starck completely transformed the place and re-invented its spirit so as to make Le Royal Monceau - Raffles Paris the first hotel in a new generation of Parisian palaces.











The Royal Monceau Raffles Paris has produced a collection of over 300 works of art to be displayed in the guest rooms and the public areas. The project is to include contemporary art in the everyday life of the hotel, within a set of dedicated places like la Librairie des Arts, the Art District or Le Cinéma des Lumières.

The artistic program of the hotel is multidisciplinary, and accessible to everybody. The Royal Monceau Raffles Paris offers a cultural service through the art concierge and the hotel team.



The art concierge is in charge of coordinating this service unique in Paris, acting as an advisor and cultural mediator both to customers and the staff. The art concierge is there to guide the residents of the Royal Monceau Raffles Paris through their cultural journey in Paris, informing them of the artistic news and creating personalized activity programs.

For more information please contact: Domoina de Brantes / art concierge + 33 1 42 99 88 00

They have a blog dedicated to art as well, called Art For Breakfast.

Establishing itself for the first time in Europe, Raffles hotel group is in charge of the management of the hotel while Sylvain Ercoli was appointed managing director, after holding the same position in some of the most prestigious hotels in the world.


Le Royal Monceau - Raffles Paris
37 Avenue Hoche, 75008 Paris
T. +331 42 99 88 00
F. +331 42 99 89 90
E. paris@raffles.com