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

Luggage "Tag" - Tumi Collaborates With Graffiti Artist Crash For Limited Edition.

above: 4 pieces of Tumi luggage and an iPhone case by John "Crash" Matos

Tumi Tag is a limited edition series created in collaboration with renowned New York graffiti artist John "Crash" Matos. Crash's work has been featured in museums and galleries around the world and includes custom-painted guitars for Eric Clapton and John Mayer.





The Tumi Tag collection features four hardside cases—wheeled carry-ons and packing cases--and an iPhone case. Each wheeled case will showcase a different section of one of Crash's dynamic works of art. The interior of each case features one of four working drawings created by the artist and includes a unique number that authenticates the case as a distinct piece in this exclusive collection.







Only 1,000 of each Tumi Tag luggage style have been produced for this limited edition series. Tumi Tag, the collection name, refers to a graffiti artist's signature or tag. Enjoy hardside protection in a surprisingly lightweight, easy-to-maneuver design. This extra-large, four-wheel packing case is constructed from a super-light, triple-layer, high-performance alloy of ABS and polycarbonate. It sets the standard for strength, durability, mobility and aesthetics, and is ideal for extended business and leisure trips, or for two traveling together.






See the specs, pricing, details and shop for them here.

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