There is something about eschewing the typical summer ‘look’ that feels liberating. And where overtly floral dresses and colour blocking — once signifiers of the arrival of warmer weather — have fallen somewhat out of fashion, it’s the simple, subtle pieces in neutral tones that are staking their claims in our wardrobes.
This summer, why not invest in fashion that is versatile, wearable and that exudes a more relaxed approach to the season? Here, we round up the new pieces that are helping us do exactly that, and should be your first port of call when thinking about building your seasonal wardrobe.
Left to right: The Row Big Sisea oversized blouse from Net-A-Porter, Cashmere and silk-blend sweater from Prada, Workshop Denim Chino skirt from Workshop
An iconic Takapuna building is set for a makeover, with Zone Q developers transforming No1 The Strand into a modern and dynamic working space for budding and established businesses. This new home for your business has everything you need in a working environment, and more.
With a revitalised courtyard, lobby and over 11,000m2 of office space that’s stretched over the building’s four levels (approximately 3,400 sqm of space per floor, the equivalent of two ice skating rinks joined together) calling No1 The Strand ‘spacious’ would be an understatement. It is, in fact, one of Takapuna’s largest office spaces and its open-plan design along with its wide glass windows allow for natural light to stream in while providing breathtaking views of Takapuna Beach and Auckland City.
Being located in Takapuna, one of the most bustling, growing suburbs on the North Shore, public transportation to No1 The Strand is a breeze. But for those adamant on driving to the office, the development offers more than 300 car parks on-site, dispelling any concerns around whether or not there will be a free spot. Takapuna is also home to a number of delicious cafés and eateries, ranging from the cheap and cheerful (like Basu Lounge) to the more upscale (such as Nanam), meaning you won’t have to go far for a tasty lunch or an after-work dinner.
Within the workspace itself, the facilities are set to be state-of-the-art, going well beyond a fast Internet connection and quiet meeting rooms (although they have those too). Looking at the bigger picture, the developers of No1 The Strand clearly took the out-of-office lives of those who would be working in their space into consideration. Lockers and showers are provided, allowing workers who walk or run to work, or those are partial to a lunchtime gym session, to freshen up in the office. And when summer is in full swing, this also means that taking advantage of No1 The Strand’s close proximity to Takapuna Beach is an appealing way to spend the lunch hour.
Looking to encourage the idea of work-life balance in an elegant, workable way, No1 The Strand is looking poised to offer a thoroughly modern workspace. Acknowledging that productivity at work is driven by an environment in which people feel supported and happy, No1 The Strand is set to be the place everyone wants to spend their nine-to-five.
To enquire about future leases at No1 The Strand, click here
Words Clara Jane | PHOTOS Jeremy Hooper | 13 Nov 2019
Hey BMW, I’m hungry.” Four words I found myself repeating frequently over the course of the week I occupied the driver’s seat of the new BMW 8 Series Gran Coupé. The answer? A list of destinations, entirely dependant on the location of the vehicle, that BMW’s Intelligent Personal Assistant promised would satiate my hunger — as well as an alert about new places that I hadn’t yet heard of. If that’s not an efficient personal assistant, I don’t know what is.
Something I came to realise quite quickly about BMW is that for this renowned German marque, attention to detail is paramount. From being able to give my new assistant a personalised moniker (one that almost became “Hey Batman” because of its sleek, black metallic sapphire frame) to being able to use the key to turn on its air conditioning long before I got behind the wheel, when it comes to this car there’s nothing left to chance (and that’s not even the half of it).
Long before I took possession of my new ride, I actually had my eye on the two-door coupé, thinking it would be great to zip around in. But with the promise of great weather and multiple friends eager for a ride in my new whip, the Gran Coupé felt like a better fit. It’s the third addition to the 8 Series range and accompanies the two-door Coupé and Convertible which were launched earlier this year. The enhanced practicality, however, doesn’t prevent BMW from ensuring the vehicle carries the same sleek, elegant presence we’ve come to know and love in the original two-door version. The final product is an enviable combination of luxury and performance in a vehicle I would certainly use as my everyday motor.
The first day I had the Gran Coupé, clear blue skies (the first in a while) offered up an invitation to put it through its paces on the open road. With a sneak peek of summer beaming through the sunroof, windows down and music on, I jumped on the motorway and headed north — keen to test out the car’s capabilities on winding roads and various terrain.
I switched the car into sports mode, asking it to show me what it was made of. The 4.4-litre twin-turbo 8-cylinder engine purred beneath the bonnet, reaching 100km effortlessly in less than four seconds. The paddles make switching between gears seamless, which was an exhilarating feeling with my foot on the pedal, rendering the ride so smooth it felt as though the car was almost hovering.
A road trip is never complete without a solid soundtrack to underscore the journey, and I’m someone who appreciates a good sound system, especially on a long drive. Saying, “Hey BMW, play Discover Weekly,” would prompt my smart assistant to start playing a recent playlist from Spotify, but what really impressed me was the different modes I could listen to the music on. The choice between concert, stage, cinema, lounge or my personal favourite, studio, meant that I could tailor the genre of music to suit the output. For example, AC/DC’s Highway to Hell puts me front and centre in the VIP section when listened to via concert mode, whereas listening to Jay-Z on studio mode produced a sound so crisp it was almost like he was doing a rendition of 99 Problems from the passenger seat. In which case, I’d be sure to make the most of BMW’s Caring Car programme — a subtle change in atmosphere that can be activated to ensure all occupants are comfortable.
The 8 Series Gran Coupé is a head-turner, especially in small, rural towns. Its sexy, ultra-sleek silhouette carries curves in all the right places. And at just over five metres in length and two metres wide, it’s bold and it’s beautiful. It would also prove tricky to manoeuvre out of tight spots if it wasn’t for the Parking Assistant feature, which made parallel parking a breeze and proved to sceptical onlookers that I was completely capable in the driver’s seat (even if it wasn’t really me).
Returning home from my glorious weekend away wasn’t ideal, as it meant handing back the keys to a car I had fallen in love with. Its lasting impression left me tempted to do a runner, stopped only by the thought of my efficient new personal assistant betraying my getaway plans by telling BMW Headquarters where we were.
Combining the practicalities you want from an everyday car, with the sleek form of a luxury vehicle, the Gran Coupé is proving the two ideas don’t need to be mutually exclusive and is doing so in an appealingly understated, totally beguiling way.
OBar — the iconic Korean bar that started on Lorne St, before being taken over by The Kimchi Project has been a favourite of the local Korean community for over a decade. Shortly after closing its doors in 2016, the bar found a new home in Chancery Square, and continued to build a community of loyal followers. Now, OBar has opened another outpost directly opposite its Chancery Square bar — OBar Snack Bar — and we’re very excited about it.
Taking inspiration from the lunch spots in South Korea, otherwise known as Gimbap Chunguk, OBar Snack Bar is where people are welcome to stop in for a quick, delicious and filling meal. The menu is designed in a similar way to the lunch bars of Seoul, where patrons are given a checklist and pen to make their order. OBar Snack Bar’s offerings are simple — just three different combos which you can customise to your liking.
Menu (on the left) and fried glass noodles in seaweed (on the right)
These combinations all include Korean sushi (gimbap), which you can pair with either tteokbokki (a spicy rice cake dish and a common Korean delicacy), noodles or Korean fried chicken. OBar Snack Bar offers five different fillings for its gimbap — Spam, ham, pork, beef and tuna. And while it might look like Japanese sushi, take one bite and you’ll immediately understand why the two aren’t anything alike. In the gimbap, sesame notes take precedence (rather than vinegar) and in place of the expected raw fish, rich meats are used instead (to tasty effect).
We opted for the gimbap and tteokbokki — mysterious-looking sticks that look like sausages but are in fact, just rice cakes. Made from rice flour, water and salt, these have a chewy texture and are slathered in red chilli sauce which also has a subtle sweetness to it that balances out the spice. If you need to tone down the spice ever further, we recommend adding cheese to your tteokbokki which also lends a touch of creaminess to the overall texture.
Gimbap and marinated fried chicken
The fried chicken at Obar Snack Bar is, like its sibling across the way, some of the best fried chicken in Auckland. The coating of the chicken is crispy yet light and the meat itself is succulent and juicy. We recommend opting for the marinated chicken which features a tangy sweet and spicy sauce with a sprinkle of peanuts.
Gimbap and original fried chicken
A quick lunch at this newly-opened spot will typically cost you less than $15 and will leave you feeling happily satiated. And considering that OBar Snack Bar only opened on Thursday and queues were already starting to form, we suggest you get down here before the masses do.
They say that you shouldn’t fix what ain’t broke, but as far as iconic furniture goes, it seems that the expression may not always ring true. Created by King Living, The Jasper is a sofa that has weathered the fickle nature of furnishings trends for years, perpetually finding a place in the homes of the design cognoscenti. It is a sofa that has been deemed unsurpassable thanks to its harmonic combination of form and function, and yet, now, another luxe sofa is raising the bar beyond that of the Jasper: its next iteration, the Jasper II.
The next generation Jasper carries its predecessor’s minimalistic design, but this time around with far more bells and whistles — like its new Smart Pockets. The innovative pockets allow the attachment of numerous integrated accessories, like an LED reading light (perfect for curling up on the couch with a quality book), swivel tables festooned from marble, and a charging table to wirelessly recharge mobile phones.
Not only rectifying the age-old problem of the phone charger being too short to reach the sofa, the Jasper II also features inherently functional storage spaces, that are integrated so adeptly that they’re easy to miss upon first glance. The hidden storage space located underneath the chaise section of the sofa, for example, is large enough to conceal multiple cushions and blankets, while the sleek, timber console provides the perfect space to stow away remote controls. Even the floating shelf, located where an armrest would usually reside, provides the same function while also offering a space to showcase interesting coffee table books and magazines.
The Jasper II, a mixture of both traditional and innovative design, is reminding us that we don’t have to surrender our cherished, timeless pieces in favour of an upgrade — because, sometimes, it’s possible to possess both.
The beauty of an evening bag is the way it can tie an outfit together. Especially when accompanied by an arresting ring or wristwatch. When prepping your wardrobe for party season, ensure you’re armed with a cache of bags and adornments that will take any outfit from day to evening with ease.
In a bid to provide you with some inspiration, we have included a curated edit of some of our favourite combinations.
Summer is almost upon us, meaning so too are unforeseen pool parties and unpremeditated beach trips. Indeed, being swimsuit ready is at the top of the priority list, and so there’s no better time better than now to make use of the new buffering, exfoliating treatment by luxury French skincare brand Sothys.
The Sensations Orientales treatment, brought forth by French skincare brand Sothys Paris, is inspired by ancient oriental traditions — and as such, is suitably blissful. It begins with a drizzling of exfoliating syrup onto the body, to gently exfoliate and prep the skin, before moving onto the crux of the treatment, a one-of-a-kind handmade scrubbing claystone. The claystone, a utensil crafted in traditional pottery in the heart of Corrèze, France, is massaged across the body to energise the skin and improve its circulation. To wrap things up, soothing, hot towels are used to wipe away the exfoliating syrup before warm nourishing amber and date oil is massaged into the body.
The massage is part of a package brought forth by the luxurious duo, Sothys and The Cordis hotel, entitled Sensational Escape. In it, the massage is accompanied by a glass of sparkling wine and a complimentary travel bag of divine Sothys’ body products to take home. In what is, quite possibly, the most indulgent way to kickstart an experience, the Cordis is also offering the opportunity to come in early to enjoy Chuan Spa’s heated roof-top pool, Jacuzzi, sauna and herbal steam room, prior to the treatment.
Leaving behind a glowing figure that’s prepared for all seaside sojourns, now marks the perfect time to take advantage of Sothys’ luxurious new collaboration. Be sure to lock it in promptly though, only available until 3rd December, this is one pre-summer preparation you won’t want to miss out on.
Building its reputation on pushing the boundaries of traditional form, Deadly Ponies’ new Resort 2020 collection is proving once again why this brand is one that remains at the top of our wish lists.
Exploring the unique idea of aposematism — the way some animals use bright colours as a defence mechanism — Deadly Ponies has created a collection that not only plays with contrasting tones and textures (think Cobalt and a beautiful Duck Egg python) but offers evolutions on a number of its signature shapes.
Molten Midi in Cobalt Croc
Take the Molten Midi and Mini, for example. Both entirely new versions of the classic Molton form and expansions of the crossbody silhouette, these bags (alongside others like the new Mr Scurry Tote) represent the significant growth Deadly Ponies has undergone in the last year.
From the launch of D LY P to the opening of a new store in Britomart, Deadly Ponies is evolving. And beyond the bags and small leather goods, the brand is set to also unveil a raft of new branding, packaging and an update of its online store.
Lady Wallet in Black and Python
Deadly Ponies’ small leather goods are also to be given a bold reimagining, set to land in a range of new-season hues and silhouettes. We’re particularly looking forward to the Lady Wallet (big enough to hold a phone) and mini Lady Wallet, as well as the return of the bi-annual Voyage collection, this season with a neoprene capsule and a nautical theme.
And if all that wasn’t enough, we’ll be keeping an eye out for the release of Deadly Ponies’ new annual print magazine. The publication will come out once a year and will combine the brand’s collections and inspirations into a visually-arresting page-turner.
Eating out is not an easy task when you’re also seeking healthy and nutritious meals. Often it’s either overpriced or the flavour is lacklustre. Hēmi, however — Freemans Bay’s newest café by the Miller family behind Mint Kitchen Catering and Thinkfood — is proving otherwise. Located in Victoria Park, this spacious eatery is a breath of fresh air. Utilising travertine stone in addition to a white, grey and beige colour palette, Architect Tom Rowe has paid great attention to the finer details in order for Hēmi to achieve its luxurious and chic ambience.
Simple, seasonal and healthy food is what this newly-opened eatery specialises in and the menu is unique. Embracing the fact that the majority of today’s diners have specific dietary requirements and preferences, the menu is designed in a way that welcomes customisation and is split into all-day breakfast dishes and salads — both guaranteed to satisfy and impress.
The smoked kahawai waffle had us intrigued from the beginning, as it was a dish the like of which we hadn’t really seen on a menu before. Executive Chef, James Miller uses a sourdough base for the waffle which leads it a chewier texture, similar to fry bread. Crème fraîche is slathered on top, before smoked kahawai (rich in ocean aroma0 and sour pickles are added. The final touch is a poached egg that acts as the cherry on top and sees the yolk seem through the entire dish to enrich its flavour.
Iced Americano and Snickers smoothie (on the left) and BLAT (on the right)
For any meat-lovers out there, let us recommend the BLAT. Seeing a slice of sourdough covered in a generous layer of mayonnaise, perfectly ripe tomatoes and avocados, Iceberg lettuce cups carrying thick cuts of bacon are placed on top before finally, a sunny-side-up fried egg takes centre stage. There are also a number of tasty options available when it comes to add-ons, ranging from mushrooms to whipped feta to agria potato skins — all of which are delicious.
Elsewhere on the menu, Hēmi presents a build-your-own salad option, where diners are given five different types of salads to choose as their base — from the Mediterranean-inspired Mezze, to the classic Cob. They can then select a sauce and some proteins to complete their dish just how they like it. Alongside the regular chicken and beef, Heēmi also offers smoked kahawai, market fish, King salmon, lamb rump and even tofu and halloumi for the vegetarians. Being avid believers in a balanced diet, Hēmi’s menu showcases a range of nutritious carbohydrates, including kumara, black beans, brown rice and quinoa.
Brassicas salad
One particular salad we loved was the brassica with halloumi (and this is coming from someone who has always struggled to eat his veggies). Comprising a medley of broccoli, silverbeet, kale and cress in a ginger-miso dressing, this dish was loaded with flavour, which was taken to another level when the salty halloumi was added.
Halloumi
With summer around the corner, Hēmi couldn’t have opened its doors at a better time. As our office is located down the road, Hēmi has already become a favourite lunchtime spot for us at Denizen because of its delicious, healthy food and relaxing ambience. The spacious fit-out also makes for a great events venue, just in time for soirée season.
Opening hours: Monday — Sunday: 7am until 3pm
Hēmi
Unit 1, Victoria Park Market, 210 Victoria Street West,
Auckland CBD
Whether you are a budding twitcher or a flora and fauna photographer, the beautiful Galápagos Islands are a nature and wildlife lover’s dream destination. Due to a lack of natural predators and the area’s isolated nature, each of the Ecuadorian volcanic islands boasts a miscellany of plant and animal species, many of which are unique to the archipelago.
Those who visit are titillated at the prospect of seeing marine iguanas foraging the seas, giant tortoises basking in the sun, or blue-footed boobies sweeping the skies, all of which are easy to watch, and photograph, thanks to their fearless disposition. In fact, the majority of the wildlife here possess a particularly confident and curious nature that make close-up encounters a given, rather than a fluke.
The composition of the islands themselves range from ivory sand beaches that descend into azure waters, to barren black, volcanic landscapes more reminiscent of the moon than a paradisical island.
To see each in all its individual glory, climbing aboard Celebrity Flora — the new, premium addition to Celebrity Cruises’ extensive line — is a sine qua non for a memorable experience. The 100 passenger ship is designed to produce far fewer emissions, guaranteeing that the footprint it leaves on the location is minimal, and yet still boasts all the mod cons. What’s more, an exclusive, glamping platform on the roof ensures that when the sun sets, roof dwellers can reflect on the day’s unique excursion under a blinding canopy of stars.
When to visit The best months for tourism are usually June, July and August, and mid-December to mid-January — so if you’re wanting to avoid the throngs, keep this in mind.
How to get there The island’s two airports — Isla Baltra and Isla San Cristóbal — are serviced by regular flights from Ecuador’s mainland cities Quito and Guayaquil.
Tip The dried lava terrain can often be uneven, so sturdy hiking shoes are a must. Binoculars are recommended, as is a snorkel — don’t miss out on a once-in-a-lifetime wildlife opportunity because you weren’t well enough prepared.
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