If you have a fear of what’s below you in the ocean, a “new” (man-made and man-shaped) reef in Mexico might not be the place to conquer it. However, if you want to swim among statues and see the latest in coral reef restoration efforts, this is your spot… an artificial reef off the east coast of Mexico made entirely from human statues.  Mastermind behind this installment is British artist, Jason de Caires Taylor, who used local Mexican residents to create the ‘life casts’ and shaped each of the 350 statues from materials with a neutral pH to encourage coral growth.

Creepy or awesome?

Nahm, the chic Thai restaurant at the Metropolitan Bangkok is now open. Beyond the joy of its authentic Thai fare it’s turning heads with its dramatic space that was designed by award-winning Japanese interior architect Koichiro Ikebuchi and is in perfect harmony with the hotel’s contemporary aesthetic. (Ikebuchi is also responsible for Uma Ubud and COMO Shambhala Estate in Bali.)

This is the second nahm restaurant – the flagship is in London at The Halkin and was the first Thai restaurant in Europe to be awarded a Michelin star. Chef David Thompson’s Michelin-starred cooking skills are abundant in both locations with such innovative dishes as cured fish and pork simmered in coconut cream with prawns, and grilled catfish and red quail curry with peanuts, ginger, and holy basil.

Ikebuchi’s design for nahm is modern and elegant with a warm, honeyed glow throughout the restaurant and local touches such as decorative wood carvings, weavings, and murals inspired by the Thai Ayutthaya period. The understated Thai references give the restaurant a distinct personality, with rusty-red brick-stepped columns, a gold-leaf wall, and reclaimed Thai teak wood used as flooring and in handcrafted wooden screens.

Throughout, Ikebuchi has combined his use of high-quality finishes with an emphasis on locally-sourced and hand-crafted materials. The low-level screens diffuse a soft light throughout the restaurant for a cozy ambiance. Even the tableware fits into the unique aesthetic, with a handpicked selection of Benjarong bowls from Thai artisan, Pinsuan Benjarong, and Celadon plates from the local Thai manufacturer, Mengrai Kilns. The variety in the shape, height, width, and size of the tableware reflects the diversity of textures and flavors in Chef David Thompson’s cooking.

Don’t miss the beautiful pictures and property details of Rosewood Mayakobá in the November 2010 issue of Architectural Digest!

A mini-vacation for your mind. Happy reading!

This article makes us want to hop the first plane to Casablanca. See the hotel fit for – and built by – a king. The dazzling tilework and soft lantern light create a magical arabian night and the individual riads are dripping with decadent decor.

© NTPL / Andrea Jones

Think all stately English country houses are decked out in lace and toile? Think again. In its heyday in the mid-18th century, The Vyne in Hampshire owned by John Chute was a spectacular home full of modern furniture and art. Over time, the home no longer reflected the cutting edge sensibilities of its former occupant. All of that’s now changed thanks to The National Trust and Mark Brazier-Jones. Brazier-Jones is the colorful interior designer for the likes of Sir Elton John and Courtney Love. Upholding Chute’s flair for décor, Brazier-Jones is filling the house with crystal-encrusted tables and hot pink animal hide chaise-lounges. “John Chute certainly wasn’t afraid to stamp his own personality on The Vyne,” said the designer. “In fact, he was pretty daring and adventurous for his time, and if he were a client of mine today I’m sure we would get on famously.”

This mixture of historic and contemporary at The Vyne is in keeping with the vision of The National Trust to view a house as a living and evolving space. Visit the bedazzled abode now through August 1 for FREE as a member of the Royal Oak Foundation (The National Trust’s U.S. affiliate). Membership, just $55 to join, grants access to all of The National Trust properties around England, Wales, and Northern Ireland.

What do famed fashion guru Vivienne Westwood and The Royal Oak Foundation have in common? Plenty, it seems! Both the renowned designer (whose work is pictured at right) and the National Trust’s U.S. affiliate have crafted Cole & Son wallpaper collections.

Deck your home with a hint of English aesthetic: many of the intricate wallpapers are inspired by classic British art and architecture found within a variety of National Trust properties.

The most recent collaboration? Vintage Glamour. This sleek collection evokes the trends and spirit of the 1920s to 1950s with 16 new hand-printed creations.

Waddesdon Manor is sure to attract the Hoxton hipsters with the addition of a new modern art gallery at the trad manse outside London.

Waddesdon – one of the National Trust‘s most popular sites and free to visit for members of The Royal Oak Foundation  –  might be known best as the stomping grounds of the Rothschilds (yes, those Rothschilds) and now is set to be a modern art mecca, having converted the former stables into a sleek space.  A bona fide collector for decades, Lord Jacob Rothschild (recipient of ROF’s Timeless Design award in October) has turned his gaze forward with the new space, a slight departure from the classical works that decorate the walls and halls of the estate.  Case in point: the opening exhibition featuring the works of one of the original Young British Artists, Angus Fairhurst.

Fairhurst, a classmate of Damien Hirst at Goldsmiths College, was part of the now-famous student show Freeze, launching the YBAs.  Fairhurst tragically passed away last year, but visitors can appreciate his sculpture and work through the end of October.

The new space symbolizes the changing face of Waddesdon – a historic house with a difference, one looking forward rather than towards the past.

Park Hyatt just announced the opening of Park Hyatt Jeddah – Marina, Club, and Spa, the second in the Middle East for the hotel chain, and the first five-star property to open in the city since 2004.

The second largest city in Saudi Arabia after the capital, Riyadh, Jeddah is a major center for Middle East commerce. Business travelers will love the convenient location, just a quick five-minute drive to the financial district (traffic jams abound on the congested streets).  Organizations can hold massive conferences, and companies can seal the deal at the adjacent Lazurde Meeting and Conference Center that boasts an over 8,600 square foot ballroom that can be divided up for meetings, an outdoor reception area by the sea, and all the high-tech multimedia gadgets needed for an A+ presentation.

Practically built in the Red Sea itself on the Corniche of Jeddah, it’s hard not to appreciate the view as well. The resort is a remarkable engineering feat that reclaimed prime waterfront land from the Red Sea while retaining the delicate surrounding marine life. It’s the closest hotel in the city to the jaw-dropping King’s Palace, which is located on its own island. It also faces the iconic King Fahd’s Fountain, the world’s tallest fountain, which shoots up water at 233 miles per hour and is illuminated by over 500 spotlights at night.

The restaurant, Nafoura, faces this scene (as do most of the guest rooms) and serves up mouth-watering mezzes and grilled Mediterranean dishes from the open kitchen.   Sipping tea (no alcohol allowed) and smoking shisha on the outdoor terrace (the menu has over 20 varieties of the flavored tobacco) will undoubtedly be a popular activity.  Cigar aficionados can light up in a separate cigar lounge.

Keeping in line with Park Hyatt’s chic and modern  yet understated aesthetic , French interior designer Gilles Quiffet and architect Patrice Hart designed the 142 guest rooms and public spaces to fuse a sleek European style with Arab-Andalusian architecture.  Native artwork and crafts adorn the rooms, while intricately landscaped gardens surround the complex. Spa facilities are on the way and will feature separate ladies’ and gentlemen’s areas including the region’s first Hydrotherapy center.

Rates start at 1350 Saudi Riyals.

Level 1 (Wet and Thermal Experiences)

Swimming pool finished in black mosaic tiles accented with shimmering gold curves, a sleek granite pool bar, both overlooked by a Sanarium & Rock Sauna with full-height glass windows. Steam of room red and black mosaic is nestled in the corner next to the walk-through experience showers

Level 2  (Café, Fitness, and Nail Care)

Spa Café within the double-height atrium featuring a back-lit, golden ‘woven’ wall offset by curved purple ostrich leather banquet-style seating, black tables, and ivory leather chairs. Fitness Studio including state-of-the-art Technogym and Wellness Expert equipment, as well as a beautiful Chi studio finished with fabric acoustic panels to offer quiet solitude. Nail bar and pedicure thrones for all finishing touches

Level 3  (Changing Rooms)

Changing rooms decorated with Art Nouveau-themed wall coverings of crystal beads and walnut woodwork. Black granite vanity stations and ostrich leather bench seating accentuates the lavish nature of the changing facilities

Level 4 (Treatment Rooms)

14 treatment rooms featuring walnut woodwork with deep purple accent tiles and velvet armchairs. Elliptical purple glass showers in all treatment rooms protrude into treatment corridors, creating an impressive curved wall of illuminated claret glass

Level 5 (Relaxation Room)

Quiet, dark, and cozy relaxation rooms encircled by seven additional treatment rooms offer guests an additional space to further enjoy their ESPA experience 

Level 6 (Reception, Male and Female Relaxation rooms, Thermal Suites)

Deep purple mosaic walls, dark tiled flooring, vaulted glass ceilings, two feature waterfalls, and a large black granite fireplace welcome guests to commence their spa journey. Male and female Relaxation Rooms, complete with walnut floors and ergonomically reclining loungers, inspire a therapeutic ambience. Thermal Suite provides guests with the opportunity to enjoy solitude with a choice of individual steam and saunas pods, and the magnificent Rondello Sauna features a skylight of amber glass.

Vitality Pool, a signature feature of ESPA spas, is located on the rooftop.

ESPA Riga offers a range of Ayurvedic-influenced treatments that use ancient techniques of marma point massage and herbal medicinal oils to treat the body’s Dosha and restore balance to mind, body, and spirit. In addition, ESPA has created a selection of highly effective signature treatments specifically for ESPA Riga that include the use of amber, the precious stone of the Baltic Sea.

ESPA founder Sue Harmsworth says, “Entering ESPA Riga is like stepping into Riga’s ambitious future. Creating this spa has been an incredibly exciting project for us. The unique design incorporates a dedication to detail that ensures first impressions are breathtaking and everlasting.”

ESPA is an international spa company founded by Susan Harmsworth that conceptualizes, designs, and manages (from start to finish) hotel spas in luxury powerhouses such as Peninsula and Ritz Carlton, as well as esteemed independent properties like Gleneagles in Scotland and Reethi Rah in the Maldives. ESPA’s standard is carried in over 150 spas in 55 countries, and is currently expanding to India, Dubai, and South Africa. In addition to creating spas, ESPA has a roster of spa treatments and has developed a line of over 80 skincare and body products. The effectiveness of the products’ natural ingredients is backed by scientific research. Based in the U.K., ESPA also has offices in Miami, San Francisco, and Hong Kong. For further information and to purchase products, please visit www.espaonline.com, or call 1877 ESPA USA.