Essential Magazine September 2021 by Essential Magazine

ANDALUCÍA - SPAIN

N º 262 - SEPTEMBER 2021

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MARBELLA

on-ATCH p VID age

EOS

r a e s e r

ECOSHIP

EARTH 300

ANDALUCÍA

GOURMET TOURS THE ALL NEW

LOTUS EVIJA HEIDI GUBBINS

REFINED INTERIORS

LIVING A LOT

LONGER

50 YEARS OF

GREENPEACE

HOTEL SO/ SOTOGRANDE

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contents

ESSENTIALS

20 Publisher’s Letter

GO TO SPOTLIGHT

26 Gourmet Tours of Andalucía 40 SO/ Sotogrande 50 Earth 300 60 50 Years of Greenpeace 72 The Space & Underwater Tourism Summit 80 Living Lots Longer 86 The New Lotus Evija

GO TO TRENDS 96 Hot New Films 100 Dune is out this Month 104 Books – New Releases 108 Music News 110 Non-fungible Tokens 114 What’s Cool

GO TO LIFESTYLE 120 Beachfront Splendour at Los Monteros 132 Heidi Gubbins Interior Design 142 Game On with Convertible Furniture

120

144 Digital Art Fantasy 152 Udeshi – Tailored for Men

GO TO SPA 162 New Perfume Releases 166 Benefits of Garlic/Ginger/Tumeric 170 How to Age Beautifully

204

172 Addiction to Technology

GO TO ENTERPRISE 178 Vista Lago’s Michael Rodziewicz 184 Unico in Benahavís 190 The Vibe 194 Business News

GO TO GOURMET 204 Casino Marbella’s New Gastro Bar 210 The Future of Food

132

216 Gourmet Bytes 218 Wonderful Wines

210

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Issue 262 – September 2021

STAFF

PUBLISHER & DIRECTOR IAIN BLACKWELL director@essentialmagazine.com DIGITAL & CREATIVE DIRECTOR ANDREA BLACKWELL andrea@essentialmagazine.com ASSOCIATE EDITOR MARISA CUTILLAS marisa@essentialmagazine.com DESIGN & LAYOUT ANDREA BLACKWELL, INMA AURIOLES design@essentialmagazine.com

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OFFICE ADMINISTRATION MÓNIKA BÖJTI essential@essentialmagazine.com WRITERS IAIN BLACKWELL (JAMES SINCLAIR), ANDI BLACKWELL (MADDIE QUINN), MICHEL CRUZ, ALICIA DUGGAN, DR. TIM ERRINGTON, RIK FOXX, DAVID HURST, TONY WHITNEY editorial@essentialmagazine.com ACCOUNTS EXECUTIVE MARIANO JEVA cuentas@essentialmagazine.com STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER KEVIN HORN www.photographermarbella.com PRINTING JIMÉNEZ GODOY A. GRÁFICAS, MURCIA DEPÓSITO LEGAL D.L. MA-512-99

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The publishers make every effort to ensure that the magazine’s contents are correct, but cannot guarantee the accuracy of any information published herein, or be held accountable for any errors, omissions, or claims for damages. Marbella Magazine cannot accept responsibility for the claims, goods or services of advertisers, or for the copyright of materials used by them. © Publicaciones Independientes Costa del Sol S.L. for Marbella Magazine. No part of this magazine, including texts, photographs, illustrations, maps or any other graphics may be reproduced in any form without the prior written consent of Publicaciones Independientes Costa del Sol S.L. Printed on recyclable paper, produced without wood and bleached without chlorine.

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D WORDS BY IAIN BLACKWELL PUBLISHER

SERENE SEPTEMBER

nd so begins one of the nicest times of the year in Marbella and this month’s issue celebrates that. With the crowds having eased, along with the heat and humidity, this is the perfect month to experience some of the sensual pleasures on our doorstep and we suggest a number of gourmet tasting tours to whet your appetite. And if you feel like a break in superb surroundings, reserve a few nights at the magnificent new SO/ Sotogrande. There are some phenomenal concepts in this edition: check out the inspirational Earth 300, Dr. Tim Errington’s article on Longevity, and our in-depth feature on Greenpeace which marks its 50th

anniversary this September. We also report on the Space and Underwater Tourism Summit taking place in Marbella this month. Among copious columns of further content, don’t miss the creative digital art compositions from Luisa Azevedo, a spectacular beachfront villa courtesy of Engel & Völkers, and tailored fashion for men from Udeshi. Finally, read about Casino Marbella’s new Gastro Bar, and try some highlyrecommended award-winning cava and white wine.

go to CONTENTS

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MAKE IT A SEPTEMBER TO REMEMBER

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spotlight

OUR SPOTLIGHT IS FULL OF SUPERB CONTENT THIS MONTH WITH THE STUNNING EARTH 300, SO/ SOTOGRANDE, THE SPACE & UNDERWATER TOURISM SUMMIT IN MARBELLA, AND 50 YEARS OF GREENPEACE. IMAGINE DRIVING THE NEW LOTUS EVIJA AND READ ABOUT LIVING LONGER – A LOT LONGER!

GO TO PAGE 40 FOR SO/ SOTOGRANDE

GO TO PAGE 86 FOR THE LOTUS EVIJA

GO TO PAGE 60 FOR GREENPEACE

CULTURE TRAVEL HISTORY PEOPLE MOTORING 26 Gourmet Tours of Andalucía 40 Hotel SO/ Sotogrande 50 Earth 300 60 50 Years of Greenpeace

GO TO PAGE 26 FOR TASTING TOURS IN ANDALUCÍA

72 The Space & Underwater Tourism Summit 80 Living Lots Longer 86 The New Lotus Evija

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travel SPOTLIGHT D

CULINARY TOURISM TAKING A BITE OUT OF ANDALUCÍA

WORDS MARISA CUTILLAS PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY OF THE RESPECTIVE COMPANIES MENTIONED PHOTOGRAPHY OF BODEGAS GARCÍA HIDALGO CHARLY SIMON

The global tourism market is expected to reach a value of €1,5 billion by 2027, garnering a 16.8 per cent compound annual growth rate between 2020 and 2027 – as reported by ResearchandMarkets. com. Travellers aren’t necessarily seeking to dine lavishly but rather to do so adventurously, immersing themselves in new cultures and trying locally produced foods and ingredients made with tradition and pride. Whether you are new to Andalucía or you simply wish to savour more award-winning cheese, wines, and other gourmet foods, why not book a culinary escape? Some manufacturers permit visitors to visit their grounds and preparation areas in addition to sampling their wares. Below are just a few suggestions that may inspire you. ›

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HEADING TO CINCO JOTAS: THE HEART OF JAMÓN DE JABUGO

The name Cinco Jotas is synonymous with the finest quality, acorn-fed, 100 per cent Ibérico ham – considered a national treasure in Spain. Cinco Jotas, founded in the year 1879, invites those wishing to learn more about the different stages involved in making traditional Jabugo ham, to visit its installations. Begin your journey in the old, natural drying facilities (the heart of Cinco Jotas’ cellars), where various elements are united in the natural processing of hams – including the careful treatment of each ham leg. In days of old, ham legs were hung in this space for over six months prior to the tradition known as the ‘descent of the ham’ (bajada de jamón). On this occasion, a party was held to share the fruits of the makers’ painstaking labour and dedication with the village of Jabugo.

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You can then head to the cellar called ‘Los Fundadores’ (The Founders) – a curing cellar in which thousands of ham legs hang for three years to achieve the perfect point of curation within natural temperatures and humidity levels. Next, get ready to engage your competitive side, taking part in a fun interactive game in which you will be called upon to answer questions about the information your guide has just given you. Finally, enjoy a ham tasting session led by a maestro cortador (expert ham cutter) and, if you wish, head to the meadow (pasture), where you can see the pigs grazing on the bounties of the land. Within these scenic landscapes, it is easy to glean the importance of the montanera (the

season during which acorns fall from the tree to nourish the pigs). There are two tours to opt for. The Essence of Cinco Jotas tour lasts one hour and includes a guided visit to the cellars and a ham tasting paired with wine. The second, The Cinco Jotas Experience, lasts for four hours and includes the full experience (including the meadow visit). There is no better way to end your day than with a little shopping. Cinco Jotas’ artisans (all of which boast over 25 years’ experience) will accompany you to the curing cellar shop to select the perfect ham. Guided visits are available in various languages, but make sure to book beforehand. i www.cincojotas.es

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Botas Jerez

Hotel Bodega Tio Pepe

SIPPING SHERRY AT BODEGAS TÍO PEPE IN JEREZ

Jerez de la Frontera, ensconced in the north of the serene Guadalquivir river, is known as the cradle of sherry, an area that is home to acre upon acre of fields bearing albariza – an airily light, chalky soil that is ideal for growing Palomino grapes because of its unique capacity to trap water deep within it and to release hydration slowly over the summer so that the grapevines are nourished to perfection. Jerez is also home to a plethora of bodegas – including Osborne, Caballero, Barbadillo, and

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González Byass, many of which offer unique tasting visits that highlight the areas long history and invite visitors to contemplate the beauty of its vineyards and witness the manufacturing and ageing process that take place within the bodegas. If you have never been on a sherry tour, we suggest a pre-booked visit to Tío Pepe (belonging to González Byass and founded in 1853). Tío Pepe is arguably best known for its finos and its Soberano and Lepanto brandies, but it also makes a renowned range of amontillados, olorosos, palo cortados, natural sweet wines, and blends.

The winery is also strong in wine tourism and offers various visits which invite guests to discover the history of the winery, contemplate the beauty of the Villa Victoria gardens and the vineyards, and step inside various bodegas (including the Lepanto brandy bodega). There are three ‘simple’ tasting experiences to choose from: the five-wine, nine-wine, and tasting and pairing tours, respectively. The latter includes a tasting of five sherry wines paired with five gourmet tapas. Those wishing a longer

experience should opt for the Deluxe, Super Deluxe, or Cycling Tours. The Deluxe Tour features exclusive bottles from the Solera Exclusives Range (which have been stored for over 30 years), a viewing of venencia (the process from which sherry is extracted directly from the butt), and wine tasting with Andalucían tapas or a paired lunch. The Super Deluxe Tour includes breakfast, the discovery of the expertise that goes into the cultivation of Pedro Ximénez and Palomino grapes, exclusive access to the world’s largest sherry wine

collection, and a paired lunch. Finally, the Cycling Tour comprises a pleasant bike ride through the most scenic areas of the complex, followed by a visit to the vineyards and cellars – where you can sip on three types of sherry. Tío Pepe also offers bespoke tours for companies, organisations, and members of the press so if a special group occasion is coming up, this spot might be perfect for a celebration. i Tours are conducted in different languages and can be booked on Tel: 956 357 016. www.tiopepe.com

Calle Ciegos

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grapes. The vineyards contain Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, Miguel Ángel García Pereila, and Merlot grapes, which are oenologist, founded Bodega harvested by hand and placed García Hidalgo in 2006 in the into small boxes that are quickly fertile Guadalcobacín Valley, transported. Only the very best nestled in the Cruz de Ronda grape bunches, those which have plain – a land that is bathed by ripened to perfection, are chosen the waters of the Guadalcobacín to make wine. River. García Hidalgo is a family The bodega offers six different winery – one whose founders options for those wishing to pay have taken great care to grow the vineyards a visit. Option one and care for the vineyards and includes a visit plus a tasting of to produce artisanal wines made three wines; option two includes using traditional methods and three wines plus tapas from natural fertilisers. Ronda and seasonal products; The location of the vineyards – option three features a visit, four perched at 500m above sea level wines, tapas, seasonal products, – lends the soil the characteristics a tasting of ecological olive oil it needs to produce excellent and homemade bread, paella, and

SAVOURING WINE AT BODEGA GARCÍA HIDALGO IN RONDA

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dessert. Option four includes a tasting and a stay at the bodega, option five offers a stay at the bodega in an apartment or in double rooms with their own bathroom, and option six is a special tasting, catered to your tastes.

The bottles served depend on the dishes (if any) provided. Usually, a tasting of four wines begins with a glass of dry white Moscatel, followed by a Syrah rosé, a crianza red featuring three grape varieties, and finally, the bodega’s star bottle: Zabel de Alcobazín – a premium reserva bearing a mature tannin flavour with a warm finish and a matured fruity (blackcurrant/redcurrant) fragrance with a hint of cherry liquor. All visits include time spent at the vineyards, production area, and wine barrel zone. Book your visit in advance or ask the staff for advice regarding the best tasting tour for you. You can also check out the bodega’s products in their online store, which features white, red, and rosé bottles. i www.bodegasgarciahidalgo.es

EXPERIENCING THE MELTIN-THE-MOUTH GOODNESS OF PAYOYO CHEESE

If you read our feature on the mountainside paradise that is the Sierra de Grazalema, where pine forests, verdant hiking trails and stunning water features abound, then you may have already seen us waxing lyrical about the award-winning Payoyo cheese – itself meritorious of a drive up the winding road that leads to Ronda, then Grazalema. In between your hiking and swimming adventures, make it a point to try the many types of cheese made by Queso Payoyo, S.L. – a company founded in 1996 by Carlos Ríos Moreno and Andrés

Piña Calle. This association patented the name Payoyo cheese, which, they remind us, “isn’t a type of cheese, nor is it made with the milk of a determined breed of goats. It is a patented, legally recognised brand. Despite this fact, our cheese can be associated with the goat breed payoyamontejaqueña, though the latter was catalogued after we registered our brand. Previously, this goat breed was referred to as serrana.” Queso Payoyo makes its cheese from goats’ milk, sheeps’ milk and a blend of the two. They also sell cheese in manteca, rosemary, wheat bran, and paprika. ›

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Queso Payoyo has received 212 prizes (national and international), taking home 17 at the World Cheese Awards 2018/2019, celebrated in Bergen, Norway. The brand also received a maximum of three stars (for its semi-cured goats’ cheese) at the Great Taste Awards in London in 2018. The company does not receive visits at its manufacturing installations for sanitary reasons, but it does have a finca in Grazalema called Las Hazuelas, where you can enjoy a group tasting session. In addition to tucking into an array of cheese types, visitors watch a video about the cheese-making process and view goats and sheeps in their pastures. Tasting experiences should be booked in advance so contact the friendly staff if you’re ready to try a flavour-packed, buttery cheese with a characteristic, irresistible flavour. i www.payoyo.com

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TASTING THE WONDERS OF AWARDWINNING EXTRA-VIRGIN OLIVE OIL AT FINCA LA TORRE

Finca La Torre in Antequera has achieved great things in the world of olive oil production, having received impressive prizes and ratings – including a 100/100 classification at the renowned Flos Olei Competition for its Hojiblanca extra-virgin olive oil and the award for the best intense green fruity oil for this product at Sabor a Málaga 2021. The company, founded in 1998 and built in an area that was once an imperial Roman city, produces its oil according to biodynamic principles, which are considered a step up from organic farming, since they involve optimal land care and soil protection and embrace natural means of pest control. Finca La Torre offers two-hour tasting tours in English and Spanish. Guests can visit the vineyards, learn more about the process of production, and try different oils. The aim of these visits is to raise awareness about the elaborate process involved in making highquality extra-virgin olive oil.

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TASTING EXPERIENCES IN MARBELLA Giving in to your adventurous side and taking an Andalucían road trip is perfect when you have a few free days but if our article has inspired you to savour a gourmet tasting closer to home, you might enjoy the wine and cheese tasting experience (featuring a selection of Andalucían artisanal products) offered at the nearby Anantara Villa Padierna. i www.anantara.com

The visits comprise between one and 60 people and you can opt for breakfast or lunch if you wish. Breakfast consists of coffee, juice, infusions, water, and toast with olive oil and tomato. Lunch, meanwhile, includes a cheese platter with arbequina olive oil, tomato with Hojiblanca oil, and an arroz caldoso with meat. Dessert is a fruit brochette with olive oil and lemon and drinks include water and refreshments. Visits should be booked in advance. i www.fincalatorre.com

D-Wine, located in the Azalea Commercial Centre (between the Golden Mile and Puerto Banús) is another spot that is perfect for a bespoke wine tasting with tapas or a fabulous gourmet meal, whipped up by culinary whiz Edmund Cicans (a Latvian-born Chef who has honed his craft for over 15 years at top establishments along the Coast). This establishment has a highly knowledgeable staff (including sommeliers) who can surprise you with outstanding bottles, as well as the biggest collection of Spanish wines in the world. After your tasting, buy a bottle or two for enjoyment at home. i www.d-winecollection.com If tapas set your heart on fire, meanwhile, contact Taste Marbella for a tour around the Old Town. This company offers three different tour options, all of which last for three hours and include food and beverage tastings. Tours number one and three are undertaken in small groups of 10 people maximum while tour number two (the Private Food Tours & Corporate Experiences tour) accommodates up to 30 people. i www.tastemarbella.com WWW.ESSENTIALMAGAZINE.COM / 37

TAKE A MOMENT

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EXPLORE 21ST CENTURY LUXURY AT

SO/ SOTOGRANDE WORDS MICHEL CRUZ PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY OF ACCOR

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Five-star deluxe comes to Sotogrande with the opening of the new SO/ Sotogrande resort hotel by one of the world’s leading hospitality groups, Accor. Set within lush grounds, this elegant low-rise hotel boasts 116 modern rooms, 36 sumptuous suites, six restaurants and a new standard of leisure and wellness experience.

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he SO/ Hotels & Resorts brand by Accor is a specialised high-end offering which blends a long tradition of world-leading French expertise in luxury hostelry with the needs and expectations of a 21st century clientele that knows what it wants. It is an interpretation of a new kind of luxury, where time, space and the kind of ambience that forms the canvas for special moments blend with style, comfort and pampering service.

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“SO/ Sotogrande is not a resort hotel in the conventional sense; not the sum of its amenities and décor. It is a concept that moves from the more tangible, the real estate of a hotel, to the atmosphere it creates and the senses it evokes,” says Robert Kmita, General Manager of the SO/ Sotogrande. “In essence, it is an experience – the experience you wish for when you book a trip to a stylish Mediterranean destination.” ›

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The SO/ Hotels & Resorts concept is a coming together of two ages, a distillation of the best of both, so that guests may enjoy classic five-star deluxe service, comfort and attention to detail along with those aspects that define luxury and wellbeing in the modern age. As a result, the style is contemporary and superbly tasteful, but in contrast to previous eras luxury here is not defined as ostentation, as a measure of quantity. In fact, SO/ Sotogrande is all about quality over quantity.

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tasteful, but also endowed with all the amenities you could wish for in an upmarket resort, including gorgeously styled designer accommodation, equally refined contemporary leisure areas and of course a very high standard of gastronomy, but all with a very 21st century touch. You could well describe the concept as avant-garde, but it is also grounded in a very natural interpretation of luxury – measured UNLIKE ANY OTHER HOTEL in time, space, quality, service and sensory Change begins with a fresh concept, a new experiences in an evocative setting. “SO/ way of reimagining things, and so it is with Sotogrande offers classic five-star deluxe, the thought pattern that led to the creation but with a contemporary/natural twist. of the SO/ Hotels & Resorts brand. Instead There’s a 21st century ‘modern chic’ about of concentrating hotels in large buildings, the it, and you’ll notice this in the emphasis SO/ Sotogrande is a fine example of a luxury upon wellbeing that pervades everything resort that sprawls comfortably between from cuisine made from gorgeous natural gardens, pools, terraces, leisure facilities and ingredients to the fine quality natural water features. Moving away from a tourist materials as well as a laid-back but also concept that is now around 70 years old, it energising ambience.” has evolved into something a little different. With the SO/ Hotels & Resorts concept, Indeed, you won’t feel like a tourist/ the hospitality industry has gone back to hotel guest at SO/ Sotogrande, even the drawing board, and in keeping with the an upscale one. Instead, you’ll have the natural philosophy each hotel is that little distinct sensation of staying at a gorgeous bit different, be it in Paris, Dubai, Koh Samui, country retreat. One that is private and Melbourne or Sotogrande. ›

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www.so-sotogrande.com

“Each hotel is the product of the SO/ concept being merged with the local terroire, the uniquely local setting, climate, views, culture, sights, scents and flavours. This is reflected in the design, décor, the restaurant offering and in fact the whole ambience, so that when you stay at SO/ Sotogrande, you know you’re in Andalucía, Spain.” Far removed from the

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uniform branded approach of years gone by, SO/ hotels each have their own character, look and aura, though you’ll recognise the spirit that gave rise to them all. But when you stay at SO/ Sotogrande, the experience is not only distinctly SO/ but also ‘Spanish’, as the hotel celebrates all the best of the country, region and location, but does so with the

flair of modern refinement and understated cultural references. “As with everything we offer, it’s a special feeling that we create, an atmosphere of possibilities that each guest gives their own flavour to.” g Avenida Almenara s/n, Sotogrande. Tel: (+34) 956 582 000. sotogrande@so-hotels.com www.so-sotogrande.com

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BEST (I)GCSE RESULTS IN HISTORY Congratulations to our Year 11 students. This excellent year group of 50 students managed to achieve fantastic results, with the majority of their examinations officially taken rather than based on teacher predictions. · 67% of our 2021 (I)GCSE grades are A**- A (9-7) · 86% of our 2021 (I)GCSE grades are A**- B grade (9-6) We are extremely proud of their efforts over the past two years and know that they will now become another successful Sixth Form. Here is a sample of some of our highest performers. NB: AQA and Edexcel grades of 7-9 have been converted to grades of A-A*

ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE. CARE. EDUCATIONAL SUPPORT DEDICATED TO TEACHINGPASTORAL AND LEARNING FOR ALMOST 50 YEARS JS SI advert IB & IGCSE 2021 pages no bleed.indd 1

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Our Head Girl, Jessica Newton, gained 44 points in the IB.

SUPERB IB RESULTS

Throughout all of her years at Swans, she has been a true role

Once again, the graduating Year 13 class of Swans

model, positively and proactively contributing to school life.

International School has maintained the high standards of previous years, with an amazing set of IB Diploma results. In keeping with the school’s reputation for academic success, 8 of our students achieved 40 points or more, which puts them amongst the top 20% of students worldwide.

43 points Shahina Schwieter

43 points Christelle Vall

43 points Aksiniya Gatsenko

In the most difficult two years in our recent history, these students coped with the challenge of IB admirably, with 45% of the students achieving 36 points or above, equivalent to AAA at A Level, which is a monumental achievement. They will now go on to attend some of the world’s most prestigious universities, including Russell Group

42 points Diana Nebezheva

41 points Varvara Sinitchkina

40 points Abby Warriner

universities such as King’s College London, The University of Glasgow and Durham University. Swans has built its success over 50 years, by instilling a philosophy of hard work and independence in its students, underpinned by a code of Positivity, Proactivity and Pride. These sixth formers are shining examples of these values and will enter the next phase of their lives fully prepared for the challenges

40 points Erik Dekker

39 points Simone Bache

39 points Carmen Díaz del Pozo

of the future.

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EARTH 300 For mind-blowing futuristic concepts, they don’t come much more daring than Earth 300. Designed to entice the brightest minds for exploring and countering climate change, this spectacular vessel will be a floating scientific centre par excellence. WORDS JAMES SINCLAIR PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY OF EARTH 300

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MAGNIFICENT MONUMENT Longer than the Titanic at almost 300 metres and measuring 45 metres at its widest, the super-yacht will support a panoramic observation deck on its bow, fore and aft deck helipads for transporting passengers,

and an array of high tech submersibles for exploring the seas at depth. Envisioned to resemble Earth, a vast 13-storey science sphere will be stationed towards the stern as a functional technological platform for exploration and innovation at sea, comprising 22 scientific laboratories and housing 160 scientists whose principal mission will be to discover means of combatting climate change. ›

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Earth 300 is hugely ambitious, but that’s precisely the point according to the man behind it. Aaron Olivera, who hails from Gibraltar and is currently based in Singapore, envisaged an awe-inspiring concept that would galvanise public interest in solving one of the biggest threats to our current survival. Olivera, who is

also a keynote speaker at this month’s SUTUS summit in Marbella (see pages 72 - 76 in this issue), describes it as “this generation’s Eiffel Tower. It has been been designed to capture people’s attention but also their hearts and imaginations. If we want to make big, bold changes we need everybody’s help, and we mean everybody, all ages, backgrounds and even all types of intelligences.”

IMPRESSIVE SUPPORT Such a valiant vision will be exorbitantly expensive

Aaron Olivera

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to realise, with the nuclear powered megayacht expected to reach in the region of $700 million to build. Consequently, Earth 300 will not only be the world’s premier ocean-going laboratory for scientists, researchers and environmentalists, supported by a crew of 165, but will provide berths for 40 VIP guests, 20 of whom will each pay an estimated €1 million for the privilege of a 10-day cruise, residing in luxurious quarters. ›

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When asked if he believes the affluent are likely to support Earth 300, he answers defiantly: “100 per cent! There are many reasons for this. Firstly, we are glamourising science and placing scientists on a pedestal – if we are to survive the future we need to respect, elevate and celebrate science. Secondly, never before have the well-heeled had a chance to contribute to

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a good cause and participate in an incredible adventure at the same time. Thirdly, 80% of profits generated from the project will be channelled back into science, so this is a self sustainable business model. Fourthly, they will be helping the world learn about real science and sustainability in real time as this will be a ship that will beam all of its activities and findings around

the globe so it can inspire waves of bold new thinking, inventors, scientists and explorers who will help ensure the survival of humanity for generations to come.” The project already has an enviable lineup of backers, including IBM, Triton Submarines, EYOS Expeditions, and RINA, an international leader in maritime safety. The only propulsion technology

that Earth 300 will pursue is one that is emissionsfree. They have therefore considered the moltensalt reactor, an advanced atomic technology which is radically different to traditional atomic power, which is being devised by companies like Thorcon, Moltex, and the nuclear innovation company founded by Bill Gates. However, Earth 300 remains open to the use of other emission-free technologies. Salas Jefferson, founder of Iddes Yachts, is the man responsible for the eyepopping structure with a radically aerodynamic look. “Aaron was adamant that the design had to inspire,” said Salas Jefferson. “When one walks into the sphere, now housing the scientific city, and feels the action of all the ongoing scientific works, we want them to be inspired to become an alchemist of global solutions.” The vessel will count on the most advanced computing capabilities and everything

discovered on board will be shared with the global community, proliferating the enthusiasm to expedite promising strategies.

CONCEPT ORIGIN The inspiration for the concept followed a revelatory diving incident for Aaron Olivera in the Maldives back in 2015 where, instead of finding an iridescent coral reef teeming with fish, he found himself staring at “unattractive, greyish white bleached corals” as a result of excess carbon being absorbed into the sea. “I had always been inspired by the voyages of Jacques Cousteau on Calypso,” reveals Olivera, “and said to myself, why not bring the smartest and brightest scientists

and explorers and place them all on a futuristic vessel equipped with an unprecedented level of technology.” “The oceans are dying,” says Salas Jefferson. “Having been born in Palma de Mallorca, I’ve seen it first-hand in the Mediterranean. Now is the time to reboot, reconnect, and redirect our planet’s destiny.” ›

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FOR OUR SURVIVAL For human beings racing towards an increasingly uncertain future with rising temperatures causing havoc with the world’s weather systems, loss of habitat, and species decimation, it has never been more important to find solutions to these problems if we are ultimately to survive as a race. “We are living in a pivotal moment in human history and facing the greatest challenge to our civilisation since the dawn of humankind,” says Aaron. While Elon Musk, Jeff Bezos and Richard Branson are focusing on the Moon and Mars, he is concentrating his efforts here at home on the blue planet. There may be future benefits from establishing colonies on Mars but, as Aaron Olivera succinctly points out: “Our planet is the biological pinnacle of the galaxy; we have an indescribably beautiful planet that

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we are privileged to call home; it’s really a perfect planet so I believe we first need to live in harmony with it before perhaps we deserve to get a second one.” “Our oceans keep us – and our planet – alive,” agrees Salas Jefferson. “Earth 300’s mission is to protect our oceans and ensure their heath for generations to come. Space may be the future, but today, Earth is our only home.” i earth300.com

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e r Heroes on th Halibut Trawle ce mission, 1971 © first Greenpea Rober t Keziere Greenpeace /

F O S R A E Y 50

S E V A W G N I K A M

e tised on th ler p a b , s r io r r a w Rainbow W t sail in a halibut tra e h t f o s e g hippies se epic voya charts the this month when 12n peace, man’ years ago 1971 ‘Make it a gree 0 5 s Greenpeace an a e s h in hig e k t u s gave protest n te r n a o ix ucle N n ’s a a c lt ri a e h m r ocean platform to hatred of A der membe Pedro un e. As one fo r joke that m l io m rr a ra g W ro w p o inb had a critica er e “W , it t u p t’s an old Ra to any bar in Vancouv urfully sed lk in have colo ers, radicali g to g s u h im e la e you can wa c tr , f o o mass omeone wh pot smokers , s e ik n n o e c o a n e and meet s t, p fac hts students, enpeace. In s, animal rig uddhists, e most it ’s y d k rl ts o ro w founded Gre T e ageing dists, B as behind th etarians, nu g e v , individual w vironmental NGO. ts is v wanted ti ac en te keters who ic p d n a in-your-face evolved from a dispara rs e march talk about a t s ju n a th Greenpeace draft dodgers and to do more fters, a y b d group of dri e it revolution.” l all sorts un a n te io a s n s io fe s s ro p a pa ddress and Canadian a

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above: © t: Armestre, righ/ on ilt H l © Pau Greenpeace

But not a bloody revolution. Greenpeace has been about non-violent direct action ever since its inception as the Don’t Make A Wave Committee – a reference to the tsunamis triggered by atmospheric nuclear testing during the 60s and 70s. It would have been a complete misnomer for an organisation committed to making waves and rocking boats on behalf of the planet but it was tossed overboard during the first protest voyage when someone flashed the Vietnam War V-sign for peace, someone else chipped in, ‘Make it a green peace, man’

and the new name stuck. With money raised from a benefit concert headlined by Canadian singer Joni Mitchell and her boyfriend James Taylor, the committee bought an old trawler and a crew of 12 set sail for Amchitka Island, off Alaska, where America had scheduled an underground nuclear test. They took with them several journalists, a TV film camera no one knew know how to work, a religious pamphlet called Warriors of the Rainbow which gave them the name of their flagship, and two cassettes to inspire them on the voyage – Beethoven’s

Fifth and The Moody Blues album, On the Threshold of a Dream. ‘Using the media as our sling we will hurl our stone against the American Goliath,’ wrote journalist Robert Hunter. Later on during the risky voyage he noted, ‘It is not the thought of certain death that hangs me up, it’s the prospect of rotting in jail for 10 years.’ Although they failed to stop the test, their heroism captured hearts and minds and America packed up testing at Amchitka five months later. ›

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It was the first of many David v Goliath missions that have characterised the Greenpeace modus operandi – an organisation that took peaceful protest onto the world’s oceans and to a handson level that was out on its own until Extinction Rebellion came along. Plain sailing it never has been. Activists have been arrested, jailed, injured, killed (in one instance) and hit with massive fines. Staff have been menaced with death threats. Greenpeace offices have been phone tapped, infiltrated by corporate spies and turned over by the FBI in an investigation that proved groundless. In 2016, an activist was convicted and fined for irreparably damaging the sacred Nazca Lines in Peru while laying down banners for a publicity stunt. The same year, 107 Nobel laureates signed an open letter condemning a campaign against GM crops for ‘spreading unscientific myths about foods that could save the lives of millions’.

Sounding the Climate Alarm: 2019’s EU summit venue in Brussels lit up in flames © Eric De Mildt / Greenpeace

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Air protest - activists climb Nelson’s 52-metre Column to fit him with an anti-pollution mask, 2016 © Jiri Rezac / Greenpeace

Over five decades Greenpeace has grown into a Goliath of global pressure groups with influence at government and boardroom level on a broad range of environmental issues. It remains scrupulously independent by raising its own funds – although it does receive a chunk of national lottery money from the Netherlands, its global HQ. Today there are Greenpeace branches in 55 countries, 3,500 staff on the payroll and thousands of volunteer eco warriors worldwide

Hands-On Saving whales is a risky business © Greenpeace / Kate Davison

who can be called upon at a moment’s notice to spring into action on behalf of the planet. “Greenpeace is many things, including incredible in-house experts across a range of sectors,” says Jennifer Morgan, Executive Director of Greenpeace International. “If you know the facts, if you understand how the system you’re trying to change works, then it’s harder to be dismissed. That combination of knowledge and activism is pretty formidable when it comes together.” ›

Plastic Mediterranean large-scale protest against single-use plastics pollution, Valencia, 2014 © Pedro Armestre / Greenpeace

i For news of campaigns and 50th anniversary events worldwide, see greenpeace.org

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1971-1996 TESTING TIMES Over 2,000 nuclear test bombs were detonated worldwide between 1945 and 1996, when all but eight countries signed up to the Nuclear Test Ban Treaty. Until then, Greenpeace did not let up, particularly on the French, one of the last nations to cease atmospheric testing. In 1973, Rainbow Warrior was boarded by the French navy and two activists were badly beaten. Footage smuggled off the ship was shared with the world and the public outrage shamed France into ending its programme the following year, effectively driving atmospheric testing out of the Pacific.

1972-1982 SAVING THE WHALES It was the cause celebre of the 70s and the slogan on everyone’s T-shirt. Greenpeace brought the plight of the ocean giants into sharp focus with the world’s first at-sea anti-whaling campaigns. TV coverage of intrepid Greenpeace activists hurling themselves between whales and harpoons turned the tide for cetaceans, culminating in 1982’s worldwide moratorium on commercial whaling to allow dwindling populations to recover. Humpbacks and blue whales are off the critical list but there is still work to do as Japan, Norway and Iceland still whale commercially. ›

Win for Whales Humpbacks are off the critical list ©James D. Watt/ SeaPics.com

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1972-82

1982 SPRAYING SEALS The daring bid to halt Canada’s fur seal hunt by spraying pups with harmless green dye, rendering their pelts worthless, came to define Greenpeace in its early years. Images of scarlet-suited activists armed with spray guns standing over appealing balls of fluff in the icy Gulf of St. Lawrence went global. But the groundswell of support which saw America and the EU introducing import bans backfired on the local Inuit fish-based economy, for which Greenpeace has apologised. ›

Saving Seals The campaign was too successful © Greenpeace / Pierre Gleizes

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1985 YOU CAN’T SINK A RAINBOW The bombing of Rainbow Warrior by French government spies sent shockwaves throughout the world. The Greenpeace flagship was moored in Auckland Harbour, ready to lead a flotilla protest against a French nuclear test when two bombs exploded on board. The second sank the ship and killed 35-year-old Greenpeace photographer Fernando Pereira who had gone back to retrieve his cameras. The French government finally held its hands up to statesponsored terrorism on national TV, admitting Opération Satanique had been carried out by secret service agents on the orders of President François Mitterrand. France paid dearly in reparation and reputation and Greenpeace bought a new ship. The current Rainbow Warrior, one of three in the fleet today, is the greenest ship on the ocean, sail powered with diesel-electric engine backup and storage for waste to avoid dumping at sea. The first ship custom-made for environmental campaigning, it packs serious scientific and telecoms equipment and a helipad.

1987-1991 PROTECTING EARTH’S LAST WILDERNESS For five freezing years a team of intrepid Greenpeace activists ran the only NGO base in Antarctica, 66 / SEPTEMBER 2021 ESSENTIAL MAGAZINE

just to get a seat at the bargaining table alongside Antarctic Treaty Nations. With the dream of protecting the entire continent as a world park, the hardy crew monitored pollution from neighbouring government bases, held nations to account and stopped the French dynamiting nesting penguin habitats to build an airstrip. At first they were ignored. But after 1989’s devastating Exxon Valdez oil spill, support flooded in with Ted Turner, Jacques Cousteau and the Aga Khan on board. In 1991, Antarctic Treaty nations adopted a new Environmental Protocol, including a 50-year minimum ban on mineral exploitation.

1985 1988

1989

1995 THE BATTLE OF BRENT SPAR The world’s media scrambled helicopters to the North Sea to capture the high octane drama playing out on Shell’s Brent Spar oil platform. Greenpeace activists occupied the structure for more than three weeks to prevent its deep sea disposal, which would have dumped toxic chemicals, heavy metals and crude oil into the ocean. Attempts to blast protesters off the platform with water cannons failed but when motorists started boycotting Shell service stations all over Europe, the oil giant capitulated and had the rig recycled.

1995

Pen at W Bas ©G Ste

nguin power World Park se, Antarctica Greenpeace / eve Morgan

1997 INVENTING THE WORLD’S COOLEST FRIDGE

1989

Greenpeace activism takes many forms but designing fridges? This was the year they won a United Nations Award for ‘outstanding contributions to the protection of the Earth’s ozone layer’ with Greenfreeze, a domestic refrigerator free of CFCs and other greenhouse gas coolants. Today 80% of the world’s refrigerators run on Greenfreeze technology.

2010 KITKAT COUP A campaign to stop Nestlé using palm oil from ravaged Indonesian rainforests turned the brand advertising on its head to give orangutans a break. Eye catching billboards parodying the KitKat slogan popped up in cities and a viral video of an office worker biting into a bloodsoaked orangutan finger put everyone off the chocolate snack. Greenpeace even planted an activist disguised as an ape in a treetop nest outside the

CEO’s window at Nestlé’s Amsterdam HQ. The world’s largest F&B company climbed down, agreeing to a series of objectives it has yet to fulfil.

2016 ELEGY FOR THE ARCTIC The Greenpeace icebreaker Arctic Sunrise carried Virtuoso Italian pianist Ludovico Einaudi and his Steinway baby grand piano all the way to Svalbard in Norway for this epic stunt. The maestro performed the world premiere of Elegy for the Arctic while floating on a raft among the ice floes with the Wahlenbergbreen glacier melting in the background. The work was inspired by eight million voices from around the world calling for Arctic protection.

2016

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2021

Drone Dazzler - Shining a light on climate change at 2021’s G7 summit © Greenpeace / Pierre Gleizes

2021 LIGHTING UP THE G7 Global leaders couldn’t miss Greenpeace’s dazzling drone ballet, staged during this summer’s G7 summit in Cornwall. The drones were choreographed to form 3D shapes of species threatened by climate change and the words Act Now glittering in the night sky – a message that went over nobody’s head. Greenpeace has dedicating the decade to fighting climate change, ‘the greatest environmental battle of our age’. This summer it scored a big win when a Dutch civil court

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ordered Shell to cut its CO2 emissions to 45% of 2019’s levels by 2030. It’s the first time a major fossil fuel company has been held to account for its contribution to climate change. “The fossil fuel industry is incredibly toxic for our health, for our climate, for our political systems,” says Greenpeace’s Jennifer Morgan. “You’ve got massive deforestation in Brazil, coal companies involved in corruption in Indonesia… if people really understood how much influence these companies have in policies, they would be pretty upset.” e

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THE SPACE AND UNDERWATER TOURISM UNIVERSAL SUMMIT

TOURISM BEYOND NATURAL BORDERS Jeff Bezos’ launch into suborbital space aboard the New Shephard rocket ship may have seemed like the stuff dreams are made of; an exciting, inspiring achievement that is light years away for the average tourist. The Space and Underwater Tourism Universal Summit (SUTUS), which will take place from September 22 to 24, seeks to prove that tourism is rising to its two biggest challenges – space and underwater tourism – much faster than expected. Now in its second edition, the event will feature talks by Sam Scimemi (Senior Assistant, Human Exploration and Operations Mission Directorate, NASA Headquarters), Hiroko Asakura (Deputy Director of JAXA, Paris Office), Pascale Ehrenfreund (President of the International Astronautical Federation), and various other experts from the space and underwater tourism industries.

WORDS MARISA CUTILLAS PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY OF LES ROCHES, NASA, AND SHUTTERSTOCK

A HYBRID EVENT SUTUS will feature two modalities. It will kick off on September 22 at the Les Roches Marbella campus and continue virtually for two days more. Through Medina Media Events (which organised leading top tech and business events such as the 5G Forum and the 4K Summit), individuals and companies can view the conference via live-streaming and engage in B2B discussions with other

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organisations as well as with the speakers themselves. The aim is for those interested in this type of tourism to learn more about the latest developments in the sector. Two recent milestones achieved just this year include the arrival of probes and robots on Mars from agencies such as NASA, China’s space agency, and that of the United Arab Emirates, and SpaceX’s first private trips to the International Space Station.

LED BY GIANTS The world’s major space agencies – NASA and ESA – have both agreed to meet once a year at SUTUS to enlighten audiences on their visions and missions, having enjoyed interacting with companies from the Andalusian space sector (which is considered a pioneer in Europe) in the past. Although the 2020 event was cancelled owing to the health crisis, it is back with gusto this year, with the Ministry of Tourism of the Andalusian Regional Government and Tourism and Planning Costa del Sol providing support. The speakers for the underwater tourism part of the event, meanwhile, will hail from a range of countries – including the U.S., France, Italy, and Spain. ›

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WORLD-CLASS SPEAKERS Sam Scimemi boasts over 30 years’ experience in human spaceflight and commenced this part of his career at the Johnson Space Centre in Houston, Texas. He has taken part in various NASA projects such as Shuttle, Hubble, Space Station, SOFIA, NPP, and more. He is currently working on the Moon Mars project, applying his expertise to the safety of manned missions. Hiroko Asakura, meanwhile, will be speaking on Japan’s latest efforts at fostering space tourism. Japan is currently taking part in NASA’s Artemis project, which will see the first Japanese man and woman land on the moon and Japanese magnate Yusaku Maezawa hopes to be the first space tourist to make this fascinating voyage. The entrepreneur has invited eight more persons to form part of an expedition that will lift off in 2023 aboard a SpaceX ship. The Artemis project is groundbreaking in many ways, with NASA stating that it will “land the first woman and first person of colour on the Moon, using innovative technologies to explore more of the lunar surface than ever before.” Artemis will also see NASA collaborating with international partners

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from across the globe, gleaning information for its next giant leap: sending astronauts to Mars. NASA hopes to build sustainable elements on and around the Moon, permitting both astronauts and robots to engage in deeper explorations and “conduct more science than ever before.”

DIVING INTO THE DEEP SUTUS will set its sight on more than the stars. It will also be devoted to underwater tourism and other projects such as Senda Azul de la Costa del Sol (‘the Blue Track of the Costa del Sol’). The latter was launched by the Diputación de Málaga and seeks to highlight the touristic value contained in 180km of underwater habitats. The Diputación hopes to boost accessibility to underwater archaeological sites, coral reefs, and sunken ships – some of which hail back to Greek or imperial Roman times. Battles that have left their mark beneath our waters include the Battle of Lepanto and the Second World War. The project also includes the construction of artificial reefs and nautical bases, meant to attract high-end tourists and to help preserve the integrity and life of underwater resources, flora, and fauna.

LES ROCHES STUDENTS IN ATTENDANCE SUTUS will be attended (in person or online) by hundreds of Les Roches students and alumni who have studied at the school’s campuses in Shanghai (China), Crans Montana (Switzerland), and Marbella. They hail from over 100 countries and form part of a 13,000-strong community. Most graduates obtain employment at some of the world’s top luxury hotels though others have launched their own initiatives. The Les Roches Marbella campus will also be hosting an exhibition focusing on tourism and the advances made by new technologies.

SPACE TOURISM ISN’T AS ELUSIVE AS IT SEEMS SUTUS will be celebrating the progress of new types of tourism that appeal to those with a thirst for adventure. Its supporters – including the Director of the COPE radio station’s La Linterna, Ángel Expósito – believe that it “isn’t as crazy as it seems.” Expósito recently interviewed the CEO of Les Roches Marbella, Carlos Díez de la Lastra. The latter stated, “We are a lot closer than people think to expanding our limits. ›

Carlos Díez de la Lastra

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It’s so much easier now and we don’t truly appreciate the scope of the achievements made by Spanish explorers during a time in which everything was more difficult.” He is pleased to find that Andalucía is fast becoming a hub for those specialising in this type of cutting-edge tourism: “Currently, leading agencies in the race for luxury space and underwater tourism are gathering in Marbella and past expeditions to America (aimed at discovering) the New World also commenced in Andalucía.” If you think you have what it takes to reach for the stars or explore the depths of the sea, register for the online event between now and September 21 on www.sutusummit. com. You can also sign up for SUTUS’ newsletter for pertinent updates. e

Sam Scimemi at SUTUS

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Dennis Tito (left), the world’s first space tourist

FUN FACTS ABOUT SPACE AND UNDERWATER TOURISM The space tourism industry plans to offer clients far more than suborbital flights. Russian space organisation Roscosmos, for instance, plans to send two clients into space in 2023; one of them will take part in a spacewalk. Z Canadian billionaire, Cirque du Soleil Guy Laliberté, paid $35 million in 2009 to spend almost 11 days in outer space. He spent two days in orbit and more than eight on the International Space Station (ISS). When asked if he would do it again, he responded enthusiastically: “That moment they light the fuse under your ass, it’s a sense of total freedom, because I knew then nobody could get me out and no phone call could modify what I was doing there.” U.S. millionaire Dennis Tito, who became the world’s first space tourist in 2009, described the experience as “eight days of euphoria.”

Z Space tourism is still a very costly affair. Virgin Galactic sold its first few tickets for $200,000 to $250,000 each and it has warned that prices will increase in the future. Z Some of the most popular underwater voyages are those taken within a submarine. Companies like Atlantis Submarine Tours have been conducting family-friendly tours through the Caribbean, Hawaii, Guam, and many more aquatic paradises. Z If you are into novel cultural experiences, why not visit an underwater museum? One of the newest is the Alonissos Underwater Museum (near Alonissos island in the Aegean), opened in Summer 2020. This museum contains a 5th-century B.C. shipwreck and features a plethora of ancient artefacts surrounded by colourful schools of fish.

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WHO WANTS TO LIVE FOREVER? As the world bounces back from a global pandemic, it seems pretty clear that we all have to be more proactive with our health. Modern life is making us frail and susceptible to disease, and it’s the old who have become the most vulnerable. Of course we are living longer nowadays, but where’s the evidence to suggest that older people today are living in better health than their parents? The sad fact remains that 80% suffer from at least one chronic condition. Basically, we’ve done a pretty poor job at looking after ourselves, and in this increasingly fast-paced, uber-modern world, it’s time that we take a fresh look at ‘how we age’. And this, I’m pleased to report, is exactly what has been happening behind the scenes. I have been closely following advances in areas of science that could be about to transform the way people look at ageing. What if we could be younger longer, a lot longer? Well, I’ve been doing some digging, and I think you may be excited by some of the things I’ve uncovered. WORDS DR. TIM ERRINGTON

NOW IS THE TIME FOR OPTIMISM!

hat really piques my interest is that finally, after a century of healthcare being dominated by medicine with its focus on ‘sick care’, we are finally looking at turning the tables and looking more towards prevention and regeneration. We have the biggest tech companies in the world facing the problems associated with disease and

ageing with Google, Apple, Amazon, Facebook and hundreds of smaller companies pitching enormous resources into the arena. At the same time, we are seeing these industries experiencing massive, exponential growth in terms of speed, capacity and performance, with faster computers creating ever-faster super-computers. ›

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The potential here is pretty much without limits and you should perhaps prepare to have your minds blown. Peter Diamondis, of Singularity University, suggests that advances in sensors and networks, together with Artificial Intelligence, will revolutionise diagnostics; robotics and the 3-D printing of human tissue will advance procedures, while quantum

computing, AI and genomics will transform the development of medicines to make healthcare not only preventative, but personalised. Before long we will have the knowledge, the will, and the ability to extend our ‘healthspans’ and ultimately our lifespans bringing about the greatest advances in human potential the world has ever seen. What is there not to be excited about?

g Dr Tim Errington is a Doctor of Chiropractic, Certified Functional Medicine Practitioner, Author and Public Speaker. Currently running his chain of wellness clinics in Singapore, Dr Errington is looking to the future and is turning his attention to longevity and maximising human potential. tjnerrington@gmail.com

THE ‘THREE BRIDGES’ For those interested in healthy longevity, there is good reason to be enormously excited. Even during the decade ahead, we will see breakthroughs of such importance that the very future of humanity will begin to be reshaped before our eyes. We really are approaching a ‘Eureka moment’ in history. 82 / SEPTEMBER 2021 ESSENTIAL MAGAZINE

Ray Kurzweil, the futurist, describes three bridges that must be crossed to access areas of amazing growth on the far side. Realising that these technological advances will bring advances in healthcare that today would seem nothing short of miraculous, Kurzweil suggests that the problems

associated with ageing will become increasingly easy to tackle as technological advances layer on top of each other. As our potential for prolonged vitality increases incrementally, our personal strategy could look something like this. Firstly, to cross ‘Bridge One’ we simply need to remain healthy long enough to enjoy the first wave of technological advances that are coming down the pipe. This we already know how to do, far more so than most people realise, and by applying present knowledge we can buy ourselves an extra 14 +/- years. So, let’s say this takes us to 94 instead of 80.

Now we’ve reached ‘Bridge Two’ when the Biotech Revolution (DNA reprogramming/sequencing and stem-cell technology) will allow us to live a further 15-20 years and to reach the third bridge. Now think in terms of hitting 110+ years instead of 90+. As we cross ‘Bridge Three’, nanotechnology and AI (nanobots) will soon be operating at the intracellular

level. Miniscule machines circulating in the blood, doing repair work to arteries and organs, removing cancer cells, viruses and other unwanted visitors will then give us the ability to extend life enormously while other advances will see us actually reversing the ageing process in many respects. What are the limits? Probably none, as it is likely that tech advances will eventually be able to overcome all obstacles.

I’m already telling my kids to prepare for a life of 150+ years. Me? I’m a 60 year-old who feels 40 most days and it would be a shame to miss out on some extra quality years. I intend to stay as I am for another two decades and then we’ll see where I go from there. Mine really could be the last generation to live a normal lifespan! I think a longevity mindset is worth adopting, one that is both optimistic and focused on possibilities. You have to be in it to win it and any side effects can only be good. Am I obsessing about living to 100 plus? No, but I’m definitely putting some serious effort into extending my ‘healthspan’ and if I end up crossing that first bridge then it’s game on; I’ll play whatever cards I’m left holding. e

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LOTUS EVIJA

When the legendary Colin Chapman built his first Lotus racing car back in 1948, his philosophy was to keep the weight down and optimise power, a maxim that lives on in the upcoming Evija all-electric hypercar. Imaginative though Chapman was, he couldn’t have believed in his wildest dreams that one day, a Lotus road car would rocket to 100 km/h in less than three seconds solely on its electric motors. WORDS TONY WHITNEY PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY OF LOTUS SPONSORED BY C. DE SALAMANCA 86 / SEPTEMBER JUNE 2021 ESSENTIAL 2021 ESSENTIAL MAGAZINE MAGAZINE

he Evija is being touted as Britain’s first hypercar and although several prestigious UK carmakers have talked about similar products, most have been mock-ups or conceptualisations. The Evija has actually been demonstrated to the public at Goodwood SpeedWeek during the summer and no less than ex F-1 champion Jenson Button trumpeted its performance potential. True to Lotus tradition, the Evija is very light. It weighs just 1,680 kg and the carmaker is claiming that it’s the

world’s lightest production EV hypercar. The carbon fibre monocoque, produced in Italy in Ferrari’s home city, contributes greatly here, but there are many other key engineering factors at work. The battery pack is mounted centrally, following another Lotus tradition with regard to engine placement. The car uses four electric motors driving all four wheels to transfer the huge power output serenely to the road. Lotus is targeting a massive 2,000 horsepower for this powertrain, another world high.›

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As would be expected, the cockpit of this new Lotus is a feast for the enthusiast’s eye and includes every imaginable comfort and convenience item possible in a high-end car. The steering wheel is probably the first thing people will notice on entering the car because it is flattened top and bottom like the ones you’d find in racing cars. The seats are anatomically sculpted to a level that is entirely necessary for a car with the handling capacity of the Evija. Electric motors reach their maximum torque just about instantly, so emerging from a tight corner

and accelerating in this car should be quite an experience. One of the setbacks with any electric vehicle is that charging can be a lengthy business. Not so with the Evija because the design team wanted owners to be able to charge their car in little more time than it takes to pump fuel into a conventional tank. Thanks to new lithiumion battery technology, just 12 minutes are needed to achieve

an 80 per cent charge and the batteries can be topped up altogether in 18-minutes. These figures can be achieved with charging equipment that’s now available. The range claimed by Lotus is 345 km. Just in case owners need a reminder of the car’s origins, a plaque bearing the words “Hand Built in Britain by Lotus” is sited beneath the charging port cover. ›

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It’s particularly impressive that Lotus has publicly demonstrated this remarkable car and thousands have viewed its capabilities. Just about every supercar maker worthy of the name has shown conceptualisations of similar models, but many have barely made it to the drawing board, or CAD/CAM stage yet. Lotus has delivered on its promises and there’s no reason to doubt that the car will be reaching fortunate owners before too long. Analysts are predicting something of a post-pandemic boom in luxury car sales and it’s a safe bet that Lotus will quickly sell every one of the 130 Evijas planned for production, even at that whopping price tag. e

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Z ENGINE: Electric motors (4) with all-wheel drive. Z RANGE: 345-km. Z ACCELERATION: Zero to 100 km/h in under 3-secs. Z TOP SPEED: 320 km/h plus. Z I LIKED: Stunning performance in a highly appealing package. World-beating spec sheet from an engineering standpoint. A 300 km/h car you could drive to an environmental conference! Z I DIDN’T LIKE: Seriously high cost. Z MARKET ALTERNATIVES: Porsche Taycan. Planned EV hypercars: Pininfarina Battista, Aston Martin Rapide E, Tesla Roadster plus EVs from Ferrari and Lamborghini. Z WHO DRIVES ONE? Dedicated Lotus fans with the money to fulfil their ultimate dreams. Exotic car fans who fancy a sportster with even more horses than a Bugatti Chiron. Z PRICE AND AVAILABILITY: 130 cars to be produced at approx. £1.7-million per unit, orders being accepted with £250,000 deposit.

g This article is sponsored by C. De Salamanca, official dealers for Bentley, Ferrari, Aston Martin, Jaguar & Land Rover. Tel: (+34) 952 785 250. www.cdesalamanca.com

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trends

CHECK OUT NEW MOVIE RELEASES THIS MONTH INCLUDING, AT LONG LAST, DENIS VILLENEUVE’S DUNE, STARRING TIMOTHÉE CHALAMET. WE ALSO UPDATE ON NEW BOOK LAUNCHES, MUSIC NEWS, AND WHAT´S COOL IN SPAIN AND BEYOND.

GO TO PAGE 100 FOR THE DUNE

GO TO PAGE 114 FOR WHAT'S COOL

GO TO PAGE 96 FOR NEW MOVIES CINEMA SERIES MUSIC NEWS 96 Hot New Films 100 Dune is out this Month

GO TO PAGE 108 FOR MUSIC NEWS

104 Books – New Releases 108 Music News 110 Non-fungible Tokens 114 What’s Cool

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HOT NEW

MOVIES WORDS MARISA CUTILLAS

THE BEATLES: GET BACK

» Genre: Music Documentary » Director: Peter Jackson (Lord of the Rings) Peter Jackson presents The Beatles: Get Back – a threepart documentary series about the making of the Beatles’ iconic 1970 album, Let It Be. Drawing from material originally recorded for a documentary directed by Michael Lindsay-Hogg, it counters the myth that the recording of this album was marked by animosity between John Lennon and Paul McCartney. The film is based on over 55 hours of footage and will feature the unforgettable rooftop concert.

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REMINISCENCE

» Genre: Romance/Science Fiction » Director: Lisa Joy (in her feature directorial debut) » Actors: Hugh Jackman, Rebecca Ferguson, Thandiwe Newton Acclaimed actor Hugh Jackman plays Nick Bannister – a lonely veteran living in a near-future Miami who specialises in restoring chosen memories to his clients. His life goes awry when he meets a beautiful woman called Mae and they fall madly in love. Another client’s memories implicate Mae in a series of violent crimes and Bannister must dive into the past to discover the truth about a woman whose innocence he is convinced of.

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RESPECT

» Genre: Biographical Film » Director: Liesl Tommy (in her feature directorial debut) » Actors: Jennifer Hudson, Forest Whitaker, Marlon Wayans, Audra McDonald “You have to disturb the peace when you can’t get no peace,” uttered Aretha Franklin, arguably one of the most powerful voices to hit the music scene. This film tells the story of her life – from her early beginnings in her father’s church choir right through her struggles as a musician and finally, the sweet sound of international stardom. Her song Respect (which was actually an empowered version of the Otis Redding track) garnered the singer the first two of many Grammy awards but as early as the age of 14, she had already recorded her first tracks.

98 / SEPTEMBER 2021 ESSENTIAL MAGAZINE

GUNPOWDER MILKSHAKE

SHANG-CHI AND THE LEGEND OF THE TEN RINGS

» Genre: Action/ Adventure » Director: Destin Daniel Cretton (Short Term 12) » Actors: Simu Liu, Awkwafina, Tony Leung, Michelle Yeoh Marvel Studios’ Shang-Chi and The Legend of The Ten Rings stars Simu Liu as Shang-Chi – a skilled martial artist with superpowers he doesn’t understand. Shang-Chi, who is both powerful and vulnerable at once, must confront the past he thought he left behind when he is drawn into the clandestine Ten Rings organisation. The film also stars Tony Leung as Wenwu (Shang-Chi’s father and head of the Ten Rings), Awkwafina as Katy (Shang-Chi’s comical friend) and Michelle Yeoh as Jiang Nan (a guardian of a mythical city).

» Genre: Action » Director: Navot Papushado (The ABCs of Death) » Actors: Lena Headey, Karen Gillan, Angela Bassett, Michelle Yeoh Sam was only 12 years old when her mother, a hired assassin, was forced to abandon her. Now, 15 years down the track, she is engaged in the same violent pursuits. Sam is known for her skill as a hit woman but her tough veneer cracks when she meets Emily – an eight-year-old girl whose life she chooses to protect. Sam relies on the former allies of her mother – three women who pledge allegiance to her. Three generations of women learn to trust each other and take back control over their own lives. e

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Dune, by Frank Herbert, is considered one of the best science fiction novels of all time. A rich, complex read that presents political, religious, legal, personal, and philosophical dilemmas. The book is an exciting, enthralling read, an epic with unforgettable characters such as Paul Atreides – the young hero/anti-hero who is born and bred to be a Messiah. Clashes between prescience and presence, destiny and free will, and duty and desire arise throughout the novel, which was already brought to the silver screen in 1984 by David Lynch. WORDS MARISA CUTILLAS

DUNE

2020 COMING TO A THEATRE NEAR YOU THIS MONTH

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ost critics panned Lynch’s version and indeed the Director himself criticised the version the studio chose to release. I myself enjoyed the film for the simple reason that it was amazing to see one of the top idols of the time, Sting, as the cunning Feyd Rautha. Having recently read the book for the first time this year, I cannot imagine Feyd played with as much energy and charisma as the ex-Police frontman. There were other appealing factors – the worms, the special effects, and the costumes. Renowned critic, Roger Ebert, had a totally different vision of the film. He famously

said, “This movie is a real mess, an incomprehensible, ugly, unstructured, pointless excursion into the murkier realms of one of the most confusing screenplays of all time.” One wishes Ebert were around these days to see the new, highly anticipated version by Blade Runner 2049 director, Denis Villeneuve. Much has been left to mystery but one thing we do know is that Villeneuve has respected the book to the letter. Dune is a huge book (part of a massive series) and one that arguably cannot be summarised into a two- or even three-hour film. It will therefore cover the first

half of the book, with Villeneuve explaining, “I would not agree to make this adaptation of the book with one single movie.” Feyd was my favourite character in Lynch’s Dune but the character is missing from this partial adaptation. The casting thus far is eerily perfect though. Who else but Timothée Chalamet could play the prescient child-man, the MuadDib, so perfectly? We are also excited about seeing Zendaya as Chani, Rebecca Ferguson as Jessica, and Josh Brolin playing Gurney Halleck. And what about Star Wars’ Oscar Isaac as Duke Leto Atreides, or the ultra-charming Jason Momoa as Duncan Idaho?

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Audiences grew super excited to see that Stellan Skarsgard had been chosen to play Baron Vladimir Harkonnen. I was hoping they wouldn’t fatten him up and have him moving through space via suspenders but alas, Skarsgard has admitted that he will, indeed, be playing the Baron curvystyle (well, this is stipulated in the book so it probably should be respected, but really? Suspenders? Wouldn’t a wheeled machine have worked better?). We only caught a glimpse of the Baron in the new trailer but it seems that his look won’t be quite as awkward as the humiliating get-up sported by Kenneth McMillan in Lynch’s work. There have been small 102 / SEPTEMBER 2021 ESSENTIAL MAGAZINE

changes from the book. One is that Liet Kynes will be played by a woman (Sharon Duncan-Brewster). Dune fans will know that Kynes is a wonderful character; the Imperial Planetologist whose goal is to save Dune from its dryness by terraforming it into a more temperate, humid zone through the growth of plants. Kynes is also the liaison between Paul Atreides’ father and the courageous Fremen who inhabit the planet and who will be the salvation of the Atreides house. When asked about her role, Duncan-Brewster said, “Denis was adamant that we just concentrate on what Kynes represents. Thematically, Kynes plays an integral role.

He connects all the dots. He connects the Harkonnens, he connects House Atreides, he connects the Fremen, planet Arrakis, the sandworms.” Kynes is unique in that his goal is ultimately to better the Planet, in an era in which individual families, religious factions (think the sacred Bene Gesserit), political factions, and even individuals wish to harness power for themselves. What ultimately makes Dune such a great read (and hopefully an equally wonderful view) is its ability to question the role that myth, religion, and politics play in robbing the human mind of its capacity to truly exercise free will. I cannot wait for this movie; can you? e

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SEPTEMBER IS A BUMPER PUBLISHING MONTH.

THESE ARE SOME OF THE HIGHLIGHTS! WORDS ALICIA DUGGAN OF THE BOOKSHOP IN SAN PEDRO DE ALCÁNTARA , CC LA COLONIA LOCAL 21, SAN PEDRO DE ALCÁNTARA. TEL: 951 779 785. WWW.THEBOOKSHOP.ES

BEAUTIFUL WORLD, WHERE ARE YOU BY SALLY ROONEY The powerful new novel from the multi award-winning author of Normal People and Conversations With Friends. The story focuses on successful author Alice, her best friend Eileen, and their respective lovers, Felix and Simon, all in their late twenties. Following a nervous breakdown, Alice moves to a small seaside town where she keeps in touch with Eileen via email. Set against the backdrop of the Brexit/Trump era, the two friends discuss at length the social and political climate, the deteriorating state of the planet, their love lives, and their worries and anxieties surrounding sex and relationships. As the characters contemplate a world in which their futures are uncertain, human connection and personal relationships become more important than bigger global issues. As Alice says, “Humanity on the cusp of extinction and here I am writing another email about sex and friendship. What else is there to live for?”

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FRECKLES BY CECELIA AHERN “You are the average of the five people you spend the most time with” is what a complete stranger says to Allegra Bird, A.K.A Freckles, “and your five must be losers”. This statement had a profound effect on Allegra. Having moved away from her eccentric Pops and unconventional upbringing on a small island near Kerry, Allegra has made a new life for herself as a traffic warden living close to Dublin. Her days are ordered and mundane which is what she wanted. However, this encounter has left Allegra wondering who her five people are and if she could change her life by finding five new people. Ahern’s stories are always chock full of charm and heart, and Freckles is no different. A moving and uplifting novel of friendship and self-acceptance.

THE DARK REMAINS BY WILLIAM MCILVANNEY AND IAN RANKIN William McIlvanney was known as ‘the godfather of tartan noir’ and his Laidlaw books changed the face of crime fiction. After his death, a half-finished handwritten manuscript was found of Laidlaw’s first case. Ian Rankin, bestselling author of the Rebus books, has been tasked with finishing what McIlvanney started. The result is a gritty crime novel set in 1970’s Glasgow which will not disappoint fans of either author. When Bobby Carter is found murdered and dumped in an alley it is not a huge surprise. As a lawyer, he was known for representing villains and miscreants. However, his death threatens to ignite a gang war. DC Jack Laidlaw must solve the case quickly if he is to stop all hell breaking loose.

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THE MAN WHO DIED TWICE (THE THURSDAY MURDER CLUB #2) BY RICHARD OSMAN Following the unprecedented success of The Thursday Murder Club, Richard Osman is back with one of the most eagerly anticipated books being published this year. Back at Coopers Chase Retirement Village, the four crime fighting septuagenarians are ready for another case to keep them active and entertained. Lucky for them, Elizabeth is contacted by a former colleague looking for help. He has stolen $20 million worth of diamonds and needs her help to keep him safe from the man sent to kill him. With the aid of PC De Freitas, DCI Hudson and the mysterious and burley Bogdan, The Thursday Murder Club are all set for a new adventure. An entertaining and charming mystery.

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EVERYDAY HERO MANIFESTO BY ROBIN SHARMA Best-selling author of The Monk Who Sold His Ferrari, Robin S. Sharma has spent more than twenty-five years mentoring the world’s wealthiest, most famous, and most successful people. Sports stars, business titans, entertainment idols and politicians have all looked to Sharma and his revolutionary methods to help them achieve the results they want. In his new book, The Everyday Hero Manifesto, Sharma shares his methodology with the world, combining his memoirs with instructions on how to achieve greatness. He aims to improve positivity, productivity and fitness while helping the reader discover a path to spiritual freedom by “turning fear into fuel, problems into power and past troubles into triumphs” e

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Normality seems to be returning and there are several gigs scheduled along the coast this month (see below). There could be more last-minute arrangements so check in local weekly publications. All info on this page was correct at the time of writing. WORDS RIK FOXX

¿QUÉ PASA? T

nt o r f c i s u ...on the m

he closing acts at this year’s Marbella Starlite Festival include the BOOTLEG BEATLES, regarded by many as the world’s best Fab Four tribute band, on September 1 and Puerto Rican rapper MYKE TOWERS on the 4th. For the remaining line-up plus ticket info: starlitemarbella.com Gigs this month: on the 3rd, Spanish veteran heavy rockers BARÓN ROJO play Estepona’s Plaza de Toros and on the 15th, the Rockaneando Festival at Marbella’s Plaza de Toros is headlined by the legendary 1980s Torremolinos outfit DANZA INVISIBLE. Ticket info for both: conciertos.club/malaga – this site is worth checking for other gigs in the area. On the 10th: DIRE STRAITS tribute act bROTHERS iN bAND are at the Auditorio Municipal de Benalmádena (in between the coast and Arroya de le Miel). Ticket info: ticketmaster.es At the same venue on the 18th, GREEN COVERS are paying tribute to DEPECHE MODE, THE CURE and many

108 / SEPTEMBER 2021 ESSENTIAL MAGAZINE

more from the 1980s. Ticket info: http:// www.ticketsource.eu/bigmpromotions or Tel: 658 579 695. On the 13th: JOHNNY MACK returns to La Sala Banus with his GEORGE MICHAEL show. Ticket info: 952 814 145 or reservations@lasalabanus.com Fuengirola’s Marenostrum Festival wraps up with Cosquín Rock España on September 17 & 18 at the castle. For the remaining programme plus ticket info: marenostrumfuengirola.com On the 18th: veteran Spanish indie rockers SEGURIDAD SOCIAL open the five-gig s1ngulares 2021 Festival (18 - 25) at Málaga’s Teatro Cervantes. Full line-up and ticket info: teatrocervantes.com Apart from his Broadway gigs, which finish on September 4, BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN has recently been “staying busy” recording with THE KILLERS and a forthcoming JOHN MELLENCAMP project. THE BOSS had a couple of nights off from his Broadway residency to watch his daughter JESSICA win silver in the team show jumping at

the Tokyo Olympics. Of course a joke circulated on a US chat show monologue saying she might have got gold if she had taken up athletics instead as she was Born To Run (well, the Americans found it funny). In 2019 music store giants HMV closed down 27 shops in the UK, having fallen into administration. To mark their 100th birthday they have announced 10 new ones have opened thanks to the still growing ‘vinyl revolution’ with ED SHEERAN playing a set at the new Coventry shop. Survey’s carried out during June and July’s Record Store Days revealed that new vinyl releases have increased by 45% – especially with under 25’s snapping up limited edition releases, many of them female. The ginger one is now an honorary member of Ipswich Town’s squad for the current football season. After signing a one-year deal to sponsor the English League One team’s kits with his tour logo on the front of the shirts, he has been handed

Oasis

the number 17 in the squad. He is also headlining the 24-hour streaming Global Citizen Live concerts along with COLDPLAY and BILLIE EILISH on September 24. Venues include LA, London, New York, Paris, Rio, Seoul and Sydney. It’s been dubbed the 21st century Live Aid and if you fancy watching: globalcitizen.org/en/live. On top of all that he has been recording himself plus collaborations with KYLIE, and TAYLOR SWIFT on her track Everything Has Changed for her latest re-recorded album Red (Taylor’s Version) (originally released in 2012), which lands on November 19. And… he signed a shirt sponsorship deal with his beloved Ipswich Town for the forthcoming football season. Plus a live streamed gig on TikTok and a week in the US on the Late Late Show with James Corden. Coming this month... CHRISTINE McVIE of FLEETWOOD MAC is the latest to sell her songs to music hoarders Hipgnosis. The 115 songs include The Chain, famous as the introduction to BBC TV’s Formula One

Billie Eilish © DFree / Shutterstock.com

programmes, which recently hit onebillion streams, plus another four tunes that she wrote/co wrote for the 1977 album, Rumours, which is one of the bestselling albums of all time clocking up over 45 million sales worldwide. DIANA ROSS returns after 15 years away with a new album, Thank You, including the June-released title track on September 10. Other expected sellers this month: US pop rockers IMAGINE DRAGONS with Mercury – Act 1; veterans IRON MAIDEN re-land with Senjutsu and the MANIC STREET PREACHERS with The Ultra Vivid Lament on the 3rd. On the 10th, STEPS climb back with What The Future Holds Pt. 2, also Back In Love City by UK indie rockers THE VACCINES and listen out for ELTON JOHN and MILEY CYRUS covers on The Metallica Blacklist. Also returning is NATALIE IMBRUGLIA with Firebird on the 24th. MICK JAGGER and RONNIE WOOD have laid down nine-new tracks for the forthcoming 40th anniversary

box set of the ROLLING STONES album, Tattoo You. While in the studio, RONNIE invited ROD STEWART and KENNY JONES to record some new FACES material. The legendary outfit formed from the ashes of the iconic 1960s band the SMALL FACES but split in 1975 when ROD went solo and RONNIE joined the STONES. The OASIS Knebworth 1996 docu-film hits cinemas worldwide on September 23 to mark last month’s 25th anniversary of the well remembered two-days where 250,000 watched the band at what NOEL GALLAGHER says was their peak performance. It will be released on DVD and in album form during November. As the two brothers worked together on the project, NOEL was asked what he thinks of LIAM now. “He’s a bit of a charlatan” was the reply. But the West Midlands/Chesire combo (no, they are not from Manchester) THE CHARLATANS allegedly joked, “We don’t want him – we’re happy with TIM BURGESS”. e

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NONFUNGIBLE TOKENS (NFTS)

WELCOME TO A NEW ERA IN ART COLLECTION We can’t help but wonder what Picasso, Dalí or Van Gogh would have said if they had known that a hundred years or more after creating their own masterpieces, a type of art would emerge that was 100 per cent digital, freely reproducible by anybody, and sometimes consisting of a simple snippet from a video… or if they could imagine that this type of art would fetch millions of dollars in the world’s most prestigious auctions. If you are an art investor yourself and you’d like to hone the basics of NFTs, read on and discover how much fellow investors have paid for some of the top-selling NFTs. And take note – not all NFTs are visual artworks. All they ultimately need to be is digital and unique. WORDS MARISA CUTILLAS WHAT ARE NFTS? NFTs are ‘non-fungible tokens’. They are a means of proving one’s ownership over a digital item (which usually consists of an artwork or design). ‘Fungible’ essentially means ‘exchangeable’ and most goods have this quality.

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For instance, it is possible to replace one blank notebook for another, or a trading card for another identical card. Fungible items, on the other hand, have something that makes them irreplaceable – think a first-edition, signed copy of Zafón’s The Shadow

of the Wind. The same value is applied to digital tokens, even if they have been reproduced millions of times. Investors buy into an original digital asset – something that can theoretically have as much value as any other original artwork.

Edward Snowden’s Stay Free

NFTS AND THE BLOCKCHAIN

NFTS AND COPYRIGHT

NFTs are typically built using the same type of programming as cryptocurrency and they are held on Ethereum or other blockchains. As stated by TechCrunch, each NFT has a digital signature that makes it unique and each is minted from digital objects that represent both tangible and intangible items. Just a few examples of NFTs include GIFs, videos or short edits from videos, an essay, a domain name, an in-game item, a digital artwork, a ticket that gives the holder access to an event, a unique running shoe in a limited fashion collection, and even a Tweet. Twitter founder Jack Dorsey, for instance, sold the first Tweet he ever published as an NFT for a cool $2.9 million. The Tweet read, “just setting up my twttr,” and it was first published on March 21, 2006. You can check it out for yourself on Dorsey’s Twitter Line.

One thing that makes NFTs unique, says Ethereum, is that “content creators can retain ownership rights over their own work and claim resale royalties directly.” An NFT buyer simply owns a unique hash on the blockchain, a hyperlink to the artwork, and a record of the transaction made. NFTs, then, are tokens representing an asset; they are not the asset themselves. The lack of current copyright trading infrastructure for NFTs means that buyers wishing to own the copyright should make a specific agreement to this effect with the original creator. Buyers should also be wary of the fact that the lack of a legal framework for NFTs means that a buyer could potentially invest in a minted NFT that has actually been stolen from its creator.

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is Mike Winkelmann, a renowned In 1987, an anonymous buyer paid Charleston-based graphic designer). $39.85 million for Vincent van Other expensive works include Gogh’s Sunflowers – arguably his Beeple’s Crossroads (sold for $6.6 most famous work– and one he million and featuring a Trump-like hoped to sell for just $125. Knowing character naked and lying on the this fact makes it a little hard for grass with obscene writing all over old school art fans to understand his body) and Edward Snowden’s the price fetched by the most Stay Free – an artwork containing expensive NFT sold to date: Beeple’s the court documents deciding that collage-like Everydays: The First the National Security Agency’s 5000 Days, which fetched $69.3 mass surveillance tactics were million at Christie's this year (Beeple illegal.

WORLD’S MOST EXPENSIVE NFTS

The truth is that many NFTs are eye-catching and beautiful, much like any other product of creativity. Others, however, have prompted smirks and criticism from art experts – including Logan Paul’s NFT comprising Pokemon trading cards as well as videos from clips you could watch anytime you wished to. He has already sold $5 million worth of NFTs and no doubt will be mining more – and who could honestly blame him? e

Beeple’s Crossroads

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? l o o c s ’ t wha ACKWELL COMPILED BY IAIN BL

LAB THECLUB

has just ’s revered music temple Clubbing is back – Madrid t the e seemed lost in Spain bu relaunched! The club scen elled r a revival with the remod capital’s night life is set fo ctronic eClub, which will offer ele Restaurant-Show LAB th l national and internationa p to of e m m ra og pr a th music wi in 40 d providing connectivity lle ta ins en be ve ha ts ble DJs. Ta g the ordering process. sin iti dig d an s om ro ed reserv i www.labtheclub.com

LUXURY IN THE CLOUDS

ear, erior linen, Saga Homew int y ur lux of d an br an lgi The Be te jets ptuous products for priva m su of e ng ra a d te ea cr has aces. travel even in restricted sp ble rta fo m co ra ult ng idi prov teeing by V-Lable GmbH, guaran d fie rti ce is e lin n ga ve Its e vegan production processes ar that all components and ious ises soft towelling, luxur friendly. The range compr and throom sets, tablecloths bedding, personalised ba mewear.com napkins. i www.sagaho

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THE WESTIN LONDON

portfolio Part of Marriott Bonvoy’s tel & of 30 brands, Westin Ho h Resorts will open the muc on City anticipated Westin Lond hotel, this month. The 222 room nt location enjoying a prime riverfro Thames, on the north bank of the a, fitness contains a sumptuous Sp ne bar on studio, Hithe & Seek, a wi the river, two levels with views of which and Mosaic, a restaurant ne 24 hours offers international cuisi .uk day. i www.marriott.co

RDS WORLD’S BEST VINEYA will see the 3rd year, September 20th

Now in its brid s Best Vineyards with a hy ld’ or W e th of t en m ce un anno e hloss Johannisberg in th Sc e th at ce pla g kin ta t even er 500 wing nominations from ov llo Fo y. an rm Ge u, ga ein Rh alists, mmeliers and travel journ leading wine experts, so viewers n of the Top 50 list which there will be a countdow 18:00 n tune into on YouTube at from around the world ca om w.worldsbestvineyards.c ww i r. be em pt Se th CET on 20

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YACHTING FESTIVAL CANNES

Following last year’s cancellation, the long-awaited Cannes Yachting Festival returns this month from 7th – 12th September. Esteemed brand Sunreef Yachts will display five custom catamarans, including two exclusive world premieres. Visitors will be wowed by the 60 Sunreef Power, which was voted the Best Power Driven Catamaran at the World Yacht Trophies, as well as the all-new Sunreef 70. i www.sunreef-yachts.com

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SILVERSEA BLACKLANE

Silversea Cruises has signed an exclusive partnership with the global chauffeur service Blacklane, becoming the first ultraluxury cruise company to offer door-to-door service with business class transfers as a new privilege. Responding to high demand, Silversea has also opened an exclusive pre-sale of more than 280 new voyages for 2023/2024 with a record 690 destinations in 125 countries. i www.silversea.com

NEW MÁLAGA DRIVE-IN MOVIE THEATRE

Opening this month, the Autocine Málaga will be the second largest drive-in cinema in Europe. Located in the Guadalhorce Industrial Park, it will cover an area of 16,000 square metres with the films being projected on a giant screen of 250m2. With 200 hammocks up front and a capacity for 250 vehicles, viewers will receive the soundtrack via FM frequency in their cars and will be able to order food and drinks on a mobile app. i www.autocines.com

CARTIER – VENICE INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL

Cartier has partnered with the Biennale di Venezia becoming the principal sponsor of the Venice International Film Festival, which runs this month from 1st – 11th September. The prestigious jewellery house will honour outstanding talent with an inaugural Cartier Glory to the Filmmaker Award, dedicated to a personality who has made a particularly original contribution to the contemporary film industry. i www.cartier.com

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lifestyle

PREPARE TO BE IMPRESSED BY LUISA AZEVEDO’S DIGITAL ART CREATIONS, AN ARCHITECTURALLY STUNNING FRONTLINE BEACH PROPERTY AT LOS MONTEROS, INTERIOR DESIGN BY HEIDI GUBBINS, AND THE SARTORIAL ELEGANCE OF UDESHI – TAILORED FOR MEN.

GO TO PAGE 152 FOR UDESHI, TAILORED FOR MEN

GO TO PAGE 120 FOR AMAZING ARCHITECTURE

GO TO PAGE 142 FOR CONVERTIBLE GAMING FURNITURE

INTERIORS ARCHITECTURE ART FASHION 120 Beachfront Splendour at Los Monteros

GO TO PAGE 132 FOR HEIDI GUBBINS

132 Heidi Gubbins Interior Design 142 Game On with Convertible Furniture 144 Digital Art Fantasy 152 Udeshi – Tailored for Men

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WORDS MICHEL CRUZ PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY OF ENGEL & VÖLKERS

AN ARCHITECTURAL

MASTERPIECE ON THE EDGE OF THE WATER

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A prime location on the beach at Los Monteros merits a home to match, and with inspired architectural styling by González & Jacobson what it has is a modern masterpiece.

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t must be quite daunting to find such a top beachfront location in Marbella and then have to create a property truly deserving of it. The responsibility for owner and architect alike is weighty indeed, but especially the latter also derives a great deal of inspiration from such a singular setting. This is clearly the case with this property so eloquently set within a few paces of one of the finest beaches on the Costa del Sol. It appears the architect was

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truly inspired by this setting, for the villa blends smoothly into its surroundings while adding a visual highlight and maximising those amazing sea views. Its lines are mesmerising, all the more so for the angles that interplay with light and shadows. One senses immediately that this is a property of architectural magnitude, a modern masterpiece on the shores of Marbella. The iconic Hotel Los Monteros Spa & Golf Resort

is close by, along with its racquet club and elegant five-star amenities, while its La Cabane beach club is one of the most refined of the wide choice of seaside venues that dot this part of the coast. From within the leafy residential setting of this Los Monteros seaside villa, you will also have the choice of three golf courses on your doorstep, not to mention access to most parts of Marbella within little more than ten minutes. ›

INTERIOR DESIGN

L U S

V E D

E S

BESPOKE CARPENTRY

Stoneweg Living’s Velaya

SHOWROOM MARBELLA Opening hours

FURNITURE COLLECTION

by Aalto Design

A V D A . B LV. P R Í N C I P E A L F O N S O D E H O H E N L O H E . U R B . C A R O L I N A P A R K

Mon-Fri: 10:00-14:00

16:00-19:00

w w w. a a l t o e x c l u s i v e d e s i g n . c o m

Sat: upon appointment

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However, the thing that will grab your attention most is the view – both of the Mediterranean Sea prospect and of the property itself, for this is a villa whose styling really catches the eye. This is partly thanks to

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beautifully elongated forms that create sleek architectural lines of crisp white against the blue of skies and the green of the garden, but also due to the skilful use of materials and volumes that mesmerise the senses.

CONTEMPORARY MODERNISM In fact, as befits a fine architectural villa, there is something distantly nautical about the convergence of sleekly cut lines. White meets natural stone in the exterior, where a sense of parallax adds to the drama of the design in a property where no two angles appear to be right and no two lines parallel. Of course, such conventional geometric features are to be found, but they are outnumbered by more interesting ones that give this property a character and elegance of its own.

Impressive too is the way in which form and function are balanced, for the mastery of this villa is the very manner in which beauty and efficiency are harmonised, and the mundane practicality of a home is infused with a sense of modern mystery. The styling, build quality and technological amenities of the villa are thoroughly contemporary, but it carries with it more than a hint of early modern inspiration. Today’s architecture is not a new thing; it is the culmination of a process that began over

a century ago and produced some of the greatest ever works of home design. Many of these date back to the 1950s and 1960s, to the Modernist period of unforgettable villa creations. Consciously or not, they continue to inspire most of our top contemporary architects, from the USA to Marbella, and again here on the shores of Los Monteros. ›

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ARCHITECTURE INSIDE AND OUT If the exterior of this modern villa, with its imposing rooflines and floating bridges, is impressive, then the interior does not fail to live up to the high standards set when you enter through the gate. Step into the house itself and the same intriguingly angled elegance engages the senses just as it produces a harmony of detail. The spacious entrance, clad in specially sourced Italian porcelain tiles in light tones, seamlessly leads on in open plan to the lounge and dining area.

Natural light and views of greenery abound, and once again you’re overcome with a touch of delightful dejá vu as the interior spaces and their furnishing recapture the excitement of a 1950s masterpiece by Saarinen. Many Marbella homes claim to be modern, but this property is of another level, for it looks like a sophisticated architectural villa while also feeling like a stylish home. The living spaces flow effortlessly onto one-another, and yet they feel intimate and cosy.

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This is true of the stateof-the-art Gaggenau kitchen, which like most parts of the villa opens up to the exterior through sliding doors that make the room simply merge with the terrace and the fresh air beyond. If this is a villa that leaps from the pages of a Taschen collectible, then it is also a very practical home with beautifully concealed cupboards and machine rooms whose lacquered façades reveal a deft hand at turning the functional into a design feature. ›

Award winning and market leading interior architecture and design firm. ambiencehomedesign.com

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It feels like a cliché but I don’t know how else to express the sense of privileged lifestyle that this property conjures up. Certainly, it is beyond the conventional Marbella standard, as high as it usually is, because this feels like an international villa – the kind you’d normally find in Miami, Los Angeles or Dubai, and we are privileged to have it in our midst here. This is not because it is the most adorned home in Marbella, but because its design and detailing are exceptional.

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A ground floor suite is both practical and attractive, and if you thought it might also double as an office, forget it – that has already been thought of, for also on the lower level of the villa is a spacious office with boardroom feel and perhaps the strongest nautical element within the property. Take the sweeping modern stairs – or in fact the lift – up to the first floor, and the delightful interplay of angles, forms and light continue from below.

The upper floor contains four bedroom suites, including the master suite that is not surprisingly sumptuous and inviting, its luxuriantly spacious and beautifully appointed bathroom a break with the strict minimalism of recent years while retaining the harmony of style and décor that is characteristic of this villa. It is one of the showpieces of a stand-out home, with the kind of sea views to match. From most rooms you can follow the fresh sea air to the terrace to take in those views and look down the garden ›

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and heated pool with sundeck. The lower level of the property features a gallery-style garage for your classic and modern car collection, along with a laundry and a pre-fitted staff apartment, kitchen as well as spaces suitable for a spa, cinema room, entertainment area or additional accommodation, but this is a property that is so much more than the sum of its parts and a list of villa amenities. Above all, it is a superbly stylish modern home made for the ultimate Marbella lifestyle.

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CLICK TO VISIT

www.engelvoelkers.com/Marbella

g ENGEL & VÖLKERS MARBELLA Golden Mile Tel: (+34) 952 868 406. MarbellaGoldenMile@engelvoelkers.com www.engelvoelkers.com/Marbella

Projects: Villa N & Villa MA

Interior Design & Property Development Visit our website to see our new section of recently finished properties on the market exclusive to Blackshaw: blackshawinteriordesign.com Showroom: Avenida Canovas del Castillo 25, Marbella

+34 951 403 787

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Heidi Gubbins

When Design is Craftsmanship There are many kinds of interior designers, but the best designers of any kind are always those who give all their input to a select number of projects rather than spread themselves thinly over many. This, in essence, is what personal service is all about.

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HEIDI GUBBINS

WORDS MICHEL CRUZ PHOTOGRAPHY KEVIN HORN, CHARLY SIMON AND COURTESY OF HEIDI GUBBINS INTERIOR DESIGN

Special attention is given to scale and drama in her creative compositions

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Well-balanced interior styling that makes practical use of space and sets a stylish tone

here are people who run a business driven by the commercial aspect, and those for whom it is a calling. Not everyone is lucky enough to have this feeling, but those who do have an undeniable advantage, for they love what they do, and when this is the case they’re usually very good at it. Heidi Gubbins is a creative

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interior designer whose intuitive and daring approach to design enables her to create signature interiors, elegant atmospheres and sensorial experiences for people to enjoy. Her professional eye and attention to scale, composition, materials and palette are recognisable in her romantic-contemporary creations, which carry

dramatic elements and eclectic suggestions in a harmonious ensemble. Her creative nature, curious personality and love for travel has led her to experience different cultures and ways of living from the Americas to Africa, Portugal and finally Spain, finding in each place an enriching experience in both design and business. ›

“I like contrast! The juxtaposition of simplicity and grandeur; the infusion of something different! Just as with food or music, spaces should make you feel something you never forget.”

HEIDIGUBBINS.COM

Av. Blvd. Príncipe Alfonso de Hohenlohe 20 - Marbella - (+34) 653561867

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DIVING DEEP IN THE CREATIVE REALM “Design is about people and how they want to feel and experience a space,” says Heidi, “so being a creative in the design world is a big responsibility and a daily voyage in which your mind and senses must be acutely toned and ready to absorb many types of information. This is pivotal in order to artistically interpret a brief into a bespoke concept that is distinct. Nonetheless, creativity must be coupled with a solid technical foundation in order to push the boundaries in design and execute a new vision.” For all this, her focus is squarely on the quality of the work she delivers. “There is an inherent limitation to the amount of dedication and creativity,

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Curated materials make spaces feel distinguished and timeless

An exquisite combination of form, pattern and textures

not to mention attention to detail you can bring to a project of this kind if you spread yourself too thinly, so we don’t. Don’t get me wrong, we work very hard and are growing, but we won’t compromise on personal attention,” says Heidi,

whose boutique design atelier on the Golden Mile is very much in demand for home and commercial décor projects. And by this she means above all the dedicated commitment of each of the team members to a design commission, be it

for a room, a villa, an apartment or a commercial project such as a boutique hotel or restaurant. “I don’t try to be all things to all people, so I believe it’s a self-selecting market in which people recognise themselves in your work and your approach.” ›

Dressing a spacious villa is a true design project

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Heidi’s interiors carry dramatic elements that add unique character to each space

AN APPROACH TO DESIGN THAT IS A UNIQUE EXPRESSION Besides being passionate about design, Heidi has a very clear philosophy about it. Her approach comes from a creative process that encompasses the architecture of the property and builds upon it to create a wonderful sense of identity – a design with her signature touch yet always as unique as the project itself. “For me, design is a sensory experience, so it can never be a repeated ‘standard’ procedure, but should instead reflect those

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Heidi designed a brass kitchen that will age naturally

The devil is in the detail – combining tones, textures and lighting to create a feeling

elements that make that room, home or commercial venue different from all others. My work is to highlight this while offering practical solutions and creating a beautiful setting, and I use the light, dimensions, materials and architectural details as my ingredients.” True to this very personal form of engagement, Heidi creates designs around her

clients’ personal tastes and lifestyles, but adds the visual and spatial insights of the skilled professional to make their ideal living environment come to life with an element of unexpected enchantment. As she says, “It’s a journey… a creative experience where passion and professionalism are in balance.” ›

A cabana inspired bedroom

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Her work centres upon projectspecific inspiration, so it follows that the furnishings, design elements and artwork Heidi works with are personally sourced, varied and made in small numbers. “We attach value to quality, taste and creating decoration that has a timeless appeal and sense of style, whether the project is large or small. Trends detract too much from the uniqueness of each home and space to be allowed to

She loves working with natural fabrics and textures

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dominate the décor, but dare to express your own style and you transcend fads to make your home a truly personal statement and source of pleasure.” And that, after all, is what interior design should be all about. e

g Marbella Real 20, Av. Boulevard Principe Alfonso de Hohenlohe, Marbella. Tel: (+34) 653 561 867. contact@heidigubbins.com www.heidigubbins.com

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GAME ON!

Whether large or small, designing spaces with a dynamic spirit has become a current trend in this new era of house confinement. It is no longer necessary to live in a mansion to be able to furnish a gym or gaming facilities, especially if you incorporate one of these ingeniously thought-out pieces that can be easily converted from an everyday-use item to one you only enjoy occasionally. DISCOVERED BY MADDIE QUINN

or the Milan Design Week this month, Italian firm FAS Pendezza came up with a number of contemporary furniture items that can be seamlessly transformed into games we all share a lifelong love for. Impress your guests by hosting a table tennis, pool or table football tournament in your living room after your dinner party, adding hours of additional social interaction and entertainment. When creating the Ciclope Capri Football Table, Dada Ping Pong Table, and Etoile Pool Table, designers Basaglia and Rota Nodari aimed for a timeless and portable form that can fit most interiors and with a few simple moves can literally be pulled out of the hat.

To toast to a table football victory, all you need to do is to place a top over the base structure of the Ciclope Capri.

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The Dada Ping Pong Table can be divided into two harmoniously matching square tables or used as a large conference table in work environments. Provide your team with a relaxing playful break in only a few fast moves.

A traditional large dinning table with a metal structure, its retractable top reveals the Etoile Pool Table. i info@faspendezza.it

CLICK TO VISIT

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DIGITAL ART

FANTASY

Luisa Azevedo is a young Portuguese digital artist, currently based in Lisbon. As far as she remembers, she always felt passionate about art, animals and nature. Art was her favourite form of expression since a very young age and as Luisa grew up, she got interested in photography, design and digital art. Luisa is a self-taught artist who started posting her art online at the age of 15. She later majored in Multimedia Art at the Faculty of Fine Arts of the University of Lisbon. Her work has been exhibited in several countries and featured in multiple magazines and websites. The majority of her compositions centre on a magical imaginary world, where animals and natural elements are merged together in a surrealistic style and unique way. Through her work, Luisa creates a world where there are no limits or boundaries to her imagination and creativity.

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WATERFALL HORSE

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LONE WOLF

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MYSTICAL ISLAND

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BEYOND THE HAZE

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HOME SWEET HOME

PERFECT BALANCE

MAGICAL SUITCASE

THE GREAT WAVE

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PEACEFUL RIDE

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FLYING DANDELION

UNCONDITIONAL LOVE

THE LAST REUNION

i LUISA AZEVEDO www.instagram.com/hey.luisa contact@heyluisa.com

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UDESHI TAILORED FOR MEN PHOTOGRAPHY JUANJO SOBRINO

Udeshi is the new men’s outfitter in town – things have come a long way since your grandfather’s tailor. Established in Mayfair, London in 1999, Oscar Udeshi cuts for the modern man, offering made-tomeasure and bespoke jeans, khakis, shirts, and unstructured jackets in addition to suits and blazers. Now available on the Costa del Sol from his Marbella atelier. Cut yourself a slice of sartorial elegance.

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i UDESHI is available locally, in Marbella. For information visit www.udeshi.co.uk Tel. (+34) 641 789 771.

CLICK TO VISIT

www.udeshi.co.uk

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spa

READ OUR TOP TIPS ON AGEING BEAUTIFULLY, DISCOVER THE MANY BENEFITS OF GARLIC, GINGER AND TUMERIC, CHECK OUT SOME IMPRESSIVE NEW PERFUME RELEASES, AND BE AWARE OF THE HEALTH DANGERS POSED BY OUR ADDICTION TO TECHNOLOGY.

GO TO PAGE 170 FOR HOW TO AGE BEAUTIFULLY

GO TO PAGE 172 FOR ADDICTION TO TECH

GO TO PAGE 166 FOR THE BENEFITS OF GARLIC, GINGER AND TUMERIC

GO TO PAGE 162 FOR NEW PERFUME RELEASES

PRODUCTS BEAUTY SPA HEALTH

162 New Perfume Releases 166 Benefits of Garlic, Ginger and Tumeric 170 How to Age Beautifully 172 Addiction to Technology

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FLORAL STREET SUNFLOWER POP, EAU DE PARFUM Attention art lovers! The Van Gogh Museum and the sustainable British fragrance brand Floral Street presented a new fruity-citrus creation last month that brings to life the optimism of Sunflowers (1889), one of Van Gogh’s most famous masterpieces. Filled with mandarin, bergamot and even Bellini, the perfume is vegan and cruelty-free! CLICK TO BUY

SPICE IT UP! No better way to send off high-summer than changing your fragrance to something more cosy. Swop out the light, beachside mood to sensations richer in sweetness & spice that deliver the setting-in of autumn vibes in style. Check out some of the latest releases in the world of perfumes. DISCOVERED BY MADDIE QUINN DOLLY PARTON - SCENT FROM ABOVE, EAU DE PARFUM Country-music legend Dolly Parton launched her first ever personal concoction. With notes of mandarin, peony blossom, jasmine, vanilla, sandalwood, musk, and patchouli, the Scent from Above can brighten autumn as much as the dressing table. CLICK TO BUY 162 / SEPTEMBER 2021 ESSENTIAL MAGAZINE

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1. GUCCI FLORA GORGEOUS GARDENIA, EAU DE PARFUM Presented in a campaign fronted by Miley Cyrus, Gucci’s new Eau de Parfum blooms with Gardenia’s signature scent, twisted with a pear blossom accord and a touch of brown sugar. CLICK TO BUY

3. VALENTINO - VOCE VIVA INTENSA, EAU DE PARFUM Valentino’s new optimistic-feeling fragrance resembles a full bouquet of white flowers, but while a fusion of jasmine absolute, crystal moss and bergamot dominates, it is warmed by bourbon vanilla to welcome the season. CLICK TO BUY

2. FENTY EAU DE PARFUM This surprising new venture from Fenty is infused with sensual magnolia, united with vibrant fruit and notes of spice. To top it off, a seductive musk expresses itself uniquely on each wearer.

4. DIOR - VANILLA DIORAMA CD’s newest perfume will take you on a gourmet journey! It’s created to pay tribute to Diorama Gourmand, one of Christian Dior’s favourite desserts, with a secret recipe. The fragrance is round and sweet with a dash of rum, patchouli, citrus and cocoa, and infused with the highest quality Madagascar vanilla for opulence.

CLICK TO BUY

5. LANCÔME - IDÔLE AURA EAU DE PARFUM Releasing this month as the newest chapter of the Idôle line fronted by Zendaya, the Aura continues to celebrate the spirit of the independent woman. Lancôme promises lush notes of sustainably sourced bergamont and pear fused with their signature Damask rose that is designed to reminisce the joys of summer in a powerful, euphoric experience. CLICK TO BUY

CLICK TO BUY

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DARLING, IT’S NOT WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE

MORE THAN 20 YEARS DANCING WITH US

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GARLIC, GINGER, AND TURMERIC ADD SPICE TO LIFE AND PROMOTE LONGEVITY WORDS MARISA CUTILLAS

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f the many magical treasures that grow beneath the ground, the ‘big three’ tubers – garlic, ginger, and turmeric – are among the most beneficial to human health. Long used in Asian cuisine and traditional medicine, these foods are valued for the undeniable flavour they lend to dishes from many of the world’s most popular culinary traditions. If you’ve only ever come across them in spice form, it’s time to expand your horizons and start consuming them fresh as well. This way, you can opt for organic varieties and be aware of the quality and source of the root you are consuming. Just in case you aren’t sold on these terrific tubers, read on to discover the many ways in which they can help you live a healthier, longer life.

GARLIC DOES MORE THAN KEEP DRACULA AWAY Garlic is one of the staples of Mediterranean cuisine and God knows that gambas pil-pil would lose all their charm without it. It has important anti-inflammatory properties and it can help protect the body against cancer – especially colorectal cancer,

say scientists at the Mayo Clinic, who also recommend crushing garlic prior to use. Doing so releases the enzyme alliinase, which stimulates the formation of allicin. The latter then breaks down to form a variety of healthful organosulfur compounds. A study conducted at Queen’s University revealed that allicin – which gives garlic its pungent aroma – keeps disease at bay because it battles ‘free radicals’ – the unstable atoms that damage cells and cause ageing and illness. The secret to its power lies in the reaction between free radicals and an acid produced when allicin decomposes. The researchers stated, “The reaction between sulfenic acid and radicals is as fast as it can get. No one has ever seen compounds, natural or synthetic, react this quickly as antioxidants.” Garlic has many additional benefits – including the lowering of cholesterol, blood pressure, and clotting. It can also battle specific bacteria and viruses. A Washington State University study shows, for instance, that the garlic-derived compound, diallyl sulfide, is 100 times more effective than two commonly

used antibiotics to combat campylobacter – a bacterium which causes intestinal disease.

READY FOR A SHOT OF GINGER? If you have never tried a ginger shot at the start of the day, then you are missing out on an energising experience that can put a spring in your step for at least a few hours. You can also grate raw ginger (as is commonly done during Thai beef salad preparation) or sautée and add it to your favourite hot dishes. Ginger is a powerhouse against so many diseases, including colorectal cancer. It also lowers blood glucose levels, soothes arthritis-related pain and aching muscles (daily ginger consumption eases muscle pain by 25 per cent), battles the rhinovirus (which causes the common cold), helps reduce stomach bloating, and buffers the effect medications such as aspirin and ibuprofen can have on the stomach lining. ›

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New studies reveal how important the consumption of ginger can be for human health. A 2021 lab study by researchers at the University of Michigan found that the main bioactive compound in the ginger root helps halt disease progression in autoimmune diseases such as lupus. Another recent study showed that the pungent compound 6-gingerol in ginger stimulates an enzyme in the saliva which counters bad breath. Ginger has additionally been found to be effective at treating asthma symptoms, at combatting diarrhoea in infants, and at quelling chemotherapy-related nausea.

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TURMERIC THE TUBERHERO Turmeric, like its earthy sisters ginger and garlic, has a wealth of impressive benefits. In 2021, researchers from Kumamoto University found that a component from turmeric essential oil called ar-turmerone has neuroprotective benefits for people with Parkinson’s disease. A 2019 study by Washington State University researchers, meanwhile, found that a drug delivery system using curcumin (obtained from turmeric) inhibits bone cancer cells and boosts the growth of healthy bone cells. A third study (2014) showed that a bioactive compound

from turmeric boosts the generation of brain stem cells. Further research carried out over the past two decades has revealed many additional benefits – including antiviral properties, the ability to reduce the body’s negative responses to high-fat meals, and a reduction in the size of hemorrhagic stroke. Way back in the year 2009, scientists from the American Chemical Society found that the secret of ‘India’s holy powder’ is its power to enter cell membranes, making the latter more stable so that they are more resistant to infection. One of the best things about the ‘big three’ tube roots is their fabulous flavour. Turmeric adds welcoming warmth, garlic a special ‘zing’ and ginger a refreshing touch that tastes as good in a smoothie as it does in a warm bowl of soup. The next time you prepare a family meal, aim to include these magnificent ingredients and use them fresh for a more pronounced flavour. e

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No matter what age you are, the best years of your life can certainly be ahead of you, says Costa del Sol Wellbeing Coach David Hurst. Here he explains how to get older elegantly and beautifully. WORDS DAVID HURST

HOW TO

AGE

BEAUTIFULLY G

etting older will have its difficulties, naturally. Yet with the right knowledge many of those challenges that are often encountered could be more swiftly put right – or even completely avoided. Certainly, being financially secure helps in some ways. But you only need to look at the news to know that having money doesn’t ensure happiness or immunity from depression or anxiety. Perhaps the most important thing is how people live their life. That’s

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because far too many people will simply eat, smoke, drink and worry themselves older. This is not just about when someone is in their later years. Our lifestyle habits and how we think are most often shaped in our younger years. So whatever your age now, there are positive ways to be that will let you live all stages of life wonderfully. Z STAY CONNECTED Feeling alone is a huge emotional problem. That’s because people are

made to feel connected to each other. So even though today’s technology means it’s easier to stay connected than ever before, nothing beats seeing someone face to face. In fact nothing is more certain to invigorate us than meeting up with people we love to be around. Z LIVE SOMEWHERE BEAUTIFUL To age beautifully we need to relax. Our home and community need to feel like a sanctuary. Stem-cell biologist Dr Bruce Lipton has studied how the 50 trillion or so

cells in our body are either in fight or flight mode – or they are growing and consequently protecting our physical and emotional wellbeing. So where we live has to feel as free of any potential hazards as possible. Living in a peaceful home and somewhere with good neighbours and friends nearby will make for a much happier and healthier life. Z EXERCISE AND EAT WELL Ageing beautifully is not solely about living until a decent age. It’s vital as well that we can still enjoy sports and physical activities for as long as possible. Keep active, try new things. Meditation and yoga are very beneficial for both mind and body. Then, we are extremely lucky in Spain as a Mediterranean diet is proven to be the healthiest. So eat well – and never let your age become an excuse for not doing something. As motivational author and speaker Dr Wayne Dyer said: “Refuse to let an old person move into your body.” Z FIND MEANING Maybe there’s something you have always wanted to do, that you know will leave this world a better place than you found it. Now’s the ideal time for that. Finding meaning in life means you’ll feel increasingly more alive. “If you’ve found meaning in your life, you don’t want to go back,” said Morrie in Tuesdays With Morrie. “You want to go forward. You want to see more, do more.”

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Most likely you have more money and time than when you were younger. So what an opportunity to have new experiences, visit places you’ve never seen, and meet fantastic new people.

Z GROW OLDER GRATEFULLY If you are despondent or getting that way as you age, instead find gratitude as you realise many people who died before their time would love to have experienced the age you’ve reached now. Feeling sad about not being as young and all those ‘should-havedones’ will only make you age quicker. As an alternative, think about how you know a whole lot more now than you did in your teens. Most of us also have many achievements we can think about, as well as our children and grandchildren if we have any that are cherished aspects of being older. Remember those eras you’ve lived through that you wouldn’t have wanted to miss. Think about the friends you’ve made and your partner that you probably wouldn’t have if you’d been born another time. Acceptance about things we cannot change is an important part of ageing beautifully. One of these

things is the year that we were born. “Find what’s the good and true and beautiful in your life as it is now,” Morrie said in Mitch Albom’s bestseller Tuesdays With Morrie, a true story about 78-year-old Morrie with only months left to live and the wisdom he shares with Mitch. “As you grow, you learn more.” “Ageing is not just decay, you know. It’s growth. It’s more than the negative you’re going to die, it’s also the positive that you understand you’re going to die, and that you live a better life because of it.” So focus on gratitude. Keeping our attention on all things to be grateful for will keep a wise smile on our face and yet a sparkle of childlike wonder in our eyes. g David Hurst is a Wellbeing Coach with four books published on emotional and mental health recovery, including 12 Steps To 1 Hero and The Anxiety Conversation. He has also written for newspapers and magazines around the world including The Guardian, The Times, Psychologies, GQ, Esquire and Marie Claire. To find out more or contact David to see how he can help you or someone you care about with any mental health problem or emotional issue, visit: david-hurst.com

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THE LINK BETWEEN SCREEN ADDICTION AND UNHAPPINESS

A 2018 study by San Diego State University researchers found that teens who spend considerable time in front of a screen (texting, playing video games, and video chatting) are less content than those who spend time on nonscreen activities such as sports, reading, and personal interaction. The researchers stated, “The key to digital media use and happiness is limited use. Aim to spend no more than two hours a day on digital media, and try to increase the

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amount of time you spend seeing friends face-to-face and exercising – two activities reliably linked to greater happiness.” This study is just one of many that have found a pronounced correlation between screen use and poor mental health. Various bodies of research have linked too much tech time to an increased suicide risk; personal, social, and workplace problems, as well as more loneliness, anxiety, and depression.

RISING LEVELS OF OBESITY IN YOUTHS

A 2009 study by the American Academy of Sleep Medicine found that children who slept less, consumed more caffeine, and had more hours of screen time were more likely to be obese and had a greater chance of suffering negative effects on their health, psychosocial wellbeing, and academic performance. Childhood obesity rates in Europe are on the rise and those living in the most deprived areas are most affected. Parents should

WHAT ARE THE HEALTH DANGERS OF OUR

ADDICTION TO TECHNOLOGY?

Adults spend around 40 per cent of their waking hours glued to a screen in the UK. Children aged five to 16, meanwhile, spend up to three hours on the Internet, between one and two hours playing video games, and over one hour on smartphones – as reported by the NHS. These figures are hardly unique, as they mirror EU statistics. The 2020 report EU Kids, for instance, showed that in Spain, children aged nine to 16 connect to the Internet for over three hours daily for entertainment and communication (i.e. nonstudy-related) reasons. Younger generations are at a particularly high risk of incurring health problems from screen use, since many have become accustomed to this habit at an early age. What are the main dangers of technology addiction and how can we ameliorate its effects? WORDS MARISA CUTILLAS

ensure that their children are sleeping the right number of hours (approximately nine to 11 hours per day for school-aged children) and encourage their children to enroll in extracurricular sporting activities. Just a few activities kids and youths might enjoy include dance, CrossFit, and outdoor yoga.

NATURE DEFICIT DISORDER

Spending so much time indoors has resulted in a phenomenon referred to by nature author, Richard Louv, as ‘nature deficit disorder’ – a disconnection from the Great

Outdoors that has significant effects on a child’s ability to focus, take risks, and be curious about the world. It also affects their physical and mental health and wellbeing, and their ability to learn about the natural world through their own experience. As Louv explained to The Guardian’s Jon Henley, “For this generation, nature is more of an abstraction than a physical reality. Kids today can tell you about the Amazon rainforest, but not about the last time they went into a forest alone. Nature is something to watch from a distance, something to consume. Something very

profound has happened in children’s relationship to nature.” Louv mentions many studies that have shown that spending time in green areas reduces stress, improves ADHD and learning disabilities, and boosts creativity and mental, psychological, and spiritual health. The good news is that even a small amount of green time – just 10 minutes – decreases cortisol (stress hormone) levels. Children should enjoy quality time outdoors every day, be it walking, hiking, swimming, or simply reading a book in a scenic green or blue zone. ›

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MUSCULOSKELETAL AND POSTURAL PROBLEMS

Using screens for various hours a day can cause pain and discomfort – for instance, youths or office workers who sit at their desk for a long time or use their smartphone for extended periods can find that their muscles and joints hurt later in the day. This can be particularly problematic if your child’s chair or computer height go against the tenets of ergonomics. A 2015 study on university students by H Kim and colleagues found that smartphone use was correlated with musculoskeletal problems, the shoulder and neck being the most likely to experience pain. Researchers stated, “The longer that display

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terminals are used, the more the bending angles of the neck bone and the waist bone are increased… (and) adopting an incorrect posture for a long period of time can lead to a lowering in the function of waist muscles, triggering waist pain.” Additionally, poor positioning of the body during screen use tends to breed worse posture during other times of the day. To curb musculoskeletal and postural problems, encourage children to limit their screen use and suggest that they use apps like WhatsApp on their computer screen instead of on their phone. This way, they can at least place their computer screen at the right height, ensure that their chair is

comfortable and supportive, and use a footrest if necessary. Using a standing desk, meanwhile, can help them battle the effects of sedentarism, as can taking breaks every hour for stretching and a little cardio (for instance, running up and down a flight of steps or performing a few Pilates moves).

BROACHING THE EMF DEBATE

Human beings are exposed to many different sources of electromagnetic fields (EMFs) – including computer screens, smart phones, tablets, microwave ovens, WiFi, smart metres, and cars with electrical wiring and Bluetooth technology. In response to public concern about possible adverse effects to health caused

by EMFs, in the late 1990s, the WHO launched a large, multidisciplinary effort, publishing around 25,000 reports on the subject. The WHO concluded that “current evidence does not confirm the existence of any health consequences from exposure to low level electromagnetic fields.” It acknowledged, however, that further research was required because “some gaps about biological effects exist.” The WHO notes that some people have complained that even low levels of exposure to EMFs at home result in symptoms such as headaches, anxiety, depression, nausea, fatigue, and libido loss. Some cases indicate a possible association between negative pregnancy outcomes (for instance, prematurity and low birth weight)

and EMFs, though exact causality has not been scientifically proven. Increasing rates of EMFs are all around us and they are impossible to avoid altogether. However, you can take steps to reduce your exposure. Keep your appliances far from where you sit or sleep, use the speaker function or earbuds with your phone (and do not carry your phone on your body), occasionally unplug your electronic devices, and consume spices rich in phenolics (including ginger, cloves, cinnamon, rosemary and turmeric) – since these have a protective effect against peroxynitrites (chemicals formed when the body interacts with EMFs). Magnesium may also help reduce the effects of EMF exposure. This is because EMFs migrate via the activation of voltage-

gated calcium channels in the body and magnesium is a natural calcium channel blocker. Some people also recommend earthing (walking on the earth barefoot to benefit from the Earth-’s negative charge). Screen addiction has a wide range of negative effects, including a higher chance of unhappiness, stress, postural and musculoskeletal problems, and EMF exposure. To curb the effects of this addiction, embrace outdoor activities, sticking to a predetermined amount of screen use at home and at work, and taking steps to reduce one’s proximity to EMFs. Also, consider investing in ergonomic furniture to reduce the rate or severity of musculoskeletal and postural problems. e

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enterprise

WE TALK WITH BOUTIQUE PROPERTY DEVELOPER, MICHAEL RODZIEWICZ, THE MAN RESPONSIBLE FOR VISTA LAGO IN MARBELLA. FIND OUT WHY UNICO IN BENAHAVÍS IS UNIQUE, AND KEEP UP TO DATE WITH THE LATEST NEWSWORTHY DEVELOPMENTS IN MARBELLA.

GO TO PAGE 178 FOR BRIGHT

GO TO PAGE 190 FOR THE VIBE

GO TO PAGE 194 FOR BUSINESS NEWS

GO TO PAGE 184 FOR UNICO

BUSINESS ENTERPRISE PROPERTY FINANCE LOCAL NEWS 178 Vista Lago’s Michael Rodziewicz 184 Unico in Benahavís 190 The Vibe 194 Business News

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MICHAEL RODZIEWICZ AND THE INSPIRATION BEHIND

BRIGHT

Michael Rodziewicz is a different kind of developer than most. Not an out-and-out commercial salesman, his gentle, goodnatured manner speaks of someone who approaches the creation of beautiful homes in a more considered, personal way – and it shows in his latest offering, Vista Lago Residences. WORDS MICHEL CRUZ PHOTOGRAPHY KEVIN HORN AND COURTESY OF BRIGHT

f you could select the perfect team to create a collection of beautiful, value-added homes, who would be in it? An architect, bien sur, a skilled landscaper and interior designer, naturally, but what about the original concept – the very essence that gives such a project life and soul? Should it not be led by someone who is passionate about design? A conceptual artist

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with the vision and desire to break established moulds and create something new and exciting, yet also sensible and valuable? BRIGHT might be the answer to this question, as this boutique developer with the very personal approach blends passion with innovative ideas to come at property development in a new and fresh way.

Change is a word that is bandied about too freely, and it has no value unless there is also substance to it; but in the case of BRIGHT, the substance is a different process of development, and its physical embodiment are the collections of design-led properties that carry the name.

A FUSION OF ARCHITECTURE AND INTERIOR DESIGN If you consider it well, a property is the product of architectural design and interior styling, but so is BRIGHT, the creative force behind Vista Lago Residences. It came about from a successful collaboration between Michael Rodziewicz and Jason Harris of UDesign, who subsequently formed a partnership where BRIGHT as a specialist property developer is complemented by the craftsmanship and design skills that UDesign has become known for. › WWW.ESSENTIALMAGAZINE.COM / 179

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“Our whole way of thinking when it comes to property development is designdriven,” says Michael Rodziewicz, CEO of the group that has adopted a more intuitive approach to property development. “And the design, in turn, is an expression of creativity, but always in the service of producing a certain feeling, a canvas for a lifestyle. Once you design things from this perspective, you

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look at the small details as well as the bigger picture.” Born and raised in Poland, Michael has an international outlook on life and the ability to see the bigger picture. His business background gives him the acumen for figures, the astuteness to separate sound concepts from flawed ones, and also leads to quick decisionmaking. His passion, however, has always been

design, and with both strong conceptual skills and an eye for detail, he has the right ingredients for the job.

A DIFFERENT APPROACH TO DESIGNING HOMES One of the things that makes him different is the fact that for Michael this kind of work is a pleasure as well as a business. “I think those of us who are active in something

as creative and important as designing homes should see it as a privilege, not just a commercial venture,” says the man who builds every home as if it was his own – and therefore gives it the TLC and consideration it deserves. “If the process that leads to something is different, the outcome will be too,” says Michael. “We’re businesspeople and make sure the figures › work and the business is run in a sensible manner, but whoever said that the creation of homes should be directed from a spread sheet? We design ours around the resident, the living spaces they need, the

furnishing in such rooms—and from this the concept comes to life.” Following this sequence, one arrives at homes that are subtly different from the norm – and more in tune with the needs of the end-user. “We put our experience in creating bespoke decorative solutions to good use, and we work the other way round to most developers, imposing not a ready-made interpretation of what we think the market wants, but carefully crafting and sculpting the concept until it makes great sense from an aesthetic, sensory and practical point of view.” ›

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FROM CONCEPT TO REALITY When Michael talks about his work, he sounds like an enthusiast, an idealist even, but the concepts he outlines are taking form in his latest project, the boutique development of 18 villas that make up the gated community of Vista Lago Residences. “For me it is a labour of love and, in spite of the hard work involved, such a pleasure to see it come together.” The setting is a gated villa community within Real de La Quinta, itself a gated country club whose focal point is divided between sea views and the manmade lake situated at the heart of the main valley. The lake is ringed by a pathway that borders a private six-hole golf course, features a sports complex as well as a lakeside swimming pool and sundeck, and a stylish clubhouse with wellness centre and panoramic restaurant. Later a small boutique hotel and commercial area will also be added. Bordering this estate is the National Park of the Sierra de Las Nieves, with an enormous

expanse of protected nature – and yet, Marbella and its beaches are just ten minutes away. “If you want to create a special lifestyle environment in the homes and their amenities, then the surroundings have to be in sync with that too,” says Michael, “and developing the way we do, there was never any question about doing so in a sustainable way, so we work to BREEAM standards for the entire project.” Having achieved international acclaim for Villa Alcuzcuz, a 1,300m2 plus modern mansion in La Zagaleta that also won the ‘Best in Spain’ and ‘Best in Europe’ prizes at the International Property Awards, BRIGHT is building a name for itself as a boutique developer of design-led homes – not to mention a level of bespoke finishing seldom seen,

complete with full interior design support from UDesign. “Everything we do is thought of with the homeowner in mind, and the finishing touch of this is to create a wonderful modern villa where the buyer has the freedom to express their own style, from choosing materials and detailing to having furniture and decoration made entirely to measure. As a result, every villa at Vista Lago Residences will be a unique home while having all the advantages of forming part of a gated community.” It’s a new kind of development style, driven by passion for design and detail, and the desire to design from the buyer’s perspective. g Tel: (+34) 648 981 111. info@by-bright.com www.by-bright.com

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Tucked into a curved fold of the hills near Los Arqueros, this contemporary gated complex of 24 luxury apartments and penthouses overlooks golf and shoreline from within a private landscaped oasis of peace and privacy.

gated boutique community within the exclusive urbanisation of Los Aguilares, Unico Benahavis feels like a modern oasis on the edge of San Pedro Alcántara and Guadalmina – a refuge of seclusion and tranquility within a few minutes of Marbella and the sea. As the stylish gate glides open, the attractively styled low-rise buildings of just six apartments each come into view. There are only two per floor, meaning that every property at Unico Benahavis is a corner apartment oozing space and natural light. ›

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UNICO BENAHAVIS MODERN OASIS IN THE HILLS

WORDS MICHEL CRUZ PHOTOGRAPHY KEVIN HORN

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“The design and development teams have put a great deal of practical experience into Unico Benahavis, so in reality it is the outcome of highly specialised expertise, and the perfection of all the projects that went before,” says Ian Cooper director of Los Arqueros Estates, the exclusive agents for the development and experts in the greater Los Arqueros area. He formed part of Unico’s development team, offering valuable insight from the market and feedback from many years of dealing with clients and understanding their evolving requirements. “The developers listened, and the result is a boutique project that is quite possibly best in class.” 186 / SEPTEMBER 2021 ESSENTIAL MAGAZINE

CONTEMPORARY PERFECTION The quality of Unico Benahavis is evident in the beautifully balanced proportions, architectural styling and the tasteful use of materials in which natural white lime plaster is complemented by design elements in stone and wood. “As in many walks of life, it’s not so much what you do as how you do it,” says Ian, “and this shows in details, the quality of the finishing and the proportions and positioning of each of the blocks.” The latter is clear enough, as not only does each of the properties enjoy an open perspective across the valley to the sea, but they do so from within a very private area that comprises

terraces and gardens for the lower floor apartments, and panoramic rooftop terraces in the penthouses – some of which are being delivered with private splash pools. “The owners have been able to exercise a great deal of freedom and creativity in the choice of materials, finishing and detailing.” The fact that the apartments at Unico Benahavis have the look and

feel of a compact villa aids in this process and adds to a sense of quality and exclusivity that is in equal measure thanks to the layout, the natural light flowing in and the quality of the materials used. “If it feels like a villa that’s because we’ve designed it so, and this continues in the standard of the kitchens and design-based features throughout,” says Ian. ›

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IN HARMONY WITH ITS SURROUNDINGS In fact, it is also visible in the exterior part of the complex, where the attractively landscaped gardens that surround the main swimming pool and sundeck are also a reflection of careful consideration – for as Unico Benahavis is a BREEAM certified development, the flowering plants and trees are all indigenous. In other words, they are in sync with their natural surroundings, which means they’re drought-resistant and require little maintenance. This kind of sensibility of design is even found in the layout and dressing of the

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parking bay area and in the fact that the apartments have both south-western and south-eastern views from two sets of terraces. “Clients have long told us that they like having breakfast with the rising sun and relaxing or entertaining on the terrace with sunset views, so finally we were able to accommodate this wish in a new project.” Other results of this process can be seen in the attractive gym and spa area, which uses space so cleverly and is bathed in natural light to create a very attractive place in which to work out, float in the large hydro-jet pool or relax in the sauna or

Turkish baths. It’s a truly modern feature in what is a contemporary oasis in the hills between Marbella and Benahavís. “Unico Benahavis is not about gimmicks or big boasts – it’s an exclusive boutique complex of superbly styled, located and finished apartments and penthouses where the difference really does lie in the detail.” g UNICO BENAHAVIS C/ El Estrecho, 5, Los Aguilares, Benahavís. Tel: +34 635 994 283. info@unicobenahavis.com www.unicobenahavis.com

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PALO ALTO APARTMENTS LAUNCH Matias Villarroel, Palo Alto Development Director at Round Hill Capital Spain, recently welcomed guests at the launch of Granados, comprising 60 apartments, whose residents will enjoy exclusive access to the Palo Alto Club. Ceibas, a smaller exclusive development with only ten apartments, was also presented at the event. i www.paloaltomarbella.com

“It’s time to start living the life you’ve imagined” – Henry James

PHOTOGRAPHY KEVIN HORN 190 / SEPTEMBER 2021 ESSENTIAL MAGAZINE

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FLOWER POWER PARTY Good vibes were flowing at the Anantara Villa Padierna Beach Club on a warm summer evening where some of the Coast’s beautiful people gathered to boogie-ondown, you dig man? The groovy revellers enjoyed a fun evening full of kaleidoscopic colour and really cool entertainment. i www.anantara.com

“Love is the flower you’ve got to let grow” – John Lennon

PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY OF ANANTARA VILLA PADIERNA 192 / SEPTEMBER 2021 ESSENTIAL MAGAZINE

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AEDAS HOMES PRESENTS IDILIA VIEWS IN RINCÓN DE LA VICTORIA AEDAS Homes is proud to present its latest project: Idilia Views in Rincón de la Victoria – featuring 24 two- and three-bedroom apartments with an enviable view over the Mediterranean, beautiful common areas, and comfortable terraces (starting at 33m2 in size). The expected delivery date for Idilia Views is the second trimester of 2023. Currently, approximately 50 per cent of the project has already been completed. i Further information, www.aedashomes.com

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DON CARLOS RESORT & SPA CELEBRATES FIRST POP UP EVENT Don Carlos Resort & Spa, Alejandro Hermann Art Gallery, and Setenta Concept Store joined forces to present Arte y Moda: their first pop up event at the Don Carlos Beach Club. Guests marvelled at Alejandro Hermann’s newest

collection, 800 and enjoyed viewing vintage and fashion designs by Setenta Concept Store. The Don Carlos Beach Club itself is well worth visiting. Measuring an impressive 3,674m2, it is graced with designer furniture and emblematic pieces by world-renowned brands like Dedon and Paola Lenti. i www.doncarlosresort.com

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SOTOGRANDE 50TH INTERNATIONAL POLO TOURNAMENT The 50th Sotogrande International Polo Tournament by La Reserva Club Sotogrande took place recently at the Santa María Polo Club, comprising the annual Bronze, Silver and Gold Cups, which were evidently enjoyed by players and the crowd alike. With seven polo grounds, four of them World Class, the Sotogrande International Polo Tournament is a major fixture on the world polo tour. This years event, the 50th edition of the tournament, featured many matches and activities throughout the greater part of August. i www.santamariapoloclub.com

BUTTERFLY CHILDREN GOLF TOURNAMENT AT ALOHA GOLF CLUB If you love spending a day out on the greens, why not take part in the Butterfly Children Golf Tournament, which will take place on Saturday, September 11 at the Aloha Golf Club? Proceeds will go towards helping support families living with the rare condition, Butterfly Skin. There are various prizes to be won so the event should be lots of fun. Donations for prizes are also welcome. i #DebraGolf #DebraCharityGolfTournament #ButterflySkin www.debra.es

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KARE TURNS 40! KARE is more than a furniture, lighting, and décor store. It is a joyful, relaxed lifestyle concept; the product of a team with brilliant ideas, an entrepreneurial spirit, and plenty of enthusiasm. The brand, which is now celebrating its 40th

anniversary, is synonymous with décor ideas that are unique, non-conformist, and authentic. Since 1981, it has been surprising fans in over 100 countries with a wide array of innovative pieces that express a true passion for design.g Oasis Business Centre, CN 340, km 183, Marbella. www.kare.es

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BABY ORANGUTAN IS BORN AT BIOPARC FUENGIROLA Visitors to Bioparc in Fuengirola were recently able to view a baby Borneo orangutan, the only one born through a conservation programme in Europe in the past 12 months. Orangutans normally give birth at night, but staff and visitors were surprised when Suli, a female Borneo orangutan, gave birth in the light of day. Orangutans are the primates that take the most time to rear their young. Chimpanzees and gorillas normally take four or five years to grant their offspring independence, but orangutans can take up to seven years to do so. i www.bioparcfuengirola.es

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GREEN COVERS TRIBUTE IN BENALMÁDENA Green covers will be performing a triple concert, featuring tributes to Depeche Mode, The Cure, and BEST of the 80s in Benalmádena on September 18, 2021 at the Auditorio Benalmádena. Enjoy singing and dancing to your favourite hits from what was undoubtedly a prolific era in music at the ultimate 80s live party. g Tickets can be purchased on Tel: 658 579 695 or www.ticketsource.eu/bigmpromotions

CONCERTS AT THE GIBRALFARO CASTLE IN AID OF CUDECA The Gibralfaro Castle in Málaga recently hosted two fundraising events for the Cudeca cancer hospice. On August 19, the Symphonic Orchestra of Málaga performed the stunning Concierto de Aranjuez and on August 20, a fabulous Zarzuela performance took place featuring the voices of soprano, Sonia García, mezzo soprano, Carmen de Auriago, and tenors, Diego Morales and Francisco Arbós. i www.cudeca.org

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CUPA STONE OPENS IN MÁLAGA Cupa Stone, a company specialising in the production and sale of natural stone, recently opened a brand new distribution centre in Málaga, strengthening the company’s position in Europe. The Málaga branch is the fifth opened

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in Europe in the past two years. It also boasts centres in Seville, Lisbon, Valencia, and Toulouse. The new centre will serve professional and private clients alike. It is located in Polígono San Luis, around 10 minutes by car from the centre of Málaga. i www.cupastone.es

STUART CANTOR CAPTURES ‘LA BELLA VITA’ AT THE MARBELLA CLUB AND NOBU IBIZA BAY Renowned photographer, Stuart Cantor, captured the essence of the beautiful life at the Marbella Club and Nobu Ibiza Bay with two exhibitions – entitled Marbella Club Days and Balearic Bliss, respectively. The images awaken emotions, aromas, and sounds, and immediately transport the viewer into a place or moment. The exhibition features 18 images that capture the glamour, relaxed elegance, and magical spirit of this hotel. i www.marbellaclub.com

LAST-MINUTE VACATION RENTALS AT HIGUERÓN RESORT Higuerón resort recently invited travellers to take up last minute reservations for a different experience through their service, Higuerón Rental. The latter offers various exclusive rental options within the frontline Beach Club, including its impressive penthouse. Style, quality, and location are just three aspects you can look forward to by booking a stay in this intimate space with all the services and features of a luxury resort. i www.reservadelhigueronresort.com

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gourmet

STEP INTO THE CASINO MARBELLA’S NEW GASTRO BAR AND TRY SOME OF THEIR TASTY GOURMET TAPAS. READ ABOUT NEW DEVELOPMENTS IN THE FUTURE OF FOOD. MAKE A POINT OF TRYING TWO WONDERFUL AWARD-WINNING WINES THIS MONTH.

GO TO PAGE 204 FOR CASINO MARBELLA

GO TO PAGE 218 FOR WONDERFUL WINES

GO TO PAGE 216 FOR GOURMET BYTES

GO TO PAGE 210 FOR THE FUTURE OF FOOD

NEWS GASTRONOMY CHEFS WINE

204 Casino Marbella’s New Gastro Bar 210 The Future of Food 216 Gourmet Bytes 218 Wonderful Wines

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THE NEW

CASINO MARBELLA´S GASTROBAR TREND-SETTING PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY OF CASINO MARBELLA

here are times that mark a before and after, and without a doubt, this is one of them. We are experiencing a change of concepts, values and ways of understanding life on a global level that leads us to adapt to the new times. Casino Marbella Restaurant has done the same – a legendary place in Marbella's local gastronomy with more than 40 years of history. Gone are the days of endless dinners. Now time is valuable, they look for immediacy while maintaining premier service with the best quality. And this is what the new concept of the

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Casino Marbella Restaurant proposes with its Gastrobar. Operating in the same space with the existing team, it has once again renewed its offer which is now adapted to current trends. At the head is Chef Agustín Román who, for more than 10 years now, has been demonstrating his know-how and he surprises at the highest gastronomic level with the latest culinary trends. ›

CHEF AGUSTÍN ROMÁN SURPRISES WITH A NEW GOURMET TAPAS CONCEPT

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Anchovies with chermoula sauce and pea hummus, Russian salad with ‘fritura malagueña’, and Beetroot Gazpacho with yogurt icecream are some of the enticing tapas presented in this new concept. With a long professional career since he was young, he has been part of the team of great restaurants awarded with

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Michelin Stars. Not only at national level, but also at international level where he has left his mark taking part in the United Nations Catering in New York, Winzerstube Restaurant in Germany and the Palacio de Vizcaya in Miami. ›

Tel: 952 818 392 www.thaigallerymarbella.com

ALL OUR RESTAURANTS ARE OPEN ACCORDING TO REGULATIONS, WITH FULL SAFETY MEASURES!

Puente Romano Hotel, Plaza Village, Marbella.

IN ES E R ES TA U R A N T PO LY

NEW TAI PAN

Marbella

ES IA N BA R

Tel: 952 777 893 / 952 775 500 www.taipanmarbella.com Puente Romano, Fase 2, Marbella. Open Daily for Dinner from 8:00

SUKHOTHAI Exquisite Royal Thai Cuisine Tel: 952 770 550 www.sukhothaimarbella.com Marbellamar, L-3A, Marbella. Open Daily for Dinner from 8:00

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The new Gastrobar menu offers you the opportunity to dine in a more casual way, but with the same quality and service as before. Fresh and tasty Mediterranean tapas combine with classics of Spanish cuisine and a fusion of Hawaiian, Japanese and Moroccan trends. An offer designed to please all kinds of visitors as Casino Marbella welcomes more than 120 different nationalities every year. And it is one of the few restaurants that offers ‘late dinner’ open every night until the early hours of the morning. e

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www.casinomarbella.com

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g CASINO MARBELLA Hotel H10 Andalucía Plaza, s/n Puerto Banús, Marbella. Tel: (+34) 952 814 000. www.casinomarbella.com

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he food industry is facing what is arguably one of its biggest challenges in recent history: that of mitigating its climate impact – and this impact is certainly sizable, with the meat and dairy industries accounting for around 14.5 per cent of global greenhouse emissions, according to the UN’s Food and Agricultural Organisation. As reported by Carbon Brief, “If the world is to meet its target of limiting global warming to ‘well below’ 2ºC, some degree of diet shift will be

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necessary. If it is to strive for the most optimistic target of keeping warming to 1.5ºC, changes to diet may be even more crucial.” The industrial revolution may have been one of the defining forces that brought Earth to the state it is currently in, but new advances in agriculture, science, and engineering are the only way out of this conundrum. What technologies will be shaping the food industry and which novel ingredients are likely to play a key role in our dietary regimens?

THE RISE AND RISE OF PLANTBASED SUBSTITUTES Veganism is one of the decisive forces shaping the current food industry and there are three main interests behind its boom: health, animal rights, and sustainability. It is predicted that one in 10 people will embrace this lifestyle within the next 10 years. The current pandemic has certainly highlighted the importance of fighting for our planet, and food is a key weapon if human beings are to succeed in reversing the havoc they have wreaked for

WORDS MARISA CUTILLAS

HOW IS

SUSTAINABILITY

SHAPING THE

Chlorella

centuries. Technology is making veganism a simpler, more appealing choice than ever before thanks to brands like Beyond Meat. The latter makes burgers with flavours and textures that are very similar to ‘the real thing’ using a technology that heats, cools, and pressurises plant-based products until they obtain the fibrous texture of meat. Other ingredients are then mixed with this base – including fats, minerals, fruit, spices, and vegetable colours – all of which help mimic the juiciness and appearance of meat. Of

FUTURE OF FOOD?

course, vegan products now extend way beyond burgers, with the list of tempting items including vegan chicken strips, plant-based cheese, and vegan bacon (made by dehydrating zucchini with smokey spices that lend the treat the characteristic crunch and smokiness of bacon).

PRECISION FERMENTATION AND SYNTHETIC BIOLOGY Precision fermentation and synthetic biology are two trending technologies aimed at producing alternative protein sources. According to Eatable Adventures, these

technologies are predicted to match ‘and even surpass’ animal sources. Precision fermentation involves programming microorganisms to produce complex organic molecules such as protein. Synthetic biology, meanwhile, relies on cell-based alternatives to create entire cuts of meat (including chops, steak, and other traditional meats) with nutritional values similar to those of the ‘originals’. Cell-based technology can even imitate the marbling appearance of meat, as well as its colour and structure. ›

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VERTICAL FARMING Agricultural land occupies approximately five billion hectares (or 38 per cent of the world’s land surface) – a malady that vertical farming (VF) seeks to counteract. VF involves growing crops in vertically stacked layers, indoors. Every VF tower requires 12 per cent of the land required to produce a similar crop yield outdoors. Through this method, evaporation is reduced so less water is needed. The VF system also propagates climate resilience (as plants can be grown year-round) and energy savings (since the towers can be used to store energy that can be subsequently obtained from a renewable energy grid when required). Companies like Freight Farms (which use these methods) report that using solar energy yields a 55 per cent lower carbon footprint than industrial farming.

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Robotic perfection

DRONE TECHNOLOGIES Savvy farmers are already using drones equipped with sensors and cameras to evaluate crop growth throughout the season and to determine respective growth rates in specific parts of fields. Drones enable farmers to apply a more personalised approach – applying more fertiliser, for instance, to the plants that require assistence and reducing the amounts applied to other plants if necessary. Michigan State University Professor, Bruno Basso, explains that remotely sensed data, when coupled with new algorithms, allows farmers to accurately quantify nitrogen losses from fields. Newly developed software, meanwhile, is used to obtain detailed calculations on nutrient, water, and carbon balances of entire crop systems.

Farmers can therefore manage their fields efficiently while ensuring that nitrogen and phosphorus stay in the soil instead of running into rivers.

HYPERSPECTRAL IMAGING Another technology enabling farmers to glean the state of their crops is hyperspectral imaging (which monitors disease early so that action can be taken before produce is destroyed). This technology uses 42 measurements of spectrum (as opposed to the five-to-seven measurements used by multispectral cameras) to provide farmers with ultra-detailed information regarding even the tiniest changes taking place in the physiology of a plant. Thus, farmers can discover nutrient deficiencies, diseases, and other problems at very early stages. ›

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Vegan bacon

EMBRACING ALTERNATIVE PROTEIN SOURCES “There is life beyond plant-based protein sources,” say researchers from Eatable Adventures, who are heralding the diversification of the alternative protein market. Top alternative ingredients being investigated include red algae (used by the company Triton Algae), chlorella (by Algenuity), mycelium (by Meati Foods), and unicellular protein (by Noblegen). If you have any doubt about how amazingly good these foods can look, check out MyBacon by Atlast Food Co, made from mycelium (mushrooms). Atlast’s mycelium grows in layers just 30 microns thick and this product can be fine-tuned in terms of its strength, porosity, and texture. The list of

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products that can be made from mycelium includes whole cuts like chicken breasts and steak. The future of sustainable food has begun and forecasts for the growth of plant-based and alternative products continue to be very optimistic. New technological advances are making it possible to scale up and manufacture competitively priced items that can be afforded by a larger number of consumers. Indeed, affordability is arguably the key pillar of success for all these new technologies, for it is only when sustainable products are consumed on a mass scale that a significant change can be realised in terms of reducing the colossal size of our current carbon footprint. e

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WORDS BY MARISA CUTILLAS

ESPETOS COMPETITION IN TORREMOLINOS

Espetos (skewered sardines cooked in a sand-filled boat) are a traditional Malagueño delight and every year, the very best espeto cooks on the Coast gather on the beach in Torremolinos to see whose espetos are deemed the best. This year, the event took place in Playamar and featured espeto cooks from across the Coast. It took place over two days and proved to be as popular as always. i www.concursodeespetos.com

BEEFEATER LIGHT AND BALLANTINE’S LIGHT RECOGNISE THE BEST AT THE SANLÚCAR HORSE RACES

Beefeater Light and Ballantine’s Light are two bottles with half the amount of alcohol contained in their original counterparts. These brands recently sponsored a race at the Sanlúcar Carreras de Caballos event, awarding the Pernod Ricard Beefeater Light and Ballantine’s Light Prize to the victor. Beefeater is inexorably linked to the city of London while Ballantine’s is one of Europe’s favourite whiskies. i www.pernodricard.com

A BRAND NEW TERRACE AT

DA BRUNO A CASA

Da Bruno a Casa is pleased to announce that it has a brand new terrace, which is dressed in the happy yellow hues Da Bruno is known for. Guests can watch people go by while tucking into exquisite Italian dishes served by a friendly team. i www.dabruno.com

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STUDIO GRONDA

DESIGNS 14 FOOD SPACES FOR IKOS ANDALUSIA Architect and Interiorist Diego Gronda, with a portfolio of over 100 restaurants across the globe, has been chosen to design for Ikos Andalusia – a hotel aiming to provide the ultimate guest experience. The resort features a total of 14 different gastronomic experiences, seven of which comprise restaurants signed by four Michelin-starred chefs, and seven bars. The aim is to “create an emotional, atemporal, magical, and unique connection with guests that lasts in time.” i www.ikosresorts.com

ROKU GIN PAIRING EXPERIENCE

AT NOBU HOTEL MARBELLA

Nobu Hotel Marbella joins forces with House of Suntory’s Roku Gin to create a unique Japanese inspired Roku botanical cocktail and food pairing menu. Guests can embark on an authentic culinary experience led by Chef Eleni Manousou and Creative Mixologist Rodrigo Tartaglia.

The package includes the Roku Gin pairing menu at Nobu restaurant, a mixologist class and an overnight stay at Nobu Hotel Marbella. The pairing menu is available on Tuesdays until September 30. i www.marbella.nobuhotels.com WWW.ESSENTIALMAGAZINE.COM / 217

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WORDS JAMES SINCLAIR PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY OF GONZÁLEZ BYASS

WONDERFUL WINES

We recommend two recent exceptional award-winners, perfect for wine lovers this month. VILARNAU ROSÉ DELICAT – THE BEST WINE IN SPAIN The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food has awarded the 2021 Spanish Food Award for the Best Wine in Spain to the Vilarnau

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Ecological Brut Rosado Cava. The prestigious jury of these awards selected from the winners among the top rated wines in the Bacchus 2021 International Contest, where this cava obtained the highest

distinction for the first time in its history, the Great Bacchus. Caring for and nurturing the land is in the DNA of Vilarnau, whose vineyards and wines are 100% organic, which implies maximum respect for the

biodiversity of the flora and fauna of its environment. Their artisanal cellar, combining tradition and modernity, derives its name from the fortified Romanesque house, Vila Arnau. Vilarnau Rosé Delicat Ecológico is made predominantly from Garnacha grapes with a touch of pinot noir. Its delicate production process results in a pale pink cava of great aromatic complexity, very creamy, fresh and elegant. This ecological Reserve cava is suitable for vegans and is perfect to accompany appetisers, rice dishes, pasta and creamy desserts.

VIÑAS DEL VERO CHARDONNAY 2020 The 2020 vintage of Viñas del Vero Chardonnay has been regaled with a Baco de Oro Award, by a jury who judged the best young Spanish wines of 2020. Freshness and typicality define the personality of Viñas del Vero Chardonnay, a white wine that has become one of the benchmarks of this

variety in Spain. Coming from selected vineyards of this grape under the Somontano Denominación de Origen, this chardonnay follows a delicate production process overseen by José Ferrer, the bodega’s winemaker. The result is a brilliant white, with aromas of citrus and tropical fruits. In the mouth it is enveloping and expressive with a pronounced finish, a reflection of the roots of Chardonnay in Somontano and the fruit of its long history. Served between 8 and 10ºC, Viñas del Vero Chardonnay is ideal to enjoy on summer days and as an accompaniment to all kinds of starters, salads and fish dishes. Viñas del Vero is the leading winery in Somontano, acquiring its name from the river traversing the region, the Vero, located at the foot of the Pyrenees. i www.gonzalezbyass.com

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Essential Magazine September 2021

Articles inside

Wonderful Wines

The Future of Food

Business News

The Vibe

Vista Lago’s Michael Rodziewicz

Unico in Benahavís

How to Age Beautifully

Addiction to Technology

Benefits of Garlic/Ginger/Tumeric

New Perfume Releases

Game On with Convertible Furniture

Heidi Gubbins Interior Design

Non-fungible Tokens

Music News

Beachfront Splendour at Los Monteros

What’s Cool

The Space & Underwater Tourism Summit

Books – New Releases

Gourmet Tours of Andalucía

Dune is out this Month

Living Lots Longer

Earth 300

Hot New Films

The New Lotus Evija