Sommaire pour May 2017 de Robb Report

Against the lunar landscape of Hawaii’s Kona coast, the Lexus LC 500 (lexus.com) appears both elegant and menacing, and not at all bland or boring. It displays the same wide and low athletic stance and complex curves as the concept car on which it is based, the LF-LC that first appeared in 2012. The LC 500 is a superb rear-wheel-drive grand tourer, powered by a 471 hp, 5-liter V-8 that produces a growling exhaust note and smooth, effortless acceleration. The new 10-speed transmission maximizes fuel economy in comfort mode and holds the gears well in sportier settings, and it can be shifted manually with steering-wheel paddles. Lexus says the chassis is the stiffest and most agile it has ever built, and our ride on the Big Island’s winding roads supports…

In 1878, a Belgian firm created a safe that, for its time, was state-of-the-art and practically impenetrable. The German company Döttling, known for building rock-solid watch safes, has recently renovated the antique Belgian safe, the Legends No. 124 Humidor (esperluxe.com, $290,000). The apparently walnut exterior is actually a steel cabinet that has been given hundreds of layers of hand-applied faux bois glaze. The metal fittings and interior lock works are plated in 24-karat gold, as are the four individual dial combination locks. The Legends No. 124 Humidor contains multiple cedar drawers for cigars as well as space for prized decanters. This could very well be one of the safest places on the planet to store the finest smokes, such as the three examples that follow. Temple Hall Estates Country of…

“I NEVER [BEFORE] MADE A FACE-LIFTING THAT WAS SO FULL OF NEW CONTENT.” —MAURIZIO REGGIANI, LAMBORGHINI R&D DIRECTOR IT DIDN’T TAKE long to experience some of what’s special about the new Lamborghini Aventador S. Mario Fasanetto, Automobili Lamborghini’s senior development driver, was leading two other drivers and me on our first lap around Spain’s Circuit Ricardo Tormo racetrack when the gray car just ahead of my white one climbed the curbing at the apex of a turn. As the rear tire transformed the yellow and black paint on the track into powder, the driver accelerated too hard, sending the vehicle sideways and creating a test of my reflexes and my car’s agility. The Aventador S’s new four-wheel steering system reacted instantly when I flicked the wheel, enabling me to avoid…

The fashion capital has emerged as one of the world’s premier shopping destinations, with dozens of notable designers and bespoke tailors having opened shops in the past few years on and around the city’s Via Monte Napoleone. To provide visitors with unrivaled access to this shopping street and all that greater Milan has to offer, a consortium of brands recently established the MonteNapoleone VIP Lounge. Guests can ensconce themselves in its elegantly comfortable lounge space while the concierge secures reservations at the city’s top restaurants, arranges tours of private wineries, or procures tickets to the hottest operas. Need a red dress for the evening’s affair? Red dresses from top designers can be delivered to the lounge for a private viewing; similarly, a tailor might be summoned to carry out a…

For four decades, Van Dam Custom Boats has been designing and building some of the world’s finest wooden boats—classic-style runabouts, cruisers, racers, and sailboats. The company, which is family owned and located in Boyne City, Mich., completes two or three custom builds a year, depending on the size of the boats. It uses computer-aided design programs throughout the design and build processes, and it fabricates its own metal components and mechanical systems on-site. The May launch of Van Dam’s latest creation, Catnip, coincides with the company’s 40th anniversary. The 30-foot runabout displays art deco–style design elements and can achieve speeds greater than 50 knots. (vandamboats.com)…

Since showcasing its two-seat demonstrator model at the 2014 EAA Airventure Oshkosh in Wisconsin, Elytron Aircraft has been flying under the radar. But the California-based company has continued to develop a five-seat aircraft that uses tilt-wing and box-wing configurations to take off and land like a helicopter and fly at the speed of a fixed-wing plane. Elytron has been working with NASA to test a prototype, and a company spokesman said it will have some big news in the coming months. The 5S model, which is designed to hold a pilot and four passengers, could serve as an air taxi. Traveling at more than 300 mph, it could theoretically transport you from a heliport in Boston to one in Manhattan in as little as 38 minutes. The aircraft’s projected maximum…

WHEN DESIGNING this oceanfront residence for an art enthusiast, the architect aimed to make the home a sculpture worthy of the owner’s collection. He achieved it with a modern, minimalist approach that marries form with function and blurs the lines between inside and out-of-doors. “It’s the intersection of art and architecture,” says Scott Lee, president and principal of the San Francisco–based SB Architects. The newly constructed 14,000-square-foot, two-story project, located at the St. Regis Bahía Beach Resort in Puerto Rico, opens to the Atlantic Ocean and was designed to mirror its sun-drenched, breezy surroundings. “It has a hint of midcentury modernism, with its overhangs and horizontal lines and its simplicity of color and form,” Lee says. The Puerto Rican fashion designer Nono Maldonado, who also specializes in interior design, oversaw…

“JUST AS COMFORT MODE MAXIMIZES EFFICIENCY WITH THE CAR’S NINE GEARS, SPORT PLUS MODE WRINGS OUT MAXIMUM PERFORMANCE WITHOUT ANY DRAMA.” TWO ROWS OF all-new E-Class sedans sat on the rain-soaked airport parking lot in Faro, in southern Portugal. Across the way, a large construction-company sign nailed to the wall of the terminal entrance proclaimed, “Great things are happening.” The slogan suits Mercedes-AMG, the high-performance division of Mercedes-Benz that in recent years has created some of the world’s fastest and most beautiful cars. One of them is the AMG E63 S Sedan, the top-of-the-line, most-powerful variant of the recently redesigned E-Class. Its capabilities and versatility are such that it can serve as an efficient, nearly autonomous commuter when it’s in Comfort driving mode or as a track-worthy performance car when…

21 Royal/Disneyland Resort VIP Tours, pages 152a-b 4VOO, page 157 4voo.com Aireloom, page 110 aireloom.com Asprey, page 12 asprey.com Aston Martin, pages 8-9 astonmartin.com Azure Paradise Valley, page 95 azurepvliving.com Bay Club at Olde Naples, page 131 baycluboldenaples.com Bell & Ross, page 87 bellross.com Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices, page 117 berkshirehathawayhs.com Bevolo, page 130 bevolo.com Carl F. Bucherer, page 49 carl-f-bucherer.com Charles Krypell, page 21 charleskrypell.com Christie’s International Real Estate, page 141 christiesrealestate.com Christopher Designs, page 45 christopherdesigns.com Coffin & Trout, page 76 coffinandtrout.com Collector Edition, page 32 collectoredition.us.com Daniels Wood Land, page 151 danielswoodland.com DeLeon Realty, page 145 deleonrealty.com Dior, Cover 4 dior.com Domus Design Collection, page 123 ddcnyc.com Fleetwood Windows…

• REDESIGNED FOR THE 2017 model year, the BMW 5 Series (bmwusa.com) displays only subtle changes. They include new headlights that connect to a restyled kidney grille fitted with aerodynamic shutters, reshaped lower air intakes, and sharpened character lines that give the car a stronger presence. This seventh generation of the midsize sedan is slightly longer than the last one, and partly because of a new chassis, it’s as much as 137 pounds lighter, which improves its handling and efficiency. “It’s still the benchmark for agility, fun to drive, and there’s a lot of technology,” says Ludwig Willisch, head of BMW Group Region Americas, who notes that the 5 Series, which has been in production since 1972, accounts for 20 percent of the company’s U.S. sales. The 2017 5 Series…

When Augustine opened this past winter, the timing could not have been more ideal. Located in the renovated Beekman hotel in Manhattan’s Financial District, the Francophile restaurant is entirely in sync with a recent rise in the popularity of classic French cooking. But that was to be expected. Restaurateur Keith McNally has been opening Left Bank–worthy brasseries across New York for decades, from Balthazar to Pastis, and Augustine (augustineny.com) is the ultimate expression of his expertise. The setting—mosaic and art nouveau tiles, distressed mirrors, wrought-iron chandeliers, leather banquettes, and a burnished gold ceiling that glows—feels distinctly upscale bistro. The menu is a master class in French technique perfected. Executive chefs Shane McBride and Daniel Parilla call their leg of lamb and duck à l’orange—each slice of bird seamed by a…

KOREAN AIR koreanair.com Korean Air, as the largest transpacific carrier, flies from more cities in the Americas to more cities in Asia than any other airline. From 13 gateways in North America, Korean Air offers convenient connections to Seoul and beyond. COFFIN & TROUT FINE JEWELERS coffinandtrout.com For over 30 years, Coffin & Trout has been designing and handcrafting fine jewelry using only the highest-quality materials. Having recently received its 11th international award, the brand continues to push the forefront of innovative jewelry design. HARRISON K-9 harrisonk9.com Harrison K-9 has spent over four decades developing and perfecting a proprietary training and breeding method to produce the best executive and family-protection working dogs available anywhere. In a highly competitive market, Harrison K-9 has stood the test of time…

ULTRA-BOUTIQUES—hotels with a very limited number of rooms but plenty of amenities—can be big on quality, giving a few special guests a singular experience. In Southport, Maine, the Inn at Cuckolds Lighthouse (innatcuckoldslighthouse.com) is a 19th-century lighthouse turned two-suite hideaway where cocktails are made in the paneled parlor and freshly caught lobster is served in the Shaker-style dining room. Costa Rica’s three-room El Alma (elalma.com), a member of Small Luxury Hotels of the World, hosts wellness retreats for just six guests at a time. Those who check in to Amsterdam’s Hôtel Droog (droog.com), meanwhile, might even feel a tad lonely: The one-room hotel sits above the Droog concept store, a cutting-edge showroom filled with pieces by Dutch designers like Marcel Wanders and Tejo Remy. But the One and Only Bedroom,…

WHALE WATCHERS sailing along the sheltered bays of northwestern Dominica often pass just within earshot of Secret Bay (secretbay.dm)—but they never know it. More than a name, the eco-luxury resort is a hidden oasis on the West Indies isle, its eight villas and bungalows (two of which debuted last October) burrowed within a rain-forest-covered promontory. This isn’t a resort in the typical sense: There are no restaurants, swimming pools, or other communal spaces, save for a perfect slice of white-sand beach. Rather, guests are secluded in their retreats, lounging by their private pools on Guyanese timber decks and summoning the services of Secret Bay’s chefs, yogis, and massage therapists whenever desired. This year, the resort begins work on an ambitious addition, creating 42 new villa residences tucked within a neighboring…

➻ Psst, come over here. Closer. We don’t want everyone knowing Robb Report’s secrets. With you, however, we’re happy to share this cache of insider information, for which we opened not just our own little black books but also those of industry experts and the most connected connoisseurs. The 100-plus entries on our list admittedly aren’t all secrets—some are just cool things most people haven’t heard of—but as a whole they represent a treasure trove of both tangible takeaways and cocktail-party talking points. From a fine Florentine tailor to a hidden speakeasy in Beijing, these are the spots, services, and experiences that we just couldn’t keep to ourselves. ➻ Singular watches ➻ Thanks to Andersen Genève’s low-volume production, its watches are already incredibly exclusive. But for a timepiece that is…

If you’ve purchased a new Porsche and used the online configurator when doing so, you know the automaker offers a staggering list of options. It’s easy to reach $30,000 in just leather-wrapped interior bits. But for an even more personalized ride, you can enlist Porsche Exclusive and push the limits of your imagination. The factory program, originally called Sonderwunsch (“special wishes”), has been creating one-of-a-kind dream cars for customers around the world since 1978. In the United States, specialists at the Porsche Experience Centers in Los Angeles and Atlanta will consult with you at no charge and help sort through the program’s options—there are 230 for the 911 alone. Like a bespoke suit, a Porsche that’s been tailored just for you provides a certain satisfaction. (porsche.com)…

Considered a modern master by many a luminary in the jewelry world, Lauren Adriana combines exceptional gemstones in a painterly way, in creations such as the rubellite-and-pink-sapphire ring and spinel-anddiamond earrings shown here. Each of the 30-year-old designer’s pieces is unique and never to be repeated. (at Fred Leighton, fredleighton.com) Designer Lauren Adriana’s artful jewelry includes these spinel-and-diamond earrings and rubellite-and-pink-sapphire ring.…

Display cupboards take style cues from apothecary cabinets, and panels of accent mirrors infuse the space with light. WHEN A COUPLE on Manhattan’s Upper West Side was looking to convert their prewar condominium overlooking the Hudson River from a three-bedroom “family” residence into a more elegant space for entertaining their well-rounded social circle, they took the notion of an empty nest quite seriously, stripping their Riverside Drive residence down to the studs. While designer Robin Baron kept the footprint largely intact, she made significant alterations to achieve the couple’s objective, including moving a door to fashion a more dramatic entry in the master bedroom, creating more communal seating areas, and converting the children’s former bedrooms into flexible spaces. Baron reclaimed every inch of ceiling height and width in the kitchen…

TO PRESERVE THEIR YOUTH, the gods of Norse mythology ate golden apples guarded by Idun, the goddess of spring. When the trickster god Loki stormed the garden with a giant to kidnap Idun and steal all her apples, the gods immediately began to wrinkle and ache. Understandably upset, they pressured Loki to return Idun to the garden so she could once again tend and distribute her magical fruit. Sadly, apples of eternal youth exist only in myth. But science shows that some foods do have the power to slow the aging process. Physicians and nutritionists at top institutions note that two principles link many of these superfoods: They quell excess inflammation, which underlies many conditions associated with aging, such as heart disease, cancer, and Alzheimer’s disease. And they contain little…

Another recent addition to the Mercedes-AMG portfolio is the C63 S Coupe, the $75,000 high-powered version of the two-door C-Class. It conveys elegance with attitude, especially when it’s clad in the Edition 1 package. This livery mimics that of Mercedes-AMG’s DTM (German touring-car series) race-cars. Bright-yellow asymmetrical racing stripes run the length of a body painted in Selenite Grey Magno, a metallic paint with a matte finish. Equally electric-yellow trim runs along the edge of the twin-spoke wheels—19 inches in front and 20 in back. The C63 S Coupe uses a version of AMG’s hand-built, 4-liter biturbo V-8 that produces 503 hp and 516 ft lbs of torque (469 hp and 479 ft lbs in the base C63 Coupe model). The coupe is at its best in Sport or Sport…

• A BOEING 777 with a new custom cabin is preparing to fly Crystal AirCruises (crystalcruises.com) travelers to luxury vacation spots around the world. The interior, created by Greenpoint Technologies (greenpnt.com) of Kirkland, Wash., features a spacious domed lounge with a bar, two mohair-covered divans, four dining tables that together seat 24 people, and climate-controlled wine storage. The cabin in standard configuration carries as many as 380 passengers, but now accommodates just 84. The seats are upholstered in quilted leather. Each has its own privacy surround and reclines fully to a 73.5-inch-long lie-flat bed. Each seat also has an in-flight entertainment system that includes a 24-inch flat-screen monitor, Wi-Fi connectivity, and USB and power ports. The cabin houses two galleys and four spacious lavatories with gray oak-veneer cabinets, extra-large mirrors,…

• WITH A BIG RED DOT on its roof, the No. 19 car was easy to spot at this year’s Rolex 24 at Daytona. John Baldessari, the 85-year-old conceptual artist who designed the livery, wanted it that way. “I will always know where the car is when I watch the race on TV,” he says with a laugh. The RLL M6 GTLM has joined the collection of BMW Art Cars (artcar.bmwgroup.com), rolling sculptures displaying one-of-a-kind paint jobs by Andy Warhol, Roy Lichtenstein, Jeff Koons, and other renowned contemporary artists. Baldessari had only two constraints when creating his Art Car: The design had to comply with racing regulations, and it could not add weight to the vehicle. “I wanted to make it very obvious that this was a car,” says Baldessari,…

THE PATH to enlightenment is never easy, but in Kyoto, at least, it can now be luxurious. Japan’s former imperial capital has opened the doors of a handful of its historic Zen Buddhist temples, allowing guests rare overnight stays in spruced-up monks’ quarters. Launched in 2016, the Zen experience Iroha Nihon—the Soul of Japan (available through Cerca Travel Co.’s Tabikyo-Japan division, tabikyo-japan.com) was developed by the Tokyo-based Nippon Foundation. The program invites travelers to one of five temples—all of which are closed to the public—for private tours, lessons in zazen (sitting meditation), and shojin ryori (vegetarian cuisine b ase d on traditional Buddhist principles). Guests stay in elegantly upgraded monks’ residences that might include private tea rooms, Yamato baths, and manicured rock gardens ideal for self-reflection. If, after a night…

WHEN IT comes to tropical-island resorts, the most extraordinary destinations are often the most difficult to reach. In Cambodia’s remote Koh Rong archipelago, Song Saa (song saa.com) is a private-island resort that strikes just the right balance between Robinson Crusoe and tropical opulence. The densely jungled 17-acre property features 27 villas, some stilted above the sparkling sea, others perched on the edge of a powdery white beach. On India’s Havelock Island, located between the Andaman Sea and the Bay of Bengal, the pristine coastline has evaded reef damage thanks to its isolation. Jalakara (jalakara.info) is a high-design hideaway in the midst of the island’s rain forest, with just six sleek rooms and villas. And in French Polynesia, the far-flung Tetiaroa might have stayed forever a secret if not for Marlon…

Some 16.5 million people visited Disneyland last year, but a highly exclusive experience is saved for just a dozen guests per night. Above the Pirates of the Caribbean attraction, Walt and Lillian Disney’s original plans for a private residence have finally been realized—and for $15,000, the suite, dubbed 21 Royal, can be reserved for a 12-person dinner party fit for the Disneys themselves. The suite is both elegant and theatrical. During a prefatory cocktail hour, guests can discover surprises in every room; trained guides and butlers are on hand to provide hints, historical context, and hors d’oeuvres. The private courtyard offers a lovely, lantern-lit spot to gather before beginning the night’s next act: the meal. The seven-course menu with wine pairings is individually tailored for each night’s guests by Disney’s…

Napa Valley, California The romantic vision of investing in Napa and growing grapes for your family’s own wine label comes to fruition on Big Ranch Road. More than 5 acres of Cabernet Sauvignon vineyards surround the newly built main home and collection of accessory buildings, encompassing about 17,000 square feet in all. The 1-acre lake and lake house in the backyard were both added during the construction of the estate, although they seem as though they have been there much longer. Signatures of local design and architecture firms Barbara Colvin & Co. and Hurley & Hafen, who partnered for this project, can be seen in the use of natural colors and materials, including ceiling beams reclaimed from a Canadian farmhouse and limestone floors from India. No compromises on quality or…

SERVING UP HEALTHY INDULGENCES Within Monaco’s borders, which encompass an area smaller than 1 square mile, an eclectic mix of flavors and cuisine is served up in more than 130 restaurants—six of which have earned a combined nine Michelin stars. Some of the restaurants in the Principality are dedicated to healthy eating and all-natural ingredients. At L’Inattendu(e), for example, chef Sylvain Etiévant creates raw and vegan dishes, such as no-rice risotto, that are reshaping patrons’ perceptions of vegetable-focused cuisine. A little over a mile away, tennis star Novak Djokovic and his wife, Jelena, run Eqvita Restaurant, where guests are treated to organic cold-pressed juices, smoothies packed with numerous superfoods, and gluten-free entrees such as roasted-fennel salad with wild rice. At both establishments, guests will learn that healthy meals can still…

John Windle had a better experience launching the William Blake Gallery (williamblakegallery.com) in San Francisco last October than the artist and writer William Blake did launching his own gallery in London in 1809. Few patrons came to Blake’s venue, and he closed it after several months, having sold nothing. Windle’s establishment, on the other hand, opened to a packed house and sold half the works on the walls on its first day in business. “I don’t think I learned anything from Blake’s gallery experience except what I already knew, which was that Blake was about 200 years ahead of his time,” says the British-born Windle, who has dealt in rare and collectible books since 1967. He says the gallery sprang from “a whim”—he had purchased the remaining output of the…

Gardening might be a second métier for Marcin Rusak. The Polish-born, London-based designer has a thing for flowers and plants, employing them in nearly all of his pieces, from the tables and lamps in his Flora collection (the pictured lamp suspends hand-picked flower petals in resin) to the vases in his Perishable Vases series (which employs organic material and fabricated steel “leaves”). Given Rusak’s affinity for all that buds and blooms, it is only fitting that the rising artist would make his U.S. solo debut with a springtime exhibition. Opening May 11 at Manhattan’s Twenty First Gallery (21stgallery.com), the show not only will be a mini-retrospective, comprising various pieces from Flora and Perishable Vases, but also will introduce never-before-seen works that the artist says will incorporate exotic leaves, “giving bolder…