If our homes are a reflection of our personalities, what can we conclude about the people whose tastes in architectural design lean towards the eccentric? Case in point: French designer Pierre Cardin, who bought a cluster of round-shaped residences close to Cannes – aptly nicknamed Palais Bulles or Bubble Palace – during an auction in the early 1990s.
The oddball complex comprises several interconnected pink terra cotta domes with 28 spherical rooms, multiple swimming pools, a 500-seat amphitheater and several gardens. It is also among the most expensive homes in Europe – Cardin listed it for sale in 2017 with a reported asking price of €350 million.
Cardin was drawn to a property designed by avant-garde Hungarian architect Antti Lovag, saying: “It is a place where I feel good and round shapes have always inspired me.” He further compared it to a woman’s body, elaborating that “everything is absolutely sensual” – these sentiments are perhaps not surprising given that this was the designer that brought women the famous bubble dress in 1954, so named for its billowy silhouette from the waist down.
This story is from the September 2019 edition of Prestige Singapore.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the September 2019 edition of Prestige Singapore.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
Power To The People
Boucheron creative director Claire Choisne's latest high-jewellery creations are stylish statements of authority and achievement.
Walking into the Blue
Dive into luxury at Depth of Blue, Johnnie Walker Blue Label's first flagship bar in Southeast Asia. Dive into luxury at Depth of Blue, Johnnie Walker Blue Label's first flagship bar in Southeast Asia.
IN THE FLOW
For ANDRÉ FU, travel isn't so much a means of inspiration as it is a way to detach from everyday life to approach his work from fresh perspectives.
CHIC VOLUMES
Impractically oversized but utterly beautiful tomes featuring an eclectic subject, coffee table books serve to kick-start conversations in addition to being subtle avenues of sophisticated self-expression. Here are six titles to consider having on your living room table.
VICTOR OVER TIME
35 years after they broke convention as renegade art students, Phillip Lim catches up with eminent artist SUZANN VICTOR to reminisce about past escapades and how far the artist has come.
Circle of Friends
A Singapore family that has set up a second home in remote Kenya shares their connection with the local communities with guests of their lodge.
VIVE LA WEAVE
Chanel's latest high jewellery collection celebrates the innovation that put her squarely in the pantheon of legendary fashion designers.
VIEW BEYOND THE RACES
For Richard Mille, life in the fast lane is more than just performance-driven machines, it's a profound appreciation for excellence in various forms.
OFF TO THE FAIR
Watch clients are increasingly dropping into Watches and Wonders, a trade fair meant for retailers and media personnel. Here's why.
STEP LIVELY
In the original design of Hermès' Mon Premier Galop shawl by Chinese artist Tong Ren, a horse with an awkward yet happy gait is depicted in simple lines, colour blocks, and decorative-trimming inspired by traditional basketry.