Issue # 5

April 2014

// ARCHITECT SPOTLIGHT

March Studios
GUEST BLOGGER: YELLOW TRACE

Photographer
To m E VA N G E L E D I S +
B L AC K E Y E G A L L E RY

The Maker

Natalie
Marie

hello.

Firstly, we would love to extend a huge welcome to our newest Idh member,
Sarah Virzi who has joined the magazine design team.
While webeginto look forward to the cooler days, we find beauty amongst
the concrete jungle that surrounds us. With textures of wood, metals and
wire softened with muted colours, the inspiration flows through this issue.
Beginningwith Architects, March Studios, who are known for their incredible
Aesop interiors. We muse over the Wild Things, The Maker, Natalie Marie,
whose greatest tools are her hands and we travel withour AdventureWriter
Kirsten to Peru... Come join us.

&

Jamee Huntington
Deb Morgan

contents

ARCHITECT SPOTLIGHT

March Studio .

. . . . . . . . . . . . . 04

M eet the D esig n ers

Kip & Co. .

. 20

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

28

S tore spotlight

Kezu

P hotographer

Tom Evangelidis .

. . . . . . . . . . . . 30

A rtist M u se

We're the Wild Things .

. . . . . . .

42

MEET THE MAKER

Natalie Marie .

. . . . . . . . . . . . . 50

T hi n gs w e lo v e

Concrete Jungle .

. . . . . . . . . . . .

64

B L O G W AT C H

Yellow Trace

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 66

OUT & ABOUT

Eighty-Six .

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 76

ADVENTURE

On the Road, Peru .

. . . . . . . . . . . 84

SOCIAL

Featured Instagrammers .

. . . . . . . .

96

S T A Y P er u

Mr & Mrs Smith Hotels .

. 98

I N S P I R AT I O N

Urban Playground

. . . . . . . . . . . 102

8/

DESIGN STUDIO //

Where did the inspiration come from

for your name?

MARCH Studio represents a new generation of

architects and designers in Australia.
We have been educated in a digital environment but
embrace the fundamental elements of making and
innovation. The outcomes of this mix are highly crafted
projects, born and refined through the utilisation of a
digital process, but which are embedded in a thorough
knowledge of materials and construction.
The M could represent Making, Melbourne, Master,
Maniac and the arch is for architecture.

05/

DESIGN STUDIO // MARCH STUDIOS

How did you begin in design?

March was established in 2007 by partners Rodney Eggleston

(1981) and Anne-Laure Cavigneaux (1980). Eggleston trained as
an architect at RMIT University and Cavigneaux has a degree in
visual communication.

Is there a particular project that stands out for

you and signifies success?

We have amassed quite a large portfolio of work in the last

7 years, including retail interiors, houses, socially aware arts
initiatives and even the interior of a boat.
Our work has been built in Melbourne, Adelaide, Brisbane,
Sydney, Singapore, Zurich, Paris and New York for a range of
clients, including Baker D. Chirico, Damir Doma, Sneakerboy and
Aesop, for whom we have designed and built 13 stores.
The houses are probably the most satisfying of all the projects as
they represent a holistic approach to living and are hand crafted
for the clients who eventually inhabit them. Brentknoll, The Mullet,
and Somers Beach House are the most exciting examples of the
houses we've designed to date.

07/

7/

DESIGN STUDIO // MARCH STUDIOS.

There is a strong focus on sustainability within your

design. why is this important to you and how do you
think it will effect the future of the way we live?

Sustainability is inherent in all good design - the very act of design

forces one to think of these issues and this will become more and
more relevant in the way we live in the future.
LAST year we saw you speak at Semi Permanent
in Sydney. Do you take on public speaking roles
like this often and what challenges have you
found with the marketing side of your business?
Thanks for coming down! We don't worry to much about
'marketing' or words like 'brand.' If you follow your vision and enjoy
what you do, no matter what it is, people will generally gravitate
around and jump on board. We've been fortunate to date that this
has happened and have attracted a lot of similar minded clients
and collaborators.

11/

YOUR "Aesop" Stores both within

Australia & Internationally have
been extensively discussed within the
industry. How did this project begin and
what was your inspiration?
We now have a long-standing collaboration with the
Australian skin care company, but it began purely by
chance as our old studio was next door to their old head
office in Carlton.
Anne-Laure was employed to design packaging and
marketing campaigns to begin with, and eventually one
thing led to another and we started designing stores, 13
to date.
Each shop demonstrates our direct attitude to the use
of materials; brown bottles, dot tiles, coconut husk
string; in each situation the crafting of each space has
reflected a striking embrace of the pragmatics of retail
while embodying the sensual, natural qualities of the
Aesop product.

DESIGN STUDIO // MARCH STUDIOS.

Many of your projects ARE NONPERMANENT IN THEIR NATURE. do you find

this a challenge knowing the spaces are
dismantled in a short time after use?
We thrive on the fact that projects will not last forever,
this in turn makes us think about re-use and what the
future of a project might be.
The Pen Plan series, Make Change and The Aviary
were all projects constructed for very short life spans.
As a result the materials used were totally recycled.
Sometimes though we have designed for short periods
of time but the projects have hung on, Section 08 was
designed for a life-span of 6 months, (entering its 8th
year) and Aesop Flinders Lane is also entering its 7th
year after only being built for one Christmas trading
period! Sometimes a project takes on its own destiny
despite its original purpose.

VISIT MARCH STUDIOS AT marchstudio.com.au

19/

Kip&Co

with Hayley Pannekoecke

Walk our readers through who Kip & Co are?

Alex, Kate and Hayley launched Kip & Co in 2012. Offering

bright, colourful, beautiful bedding and they have quickly
expanded into a covetable, vibrant lifestyle brand.
Kip & Cos collections are inspired by the everyday and the out
of the way lifes big moments and its sunny days, laughter,
adventure and the next sip of champagne.
What are your backgrounds in business?

Alex is a former lawyer and currently juggles Kip & Co

with a full time role in corporate affairs. Kate used to be
an accountant who went on to own an organic health food
business with Hayley (the third Kip member!) and worked as
a business manager for a local Australian fashion label before
starting her young family.
Hayely is a naturopath by training and after her successful
business with Kate she has somehow managed to squeeze in
three kids and another business in Bali.
How did you begin your company?

Design has always been a mutual passion. We were lucky

that we all reached a point in our lives together where we
felt we had the space, experience and energy to put into a
new endeavour - we wanted to do something creative, that
answered a real niche in the market.
We came up with plenty of ideas but bed linen was the one
that struck a chord and we have never looked back since!

Architect Spotlight

15/

What advice would you like to share in developing a

start up in home-wares?

Having great business partners is the key to a good company - it's

the most important thing we have going for us. Even if you're the
sole owner, you don't have to go it alone - get mentors, friends,
family involved and let the good times roll!
Could you describe a typical day at Kip & Co.
head quarters?

There is no typical day! Our headquarters is on our computers and

phones! We all lead super busy lives, and although Kip is a major
part of that, one of the keys to our success is how flexible we all are.
Technology and Kip and Co's culture has allowed us to create the
ultimate flexible working environment!
Where does your work take you travelling and has
any location in particular been most memorable?

India! It's such an amazing country and we are building long-term

friendships there that make our products even more special. Last
time we were there altogether we went to the Taj Mahal on our
morning off - it was incredibly inspiring.
It takes many elements to run a successful linen
company, can you describe these?

Fresh, original ideas that push the envelope, great business partners
who love working together, it shines through and great quality fabric,
we are all 100% Indian cotton - its delicious.

Your designs are filled with colour, patterns

and textures, where do you draw your
inspiration from?

Everyday and out of the way - anything from one of our

kids' drawings to a trinket we might find at a flea market in
Paris.
WHAT MADE YOU MOVE INTO DESIGNING A CHILDRENS
COLLECTION?

Kate and Hayley both have kids and we recognised a gap

in the market for their little rug rats. This was confirmed by
the barrage of emails we received from our own customers
asking us to kick off a kids range. The people spoke and we
listened! We think the quality of our kids' range is one of our
strongest competitive advantages.
What is the next for Kip & Co?

Our new range launches in April. "All Grown Up" is inspired

by the whimsical and carefree nature of adolescence. A
time when your feet are planted firmly on the ground but
your head remains gloriously in the clouds. The world
is your playground and you are only limited by your
imagination.
Kip & Co perfectly encapsulates this spirit by combining
signature playful prints and bold colours with sophisticated
and luxurious cotton and velvet -perfect for the winter
snuggle. We have added beanbags to the range as well as
extending our line to include king single and super king!
VISIT KIP & CO. AT In a designer home

27/

// F E AT U R E D S TO R E

KE-ZU specialises in the distribution of high quality

furniture throughout Australia.
They are passionate with a focus on the design and
construction of the products and brands that they
represent.
KE-ZU have an extensive and exclusive portfolio of
innovative manufacturers supplying interior and exterior
products for residential and commercial projects.
Their nationwide distribution network makes available
a broad mix of European and locally manufactured
products, ranging from indoor/outdoor furniture, lighting
and accessories.
Featured here is the "Heaven Collection" by EMU which
has been featured in designs such as The Crown Metropol
in Melbourne and Sydney Airport.

VISIT KeZU

29/

PHOTOGRAPHER // BLACK EYE GALLERY

Tom Evangelidis
Tom Evangelidis grew up along the northern beaches of Sydney,
Australia. He made his debut as a fashion photographer in
London in the early 1990s before returning to Sydney to work in
the television and theatre industries.
Seven years ago, Evangelidis shifted his focus to Interior Design
and lifestyle photography, simultaneously travelling the world
to pursue his passion for architecture. The result was three
exhibitions in Sydney titled Prague Architectural Portraits (1999),
Casa Particular (2003) and Lost in Hanoi (2004), which document
the diversity of architectural styles in the Czech Republic, Cuba
and Vietnam.
"Faade" is the culmination of all three exhibitions plus four
additional photographic journeys through Russia, Romania,
Turkey and Bulgaria, which were taken over a 10-year period.
It documents an eclectic mix of architectural eras from the gothic
beauty of the 13th century to the ornate decadence of the 18th
century and the austere classicism of the Communist era in the
20th Prague, Bucharest, Hanoi, St Petersburg, Sofia, Istanbul and
Havana a reflection of the photographers fascination with the
toll time reeks on glorious architectural movements throughout
history. Although the cities tell their own tales of turmoil and
change, for Evangelidis the precise location of each photograph
is incidental. He refrains from revealing too much about where
each building stands, and he dodges clichd settings that might
belong on a postcard.

33/

PHOTOGRAPHER // TOM EVANGELIDIS

Critics have praised Evangelidis for his technical brilliance

and subtle eye and his entrancing scale, colour and
texture. His evolution as a photographer is accented by his
innate appreciation for beauty, particularly beauty unveiled in
unexpected locations. Evangelidis unique understanding of
people, objects, antiques, music, faces and places, collectively
lend an air of painterly sophistication to his work.
Tom Evangelidis rejects this candy-coated world of architectural
perfection in favour of a style thats relentlessly honest and
unapologetically raw. He is drawn to the details that give our
urban landscape its character and richness the unsightly
garbage dumpsters that sit jarringly beside cathedrals of flawless
beauty; the peeling paint that curls from the doors of once
luxurious homes; and the concrete monstrosities that loom
above vast industrial wastelands. It is here hidden amongst the
debris that our cities reveal their humanity.
Beneath the layers of crumbling plaster we uncover tales of
poverty, hardship and survival. Scattered between austere
Communist monuments we find evidence of political glory and
economic defeat chronicled side by side. Behind the walls
of houses sighing visibly with age we find stories of strength,
endurance and pride.

35/

PHOTOGRAPHER // TOM EVANGELIDIS

As a photographer, Evangelidis
is fascinated by the evolution of
architecture and its intricate links
with politics, culture and class.
He approaches major public
installations with the same respect
as humble, ramshackle homes
because he understands they are
equally important in documenting
the progression.
Evangelidis is currently based in
Sydney, where he continues to
work as a photographer and runs
Blackeye Gallery in Darlinghurst.

PHOTOGRAPHER // TOM EVANGELIDIS

"WE WANT TO CREATE

A MEETING PLACE
FOR ARTISTS..."
Photographers Tom Evangelidis and
Adrian Brown founded the gallery
as they felt there was a gap in the
Australian gallery scene.
We want to create a meeting
place for artists, collectors and art
aficionados while also starting a
conversation and understanding
about photography with the general
public.
Besides fostering the Australian
photographic art scene Black Eye
also sources the best new work from
international photographers.

TO SEE MORE OF TOM'S WORK

& BLACKEYE GALLERY
VISIT blackeyegallery.com.au

39/

Evie&

kip and co.

towels $59 // hex box set $140

www.inadesignerhome.com.au

Art by Tatiana Kazakova

Typography by Sarah Virzi

Artist muse // create or die

"Inspired by
a full moon...
...I was in search for the perfect image to send to a friend
and share that feeling of connectedness.
My search led me to an intoxicating image by Russian artist
Tatiana Kozakova. The surrealism sent me into a spin, I was
lost in an alternate reality of winged bird-fish humans that
ride on weightless sea-saws, sipping on red wine through
straws, catching fish under a starlit night whilst UFO's play
in the distance.
Her works depict creatures and magical lands, brought to
life through rich brooding colours and vivid imagination.
"We're the Wild Things" is a series of musings over artists
who are inspired by animals and creatures. Here we feature
just three of The Wild Things that have in turn inspired us
on our blog. We take a trip around the world from Russia to
Germany and over to Peru."
~ Deb ~

FOR #WEEKLYMUSE & EVENT NEWS

VISIT www.createordie.com.au

43/

Tatiana K azakova // r u ssia

www.behance.net/tk_tk
I first came across Kazakova when searching for art inspired by a full moon - and I found this piece to the
left! This of course started a frenzy of image hunting and I completely forgot what I was doing - that, in my
mind, is the sign of a true Muse. Her work is emerged in surrealism and takes us away to magical lands, it is
an escapism which is welcomed amongst the sometimes noisy clutter of life.

45/

A N A T E R E S A B A R B OZ A // P er u
www.anateresabarboza.blogspot.com.au

Aside from having one of the longest and coolest names I've
ever seen, Ana Teresa Barboza takes embroidery out
of the hands of your grandmother and into the land
of baddass! Using thread and mixed medium,
her images ooze metaphors and meaning.
There is a dark beauty to this Wild Thing
that draws you in and makes you stop
and think.
Bodies become canvases and animals
draw attention to our intricate and
fragile human nature.

H erak u t//G er m any

www.herakut.de
Herakut is one those artists with whom I felt an immediate and deep connection and their work
continues to completely spazz me out on a daily basis with their beautiful, painful, weird and
wonder-filled creations.
Herakut is in fact an artist with four hands: those of Akut the graffiti artist,
and those of Hera the painter. Watch them in action here.

49/

The
Maker

Natalie Marie

// JEWELLERY DESIGNER

MEET THE MAKER // NATALIE MARIE

How did you start in the jewellery business?

I studied a degree in Visual arts at Sydney University, majoring

in Jewellery and object. It was a very hands on course. I learnt,
experimented and learnt some more. By my final year I had
started to find my own sense of design and way of making. I
started to make pieces for friends and family - that was what
really sparked the start of Natalie Marie.
My label has grown really organically since then, Ive continued
to learn as I go. When I graduated uni and started my business,
I was making jewellery from my kitchen bench. I now have an
amazing studio set up with an extensive range of tools and
equipment which enable me to push my designs as well as take
on more technically extensive projects.
Natalie Marie continues to grow and develop everyday, it's
exciting to ride along with it.
Walk us through your materials you use?

I work largely with precious metals. Predominantly Gold, Rose Gold

and Sterling Silver. I have experimented with materials over the
years but when it comes to jewellery that customers are wearing
day in, day out, you cant beat the quality, durability and strength
of precious metals. I also work with crystals, semi precious and
precious stones.
All of my materials, metals and stones are ethically sound, and the
majority are sourced from within Australia. I also utilise sustainable
production techniques wherever possible. Its important to me
that the pieces have a certain integrity through and through - from
materials - to formation through to the entire customer experience.

53/

What sets your designs apart

from others in the market?
My hands. Every single piece passes
through my hands, everything is made in
my Sydney studio. In terms of aesthetic, I
think that my pieces have quite a particular
feel which speaks through all of them from the organic bands, to the custom
engagement rings. My process of both
design and production is very organic.
"I tend not to design a piece as
such, but I create a design."
It's almost always through experimentation
or play that my designs come about. I think
that translates through the metal work
in the way that the pieces have a natural
sense of flow. I have let the materials
dictate the form rather than let a drawing
dictate how I work the materials. It's an
unconventional way of working - which I
got in trouble for at Uni, but it seems to be
working for me so far.

 What's the biggest challenge you have faced in

producing higher volumes of your designs?

Time making each piece by hand just means that there is an

inevitable amount of time, and energy that is involved. When times
get really busy I can be found late at night tapping away in my
studio. (I am not particularly popular with my neighbours). I really
do love making though, and take great pride in what I do. Even if it
is my last piece of the night and I am bleary eyed with raw fingers, I
will not put it down until it is looking shiny and perfect. I put a lot of
love into what I do, its important to me that the pieces I am sending
out into the world embody and represent that.
Where do you do most of your designing from?

As I mentioned above, I am more of a maker than a designer. I am

at my most creative when I am hands on, making in the studio. My
studio is conveniently underneath my house, which makes life so
much easier. It is great to be able to have both my office space, my
making space and my home space all tied into one. My husband
is also a designer so we have a very creative home environment
which I love. We are good at bouncing ideas off each other, getting
carried away and staying up all night.
how DID YOU DECIDE ON branding your company,
including your bags for the jewels & boxs?

I had a pretty strong idea of how my label would be branded from day
one. I guess because the label is so synonymous with myself. With
a graphic designer husband we were able to create the branding
together right back at the start. Packaging was very important for
me. A precious, handmade piece of jewellery deserves a special
box to sit in. I picked up a tiny balsa wood box from a shop back
in England way way back before I even started university. I kept it
around for years whilst searching and searching until I finally found
something similar. This formed the basis of my packaging, which is
a series of small, balsa wood boxes with a natural calico lining.

" My process of

both design and
production is
very organic."

MEET THE MAKER // NATALIE MARIE

What is the most valuable tool in

your business?

A sense of identity. Building a business is challenging,

especially in an industry which is competitive and
dynamic. It is so important to be able to identify what it
is you do and stand behind it wholeheartedly.
Due to the nature of what I do and the processes that
result in my product, its inevitably very personal to me.
What I have learnt is how important it is to embrace and
believe in the identity of the label. This is what sets it
apart, and is also how connections are made.
How would other passionate in jewellery
design look at starting their own company?

Start. I think it can be so daunting starting anything from

the ground up, but really, once you start, things have no
choice but to start coming together and it really is the
only way to figure out how to do it!
My biggest tips would be to take risks, take steps and
take your time. Buy one new tool every time you get
paid. Have a strong vision for what you want to achieve,
set goals and surpass them. Most importantly, find what
sets you apart, your identity, and run with it.

visit nataliemariejewellery.com

63/

Things We Love

//Concrete Jungle
01

02

03

06

04

05

07

08

01 TABLE BY RICHI TIPENE DESIGNS | 02 ARTWORK BY ANYA BROCK | 03 BLACK BOX LAPTOP CASE
| 04 FRANK BODY COFFEE SCRUBS | 05 MUSIC, METALS BY FEIST | 06 KESTER BLACK NAIL POLISH
| 07 ROUGH JUSTICE, CLEARLY CONTACTS | 08 JEWELLERY BY LADY GREY

// T H I S & T H AT//

BlogWatch
"I felt compelled to try
something new and out
of my comfort zone."
How did you get started in Interior Design?

Growing up, I never dreamed of becoming an Interior Designer or having

anything to do with design. I always imagined I would follow in my dads
footsteps (he is a clinical psychologist), but once my family immigrated
to Australia I quickly had to reevaluate my options. I ended up studying
Architectural Drafting at TAFE, and afterwards continued on to study Interior
Architecture at the University of NSW. After graduating and working in the
industry for a few years, I had one of those what the hell am I doing here
moments and came very close to giving up design and going back to uni to
study Psychology. But Im glad I decided to stick it out as I eventually found
my groove and the rest, as they say, is history.
Your business is multi-faceted, how do you manage to wear so many
hats, and wear them all with such style ?

To be perfectly honest, managing an online publication, an interior design

business and various other consulting & advisory commitments can be a
struggle at times I aint no superwoman! Having said this, I am obsessive
about constantly improving and looking at ways of becoming more
effective and efficient, and having the right team around me. Most of the
time I feel really lucky to be living such a fulfilled life as chaotic as it may
be my work, my passion, friendships and motherhood seamlessly blend
into one organic existence, and I get to do the things I love, with the people
I love, on the projects I love For me, this is a huge and ongoing source of
energy and inspiration!

67/

Your blog is hugely successful and a source of daily inspiration

to so many, how did you make the decision to leap into the
blogging world?

When I first started the blog, I had no idea why or what I was doing in so
many ways. There was no plan or strategy in place, and I had to learn
everything along the way. At the same time, I felt compelled to try something
new and out of my comfort zone. Id been collecting images, inspiration and
all kinds of information during the 15 odd years of working as a designer,
and at first I thought the blog was going be a good way to catalogue my
research and share it with others. I never had any expectations from the blog
and I certainly had no idea that people would actually read it! But I guess if
Im 100% honest, I think I was secretly hoping that the blog would somehow
show me the way to my utopia, but I had NO IDEA how this was going to
happen. It was like walking into a room full of thick fog and hoping Id end up
somewhere good, but I couldnt even see how big that room was, what was
in it, where I was going I literally just had to take one step at a time and
trust myself and the process.
On a personal level, I used to be petrified of speaking publicly and putting
myself out there just like so many of us. My decision to start blogging was
a conscious effort to get over myself and to face my demons in order to
become a better person and a better designer. So far, my decision to conquer
one of my biggest fears has definitely been my best one.

56/

BLOG WATCH // YELLOW TRACE

What has been a highlight since launching

Yellowtrace blog?

There are so many, but the fact that Yellowtrace

has been so well received, and has grown
naturally and organically into a legitimate part
of our core business is definitely up there! I
absolutely love what I do, so all the hard work
doesnt feel so hard most of the time.
What is something our readers would be
surprised to know about you?

English is my 2nd language. I was born in a

little sleepy town in former Yugoslavia called
Bosanski Brod, where we left when the
Bosnian civil war started. Ive called Australia
home since I was 17. Talent and beauty can
reduce me to tears in an instant I easily
cry when Im inside a stunning interior /
seeing an amazing peace of art / watching a
talented performer etc. and id give almost
anything to be able to whistle like a boy!

VISIT YELLOWTRACE.COM.AU

fred.
by larson $297 // $176

Photographer // Stella Rae

Out &
About
E I G H T Y - S I X
BRADDON, ACT
OWNERS: SEAN ROYLE & GUS ARMSTRONG
ARCHITECTS: CAPEZIO COPELAND

Nestled off Londsdale Street in Canberra's creative

suburb of Braddon, Eighty Six's meals are designed
to be shared and the blackboard menu is continually
changing. The wine list works in the same way with
only one or two boxes being ordered, sold and then
changed. The space itself is intentionally electric, with
music always playing to create atmosphere (often hip
hop, because it's what we love!).
We want people to be welcomed into our house, the
food we make is what we cook at home for our friends
and family. It is about cutting away all the bullshit
involved with dining and creating an atmosphere
where we treat people how we would entertain
our friends.

OUT & ABOUT // EIGHTY-SIX

All our serviceware is from Bisonhome and Brian Tunks, the

principal designer has become a very good friend. Seating
furniture was done by local industrial designer Tom Skeehan,
and all graphics were done by Luke Chiswell.
We tried to keep all design local and really employed the use
of our close friends. The design of the restaurant is focused
around the kitchen. Patrons can sit directly in front of the chef's
and are encouraged to speak to them. The chefs engage with
diners about what's happening and in turn, our customers
experience an insight into the kitchen operations.
We just built the restaurant that we would like to eat in.
~ Sean & Gus ~

OPEN MON, 6-10PM

TUE-SUN 12-230PM, 6-11PM
ELOUERA STREET, BADDON, ACT
02 6161 8686

Photographer // Stella Rae

" DON'T LET THIS

MOMENT PASS US
BY...COME FLY
WITH ME"

ON THE ROAD
PERU

Musing Maria Testino

by Adventure Writer // Kirsten Cunningham

Although its not hard to make Giselle, Kate or Angelina look

good, the world of fashion believes that no-one can make them
look better than Mario Testino.
Testinos gaze has become the dominant way of seeing couture,
and we cant get enough of his exotically bright, sharp, saturated
style.
Mario Testino is Peruvian, and his deep connection to his
homeland is obvious. He has shot numerous times for Vogue in
Cuzco, and owns MATE, a gallery based in Lima the countrys
capital, dedicated to exhibiting his work from Peru and abroad.
Born in Lima in 1954, he studied economics at university before
moving to London in 1976. He began his fashion photography
career living in an abandoned hospital near Trafalgar Square,
selling portraits and hair & make-up packages to aspiring
models for 25. He first appeared in Vogue in 1983, launching
his career, and 20 years later has over 1000 published images
and 55 covers with Vogue Paris alone.
In this issue, IDH is going to take a peek at travelling to Cuzco
and the Sacred Valley, where Testino found the inspiration for
his stunning Alta Moda exhibition of high Andean fashion, now
showing at the Queen Sofia Spanish Institute in New York.

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"ONE OF THE MOST

VIBRANT AND COLOURFUL
CITIES IN LATIN AMERICA"

18/

HOW TO GET THERE

Flights to Cuzco generally pass through Santiago,

Chile then Lima, Peru. Qantas flies directly to
Santiago, where you will need to take a connecting
LAN flight via Lima to Cuzco.
Break the trip up and stopover in Santiago and
Lima, both cities offer great accommodation,
sightseeing and fine dining.
Cuzco: The Cultural Capital of Peru

The centre of the indigenous Quechua community

in the Andes, Cuzco is the cultural capital of Peru
and one of the most vibrant and colourful cities in
Latin America.
As a UNESCO World Heritage site, you could
easily spend a week or more exploring her
cobbled streets, ancient Incan walls and Spanish
style plazas. Cuzco is the gateway to Machu
Picchu and the Sacred Valley.
It offers a wide range of galleries, museums,
ruins, markets and tours to keep an intrepid
traveller busy. The region is famous for its llama
and Alpaca wool textiles that use traditional
dying, spinning and loom techniques. Indulge
in the art and restaurant scene surrounding San
Blas plaza, shop for artisan handicrafts near Plaza
Major, and learn about the citys fascinating Incan
past in the world class Museo Inka's.

ARRIVE here by plane. There

are direct flights from Lima
several times a day.
STAY in a Mr and Mrs Smith
favourite, the Inkaterra La
Casona, a stylish colonial
jewel decorated with bright
Peruvian fabrics and modern
touches.
EAT dinner at Limo Cocina
on Plaza Major for quality
Peruvian food with great
views, or Jacks Caf in San
Blas when you are dying for a
latte and an all-day breakfast.
SHOP all day everyday for
textiles, handicrafts, jewellery
and ceramics in Cuzcos
numerous markets and fair
trade boutiques.

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MACHU PICCHU //
LOST IN INCAN CITYBy Kirsten Cunningham

ON THE ROAD
CALIFORNIA

Perched high above the

Urubamba River with
breathtaking views and
dense jungle surrounds, if its
not already; Machu Picchu
should be on your bucket
list. Discovered in a tangle of
vines by American Historian
Hiram Bingham in 1911, the
temple site was built by the
Incas in 1450, but abandoned
before the Spanish Conquest
100 years later. With no
written records, the exact
function of the site is still a
mystery. Archaeologists and
historians believe that it could
have been either a temple
complex or the estate of an
Incan Emperor. Exploring
Machu Picchu at sunrise and/
or sunset is a must, allowing
you to soak in the awe of
the site and hang out with
the resident llamas before or
after the crowds. Highlights
are walking to the Inti Punku,
the Sun Gate entry point for
the Inca Trail, and climbing
Huayna Picchu behind
the main ruin site. Hire an
English-speaking guide at the
entrance, or do it ourself with
a guidebook.

ARRIVE by train from Cuzco

or Ollantaytambo to Aguas
Calientes where you will need
to stay overnight. To reach
the site of the ruins, tourist
buses run regularly up and
down the 8 kilometre road
starting at 5am.
STAY at the Inkaterra Machu
Picchu Pueblo Hotel, a luxury
jungle eco-retreat located in
Aguas Calientes.
EAT at the Inkaterra Dining
Room and Bar. Taste
contemporary Andean food
overlooking the Vilcanota
River. This place is so
stunning you wont want to
leave even for dinner - except
to see Machu Picchu
of course.

The Sacred Valley of the Incas //

Ruins, Markets, Breathtaking Views

The lush and stunning Sacred

Valley snakes through the
Andean Mountain range and
is only a 1hr drive from Cuzco.
Hire a private car and a driver
and create your own itinerary
spending a few days to a week
or more exploring the valleys
ruins, markets and natural
beauty. Expect to pass through
snow-capped mountain
ranges, and see glaciers,
llamas, traditional local
villages and rumbling rivers.
Highlights include the ruins
of Pisac, a small town which
also holds a huge local crafts
market weekly, as well as the
town and ruins of majestic
Ollantaytambo.

TRAVEL hire a private car and

guide in Cuzco through your
hotel or at one of the many
travel agencies in town.
Prices are very reasonable
and private tour gives you the
flexibility to explore at your
own pace.
STAY at Las Chullpas Lodge
for a real eco-experience.
This low key, friendly and
unique guesthouse offers
sustainably built cabanas
that have log fires and garden
hammocks. Owner Chalo
can also organise day trips
and treks to the nearby Lares
Valley and Moray ruins. For
something more upmarket try
the beautiful Hotel Sol y Luna,
also based near Urubamba.
EAT onsite. Both hotels offer
a great selection of delicious,
local and fresh Andean food.

Andean Adventure //
Trek and Volunteer

Alta Moda //
Andean High Fashion Exhibition

If you are looking for some serious

adventure, Cuzco is the perfect
place to organise trekking and
volunteer experiences. While most
travellers head straight for the Inca
Trail trek, the Lares Valley offers a
much more tranquil and cultural
experience with multi-day treks
through local Andean villages
overlooked by glaciers.

Need a little more Peruvian love?

An absolutely stunning part of the

world, if this sounds like your thing,
it will be an experience of a lifetime.
For a different understanding of
Peru consider volunteering at Perus
Challenge where you can teach
English, help with homework, work
on a construction project and more.
Join a group of volunteers from
around the world and make friends
while you are making a difference.
DO talk to Perus Challenge about
volunteer work as well as treks
through their partner company
Ultimate Adventure Tours. Chalo
at Las Chullpas Guesthouse in
Urubamba offers trek and ecolodge accommodation packages
through the Lares Valley that are
sustainable and supportive of
local communities.

Be inspired by the Mario Testinos

beautiful Alta Moda project.
Translating directly as "high fashion"
in Spanish, Alta Moda is a collection
of photographic portraits made
by Testino of Peruvians wearing
traditional and festive dress from
the mountain regions of Cuzco.
Over a 5-year period, Testino
travelled to Cuzco multiple times to
work closely with renowned local
photographer Martin Chambi to
create the images.
The collection was first exhibited in
2013 at MATE in Lima, and is now
showing at the Queen Sofia Spanish
Institute in New York. For more
information and future exhibition
tour dates visit mariotestino.com,
mate.pe and qssi.org.
All images are copyright of Mario
Testino.

95/

Featured
Instagrammers
H A S H TAG

#INSPIREIDH

DYLANLEX | DANDYMOON | LIBERTYANDFOXCREATIVE

H A S H TAG # I N S P I R E I D H TO B E F E AT U R E D I N OU R N E X T I N S TAG R A M S H O W C A S E

Stay//


LAKE
TITIKAKA WITH
MR & MRS SMITH HOTELS

Perched on a Peruvian peninsula

on the banks of Lake Titicaca, an
hour from any town, boutique
hotel Titilaka looks and feels
removed from real life. Placed in
the middle of some of the worlds
most remote and spectacular
surroundings, this isolation is also
steeped in history, just a boat ride
from the birthplace of the Incans.
Its not just about the outdoors
here: local artwork, excellent fare
and dazzling rooms remind you of
the lengths the staff go to create
splendour in this tiny, secluded and
breath-stealingly scenic spot.

FOR MORE BOUTIQUE HOTELS VISIT

WWW.MRANDMRSSMITH.COM OR
CALL THE EXPERT TRAVEL
TEAM ON 1300 896 627

Our favourite rooms are the Corner Rooms on the

third floor with double windows offering the best
vistas. Or, start the day in splendour with striking
views from the Dawn Rooms and opt for one on
the third floor, where the open-plan bathrooms
freestanding tub will offer the best lake look-out.
Restaurant | The house restaurant makes the lake
the star. With floor-to-ceiling windows promising
270 panoramic views over the water, and many
ingredients, such as lake trout, plundered from its
depths. Specials change every four days and the
menu showcases locally sourced, contemporary
Peruvian dishes, featuring regional specialities such
as quinoa and alpaca meat.
Bar | The long lake front lounge serves drinks until
2:30am, then theres the free mini-bar in your room.
All drinks, except a few spirits and premium wines,
are included in the room rate, so sit back with a
cocktail. The staff can shake nearly anything, but the
tart and frothy pisco sour is the national speciality.
Eco-Friendly | Titilaka has genuine eco-credentials
and the area surrounding the lodge literally buds
with the hotels own green initiatives, including the
reintroduction of local shrubs and trees to the lake
front. Staff recycle everything they can, including lake
water and buy most of the products and ingredients
at a local market.
Rates | Double rooms from AU$533.99 ($482),
excluding tax at 10 per cent.
Book titilaka with Mr & Mrs Smith and receive an
exclusive Smith Extra of cocktails for two served on
the private terrace.

99/

I NTER I O R
I N S PI R ATI O N S

Urban Playground

Our cities are concrete junglesconsisting ofedGY

textures, geometrics designs and metal forms.
Embrace the rawness of our jungle and enjoy the
injections of pastels that define true urbandesign.

9.