Renting apartments used to be a quiet secret for seasoned travelers. Not anymore, short-stay rentals are en vogue these days thanks to sites like Airbnb. Recently, we came across this beautiful apartment by fashion designer, Azzedine Alaïa. Located in a quiet part of Paris, Alaïa was guided by high-design and a desire to provide visitors with a feeling of home. The three converted apartments are small but feature authentic post-modern furniture with an eye on comfort. Definitely a place we’d like to check out. We have a few photos listed below.

Words: Taj Reid
Photos: Persona Production

Apartment Hotel 5 Rue de Moussy, Marais, Paris, France

DAILY ICON
YATZER
PERSONA PRODUCTION

SOL LEWITT IN THE LES
MAISON MOSCHINO
CAPE TOWN CITYSCAPES

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New York’s Lower East Side has seen its fair share of transformation. Despite these changes it still maintains a certain grit and creative energy. During the late 70’s Sol LeWitt captured the neighborhood’s raw beauty and expression through photography. Torn posters, splattered paint and scrawled graffiti were his muse. He saw things differently. Where people saw vandalism, he saw a narrative – a social documentary of sorts. As he once explained, “When one sees a wall, it is the impact of the whole that is understood at once – emotionally more than intellectually. It is only by reading the wall that the viewer understands it fully.” To honor his work the Morgan Hotel Group created a massive installation of his photographs at the Mondrian Soho Hotel located in the Lower East Side. It’s a fantastic installation. We highly recommend checking it out.

Words: Taj Reid
Photography: Courtesy of The Morgan Hotel Group

Location: Mondrian SoHo Hotel 150 Lafayette Street, New York, NY 10013

WE HEART
NY TIMES
AJANAKU

MAISON MOSCHINO
KINSEY AT THE STANDARD
HOTEL MISSONI

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Maison Moschino is imaginative and quirky. A converted railway station from the mid-1800’s, the Italian hotel is ideal for those with an affinity for children’s tales and a kid-at-heart spirit. Far from the understated accommodations that seem to always grab our eye, Maison Moschino incorporates a fairytale theme throughout the individually styled 65-room dwelling.

Rooms run the gamut of being over the top eccentric, while others have a more subdued aesthetic. If you’re in the mood to experience a fairytale, then stay in the Little Red Riding Hood room where you’ll be greeted by an oversized flowered growling wolf in the bed. For those wanting something more soothing to ease you into a restful sleep, the Clouds room is all white and decorated with hanging clouds and a giant sheep by your bed. Maison Moschino has a little something for the imaginative side in all of us. Click Read More for additional information.

Words: Marsha Reid
Photography: Courtesy of Maison Moschino

Location: Maison Moschino, Viale Monte Grappa, 12b 20124 Milan, Italy

MAISON MOSCHINO
HOTEL PHILOSOPHY

KINSEY AT THE STANDARD
HOTEL MISSONI
HOTEL LIFE

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Jakob Wagner is a talented photographer from Dusseldorf, Germany who enjoys traveling all over the world. Through his work he’s been to Buenos Aires, New York, Rotterdam and London shooting beautiful images. However, it’s his shots of Cape Town South Africa that resonate with us most. They remind us that cityscapes are a lot like finger prints. In this case, Cape Town’s light-grids bumping up against the region’s wild topography provide a unique insight into the area. It demonstrates the city’s beauty in a way we have yet to see. Click Read More to view more images of Cape Town at night.

Words: Taj Reid
Photography: Jakob Wagner

JAKOB WAGNER
AFRICAN DIGITAL ART

THE MANDALAY EXPRESS
ICELAND INVITES YOU
KINSEY AT THE STANDARD

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Earlier this year ten skateboarders traveled to Southeast Asia for a project called Visual Traveling. One of the travelers, Brian Kelley, documented the trip with his excellent photography. His photo series, The Mandalay Express, follows the skaters as they travel through Cambodia, Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam. We have a few photos posted below, but be sure to visit Brian’s website for the full gallery.

Words: Taj Reid
Photography: Brian Kelley
Source: Hypebeast

HYPEBEAST
THROW UP THE HORNS
BRIAN KELLEY

ICELAND INVITES YOU
KINSEY AT THE STANDARD
SNAPSHOT JAPAN

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While most tourism-boards attempt to craft clever promotions to lure travelers, there’s nothing like actual residents opening their doors and inviting you to experience their home in a unique way. It’s sincere and it’s welcoming. It makes you want to visit. That’s what Iceland is doing. Their Inspired by Iceland campaign brilliantly brings together local residents, the president and other government officials to send a simple message – “Come to our home and let us show you what Iceland has to offer.”

Last week, President Olafur Ragnar Grimsson kicked off the campaign by inviting tourists into his home for pancakes, whipped cream and rhubarb jam. He’s also encouraging citizens to join the movement and invite visitors for an experience unique to Iceland. As Frosti Jonsson who has agreed to open his home says, “We are very proud to be Icelandic and we are very happy to share our way of life and our country’s beauty to adventurers that choose to visit us. We want to make their experience as real as possible; we want them to ‘be Icelandic’ while they’re here.” This seems like an awesome way to experience Iceland. Click Read More for additional information and to view the President’s short message. Also, don’t forget to visit Inspired by Iceland to view Icelanders’ invitations to experience the country like a local.

Words: Taj Reid
Photography & Video: Courtesy of Inspired by Iceland

INSPIRED BY ICELAND
ICELAND INVITATIONS
ICELAND STORIES

KINSEY AT THE STANDARD
SNAPSHOT JAPAN
HOTEL MISSONI

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Art and tourism collide to form a beautiful mural in downtown Los Angeles. When it comes to hotel creativity, The Standard remains king. We love their latest collaboration with Dave Kinsey. Born in Pittsburgh but living in California since 1994, Kinsey exhibits work all over the world. He’s most known for capturing the human condition through a symbolic portrayal of contemporary life. His recent piece for The Standard is another example of his ability to create dynamic, yet thoughtful work. If you find yourself in downtown Los Angeles, be sure to stop by and check it out.

Words: Taj Reid
Photography: Carlos Gonzalez

Location: The Standard LA, 550 South Flower Street, Los Angeles, CA

THE STANDARD
DAVE KINSEY
ARRESTED MOTION

SNAPSHOP JAPAN
HOTEL MISSONI
GMBH MAGAZINE SHOP

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Hotel collaborations like DVF and Claridge or Muji and Whotell are increasingly becoming the choice canvas for fashion and interior design houses. Recently Missoni, the famed Italian label, opened their second luxury hotel in Kuwait. It boasts bright colors, innovative architecture and impeccable attention to detail. For example, it’s reported that they used 10 million individual mosaic tiles to create the hotel’s signature stripes that run throughout the property. We have a few photos posted below.

Words: Taj Reid
Location: Hotel Missoni Symphony Centre, Arabian Gulf Street, Kuwait City, Kuwait

LIFE AND TIMES
MISSONI
HOTEL MISSONI

HOTEL LIFE
DEMETRIA HOTEL
MEXICO’S TUBE HOTEL

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Independent publishing and print may be battle-scarred but it still puts up a good fight. One beaming ray of hope is GmbH. The premiere magazine shop recently reopened its doors at a new address in Glasgow on the ground floor of The Lighthouse. Stocking some of our favorite titles like Turning Pages, Transforming Space, Grafik, Mark, Creative Review, Icon and many others, this is a must see destination for magazine and book lovers. Blank Inside attended their opening event and took a few photos of the interior. See below for a closer look.

Words: Taj Reid
Photos: BLANK INSIDE
Location: The Lighthouse, ground floor, 11 Mitchell Lane, Glasgow, G1

GMBH SHOP
MAGCULTURE
BLANK INSIDE

SECRET CITIES
HIGH LINE ROLLER RINK
MUSEUM OF AFRICAN DIASPORA

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Nowness presents another article packed with useful information and beautiful photography. Secret Cities Mexico City reveals some of the location’s best hidden treasures. From emerging art scenes to quaint cafés your tour guide Bertha Gonzalez walks you through her cultural mecca with ease. If you’re planning a trip, don’t miss this modern guide. See below for more information and a sampling of photos.

NOWNESS
BERTHA GONZALEZ

HIGH LINE ROLLER RINK
MUSEUM OF THE AFRICAN DIASPORA
MEXICO’S TUBE HOTEL

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New York’s High Line Park is making a run to stay top of mind for visitors and locals alike. Its deluge of creative art and community events is impressive. In a short amount of time, the park has become a must see destination. And more recently, they’ve partnered with Uniqlo – the Japanese clothing company – to open an outdoor roller skating rink. It’s the only venue of its kind in Manhattan and occupies 8,000 sq-ft of pure enjoyment. Admission and skate rentals are reasonably priced at $12 for adults and $10 for kids under 13. It’s open daily till September 26th. So get to Manhattan on a nice day to enjoy the beautiful park and a little rink time with friends and family. Freshness Magazine has a terrific gallery of photographs from the opening event.

Words: Marsha Reid
Location: High Line Rink – West 30th Street and 10th Avenue, New York, NY 10001

THE HIGH LINE
NEW YORK MAGAZINE
PHOTOS VIA FRESHNESS MAGAZINE

MUSEUM OF THE AFRICAN DIASPORA
MEXICO’S TUBE HOTEL
A SENSE OF PLACE

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San Francisco’s Museum of the African Diaspora is an incredible learning institution. Since 2005, MoAD has served as an invaluable resource by being the only museum in the world solely focused on showcasing the rich African Diaspora culture. Through traditional and innovative exhibitions, educational programs and workshops for adults and kids, MoAD offers a myriad of opportunities to learn and enjoy the culture and history of the African Diaspora and the communities of people of African descent across the world.

One of our favorite exhibits is the the museum’s two-story tall image of a little girl that was created with 2,000 separate photographs. It’s impact is powerful. You can take a closer look at the image here. Another exhibit that we are really excited about is Soulful Stitching: Patchwork Quilts by Africans in India. Through the presentation of 32 patchwork quilts made by Siddi women the exhibit provides an opportunity to explore the African Diaspora in the Indian Ocean World through these colorful and vibrant quilts that demonstrate how cultural form and traditions have been adapted throughout the Diaspora. Soulful Stitching is on display from July 15th to September 18th.

Words: Marsha Reid
Location: MoAD 685 Mission Street; San Francisco, CA 94105

MUSEUM OF THE AFRICAN DIASPORA
ARCHDAILY

RAINBOW PANORAMA
ZAHA RIVERSIDE MUSEUM
AIRPORT ON TILT

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Mexico’s Tube Hotel is the most unusual hotel we’ve seen in recent memory. Located just 30 minutes outside Mexico City, the unique accommodation designed by t3arc was built with deep consideration for its surroundings. Inspired by DasPark Hotel, they worked to create something with little visual impact but still wanted to provide a comfortable travel experience for visitors. We think they succeeded. The Tube Hotel is a reinvention of sorts. By using recycled concrete tubes they’ve given them new life in a way that is enjoyed by both the surrounding area and travelers alike. Check out the Tube Hotel if you’re in the Mexico City region any time soon.

The Tube Hotel
Tlalcaltipac, Glorieta Km 17 s/n
Col. San Sebastian
62520 Tepoztlán, Morelos

INHABITAT
TREEHUGGER
ARQUITOUR

HOTEL PULITZER
ACTA MIMIC HOTEL
LONDON’S LIGHTS

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Travel inspiration leaps off the screen at Tourisms. It’s a simple concept with a unique focus. Instead of worrying about the details, their online travel guides communicate a sense of place through stunning imagery. As they describe it, “Tourisms is our attempt at curating brilliant, personalized travel guides, with the help of photographers the world over.” It’s emotional. It’s human. And, it’ll make you want to visit each one of the featured locations. Below we have a sample of photos from Roma by Martina Maffini.

Words: Taj Reid
Photography: Martina Maffini

TOURISMS
TOURISMS FLICKR POOL
SPOTTED VIA BOOOOOOOM!

VIENNA LIVING
IMAGES OF SOUTH KOREA
AIRPORT ON TILT

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Art and architecture collide to create a fantastic exhibit at Denmark’s ARoS Art Museum. Instead of exhibiting inside the museum, this unique installation sits atop the ARoS. The Rainbow Panorama by Olafur Eliasson is surreal in its application. As he describes, “I have created a space which virtually erases the boundaries between inside and outside – where people become a little uncertain as to whether they have stepped into a work or into part of the museum. This uncertainty is important to me, as it encourages people to think and sense beyond the limits within which they are accustomed to moving.” Rainbow Panorama is on display Tuesday through Sunday all through June. Don’t miss it if you’re in the area.

ARoS Museum
Aros Allé 2
8000 Aarhus, Denmark

DESIGN BOOM
LAUGHING SQUID
PSFK

THE EXPANDING HIGH LINE
THE HOTEL PULITZER
SIGNALS FROM HONG KONG

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