Privé International Blog

Billio is a sculptor and instillation artist. His work has be exhibited internationally and involves a magical transformation of everyday objects that signify a deeper meaning while remaining, well….everyday. He customized his parents 1950’s luggage and turned them into light sources by drilling holes in the case bodies and installing light bulbs. He turned them into a galaxy in a box on the move. They’ve become beacons in the second floor hallway of the Gladstone Hotel, Toronto Canada – as if they’ve finally arrived. In many of his works, Billio stacks things to create a sculpture unto itself. A vase sits precariously on a pile of books that are stacked on a column. Conventional items are used in unconventional ways to create new life.

Billio was commissioned to create this piece for:
The Hazelton Hotel: Located in Toronto, Canada.

Billio’s other works:

For more information contact Bruno Billio

Privé was invited to the TIFF party for The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus directed/written by Terry Gillian. Heath Ledger’s last film. The party was at the very chic Cheval bar in downtown Toronto.

The cast has an impressive list of actors which include: (The late) Heath Ledger, Johnny Depp, Jude Law, Christopher Plummer, Colin Farrell, and Verne Troyer as (Percy). When asked about the whereabouts of Johnny Depp, Terry Gillian said: “Where is Mr. Depp? He is probably on his private island right now”. Other cast members attending the party where: Verne Troyer, Marylin Manson, and Quinn Lord, who was looking very dapper that evening.

More photos from the evening

2012 Lamborghini Muciélago

The Lamborghini’s power is expected to come from a 6.0-liter V12 with approximately 700bhp. This would propel the car from 0-60mph in just a notch over three seconds.

Read the full story here Edumnds Inside Line.

Mansory’s Continental GT Speed “Vitesse Rosé”

Mansory auto tuner is best know for its aftermarket tuning that specializes in the modification of high-end British automobiles. To date, Mansory has performed extensive modifications on vehicles such as the Bentley Continental GT, Ferrari 599 GTB Fiorano, Aston Martin V8 Vantage and Aston Martin Vanquish. What made the name Mansory known in the tuning world, however, was their decision to modify a Rolls-Royce Phantom. Unveiled at the 2007 Geneva Motor Show the matte-black Phantom was nick-named the Conquistador, which was beautiful and masculine in every way like most of their modifications. Mansory recently however decided touch on their feminine side by revealing this matte-pink Bentley Continental GT Speed called the “Vitesse Rosé” which in english translates to “Rose Speed”.

5040 South Greenwood Avenue, is the second safest home in America why?… It is the house next door to the Hyde Park residence of President Obama and his family, and it hit the market this past weekend. The house is owned by Bill and Jacky Grimshaw and after 36 years have decided to sell their , 6,000 sq century-old, 17-room house with an elegant carriage house in the backyard.

The Grimshaws paid $35,000 in 1973; other homes in the area have sold for $1 million to $2.5 million. Mr. Obama bought his red brick Georgian-style house in 2005 for $1.65 million.
Photo source: New York Times

The street is closed to nonresidents by order of the United States Secret Service. So if you are interested in viewing or purchasing this house be prepared for some scrutiny, however it would all be worth it in the end: A beautiful house, the best neighborhood watch program in the country, and some terrific neighbors.

Burj Al-Arab

Location: Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Designer: Tom Wright (WS Atkins PLC), Khuan Chew
Height: 321-metres (1,053 ft)
Status: Complete
Estimated project cost: USD$650 million
Cost per person: $1,000 to over $28,000 per night.

Considered, the world’s first and (not soon to be) only 7-star hotel, the Burj Al-Arab is truly one of the most luxurious hotels.

The lavish interior combines the best of design principles with elements from both the east and the west. The 8,000 square meters of 22-carat gold leaf and 24,000 square meters of 30 different types of marbles give the hotels eclectic touch. The hotel, is constructed on an artificial island 280-metres (919 ft) out from Jumeirah beach.

The suspended helipad on the top adds to the grandeur of the hotel. The hotel is an architectural masterpiece. The hotel boasts as the world’s tallest atrium which is 180-meters (590 feet) tall. The hotel houses a mere 202 rooms, but each floor of the hotel is double layered. The deluxe hotel rooms range in size from approximately 1,800 square feet up to approximately 8,000 square feet.

The Burj Al-Arab will soon however not be the only 7 star hotel around. The Apeiron Hotel Dubai, the Flower of the East Kish Island in Iran, and The Centaurus in India, are all on the cutting edge when it comes to futuristic luxury 7 star hotels. Privé has compiled photos and descriptions on each one of these masterpieces being conceptualized and built!

Some of these developments are still in the concept stage like the Dubai Apeiron Hotel. We however still wanted to give readers and our members an opportunity to see the type of avant garde hotels that are in store for us in the near future. There is a clear landscape change which is propelling us into a truely futuristic society, which seems to all be occuring at a high rate of speed.

Apeiron Hotel

Location: Dubai (Access to the hotel is restricted to water and air only.)
Designed: by UK’s Sybarite Architects
Height: 185-metres
Status: Design Concept
Estimated project cost: USD$500 Million

The Apeiron will have 350 luxury apartment suites and be a jungle-themed hotel built on an island about 300-500 m off the coast of Dubai – It will be accessible by boat or helicopter only. The top two floors of the Apeiron will contain a jungle with butterflies and other insects. Other features will include an art gallery, cinemas, conference facilities, shops, underwater spa & gym, an underwater restaurant, and private lagoons & beaches for the guests.

The Flower of the East

Location: Kish Island in the Persian Gulf
Designer: Drees & Sommer
Height: 200 metres
Status: Under Construction Completion 2010
Estimated project cost: 1.7 Billion Euros

The project is divided into several sub-projects: The “Flower of the East” hotel, a 7-star hotel about 200 metres high as well as six further luxury hotels. Furthermore, ca. 4700 luxury apartments, ranging from 60-square metre apartments to a 1.800-square metre villa, are built. The project also includes a marina, 18-hole golf course, 9-hole golf academy according to plans of the golf course architect Peter Harradine, as well as 53.000 square metres of retail space and more than 80.000 square metres office space.

The Flower of the East hotel is designed to look exactly as it sounds – like a flower. Designed with a combination of Persian and Modern architectural influences, the seven-star hotel will be surrounded by a beautiful park and will be visible from every area of the development.

The Centaurus Hotel

Location: Islamabad, Pakistan
Designer: Atkins
Height: 37 Storey hotel
Status: Under Construction Completion 2010
Estimated project cost: USD$350 Million

This hotel will be a seven-star hotel located in The Centaurus development project upon its completion, Dec 2010. The $350 million complex will not only have the 37-story 7 star hotel,but will also be accompanied with two 21-story residential towers, a 25-story corporate office tower, and a 5-story shopping mall, which will cover an area of 300,000 Sq ft. The mall will have a twin screen cinema and a food court. The complex will have a parking lot to accommodate over 2,000 vehicles.

These hotels are only a few examples of what to expect in the coming years. Over the next few months we will be featuring some more 7 star hotels like the Seven Stars Galleria in Milan, The Morgan Plaza in Beijing, China and The ominous looking “Death Star” in Baku, Azerbaijan. So to all our readers and members keep your eyes pealed and visit Privé International’s weblog for updates.

Power, grace, luxury, with a lot of history…the Gullwing is reborn. The new Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG is making its world premiere at the International Motor Show in Frankfurt on 15 September 2009.

The supercar boasts lightweight engineering and superior handling dynamics. At the same time, the SLS delivers everyday utility and safety that typifies Mercedes-Benz. The technology package includes an aluminum spaceframe body with the classic gullwing doors; an AMG 6.3-liter, front-mid V8 engine with a top power of 571hp, and dry sump lubrication; seven-speed dual-clutch in a transaxle configuration; a sports chassis with aluminum double-wishbone suspension; and a kerb weight of 3560 lb. The weight distribution between the front and rear axles (47:53%) and its low center of gravity emphasize the concept’s nature. The gullwing accelerates from 0-62mph in 3.8 seconds and has a top speed of 197mph (electronically limited). The fuel consumption of 21.4mpg (combined, Imperial) is best-in-class.

Image source: Mercedes-Benz

Previewed successfully to friends and clients on the weekend of September 5th in St. Tropez, the brand new 86’ Domino is officially launched at world level at the Cannes boat show.

The Italian yacht maker Riva once again has shown it’s true colors with the launch of its luxurious 86’ Domino. This latest 26 meter yacht is considered to be an evolution of the renowned 63’ Vertigo and 68’ Ego Super models. The yacht’s sporty design is enhanced with a metallic ice color covering the hull and deckhouse. The 86′ Domino boasts spacious design with huge amounts of open space on board for entertaining guest. The sundeck features a dining area for six guests, the state of the art cockpit is spacious and the enclosed, air-conditioned upper salon features a vast open area with a dinette. Offering extra privacy for the owners and the guests, the sundeck is integrated into the upper part of the deckhouse.

The master cabin features a private living-room area and vanity equipped with an en-suite head and walk-in wardrobe. The VIP cabin, with en-suite head, is located at bow, while two twin-bedded guest cabins with en-suite heads are located between the VIP cabin and the master cabin. The portside guest cabin also features a system of sliding beds on tracks that allows transforming it into a second, double-bedded cabin. The design of the furnishing elements and the choice to match the special shades of elm and grey durmast with natural-colored leather inserts and gray lacquering adds to its silhouette. The yacht has a max speed of 38 knots and a cruising speed of 34 knots. Riva Yachts offers elegance, luxury, and a contemporary style, which is what Privé looks for in a yacht builder.

McLaren Automotive boss Ron Dennis discusses the company’s new supercar, the MP4-12C.