TypeO Loves

Located in the Bastille district of Paris, the bright and airy Galerie Patrick Seguin, established in 1989 at its current location, is home to a carefully curated selection of design objects, furniture, architecture and contemporary art by Jean Prouvé, Charlotte Perriand, Le Corbusier and the likes.

Stepping into the Jean Nouvel-designed space is like entering a different universe as the tranquil, almost sacred sensation is in stark contrast to the hustle and bustle of the streets of Paris. Over two decades, Seguin has been instrumental in bringing the works of said artists to a broader audience, preserving and championing the original works and their unique features.

We left the regular world outside for while, replacing it with some relaxation among some of the world’s most coveted pieces of furniture.

Last June, influential German gallerist Johann König released his memoir ’Bland Gallerist’, officially ”coming out” as sight-impaired. After a freak accident at the age of 15, König only has partial eyesight. This, however, has encouraged him to develop a distinctly personal idea of what makes good art. König explains that blind people often are capable of an unusual degree of inner concentration and heightened perception.

On a trip to Berlin earlier this year, we visited König Galleri. Housed in former brutalist church St. Agnes, architect Werner Düttmann designed the space to be rough and raw on the outside, yet soft and bright on the inside, top-lighting the space with skylights. In other words, ideal for showing art.

When we heard of Vincent Van Duysen’s first-ever hotel project, and that the project was to open on the exact date of a recent business trip to the location of it, we saw it as a sign from the heavens above. August, located in a former 19th-century Augustian cloister in Antwerp, is the latest of Belgium’s must-visits. 

Die-hard Van Duysen fans won’t be disappointed with the modern-day sanctuary, located a comfortable stroll outside the city centre. Authentic materials – check. Historic references – check. A sober and muted colour scheme – check. Attention to detail, with striking lighting by Flos, glassware by Serax and original art in each room – check. Our only wish? That we would get even more Van Duysen. We simply can’t get enough.

Often described as Africa’s equivalent of Tate Modern, Zeitz Museum of Contemporary Art Africa is one of the most fascinating museums we have visited. Located in a 93-year-old silo complex in Cape Town’s VA Waterfront area, Heatherwick Studio literally carved out an art museum in 116 giant concrete silo tubes. 

Although the architecture (to say it is spectacular is an understatement) eclipses the art on display, we were taken by what Africa has to offer in terms of contemporary art. The half-mannequins made from cowhide by Swazi-born artist Nandipha Mntambo is an excellent example of how raw and real the art at Zeitz MOCAA felt to us.

We love unorthodox hospitality experiences and were thrilled to check into Vipp Shelter, located deep in the Swedish forests, a while back.

Danish brand Vipp’s journey from the manufacturer of a pedal-controlled bin, introduced in 1939 and part of MoMA’s permanent design collection, to a lifestyle brand took a slightly unexpected turn in 2015 when Vipp opened its first one-bedroom hotel.

Vipp Shelter is a 55 sq m glass and steel pod equipped with everything you need to survive a weekend in the woods on the shores of lake Immeln – with the exception of internet and television, that is. Stargazing in bed, cooking up a storm in the kitchen or taking the rowboat out on the lake kick-starts your digital detox.

We first came in touch with Stockholm-based niche perfumer Stora Skuggan – named after a location in the northern part of Sweden – in 2015 after having picked up a bottle of ’Fantôme de Maules’, the brand’s first creation, at Nitty Gritty. We were struck by how complex and sophisticated the scent was, considering how young the perfumery itself was.

Stora Skuggan is built on the idea of dispersing stories that are on the border between reality and fiction – myths, but taken from real life.

A couple of weeks ago, we dropped by the newish storefront in Stockholm to take a closer look at their latest creations – ’Silphium’ and ’Moonmilk’. None of which disappoint. Make sure to include Stora Skuggan in your Stockholm itinerary.

Entering the Andreas Murkudis shop on Potsdamer Straße in Berlin’s Schöneberg district is almost sacral. The daily newspaper Tagesspiegel’s former print shop is bright, quiet and exudes tranquillity, contrasting sharply to the fast-paced retail norm.

With a past as a museum director, Andreas Murkudis has turned his retail space into a museum-like venue where hand-picked wares, clothes, accessories, interior items jewellery and more can be perused in a stress-free environment.

Not much at Andreas Murkudis can be labelled as ’trendy’. Instead, the curated selection speaks for itself in a timeless and understated way. This is why we love Andreas Murkudis and keep coming back. To be inspired and to shop, without check-out lines and without ’muzac’, for small brands and creations by up-and-coming artists and designers.