The Archipelago House sits on Sweden's rocky coastline, constructed with both Scandinavian and Japanese aesthetics from the design and modern furnishings.
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Once a swamp, the stretch of land was first redeveloped in the 17th Century by André Le Nôtre, gardener to the Sun King, Louis XIV, giving shape to the boulevard we know and love today. Since then the avenue has undergone several more redevelopments, and has been a site associated with celebration of the French spirit. In 1944 for example, Parisians celebrated their liberation from Nazi occupation out on these historic streets. World Cup victories also encourage public displays of nationalistic fervour, as does the annual Bastille Day parade.
However, in recent years, Champs-Élysées has fallen out of favour with Parisians, citing reasons such as pollution, ridiculously expensive cafes and boutiques, and traffic congestion. Among residents of the French capital, it has been criticised as being touristy and even “ringarde”. According to PCA-Stream, tourists make up 72% of daily pedestrians and employees at the various establishments comprise 22%. That leaves ordinary Parisians who make up just 6% of the daily foot traffic. Needless to say, the title of “World’s Most Beautiful Avenue” seems a little hollow when few of the city’s residents actually agree with it.
In order to come up with sustainable solutions to address the issues of pollution and congestion, as well as revitalise Champs-Élysées, architectural firm Philippe Chiambaretta Architecte (PCA) was commissioned to conduct an in-depth analysis and propose plans for its transformation.
Green Living
PCA-Stream’s proposals to revitalise the boulevard involves tackling problems on several fronts. Renderings from the architecture firm show possible plans to reduce the number of car lanes from four to two, while sidewalks will increase in width. This should reduce the amount of vehicular traffic, thereby helping to bring down the level of carbon emissions. This reduction of road space also extends to the Place de L’Étoile, an intersection linking all streets in north-western Paris. Additionally, bicycle paths will be included to encourage cleaner modes of transportation. Some paving will be cleared to make way for trees, providing shade on sunny days and to absorb rain on gloomier ones.
While most of the works are slated to be completed by 2030, transformations at the Place de la Concorde are expected to be done in time for the 2024 Olympic Games. Here, the plaza will be reshaped by the addition of greenery. The area around the square’s fountain will be surrounded by spacious lawns, under shade of lush trees. On the Place de la Concorde’s southern edge, a major road will be buried under grass and bushes, significantly altering the square’s appearance. The plan here is to link existing gardens, creating a large, clean and green area in the heart of Paris.
French Authenticity
Apart from changing the appearance of the Champs-Élysées, the commerce association Comité Champs-Élysées is also looking into the changing up the businesses along the avenue. Current businesses offerings are considered too expensive for average citizens, and are often targeted towards tourists, sapping the heritage from such a historic boulevard and leaving a soulless street in its place. Surveys and consultations with the public showed that Parisians craved “more authentic and more French retail offerings, emphasizing the French art of living, savoir-faire and gastronomy”. While plans to tackle criticisms of Champs-Élysées as a tourist trap are a step in the right direction, it is acknowledged that it could run the risk of creating a caricature of French culture, worsening claims of inauthenticity.
While scenes of traffic twisting along the Champs-Élysées have long been considered a classic sight of Parisian life, the traffic and pollution has taken a toll on the city’s soul. PCA-Stream is aiming to revitalise the “World’s Most Beautiful Avenue”, regaining the favour of Parisians and maintaining its title as a tourist hotspot, by reinfusing it with French Culture and lush green expanses.
All images courtesy of PCA-Stream
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Jeanneau has launched the first two units of its Jeanneau Yachts 60, which succeeds the 57 in the French builder’s flagship range of sailboats that also includes the 51, 54 and 64 models.
The 60 is scheduled for media sea trials in late April and appearances at the Palma International Boat Show (June 3-6), Cannes Yachting Festival (September 7-13) and US Sailboat Show in Annapolis (October 14-18). The first unit in Asia-Pacific is slated to arrive by the end of the year.
Measuring 59ft 11in with the bowsprit, the twin-helmed yacht features a new 57ft 1in fibreglass hull by Philippe Briand and an interior by Winch Design. Numerous exterior options include an arch, hardtop and sprayhood for extra protection, exterior galley, releasable forestay and furling mast. There are four mast options spanning three sizes, as well as four rigging choices.
The innovative deck layout features an inverted bow, a hull chine, integrated bowsprit, high sheer line and Jeanneau’s signature step-free, angled side decks for easy movement around the boat. The longitudinal aft garage is to port and can store a 4ft 11in dinghy.
Downstairs, the saloon makes the most of the yacht’s 17ft beam and features U-shaped seating and adjustable table to port, while the full-beam galley forward is a distinguishing feature.
There’s a choice of three to six cabins related to the layout options available in four areas – starboard saloon, aft accommodation, forward accommodation and forepeak.
The saloon’s starboard options include a sofa and chart table, a sofa and pullman cabin, or an open-plan version that could include two armchairs. The aft accommodation options comprise a full-beam owner’s cabin or two cabins – a double to starboard and a smaller port cabin with bunks.
The forward accommodation has greater headroom than the aft cabins and can be designed as a full-beam master suite or two symmetrical doubles.
For the latter, the dividing bulkhead can slide into a forward storage space and the port bed can be transformed into a sofa for an alternative version of an owner’s suite. The forepeak can be used as an extra guest cabin, skipper cabin or sail locker.
Two varieties of wood are offered in the interior: open-pore varnished teak or open-pore varnished light oak, each with matching floorboards. The upholstery selection includes five new fabrics and five leathers by Foglizzo. Three different cabin styles are available – Sand, Macchiato and Royal Blue – to personalise the headboards and trim around the beds.
Annual production is estimated to start at about 10-15 units in the first year before increasing to between 15-35 depending on demand.
www.jeanneau.com
VIETNAM DEBUT FOR MERRY FISHER FLAGSHIP
Vietyacht organised the handover ceremony for the country’s first Jeanneau Merry Fisher 1095 Fly at AnaMarina in Nha Trang.
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Many businesses now use VIP programmes and loyalty schemes to make their customers feel valued.
Loyal customers have been shown to spend 67% more on services and products than shoppers new to the brand.
64% of companies say that their loyalty programmes are the best way to interact with customers.
This article will look at some effective examples of loyalty schemes in action, and how they reward customer loyalty.
The Starbuck Rewards scheme works on the basis of offering stars – essentially points – to customers for every purchase they make. This star award system can be opted into via an app or online.
Starbucks were one of the first big companies to develop this kind of app-based loyalty scheme. They were certainly onto a big thing.
Loyal customers generate 40% of total revenue for the business. The loyalty program added 7% in sales in 2019.
Within the app, customers are rewarded for their stars with prizes and games – such as double star days when purchases are worth twice as many stars. They also receive free drinks on their birthdays.
These kinds of rewards show why loyalty schemes are so popular with shoppers. But they also highlight a goldmine for big companies such as Starbucks in terms of data.
By seeing exactly how customers are spending the company can make relevant inferences and change their marketing accordingly. This creates a powerful key to the behaviour of loyal customers, and a better chance to keep them loyal.
A big reason for the success of Amazon Prime is the rewards it offers its users. The primary bonus of the membership program is free two-day shipping on all sorts of products.
With no minimum spend, members pay an annual subscription and effectively write off the cost of shipping. This has been a big reason why many regular users of Amazon have chosen to sign up with the scheme.
Amazon Prime has also proven to be a hit for the reason that it streams exclusive content to its members. Popular TV shows and movies (particularly those that were produced or financed by the company) in certain cases can only be viewed with membership to the scheme.
Amazon Prime Gaming is another recently added incentive to the membership scheme. Prime Gaming offers members free games and a free subscription to the popular gaming community site Twitch (which Amazon bought in 2014).
Providing another way for Amazon to hold onto its loyal customer base, Prime Gaming offers exclusive games that can only be accessed via the program. As with the Prime Movies and TV streams, this is an important way for the company to hold onto and build its customer base.
Online bingo game playing has grown hugely in recent years.
The move from physical land-based casino spots to online play can be partly attributed to the convenience of playing wherever and whenever.
There is also a strong element of security associated with gaming online.
If you visit Wink Bingo website, you will see the VIP programme they have in place to reward their loyal players. Wink Bingo recently successfully added a loyalty scheme called Wink Rewards which rewards return players with added incentives such as wink slots free spins. There are also lots of opportunities to spend credits in the online shop for bonus features in the bingo game.
Wink Rewards works as many loyalty schemes do, but there is also an extra emphasis on converting points into shopping vouchers.
The company’s dynamic approach to new players as well as existing ones is showcased in the site’s introductory offer. By making a first wager of £10 at Wink Bingo, a 300% bonus will be received on a deposit and 1000 Wink Reward points.
The points can be converted instantly into a £10 voucher at a host of retailers such as Amazon, Argos and Pizza Express.
There are also points awarded for every £1 spent, meaning regular players can enjoy a steady flow of points going into their account. Various promotions occurring at different times such as a monthly 1 million rewards game also make it profitable to regularly check back and play.
Wink Bingo also has a feature called My Wink where players can find the latest deals and offers and challenges. Tailored to the specific player in question, the games provide another way of earning loyalty points.
Virgin Atlantic Flying Club is a VIP programme that offers regular flyers with Virgin Atlantic the chance to earn air miles and points the more they fly with the airline.
These miles and points can then be added to future purchases, which mean the more a customer flies with the operator, the more benefits they will receive.
The Virgin Atlantic Flying Club is organised in three tiers for its members. Each tier offers its members different benefits and incentives.
A customer begins their scheme in the red tier where they can benefit from earning 2 points for every £1 spent on booking flights and hotel, and hotels plus car hire. There are also discounts on Virgin Holidays and deals with partner brands.
A move up to the silver tier offers all the incentives of red plus premium extras, 30% more points earn on every flight. The gold tier for the most loyal flyers has everything the previous two tiers offer plus complimentary offers, extra seating options, priority boarding and a host of other bonuses.
The most dynamic incentive-based loyalty schemes have proven to be successful throughout the world. Rewards for both the customer and the company prove to be a mutually beneficial enterprise.
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The UNDONE LAB + Simple Union collection is a lineup of fashionable accessories to hold, secure and protect your gadgets and EDCs.
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London’s South Bank is a neighbourhood rich in culture, arts, gastronomy and history. It is also arguably the most thriving destination in the city, peppered with iconic architecture and, later this year, it will welcome a new addition to London’s skyline – Triptych Bankside.
The new, luxury architectural destination is set to offer 169 residences over two sweeping residential towers of 14 and 18 storeys. Nestled between two iconic London institutions, the Tate Modern and Shakespeare’s Globe, it boasts breathtaking views over the River Thames across to St Paul’s Cathedral, The Shard and other of the city’s landmarks.
World-class theatres, entertainment venues and galleries sit moments away from the development and what’s more, the City of London is just a 10-minute walk away across the pedestrian Millennium Bridge. Also on the doorstep is the renowned culinary hotspot, Borough Market, offering foods from around the world.
Although Triptych Bankside will offer unparalleled access to everything that living in this area offers, its landscaped gardens will provide a leafy oasis in the midst of the area’s vibrancy. Residents will have exclusive access to a private lounge, a games room and a luxury private 14-seat cinema. Those working from home will have a co-workspace with multiple plug-and-play workstations at their disposal, along with super-fast broadband.
Designed by internationally renowned architects, Squire & Partners, Triptych Bankside’s striking aesthetic is inspired by the ebb and flow of the River Thames, and its striking waterside location. The range of studio, one, two, three and four bed apartments combine exacting design, unrivalled craftsmanship, technology and specification to stunning effect.
Reflecting inspired architectural design, all apartments are light-filled and, a rarity in the city, feature at least one spacious private terrace – a panoramic stage from which to admire London’s famed skyline.
Alongside the residential towers, a low-rise commercial building will incorporate a mix of independent cafés and stores on the ground and subterranean floors, as well as wellness and cultural spaces.
Triptych Bankside is offered by JTRE London, the UK branch of one of central Europe’s leading property developers, JTRE.
For enquiries and to register your interest, please contact Savills or Strutt & Parker.
Instagram: @triptych_bankside
All images courtesy of Triptych Bankside.
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The products under the Zavvi x Pokémon label all look stylish with just enough special details that will appeal to both kids and adults.
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