Once the festivities are offer, why not shake off the winter blues by heading to one of the new resorts opening in 2020? The best luxury openings from Miami to St Barths are ideal for globetrotters who appreciate the latest in design, but who are also conscious about their travel footprint.

It's a true Miami vibe at the Celino.

Opening in February 2020, TheCelino South Beachin Miami has been carved out of three Art Deco buildings, including the landmark Park Central Hotel. A Small Luxury Hotel, it will have a boutique feel witheclectic custom furniture, pops of colour, and a rooftop pool featuring a peekaboo glass bottom that is visible from the Atrium below. Cheeky.

Picture perfect pool moment.

Park Central Hotel,a favouriteof silver screen stars like Bogart and Hayworth, was allegedly the birthplace of the conga line and guests will find witty nods to this with conga-line kits with how-to guides, drums and cigars in their rooms. The opening is also particularly good timing for those in town for the 54thSuper Bowl, taking place in Miami in February.

Preserving the natural beauty is key at North Island in the Seychelles.

If far-flung and off the beaten track is more your thing, then head tothe exquisiteNorth Island, Seychelles, aLuxury Collection Resort.

The brands first private island destination is found in the heart of the Seychelles, and offers privacy and exclusivity with just 11 villas so theres no chance of overcrowding. Located 30km off the mainland of Mah, it is reached by helicopter or a leisurely hours boat ride.

Be at one with nature at North Island.

Intent to demonstrate that luxury can coexist with conscience the resort has a pioneering conservation programme and a thorough sustainable ethos. A range of dining venues, with daily changing menus, according to what has been harvested on the island, and a wide variety of experiences such as guided excursions and forest trails will no doubt enhance a stay here.

The iconic Eden Rock is open again.

Not new exactly, but one to put on your radar, nonetheless, especially if you are in the mood for the ultimate in luxury holidaying the iconic Eden Rock in St Barths has finally completed its two year renovation after the impact of Hurricane Irma in 2017. Part of the prestigious Oetker Collection, the new look has been presided over by Martin Brudnizki and the hotel now offers new villas and suites, the Remy Salon and Bar, spa and restaurant. Guests can expect a contemporary art collection throughout and a fresh look which calls on the heritage of the French Caribbean.

One of the newly designed Camelot Suite showcases Soane's pretty signature.

Another transformation of an iconic property, also in the Caribbean, has taken place at Cobblers Cove in Barbados. Set in a former plantation, the all-suite hotel has undergone a five-year transformation under the watchful eye of owner Sam de Teran, who has converted the property into one of the chicest places to stay in the Caribbean. The final chapter of its re-design journey, has seen a collaboration with British designer Soane Britain. She has transformed the great entrance hall, drawing room and two signature suites, taking inspiration from the islands flora, architecture and original plantation houses. Think: pretty as a picture.

Have a far-flung adventure in Panama.

Opening this month in Panama, Islas Secas promises to bring the wow factor and more. Aiming to inspire guests through its embracing of a truly unspoilt location across 14 tropical islands it will no doubt lay down a marker for other eco-destinations, due to its green credentials such as being powered by 100% solar-generated energy. The resort sleeps just 18 guests across four casitas (with a further three tented casitas to launch in March 2020) and offers the chance for far-flung adventures from marine safaris to immersive natural experiences, such as witnessing the migrating Humpback Whales. The elemental spa tent, found in wild tropical jungle, meanwhile, is just the place to lose your mind.

Even the dining at Islas Secas embraces the great outdoors.

Finally, one to mark in your diaries for the summer, is the opening of One&Only Mandarina set to put the undeveloped stretch ofcoastline along the Riviera Nayarit in Mexico on the map. Located on a spectacular cliff-side overlooking the Pacific Ocean with dramatic vistas and a lush rainforest setting, One&Only Mandarina will lead the opening of the multi-billion-dollarMandarinadevelopment.

One of the Ocean Cliff Villas at One&Only Mandarina.

Blending chic interiors amid the verdant jungle wilderness, guests can stay in free-standing villas that float above the treetops or perch against the cliffs each with their own private plunge pool. Allowing nature to take centre stage, the hotel has been built to blend with the environment. Botany experts were consulted on the development of the resort to minimise the effect on the existing natural landscape, and careful low-density planning has preserved the land and the historic and ecological importance of the destination.Aiming to be a hub for reconnecting with self, the hotel will offer mindfulness sessions under the stars, meals with jaw-dropping panoramic views or an open-air spa treatment under the tree canopy. Bliss.

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Six Of The Best: The Ultimate Places In The World To Escape Winter - Forbes

The UnitedHealthcare Accelerator Powered by Techstars Demo Day featured a wide range of ambitious and interesting medtech startups. Weve already taken a look at the class roster, but we decided to catch up with the programs managing director, Matt Miller, for a little postmortem of the 2019 event and a look ahead at what the 2020 edition will bring.

tech.mn: The 2019 program is still pretty recent, but looking back at the entire experience, what are your thoughts on the program and its class?

Matt Miller: Most Techstars programs take time to build momentum in their first year. Its a new thing in new city, so it takes time to get up to speed. That wasnt the case with this program because of the gravity of UnitedHealthcare (UHC). That let us hit the ground running, and it was also a massive advantage coming in as a first-time managing director.

We also had the upper hand from a location standpoint. Were fully convinced theres no better place in the world to build a healthcare company than Minneapolis. It has the vast majority of senior healthcare executives, a low cost of living, high quality of life Combining a location that makes sense with a partner that makes sense gave us an opportunity to really capitalize

tech.mn: Womens health, nutrition, diagnosis, health benefits, logistics it was a pretty diverse collection of specialties from the class. Is there any consideration of creating that kind of diverse lineup when sifting through the applicants?

MM: We have four pillars quality, cost, access, and engagement of care. Sometimes, its really hard to get people to take care of themselves. So, we might look for solutions that are specific to disease states or that have advance analytics, for example. We also look at the entire age range. There are massive problems all over, covering a wide range of people. It just happened to be that the most compelling, most brilliant founders that I met just happened to be working in these spaces and addressed whole life span.

We also make sure theres no internal competition within the class. Ultimately, it comes down to the strength of team, size of problem, and viability of solution being proposed.

tech.mn: How do you feel the accelerator is helping shape the Twin Cities tech startup scene?

MM: Once a business is here, theyll realize this is the best place in world to build a healthcare company. There are all kinds opportunities to be involved in the process such as participating in events, demo days, and more.

tech.mn: The applications for 2020 close in May. Whats on your to-do list between now and then?

MM: Ill be spending a lot of time with UHC and other health system executives at large and getting an awareness of trends and problems that arent yet being addressed by solutions. What should we be thinking about next?

Ill also be representing Techstars at conferences like CES, the StartUp Health Festival at the JP Morgan Healthcare Conference, and the Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society conference (HIMSS).

I might also be traveling to Bangalore. Sometimes picking a global solution in the healthcare space is tricky because our healthcare landscape is so nuanced and complicated that its not always transferrable across borders, but its worth looking.

tech.mn: Its still early, but what can people expect from the 2020 event?

MM: Once the class begins to take shape, well focus on curating the content curriculum and mentor pool. UHC has such broad spectrum of services that they provide. The result is a wide swath of subject matter experts with knowledge thats able to be transferred. There was a lot of education required to fully recruit the pool of executives and subject experts this year and many had never worked with startups. But were already getting unsolicited asks to be involved next year.

tech.mn: Whats your advice for the health-focused startups out there considering applying to the 2020 program?

MM: Were looking for world-class founders who are addressing real problems and are looking for coaching and mentorship. Some programs have tried to over-engineer the process, but Ive found that serendipity is real. Its a dual opt-in situation the mentors and companies meet, and both choose whether or not they want to work together. Some mentor pairs arent what youve expected.

But you have to be all in and you need to be willing to laugh at my corny jokes.

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Q&A With the Managing Director of the UnitedHealthcare Accelerator Powered by Techstars - TECHdotMN - TECHdotMN

With the rising cost of land and construction, and the need to build more densely in order to make building a multifamily community profitable, outdoor spaces become all the more important.

We talked to six veteran landscape architects about how to incorporate gardens and quiet spaces into multifamily communities.

Dont think of landscaping as something you can value engineer to make up for mistakes at the end of the project, said Craig Karn, ASLA, ULI, NAHB, LEED AP, Founder/Principal, Consilium Design, Denver. If youre going to do great, finished outdoor spaces, they need to be central to the design, not leftover space next to the Dumpsters.

Have your end game in mind at the beginning of the process, he advised: Your residents want high-quality outdoor spaces, not just sticking a bench along a fence.

Maintenance staffs have a long list of jobs to do every day, and they are not always plant experts. With any type of fussy landscaping, you have to step up maintenance of the spaces, said Terry Smith, Associate/Director of Land Planning, BSB Design. It takes a lot of work to keep them looking good. It might be cool to have the residents involved in the gardens, but management really has to take the lead and be responsible for maintaining it or it becomes an eyesore.

Regan Pence, PLA, Landscape Architecture Practice Lead, Lamp Rynearson and Associates, Omaha, Neb., advised leaning toward a limited and more formal plant palette. We try to define the space and make it look architectural and intentional, he said. If you leave things as they are, people perceive it as unkempt. To create a sense of design intent Pences firm often adds trellises, walkways, and planters, which are fairly easy for the maintenance staff to take care of.

Even in the midst of busy public areas, landscape designers can carve out small spaces where residents can be on their own. BSBs Smith compares the experience to hanging out at a coffee shop. You hear the activity around you, and you can engage if you want to, but you dont have to. Youre in a quiet space within a noisy environment.

Creating smaller spaces where your residents can be on their own is where the creative aspect comes into play, Smith said. His firm uses plant materials, fencing, landscape walls, and assorted hardscape materials to mold and shape these quiet spots.

He said a dog park is an example of a highly active space that could have a contemplative garden space off to the side to serve as a quiet spacepossibly with a hammock or two for added relaxation.

Encountering a small seating area after a sudden change in direction can be a delightfully unexpected experience for your residents. People love finding these little out of the way spaces, said Karn. They become their favorite places to hang out.

Fireplaces can be used to create multiple intimate seating areas. Karn recommends putting the fireplace in the middle of the space and grouping seating on the various faces.

Fire pits are really big, said BSB Designs Smith. They can be used at night and over an extended period of the year. They are such a nice gathering area, and they dont take up much space, he said.

Fire pits come in all kinds of configurations, he noted. Theyre gas-powered, so theyre acceptable to most fire departments. Theyre small, manageable elements where people get a lot of good use out of them.

Outdoor kitchens are also in demand as social gathering places connected to landscape features. See Grilled to order: The art of outdoor kitchens, BDCnetwork.com/OutdoorKitchens2019.

Even within large open lawns, intimate spaces can be carved out through what Julie Brinkerhoff-Jacobs, President of Lifescapes International, Newport Beach, Calif., calls implied walls.

Shrubbery can frame an open or covered seating area, whether planted at ground level, in raised beds, or in pots that complement the design aesthetic. Or put vines on a fence.

Create destinations within destinations, places that are verdant and intimate, said Brinkerhoff-Jacobs. Its a great way to direct traffic and guide people along a path. She likes doing a living, breathing wall or fence, but warned that they can be expensive unless you have plant material that is very fast-growing.

The best landscape designs shouldnt go dark when the sun goes down. These spaces should have life beyond dusk, said Scott Baker, PLA, ASLA, President, RELM, Los Angeles.

People are entertaining in the evening, said Baker. These are spaces you come home to at night, grab a bottle of wine, take it downstairs, and hang out with friends.

Baker said his philosophy is that lights should not be seen; their effect should be perceived. We work very closely with lighting designers to get a mood and environment, he said.

You can create the desired effect by underlighting benches and seating and uplighting trees. It doesnt have to be big poles with lights that light up an area like a prison yard, said Baker. It can be done in a much more subtle way. More successful spaces do everything with a little more intrigue.

Raised planter beds and stone pavers form the landscaping vocabulary of the 20,000-sf roof garden designed by RELM for STOA, a 224-unit rental high-rise in downtown Los Angeles. The dome of the Cathedral of St. Vibiana (1876), which was damaged in the 1994 Northridge earthquake and later deconsecrated (its now an events venue), is at right. Holland Partners was the developer. Togawa Smith Martin was the architect. Photo: Manolo Langis

Ziv Lavi, Founder/Managing Partner of Turf Landscape Design, in New York City, remembers when multifamily developers didnt think much at all about the rooftop spaces on their buildings. Today, its understood the roof will be activated, said Lavi, a former urban designer at the New York City Department of City Planning. Its what people expect when they come to rent or buy in a building.

Project teams need to think about how the rooftop can become an amenity, not just a holding space for the mechanical systems. Theres an opportunity to move those mechanical areas around and craft in cozy, intimate spaces, he said.

Lavi said roof spaces should embrace a citys energy, not mask it. Using sound barriers to ward off city noise sends a message that city noise is bad and nature noise is better, said Lavi. You dont want to do that. You want to be able to feel youre within the huge metropolitan area. Youre elevated above it in a nature-like area that filters and incorporates the city into your experience.

One caution: If you have to have mature trees on a roof deck, you better plan for it, because plant materials are heavy, warned Lifescapes Internationals Brinkerhoff-Jacobs. The roof is one area where early involvement in the design process is essential.

Does your multifamily community really need a huge pool? According to Consilium Designs Craig Karn, todays apartment and condo residents go to the pool primarily to meet people, not to swim. Make the pool small and the deck big, he said. People-watching is a big deal. But people want to be the watcher, not the watched.

One way to make that happen is by placing several smaller seating areas around the lawn or deck where residents can sit with a few friends. It creates intimacy where they feel comfortable, Karn said.

Lifescapes Internationals Julie Brinkerhoff-Jacobs recommends adding nearby water features, such as fountains or water walls, to make a small pool area feel larger. She also suggests installing cabanas to make it possible for residents to define their own more private space within the larger, more public pool area.

Human beings enjoy being in gardens, said Brinkerhoff-Jacobs. Life is hectic. When you have places of repose where you can recharge your batteries and reconnect with a small group of friends, thats important. If you live in an area with dense population and have a place to have alone time, that will be a very rewarding experience.

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9 tips on creating places of respite and reflection - Building Design + Construction

Ready to let it go and book a vacation?

With the box office success of Frozen 2 inspiring some Disney wanderlust, we scouted out some of the best vacation rentals that are fit for a queen specifically Elsa! Not only are these vacation homes close by the Disney parks in both California and Florida, but they are also elaborately decorated to mimic the frosty wonderland shown in Frozen. Many of them have several rooms, so, to make the nightly rate more affordable, gather up friends and family. Then, pack your bags for the ultimate Disney trip.

Here, find six Frozen fantasylands that you can rent in real life on Vrbo.

This sprawling, 4,000-square-foot villa is like a private resort. Some of the star amenities include a Frozen-inspired movie theater with seating for 10 and a pool, hot tub, and themed splash pad where Olaf is keeping cool. One of the seven bedrooms is immaculately designed to look like an icy blue castle and another has sleigh beds and a scenic winter landscape painted on the walls.

Rates average $386 a night. Book the house here.

Vrbo

Grown-ups will love the California-cool aesthetic of this vacation home with wood floors and breezy blues throughout. The kids are in for a fun surprise, too. A superhero-themed room with built-in bunk beds has a ball pit in it. The Frozen-inspired room is fantastic, too, with sleigh beds, a trading post hideout, and translucent beads dripping from the ceiling that look like icicles. Up to 26 people can stay here at once.

Rates average $1,138 a night. Book the house here.

Vrbo

Just 6 miles away from Disney, this 9-bedroom villa will wow both Frozen and Harry Potter fans with its themed bedrooms. Canopy beds, a chandelier, and Olaf pillows add magical touches to the Frozen-inspired bedroom. After a long day at Disney, enjoy the rentals private pool, which has a waterfall and grotto.

Rates average $956 a night. Book the house here.

Vrbo

A giant Frozen mural lends a castle vibe to one of the bedrooms in this 5-bedroom home. Ruffled turquoise bedding, a chandelier and tufted headboards round out the royal look. Another room with bunk beds channels a galaxy far, far away. The rental also features an impressive game room with a pool table and foosball table. Guests have access to the communitys clubhouse, waterpark, movie theater, golf course and more.

Rates average $212 a night. Book the house here.

Vrbo

The paint job in the Frozen-themed room is impressive. Olaf and Sven are represented on the blue walls, along with snowflakes and gusts of wind. The happily ever after-themed 5-bedroom home also has a backyard pool and hot tub and is in a gated resort neighborhood where guests will have access to amenities like a water park, golf courses, restaurants and putting green.

Rates average $300 a night. Book the house here.

Vrbo

Not only does this home have a Frozen room, but the room also comes with 15 princess dresses for the ultimate dress-up party. The whole 7-bedroom home is worth exploring, with a 50s-style Mickey and Minnie diner, an Avengers-themed room, and a Seven Dwarfs-themed playhouse cottage. Other themed bedrooms include an Aladdin master suite and a Harry Potter room.

Rates average $389 a night. Book the house here.

Vrbo

Whos ready for a Frozen-themed getaway?

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These 6 Frozen-inspired Vacation Rentals Are Perfect For Trips With Kids - Simplemost

A pair of private villas on a lush new Moroccan polo resort will go to auction this week.

The two new properties are among 85 Ritz-Carlton-branded residences currently under construction as part of an upcoming 124-acre resort, located about 20 minutes from Marrakeshthe fourth-largest city in Morocco and an economic hub that connects North Africa with Europe and the Middle East.

Villa Amira and Villa Zena, previously listed for 2.7 million (US$2.99 million) and 2.1 million, respectively, will head to auction with no reserve price; bidding opens digitally on Feb. 26, and ends live in Dubai on Feb. 28. Concierge Auctions is managing the sales, and the Moroccan properties will be part of their larger Dubai sale.

We partnered with the developer, as he wanted to capture a global audience that is not only interested in the amenities and luxury of the Ritz-Carlton brand, but also the culture, history, and landscape of Marrakesh, said Caitlin Keys, the Europe, Middle East and Africa managing director for Concierge Auctions.

The residences combine traditional Berber design inspiration with contemporary features, such as soundproofing and full thermal insulation. Both provide views of the polo fields and the Atlas Mountains.

More:Hedge Fund Billionaire Buys Priciest House in Palm Beach History for $111 Million

Villa Amira has five bedrooms and five bathrooms, while Villa Zena has four bedrooms and five-and-a-half bathrooms. Both feature premium kitchens, marble flooring across 80% of indoor space, and surround-sound systems. Outside, each villa has a private heated swimming pool, terraces, and gardens, according to the auction house listing.

The development is centered around the Jnan Amar Polo Fields. In addition to the residences, which are expected to be completed in 2021, the resort will include an 80-room Ritz-Carlton hotel due to open in 2020. Villa owners will enjoy access to Ritz-Carlton amenities, including concierge service, in-residence dining, a spa, landscaped gardens, restaurants, and the Jnan Amar Polo Club with two polo fields.

From PentaExperts Say Proposed 100% Retaliatory Tariffs on French Goods Will be Devastating

Correction: Bidding for the properties will open on Feb. 26, and close on Feb. 28. This story has been updated to reflect a recent date change made by Concierge Auctions

Originally posted here:
Pair of Moroccan Resort Villas Head to Auction - Mansion Global

Los Angeles | $4.785 MillionA 1936 cottage with three bedrooms and three bathrooms, on a 0.4-acre lot

Thomas Callaway, an interior designer, acquired this stucco house with a shingled roof about 20 years ago and altered it to look like an English cottage in the Cotswolds. He added beams and half-timbering inside and covered the whole structure in solid stone. The house is on Mandeville Canyon Road in the Brentwood neighborhood, about four miles southwest of the Getty Center. Downtown Los Angeles is about 18 miles east.

Size: 2,660 square feet

Price per square foot: $1,799

Indoors: Mr. Callaway kept the homes original footprint, but not much else. The living room was replastered and half-timbered. (The walls have wide bead-board paneling, and the ceiling between the rafters is tongue and groove.)

The dining room was created by enclosing an outdoor patio (along with its fireplace), and has a Dutch door opening to the grounds. In the library, an eight-foot ceiling was raised through the attic to create a vaulted space. Between the beams is a distressed stenciled design based on a William Morris pattern, and the walls are paneled in English oak. Built-in bookcases surround a leaded-glass bay window.

The kitchen, which was not extensively made over, has blue-and-white tile accents, a breakfast area and a Dutch door.

For the walls of the vaulted master bedroom, Mr. Callaway applied a stenciled thistle pattern that he developed for a client. The guest bedroom has a William Morris paper.

Outdoor space: The hilly grounds were leveled, and the backyard landscaping was designed around an old oak tree. Stone walls and patios were added, along with a stone dovecote. (It was never used to house birds, just stuff.) The gardens bloom with wisteria and other ornamentals. Parking is in an attached two-car garage.

Taxes: $59,813 (estimated)

Contact: Mary Beth Woods, Coldwell Banker, 310-463-1599; marybethwoods.com

This house is in the Marina district. According to a JCP-LGS hazard disclosure report, it is on a non-liquefaction lot that offers more stability in an earthquake than other zones in this seismically vulnerable neighborhood. It is within walking distance of a variety of restaurants, shops and entertainment sites, including those arrayed along nearby Chestnut and Union Streets. The 13-acre Fort Mason park with its arts and cultural center is a half-block north, and the Moscone Softball Fields are a block west. The nearest Safeway supermarket and Muni rail station are two blocks away.

Size: 3,985 square feet

Price per square foot: $1,192

Indoors: The front door opens on the main level to a wide foyer that turns left into a dining room with textured wall covering and a silver ceiling. Here and throughout the home are spacious proportions, inlaid hardwood floors and elegant moldings.

The dining room connects through an archway to a living room with a bow-fronted window facing the street and a wood-burning fireplace flanked by bookshelves.

Straight down the entrance hallway is a white marble kitchen with industrial lighting and high-end appliances; it flows into a family room with two walls of built-ins (including a wine refrigerator), followed by a sunroom with three walls of windows. A powder room with a marble sink is also on this floor.

Front and back staircases ascend to the upper level, more than half of which is taken up by the master suite. The master bedroom sits above the living room and also has a bow-fronted window and a fireplace. Two walk-in closets with built-ins extend over the entire 24-foot width of the floor, and the larger closet connects to a skylighted master bathroom with marble finishes, a soaking tub and a walk-in glass shower. Next to it is a laundry room with two sets of washers and dryers.

Two additional bedrooms share a hallway bathroom with double sinks and a combined tub and shower. Each of the rooms has direct access to a rear sunroom.

The lower level includes a three-car garage in front; in the back are 725 square feet of finished space, including a rec room or fourth bedroom with a wet bar, an attached sitting room and a full bathroom. There is also a wine cellar.

Outdoor space: A spiral staircase descends from the main level to the large paved rear patio. It is surrounded by a garden border and a wood fence.

Taxes: $59,375 (estimated)

Contact: Ruth Krishnan, Compass, 415-735-5867; compass.com

Jorge Engel, an architect based in San Diego, designed this home with monumental gestures, expensive woods and nine varieties of granite. It is across from a golf course in a gated community of 35 properties, about 24 miles north of San Diego and four miles from Pacific Coast beaches.

Size: 8,817 square feet

Price per square foot: $539

Indoors: The house is entered by a bridge supported by stone pillars. The main level has a living room with a tray ceiling, a wet bar and a wood-burning slate fireplace, as well as a game room and four bedrooms with en suite bathrooms and enormous closets. The master suite contains a fireplace and a private balcony. Two of the guest rooms have sleeping lofts reached by ladder.

The lower level is where youll find the kitchen and attached family room, a dining room, a second living room, an additional guest suite and a laundry room. There is also a bathroom and changing room convenient to the pool.

The kitchen has zebrawood cabinets with granite countertops and a stainless steel hood that rises and runs like a ribbon across the ceiling.

The dining room has a geometric, multi-armed chandelier with conical frosted-glass shades and built-in stone-topped credenzas. It opens to an outdoor patio.

Outdoor space: The covered outdoor granite kitchen is big, but it is dwarfed by the 75-foot-long saltwater pool with an even longer monumental structure that frames the landscape.

Taxes: $59,367 (estimated)

Contact: Jason Barry, Barry Estates, 858-756-4024; jasonbarryteam.com

For weekly email updates on residential real estate news, sign up here. Follow us on Twitter: @nytrealestate.

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$4.75 Million Homes in California - The New York Times

The rainbow reefs of Palawan, thesnow-white beaches of Boracay, the surfing mecca of Siargao the waters of thePhilippines are precious places, harboring some of the worlds richest marinebiodiversity, drawing visitors from around the world and supporting a topfishing economy.

Yet, the Philippines is among the three biggest plastic polluting countries and is the most dangerous for environmental defenders, putting the health of its coastal ecosystems under ecological threat.

Alongside the growing global youth movement acting to fight climate change, young Filipinos and ocean-sport athletes in particular are making their waters the focus of their careers and lives, to clean them up and keep them intact for the future. In this two-part series, meet four.

Read part one of the series here.

Marine Conservation Philippines is a non-profit working to protect fragile marine habitats and the livelihoods of marginalized coastal communities in the central Philippines. Connect on Instagram: @camzzrivera

Bais is located in the Taon StraitProtected Seascape (TSPS) which is the largest seascape in the Philippines. Ithas the ideal ecosystem of mangroves, seagrass and coral reefs.

But in Bais, out of an estimated 600hectares of fishponds, there are approximately 95 hectares of abandoned andunderutilized fishponds and 35 hectares of undocumented fishponds, which are neitherproducing food for the community nor fulfilling government-mandated coastalmanagement goals. This has also destroyed the mangrove ecosystem. So we createdthis project to revert Baiss mangrove ecosystems back to how they were yearsago.

I think that the environment is not a priority in thiscountry but basic necessities such as food and shelter are. Communities onlyconsider if there is food today or tomorrow, and that is why fishponds are ashort-term value. Some do not realize the long-term value of mangroves generatingmore fisheries in the future. That is why in order for us to docommunity-based mangrove conservation, we need to involve the community in arole where they can generate income with it in a very short time.

Its funny how I came into the marinescience field. I just chose the most random course in university, a course noone goes to. I didnt even know how to swim! It just started as a calling, andthe moment I went into the ocean, I almost drowned, but I was still able toappreciate everything about it.

I focus on mangroves because I think were all blindedby the conservation of coral and seagrass. But mangroves are the primary shieldsfrom the rivers, so they get all the sediments from the agriculture. Coral cantsurvive the nutrients from mangroves. They also give shoreline protection,provide homes for fish and are carbon sinks. Mangroves are a balance betweenthe river, the land and the sea. Also, I like those ecosystems that nobody elselikes to look at.

Understanding the social network has played a big part in environmental impact, and that is missing in most natural sciences. Communities need moral support and motivation, and thats where we come in with happy faces. Ive seen how theyve changed their trust and relationship toward me. Their voices arent often heard, so they really like that were hearing them.

Rosales is the founder of Blue Kiteboarding, a sustainable kite-sports consultancy and school, and a local travel agency. She was the 2015 winner of the KTA Asian and ICTSI Philippine Freestyle kiteboarding championships. Connect on Instagram: @Paularosales

Ive always been a water baby. Ive been acompetitor swimmer since sixth grade. From the pool I transferred to the ocean.Ive always found a special connection with the water. Humans are mainlycomposed of water, so I always felt I wanted to be near it.

The adrenaline I get from kiteboarding is something Ive never experienced in any other sport. And it uses free energy. As we go into the future, we have to use more renewable energy, which can start as leisure. Instead of using a jet ski or motorized sport, use something more friendly to the environment.

The Philippines is composed of over 7,000islands, and its surprising that a lot of us dont know how to swim. I waslucky to learn. In the rural parts of the country, the ocean is scary to Filipinos.

When surfing became popular 15 years ago,this was a new avenue for the Filipinos to enjoy the ocean. There was noparticular special relationship with it before that, but I think this was agood way to start. When someone begins surfing, it triggers something becauseit gives them joy. Thats why I think playing in the ocean plays a positiverole in encouraging ocean protection.

When I moved here to Boracay, I was very happy, living on white beach, teaching kiteboarding, living this perfect life. But a few years ago, I started getting sick from the water. We found out from a scientist that tested the water that the coliform (bacteria) was very high. So as an athlete and a person who thinks the ocean is my home, I felt the need to protect it.

I do this through events and communicationsand spreading the word about the different issues to keep our home livable. WhenI got sick, I started doing beach cleanups and educated my staff about theimportance of keeping the ocean clean and of conservation. For health reasonsfirst of all I couldnt go in the water when it was filthy.

If you love where you live, you have to doeverything you can to protect it.The reason why I fell in love withBoracay was because of the beauty of the place, the nature, the white-sandbeach, the ocean. I think we all came here because of that. But due tooverdevelopment, the forests and ocean are suffering. I believe that itseveryone responsibility the businesses, the residents, the tourists to takecare of the ocean, to keep it clean and keep it safe.

A lot of surfers and kiteboarders are aware of the importance of ocean conservation, and this is a good platform. Its a cool way to learn to love the ocean. We should utilize the water sport community to drive change in this particular sector however we can.

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Blue belles: The freediver and the kiteboarder - Landscape News

'House In The Landscape' is a seamless integration of nature into earthly residential architecture.

Built byNiko Architecture in Moscow, Russia and inspired by Frank Lloyd Wright's organic architecture philosophy (the merging of buildings with their natural surroundings so they look like one), this impressive home has been integrated into lush surroundings to create a welcoming, flowing abode.

Constructed from reinforced concrete, the home looks like it's emerging from the ground, sunken under large grass areas and surrounding flora. The interior features a variety of artworks, sculptures, and hidden Japanese influences that blend with the organic atmosphere created within the property.

The home features curved walls and ceilings throughout the interior that mimick the rolling environment outside. The spaces are large and free-flowing, while the floor-to-ceiling windows offer sparkling views to encourage a connection with the natural world outside. The windows also open to a secluded terrace area that borders an infinity pool designed to resemble a natural pond.

The layout of the property contains three bedrooms, a living area, dining area, relaxation room, and an office located on the second floor. A small balcony overlooks the infinity pool and offers a different view of the entire property.

If you think this home is incredibly well designed, be sure to check out Mexico's concrete beachfront 'Gemela House' and Australia's minimalist dream retreat the 'Elemental House.'

RELATED: Inside the Penthouse apartment of this San Francisco clocktower

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'House In The Landscape' By Niko Architecture - Boss Hunting

NewsEnvironmentElm trees once dominated Britain's countryside, but were almost wiped out by Dutch elm disease half a century ago

Wednesday, 4th December 2019, 11:45 am

The species, which once dominated rural landscapes and has been present in the UK since the Bronze Age, was almost totally destroyed by Dutch elm disease, a fungal pathogen which killed 20 million trees in the UK. Some 90 per cent of elms were removed as a result of the disease and the tree has been largely forgotten as a feature of the countryside.

"Elite" elms

Research by a number of private individuals and organisations who have refused to abandon the elm now suggests that it could return, thanks in part of the discovery of elite elms that remain in the countryside and appear to be able to resist or avoid the disease.

A report by the Future Trees Trust, a charity, said the mature specimens are hundreds of years old and efforts are being made to analyse these individual elms to produce seedlings which reproduce this apparent resistance.

The charity said that with appropriate further research and funding it is now possible to envisage the re-establishment of the elm at a time when other species such as the oak are under assault from pests and diseases.

Karen Russell, the author of the report, said: The current state is that we know a lot about where the mature trees are and we know more than ever about the opportunities in terms of research. With the right people in the right place and the funding we can put elm back in the landscape.

Dutch elm disease, which arrived in Britain in two waves, remains active and continues to spread north - it has yet to reach some parts of Scotland. Immature trees sprouted from diseased parents are capable of growing for a number of years but then themselves succumb to the disease.

The researchers want to build on work in a number of European countries where the elite trees have been crossed with native elms.

More work needed

The Future Trees Trust report suggests that seedlings need to be produced in greater numbers of study their progress and use techniques such as genome sequencing to try to identify the particular genetic traits that contribute to Dutch elm disease (DED) resistance.

The report states: Since the 1990s, it has been apparent that isolated, small populations and individual trees have survived and may be avoiding, tolerant or resistant to DED. With other native species such as ash and oak under increasing pest and disease pressures, there is currently much interest in re-considering elm with an objective of conserving, improving and ultimately restoring elm back in to the landscape at a meaningful level.

The report that such much information remains scattered among individuals and organisations but there is willingness among experts to pool these resources to further research.

Max Coleman, author of book on the elm, said: Elms have demonstrated a tenacious ability to survive; it is about time we gave them a helping hand.

Link:
Elm trees could return to woodlands across the UK, new report suggests - inews

Everything about this bungalow spells luxury

A birds-eye-view of the hillside and an uber luxurious abode replete with a garden, swimming pool and gaming roomthis home certainly checks all boxes for the perfect weekend getaway. The two story structure spread across 8000-square-feet, (over 6 acres) is enveloped by lush greenery. The interiors are purposefully minimal, so that the focus remains on the pice de rsistancethe undulating hillside views. The home overlooks the tranquil Kalote lake and has a 360 degree view of the surrounding hills, making it a blissful getaway from a bustling city like Mumbai. The basic idea was to focus on the scenic views from every room. Every space has furniture, lights and accessories strategically placed to frame the stunning sights, says Amritha Karnakar, principal architect, AKAD (Amritha Karnakar Architectural Design).

The ground floor features the living room, dining room, bar, kitchen and three bedrooms, while the first floor houses three bedrooms, the gaming room along with two viewing decks. The staff quarters, gym, spa, steam room and kids play area are located in the basement.

A home of this scale required a fitting entrancethat was fulfilled by an imposing 12 foot-high solid wooden door. The challenge was to understand the scale of the structure and space. It was important to not let the grandeur overpower the main focusthe view, explains Karnakar. The entrance leads into the living area which opens onto the large deck with an infinity pool.

In keeping with the minimalistic aesthetic, the living room features a seating area, showcasing the beautiful natural landscape. Artfully peppered with carefully selected artefacts, it also features two lounge chairs with footrests at the bottom of the spiral staircase. The hanging lights in the double height room add another element of visual interest. The neutral shades of beige and grey are balanced by the pops of green added via the large potted plants. The room leads into the dining area that features a fourteen seater marble-top dining table.

The ground floor deck accessed from the living room features the infinity pool along with sun beds to soak in the green vistas. The first floor has two decks on either side. One corner of the larger deck is dedicated to the outdoor dining areathe ideal spot to enjoy your meals against the picture perfect backdrop.

While the home has six bedrooms, its the master bedroom on the first floor that perhaps offers the best, panoramic views courtesy the large glass windows on three sides of the room. The bright orange sofa in one corner of the room adds an interesting contrast to the large swathes of green outside.

A grungy English bar was the inspiration while designing the bar. The pipes fitted on one wall lend the room a stylish industrial-chic vibe. Pops of colour were brought in via the blue chevron-patterned tiles and red leather sofa. A barrel placed in the seating area adds another whimsical element to the dcor.

A wooden staircase leads up to the game room that has a pool table, foosball table and a carom board. The white and yellow tiles lend the room a bright, cheery look.

Spacious, green and eco-friendly, these 4 Surat bungalows are a sight to behold

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Kalote, Maharashtra: We bet you havent seen a more lavish, expansive and close-to-nature holiday home than this - Architectural Digest India