Archive for the 'Interviews' Category

Though just 13 when the Civil War broke out, Santiago Grisolía’s parents thought it better to get him out of harm’s way and send him to Cuenca, where his father had contacts in a local hospital. Taller than most, he stood a chance of being recruited into the war machine, so he moved from his native Valencia to the picturesque hilltop town to begin working in a hospital at a time when most thirteen year-olds would still be at school.

Adulthood came early to Santiago, but then again, his intellectual gifts and fascination with chemistry and medicine made him take to his new environment with typical gusto. Adaptability and perseverance would become important personal traits, easily as valuable as his scientific abilities in what was to be a long and varied academic and research career.

An early start

With all the informality of the age and the situation they found themselves in, young Santiago was given some chemistry and medicine textbooks to get through before becoming an active member of the hospital’s soon overburdened team. Continue reading…Santiago Grisolía – a life in the service of science…

A product of the famous Danish design tradition, Morten Georgsen worked for the likes of Bang & Olufsen before establishing his own bureau, Futhark Design. Along with inspired ideas that produce stunning pieces of furniture for homes, gardens, offices, shops and hotels, he is also passionate about making good design available to more than just a select few. In this he cites fellow Scandinavian icons such as Abba and Ikea A, who may not always get the critical acclaim but have been embraced by the public at large.

Georgsen’s approach to life mirrors his egalitarian philosophy. “The world of design has always been wrapped up in a layer of snobbery and elitism, as if good taste is the intellectual preserve of a few and the aesthetic monopoly of artists. In some ways, this aura that surrounds designers and architects is good, as a certain mystique can inspire and challenge new generations to emulate the great masters that went before, but at the end of the day furnishing is a practical need that we all have – and in that sense we all deserve quality.”

Continue reading…Morten Georgsen and the democratisation of design…

What is the essence of luxury and are we right to desire it? Luxury and the pursuit of excellence discussed and redefined by José Ribes Bas, CEO of Inmobiliaria Rimontgó and Valencian furniture designer José Miguel Martínez Medina.

The following feature appeared in the January 2010 of L’Exquisite Magazine

Continue reading…The essence of luxury…

Like a velvet revolution, a seamless new movement is making its presence felt in the upper echelons of men’s couture. Savile Row, the bastion of tailored quality, is being challenged by a new generation of couturiers that revive old-fashioned skills whilst creating exciting new designs. Oscar Udeshi is one of the leading lights of this new direction in men’s fashion.

The former banker had a career that involved travel, money and great perks, yet he gave it all up to commit himself to an entirely new calling. Rather than simply join the legions of designer wannabes, this economics and philosophy graduate really had something to say, and it’s a message that is helping to revitalise London’s luxury men’s fashion sector.

Continue reading…The tailored revolution…

Starting from humble beginnings, Jorge Martínez – or Aspar, as his fans came to know him – was to become a true motorcycling sensation. His prowess on the bike made him a national sporting icon and a much-loved figure in the sport internationally, but his success story did not end there, for he was to prove as influential off the track as on it, leading his racing teams to multiple successes and playing a pivotal role in the development of a world-class circuit in his home region of Valencia.

Born in the little village of Alzira, in an area surrounded by orange orchards, few would have foreseen the rise of Jorge Martínez to international motorcycling star. Here, most people earned their living as farm or factory workers, and his hardworking father was no exception, toiling long hours throughout his life. From a young age on Jorge displayed a total fascination with and talent for anything fast and mechanical, yet it would take time and determination to break through.

Continue reading…Jorge Martínez ASPAR – the human bullet…

José Ribes Bas was recently interviewed by the prestigious international property magazine OPP after it learned of Rimontgó’s enviable end-of-year sales. This English language publication enjoys worldwide distribution and has developed a reputation as providing an incisive and intelligent picture of the international real estate market.

Continue reading…Rimontgó’s José Ribes Bas in OPP Magazine…

(Second part)

José Ribes Bas, CEO of Rimontgó, and José Miguel Martínez Medina, his counterpart at Valencian design firm JMM MOBISA MARTINEZ MEDINA, enjoy the view of Valencia’s iconic architecture as they meet to discuss the true meaning and value of style, comfort, luxury and excellence.

Continue reading…A meeting of minds (II)…