Summer Sojourns

If there’s one thing Italians do best, it’s enjoying life. It’s something you easily assimilate when you visit the country, from the long carb-filled and wine-fuelled lunches to mastering the art of doing nothing. The Italians have a phrase for the latter,

that literally translates to "sweet idleness". There’s a special pleasure in doing nothing at all – an indulgence that’s particularly enjoyable in the summer.

We welcome the season with an issue dedicated to taking it slow. Insight examines the slow design movement of today, while our shopping pages shortlist pieces to encourage relaxation. We also explore the Japanese concept of since slow design equals a more thoughtful and sustainable approach, we thought it was pertinent to show the beauty in imperfection and impermanence.

The idea of slowing down also informs the selection of spaces and places in this issue. We take you to the idyllic locales of Mallorca, Da Lat and Bordeaux, which feature impressive yet grounded abodes, as well as the sedate Laotian city of Luang Prabang. Though slow living is often associated with a rural existence, it doesn’t have to equate to that, as the stunning house in Beirut and the spacious homes in Hong Kong show.

So sit back, relax and enjoy the issue – and if you’re specifically looking for Italian inspiration, head to page 107 for our annual report on Milan Design Week.

意大利人特別做得出色的就是享受人生。每次到訪，你定能深切感受——悠長

(甚麼都不做的美妙)」，也就是甜蜜宜人的慵懶。兩袖清風的樂趣在夏日更顯誘人。

今期我們帶來專注慢活主義的精彩故事，迎來夏季。Insight探索當今的慢活設計運動，而Shopping則收錄鼓勵你放鬆享受的精緻產品。我們也一看日本的侘寂美學；慢活設計的重點近乎思慮周到和可持續方向製作的定義，恰到好處地展現缺陷美。

停下急速腳步的概念在今期收錄的家居故事中清晰可見。我們帶你走到馬略卡島、大勒和波爾多，看看一系列精彩而樸實的美麗家園，還有魅力懾人的龍坡邦。慢活常與田園鄉郊拉上關係，但兩者卻並不一定相等，看看貝魯特的歷史住宅與香港的開揚單位便能有所領略。

請你坐下放鬆，好好欣賞今期精彩內頁——要是你正在物色意國設計靈感，翻到第107頁參考我們的米蘭設計周年度報告吧。