Myth and Mystique
Inspired by ancient cultures, Austy Lee’s art jewellery defies classification
In Austy Lee’s hands, a piece of jewellery—precious stone upon precious stone, each one laid with exacting skill and artistry against unconventional materials— conjures a world of mythical, mystical and profound beauty.
Recent pieces fuse the majesty of birds with Japanese folklore in surprising ways. The Tsuruhime Sen no Odori Brooch features a crane with feathers outlined in black enamel and rendered in mostly white diamonds. Swathes of fancy coloured diamonds in a startling blue, and hints of mother-of-pearl and unheated Mozambican rubies finish the piece.
Inspired by Tsuruhime—a Sengoku-period female warrior whose claims of divine inspiration and ability to fight have been compared to Joan of Arc’s—the brooch is underlaid by an antique Meiji lacquered hairpin. The crane, meanwhile, is a symbol of good fortune and longevity, as well as a favourite motif in Japanese poetry and origami.
Geese, and their seasonal migration to their breeding sites, are the focus of the Goose Migration Race Bangle, a striking piece in 18-karat yellow gold with Japanese antique samurai menuki, sword hilt ornaments. The geese, fashioned out of black enamel and onyx, fly against a backdrop of mother-ofpearl sky studded with tanzanite, white diamonds and fancy coloured diamonds. The bangles are sold in pairs, symbolic of the monogamous nature of geese, which mate for life.
The Hong Kong designer, who worked in graphic design and illustration before he started creating his artistic, one-of-a-kind high jewellery pieces, weaves into his work his obsession with history and cultures from across the globe, evident in the always intriguing themes underpinning his collections.
Residents at The Broadway—a new six-building residence and lifestyle destination—will pull back the sitting room curtains and marvel at the city on their doorstep, with views toward Big Ben, Buckingham Palace, the London Eye, Westminster Abbey and the green expanses of Hyde Park and Green Park. Just a minute’s walk from the St James’s Park Underground station, The Broadway’s convenient
SW1 location is a sightseer’s dream. And paying tribute to the site on which they’re built—it was once home to Westminster Abbey’s orchards—the residences look down on two specially landscaped fourth-floor gardens which link the six residential buildings together.
When it’s completed next year, The Broadway will offer 355,000 sq ft of luxurious residential space. Arranged in pairs, The Sancy, Cullinan and Paragon buildings— so named after the world’s most celebrated diamonds—have been designed to complement their different facades. Each building boasts a unique window design and colour palette, while interiors have been fashioned to emphasise the dramatic light scheme formed by the 1920s-influenced art deco exterior, itself a combination of dark grey, sandstone and white grit-blasted finishes.
Space, luxury and comfort are key components of each residence at The Broadway. Interiors will offer 2.7 metres of floor-to-ceiling height in main rooms, with up to six-metre-high ceilings in duplex penthouses. Oak flooring—with underfloor heating in principal rooms—stretches throughout the properties, and foodies will rejoice at the functional kitchens that offer Gaggenau and Miele appliances and marble Bardiglio tabletops. In terms of essential conveniences, discreet yet ample storage will line bedrooms and entrance halls, while bathrooms will offer a tranquil place to unwind, with Corian baths and basins made with Italian marble.
Young professionals and families alike will find amenities at The Broadway to rival most others: 24-hour security and concierge services, residents’ lounge and a meeting room for a spur-of-themoment business session. They can also explore the numerous leisure activities on the grounds, which include a fully equipped gym, games room, screening room and personal training studios. There’s also an on-site spa and wellness facility, which will boast a 25-metre indoor swimming pool, steam room and sauna.
Working with architecture firm Squire and Partners, Northacre has striven to create something magnificent. This venture is the company’s new build and mixed-use debut, its crowning achievement after more than 30 years of creating exceptional living experiences. “It is exciting to be creating one of the largest, if not the largest, high-end residential schemes in London,” says Niccolò Barrattieri di San Pietro, chief executive at Northacre. “With the release of these unique collections, buyers will be treated to views of some of the most magnificent landmarks across the capital.”