Andre Kikoski Architect Designs $45 Million Oceanfront Home for Hampton’s Premiere Developer Jay Bialsky

Andre Kikoski, renowned for his work at the Guggenheim Museum, announced his newest project, a contemporary oceanfront home for Hamptons real estate magnate Jay Bialsky. 

Bialsky has built some of the most exceptional homes seen on Long Island’s East End for some of the Hamptons’ most discerning clientele. He turned to AIA Institute Honor Award-winning architect Kikoski for a residence that celebrates the stunning natural landscape, storied beauty, and expansive ocean views that are the best of the Hamptons.

"We wanted to create harmony among house, land and sea, something that took advantage of this unique oceanfront positioning, a contemporary design where you can almost feel the sand beneath your feet from any spot in the house," said Kikoski. "We’ve worked on NYC trophy penthouses where it was all about the views, but this home really takes the cake."

With an outstanding oceanfront location and deeded ocean access to a private section of Bridgehampton’s sought after beaches, this state-of-the-art home takes the indoor/outdoor living concept to the next level, with 10,000SF +/- of interior space complemented by over 12,000SF +/- of exterior space. The expansive exterior space features multiple outdoor living areas including a covered kitchen and dining area, rooftop deck with landscaping/garden, numerous outdoor lounges, custom infinity-edge pool, fire pit and outdoor shower. 

The combined 22,000 SF+/- of interior and exterior living space is afforded by the properties large and optimal building envelope being set in an AE Zone, which is rarely found in oceanfront properties. The superb location is captured by entire walls of glass that provide sweeping panoramic views of the Atlantic Ocean from nearly every room in the house, while sunset vistas over stunning Mecox Bay can be enjoyed from the rooftop deck.

With a keen eye for any parcel's maximum potential, Bialsky is responsible for some of the most magnificent homes and developments on the East End, many of which have unparalleled views. Bialsky's exacting standards keep his homes in constant demand, "I don't buy any property or build any home I wouldn't want to live in myself," he says. 

The property is listed for $44.9M with Zachary and Cody Vichinsky of Bespoke Real Estate. Bespoke is a Hamptons based firm that only represents $10M and above properties . Kikoski is currently working on 75 Kenmare, a 90,000 SF residential development which recently broke ground in Nolita, with DHA Capital and the Kravitz Design Group. He is also the interior architect on the 325,000 SF tower by the Related Companies slated to open this summer at Hudson Yards. And AKA launched a line of home accessories with Swarovski Crystal at Salone de Mobile in Milan, Italy last April.

ABOUT THE DESIGN 
The design blends 10,000 square feet of interior living space over two levels with an equal area outside -- spread between three floors of invitingly landscaped decks and terraces. Interior and exterior lie side by side, gently joined together by 60-foot long expanses of automated structural sliding glass panels that disappear into exterior walls. The open-plan living and entertaining spaces, as well as the master suite, enjoy magnificent direct views of the Atlantic Ocean, Mecox Bay and the landscape beyond in every direction from the second level. A triple height glass atrium organizes vertical circulation within the house, filling the interior with the fabled natural light of the Hamptons at every moment of the day. A folded metal plate staircase connects this level to a spectacular rooftop entertaining garden.

Equally bold is the focal point of the first level – an expansive outdoor deck, poised above the grassy dunes and offering direct ocean views from the trellised open-air dining pavilion, bar and kitchen, as well as a fire pit with seating area and multiple landscaped lounging areas. The spectacular oceanfront infinity edge pool and spa, unique in being just steps from the beach, is however the centerpiece and star. These dramatic exterior spaces flow into informal indoor entertaining rooms, including a generous family room and high tech home theatre which also feature automated structural sliding glass wall panels. Six additional bedrooms, a home office, wine cellar, sauna, and six car garage round out the program. The residence is set amidst one and a half expertly landscaped acres with ample manicured lawns designed by award-winning landscape architect Edmund Hollander.

In addition to elegantly composed glass facades, with playfully proportioned window patterns, the exterior of the house is clad in simple honest materials such as cerused stucco and a randomly staggered horizontal screen of three different sizes of Brazilian Ipe wood components. The screen is inspired by Kikoski’s prior collaboration with artist Liam Gillick for a site-specific installation, and complements the clean lines of the exterior with an inviting dappling of shade and shadow.

ABOUT AKA 
Andre Kikoski, renowned for his work at the Guggenheim Museum, is an award-winning Manhattan-based architect, with more than 100 completed projects. His firm AKA has been featured in more than 700 publications across 27 countries, and has won over 30 design awards for interior design, architecture and product design. Andre is a Trustee of the Van Alen Institute and Alumni Council Emeritus at the Harvard University Graduate School of Design.

SceneSetter Fitting Room Mirror

[New York], May 2, 2013 - Introducing SceneSetter™, a uniquely lit mirror that enables shoppers to focus on your merchandise instead.

You see it every day - a shopper heads for the fitting room with an armload of clothes, only to leave empty handed. Why do you lose sales in the fitting room? Nothing "looked right." And many times, that's due to unflattering lighting that makes a shopper look ill and feel frumpy.

"With really bad lighting, you look at yourself,
you look at your skin and you're completely distracted."

-Wendy B. McDevitt, Anthropologie, as quoted in the Wall Street Journal


With different settings replicating outdoor, evening and office light, SceneSetter™ highlights subtle nuances of color tone, letting your customers see themselves in a whole new light. A quick touch of a button and they can see how they'll look in various real-life situations: a romantic dinner, a business presentation, an outdoor excursion. Customers want clothes that make them look good. And SceneSetter™ makes it easy for shoppers to say: "I love the way I look in this outfit." They'll relax more - and buy more.

An easy-to-use touch-screen interface allows shoppers to control lighting and adjust the color temperature and intensity to achieve their most flattering look while they try on their selections.

Features:
Allows user to simulate various real life environments.
Touch-screen interface system can be adapted to retailers' specific design needs.
Intuitive touch-screen allows consumers to easily adjust color temperature and intensity to achieve their most flattering look.

Benefits:
Increases sales and traffic by encouraging customers to view themselves in a whole new light.
Results in less returns and increased customer satisfaction.
Acts as an in-store stylist for retail customers.

Specifications:
Evening: 2700 K : 92W: 5731 lumens
Office: 4100K : 85W : 5770 lumens
Outdoor: 6500K : 72W : 5733 lumens
Voltage: 100V - 240V
Weight: 75 lbs

For more information please visit iconintl.net/products/detail/16/SceneSetter

ENDO/ICON creates award-winning site specific lighting for a wide range of settings, from retail boutiques and malls to hotels and museums, transit stations, hospitals, schools, aquariums, airports, national landmarks and more. Each design solved a specific problem, enhanced the site's environment, increased energy efficiency, and most of all provided perfectly matched illumination for the space.

For our complete line of retail solutions that show your property in the best light, visit iconintl.net

HGTV Dream Home 2013 Giveaway House Certified for Environmentally-Sound Construction

Earns Platinum LEED Certification from U.S. Green Building Council

Photo Courtesy of Business Wire

[New York], December 12, 2012 - In HGTV's ongoing commitment to responsible home development and eco-friendly building solutions, the HGTV Dream Home 2013 has achieved LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Platinum Certification by the U.S. Green Building Council.

The custom-built, 3000 square-foot home, located alongside the tranquil tidal marshland and near pristine beaches in Indigo Park, is part of Kiawah Island, S.C.'s first sustainable neighborhood. Constructed with all eco-friendly alternatives, the HGTV Dream Home 2013 has the highest level of technology with the construction materials, building practices, clean indoor air-quality, energy efficiency, water consumption and geothermal heating and cooling.

According to HGTV professional home planner Jack Thommason, "Utilizing a comprehensive whole house approach, the design team was able to create a home qualifying as environmentally sound from top to bottom. The materials, components, and building techniques work together to form a complete system that is greater than the sum of its individual parts. To pursue and earn this first platinum level certification really speaks to the extra efforts our team took in building the most 'green' home possible."

LEED-certified buildings incorporate the latest green-building design and technology. These homes are designed to lower operating costs and increase asset value, reduce landfill waste, conserve energy and water, be healthier and safe for homeowners, and reduce harmful emissions.

"Our entire design/construction team had the goal of achieving Platinum LEED certification from the onset," said HGTV Dream Home's builder Craig Gentilin. "From the roof systems that create a water and air tight envelope to eliminate air infiltration; the super-efficient insulation materials; the geo-thermal HVAC system that utilizes the constant temperature of the earth for heating/cooling; keeping all duct work inside the insulated envelope to increase efficiencies; all the way to the LED lighting and Energy Star rated appliances, environmental aspects came into the play from the very beginning of construction. Everything partners together to create the greenest Dream Home ever."

The HGTV Dream Home 2013 Giveaway opens for entries on Friday, Dec. 28, 2012 at 9 a.m. Eastern time and runs through Feb. 15, 2013 at 5 p.m. Eastern. The fabulous HGTV Dream Home 2013 will make dreams come true for one winner, who'll claim a grand prize package that includes the home, a 2013 GMC© Acadia© Denali© and $500,000.

During the giveaway period, viewers can enter twice online per day: once at HGTV.com and once at FrontDoor.com. HGTV Facebook and Twitter fans can elect to receive ongoing updates and new details.

About Indigo Park
A collection of 16 green-conscious homes, Indigo Park aims to become the first community with all LEED certified homes within a residential resort. Located just beyond the second gate, Indigo Park is the vision of Dyal Compass, LLC -- DyalCompass.com. Along with Christopher Rose Architects and Royal Indigo Construction, Dyal Compass has developed a community that offers "building with a conscience" without sacrificing luxury, quality, or value. For more information on Indigo Park, visit http://www.kiawahisland.com/real-estate/neighborhoods/indigo-park/.

About HGTV
America's leading home and lifestyle brand, HGTV features a top-rated cable network that is distributed to more than 99 million U.S. households and the HGTV website, HGTV.com, the nation's leading online home-and-garden destination that attracts an average of four million unique visitors per month. The brand also includes the HGTV HOME consumer products line which showcases exclusive collections of paint, flooring, soft goods and other home-oriented products, as well as HGTV Magazine, a new home and lifestyle publication published in partnership with Hearst Magazines.

New Vision for Thames Airport Revealed

The world's largest floating airport would be faster and cheaper to build; London Britannia Airport could provide the UK with its first 24/7 airport within the next decade.

[London], September 5, 2012 - Today global design firm Gensler reveals its concept for a new London aviation hub. 

London Britannia Airport (LBA) would position the capital as the global gateway for Europe in what would be the world's most innovative infrastructure development this century - whilst reducing environmental impact, cost and disruption to London.

Providing a further endorsement to the Thames Estuary as the preferred location for London's new airport, Gensler have designed a unique solution creating an entirely new approach to modern airport design and construction with a clear focus on convenience and accessibility.

The proposals also envisage a new future for Heathrow as the largest urban expansion project in Europe with the development of an eco city - Heathrow Gardens - on the former airfield that can utilise the existing infrastructure to provide additional homes for 300,000 people and employment for over 200,000.

Chris Johnson, Gensler managing principal and the creative director for the airport said "This is a once in a century project that will build on the capital's reputation for innovation and creativity and provide a new symbol of national pride. This is a fantastic opportunity to rethink the problems created by a redundant 20th century airport model and provide a genuine 21st century airport that creates a new standard for the world, minimising nuisance and maximising environmental benefits."

Ian Mulcahey, Project Director "This will be a 'national' infrastructure project that can inject new pace and dynamism into our economy. The airport can be quickly manufactured in the ship yards and steel works across the UK and can be floated by sea and positioned in the Estuary. This isn't a London Airport it is a Global Airport, designed, manufactured and built in the UK."


Environmental Benefits

The relocation of a UK hub airport to the Thames Estuary will provide a state of the art facility that will transform the quality of life for millions of Londoners and will provide London with the space and infrastructure to grow and thrive over the next century. The marine location not only minimises noise disruption to existing communities whilst enabling 24hour passenger arrival and departure, but it also avoids any demolition of homes.

Building upon the UK's capability as a world leader in marine construction, London Britannia Airport includes four, five kilometre, floating runways. To minimise environmental disruption the runways are tethered to the sea bed and to the final departure concourse which provides access to the marine rail tunnels that connect directly to central London and the European High Speed Rail Networks.

The design's inherent flexibility creates a platform whereby runways can be floated in as required and taken away for maintenance in the future. The concept allows for future expansion to accommodate 6 runways when required.

By floating the runway and its associated hard standing it is possible to avoid the negative effects of land reclamation in the sensitive estuarine waters of the Thames. The location of the airport can then be optimised to avoid the key feeding and migration areas between high and low water.

London Britannia will have a sustainable access strategy with unparalleled accessibility to the UK and Europe through a combination of rail, ferry and jetfoil connections. Vehicular access will be dispersed to three new land based Departure/Arrival terminals, two located north and south of the estuary, and a third Central London terminal proposed between Canary Wharf and the Olympic Park.

The airport has also been designed to generate much of its own power from marine turbines situated within, and adjacent to the floating runways.


About Gensler
Gensler is a global design firm networked across 42 locations on five continents. Consistently ranked by international industry surveys as the leading architecture and interior design firm, Gensler leverages its deep resources and diverse expertise to develop design solutions for industries across the globe.

For more information, please visit www.gensler.com

Kitchen Designs by KitchenAid® Architect® Series

Exclusive Kitchen Design solutions with KitchenAid® Architect® Series. Surround yourself with bold, commercial-style appliances and elevate the heart of your home. For more information please visit http://www.kitchenaid.com/~kitchen-gallery/

All photos courtesy of KitchenAid®

Westin Hotels & Resorts Unveils New Nature-Inspired Public Space Concept

(Photo: Business Wire)
Westin Brings the Outdoors In with Innovative Vertical Gardens

New Sensory Arrival, Re-Imagined Zoning and Activating Elements Create Haven for Travelers


[Stamford, Conn.], August 14, 2012 - Today, Westin Hotels & Resorts announces that it is applying its industry leading, design-driven approach to the new public space design, allowing travelers to stay balanced, refreshed and connected on the road.

Designed with guests' well-being in mind, the new lobby concept serves as a modern-day oasis for today's demanding travelers by incorporating natural design elements, flexible and functional zoning and conveniently-located retail and grab & go areas. Westin's new public space concept is currently on display at Westin Gaslamp Quarter in San Diego and will continue to roll out at participating properties worldwide throughout 2013. Five additional hotels are slated to feature the new concept this year including Westin Indianapolis, Westin Boston Waterfront, Westin Birmingham, Westin Georgetown and Westin Bethesda.

Vertical Gardens Offer a Breath of Fresh Air

The Vertical Garden is a unique focal element of the new Westin lobby concept and was designed not only to improve indoor air quality, but also to create a calming, more natural environment. Although vertical gardens exist in other boutique hotel properties, Westin is the first global brand to incorporate these structures in the lobby space throughout its global portfolio. The brand's in-house design team, led by Erin Hoover, Vice President of Design, was inspired by research conducted by NASA scientists who discovered that growing plants indoors relieves stress while also helping to clean the air. The design team was also motivated by multiple studies of biophilia which indicate that the integration of nature into design results in a range of health benefits, including lower blood pressure, enhanced mental stamina and elevated moods. As the first international hotel brand to go smoke-free in 2006, Westin decided to partner with Ambius, the premier global interior landscaping provider, to create these "living walls" that function operationally in the hospitality environment and further the brand's commitment to ensuring that guests leave feeling better than when they arrived.

Ranging from 100 to 300 square feet, each Vertical Garden is custom-designed and integrates wall-mounted plant modules with infill panels of unique textured materials inspired by the interior architecture and the location's regional identity. Experts from Ambius work with Westin's Brand Design Team and the individual properties to determine which plants are best suited for their lobby space, depending on the amount of natural and artificial light, as well as the location's natural climate. These range from low- and mid-light plants including Variegated Philodendron, Golden Pothos and Dallas Ferns, to high-light plants such as English Ivy and the Purple Waffle Plant, all selected by the design team for their detoxifying, high-oxygen producing properties that improve overall air quality. Some of the systems are also designed with a UV filter, allowing for the use of grey water and therefore providing an even further positive impact to the environment over the life-span of the Vertical Garden.

Sensory Welcome = Energizing Haven

Upon arrival in the new lobbies, guests are transported from the everyday and are greeted with a unique balance of calm and energy, beginning with a more customized experience at the new Westin check-in pods. These free-standing structures replace the outdated hotel check-in desk and are ergonomically designed with work surfaces at optimum heights and a more spacious, personal guest interaction area. Westin's signature white tea scent, combined with custom music, calming tonal colors and soft, atmospheric lighting creates a fresh and soothing ambiance. A new back-lit feature wall, on display behind the check-in pods, was created by transferring one of Westin's 28 X-ray nature images onto a solid core material, creating soft visual texture and subtle movement. This new relaxing arrival zone allows travelers to let go of their stress and enter an inviting, uplifting space that helps them stay balanced, refreshed and ready to achieve.

Re-Imagined Zoning Creates Opportunities for Working and Playing Well

Whether enjoying downtime with friends and family or conducting an impromptu meeting with colleagues, Westin's new lobby concept provides guests opportunities to both work and play well through new zoning. The Dock is an active, adaptive space ideal for meetings, browsing the internet or engaging in conversation. Consisting of meeting tables designed with connectivity in mind, The Dock features conveniently located power outlets, integrated lighting and easy access to computers and printers. Thoughtfully designed seating zones have also been created to meet the needs of modern travelers, with power panels built into side tables for easy accessibility. Flexible spaces can easily transform in order to accommodate varying levels of interaction and intimacy, from semi-private meetings to casual gatherings with friends. New acoustic and architectural screens have also been added to improve sound control and help create a more intimate setting.

Grab & Go Café and Westin Retail Store Create Natural Flow of Activity

Conveniently located in the Westin lobby adjacent to the new seating zones, the Westin Grab & Go Café and the signature Westin retail store make it easy for guests to grab a quick bite or finish up their last-minute shopping. The Westin Grab & Go Café will vary at each property, ranging from an enclosed café space with a heavenly sky light and a central communal table to a transitional café/bar experience that adjusts to a lively, engaging lobby bar experience in the evening. Taking a page from its sister brand W Hotels & Resorts, credited for innovating the hotel retail experience, Westin will also debut a signature retail store, offering a curated selection of Westin innovations, including Heavenly bedding, bath products and white tea scented products for the home.

Westin Continues to Innovate

The brand's innovative new public space concept joins a host of initiatives recently introduced by Westin Hotels & Resorts that have been designed with the guests' well-being in mind. Most recently, Westin announced its revolutionary new workspace concept, Project Hive, to meet the changing needs of today's mobile business travelers. In early 2012, Westin refreshed its WestinWORKOUT program to match the evolving fitness trends among guests and further enhance the brand's goal of promoting well-being in travel. In September 2011, Westin launched a brand-wide Associate Enrichment program, introducing the brand's "Elements of Well Being Platform" to more than 25,000 associates around the world through key touch points. In May 2011, the brand unveiled its groundbreaking "For a Better You" ad campaign that uses artistic imagery to depict the "Elements of Well Being" that help Westin guests leave feeling better than when they arrived. In December 2010, Westin announced an exclusive partnership with New Balance, helping hotel guests overcome the hurdles of exercising on the road by providing New Balance footwear, apparel and fitness program content to its guests to borrow.

About Westin Hotels & Resorts

Westin Hotels & Resorts offers innovative programs that transform every aspect of a stay into a revitalizing experience. All Westin signature services - like the Heavenly Bed, delicious SuperFoods and WestinWorkout studio - have been designed with the guests' well-being in mind. Westin hotels, with more than 186 hotels and resorts in nearly 40 countries and territories, is owned by Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. (NYSE: HOT). Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. is one of the leading hotel and leisure companies in the world with 1,112 properties in nearly 100 countries and 154,000 employees at its owned and managed properties. Starwood is a fully integrated owner, operator and franchisor of hotels, resorts and residences with the following internationally renowned brands: St. Regis, The Luxury Collection, W, Westin, Le Méridien, Sheraton, Four Points by Sheraton, Aloft, and ElementSM. The Company boasts one of the industry's leading loyalty programs, Starwood Preferred Guest (SPG), allowing members to earn and redeem points for room stays, room upgrades and flights, with no blackout dates. Starwood also owns Starwood Vacation Ownership, Inc., a premier provider of world-class vacation experiences through villa-style resorts and privileged access to Starwood brands. For more information on Westin Hotels & Resorts, please visit www.westin.com or www.facebook.com/westin. Follow Westin on Twitter, @Westin.

Marcus® Hotels & Resorts Completes Renovation of Lobby Lounge at the Historic Hilton Milwaukee

The Monarch Lounge provides guests with comfortable seating for work or relaxation, with furnishings that reflect the hotel's elegant history. (Photo: marcushotels.com)

Restoration Creates Art Deco-style Monarch Lounge Reminiscent of Hotel’s Original Bar Design; Marks Final Stage in Multi-million Dollar Renovation

[Milwaukee], August 10, 2012 - Marcus Hotels & Resorts, a division of The Marcus Corporation, today announced that extensive renovations of the lobby lounge in the historic, AAA Four Diamond Hilton Milwaukee in Milwaukee, Wis. have been completed. The company restored the hotel's lobby lounge, which once housed one of the longest bars in Wisconsin - an ornate, 82-foot-long serpentine bar - to be reminiscent of the classic, old-school lobby cocktail lounge. Now open, the new Monarch Lounge, with its art deco-style bar design is spacious, welcoming and a place to connect socially within the community.

In addition to the art deco lounge, the renovation covers 3,800 square feet and includes spacious seating areas, workstations and a media center. A stone and metal fireplace was added to the south wall, while an interactive media work area anchors the north end with touch-screens, iPads, a magazine stand and printer. The Monarch Lounge provides guests with comfortable seating for work or relaxation, with furnishings that reflect the hotel's elegant history.

The Monarch Lounge provides guests with comfortable seating for work or relaxation, with furnishings that reflect the hotel's elegant history. (Photo: marcushotels.com)

"The renovation and expansion of the lobby offers our guests additional space to work, relax and congregate," said Steve Magnuson, Hilton Milwaukee's vice president and general manager. "We hope visitors enjoy the many upgrades we've added, and that they find the new lobby area a comfortable and inviting place to spend their time."Featuring live jazz piano music in the evenings, the lounge offers a global wine list and bar-style menu featuring creative small plates of Mediterranean and classic American selections, paired with signature cocktails.

A stone and metal fireplace on the south end of the lounge creates a cozy environment for work or play. (Photo: marcushotels.com)

The culinary staff is working closely with local farmers and artisan food purveyors to put a local twist on internationally inspired flavors. "From calamari with basil dipping sauce and prosciutto bruschetta to chicken pot stickers and shaved tuna crudo, the Monarch Lounge offers plates to please every taste," said Chef Robert Fedorko, market executive chef for Marcus Hotels & Resorts of Milwaukee. "The extensive drink menu features signature cocktails and seasonal drink specialties to please a variety of palates."

As part of the renovation, several large windows on the east side of the building, which were covered for decades, have been opened to overlook 5th Street and offer a unique view of Wisconsin Avenue and downtown. Openings have also been created to overlook the upper and lower lobbies. Design elements of the renovated lounge include rich wood architecture, comfortable leather furniture, new floor covering and fixtures to reflect the hotel's original 1920s style.

The Monarch Room transformation marks one of the final phases in a multi-million dollar renovation of the hotel's guestrooms, lobby area, public spaces, fitness center and more. The elegant hotel has been extensively restored to reflect its original grandeur and renovated to incorporate modern technology to accommodate guests' present-day needs.

Built in 1927, the Hilton Milwaukee is a classic art deco hotel with rich furnishings and distinctive architecture. Originally named The Schroeder Hotel, today the Hilton Milwaukee is recognized as the city's largest hotel with a tradition of excellence spanning nearly 85 years. The gracious style of the hotel is reflected in the impeccable service and attention to every detail provided by a tenured team of hospitality professionals.

The lounge features live jazz piano music in the evenings. (Photo: marcushotels.com)
About Hilton Milwaukee

Located in the heart of downtown, the AAA Four Diamond Hilton Milwaukee City Center is a true Milwaukee landmark. In 2011, it became a member of Historic Hotels of America. As Milwaukee's convention headquarters hotel of choice, Hilton Milwaukee offers the most meeting and event space of any hotel in the city-more than 34,000 square feet-including three ballrooms and 18 well-appointed meeting rooms of various sizes. The hotel's ballrooms, with their vaulted ceilings and period fabrics, echo the magnificence evident throughout this showpiece.

With 729 renovated guest rooms, Hilton Milwaukee can accommodate nearly any group. Its central location means guests are just moments away from the city's theater district, the lakefront and Summerfest grounds, Bradley Center sports complex, and Historic Third Ward. Hilton Milwaukee is located at 509 W. Wisconsin Ave. in downtown Milwaukee. For more information on the hotel, visit www.HiltonMilwaukee.com, find the hotel on Facebook (Facebook.com/hiltonmilwaukee), or follow it on Twitter (@HiltonMilwaukee).

About Marcus Hotels & Resorts
Marcus Hotels & Resorts, a division of The Marcus Corporation, owns or manages 18 hotels, resorts and other properties in nine states. A force in the hospitality industry, Marcus Hotels & Resorts provides expertise in management, development and historical renovations. The company's portfolio includes a wide variety of properties including city-center meeting hotels, upscale resorts and branded first-class hotels. For more information, please visit www.marcushotels.com and follow the company on Facebook and Twitter (@MarcusHotels).

Porsche Design Kitchen for the Ritz in Paris

Poggenpohl and Porsche Design Extend Cooperation and Plan New Kitchen

**BEST ARCHIVE NEWS**[Stuttgart/Herford], June 14, 2010 - The premium kitchen manufacturer Poggenpohl and the luxury brand Porsche Design have extended their licence partnership until 2014.

The licence agreement between the two premium brands exists since 2005, when the two companies developed and launched their first successful luxury kitchen - the P'7340. Both companies have also agreed upon an option to develop and produce a new model with a lower starting price than the present P'7340 luxury model.

Elmar Duffner, Managing Director of Poggenpohl Möbelwerke GmbH is extremely satisfied with the extension of the licence agreement and says: "The brand cooperation arrangement between Porsche Design and Poggenpohl is a success story. I am very much looking forward to continue our mutual work".


"The Porsche Design luxury kitchen matches perfectly our product range and with Poggenpohl we have found the ideal partner", says Dr Juergen Gessler, CEO of the Porsche Design Group. "With its purist design, the P'7340 contributes to the integrity of the brand's typical clean and sleek look. Nowadays the kitchen increasingly becomes an important venue in a household. Our luxury model is the ideal kitchen not only for those who love cooking but also for people with high tech affinity."

Today Porsche Design kitchens from Poggenpohl can be found in exclusive private households and apartment complexes all over the world. Whether in Dubai, Bangalore, Florida, Hamburg, Hong Kong, Lisbon, Moscow, Paris or Zurich - wherever deep-pocketed customers and apartment complex investors attach importance to exquisite quality and exclusivity, the P'7340 is the number one choice.


The latest example is the legendary Ritz Hotel in Paris. Managers of the luxury establishment ordered a black Porsche Design kitchen to be integrated into the hotel's most expensive suite. The "Imperial" measures an area of 200 square metres with two bedrooms, a living room, a kitchen and a bathroom (approx. costs per night: €10,000). Regular guests of the luxury suite include for example members of European and Arab royal families. Before the Porsche Design kitchen was fitted, the luxury suite was lavishly renovated, forgoing an extra bedroom in favour of the kitchen.

Another order for a Porsche Design kitchen comes from the Portuguese capital Lisbon. This is where an exclusive apartment building is being constructed in the famous Chiado quarter. Poggenpohl is delivering seven Porsche Design P'7340 luxury models for this project. Around the world, kitchens of the Porsche Design luxury brand are meanwhile sold at some 90 selected dealers and the company's own exclusive Poggenpohl studios.
About Poggenpohl
Poggenpohl was established in 1892 and is today the world's most famous kitchen brand. The company employs 550 members of staff worldwide and exports its exclusive kitchens to over 70 countries across the globe. All products are developed and manufactured without exception at the company's operation in Herford, Westphalia. Since 2000, Poggenpohl Möbelwerke GmbH has been part of Sweden's Nobia Group, Europe's largest manufacturer of kitchens.

About Porsche Design
Porsche Design is a luxury brand with a particular focus on technically inspired products. The brand was founded in 1972 by Ferdinand Alexander Porsche, whose products have ever since stood for functional, timeless and puristic design. The product portfolio includes classic men's accessories, a sports and fashion collection as well as electronic products and a men's fragrance line. All the brand's products are designed at the Porsche Design-Studio in Zell am See, Austria. The men's collection is exclusively available from Porsche Design's own stores, franchise stores and shop-in-shops. www.porsche-design.com