Who are the thought leaders and curators making life more dynamic, possible, magical or slowly amazing? What is it that people want from businesses, technology, experience, the world? From philanthropy to hotels to style to concerts and creating experience here are some stand outs. Authenticity, resonance, comfort, style, growth, vision, home, adventure, cozyness, expansiveness, responsibility and inspiration are words to describe. Here are a few of people places and events that On Slow Life admires and wants to share with you.
People
The Missionaries- Charity Water & Scott Harrison's Magical Team See Their Year In Kind
charity: water celebrates 2013 from charity: water on Vimeo.
The Mogul and The Music - Kevin Wall Global Music Producer Investor, Environmental Activist & Upcoming 2014 World Cup Concert Producer - Where Music, Message, Technology and The World Celebrate
Producer of Upcoming World Cup 2014 Concert In Brazil
After First Ever in South Africa 2010
Kevin Wall is an Emmy Award-winning producer, digital entrepreneur, environmental activist and technology investor. He is the creative director and producer of the upcoming 2014 FIFA World Cup opening concert and produced South Africa's first ever World Cup in 2010. We love his global reach and environmental activism. He has the gift of getting people to collaborate and create history while he delivers it across multiple platforms. Access and activism plus iconic entertainment.
As founder and CEO of Control Room, which produces and distributes live music concerts across Internet, radio, television, and mobile phones, platforms, Wall pioneered the platform-agnostic digital media model making entertainment content available on all mediums and devices. Control Room has delivered more than 100 shows since 2005, featuring international superstars such as Madonna, Jay-Z, Rihanna, and more, across a variety of networks and platforms around the world. Wall expanded Control Room’s producer credits to include specialized iconic events – The 2010 FIFA World Cup Opening Concert Celebration, the 2009 Green Inaugural Ball hosted by former U.S. Vice President Al Gore, and Live Earth 2007: Concerts for a Climate in Crisis featuring multi-artist performances, integrated messaging, and massive global media architecture.
A Sense of Place Visionary
Axel Vervoodrt
The power of nature, light, space and cultural heritage and history staged and positioned in simple and complex beauty, his influence is felt on a cellular and sensuous level.
Wabi Inspiration
Travel & Hospitality
On hospitality Ori: “I always loved travelling and exploring different cultures so I decided to get into hospitality. I found a school that specialised in the hotel business. During my studies I interned at various hotels in Florence and began to fall in love with the business of welcoming guests.”
On Embracing Guests- Italian Hotelier Ori Kafri with hotels in Florence, Capri and now Rome's philospohy and interpretation of hospitality is well described in this exerpt from Travel + Leisure's recent article on their latest launch in Rome.
From Travel + Leisure
JJ. Martin
After eight years of hunting for the right location in the capital, Kafri opened his doors near the Via dei Condotti and the Spanish Steps, in a 19th-century building that was once the University of Rome’s architecture school. Bönan sourced or designed every piece of décor for the 30 sophisticated rooms, from the four-poster beds to the brass doorknobs. Clean, Modernist lines are set off by touches of Roman exuberance: classical sculptures from the early 20th century, emerald-colored walls, and elegantly striped gray-and-white marble bathrooms. A rooftop terrace, perfect for summer cocktails, will open later this year.
But style doesn’t trump substance. Kafri’s father, Jonathan, an apparel manufacturer, not only inspired the brand’s initials but also helped shape its mission. “My dad is always bothered by the fact that hotels can be so inflexible. The two of us were recently in London, and breakfast was included with our rate. He asked for a cappuccino. The waitress said, ‘That’s extra.’ Not good,” Kafri laughs. Forget about being charged for that second cup during your morning meal at J.K. Place (or Wi-Fi, or the mini-bar). “I believe in bespoke hospitality,” he adds. “If a guest sleeps in, they can still order eggs. Breakfast is never over.”
The mood in travel is feeling like you are visiting a friend with the efficiency and comforts of an amazing hotel and the authenticity of friends. City hotels like JK Place set the bar.
Transitions into nature - Best Bridge according to Travel & Leisure Magazine Hose Bridge Sand Norway
The citizens of Sand Norway wanted to connect their town to an expansive woodland. Architects Sami Rintala, Dague Eggertsson and Vibeke Jenssen created a deceptively simple link.
Adventure Nature Lodges
Africa
Philantropist & Conservationist
Paul Tudor Jones
Paul Tudor owns Grumeti Reserves in Tanzania’s Western Serengeti and was recently lauded by the African Great Lakes country's Parliament for not permitting hunting in his reserve. The flagship hotel there, Sasaskwa, was named the #1 hotel in the world by Travel & Leisure Magazine in 2011 and 2012.
Jones has been working with Tanzania and Paul Milton of Hart Howerton, a London architectural firm that specializes in large-scale land use, to develop regional plans for the sustainability of the area, its wildlife and its local communities.[ He has set up a trust for Pamushana a private reserve, operated by South Africa's Singita group, the reserve is about 300 Miles southeast of Harare, near the Mozambique border in Zimbabwe.
Sangita Grumeti Reserves Tanzania
In an age where the accelerating destruction of pristine wilderness is beyond repair, Singita is making a profound difference in many parts of Africa. Orchestrating an interdependent relationship between communities, wildlife and tourism that ensures true sustainability, Singita is blazing a trail which is seldom achieved on this scale anywhere else on the continent.
A Stand Against Rhino Poaching
Today, the environmental stakes couldn’t be higher, as poaching methods have become increasingly sophisticated and poachers more daring. Following past incidents in the Sabi Sand, Singita decided it was time to secure a dedicated in house anti-poaching unit to secure the safety and preservation of the species in the reserve.
Singita Sabi Sand is doing everything possible to prevent rhino poaching. Due to the incessant demand for rhino horn, poaching of the species in Africa has surpassed all forms of sustainability and the species will become extinct on our generation’s watch if it is not adequately protected.
In response to this need, Singita began working with specialists in counteracting illegal hunting and wildlife trade through the use of highly trained tracker dog units. Tracker dogs, trained to track both animals and humans, are being included in many national parks’ security operations, including the Kruger National Park and the units have become an integral part of Singita’s anti-poaching measures.
Mark Broodryk, Head Guide at Singita Sabi Sand says, “The biggest advantage of a dog unit is that the dogs track using their keen sense of smell and thus are extremely effective – even tracking in pitch darkness.” The dogs’ work rate and endurance surpasses that of a human and they ask for very little in return for the unenviable tasks they are called to do. Highly trained and able to perform multiple functions from pursuing intruders to tracking sick or injured animals or sniffing out products from illegal possessions, the dogs are highly valued, professional assets supporting important conservation initiatives.
Another reason for the success of the canine operation is that their presence acts as a deterrent to potential poachers. Once tracking dogs have been deployed into an area, the news quickly spreads amongst poachers and criminal syndicates and the level and frequency of poaching incidents is shown to drop dramatically.
