Modern Garage in Far East

[abstamaria]

Many thanks, Thom. I am glad your father is keeping busy with what he loves. I will do my best to enjoy this new chapter, Ody, Thom, Bill, Shopnut. Thanks, too, Brian, GriceGear. I am glad you like the garage. It is a very simple one. I was also really lucky with the cars and bought them ahead of the market.

Best regards from the tropics,

Andy

 

[CuoreSportivo]

Dear Andy,

I have no words that describes my feelings for both your house, your garage and not least your incredibly comfortable way to respond to people... I have read your thread several times, and your positivity still amazes me over and over again ... You must be great to be around! (You seem almost Buddhist in your approach to life)

I live in Denmark and grew up with classic furniture designers such as Arne Jacobsen, Børge Mogensen, Hans Wegner, Nanna Ditzel, Poul Hennningsen, Kaare Klint and others, and I love the way your minimalist style, get every piece of furniture to appear as a sculpture or art installation.

I am currently putting the finishing touches to a garage extension, so my cars can come "home", and although space and money does not invite to the beautiful solutions that you can offer your beautiful cars, I have yet stolen a little inspiration ... I got hold of a very large window, which has been placed out to the terrace instead of just another a wall, so that I can enjoy the automobile sculptures when they are bathed in dim light inside the garage, while I sit outside in the dark with family or friends (I will create a thread when the garage is finished ... or at least when it is so complete that I will show it)

Thanks for the inspiration Andy (not only regarding the garage), and take good care of both yourself, your family, your beautiful house and especially your fantastic cars!

Sincerely,

Jacob

 

[DEPC]

The "minimalistic" style allows the viewer to see the cars and not have his view competed for by the building around them. Very beautiful, Corbusier would approve.

 

[abstamaria]

Jacobsen; Minimalism

I have been quite a fan of Scandinavian design, Jacob, so I’m very happy you enjoyed the thread. I like the simple dining chair of Arne Jacobsen (associated by those of a certain age with a photograph of Christine Keeler). Your garage seems very nice, and I look forward to seeing it. You have quite a collection of cars.

I have been to Denmark twice, visiting a boatyard in Haderslav and the Viking Museum at Roskilde, among oher places. It is a beautiful country, and you are lucky to live there.

I agree with you, Jacob, DEPC, that a minimalist setting is advantageous in that it sets off and flatters the objects placed in it. I was at the Bank of Tokyo headquarters in Tokyo about 30 years ago and, while waiting for my meeting, was struck by the beauty of a grandfather’s clock that was the only item in a hallway with wood floors and white walls. In another setting, I may not have noticed it. That experience influenced me greatly.

I believe the most distinctive thing probably about my garage and home is that they are bare.

Surprisingly, it is not easy to keep them that way. We decided recently to sell some carpets we had, preferring to keep floors bare. I took photos to advertise them; here is my best salesman, demonstrating how comfortable and robust they are.

Best,

Andy

 

[abstamaria]

The advantage of having large windows in a garage

Here is something quite unusual in the large, crowded city where we live - a visitor here for the winter. Our staff saw it yesterday, and I saw it today from the garage, whose windows look into a small pond. The good thing was that I had my small camera nearby and was able to sneak a photograph.

What a lovely bird. It is a called a “Little Egret” (Egretta Garzetta). White, long black bill and legs, and yellow feet. They arrive late September from China, Korea, or Japan and leave in April. They are plentiful in flooded rice fields in the countryside, but I had never seen one before in the city.

Andy

 

[BeachBoy]

You always keep us informed in your thread, it's appreciated.

it is a beautiful carpet on the picture, and even prettier chair.

 

[abstamaria]

Lounge

Thank you, BeachBoy. I am happy you found the comments helpful. That’s an American-designed chair; the original dates back to 1948, as you probably know. I think it no longer looks as "modern” as it must have 65 years ago!!

Best regards,

Andy

 

[abstamaria]

Danish Design

We are lucky to have two identical chairs by the Danish architect Arne Jacobsen, mentioned by Jacob. These were acquired a long time ago. One sits in my wife’s bathroom for her make-up table, perhaps one of the few in the world without any make-up on it. It is a lovely, simple chair.

Andy

 

[Scout Driver]

Your picture of the egret looks so lush and green. I envy your winters.

Scott

 

[CC Lancer 23]

Re: Jacobsen; Minimalism

I have been to Denmark twice, visiting a boatyard in Haderslav and the Viking Museum at Roskilde, among oher places. It is a beautiful country, and you are lucky to live there.


Hi Andy,

Martin in Lund, Sweden here. I'm just across the strait from Copenhagen .
I guess it was X-yacht boatyard you visited.
Do you race an xyacht? Myself has raced X-412 and X-35 a lot in Scandinavian Offshore races.

Love your garages and your car collection.

Best,

Martin

 

[abstamaria]

Yes, it’s a good place to winter, Scott. It has been raining, so everything is lush and green. The monsoon winds have just shifted to the Northeast; that heralds cooler, pleasant days ahead.

Best regards,

Andy

 

[abstamaria]

Boats

Thank you, Martin. You are right; it was X-Yachts. That was a long time ago, and the founder Niels Jeppesen still had time to meet visitors. He took me and my wife to lunch, and we had pickled herring on bread with plenty of butter; I look for that sometimes.

I didn’t buy one of their boats and settled instead on what was called a two-tonner under the International Offshore Rules (IOR) - a used boat. I have sailed on friends’ X-Yachts, though; they are wonderful and look really good. Last March, I was lucky to have sailed on a friend’s new sailboat, built also in your part of the world (in Finland), from Hong Kong to Manila. That was a very nice, surprisingly fast boat.

I am happy there are sailors here. Are you still sailing?

Best,

Andy

 

[CC Lancer 23]

Re: Boats

Thank you, Martin. You are right; it was X-Yachts. That was a long time ago, and the founder Niels Jeppesen still had time to meet visitors. He took me and my wife to lunch, and we had pickled herring on bread with plenty of butter; I look for that sometimes.

I didn’t buy one of their boats and settled instead on what was called a two-tonner under the International Offshore Rules (IOR) - a used boat. I have sailed on friends’ X-Yachts, though; they are wonderful and look really good. Last March, I was lucky to have sailed on a friend’s new sailboat, built also in your part of the world (in Finland), from Hong Kong to Manila. That was a very nice, surprisingly fast boat.

I am happy there are sailors here. Are you still sailing?

Best,

Andy

Andy,

Thanks for the response. I do sail still but not as frequent. Race on other peoples boats under IMS measuering rules. I have sold my own sailboat when we moved from the east coast of Sweden to the south ( another Danish design by Jan Kjaerulf, Dynamic 35, www.dynamic35.eu ) and got myself a classic runabout, Chris Craft Lancer 23.

http://s1149.photobucket.com/user/SueEllenCCLancer23/media/P1040481.jpg.html?sort=3&o=12

I visited Manila some 15 years ago for business, unfortunately just for 2 days When I was based in Hong Kong.

I'm glad you got the chance to try out the herring. Looking forward to offer you the Swedish version together with the snaps during a boatride to one of the islands in Öresund strait should you visit this neighbourhood again.

Best,

Martin

 

[abstamaria]

Boats

Those look like really enjoyable boats, Martin. With running backstays, your old boat seems to require a bit more crew than your present one!

Thank you for the invitation, which is really quite tempting. I might just surprise you one day and show up. You have a lovely country and are quite lucky.

Best from the tropics,

Andy

 

[CuoreSportivo]

Hello again Andy,

Arne Jacobsen's Seven ("Syveren" in Danish) is a beautiful chair in all its simplicity, and with the picture of your wife's bathroom, you prove that you have a sense of that same simplicity which we scandinavians love.

The chair wich could look like Christina Keeler must almost be The Ant Chair ("Myren" in Danish)... also a beautiful and sculptural chair.

I am fortunate to own one of the very first original copies of Arne Jacobsens Egg Chair ("Ægget" in Danish).
My great-grandfather was a famous sculptor (Lauritz Jensen), which at one point came into possession of this beautiful chair... This was then passed on, and along with some of his sculptures it now makes me and my familys home a more beautiful place to live.

As for my cars, they do not come near your beauties (I would give so much to own your Stratos one day... a car whose form is determined by function, yet still appears absolut perfect!)

But my italians makes me happy, relaxes me after a hard day's work, and now my 4 year old twins (Lotus & Lewis) shares my passion, which just makes it all even more right.

Last you get a picture taken this the evening of my garage... The quality is not good, but it gives you a small hint about what idea I have "stolen" from you, though in a smaller scale ;-)

 

[jacksmash]

Wow you have inspired me. I really think you have opened my mind to a beautiful place I would not have imagined even existed.

 

[abstamaria]

Thank you, Jacob. That is a good view you have at night, and I can just imagine what pleasure it gives you. Several of my friends are Alfistis, with good reason; those are soul-stirring cars. I had to look up “Tecno/Ducati K250 Formula 4.” That is a 1960s single-seater, is it? I assume you are racing it. I would love to drive one..

Thank you, Jacksmash. I am glad you found the thread useful.

Best,

Andy

 

[Jack Olsen]

Andy, I hope you're spared any serious damage from the storm.

 

[hcsi99]

I hope you, your family, and your beautiful home make it through the storm. Good luck and be safe.

 

[CuoreSportivo]

Thank you, Jacob. That is a good view you have at night, and I can just imagine what pleasure it gives you. Several of my friends are Alfistis, with good reason; those are soul-stirring cars. I had to look up “Tecno/Ducati K250 Formula 4.” That is a 1960s single-seater, is it? I assume you are racing it. I would love to drive one..

Best,

Andy

All this doesn't matter right now... We can talk more about the Formula 4, when the storm has passed!

Thoughts are with you, your family, your beautiful home and your lovely cars... Hopefully the storm has a little justice in itself!

 

[RSOllie]

+1
Hope the storm spares peoples lives and that you stay safe!

 

[fergus]

Andy,

My thoughts and prayers are with you, your family and the whole country.

Tim

 

[madoc1]

just looked up where leyte is and it appears you will miss the worst part of the storm. but not some of your countrymen. they are calling it the largest storm to ever make landfall. good luck

 

[michel]

It's 4 am in Manilla, hope everything is allright Sir.

 

[jsherid1]

Hope that you and yours are safe

 

[markviii]

I heard that the storm is diminishing. Hope you're making it through and praying for those who are in distress.

Chris

 

[billscamaros]

Ditto the others sentiments re: the storm. I'm just catching up on the news this morning and the storm has been devastating. Best wishes to you and your wife.

 

[markviii]

Wow! I guess the news is that the storm damage is escalating. I had a friend text from Guam that the storm is worse than reported and now we're (in US) starting to hear the death tolls are up over 1200. So sorry. for the people and their losses. I hope your area is not being "hit" as hard as some others, but I remember the floods you had to deal with in the past and can't imagine there is less water with this storm.

Sending prayers and good vibes from The Center of the Universe,

Chris

 

[BeachBoy]

I hope all is well for you, your family, friends and your country.

News says over 10,000 deaths

 

[CC Lancer 23]

Andy,
Been thinking about you and your family since I heard about this awful situation. I hope you are doing ok.
Martin

 

[eastbaysubaru]

From what I've gathered regarding the storm, there is significant damage to infrastructure, so even if Andy is OK communication might not be the easiest thing to do right now. Not to mention the fact that updating a few people on a garage forum is nowhere near as important as the lives of your fellow countrymen/women.

Andy, I hope all is as well with you as it can be in light of this horrific disaster.

-Brian

 

[abstamaria]

Dear all,

Just a short note to say the typhoon passed south of us, so we were spared. It could have very easily hit us directly. The devastation where it passed was almost complete. There but for the grace of God ...

Thank you for your concern. l truly appreciate it.

Best,

Andy

 

[magnumleigh]

Glad to hear that Andy, our thoughts are with those less fortunate

 

[ConCretin]

Andy, I was very happy to see your post and relieved that you and your family are OK. I'm sure I speak for many when I say that our thoughts and prayers are with your countrymen and women who were not as fortunate. God bless.

 

[markviii]

So glad to hear your good news. Such devastation in other areas! Still praying for those who lost friends, relatives and property.

Chris

 

[ZAPPER68]

Great to hear the good news....I have a colleague that lives in Ulu Ulu and the roof of their home was blown away. Thankfully his family is OK...others weren't so fortunate.

 

[OscarTango]

came to check the tread to see if there was any news , and happy to read you're all ok. Must have been scary...

 

[ersatzs2]

Great to hear Andy. Prayers for your countrymen. Our week without power or gasoline due to Hurricane Sandy last year seems like small cause for complaint by comparison.

 

[abstamaria]

Thank you very much for your concern and good wishes, all, which I truly appreciate.

It is said that the friendships formed on the web are not real, but I feel your concern and friendship strongly and am grateful for that.

Please stay safe, and best regards,

Andy

 

[ODIS]

Thank you very much for your concern and good wishes, all, which I truly appreciate.

It is said that the friendships formed on the web are not real, but I feel your concern and friendship strongly and am grateful for that.

Please stay safe, and best regards,

Andy

Your friendship is felt by many here on GJ and know too, believe we are all thankful for all of our "virtual" relationships. Think that many would like to be able to help in some shape or form to the less fortunate that took the brunt of this storm.

Our local Sunrise Rotary Club is deeply involved with a humanitarian group called Shelter Box. A system to provide shelter to those in need.

Since your thread is one of the more popular on GJ, thought it would be appropriate to include the link for those that might like to contribute in a small or large way to the relief efforts in the areas devastated.

http://www.shelterboxusa.org/about.php?page=112


Ody.