Latest news with #InfinityPool
Irish Independent
23-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Irish Independent
Vona Groarke: ‘I don't usually read for comfort. I read poetry for excitement and risk. Novels for company. Biography for nosiness'
Vona Groarke is the new Ireland Professor of Poetry, until 2028. Her ninth poetry collection is Infinity Pool, published in May by The Gallery Press. She has taught at the University of Manchester since 2007 and is writer-in-residence at St John's College, Cambridge, and with the Sligo Yeats Society. Hereafter: The Telling Life of Ellen O'Hara won the 2024 Michel Deon Prize. She lives in Co Sligo. The books by your bedside? The End of Days by Jenny Erpenbeck, The Summer Book by Tove Jansson, Seduction and Betrayal by Elizabeth Hardwick, Birnam Wood by Eleanor Catton, Our Evenings by Alan Hollinghurst, and Sara Baume's Seven Steeples. You'd almost think prose sends me to sleep, were it not for Louise Gluck's Poems 1962-2020. And Karen Solie's Wellwater. That covers a poetic multitude.
Yahoo
13-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
$50 million ‘flood proof bunker' rises on Biscayne Bay. Is mansion a model for the future?
A private, three-hole golf course, an elevated infinity pool which alone costs $1 million and air-conditioned living space encompassing 26,000 square feet – more than ten times the size of the average, single-family home: The extravagant $50 million 'G House' is 'one of the largest, new construction waterfront homes in Miami Dade — if not the largest,' according to its developer. But G House isn't clustered among the typical billionaire mega mansions of Star Island or Indian Creek. It's rising in suburban Palmetto Bay, on a waterfront plot along south Biscayne Bay considered so vulnerable to flooding and hurricane-induced storm surge that the village government would rather no one build there. But developer Manny Angelo Varas, owner and CEO of MV Group USA, is confident that once G House is completed, it'll be a 'totally flood-proof bunker.' It's designed, he said, to survive both Cat 5 winds and once-a-century floods. At G House, about 30 stairway steps (or a quick ride in a glass elevator) take you to the required main floor elevation of 17 feet, the minimum height set by federal and local regulations for this coastal swath of southern Miami-Dade County. That places the ultra-luxury mansion just 0.1 feet above the highest storm surge ever recorded in the county – right in this location – when Hurricane Andrew swept barracudas and other assorted fish into second floors, filled bedroom closets with crabs, and lobbed a 105-foot steel research vessel onto a private estate. In the 33 years since, growing fossil fuel emissions have continued to warm the planet, threatening ever more homes and lives in Florida, the state already most at risk of climate change. Storms are hitting harder, flooding is becoming part of life here. Regulators now categorize the south Biscayne Bay coast as having a one-in-four chance of flooding from a storm surge within 30 years. Not building in harm's way is one way to go about reducing flood risks. But Varas says working with ultra-wealthy clients – Jennifer Lopez, the rappers Lil Wayne and Rick Ross and the parents of Amazon founder Jeff Bezos are among those he names – gives him a generous budget to be 'two steps ahead' of South Florida's climate threats. 'I'm here saying there's a lot of things that can be done about it, and it takes everyone working together,' he said, walking past peacocks perched around the sprawling construction site. Eventually, he said, the less economically privileged might be able to adapt with similar innovations and standards, beginning with seeing the landscape — both natural and engineered — as part of the solution to the rising threats of flood in South Florida low-lying coastal zones. Because the G House project, visible to commuters off Old Cutler Road, sits in what's classified as a Coastal High Hazard Area, it had to be built much like new construction in the Florida Keys — literally high atop heavy pilings. But most of Varas' billionaire clients find the stilt house look unappealing, so the uninsurable ground floor is wrapped with what are known as 'breakaway walls.' They're designed to give into pressure from a storm surge that can then flow through and around the pilings without sweeping the house away. Many high-end Keys homes also use similar designs. To deal with extreme wind exposure, most of the other walls were built on-site, using liquid concrete that was poured into forms. Typically used for commercial construction, it's more expensive, but more wind-resistant than the pre-fabricated concrete blocks laid with mortar used in most South Florida home projects. Steel tendons that are pulled taut to further compress and harden the dried concrete allowed for the outdoor space to be shaded by 30-feet long overhangs. That allowed the architects of Studio Khora, a firm with offices in Miami and other South Florida cities, to design without columns that would disrupt the view of Biscayne Bay, glittering just beyond the infinity pool. Building for climate change includes an expansive landscaping plan. For storm surge and rising waters from Biscayne Bay, the dense roots and tangled canopies of roughly 20,000 square feet of mangroves will reduce the height and energy of surges. And for heavy rains, the little peaks and valleys of the three-hole golf course will not only provide challenges to players, but also are designed to help retain and absorb flooding. That $50 million figure includes not just the mansion but the land and all the surrounding accouterments. Spending that much wasn't necessary, of course, and Varas concedes some of the features could have been downgraded. Instead of turning seven surrounding acres into a private golf course, for example, a run-of-the-mill, subsurface stormwater tank would have sufficed to meet stipulations that new developments cannot intensify flooding on neighboring properties. But the fairways add to the aesthetics, he said, as does an 80-feet long water feature that cascades down the breakaway walls into a succession of three ponds in front of the entrance. The nearly 17-foot-high wall 'that could be assumed as an eyesore is really part of the beauty of it.' Varas said he enjoys the challenge of adding features that are flood and hurricane-proof and, at the same time, aesthetically pleasing. Most of his clients, however, don't even think about the risks of living on the coast until he brings it up. What convinces them to make the investment, he said, is that it simply pays off. 'Create sustainable items, but don't look at them as just sustainable. Look at them as the added value that you're creating,' he said. 'That's going to increase the property value while protecting you against a 100-year storm.' One example he uses when he speaks to his clients is Casa Costanera, a new development in Coconut Grove he initially intended as his own family residence. One of Cocoplum's first waterfront homes with a private, 130-feet sea wall and other features that made it more flood and hurricane resistant, it sold for $2,500 a square foot in 2021, more than double the average price at the time. Similarly, when MV Group was contracted to refurbish a $15-million property in Coral Gables' Journey's End neighborhood, the owners later sold it to Jeff Bezos' parents for $44 million, making a profit of almost $20 million, he said. 'It's not a cost, it's a financial decision,' he said. He obviously made a similar case to the owners of G House, Rene Gonzales, according to property records. Varas would only say that Gonzales — the G in G House — was an entrepreneur who did not want to speak publicly about the house and 'wants to keep a low- profile.' Varas believes that high-end homes like G House can show how to win a 'game of chess' against climate change. He says he has used the big budgets to create innovative designs and help push through adaptations to building codes 'to then create maybe new standards that would trickle down and make the average home — the non-billionaire home — safer as well.' For G House, his vision was to 'really create a benchmark for the city.' He hopes Palmetto Bay can point to the mansion and say 'this is who we are.' While Palmetto Bay's building department does view G House as an example of a flood-proof home, the village wonders whether it could be a blueprint for other community members. 'I don't know how many people can afford that,' the village's building official, Dean Klements, said. And while village manager Nick Marano said he has no professional opinion on whether G House was good or bad, Palmetto Bay's government 'wouldn't want to show that off to anyone as something like we think this is great.' Instead of building right on the coast, Marano said, the village is trying to preserve land to help protect against flooding. 'The village is very, very much aware of our vulnerability to storms, especially something as significant as Andrew or even Irma, and we're taking active steps to mitigate against that,' he said. Palmetto Bay's new resilience action plan, approved unanimously earlier this week, seeks to not having new development or increasing population density and to look into policies and incentives that will 'guide new development away from at risk areas', which includes all properties right along the coast. Not developing in highest-risk areas is the safest option. Yet since Hurricane Andrew, Miami Dade's population has exploded by 40 percent. More real estate has been built in harm's way, with some of the most expensive developments located in the most exposed areas. That would be much of the region's waterfront real estate. If Hurricane Andrew were to strike the same path today, the losses would be nearly three times higher than in 1992, according to an analysis by Swiss Re, one of the world's leading reinsurance companies. But G House is just one example in Palmetto Bay of how hard it is to discourage development in coastal areas that buyers still find alluring. Last month, the village had to agree to a new mall, about 450 new housing units, a 5-story fitness center, and a hotel with 120 rooms. The project is intended to go up at the former Burger King headquarters, which also was ravaged by Hurricane Andrew in 1992. The village originally opposed the development, but was forced to settle when the Atlanta-based investment firm that owns the land filed a claim seeking $15 million under the Bert Harris Act, which protects land owners from actions that would devalue or limit their vested rights. As part of the settlement, however, 35 acres will be preserved as green space. Thirteen of those, including mangroves, Marano said, 'are directly fronting on the bay, so that's certainly going to help with storm resiliency.' The other 22 acres are along Old Cutler Road, which will help alleviate flooding from rains. Public officials and developers might not always agree on how to handle the growing threats of climate change, but in the end, they're trying to answer the same question. 'If you live in Florida, it's inevitable that a storm is going to hit you,' Varas said. 'The question is: how are you prepared for it?' This climate report is funded by Florida International University, the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation and the David and Christina Martin Family Foundation in partnership with Journalism Funding Partners. The Miami Herald retains editorial control of all content.
Web Release
04-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Web Release
Soak Up the Sun in Style and Dive into Luxurious Summer Experiences at Address Sky View
Soak Up the Sun in Style and Dive into Luxurious Summer Experiences at Address Sky View Escape the ordinary and embrace the extraordinary this summer at Address Sky View, where breathtaking views meet unmatched indulgence. Nestled in the heart of Downtown Dubai, this iconic destination is the ideal place to unwind with a stunning lineup of seasonal experiences. Get ready to soak up the sun at the legendary Infinity Pool, savouring a chic Poolside Brunch at Alto 54, indulging in timeless French fare at The Restaurant, or rejuvenating your senses with the Blossom & Bliss rose-infused treatment at The Spa, as Address Sky View becomes the ultimate urban oasis for those looking to relax, recharge, and relish the best of Dubai in signature style. Poolside Brunch at Alto 54 Dive into the ultimate weekend escape with the Poolside Brunch at Alto 54, where skyline views meet indulgent flavours and vibrant vibes. Tuck into delicious bites like Giant Prawn Tacos with wasabi crème fraîche, truffle mushroom pizza, and decadent Vanilla Brownie Magnum, all while lounging by the pool in a luxury cabana or enjoying a free-flowing selection of tantalising beverages. With three packages to choose from, a live DJ setting the mood, a chic setting, and a tempting brunch menu filled with tempting bites, Saturdays at Alto 54 promise a high-energy brunch affair like no other. When: Ongoing, Every Saturday from 12:00 pm to 4:00 pm Where: Alto 54 at Address Sky View Price: House package for AED 695, including pool access, brunch menu, and free-flowing house beverages Premium package for AED 745, including pool access, brunch menu, and premium beverages with sparkling grape included Ultra premium package for AED 1600, including pool access, brunch menu, premium beverages with bubbly included, and a luxury pool cabana for 2 Additional Info: Day pass available at AED 600 with AED 300 redeemable Hubbly Bubbly is available, charged separately Deck Too Day Pass Treat yourself to a sun-soaked day of relaxation with the Deck Too Day Pass, where serene poolside vibes meet panoramic Burj Khalifa views. Great for unwinding midweek or enjoying a weekend escape, guests can savour delightful dishes and refreshing drinks with credit redeemable on food and beverages. Set in a family-friendly ambience and boasting a tranquil yet vibrant atmosphere, Deck Too is the perfect destination for a laid-back luxury day in the heart of the city. When: Available daily from 10:00 am until sunset Where: Deck Too – Lobby Pool Pricing: Weekdays: AED 200 per person (AED 150 redeemable on food and beverages) AED 200 per person (AED 150 redeemable on food and beverages) Weekends: AED 300 per person (AED 200 redeemable on food and beverages) AED 300 per person (AED 200 redeemable on food and beverages) Children 0-6 years: Free access Free access Children 6-12 years: 50% discount?? Infinity Pool Day Pass Indulge in the epitome of luxury with a day pass at Address Sky View's breathtaking and iconic Infinity Pool. Soar above the city and relish the best, unobstructed views of the glittering Dubai skyline and iconic Burj Khalifa while immersing yourself in an unparalleled experience of relaxation and elegance. This is your chance to escape to a serene oasis and savour a delicious array of culinary offerings at the best vantage point in the city. When: Available daily from 9:00 am until sunset Location: Address Sky View's Infinity Pool Price: AED 600 per person with AED 300 redeemable on F&B Terms and Conditions: Entry is on a walk-in basis only Availability is on a first-come, first-served basis Guests must be 18 years or older to access the pool L'Entrecote du Restaurant Step into a Parisian gastronomic wonderland at The Restaurant in Address Sky View with L'Entrecôte du Restaurant, a classic French dining experience that celebrates simplicity and flavour. Enjoy a perfectly grilled 200g Black Angus ribeye served with the signature Sky View Café de Paris sauce, alongside a crisp walnut green salad and unlimited golden pommes frites. Priced at just AED 165 per person, this elegant set menu is the ultimate indulgence for lovers of timeless French cuisine. When: Monday to Sunday from 12:00?pm to 3:00?pm & 6:00?pm to 10:45?pm Where: The Restaurant, Address Sky View Offer Includes: 200?g Angus Beef Ribeye Small green salad Unlimited fries Sky View signature Café de Paris sauce Price: AED 165 per person Terms and conditions: Unlimited fries refills only available during the dining period Discounts and offers are not applicable *For bookings, contact +971 4 873 8888 or email [email protected] Blossom & Bliss: The Ultimate Rose Indulgence Body Treatment Immerse yourself in a day of pure tranquillity with the Blossom & Bliss Rose Indulgence body treatment at The Spa. A sensorial journey designed to uplift, nourish, and renew, this luxurious ritual features warm aromatic products, full-body exfoliation, hydrating rose-infused layers, and a tension-relieving Ayurvedic scalp massage, all using premium ingredients like Rose Pink Clay Mask and Lavender Essential Oil. Available in 60- or 90-minute sessions, it's the perfect escape to soothe the senses and leave your skin radiantly smooth and revitalised. When: Available daily from 10.00 am to 10.00 pm Where: The Spa, Address Sky View Treatment Options and Price: 60 Minutes: Exfoliation and application of oil and cream for AED 750 per person 90 Minutes: Includes an additional 30 minutes of back-neck and shoulder massage for AED 950 per person *For bookings, contact +971 4 873 8882 or email [email protected]
Los Angeles Times
13-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Los Angeles Times
In ‘Murderbot,' an anxious scientist and an autonomous robot develop a workplace-trauma bond
Alexander Skarsgård was initially worried 'Murderbot' would be too dark. The actor had come off a string of intense films, including 'The Northman' and 'Infinity Pool,' and he was looking for something more comedic. The title of the series, based on Martha Wells' popular science fiction books, didn't suggest it would be particularly funny. 'I wasn't familiar with Martha's novellas, so I just heard the title and I heard 'sci-fi,' ' Skarsgård says, speaking over the phone from Los Angeles. 'If you're not familiar with the books, you think it's probably going to be an incredibly testosterone-driven, tough guy android kicking ass in space. But I was pleasantly surprised when I started reading [the script]. I had never encountered a character like this.' The actor was so struck by the titular character that he not only signed on to star in the Apple TV+ series but also joined as an executive producer alongside creators Paul Weitz and Chris Weitz. 'Talking to Chris and Paul and getting to know them got me even more excited,' he says. 'They're so brilliant, and their vision for the character and for the show got me fired up.' Season 1, which began streaming in May, is based on 'All Systems Red,' the first book in Wells' futuristic series 'The Murderbot Diaries.' It follows a private security cyborg, known as a 'SecUnit,' who hacks its governing module, allowing it newfound autonomy. An eclectic group of researchers, led by Dr. Mensah (Noma Dumezweni), are forced to accept the SecUnit as part of a planetary mission, and it slowly begins to learn the way of humans. The relationship between Mensah and their SecUnit, who refers to itself as Murderbot, is charmingly awkward. The pair are forced to trust each other as the mission goes awry, leading to an unlikely friendship. In 'Command Feed,' the sixth episode released on Friday, Mensah saves Murderbot from destruction by reluctantly performing surgery on its wiring. 'Is that what they call trauma bonding in this day and age?' Dumezweni says of the scene in a separate interview over Zoom from New York, where she is preparing to star in 'Duke & Roya' on Broadway. 'Filming it was extraordinary because the special effects guys were amazing. It [Murderbot] was literally in front of me, but that obviously wasn't Alexander. It looked so real.' 'That dynamic was led by the script, and it was very interesting,' Skarsgård adds. 'It was clear that Mensah would be an empathetic character. And Murderbot is not used to being treated respectfully by humans or even being treated as a sentient construct. He's always been a piece of equipment. Noma and I talked a lot about it. It was a gold mine to explore because there's so much comedy in their differences.' Leading a TV series is a first for Dumezweni, who has previously been cast in smaller roles. She wasn't convinced by the initial pitch at first because sci-fi hasn't traditionally had a lot of major roles for actors of color. 'Usually I'd come in and play the receptionist,' she says. 'I love to watch sci-fi. But I wondered: Who am I going to be in this sci-fi world?' However, once she learned more about the world and the character, the actor changed her mind. 'It was an absolute joy to discover that there was nothing that Chris and Paul had to change to make it representational,' Dumezweni says. 'It's lovely not to have to fight for people's positions in the world based on their skin color.' Both actors were drawn to the series in part because of its unique tone, which lands somewhere between action, comedy and drama. Murderbot is stoic but awkward and unaccustomed to human emotions, which it learns about by surreptitiously watching hours of soap operas. Mensah's Preservation Alliance team is composed of misfits, including David Dastmalchian's Gurathin and Sabrina Wu's Pin-Lee, who often confound Murderbot's expectations. The laughs don't come from intentional punchlines, but instead from situational circumstances and Murderbot's dry voice-over, as well as its disinterest in dealing with humans. 'The writing was so surprising and different and had such a unique tone from the beginning,' Skarsgård says. 'What works is that it has this instant combination of being a big, action-packed sci-fi show, but it's also a workplace comedy.' Because the voice-over is essential to the story, getting it right took a lot of trial and error. Skarsgård says he worried about how it would be incorporated during shooting, particularly because Murderbot is so expressionless and not very verbose in many of the actual scenes. 'How would we juxtapose that with an inner monologue that is more expressive?' he says. 'How do you find a fun and interesting balance between the way Murderbot speaks and the way he thinks?' The voice-over became an evolving component of the episodes. On set, an assistant director would sometimes read the narration off camera if it felt relevant for the actors to hear during a particular scene. After filming, Skarsgård, Chris and Paul got together in Stockholm, New York and Los Angeles for several recording sessions to try out different versions of the voice-over lines. 'It was quite exhausting, but also quite fun creatively because you could see how much the tone of the scene changed when we tweaked the voice-over a little bit,' Skarsgård says. 'You could have a moment where there's no voice-over, and it's like a non-moment where nothing happens. But then just by adding a little commentary by Murderbot, it suddenly pops into a funny little moment.' Although the series adheres to Wells' book, some aspects of the characters have been expanded. In the show, Mensah struggles with anxiety in a few vulnerable moments, which differs from her portrayal on the page. Dumezweni says she has observed some pushback from fans of the book about the changes, an experience she understands from playing Hermione Granger in 'Harry Potter and the Cursed Child' when it opened in the West End. 'That's what you have to do in film and TV,' she says. 'You have to expand, not change. You have to fill in. I love it because only Murderbot can see what's happening to her in that moment. None of her team can see it until Episode 4. I love those moments. For me, they grow her.' For Dumezweni, these scenes give Mensah a point of connection for the audience, as does the way Murderbot is 'autism-coded,' as some fans have noted. Skarsgård says the creators didn't set out to make the character overtly neurodivergent in the series. 'It's very clear when you read the novellas and the scripts that it is a character who is not always comfortable in settings with other people and can find interactions with humans tricky to navigate,' Skarsgård says. 'To me, it was a character we hoped would be relatable to people in the neurodivergent community, but also in a lot of fans in the LGBTQ community. Murderbot not having a gender or being subscribed to binary sexuality could be relatable, but it's natural to Murderbot. That was important — this is how Murderbot was created, and none of this [identity] is a big deal to Murderbot.' At the core of the show is the concept of Murderbot's free will, something that gets more fully explored in upcoming episodes. 'It's now understanding it has free will truly and that there are choices to be made in the world,' Dumezweni says. 'Meeting these people gives it a chance to understand that not all human beings are idiots.' 'For me, the inner journey for Murderbot over the course of the season is about what to do with that autonomy,' Skarsgård adds. 'The character has unleashed something inside of itself by hacking the governing module and gaining this independence. The journey becomes: I have this autonomy now, but who am I? What am I capable of? What am I willing to do? What are my desires?' Although 'Murderbot' has yet to be renewed for a second season, there is a lot of source material available. Wells has written seven books featuring Murderbot, and Skarsgård is excited about the potential for more episodes. 'I love Murderbot,' he says. 'I love playing Murderbot. Chris and Paul are not only supremely talented but incredibly nice and generous. If you talk to anyone who worked on the show, I guarantee that everyone had the time of their lives.' The remaining four episodes will reveal the antagonist behind the attacks on the Preservation Alliance and whether they'll successfully be able to escape the planet. They also offer essential backstory into characters like Mensah and Gurathin. 'I can't wait for people to see each and every story,' Dumezweni says. 'And what Alex does in the last two episodes is amazing. I don't care if I'm in no more seasons, but Alexander Skarsgård has to carry on making seasons of 'Murderbot.' He does so much with the tiniest movement of his face. He is extraordinary and he honors the character beautifully.' 'Murderbot's job will get harder and harder trying to protect these very lovely but also quite naive and inexperienced humans,' Skarsgård says. 'It's not a spoiler to say that eventually Murderbot will care about these humans, but we didn't want to rush into that. We leaned in slowly. So much of the comedy results from the character's absolute reluctance to save their lives.'
Irish Times
24-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Irish Times
Infinity Pool by Vona Groarke: Subtle observations take readers on journey of the senses in accomplished collection
Infinity Pool Author : Vona Groarke ISBN-13 : 978-1917371094 Publisher : Gallery Press Guideline Price : €11.95 If poets are to be either 'visual' or 'haptic', as Randall Jarrell once suggested in a review of Marianne Moore, then Vona Groarke (like Moore) is visual. Her latest book, Infinity Pool , exemplifies this. The starting point of these poems is inevitably how a subject strikes the eye: the dense clouds above Knock as seen from an aeroplane window; a future passed through, 'like a car through fog'; or the poem itself – the 'infinity pool' of the title – a blue rectangle held against blue, so the viewer can't quite 'tell the edge'. This is a depiction of the watched world and the effect for the reader is an immediacy of vision: a scarecrow 'derided' by the wind; a butterfly that 'chases itself down, very lightly, between stalks/ of cow parsley up to my neck'; 'Antique dusk/ with its yellowing pages'. I imagine the cow parsley as Sligo – the poet's county – on a May afternoon; while the antique dusk is surely England , the yellowish glow of Cambridge where Groarke is poet-in-residence. The writing inhabits both places with focused and tender attention. READ MORE There is a third place also, the place of poems, a complicated realm into which the poet climbs 'through tears in the brocade'. This strange state of existence – described in Hindsight as a 'pipe of light I pull myself through/ like a rag through the barrel of a shotgun' – is tested and questioned throughout. The result, as always with Groarke, is exciting intellectual exploration. [ The Illegals by Shaun Walker: The Russian agent who couldn't get Irish people to shut up, and other spy stories Opens in new window ] [ The fall of an ancient tree is a sad occasion. It marks the death of a living monument Opens in new window ] Hers is a 'thinking eye', to borrow Klee's phrase: the immediacy of the visual is always joined and powered by the working-out of an idea. The Future of the Poem, for instance, is a verse-essay in miniature, each brief section a prophesy, or a dare: 'Watch it become something smaller./ Watch it rot.' Although the book closes with a magnificent sequence written after reading Chinese love poems, Groarke, again like Moore, favours anti-Romantic subject matter: a maths copybook; a ball of lint; a coin game where 'the batten sweeps forward to nudge them all in'. In this poem (Tipping Point), a skilful play with negatives leads us towards its heartbreaking conclusion – just one triumphant example of the subtle manipulations of light and surface that illuminate the whole collection.
