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Take a Virtual Stroll Through Downtown Austin’s Perennial Tower Plan
From: Towers Austin
By James Rambin
January 23, 2024
”Aside from its stunning looks, the real draw of the 46-floor project by Cielo Property Group is its potential for creating a memorable place for the public rather than simply its own office tenants, by way of a ground-level pedestrian paseo providing access to a large number of retail spaces expected to host new restau- rants and bars alongside lush landscaping and a 28-foot waterfall feature.”
Six Senses Xala to Offer a Restorative Heaven along Mexico’s Pacific Coast
From: Six Senses
January 19, 2024
”Six Senses, part of the IHG Hotels & Resorts luxury and lifestyle portfolio, has signed a hotel management agreement with Activos Turisticos de Mexico (ACTUR) for the development of Six Senses Xala, which is scheduled to open in 2026. Flanked by five miles of curving white-sand beach, the 3,000-acre terrain, located in the Costalegre or “Cheerful Coast” region of Jalisco, will offer both a sanctuary and a vibrant community among fragrant mango fields, coconut palms, pristine ocean, and the serene estuary waters of the Xola-Paramán”
Xala: Mexico’s Billion Dollar Luxury Development in Costalegre
From: Beijing Times
By Lynn Hatem
January 19, 2024
”Transforming an untouched gem on Mexico’s Pacific Coast, the developers who crafted the acclaimed Mandarina resort have set their sights even higher with Xala, a monumental $1 billion project in Jalisco. Spanning 1,200 hectares in the picturesque Costalegre region, Xala aims to redefine luxury living with its blend of lavish hotels, around 100 estate-style holiday homes, and a dedicated international airport.”
One & Only Mandarina: The Best Hotel in North America in 2023
From: The World’s 50 Best Hotels
December, 2023
”Sandwiched between the tropical rainforests of Sierra de Vallejo reserve and the Pacific Ocean, this 88-acre stay was one of the first to arrive in the luxurious Mandarina development along Mexico’s Pacific shoreline. Camouflaged against its steamy jungle setting, it has set new standards for luxury Mexican hotels, now receiving the trophy for The Best Hotel in North America 2023. There are no ‘rooms’ – instead, the property provides 105 villas tucked into treetops or perched on the rocky coastal cliffs. Each has its own private plunge pool and intimate open-air living space. ”
The Former Whole Foods CEO Has Big Plant-Based Plans for LA.
From: EATER Los Angeles
By Mona Holmes
May 4, 2023
”Love.Life showcases lunch starters like the artichoke dip or blistered shishitos, salads, sandwiches, and bowls, including baked mac and cheese. Chef Brooks McCarty has a 48-hour fermented sourdough pizza crust available too. For dinner, diners can order many of the aforementioned along with shepherd’s pie, bolognese made with mushrooms and lentils, and a mushroom farro risotto for entrees. They’re staying away from anything deep-fried or heavily processed. ”
Whole Foods Opens First Vegan Restaurant Under Love.Life Wellness Brand
From: VegNews
By Anna Starostinetskaya
May 3, 2023
”’I have been passionate about healthy eating since the inception of Whole Foods and believe the food we eat is the most powerful choice we can make when it comes to health. Not only are these dishes super healthy and delicious, they also contain foods that promote longevity and have the potential to improve the health of people who suffer from chronic health conditions,’ John Mackey said. ”
Aging in Place, the Architecture of a Forever Home
From: Building Collective: Architecture & Design
April 4, 2023
”The homeowner is a high-powered individual, so the home needed to support her dynamism and vitality, but also nurture, welcome family and friends, and fulfill her need for privacy. We looked to the land to define the right position and proportion of elements, and planted a number of large quartz crystals in the perimeter of the foundation to harmonize the home and the land. ”
Matriark Shop in Sag Harbor Features Only Female-Designed Wares
From: Architectural Digest
By Priya Krishna
November 22, 2022
”I didn’t want it to be a beach store,” says Patricia Assui Reed of Matriark, her new Hamptons shop set inside one of Sag Harbor's old Victorian homes. “I wanted it to be casual, but have a level of sophistication. It’s a year-round store, and Sag Harbor is a year-round town, more so than some of the other areas in the Hamptons that have pop-ups.”
From: Feng Shui Society Newsletter
By Alexandra Berthault
November 2, 2022
”We are currently working on a very large land development project on the west coast of Mexico that will include--when completed--a new town for local workers, a mango farm, organic produce orchards, a turtle sanctuary, and hotel and tourism development, all within an ecological and social sustainability model. You can google this as Xala, Jalisco, Mexico.”
Manhattan 425 Park Avenue Officially Opens at 85 Percent Leased
From: Commercial Observer
By Mark Hallum
October 27, 2022
”Sacred, hallowed, heroic, iconic. These were among the adjectives used to describe Park Avenue by those behind the construction of its newest skyscraper at an Oct. 26 event marking its opening. The last three adjectives — hallowed, heroic and iconic — came from Norman Foster, the British architect on the project who made regular pilgrimages to Park Avenue when he was a student at Yale in the early 1960s.”
The Zorkendorfers’ Wyoming Home
From: Architectural Digest
By Dominic Bradbury
October 6, 2022
”Perched on a butte that overlooks the mountain-ringed Wyoming valley known as Jackson Hole, Joanne and Rico Zorkendorfer’s family getaway feels like an observatory. One’s gaze is constantly drawn outside, taking in epic views that forge a deep sense of connection with the natural world. The long, low house has an organic quality, too, made of stone and wood and sited so sensitively, Joanne says, that it “almost disappears into the land.”
Xanadu? No, It’s Xala, the Anti-Resort in Mexico’s Pacific Coast
From: AFAR
July 30, 2022
”In the region of Costalegre, Mexico, along a rugged Pacific coastline south of Puerto Vallarta, a place has emerged not unlike the Madrigal family sanctuary in Encanto: a self-sustaining development and community, poised to welcome visitors in 2023. Within 3,000 acres is five miles of undeveloped beach, home to nesting turtles; reforested farm and cattle-ranching land; two estuaries and a mango field; beachside villas and boutique hotels; and—intriguingly—a world-class skate park.”
A Modern Edit: New Orleans’s Faulkner’s House gets a new role: a family home
From: The Times-Picayune
July 21, 2022
”Tucked down a passageway steeped in buccaneer lore, and inside the actual French Quarter rooms that begat Southern Gothic literature, resides the unlikeliest of finds: a family. When bright young marrieds Permele and Garner Robinson decided to settle down, they made a unique choice, a townhouse on Pirate's Alley that included a bookstore…Immersed in literary history, and amid a mélange of styles and possessions old and new, the couple has succeeded in creating a family atmosphere. It’s where they both can live and work, ”
Tower 425 Park Avenue, New York
From: Feria Habitat Valencia
July 20, 2022
”Between each volume, the office floors are intersected by dramatic triple-height sky gardens. Offering the prized amenity of open space in the heart of Manhattan, with bars, cafés, facilities for meetings and conferences, the 42-foot-high levels function as urban squares in a vertical city – they will also provide a magnificent setting for gala events. ”
Xala: A Groundbreaking Project
From: Boujee Magazine
July 4, 2022
“Everyone involved in the project is part of a family that is committed to the same goals. We all have a social responsibility, not only to the environment but to the planet and the community living here too. We want to create something that is going to positively contribute to future generations and stand the test of time. Xala is not a resort, it is a living community of people.”
Austin’s Skyline Keeps Growing: Office Tower Planned for Downtown
From: Austin America Statesman
By Shonda Novak
March 7, 2022
”The downtown Austin office market is recovering faster than anyone imagined, but the more we studied the market and this site, the more we felt that a true, integrated mixed-use development on this block was better for the site and the surrounding downtown neighborhood,” said Bobby Dillard, a Cielo co-founder.
How to Bring Happiness and Prosperity to Your Home?
Hire a Feng Shui Expert
From: Mansion Global
By Michele Lerner
January 30, 2022
”Happiness and prosperity were on Tamara Meadow’s mind even before ground was broken on her custom home in Connecticut. So she brought in consultant Alex Stark, a feng shui expert based in California, who also provided advice to Ms. Meadow for two New York City apartments.’We’re all masters of our own destiny, but there are things you can do such as feng shui that can help you on a level we’re not all aware of’, said Ms. Meadow”
Xala: The Conscious Development Moving into Mexico’s Pacific Coast
From: Journey Mexico
January 27, 2022
“In a bid to restore and protect the natural environment, Xala is reforesting over 600 acres of land, allocating some 1200 acres as a protected area, and will create programs to preserve species in the area such as reptiles, ocelots, and turtles. For the past five years the project has been working on programs with local farmers and fishermen to deoxygenate and purify the land in response to erosion and the use of pesticides on crops, as well as for estuary restoration.”
The Drama Behind Jay Bialsky’s $25M Listing in Sag Harbor
From: The Real Deal
By Sasha Jones
June 14, 2021
”Bialsky orchestrated the sale of his parcel next door — at 1,3, 5 Ferry Road — to Southampton for $10.5 million. The land will become the John Steinbeck Waterfront Park. The legendary writer had a retreat in Sag Harbor that recently hit the market. Now, it’s possible to walk from the east side of Long Wharf along the boardwalk, onto the beach, through John Steinbeck Waterfront Park and up to 2 West Water Street. Bespoke, a brokerage focused on homes asking more than $10 million, has the listing for residence B at $ 25 million.”
The Hearth Supply Inaugurates Skatepark with Olympic Skateboarder Jagger Eaton
From: Forbes
By Michelle Bruton
December 14, 2021
”How many skateboards can we get under kids’ feet and introduce them to skateboarding culture?” is how (Olympic Skateboarder) Schillereff describes the philosophy behind The Heart Supply. “Skateboarding provides them this opportunity to be part of the most beautiful activity in the world, but also, those kids will grow up and be skaters and feed the rest of the industry,” he said..
Whole Foods Market to Open in Nomad June 1
From: NBC New York
May 11, 2021
”The new location’s product assortment features more than 1,000 local items from New York City and the surrounding area, according to the grocery chain. The store will also feature a specialty department dedicated to celebrating cheesemakers and artisan producers, a full-service seafood counter as well as a full-service meat counter, more than 180 craft beers, a prepared foods section, bakery, and a wellness and beauty section.”
A New Whole Foods Market Location Is About to Open in Manhattan
From: Thrillist
By Serena Tara
May 11, 2021
”New York City's famous NoMad neighborhood is soon getting its share of quality, locally-sourced groceries. Whole Foods Market NoMad is set to open its door to the public on June 1. With a sprawling space of 54,000 square feet, the store will offer more than 1,000 items locally sourced from New York and the surrounding area. Whole Foods Market's northeast region's local forager will be responsible for the selection, which will be hand-picked directly by him.”
Norman Foster’s Splashy New Office Tower Nears Completion
From: 6SQFT
By Dana Shultz
January 20, 2021
”425 Park will be NYC’s first WELL-certified building, and will therefore include a slew of health, wellness, and environmentally-friendly features. Near the top of the tower will be a triple-height amenity floor for all building tenants. Called The Diagrid Club, it will feature outdoor gathering spaces, an installation of renowned artist Yayoi Kusama’s “Narcissus Garden,” and transcendental meditation by the famed David Lynch Foundation."
From: YAHOO!
By Jeanette Settembre
March 8, 2020
”The developers behind billionaire hedge fund manager Ken Griffin's new office hired feng shui practitioner Alex Stark to bless the massive space overlooking Central Park. ‘Feng shui wise, the building presented a number of issues,’ Stark told FOX Business of the semi-transparent glass skyscraper on Park Avenue where Griffin's financial firm Citadel will relocate on the top floor of the building slated to open in 2021. Stark buried large pieces of quartz minerals inside the walls believed to promote protection, healing and energy, and softened up the semi-transparent space with wooden wall finishes and carpeting.."
This New Whole Foods in Atlanta is an “Adult Playground”
From: Atlanta Business Chronicle
By Amy Wenk
April 9, 2019
”A built-your-own avocado toast bar. A veggie butcher. Fresh-squeezed juice and made-to-order grain bowls. A rooftop with Adirondack chairs and cornhole. Trivia nights, open mic, and even “drag” bingo….Oh yeah, and there are crystals buried in the store. Whole Foods brings in Feng Shui expert Alex Stark to optimize the energy of its stores. One of his techniques is to bury clear quartz in the concrete slabs. “It helps reduce negativity,” Stark said.”
In Depth: Richmond’s Hilltop Mall Reinventing Itself for the 21st Century
From: KRON 4
By Lucky Dan
February 23, 2019
On Friday night, KRON 4 has an in-depth look at what is to come for this once popular East Bay spot….This mall of the future will focus on services…Developers hope to add health care providers and spa services-as well as housing. “What we want are walkable communities, so ultimately, our goals is to create a mixed-use walkable community”, says Leslie Lundin of LBG Development. Construction is to get underway this summer, with a Phase I grand opening during summer 2019.
Here’s Why Nine of the Hudson Is Transforming Big Applers Into Garden Staters
From: Jersey Digs
October 29, 2018
As Manhattan becomes a prohibitively expensive place to live….more and more New Yorkers are heading over the river. The west side of the Hudson has been raising its game as quickly as the east side has been raising its prices. The dining scene is red-hot. The commutes are quick…But most importantly, Garden State residents enjoy access to nicer buildings with better amenities than they’d get in New York.
Can Feng Shui Boost a Home Sale?
From: Luxury Living
By Gwen Donovan
Winter 2018
Stark was called to consult on a home that…simply wasn’t selling. Stark says, “It was very formal and needed a more family-oriented feeling. So we put plastic beach balls in the swimming pool, scattered toys in the living areas, and re-decorated the playroom and nursery to be more appealing. We call this ‘creative disorder’.”
Inside Celeb-Filled Building Where Harry Styles and Jennifer Lawrence Live
From: Money
By Jennifer Calfas
August 9, 2018
“443 Greenwich has a host of amenities: multiple in-unit wet bars, a fully equipped gym, a 75-foot indoor pool and a lush rooftop. The building places a strong emphasis on privacy, with a garage that makes it possible for residents to come and go from the building without being seen, elevators that open directly to each unit and a private courtyard. The units offered in the building range from $9 million to $58 million — a sizable premium on the average $2 million cost for a Manhattan apartment. “
The Recipe, The Legend.
Bombay Bread Bar’s Black Pepper Shrimp
From: The Wall Street Journal
By Kitty Greenwald
July 12, 2018
“At Tabla, Floyd Cardoz redefined Indian cooking for New Yorkers with his singular style—cosmopolitan, creative, refined. Downstairs from Tabla, at the more casual Bread Bar, he sent out homey and street-food-inspired plates made to share, in a dimly lit space alive with happy chatter and aromas of bread and spice. Spiced with coriander as well as black pepper, the flavorful shrimp are also remarkably easy to prepare at home…
From: Travel + Leisure
By Roxana Propescu
June 28, 2018
“Award-winning architect Rick Joy, known for his sleek, earth hugging designs, aimed to bring the outdoors into the concept for the property’s four-, five-, and eight-bedroom villas. Each one has huge windows, stucco walls, and concrete floors that incorporate soil sourced right from the resort, as well as Rosa Morada hardwood harvested from elsewhere in Mexico.”
Port Imperial’s Inspired Community Offers Luxury as a Lifestyle.
From: Jersey Digs
By Gillian Blair
June 25, 2018
“Port Imperial might not be a city per se, but it encompasses everything a city is and strives to be: a great place to visit and a great place to live. Throughout the Port Imperial community, there’s a wonderful balance on-site with as many amenities inside and out: lounges for socializing and working, catering kitchens for entertaining, state-of-the-art fitness centers with yoga and Pilates studios, children’s playrooms, dog runs, and landscaped roof decks complete with grills and fire pits. “
Norman Foster’s Park Avenue office now halfway to its pinnacle.
From: Curbed New York
By Amena Walker
April 17, 2018
“Construction on 425 Park Avenue has hit a new milestones since last September and the building’s height has now past the halfway mark for its projected 900-foot-tall rise and the diagrid floor is beginning to come into focus. Completion is scheduled for the latter part of 2019, which will be followed by a grand opening.”
Norman Foster’s 425 Park Avenue finally nears transformation into steel and glass stunner
From: New York Post
By Steve Cuozo
April 2, 2018
“Sixteen years since David W. Levinson and Robert T. Lapidus first set out to take control of the east blockfront between 55th and 56th streets, and nearly three years since their L&L Holding Company broke ground, the Norman Foster-designed skyscraper has begun to emerge from fragments of its antiquated predecessor.
Look up: There’s truly a new building coming into focus. “
The Darjeeling Limited Inspired Color-Saturated Interiors at the New Bombay Bread Bar.
From: Vogue
By Noon Brara
February 27, 2018
“Chef Floyd Cardoz reached out to Kris Moran, a member of Wes Anderson’s creative team, who conceived the sets for The Darjeeling Limited, and to Maria Qamar, a young Canadian pop artist on Instagram who creates artwork for the Desi millennial set. Floyd envisioned something with a lot of color, that paid tribute to both India’s history and more modern culture. “
Floyd Cardoz Pivots Again, For an Elusive Ingredient: Fun
From: The New York Times
By Priya Krishna
February 15, 2018
“There’s one memory the chef Floyd Cardoz keeps coming back to: He’s a 17-year-old student at St. Andrew’s High School in Bombay, it’s exam week and late one night…he spots a street vendor stuffing pockets of naan with peppery lamb, spiced potatoes, fresh chiles and lime juice, then toasting them on a tawa, or griddle…That’s how Mr. Cardoz envisioned the experience at his Indian restaurant: accessible, craveable, nostalgic and meant for casual grazing. “
A @1 Billion Bet on Selling Mansions in Mexico.
From: Boomberg
By Patrick Clark
January 26, 2018
“One&Only Resorts is known for ultra-luxury hotels in outposts like Cape Town, the Maldives and Dubai, where it operates a beachfront retreat on an artificial island. Now it’s selling private homes in a $1 billion development near Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. It’s the first time the resort operator, owned by Dubai-based Kerzner International Holdings Ltd., has stamped its brand on a residence. “
42 Star Projects Transforming Architecture in New York City
From: Curbed New York
By Hanna Alberts
June 3, 2017
“Eloquently described as “diagonal sinews of steel” and praised for its garden terraces, (425 Park Avenue) was on hold for a while due to a wait for rezoning that would allow for taller and denser buildings near Grand Central. This engineering marvel includes feng shui input by Alex Stark of New York City.”
Swarovski Expands at SL Green’s 10 East 53rd Street
From: The Commercial Observer
By Terrence Cullen
March 2, 2017
“Swarovski inked a deal for 8,454 square feet, spanning the entire 23rd floor of the 390,000-square-foot structure. The company now has more than 26,000 square feet across three floors of the 37-story office building between Madison and Fifth Avenues…Swarovski will use the 23rd floor as office space for its retail group.”
Park Avenue Is About to Get Something It Hasn’t Seen in 40 Years
From: Bloomberg News
By David Levitt
January 29, 2017
“In about three years, if all goes according to plan, the site will have a new Norman Foster-designed skyscraper more than twice the height of the existing one. The replacement would be the first new office building in almost four decades on what the developer, David Levinson, called New York’s ‘grand boulevard of commerce.’ “
Here’s Your First Peek at Reebok’s Boston Headquarters
From: Boston Magazine
By Jamie Ducharme
December 8, 2016
” ‘We have a goal of being the fittest, healthiest workplace in the country, and this new location will go a long way in helping us achieve this goal,” Reebok President Matt O’Toole said in a statement. “It will be a workplace unlike any other in the city, with amenities that will not only benefit our employees, but the local community as well.’ “
Reebok’s new HQ will be at Design Building in Seaport District
From: The Boston Globe
By Tim Logan
December 07, 2016
“Reebok will move next fall into about 220,000 square feet on five floors, with office space, a two-story gym, a design lab, a retail store, and a public restaurant. They even plan to create a mile-long running track around the building. In picking a new home, Reebok looked for a creative, collaborative environment. “
Using Feng Shui to Foster Creativity and Innovation
From: Visual Merchandising and Store Design
August 10, 2016
“Alex Stark, ceo of Alex Stark Feng Shui, explains how retail environments have evolved from being the suppliers of consumer goods to providers of transformative experiences. During his VMSD session, Alex speaks about how feng shui techniques can be used to foster the kinds of new experiences anticipated in retail by enhancing creativity, innovation and communication. “
Can Whole Foods Keep Pace with Innovation?
From: Geek Wire
By Kurt Schlosser
September 13, 2016
“Wandering aimlessly around the supermarket appears to be a thing of the past. Retailers are increasingly catering to people who either don’t want to leave home, barely want to get out of the car, or are in a big hurry if they do enter a store…From digital price tags, to customizable tea, to the ability to scan a bottle of wine and learn about pairings, Whole Foods Market 365 uses technology to make a quick trip to the store even quicker.”
From: The New York Times
By Rhonda Kaysen
August 17, 2016
“The Modern, a 47-story tower — the first of two identical buildings planned — dwarfs the surrounding structures, offering residents in the penthouse floors unobstructed views of the Hudson River, the New York City skyline and the green canopy of northern New Jersey, along with Westchester and Rockland counties. “
Hundreds of People Lined up for the Williamsburg Whole Foods Grand Opening
From: Grub Street
By Robin Hilmantel
July 26, 2016
“For what seems like forever, condo developers in Williamsburg have been touting the prospect that, one day, Whole Foods would open a store in the neighborhood. That all changed today when the chain opened a store at 238 Bedford Avenue — yet another sign that Williamsburg has completed its transformation into a Park Slope–like suburban playground.”
Feng Shui Helps Roseland Market Luxury Apartment Project in Weehawken
From: SBN State Broadcast News
April 23, 2016
“I don’t want the users necessarily to know that I’ve been there or that Feng Shui was done to the building,” says Stark. “What I want them to feel is that the space is nourishing to them, is going to provide them with the kind of feeling that they want to have for their family life, to raise their children, entertain guests, and to have a fruitful life.”
To Ensure Positive Energy At RiversEdge, Roseland Hires Feng Shui Expert
From: GlobeSt.com
April, 2016
“Roseland works with feng shui practitioner Alex Stark to create a conscious design and promote successful building programs that take nature, land, and neighborhood character into consideration. According to Stark, ‘Feng shui is a wonderful way to promote the achievement of good fortune, success, harmony and balance in everyday life. This is done by promoting certain qualities that everybody wants such as career, health, family life, marriage, education of children, and good luck in a general sense.'”
Hovnanian Breaks Ground on Condo Project in West New York
From: NewJersey.com
By Kathleen Lynn
November 20, 2015
“After being delayed for a decade by the housing downturn, a waterfront condo project in West New York was officially launched Friday by K. Hovnanian Homes, New Jersey’s largest home builder. The project, on Port Imperial Boulevard near Riverwalk Place, is part of the two-mile-long Port Imperial redevelopment of old rail yards along the Hudson River in West New York and Weehawken.”
From: VMSD Visual Merchandising & Store Design Magazine,
By Steve Kaufman
July 31, 2015
“Too much creative disruption can undermine the fundamentals of your business. If everybody is disrupting, you can’t have organization. How do you create an environment that fosters creativity, evolution and development without undermining core systems? Feng Shui is so old it has seen these cycles over and over again. Why not learn from it? Why not create process that allow us to move smoothly through necessary changes? ”
To Ensure Positive Energy at RiversEdge, Roseland Hires Feng Shui Expert
From: Globe St.,
By Steve Lubetkin
April 23, 2015
“Roseland, the luxury residential property division of Mack-Cali Realty Corporation, is taking no chances with negative energy in its RiversEdge development at Port Imperial in Weehawken. The firm engaged a Feng Shui master to evaluate the property and implement principles of the ancient practice so that the property’s positive energy is maximized for tenants. The firm has worked with architect and Feng Shui practitioner Alex Stark on a dozen properties over the past decade.”
Office Upgrades to Supercharge Your Career
From: Men’s Health
By Steve Calechman
“A desk buried beneath a mountain of paperwork doesn’t make you look busy—it just makes you look sloppy. (Ditto for the Post-Its framing your computer monitor.) But a well-organized office isn’t just about minimizing paper clutter. Rather, as an increasing number of top-level execs are learning thanks to the 3,000-year-old Chinese art of feng shui, rearranging your workspace can increase productivity, provide inspiration, and reduce burnout.”
Upgrading a Duplex in Los Angeles
From: Remodeling Magazine
By Kathy Price Robinson
September 30, 2015
“According to a recent article in The New York Times, feng shui has risen to become a respected technique for situation offices and displays in New York commercial spaces and retail stores. The article reports on a feng shui consultant, Alex Stark, who counsels commercial building developers on how to make their future buildings more conducive to financial success.”
From: Arch Daily
By Salvador Reyes Rios
July 15, 2015
“A deep study of the properties of materials allowed us to create an innovative and affordable construction system that can amalgamate cellular concrete with stucco based on a resin from the Chukum tree, an ancestral technique that architect Salvador Reyes Rios rediscovered and reinvented in 1996, since become a legacy for the contemporary architecture of Yucatan.”
Interview: Alex Stark on Creativity, Efficiency and Design.
From: Journal of Holistic Psychology
By Lauren González, MA, MFA
April, 2014
“The following interview explores not only how we respond to our environments, but how our environments respond to us, shaping every aspect of our lives. Stark speaks about design and architecture in terms of the conscious practical, emphasizing the importance of communing with nature; of utilizing flow, not force; and tending to creativity, not commercialism.”
Frisco Whole Foods Market opening marked with blessings, bustle
From: Summit Daily
By Alli Langley
April 25, 2014
“The country’s leading natural and organic grocer held a sneak-peek of the Frisco store for local government officials, ski resort representatives and friends of employees Thursday. The tour began with a blessing by Alex Stark, the company’s feng shui consultant.”
From: Real Estate Weekly
By Linda O’Flanagan
April 14, 2014
“When you put a trio of real estate’s most revered companies together on a project, expectations run high. Add to that what is arguably one of the best sites on New Jersey’s Gold Coast, folk are looking for unparalleled.There is no doubt that Hartz Mountain, Mack-Cali and Roseland Properties have hit the bullseye with their three-building Estuary in Weehawken’s Lincoln Harbor.”
Development has golf room, feng shui…and pets
From: Hudson Reporter
By Art Schwartz
March 09, 2014
“Design expert Alex Stark conceptualized the layouts of the units, the orientation and materials used in the common spaces, even the landscaping to foster a tranquil environment…”
A Whole Foods Grows in Brooklyn
From: The New Yorker
By Elizabeth Greenspan
December 17, 2013
“On Tuesday in Gowanus, an industrial neighborhood that is still somewhat affordable to artists and middle-class workers, Whole Foods Market opened its first store in Brooklyn. A rooftop greenhouse grows produce for the store, and indoor fruit displays are constructed out of wood salvaged from the Coney Island boardwalk. The in-store bar, which features sixteen microbrews on tap, will host a monthly “drink and draw” event in conjunction with a local nonprofit called Arts Gowanus…”
Whole Foods goes local in Brooklyn, gentrifying area near Superfund site
From: CNN Money
By Beth Kowitt
December 17, 2013
“FORTUNE — The big question for Whole Foods Market (WFM) when it opens its first store in Brooklyn this morning — what took so long? As the largest retailer of natural and organic foods, the Austin-based supermarket chain would seem like a natural fit for Brooklyn, the borough that has become famous for community gardens and home brewing. But the 56,000-square-foot store in Gowanus has been 10 years in the making…”
Whole Foods in Gowanus Symbolizes Area’s Redevelopment
From: The Wall Street Journal
By Mike Vilensky and Laura Kusisto
December 8, 2013
“Some locals are enthusiastically for it, and others are adamantly against it. But residents of Gowanus, Brooklyn, generally agree on one thing: The Whole Foods opening this month will irrevocably change the neighborhood. The 56,000-square-foot market will feature a 20,000-square-foot rooftop greenhouse and an in-house ramen chef; the new building is adjacent to the famous canal, designated a Superfund site by the federal government in early 2010.”
Yahoo to Take Space in Former New York Times Headquarters
From: Bloomberg Businessweek
By Sarah Frier and David M. Levitt
May 21, 2013
“Yahoo! Inc. (YHOO) will lease four floors in the old New York Times building near Times Square as part of an expansion in the city that includes its agreement to purchase Tumblr Inc. Yahoo joins two other technology firms in the tower, 10gen Inc., a developer of Internet infrastructure, and Citysearch, a producer of Web-based city cultural guides. The deal makes the building a hub for the city’s growing technology and media tenants…Blackstone Realty worked with feng shui consultant Alex Stark to optimize its real estate appeal.”
Traditional Knowledge for Contemporary Uses
By Ritu Bhatt, in collaboration with Alex Stark
From: Rethinking Aesthetics, The Role of Body in Design, Routledge, New York & London, 2013
“In order to further understand the complex role that traditional knowledge plays in the formation of contemporary subjectivity, (we) examine here the everyday practices in architecture that refer to pre-modern/traditional thought and that have remained marginal in academic discourses. These practices include the contemporary practice of Feng Shui, the Chinese art of placement…”
Continuum Center: Natural Healing
From: Sustainable Commercial Interiors
By Penny Bonda and Katie Sosnowchik
June, 2013
“The Continuum Center for Health and Healing in New York City chose to adopt feng shui principles for its space in the belief that positive arrangement of its environment would promote better health because qi is allowed to move freely. Collaborating with feng shui master Alex Stark, Guenter5 was able to establish construction and design principles that optimized the space’s potential…”
From: New York Times
By Mike Powell
February 27, 2013
“Built originally in 1904, the single-story main house was expanded during the 1940s, which is probably when the guesthouse was added. The house is on three landscaped acres lush with palms, mango and avocado trees, monstera and bamboo. Both the interior design and exterior landscaping was done by one of the owners, who operates a business called Laura Newmark Designs. Feng Shui interventions were done by consultant Alex Stark.”
“Gold Coast’ Developers Warm to Feng Shui
From: New York Times
By Jill P Capuzzo
July 19, 2012
“Roseland, the developer of the Port Imperial project spanning three towns on the Hudson waterfront, as well as 99 Hudson, a 1,000-apartment complex in Jersey City being built in partnership with Hartz Mountain Industries, has become a convert (of feng shui)…When feng shui principles began to be applied on the $2 billion Port Imperial project five years ago, Roseland hired Alex Stark, a feng shui expert.”
“Sneak Peek at the New Southwest Austin Whole Foods Store
From: Oak Hill Gazette
By Penney Levers
June 15, 2012
“Feng Shui expert Alex Stark, a Yale-educated architect who participated in the creation of Whole Foods stores in New York, London and Chicago, was brought into the Arbor Trails project to insure that the design had maximum positive energy flow…While most new Whole Foods open on Wednesdays, Stark determined that Tuesday was the most cosmically ideal time.”
“Designer Fawn Galli on Decorating a Modern Day Fairy Tale Home
From: House Beautiful
By David A Keeps
February, 2012
“The home was designed to feel like a whimsical, wintry forest — the white floors invoke a feeling of ice. Call it surrealism grounded in nature. Or nature with a twist. We played with scale a lot, and we put overscale wallpaper in the master bedroom — and also in the powder room — to draw you into scenery and make you feel small within the landscape.”
New River Gorge: Where the Wild Things Are
From: Gazette Mail
By David A. Keeps
September 10, 2011
“New York feng shui consultant Alex Stark, who helped identify harmonious environments for such places as NBC’s “Today Show” set and Beth Israel Medical Center in Manhattan, studied aerial photos of Wild Rock, then walked the grounds of the property to chart what he calls its natural energy fields. “Using that information, he came up with his layout of home sites for the property while our design firm, Nelson, Byrd, Woltz Landscape Architects of Charlottesville, did theirs,” said Carl Frischkorn, Wild Rocks’ managing partner. “They turned out to be remarkably similar.”
Meeting the Need:
La Maestra Community Health Center
From: Inside Health Care, August, 2011
“Many facilities say they are striving to meet the needs of the community, and although that may be true, fewhave let community needs shape their organization. But that is exactly what La Maestra Community Health Centers has done. Today these centers act as beacons for underserved populations.”
Ankrom Moisan Architects designs new campus of Oregon College
From: CBS Interactive Business Network
August 7, 2011
“Ankrom Moisan’s design was adjusted by a feng shui specialist to ensure the college receives positive qi, a Chinese word that describes the active energy forming part of any living thing. The director of the Oregon College of Oriental Medicine hired Alex Stark, who reviewed the design documents,” Ankrom Moisan principal-in-charge Jeff Hamilton said. “He looked at things like proximity to the river, bridges and parks, and he wrote up a report. We met with the college and our design team, and made changes to the drawing to make the design work better according to principles of feng shui.”
Feng Shui Meets the Mountains of West VA
From: Wild Rock Newsletter
April, 2011
“Construction of this modern home was completed in August 2010. The owner chose a modern design in a wooded setting to help demonstrate how a modern home can conform to a sustainable community and compliment natural landforms. Sustainability was a goal from the start and the process included a Feng Shui analysis, as well as an energy audit and constant evaluation of construction techniques, materials, systems and process. Alex Stark of NYC was the Feng Shui consultant.”
Dona Karan: Designing Integrative Health Care
From: Life Extension Magazine
By Kyle Roderick
April, 2011
“Imagine a world famous fashion designer partnering with a major hospital to pioneer integrative cancer care. This medically avant-garde scenario is happening right now in New York City. Beth Israel’s Urban Zen Sanctuary is a quiet, cozy and softly illuminated haven designed by architect David Fratianne and Alex Stark, a feng shui master. Karan founded the Urban Zen Foundation in 2006. Urban Zen’s Integrative Therapist (UZIT) program is co-directed by yoga teachers Rodney Yee and Colleen Saidman Yee .”
Health Centers Make Commitment To Green Design
From: San Diego Business Journal
September 22, 2010
“When officials at La Maestra Community Health Center started planning a new facility in the City Heights neighborhood, they had a directive for designers and construction crews: Make it as green as possible…. The new clinic is being designed to attain a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design(LEED) Gold level of certification.”
Jalisco announces New Real Estate Development
From: Elite Traveler
February 2, 2010
“Officials of the State of Jalisco, including the Pensions Institute of the state (IPEJAL) and investment firm Rasaland (RLD) presented a $183 million dollar real estate project before the State’s Governor, Emilio Gonzalez. Gonzalez expressed his satisfaction with the process of the project stating : ‘We are thrilled to now be able to give Mexico and the rest of the world the construction of a sustainable tourism project, linked to natural resources, the community, and the sustainable market.”
From: Work Style Magazine,
December, 2009
“Feng Shui specialist Alex Stark has ‘oriented’ several buildings to let energies better flow by studying the buildings position in relation to its surroundings. “Feng Shui is a technique used to increase opportunity”, explains Stark. “There are many considerations that can be used to promote good fortune, income creation, and brand recognition.”
In One Section of Beth Israel Hospital, Patients are saying ‘Om’, not ‘Ah’
From: New York Times
By Anemona Hartocollis
October 29, 2008
“While other hospitals in New York and across the country have dabbled in yoga, the new Beth Israel project is broader, better financed and more integrated into the medical protocol. Starting in November, the cancer ward will be renovated by Donna Karan, the architect David Fratianne and feng shui master Alex Stark.”
From: Spa Finder
October 12, 2008
“Located only 45 miles southeast of San Diego, just over the border into Mexico, the weather at Rancho La Puerta is always spectacular–warm and dry–so every week is the perfect week to visit. The land is remarkable, with landscapes enhanced by feng shui-correct design.”
From: Soul & Science
August 18, 2008
“The Wellness Garden was carefully designed “to restore the spirit and delight the senses,” according to landscape architect Derek Young. Healing plants, such as Echinacea and sweet-smelling Lavender, support that theme. From flowering trees to swaying grasses, the plants were chosen to both please the eye and to withstand the Northland climate. Feng Shui input completed the process of creating an oasis of calm amidst the bustle of medical technology.”
From: The Deal.com
By Amy Wu
October 28, 2008
“A feng-shui-master-astrologist in private practice in New York, Alex Stark, says he has counseled Citigroup Inc., Merrill Lynch & Co., and other corporations on how to use feng shui, the ancient Chinese art of placement and flow, to promote business success. So what is he advising companies do in these stressful times? We called him to find out.”
The Business of Feng Shui: Developer finds balance with Eastern Ways
From: New Jersey Star Ledger
By Ian T. Shearn
April 4, 2008
“Stark is no one-trick pony. He has taught feng shui around the world and has consulted on buildings from Amman to Nashville. His client list ranges from Morgan Stanley Dean Witter to the Colombian Coffee Federation. He is currently helping to design feng shui communities in California, Minnesota, and West Virginia.”
Enamored with Provocation and Illusion
From: Intérieurs 43, Montreal
By Alain Hochereau
May-June, 2008
“The interiors of Restaurant DNA were conceived as a response to Moshe Safdie’s Habitat 67, which is visible across the port from old Montreal. Feng shui input was provided by architect Alex Stark.”
From: The Telegraph, London
By Tessa Boase
May 5, 2007
“It’s swept across America and now it’s planning to conquer Britain. Tessa Boase reports on a US food giant that claims to put principles before profits… A new way of food shopping is crossing the Atlantic and, like many things American, it will seem obscenely proportioned at first. But, like the SUV and super-size Snickers, we will soon get used to it and then come to expect it.”
What’s in Store for Kensington
From: The Evening Standard, London
By Jonathan Prynn
March 3, 2007
“Whole Foods Market used Brooklyn-based feng shui consultant Alex Stark to run the spiritual rule over the former Barkers department store in London. According to David Lannon, senior executive at the Kensington site, his findings were ‘very, very positive’.”
Ancient Design Principles, New Selling Points
From: New Jersey Business Magazine
By Evelyn Lee
March 26, 2007
“Alex Stark, who is a graduate of the Yale University School of Architecture and worked as an architect for 20 years before starting his feng shui practice, says he worked with New York City-based architectural teams, advising them on what errors and problems to avoid.”
Doerr-Hosier Center makes its Debut
By Carolyn Sackariason
From: The Aspen Times, June 2, 2007
“Feng shui expert Alex Stark realized that the new building at the Aspen Institute would be at the epicenter of Aspen’s energy, with the three valleys flowing directly toward the Roaring Fork River. As a result, the building was designed with that in mind.”
New Meadows Facility Designed to Inspire
From: The Aspen Times
By Carolyn Sackariason
June 22, 2007
“After five years and $12.5 million, the vision born from inside some of the largest minds has come to fruition at Aspen Meadows. The building’s architect, Jeffrey Berkus, involved feng shui expert Alex Stark early in the design process. Stark realized immediately that the building would be at the epicenter of Aspen’s energy, with the three valleys flowing directly toward the Roaring Fork. As a result, the building was designed with that in mind.”
Original Yin: Exploring the Natural Alliance of Feng Shui and Architecture
From: Residential Architect
By Cheryl Weber
September, October, 2006
“Feng shui consultant Alex Stark, an architect, blends both the practical and transcendental aspects in his practice. He says that although feng shui was introduced to America as a Chinese practice, here and in Europe it’s been transformed into something more holistic.”
By Heath Hudson
From: Health & Healing NY.org, April 2006
“The totality of the Center’s interior reflects the principles of Feng Shui, an ancient Chinese art built on the belief that Qi – the vital life force pervasive throughout the universe and existing in all living things – can be affected by our external environment.”
Community & Environment: Healing from the Web of Life
By Heath Hudson
From: The Bravewell Collaborative, April, 2006
“The well-known Feng Shui master Alex Stark worked closely with the architectural firm of Guenther Petrarca, a leader in green design and the use of eco-sensitive materials. This collaboration ensured that construction and design principles optimized the use of the space’s potential”
In the Modern Temple of Healing
From: Spirituality & Health
By Louise Danielle Palmer
July/August 2005
“At the cutting edge of medicine is the recognition that space, just like a person, can be a healer. But first, the space itself must be healed. Enter the doctor: Alex Stark”
Using Feng Shui in Offices and Stores
From: The New York Times
By Lisa Chamberlain
Sunday, July 10, 2005
“Alex Stark, who has a private feng shui practice in Brooklyn, has been riding the feng shui crest as it has flowed from an esoteric residential practice primarliy used a s self help tool, to offices and retail spaces, to entire commercial projects.”
From: Aspen Magazine
By Jane Wells
Summer/Fall 2005
“Jane Wells consults feng shui geomancy master Alex Stark to uncover some hidden secrets about the lay of the land…Stark identified three major dragon formations in the landscape. The first has the fabulous name Golden Bull Pulls Royal Chariot; it surrounds Independence Lake and has a spur that goes all the way down to Red Butte. This type of formation is known in feng shui as a “kingmaker” because it can produce great wealth and power.”
From: The Journal of Accountancy
By Barbara Weltman and Michael Hayes
May 2005
“New York feng shui master Alex Stark designed the three personal workspaces showcased here. In his view a harmonious, well-balanced environment liberates creativity and vitality and opens up new opportunities. Feng shui, the holistic practice of space design, is a valuable tool in creating salutary business environments, he say.”
Condo Tower Aligned to Provide Calm
From: The Wall Street Journal
By Antoinette Martin
April, 2005
” The entire project has been designed with the principles of feng shui in mind. The feng shui design promotes privacy and calm. The grand entry foyers in each residence, and windows that give maximum sunlight and which showcase the panoramic views of Manhattan, are in line with gracious living standards as well as feng shui.”
Travelling between the Worlds: Conversations with Modern Shamans
By Hillary S. Webb
Hampton Roads Publishing Company, Charlottesville, 2004
“Following the example of many seekers before him, Alex Stark embarked on a vision quest to pray for a sign that would further his growth. In the middle of his second night on the quest, he was struck by a sudden burst of lighting. No other induction…could have been more appropriate.”
From: Town & Country
By Diane Guernsey
November 2004
“A stunning new Manhattan center offers the best of East and West: the aura of peace is almost palpable. Wrote one new patient: ‘The moment I stepped off of the elevator, I began to feel better’ “
Innovation in the Design of the ICU
From: Minnesota Physician
By Alex Stark
May 2004
“As a feng shui consultant specializing in the health care field, I am often asked to bring a more nature-conscious and patient-centered perspective into the design process. In fact, the very inclusion of my discipline attests to the current effort to widen the scope of discussion in the planning of new facilities.”
From: New York Magazine
By Nina Burleigh
September 2003
“Alex Stark’s method is more intuitive and magic-oriented than most. He not only operates on feng shui principles of directions but says he physically senses the earth’s grid of energy. Where the lines of that energy intersect, migraines or damage to the immune system or other ailments can occur.”
From: Contract Magazine
By Danine Alati
March 2003
“Beatrice Renfield’s fondness and deep respect for nurses prompted her to commission a space promoting nursing excellence…. Feng shui consultant Alex Stark worked with the design team to ensure that the architecture was balanced and the curves and room placement would work within the structure.”
Feng Shui: restoring balance at an office near you
From: Inc.com
By Brett Martin
September 2003
“Feng shui is as broad as engineering or architecture,” says Alex Stark, a feng shui practitioner in Brooklyn, NY. “You could take 12 different practitioners and get 12 different versions of what it is.”
By Warren I. Cohen
From: The Asian American Century, Harvard University Press, 2002
“The extraordinary “Asianization” of America–the accelerating influence of East Asia on American life and identity, a phenomenon neglected by most students of American history (includes) Alex Stark…who in April 2000 helped realign the Web site of Corcoran.com, enabling the owners to achieve a harmonious balance in cyberspace.”
From: ID Magazine
By Hillary Sheets
November 2002
“We know they are architectural masterpieces, but how do five great houses stack up to the eyes of feng shui master Alex Stark? I.D. asked Alex Stark, a Yale-trained architect and feng shui consultant in New York CIty, to assess five iconic houses of 20th-century architecture by Frank Lloyd Wright, Le Corbusier, Mies can de Rohe, Philip Johnson, and Frank Ghery.”
From: Interiors
By Eve M. Kahn
May 2002
“A feng shui master, a color consultant, and an organizational expert analyze three designers’ workspaces and sum up their occupants’ styles… An architect by training, Alex Stark has been practicing feng shui for 10 years and works as an independent consultant in New York. He most often advises designers on hospital and healthcare projects, but he has also advised the United Nations Development Program on issues of urban development”
From: New York Magazine
By Hillary Rosner
May 10, 2001
“I need five minutes just to go inside myself,” says Alex Stark, standing before a makeshift altar with incense, statues, bells, and shells carefully assembled on bright scarves next to a flat-panel monitor. At a time when the Pets.com spokespuppet gets interviewed on ABC, it shouldn’t surprise anyone that Stark is feng shui-ing Corcoran.com’s real estate Website in order to generate the kind of harmony — and publicity — the new economy demands.
Live Wire: Finding the Alignment for E-Commerce
From: CNN Money.com
By Arlyn Tobias Gajilan
May 1, 2001
“Barbara Corcoran tapped feng shui practitioner Alex Stark to reenergize the Website for her New York City real estate company… It worked. Hits to the site have tripled, and Corcoran has received a flood of compliments that she says more than justified Stark’s fee.”
From: W Beauty Book
October 2000
“As soon as you step into New York’s Beth Israel Center for Health and Healing, you realize you’re in no ordinary clinic.”