The Wes Anderson Train

Now that Wes Anderson's "The French Dispatch" is finally out, let's look at a little side project he created: designing the interior of a British Pullman train car like it was one of his film sets!

Angular, symmetrical and intricately designed, Wes Anderson films are known for their exquisite aesthetics and predilection for panache. Just look at the snow-capped pastels of Zubrowka in ‘The Grand Budapest Hotel’, or the whimsically named Ennui-sur-Blasé in ‘The French Dispatch.’

Wes is an expert in rendering fantasy worlds that are a little more beautiful and satisfying than the ones we live in. With relentless details to feast upon and carefully calibrated colour palettes to pore over, his films aren’t just thrilling stories: they’re works of art.

Anyone who has seen ‘The Darjeeling Limited’ will also know that Wes has an affinity for the beauty and excitement of train travel. Starring Owen Wilson, Adrien Brody and Jason Schwartzman, the film sees three brothers reuniting in India and embarking on a luxury train journey together.

“I have often had the chance to invent train compartments and carriages in my movies,” Wes tells us. “So I was very eager to make something new while also participating in the process of preservation which accompanies all the classic Belmond train projects. They are keeping something special alive. An endangered species of travel which is nevertheless very suited to our time.”

Cygnus—a carriage built in the 1950s—has its fair share of cinematic history, featuring in the 1972 film Agatha starring Dustin Hoffman and Vanessa Redgrave. It is one of eleven on the British Pullman, whose carriages have hosted royalty, carried statesmen and survived World War II bomb raids over the years.

With his love of trains and passion for craftsmanship, Wes was tasked with balancing the history of the Cygnus carriage with his own bold and modern vision. The result is a carriage straight out of one of his films: stunningly symmetrical marquetry, bold rectilinear shapes and a feast of complementary colours.

With a pastel-pink ceiling detailing and a variety of green tones in the carpets and chairs, at first glance Cygnus feels like stepping onto one of the director’s film sets. Stunning marquetry work in numerous wood panels shows sunbeams, clouds, stars and waves.

Bold, sharp lines feature in the shape of the chairs and mirrors, adhering to the angular equilibrium the director is famed for. Eagle eyes will also spot the many swan details, referencing the carriage’s name and history.

Guests can ride in Cygnus on any journey on the British Pullman, a unique travel experience that rumbles across the rails all over England. Whether a murder mystery lunch through the Kent countryside or a sparkling dinner hosted by an up-and-coming guest chef, a ticket in Cygnus means you can experience the Golden Age of Travel while appreciating the beauty of modern design. With two private four-seat coupes or seats in the open carriage, the choice is yours.

Book a spot on Cygnus here:
https://www.belmond.com/trains/europe/uk/belmond-british-pullman/seating

Trains In Snow

Snow Train 2014

I have been meaning to take the train up to the Sierras for so many years but the holiday season is always so busy. There is a glass-domed car so one can watch the snowy mountains pass by.
One of these Decembers...

Going Somehwere? 2013

I don't think so...

London to Brighton...

...every 30 years.

Nice to know the English countryside has not changed much at all. I have taken this lovely trip as recently as a few years ago, and it seemed fairly unspoiled.

via BBC:
"Sixty years ago, the BBC filmed a train journey from London to Brighton, squeezed into just four minutes. Thirty years ago, we did it again. Now we are bringing it up to date, to see how much has changed - and how much is still the same. Here's all three journeys side by side."

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b006pfl4

"Station To Station"

"Over the course of three weeks in September 2013, a train will travel from New York City to San Francisco, making 10 stops at train stations across the country.

Organized by artist Doug Aitken, Station to Station will connect leading figures and underground creators from the worlds of art, music, food, literature, and film for a series of cultural interventions and site-specific happenings. The train, designed as a moving, kinetic light sculpture, will broadcast unique content and experiences to a global audience.

A public art project made possible by the Levi’s® brand, Station to Station will raise funds through ticket sales and donations to support non-traditional programming at seven partner museums around the country.

For a brief moment, the most interesting place in the country will be a moving target.

New York, New York, September 6, 2013
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, September 8, 2013
Minneapolis, Minnesota, September 12, 2013
Chicago, Illinois, September 14, 2013
Kansas City, Missouri, September 16, 2013
Santa Fe / Lamy, New Mexico, September 20, 2013
Winslow, Arizona, September 22, 2013
Barstow, California, September 24, 2013
Los Angeles, California, September 26, 2013
Oakland / San Francisco, California, September 28, 2013"

For more information and to follow:
http://stationtostation.com/

And on a related note:

Snow Express

Snow Train To Jasper, Alberta, Canada. Info here.

The Passenger

Coffee bar by day and rock n' roll bar at night, The Passenger, owned by young Spanish actors Rodrigo Taramona and Jimmy Castro along with entrepreneurs Miguel Peman and Carlos Carrillo, is Madrid's newest, hippest spot. I love the concept and execution of this project because it speaks to both of my careers (interior design and acting) since the interior design of the space is so much like a theatrical stage set, complete with a wonderful special effect to make it appear as if the "train" is in motion, speeding through the countryside...

This amazing space was designed by multi-talented designer Parolio. The concept and space is described on his company website:
"The new space occupies a long and narrow architectural structure which inspired Parolio to create the concept of “A train constantly on the move, right in the center of the city”.

The main area is designed to look and feel like a train cabin. To create the illusion of movement, three huge solid screens play the role of windows. They are constantly projected with synchronized and programmed videos that flow, from one screen to the next, just like in real life. The images have been recorded from train windows all over the world, presenting urban and nature landscapes that transport the clients into the fantastic experience of travel and leisure, pulling them away from the reality of the city around them.

The whole interior has been covered with great work on dark wood, brown leather with brass finishes. On the main hall photos of some of the greatest stars of classic rock, inside trains and train stations, welcome the clients.

The Bar cabin completes the space with an 8 meter bar that serves some of Madrid´s best coffee by day prepared exclusively by “Toma Café” and really delicious bite food. By night great cocktails, craft brewery beer, gin and whiskey fuel the train accompanied by a sound track of classic rock."

https://www.facebook.com/ThePassengerMadrid
http://www.parolio.com/