Saturday 14 September / Sunday 15 September 2019 London Design Festival The triumphant return of PoMo — EDWIN HEATHCOTE PAGES 12 & 13 Follow us on Instagram @ft_houseandhome The home of prime property:The propertylistings.ft.com best homes for cyclistsFollow us on Twitter @FTProperty Property | Where can keen cyclists find holiday homes that offer the best terrain, facilities and adventure? Liz Rowlinson reports on the European hotspots Girona,Spain Mallorca may be the obvious Spanish cycling hub, but the small city of Girona is home to more than 100 professional cyclists — and a growing number of international homeowners. Close to the French border, Barcelona, the Costa Brava and the big climbs of the Pyrenees, it sits within verdant volcanic valleys known as the “Tuscany ofSpain”. The city was top choice for Louise Laker, a former racer, when she left London to set up a cycling touring business. “Girona is a great mix of flat roads and mountains, with a friendly community of retired professional cyclists,”shesays. ThesophisticatedCatalancultureand quality of life attracted Ashleigh Mool- man Pasio, the South African profes- sional racer, and her triathlete husband Carltotheregion,ratherthanoptingfor abaseintheItalianlakes. “This area is super-special and incredible for training,” says the 33- year-old, who is preparing to take part in the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games. “Where else in Europe can you cycle for Ashleigh Moolman Pasio and her husband Carl — Oliver Grenaa five hours and not see another person?” Her family runs a cycling retreat in a renovatedmasia(farmhouse)nearBan- negotiations are under way to bring cottage. For larger parties, in the small Her holiday accommodation, gîte yoles lake and Rocacorba, one of the the starts of the Vuelta a España and hamlet of Smelthouses close to Pateley Belle Vie, is in Sainte-Marie-de- area’sbestclimbs. Tour de France to the area in the next Bridge is a four-bedroom detached Campan, a small Pyrenean village that Rural masia are popular with British sixyears. formerropemillavailablefor£800,000 marks the start of the 17.2km climb and American second home buyers. Theregionissoontoberepresentedat throughDacre,Son&Hartley. to Col d’Tourmalet, the highest Expect to pay at least €1.5m for a reno- the world governing body, the Union paved mountain pass in the French Pyr- vated home with a pool, says Marisa Cycliste Internationale’sEuropean tour, Pyrenees,France enees. Bagnères-de-Bigorre, Argelès- Featherwick of agent Lucas Fox. “But says Kate Horsfall, founder of York- The region may be less prestigious than Gazost, Payolle, Saint-Savin, Trébons pricesdropwestofGirona.”Theagentis shire’sfirstall-women’scyclingclub,the the Alps for luxury chalets, but the Pyr- and Aspin are also popular with selling a six-bedroom villa near Ban- Yorkshire Lasses. “Since 2014 we’ve eneescanrunagoodracewhenitcomes cyclists, says Juliet Browning of agent yolesfor€875,000. seenbikeshopsandcyclingclubsprolif- toTourdeFrancehistory. LeggettImmobilier. Somecyclistsprefertoliveinthecity’s erate, and Pateley Bridge is often Le Tour first ventured into the moun- “Consider villages south of the A64, historic centre, where the average price included in the top 100 climbs in tain range in 1910, with back-to-back witheasyaccessviaTarbes—Lourdes— per sq m is €3,500,according to Spanish Europe,”she says. “It’sonly the weather stages so tough that the overall winner, Pyrénées Airport,”she says, where Lon- propertysiteIdealista. thatletsusdown.” Octave Lapize, described the organisers doners or Parisians with a spare Edward Stoyle, head of the York as “murderers”.Since then, climbs such €200,000 to €300,000 will be able to Yorkshire,UK office for estate agent Carter Jonas, took as the Tourmalet, Aubisque and Peyre- buyathree-bedroomholidayhome. Home to the wild and dramatic York- up cycling when he moved to Harrogate sourde have gained legendary status The historic spa town of Bagnères-de- shire Dales and the North York Moors in North Yorkshire. “Ten years ago eve- because of their brutal gradients and Luchon enjoys a higher international national parks, Yorkshire is the natural ryone played golf here — now they switchbacksthatprovide,longgruelling profile and offers a six-bedroom chalet home of British cycling. This month cycle,” he says. “Cycling has just ascentsandwilddescents. for€419,000. the region will host the UCI Road World enhancedtheattractionofowningasec- Many cycling tourists go on to buy Championships. A combination of ondhome,butisnotquitethesolemoti- homes, says Angela Craig who runs a Tuscany,Italy unforgiving hills, such as Park Rash, vation—yet.” cycling business from the base of Col du Cyclists in search of culture choose and undulating dales are criss-crossed North Yorkshire is easy to reach from Tourmalet in the Campan valley: “This Tuscany, and there is no better way to by empty lanes and minor roads four international airports, and Stoyle valley offers a double season, with explore medieval hilltop villages — and bordered by dry stone walls. Rural says North York Moors villages close cycling and hiking in the summer sea- workoffplatesofpasta—thanbybike. villages are lined with welcoming pubs to the A170 (arterial road access is key) son of April to November, and skiing in Chianti’s small mountain range is andcafés. are popular, such as pretty Hutton-le- thewinter. ideal training terrain and forms a gruel- Cycling interest has taken off since Hole, or in the Yorkshire Dales, villages “There is a large English-speaking ling stage in the Giro d’Italia race, and 2014 when the county hosted the and towns such as Swaledale, Coverdale community, with people coming from thereareplentyofbikerepairshopsand Grand Départ of the Tour de France. andSkipton. South Africa too. Property is generally enoteca. The village of Quarrata is the The Tour de Yorkshire takes place Expect to pay £400,000 to £500,000 (Top) Luz Ardiden, Hautes-Pyrénées, France; (above) Yorkshire inexpensive, so some buy chalets or old every May and local media report that for a three or four-bedroom period Dales, England — YG-Tavel-Photos/Alamy barnsandrenovatethem,”saysCraig. Continuedonpage2 2 ★ FTWeekend 14 September/15 September 2019 House Home I want to buy my daughter an mid-century designs with those from I am eyeing up an elegant rosewood the Italian designer Paola Buffa. Buffa, Something old, antique or vintage item for her other decades: a modernist rosewood desk designed by Kurt Ostervig for along with French designer Jean wedding present. My budget is lavish, desk with a painted Regency chair Jason, Denmark — yours for £7,250. Royère, is known for playful details. but I don’t know where to start. Can beneath an ornate gilt mirror, say. As According to the retailer, it is one of the It could be worth investing in a piece something new you help? She hankers after mid- ever, it really is all about the mix. most sought-after Scandinavian desks by a celebrated designer. US site century interiors. So where to shop for your sensational of the period and with those legs I quite 1stdibs, which sells from shops present? And what kind of item to go understand why. Those sterile internationally, is another great place A brilliant and generous idea. The for? London’s largest showroom A sideboard or cabinet is another to search for presents. A seller in New trend for mid-century modern dedicated to fine Scandinavian design, idea. I am a regular customer at Mark silhouettes often York has a lovely cherrywood console furniture and interiors has been The Modern Warehouse, is in Hackney Punton’s Battersea-based Ebury leave me cold. table with scalloped detailing, designed around for a while, but I wager the Wick. Its showroom displays a large Trading. In his warehouse and on his in the early 1940s by Gio Ponti, one of fashion is here to stay. I am not so keen and constantly changing collection of website antique lighting can be found I crave curves, the most influential figures in 20th- on the full Mad Men look, but the odd modernist vintage furniture, lighting next to furniture and decorative pieces wiggles and frills century Italian modernism. Another sensational and authentic piece adds and accessories produced by the best from the 18th century through to mid- good site is Pamono.co.uk. Look out for glittering magic. architects and designers from the century design. Proving that mid- validation — the 1stdibs console, for You will have noticed mid-century golden age of design in Scandinavia. century does not always mean sensible example, has been authenticated by style knock-offs in almost every Your present should feel substantial wood and sober shapes, the last time I the Gio Ponti Archives. interior design store for a decade or so. and solid, so I like the idea of a desk. visited I fell in love with an outrageous My dream piece of mid-century Why is this furniture so enduringly 1950s Italian bar cabinet in pink furniture? Something grand by Piero appealing? For one, its paired-back lacquer with faux malachite panels Fornasetti. Macclesfield-based Holly simplicity works well in a variety of (pictured left). I am generally more Johnson Antiques specialises in pieces interiors. Stick a sideboard with the Italian mid-century than by the famed Milanese designer; it faintest trace of mid-century Scandinavian. All those straight currently has a lithographically printed styling in a modern apartment or a lines and sterile silhouettes often Architettura cabinet with brass stand, Victorian house and it will go with leave me cold. I crave curves, made circa 1960 that, quite frankly, I whatever else is going on, because wiggles and frills. would trade a kidney for. Luke Edward Hall the aesthetic is casual and relaxed. Mark is also selling an After all, the originals were designed architectural bar cabinet in the most Luke answers readers’ questions on design to be easy to live with. gorgeous shade of lipsticky-scarlet and stylish living every week.