The last couple of months have been so so hectic - I took 6 flights in the space of about a month - first Bordeaux, then Mexico City, then Belfast! I was also getting the new issue of 91 Magazine ready (it's on sale now!) as well as meeting other work deadlines. Plus, we've been ripping out our kitchen in prep for the renovation (which started officially today! The noise of drills the current soundtrack to my day!)
So as I have finally come up for air, I wanted to share some of the things I've been up to. On my trip to Bordeaux I was there with one of our 91 photographers shooting a gorgeous home for the magazine. It was just around the corner from the Darwin Eco-système - a really cool venue which, in a previous life served as military barracks.
We headed here for a pre-shoot breakfast and were the first people here, so had a chance to take lots of pics of Magasin General which is an organic cafe/restaurant/bar and a lovely general store full of fresh organic produce and interesting food brands.
I really loved the raw, industrial building with all the vintage and salvaged furniture they'd used in the space. It was huge, and one of those places where you could literally spend a whole day - eating, working, chatting - in fact we pretty much did, as we went back after the shoot to edit the photos and have a well deserved glass of wine!
There was also a shop selling lots of interesting products and books which we had a wander around. Loved the wicker chairs above! Again, it was a great warehouse style space, and the light through the huge windows was just lovely while we were there.
As we were there for a shoot, we were lucky enough that Carine, the home owner, gave us a little tour around the Darwin site, which is huge - over 3 hectares - and told us a little bit about it. It is actually part of a huge redevelopment of the La Bastide area of Bordeaux, which is being transformed into an eco-neighbourhood. Darwin is a hub for green living and working, and as well as the places mentioned above, it is home to lots of creative and eco-focused companies who share the co-working spaces. There is also an urban farm, a skatepark and space for free expression for street artists.
I was so impressed with this place - it had such a lovely vibe, even in February people were sitting outside having a drink and there was a real sense of community and liveliness. I wish there were more places like this in the UK! You can read a little more about it in the feature I wrote about Carine Giraud's home in the latest issue of 91 Magazine too.
If you are ever in Bordeaux do pop over to the right bank, it's a lovely way to while away an afternoon. More info here.