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I never go anywhere without a lightweight spring coat and a big cashmere scarf that serves as an evening wrap if necessary. Hosting these journeys has given me the great pleasure of sharing some of my favorite places, and people, with the adventurous and wonderful guests who join us. Tokyo is a bustling urban city, so I will sadly have to leave all of my fun holiday caftans at home—but I will definitely bring something pink!
As an object, it signals the same qualities as the interiors it chronicles: weight, clarity, and a sustained attention to detail.” — DESIGN BOOM
The Insider Guide to Tokyo: AD Editor Gay Gassmann Shares Secrets for Exploring the Japanese Capital
Insiders
By Elizabeth Harvey
As a decorative arts historian and an international contributing editor for Architectural Digest, Gay Gassmann is a professional expatriate who splits her time between Paris, New York, Tokyo and beyond.
Paper products—not the toaster!Related: 14 Insider Journeys to Book NowWho are some of your favorite Japanese designers, artists or artisans? The Japanese LOVE pink.
Are there any projects that you are working on this year that you are particularly excited about?GG: One of the great joys of what I do is always following the thread of art and artists.
Click here to book your spot today—there are only a few left!You can follow Gay's adventures at home in Paris and around the world on Instagram @gaygassmann.
Published onFebruary 18, 2020
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Related: Why Go Now: Japan
What are your favorite Japanese dishes? GG: Even though you can find this in other places, I never go to Tokyo without stocking up on all things Hello Kitty and friends. I also always like to have a book project simmering. Discovering the Hagia Sophia at night in Istanbul or wandering the gardens of Marrakech with these fellow travelers are experiences that I will treasure forever.
Inside, Galerie contributor Gay Gassmann unpacks Andrew Torrey’s unlikely ascent and explains how a series of star-making commissions—a training center for the Brooklyn Nets, a louche smoking room at the 2018 Kips Bay Decorator Show House—propelled him on to design-world greatness.” — GALERIE
“Self-taught interior designer Andrew Torrey founded his own firm in 2013.
A passion for contemporary art and an approach combining modern glamour with effortless charm also define Torrey’s signature.
This volume features photographs by Manolo Yllera, Douglas Friedman, and Tim Lenz, among others.
Andrew Torrey launched his eponymous firm TORREY in 2013 in New York City, focusing on private residential commissions.
I am also thrilled to share a few incredible studio visits with artists and craftsmen with the group in May—though I cannot announce who they will be just yet!
What draws you to Tokyo as a traveler?GG: I have been going to Tokyo for years—for professional and personal reasons, including my honeymoon!—and it never disappoints.
Gay Gassmann will co-host Tokyo and Kyoto Design, a group trip curated in partnership with Architectural Digest, offering behind-the-scenes access to cutting-edge galleries and museums, top restaurants and more (May 12 – 17 or 20, 2020). Seeing the best in contemporary craftsmanship, from ceramics to traditional basket weaving, was such a treat.
The AD x Indagare family is growing, and I can’t wait to meet everyone who will be joining us in Tokyo.Related: The Language of Style with Architectural Digest’s Mitchell Owens and Gay GassmannWhat makes Tokyo unique in terms of design, art and architecture? GG: This place is not so secret, but definitely a gem—I always go to the Sōgetsu headquarters, which was designed by Kenzō Tange and contains a beautiful stone garden by Isamu Noguchi.
Also, I always go to the Takashimaya Department store for gifts—and anything else! You are confronted with a hyper-urban landscape and historical buildings—all things cutting-edge in terms of technology, design, architecture and fashion—and at the same time, you are witnessing the beauty of ladies in traditional kimonos, wearing wooden shoes.
Everything is exciting, for all the senses. Nothing makes me happier than spending time with artists, collectors, curators and designers. It offers a resource for architects, stylists, and collectors who share his fascination with spaces that feel deliberate yet accommodating. There are throbbing neon lights and paper lanterns. A trip to Tokyo is a journey to another time, both past and future.What tours and visits are you most excited for on the upcoming Insider Journey to Tokyo?GG: I am always happy to be in Tokyo.