Designer of the Year

Thomas Heatherwick tends to defy categorisation as a designer, as do his works. His UK Pavilion for this year's Shanghai Expo, the truly remarkable Seed Cathedral (see Best New Public Building), melds art and architecture. His 'Spun' chair -- originally created in copper and steel for Haunch of Venison using a metal spinning process that's traditionally applied to drum-making, and then 'respun' in a rippled, moulded plastic version for Magis -- looks more like an art installation than a chair. And his 'Extrusions' collection of aluminium benches, using aeronautical technology, is pure sculpture. Heatherwick Studio 'exists to make extraordinary projects happen'.

Company: Heatherwick Studio

Established: 1994

Based: London

Key projects 2010: UK Pavilion for Shanghai Expo; 'Spun' chairs for Haunch of Venison and Magis; 'Extrusions' benches; planning granted for the biomass-fuelled Teesside Power Station; design for a new London bus unveiled 

www.heatherwick.com

Best new hotel

Located in a peaceful corner of the Côte d'Azur, La Réserve is a world away from the buzz of neighbouring Saint-Tropez. Architect Jean-Michel Wilmotte's transformation of the 1970s structure has not diluted the modernist magic of the original building. Wilmotte has simply reconfigured it, and reclothed it in a sandier hue. The 16 suites and seven regular rooms are superb; all have a terrace or a herb-filled garden. The ochre and white interiors, with furniture by Hans Wegner, Flexform and B&B Italia, among others, are designed around the Mediterranean view - even the bathtubs look out to sea. But the hotel's real trump card is its spa, which boasts 1,000 sq m of light-filled space.

Chemin de la Quessine, Ramatuelle
Key features: A revamped modernist slab on the Côte d'Azur now housing airy, minimalist rooms, and a fabulous spa and restaurant, all with exceptional views of the Mediterranean
www.lareserve-ramatuelle.com
www.wilmotte.fr

Restaurant & Bar

Supperclub presents a feast for each of the senses. Dedicated to creativity, Supperclub delivers its guests a tempting selection of cuisine, music, visuals and performances.

Le salon coloré serves a late à la carte menu where guests can enjoy delicious food and an international selection of fine tunes played by resident DJs. Dancers energise the dance floor, while diners recline upon white banquettes, in a contemporary take on a Roman feast. The minimalist nightspot is the perfect canvas for social, cultural, and fashionable events and offers a stage to innovators at every expressive level; chefs, DJs, performers, artists, designers and creative people in general. The unique atmosphere at Supperclub is the result of an exceptional mix of sensory experiences - guaranteeing a night you'll never forget.