Latest news with #Perrin
Mint
4 hours ago
- Business
- Mint
How a Mumbai architect rebuilt a vineyard in France's Rhône Valley
On a visit to the Château de Beaucastel in France years ago, the first thing that struck me was how wellintegrated it was with its surroundings, how minimalistic. It is deliberately so. As Charles Perrin, fifth generation co-owner, Château de Beaucastel, explains, 'Beaucastel's identity is rooted in two things: respect for the land and quiet, patient innovation.' The reimagined Château de Beaucastel, which was inaugurated in May after an extensive renovation by Mumbai-based architect Bijoy Jain, is still rooted in that philosophy of sustainability. Château de Beaucastel is the flagship winery of the Perrin family, located in Courthézon in southern Rhône in the appellation of Châteauneuf-du-Pape. The 'new palace of the pope', as the name translates, was France's first wine appellation (which is like a tag or label to identify the region a wine originates from) given at a time when the papal seat moved from Rome to southern France from 1309-77. Famous for their discerning palates and extensive cellars, the popes sought quality and found that the rugged terroir of the region produced extraordinary, powerful wines. Besides their own extensive wine estates that include Beaucastel (since 1909) and La Vieille Ferme, the Perrins have partnered with Brad Pitt to produce super-brands Château Miraval, Champagne Fleur de Miraval and Gardener gin. But Beaucastel remains closest to their hearts. The Perrins' commitment to organic viticulture is well-documented with Jacques Perrin being one of the earliest adopters of organic farming in 1950, and biodynamic viticulture from 1974. As the Perrins' business grew, so did Beaucastel's reputation and it needed a structure that would accommodate the practical requirements of future expansion. So, in 2018, the family announced an international competition to select an architect for the renovation of the Château de Beaucastel winery. They received 1,200 entries from architects of 32 nationalities. In the end, Bijoy Jain of Studio Mumbai was awarded the project. Working with him would be former colleague Louis-Antoine Grégo of Studio Méditérranée, France. 'Grégo was at Studio Mumbai working with us on the renovation of a 16th century convent in Nice, in the south of France.... It seemed a natural progression to make a proposal for Beaucastel with this group who shared in the same sentiments towards the making of things, spaces, materials, landscapes,' says Jain. The key factor for the renewed winery was to synthesise the idea of 'terroir', the French word that encapsulates the environment in which a wine's quality is determined. Perrin's brief to the architects was simple: 'Build with what the earth gives us. Let the elements handle the energy load. Invite dialogue, not ostentation.' The new winery had to co-exist with parts of the old structure, including the original manor house constructed in the 17th century. For Jain, the challenge was to design a structure that would pay homage to the wine itself. Photo: Nicolas Facenda Perrin explains, 'Our earlier chai (the barrel room) was a workhorse but energy-hungry and too small for parcel precision (storing wines from individual plots separately before the final blending). The new wing doubles capacity yet is 80% underground, so from a distance you see vineyards and the ochre-coloured courtyard walls that mirror the old stone.' The russet boundary walls enclose the château that sits amidst the vineyards. It is constructed using the rammed earth technique—known as pisé in French—of compressed red clay mixed with recycled limestone and rubble from old Beaucastel sheds. The walls were compacted layer by layer—the veins and pebbles visible—thus fulfilling Perrin's brief: 'The new winery must grow out of the same soil that nourishes our vines.' Close to 90% of the structure was made from materials found on-site—initially from a pit 50x50 metres and 15m-deep. When the gravel ran out, rubble from old buildings was added—so the new structure was literally 'pressed' from Beaucastel's terroir without any concrete or iron, using construction techniques dating back to ancient Egypt and China. 'It was a mere displacement of landscape. No truck came in or left,' explains Jain. Grégo says, 'We took terroir, which is essentially flat and made it vertical—you can see its veins in the walls. We deconstructed parts of the old buildings that were not required, crushed the concrete into gravel, and added it to the mix.' For Jain, the challenge was to design a structure that would pay homage to the wine itself. He recalls, 'The ground, soil, wind, rain, sun were resources available in the immediacy of the landscape. We needed to use this abundance to create architecture made from the physical environment to provide a quiet resting space for the wine to evolve and achieve its full potential.' This genius loci as Jain calls it, became the vision for Beaucastel. On the energy front, electricity is generated from multiple rooftop solar panels, while cooling comes from the mighty mistral wind of the Rhône Valley, which is channelled through underground galleries via inbuilt wind towers and over an underground cistern holding gallons of water collected from the rooftops. 'Water is the basis of life so the cistern is the project's foundation and acts as a cradle for the wine,' explains Jain. 'The mistral is drawn deep into the ground and circulates above the water's surface, dropping the temperature in the cellar to an even 12 degrees centigrade through the year.' The cooled air is then distributed to the cellar spaces, while the water supplies most of the winery's needs. 'This is an integrated structure free of any mechanical device or industrial material,' says Jain. Winemaking capacity was optimised. Perrin explains, 'We insisted on gravityflow reception, individual fermenters sized to our 13 cépages (a specific blend of grapes) and 70 parcels and circulation paths that future generations can adapt without demolition. The design incorporates 91 small concrete vats, clay jars from Impruneta in Italy and larger wooden tanks that allow each plot and varietal to be vinified separately into the classic Beaucastel blend—an old dream finally realised.' Before the commencement, the Perrin family had taken Jain on a road trip to Burgundy to visit three wineries, the last being the iconic Domaine de la Romanée Conti. 'It was a misty morning at the Domaine, and we stood on a slope in the vineyards, looking down the large stone cross that symbolises the famous winery. In the distance I could see a group of people walking towards it—as if they were on a pilgrimage. It was magical, like a painting. Then we walked deep into the cellars. I remember the walls, a rock with water trickling over its surface, a gravel floor and a barrel serving as a tasting table. Bottles of DRC were opened... This experience changed me, gave me an insight into the potential of wine through the mechanics of taste. The penny dropped,' says Jain. The space is a continuing the dialogue between culture, craft and terroir. Photo: Nicolas Facenda For Grégo, the €16 million project was a huge learning. 'We had never built a winery before like this one. We studied for three years before starting construction— that took another three-and-a-half years. Longer than expected, but this was pioneering work.' Finally, the result was a collaboration of individual skill sets, says Jain, preferring to describe Studio Mumbai as one of many collaborators. Engineer Philippe Clement of French company Batiserf was, in his view, pivotal to the project. 'He ensured the material dissolves into pure architecture, while landscape artist Tom Stuart Smith was intuitive in his interpretation of the gardens, planting indigenous shrubs and trees that needed little water… The builders, masons, carpenters—each one claimed ownership of the project.' For Perrin, the project's results exceeded expectations. 'Visitors tell us the place feels timeless, as though it had always been there. But the renovation is a milestone, not an end.... In the new tasting cloisters, we plan to host artist and scientist residencies—continuing the dialogue between culture, craft and terroir that began when an Indian studio helped a Rhône family re-imagine its home.' Ruma Singh is a Bengaluru-based wine and travel writer.
Euronews
5 days ago
- Science
- Euronews
Marie Perrin pioneers rare earth recycling
Rare earth elements (REEs) are vital to everything from smartphones and laptops to wind turbines and electric vehicles – but extracting them comes at a steep environmental cost. Mining one tonne of REEs can generate up to 2,000 tonnes of toxic waste, including radioactive material. French-American chemist Marie Perrin is offering a cleaner solution. At ETH Zürich, she developed a fast, scalable process to recover europium from discarded fluorescent lamps – without the pollution of conventional methods. 'Today, I'm working on bringing to market a technology that I developed during my grad studies on the recycling rare earth elements,' Perrin says. 'They're in your phone, in your computer, and in a lot of green technologies, like wind turbines and electric cars.' 'We have a solution [...] to source these metals from the very waste we produce,' she says. The innovation earned her a place among the top ten Tomorrow Shapers in the European Patent Office's 2025 Young Inventors Prize. The patent-pending process begins by dismantling lamps to safely extract phosphor powder and remove mercury. The powder is dissolved in acid, then combined with sulphur-based molecules that trigger a redox reaction. A golden precipitate forms, rich in europium, while other elements like yttrium remain in solution. The solid is filtered, treated with ammonium oxalate to regenerate the extractant, and finally transformed into usable europium oxide. The method also reduces the need for toxic solvents and allows closed-loop reuse of chemicals. 'Our invention allows us to separate these elements more efficiently. And we do it from waste so that these critical metals are not thrown away,' she says. Born in the US and raised in Toulouse, Perrin was drawn to chemistry from a young age – not least because both her parents are scientists. ''My mum is a chemist, and early on, she shared her passion for chemistry, which really guided me in my studies afterwards,' she says, looking back. Perrin's PhD at ETH Zürich began with work on water purification rather than rare earth separation, but a shift came early in the project when, together with PhD supervisor Professor Victor Mougel, Perrin 'discovered that the molecules that we were using could be used for rare earth separation'. With support from ETH's Technology Transfer Office, Perrin filed a patent application, published her findings in science journal Nature, and co-founded the Swiss startup REEcover with Mougel and longtime friend Maria Pujos. In spite of REEcover's sustainability credentials, it has not all been smooth sailing. 'We reached out to many companies but struggled to make an impact at first,' Perrin recalls. 'When we began to make contacts, we realised that many industries do not have power over their supply chain.' Initially focused on lamps, REEcover is now expanding into recovering rare earths from magnets used in electric vehicles and electronics. The team is running proof-of-concept studies to adapt the method to other waste streams, aiming to push industry towards circular models. For Perrin, this is not science for science's sake. 'Our generation faces many challenges, from global pandemics to climate change,' she says. 'If you have an idea, be bold, be creative and keep pushing the boundaries of human knowledge.'
Yahoo
11-06-2025
- Yahoo
NNPD hosts 3rd annual Gun Violence Awareness Walk at City Center
NEWPORT NEWS, Va. (WAVY) – The police department is hosting the third annual 'Gun Violence Awareness Walk' at City Center Wednesday evening. The walk comes after a string of violence police are hoping to get the public more involved. NNPD hosts 2nd annual Gun Violence Awareness Walk The walk is a way for people to allow themselves to talk to each other about how tired they are about gun violence. In its third year, it's a way for people who call Newport News home a chance to take back the community after recent shootings in the city. One man was seriously hurt at a shooting on Traverse Road, and one woman was killed near the intersection of 27th Street and Wickham Avenue — both at the end of May. As a long time resident of Newport News, James Perrin said he is happy the police are getting involved with the community to stop the violence. 'They patrol around like they are supposed to. But you still got a lot of young people out here doing those sneaky stuff at night,' said Perrin. Dozens of people will walk around the fountains at City Center wearing orange, the symbolic color for gun violence awareness. At 6 p.m., police, city leaders and community members will walk and talk about the collective commitment they have to end gun violence. 'This event serves not only as an important reminder of the seriousness of gun violence both in our community and nationwide, but also as a celebration of our community's commitment to developing lasting solutions to this critical issue,' said Chief of Police, Steve Drew. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Scotsman
28-05-2025
- Scotsman
Cruel pet owner whacks dogs with garden spade (DISTRESSING CONTENT)
This video More videos A pet owner was caught on video swinging a spade down onto her French Bulldogs - but she has not been banned from keeping dogs (WARNING: DISTRESSING CONTENT). Keep up with the latest new videos with the Shots! Newsletter. Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to Edinburgh News, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... This was the horrific moment (click to play above) when an animal abuser was caught wandering around her garden as she whacked her pet dogs with a spade. The RSPCA inspector who reviewed the footage above, described hearing a 'harsh sound and a slight sound of a dog yelping' as Elizabeth Perrin swings a large spade in the garden. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Tameside Magistrates' Court was told that Perrin, of Thorncliffe Avenue, Dunkinfield, wandered around her garden, striking two of the dogs before shouting 'next one'. Despite her actions, Perrin is still allowed to keep dogs as her two children benefit from having an emotional support dog. Dog 'hit with force' RSPCA Inspector Ryan King observed, of the distressing video above: 'One is hit with such force that is knocked off its feet onto its back and struggles to get up for a second.' One pet was seen to be knocked to the ground and RSPCA officers discovered one had been put down after suffering gash wounds. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Perrin was also filmed hitting the pets with a broom and kept them in cramped conditions which failed to prevent them fighting. No dog ban as children have special needs The defendant was subject to a 12-month community order and a 16-week night-time curfew and ordered to pay £700 costs by magistrates on May 14. She admitted causing unnecessary suffering to three dogs by inflicting blunt force trauma and physical violence, and failing to ensure their needs were met by housing them away from other animals. Magistrates decided against banning her from keeping animals because her two children have special needs which benefit from their having support dogs. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Reports of dog fighting Trevor Hague, of Town Lane, Dukinfield, Greater Manchester, was also prosecuted after an RSPCA inquiry. Hague was banned from keeping dogs for six months, fined £604 and ordered to pay £700 costs. Elizabeth Perrin (Date of birth: 04.08.1972), of Thorncliffe Avenue, and Trevor Hague, (date of birth: 22.03.1973) of Town Lane, both Dukinfield, Greater Manchester, were prosecuted after an RSPCA inquiry. | rspca RSPCA Inspector Ryan King said in a statement that he went to the address in Town Lane in November 2021 to investigate reports that a number of dogs on the premises were fighting. The defendants told him they had 20 dogs in total and showed them around an open plan area where a number of the pets were kept. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Injured dog put to sleep He said one young Frenchie, Wizza, was lying on a sofa and 'seemed flat - not jumping around like the other dogs'. The officer added: 'There was a bad smell coming from him, on closer inspection I noticed a number of puncture wounds on his front legs, there was some blood around his ears and further puncture wounds around his groin.' Under his supervision, the pair arranged to take Wizza to see a vet. However, due to his injuries, he was put to sleep to end his suffering and two days later Inspector King collected his body from a pet crematorium and this was given to the police as evidence. 'Hit and kicked' dogs His court statement added that a month later, he viewed two videos which were taken in the back garden of the defendants' home - which he recognized from his previous visits. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'One video showed Trevor Hague, who kicks a dog once to its body. The other video shows Elizabeth Perrin hitting one of the dogs with the brush end of a broom a number of times. 'Again I could identify both Perrin and Hague in the videos as I had met them on multiple occasions. I called Perrin and informed her I needed to visit and speak to her, so I arranged to go round the next day.' Both defendants claimed they 'only hit or kick the dogs to split them up when fighting'. - despite the fact the video showed them not fighting. They agreed to sign the two pets over into RSPCA care. Perrin 'swings spade with some force' However, Inspector King said he was sent another video a month later which showed Perrin wielding a spade on some of her dogs. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'The video showed Elizabeth with a spade in her hands in the garden, she walks through a metal gate to the back half of the garden. There are a number of dogs in this area. Elizabeth brings the spade above her head and swings it down with some force two times, there is some washing which obstructs the view. 'On the first swing I could hear a dull thud as she made contact with something. On the second swing there was more of a harsh sound and a slight sound of a dog yelping. 'She swings the spade down on three dogs that are in the corner, hitting two of the dogs on the head. One is hit with such force that is knocked off its feet onto its back and struggles to get up for a second. 'She then turns around, pauses, looks round at the dogs and shouts 'next one'.' Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Blunt force trauma An expert veterinary witness report said two dogs had been struck with the spade in the video and would have been 'caused to suffer' from blunt force trauma. He added that the welfare needs of a number of other dogs kept by Perrin had not been met because they were not sufficiently separated from each other. In mitigation, it was said of Perrin that the offences took place some time ago, she had pleaded guilty to two offences and was the sole carer for two children with special needs. Pet owner 'deliberately inflicted pain' Hague was said to have expressed remorse and had pleaded guilty to one offence which took place some time ago. He was also banned from keeping dogs for six months. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Inspector King said after the case: 'Having to see that video of someone deliberately inflicting pain on an animal with a weapon was awful.
Scotsman
24-05-2025
- Scotsman
Cruel pet owner whacks dogs with garden spade (DISTRESSING CONTENT)
This video More videos A pet owner was caught on video swinging a spade down onto her French Bulldogs - but she has not been banned from keeping dogs (WARNING: DISTRESSING CONTENT). Keep up with the latest new videos with the Shots! Newsletter. Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... This was the horrific moment (click to play above) when an animal abuser was caught wandering around her garden as she whacked her pet dogs with a spade. The RSPCA inspector who reviewed the footage above, described hearing a 'harsh sound and a slight sound of a dog yelping' as Elizabeth Perrin swings a large spade in the garden. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Tameside Magistrates' Court was told that Perrin, of Thorncliffe Avenue, Dunkinfield, wandered around her garden, striking two of the dogs before shouting 'next one'. Despite her actions, Perrin is still allowed to keep dogs as her two children benefit from having an emotional support dog. Dog 'hit with force' RSPCA Inspector Ryan King observed, of the distressing video above: 'One is hit with such force that is knocked off its feet onto its back and struggles to get up for a second.' One pet was seen to be knocked to the ground and RSPCA officers discovered one had been put down after suffering gash wounds. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Perrin was also filmed hitting the pets with a broom and kept them in cramped conditions which failed to prevent them fighting. No dog ban as children have special needs The defendant was subject to a 12-month community order and a 16-week night-time curfew and ordered to pay £700 costs by magistrates on May 14. She admitted causing unnecessary suffering to three dogs by inflicting blunt force trauma and physical violence, and failing to ensure their needs were met by housing them away from other animals. Magistrates decided against banning her from keeping animals because her two children have special needs which benefit from their having support dogs. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Reports of dog fighting Trevor Hague, of Town Lane, Dukinfield, Greater Manchester, was also prosecuted after an RSPCA inquiry. Hague was banned from keeping dogs for six months, fined £604 and ordered to pay £700 costs. Elizabeth Perrin (Date of birth: 04.08.1972), of Thorncliffe Avenue, and Trevor Hague, (date of birth: 22.03.1973) of Town Lane, both Dukinfield, Greater Manchester, were prosecuted after an RSPCA inquiry. | rspca RSPCA Inspector Ryan King said in a statement that he went to the address in Town Lane in November 2021 to investigate reports that a number of dogs on the premises were fighting. The defendants told him they had 20 dogs in total and showed them around an open plan area where a number of the pets were kept. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Injured dog put to sleep He said one young Frenchie, Wizza, was lying on a sofa and 'seemed flat - not jumping around like the other dogs'. The officer added: 'There was a bad smell coming from him, on closer inspection I noticed a number of puncture wounds on his front legs, there was some blood around his ears and further puncture wounds around his groin.' Under his supervision, the pair arranged to take Wizza to see a vet. However, due to his injuries, he was put to sleep to end his suffering and two days later Inspector King collected his body from a pet crematorium and this was given to the police as evidence. 'Hit and kicked' dogs His court statement added that a month later, he viewed two videos which were taken in the back garden of the defendants' home - which he recognized from his previous visits. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'One video showed Trevor Hague, who kicks a dog once to its body. The other video shows Elizabeth Perrin hitting one of the dogs with the brush end of a broom a number of times. 'Again I could identify both Perrin and Hague in the videos as I had met them on multiple occasions. I called Perrin and informed her I needed to visit and speak to her, so I arranged to go round the next day.' Both defendants claimed they 'only hit or kick the dogs to split them up when fighting'. - despite the fact the video showed them not fighting. They agreed to sign the two pets over into RSPCA care. Perrin 'swings spade with some force' However, Inspector King said he was sent another video a month later which showed Perrin wielding a spade on some of her dogs. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'The video showed Elizabeth with a spade in her hands in the garden, she walks through a metal gate to the back half of the garden. There are a number of dogs in this area. Elizabeth brings the spade above her head and swings it down with some force two times, there is some washing which obstructs the view. 'On the first swing I could hear a dull thud as she made contact with something. On the second swing there was more of a harsh sound and a slight sound of a dog yelping. 'She swings the spade down on three dogs that are in the corner, hitting two of the dogs on the head. One is hit with such force that is knocked off its feet onto its back and struggles to get up for a second. 'She then turns around, pauses, looks round at the dogs and shouts 'next one'.' Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Blunt force trauma An expert veterinary witness report said two dogs had been struck with the spade in the video and would have been 'caused to suffer' from blunt force trauma. He added that the welfare needs of a number of other dogs kept by Perrin had not been met because they were not sufficiently separated from each other. In mitigation, it was said of Perrin that the offences took place some time ago, she had pleaded guilty to two offences and was the sole carer for two children with special needs. Pet owner 'deliberately inflicted pain' Hague was said to have expressed remorse and had pleaded guilty to one offence which took place some time ago. He was also banned from keeping dogs for six months. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Inspector King said after the case: 'Having to see that video of someone deliberately inflicting pain on an animal with a weapon was awful.
