libyan foreign bank ( lfb ) was established in 1972 in tripoli , libya as libyan arab foreign bank ; it was renamed libyan foreign bank in 2005 .

it was libya 's first offshore banking institution licensed to operate internationally .

the head office is located in libya 's capital tripoli .

since 2010 , the bank owns 84 % of british arab commercial bank , and 68 % of banca ubae ( est. 1972 ) in rome .

libyan foreign bank

libyan foreign bank ( a libyan joint stock company ) was established under lwa no . 18 / 1972 , and is subjected to law no . 1 / 2005 on banking , the commercial law and its amendments and related regulations .
libyan foreign bank would also focus on “strengthening” operations in chad , burkina faso , togo , algeria and tunisia and was looking to move into eastern and southern africa either with a partner or alone .
“al baraka has historical and strong relations with the libyan banks and the libyan market , especially the libyan foreign bank , which plays a leading role in libya , africa , asia , europe and america and owns main participations in 40 banking and financial institutions in all these countries…it is natural to look forward to working with the libyan foreign bank to integrate our large resources and potentials in all forms and fields of banking to achieve mutual benefit and to improve the integrated work models among the arab banking institutions , ” said adnan ahmed yousif .
any investment of more than 5 percent in an italian bank needs the approval of the bank of italy .
leading bahrain - based islamic banking group al - baraka banking group ( abg ) have signed a memorandum of understanding ( mou ) with the libyan foreign bank ( lfb ) to develop their banking relations across the board .
al baraka banking group , b . s . c ( abg ) , the leading bahrain - based banking group , has signed a memorandum of understanding ( mou ) with the libyan foreign bank ( lfb ) , the leading arab bank in africa , to collaborate in all banking areas .
the mou was signed by mr . adnan ahmed yousif , president & chief executive of abg and chairman of al baraka turk participation bank on behalf of al baraka banking group and mr . mohamed mohamed a . ben yousef , general manager of lfb on behalf of the libyan foreign bank .
, the united nations security council significantly relaxed its economic sanctions against libya by ( i ) declaring that the libyan national oil corporation and zueitina oil company were no longer subject to asset freezing and other requirements and ( ii ) exempting the central bank of libya , the libyan investment authority and other libyan entities from most sanctions measures .
mr . saddek omar elkaber , governor of the central bank of libya met with mr . marwan alabasi , governor of the central bank of tunisia on…
) holds 48 percent , to make the bank a hub for its european operations .
libya is struggling to reform a highly - centralised banking system , seen widely as an obstacle to private investment and growth . the central bank said in march it aimed to grant licences allowing foreign lenders to operate in libya next year .
summary of the speech of mr . saddek omar elkaber , governor of the central bank of libya on 5 - 6 - 2018 at the press conference held concerning the libyan economic dialogue in tunisia
on the occasion , mr . adnan ahmed yousif said , al baraka has historical and strong relations with the libyan banks and the libyan market , especially the libyan foreign bank , which plays a leading role in libya , africa , asia , europe and america and owns main participations in 40 banking and financial institutions in all these countries . al baraka banking group , which has a good presence in the libyan market through its representative office , has a strong presence around the world and has 703 branches through its banking units in 15 arab , asian and african countries . the group will soon open its banking unit in morocco and have well - planned programs to expand in africa and asia , based on long - standing islamic banking experience , deep knowledge of the markets in which its units are located , with a strong network of relationships , wide financial and human resources and a rich record of excellent financial performance . therefore , it is natural to look forward to working with the libyan foreign bank to integrate our large resources and potentials in all forms and fields of banking to achieve mutual benefit and to improve the integrated work models among the arab banking institutions .
the bank is a corporate body having independent financial status and its assets only consulting guarantee to its liabilities .
bait - elmal said lfb would look to tap into its home economy by providing project finance in foreign currency and had taken part in a deal to finance the purchase of oil tankers .
the signing ceremony was held at the headquarters of al baraka turk participation bank at the attendance of a number of officials in the two institutions led by mr . meliksah utku the general manager of al baraka turk participation bank .
©copyright 2018 al baraka banking group ( licensed as an islamic wholesale bank by cbb ) , all rights reserved .
the mou was signed by president and chief executive of abg and chairman of al baraka turk participation bank , adnan ahmed yousif , and the general manager of lfb , mohamed mohamed ben yousef . meliksah utku , general manager of al - baraka türk participation bank also attended the signing which took place in istanbul at the headquarters of al - baraka turk participation bank .
in the framework of cooperation and collaborations between institutions , mr . saddek omar elkaber , governor of the central bank of libya…
lfb operates through its head office in tripoli – libya . the purpose of the bank is represented in overseas investments and banking activities and complementary and related financial activities . the bank practices the activity of opening accounts and accepting deposits from abroad and non - residents , in addition to banking and financial transactions with commercial local banks and any related banking activities licensed by central bank of libya .
in the presence of mr . saddek omar elkaber , governor of the central bank of libya , departments of the cbl held a…
secretary mnuchin leads u . s . delegation to g - 20 finance ministers and central bank governors meeting in buenos aires , argentina
most recently , the bank concluded its third brainstorming session which took place on march 11th and 12th in tunis attended by libyan economists , public administration , and private sector representatives . the initiative comes as an effort from the world bank in supporting the government of national accord in particular on an economic recovery and social stability prioritization and sequencing . the objective of the libya dialogue and planning exercise will be to bring libyans from different horizons together for a discussions to forge a locally defined and libyan owned vision and plan for recovery and development in the country .
the bank is committed to supporting libya’s transition and economic recovery through technical assistance and analytical services , as well as trust fund and grant financing . the bank has been implementing a program of post - conflict technical assistance ( ta ) with the authorities and development partners , and carrying out analysis since reengaging in october 2011 . post - conflict recovery priorities were defined jointly with the libyan authorities and are underpinned by analysis prepared with the united nations , the european union and the world bank group as part of a “watching brief” launched during the 2011 conflict .
mr . saddek omar elkaber , governor of the central bank of libya meets with mr . ahmed doghan the turkish ambassador to libya at…
mr . saddek omar elkaber , governor of the central bank of libya met with mr . ronald shtorm , ambassador of austria to libya and…
the mou aims to establish a close cooperation framework through which the two parties can activate joint initiatives and banking activities , as well as prepare technical cooperation programs in the future . it also includes the exchange of knowledge by al baraka banking group , which will benefit the libyan foreign bank in the field of islamic banking , enhance cooperation in correspondent banking and commercial finance operations between the two banks as preferred trading partners , and further cooperation in liquidity management , investments , exchanging information and ideas and making use of the network of resources available to each party .
a meeting was held at the central bank of libya on friday night 6 - 6 - 2018 , with the attendance of mr . saddek omar…
( lfb ) is a commercial bank that provides a wide range of banking services for clients in libya and internationally . the central bank of libya owns 100 % of lfb . the bank provides short - term loans , medium - term loans , long - term loans , and syndicated loans , credits cover , documentary credits , letters of guarantee , and overdraft services , demand and term deposits . lfb also provides banking transactions and services .
ansar al - sharia ran training camps for foreign fighters , including a significant number of tunisians , travelling to syria , iraq and mali . individuals associated with ansar al - sharia participated in the september 2012 attacks on the us diplomatic mission in benghazi .
set up in 1972 , the bank is an offshore institution licensed to operate internationally and does not provide banking services in its home north african market .
on august 31 , 2011 , canada lifted its unilateral sanctions imposed against libya under the special economic measures act . these contained a number of requirements and prohibitions concerning activities involving the government of libya and its departments , institutions and agencies , including the central bank of libya . a summary of these and other canadian sanctions measures imposed against libya on february 27 , 2011 can be found here . although canada’s unilateral sanctions against libya no longer apply , until now , measures imposed under canada’s united nations act remained in force , including restrictions on dealings with the central bank of libya , the libyan national oil corporation , and the libyan investment authority as well as entities owned or controlled by them .
with the prospects of a possible government of national accord , the world bank group is increasing its partnership with other donor agencies to help gathering relevant libyan stakeholders to discuss change and reform and seeking some sort of consensus on how should we reengage and support the restoration of key institutions as well as coordinated international offer of support to the new libyan government . despite the current political crisis , the world bank has not stopped its technical assistance to libya . the on - going work has been selective in content and counterparts , focusing on building the capacity of the public administration counterparts with whom strong working relations had been established before the political crisis materialized . in particular in the areas of public financial management , governance , internal control , islamic banking , energy , private sector development and decentralization . this program is being funded by world bank and trust fund resources .
on september 23 , 2011 , canada amended its libyan sanctions regime to implement recent steps taken by the united nations security council significantly relaxing measures imposed against libya . canadian companies should be reviewing these changes to ensure that their compliance programs are fully up - to - date and any resumption of activity involving libya or libyan entities is fully compliant with economic sanctions measures that remain in force .
it has held a 0 . 56 percent stake in unicredit since 1997 and bought another 3 . 67 percent together with the libyan investment authority , the oil - exporter’s sovereign wealth fund , in october .
although several budgets have been presented by the tripoli administration and the hor ( tobruk , eastern administration ) , the central bank of libya ( cbl ) did not acknowledge any budget as being the legal , legitimate libyan budget for fy2015 . in effect , neither the budget submitted by rival parliaments in tripoli and in the eastern city of tobruk have been recognized . the central bank of libya ( cbl ) has only disbursed funds regarding wages and salaries ( chapter 1 ) ; student scholarships abroad ; oil / gas sector development ; electricity ( chapter 3 ) ; and , essential subsides items ( chapter 4 ) .
the world bank group works in every major area of development . we provide a wide array of financial products and technical assistance , and we help countries share and apply innovative knowledge and solutions to the challenges they face .
neither turkey nor qatar have the same level influence on the government of national salvation and its allies that egypt and the uae have on the tobruk side . turkish companies have , according to the un panel of experts , delivered weapons to one side ( the defunct libya dawn coalition ) and qatar has maintained links with one libyan politician and former jihadist – abdelhakim belhadj – since 2011 . yet none of the major libyan actors respond to input from ankara or doha the way that tobruk aligns itself with cairo’s policies .
isis also had a smaller presence on the outskirts of sabratha , a coastal town in western libya , until a combination of us airstrikes and attacks by local forces – including former jihadists from that first generation – managed to uproot the militants earlier this year . in benghazi , those fighting haftar’s operation dignity include libyan and foreign members of isis . although sirte was the group’s ostensible base , isis sleeper cells operate in tripoli and other cities and towns in libya . while the pentagon estimated there were over 6 , 000 isis fighters in libya prior to the bam operation , the un and many libyans believed that the actual number was much lower .
lfb started exercising its activity in the year 1972 with a paid up capital of 20 million libyan dinars ( equivalent to 67 . 4 million usd ) . at the beginning of the year 2006 the paid up capital of lfb has increased to 1 billion usd .
a number of other militias in tripoli and its hinterland , some of which have links to figures from the now defunct libyan islamic fighting group ( lifg ) , have been sceptical of the unity government from the outset and have clashed with kara and tajouri’s forces .
the tobruk centre of power has also established its own central bank and its own noc which are not recognised on international markets and which were supposed to merge with their tripoli counterparts . the merger has , so far , not happened .
with 189 member countries , staff from more 170 countries , and offices in over 130 locations , the world bank group is a unique global partnership : five institutions working for sustainable solutions that reduce poverty and build shared prosperity in developing countries .
the brsc’s ranks were fed by youth radicalised by haftar’s scattergun campaign , which sought not only to eradicate islamists of all stripes , including the muslim brotherhood , but also took on an ethnic character at times , targeting families of western libyan – and particularly misratan – origin in the city .
many of these fighters fled sirte before bam forces entered the city . they then travelled in three directions : south - west towards sebha , west towards sabratha and south - east towards the border with sudan . most foreign intelligence estimates hold that the group now has upwards of 600 fighters , mostly scattered across libya’s south - west and central regions , with notable concentrations around bani walid and the area south of sirte , including the jufra hinterland .
the third centre of power is made up of the authorities based in tobruk and bayda , which were also supposed to work under the lpa . the house of representatives ( hor ) in tobruk would become the legitimate legislative authority under the lpa but it has so far failed to pass a valid constitutional amendment to enshrine itself as an authoritative institution . instead the hor endorsed the rival government of abdullah al - thinni which operates from the eastern libyan city of bayda . the tobruk and bayda authorities have been aligned with the egypt - aligned , self - described anti - islamist general khalifa haftar , who leads the libyan national army ( lna ) .
canadian companies seeking to engage or to re - engage in business with libya or involving libyan - owned or controlled entities should tread carefully . it will be important to closely review the remaining sanctions in canada , the united states and the european union to ensure companies continue to maintain effective due diligence and full compliance with applicable requirements .
the international finance corporation ( ifc ) , the world bank’s private sector arm , is keen to support the private sector in libya through its investment and advisory services . in the short term , creating access to finance for small and medium enterprises , and especially leasing , is an immediate area which ifc will start working on . on the advisory side , the ifc is working to raise awareness and provide capacity building for the financial sector as well as private participation in infrastructure development , possibly through promoting public private partnerships . the ifc and the world bank are coordinating support to strengthen the financial and private sectors .
al baraka banking group ( b . s . c ) is licensed as an islamic wholesale bank by the central bank of bahrain , listed on bahrain bourse and nasdaq dubai stock exchanges . it is a leading international islamic banking group providing its unique services in countries with a population totaling around one billion . it is jointly rated bbb + ( long term ) / a3 ( short term ) on the international scale and a + ( bh ) ( long term ) / a2 ( bh ) ( short term ) on the national by islamic international rating agency & dagong global credit rating company limited , and by standard & poor ' s at bb + ( long term ) / b ( short term ) .
the cost of the political conflict has taken a severe toll on the libyan economy , which has remained in recession for the third consecutive year in 2015 . political strife , weak security conditions , and blockaded oil infrastructures continue to constrain the supply side of the economy . production of crude oil fell to around 0 . 4 million barrels per day ( bpd ) or the fourth of potential . the non - hydrocarbon output remained weak due to disruptions in the supply chains of both domestic and foreign inputs , as well as lack of financing . in this context , gdp is estimated to have declined by 10 percent and per capita income has fallen to less than us $ 4 , 500 compared to almost us $ 13 , 000 in 2012 . inflation strongly accelerated last year driven by high food prices . lack of funding to finance imports , especially subsidized food , generated chronic shortages in basic commodities and expansion of black markets activities . this situation was exacerbated by households attempting to stockpile food . inflation averaged 9 . 2 percent in 2015 , mainly driven by a 13 . 7 percent rise in food prices . prices of flour and bread quintupled .
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we start by providing an overview of financial systems in the african continent . we then consider the regions of arab north africa , west africa , east and central africa , and southern africa in more detail . the paper covers , among other things , central banks , deposit - taking banks , non - bank institutions , such as the stock markets , fixed income markets , insurance markets , and microfinance institutions .
two other institutions are based in tripoli and play a major role in libya’s politics . the central bank of libya , which is where oil money is paid and government money is disbursed . though pledging loyalty to the pc , it has had an uneasy relationship with it . the national oil corporation ( noc ) is also formally loyal to the pc but has had relatively good working relations with haftar’s lna after its seizure of eastern oil ports .
also called tandhim ad - dawla ( the organisation of the state ) by libyans , isis controlled the central mediterranean coast of libya around the city of sirte until a misratan - led operation to uproot it began in may . isis has carried out attacks in all major libyan cities , including the capital tripoli . isis has also had a presence in other parts of libya , including benghazi , where it was largely defeated by heftar’s lna . its affiliates have mostly been driven out from the towns of derna and sabratha by anti - haftar forces .
local returnees from syria helped form libya’s first isis affiliate in the eastern town of derna in 2014 . many had fought as part of isis’s al - battar unit in northern syria before returning home to replicate the model with help from senior non - libyan isis figures . the leadership of isis in libya has always been dominated by foreigners . its leader earlier this year was abd al - qadir al - najdi , whose name suggests saudi origins . he replaced an iraqi whom the us claims it killed in an airstrike in eastern libya in 2015 .
companies that accept and manage deposits from individuals , firms , and governments and channel the funds into lending activities . offshore banks carry out their activities such that they are located in countries ( or designated areas within countries ) that provide financial and legal advantages not available in the country of residence of the depositors . advantages include bank secrecy , less restrict and transportive legal regulation , low or no taxation , protection against local political or financial instability , or other advantages . includes conventional and islamic banks .
no other arab country plays as powerful a role in libya as egypt . testament to egypt’s involvement in the region is the regular travel libyan leaders make to cairo . the relationship between tobruk and egypt is not just defined by significant arms deliveries but also by a shared political project : eradicating political islam and enhancing the autonomy of eastern libya . for egypt , according to some authors , having cyrenaica – the eastern region of libya – under the role of a leader that is friendly to egypt ( haftar for instance ) would create a buffer zone with isis and a territorial hinterland for any opposition to the regime in cairo .
although sharing some of the same goals as egypt , the uae has a more nuanced position on the situation in libya . reportedly , it has been more supportive of un negotiations and ultimately less engaged on libya since its intervention in yemen . nevertheless , emirati weapons are still delivered to both haftar and the militias of the city - state of zintan , according to a report from a un panel of experts . moreover , the uae’s political influence should not be underestimated . aref al - nayed , who was libyan ambassador to abu dhabi until he resigned in october , was key to the uae’s role in libya and was even touted as potential prime minister at one point .
at the moment libya has three centres of power . the first is the presidency council ( pc ) , which has been based in tripoli since 30 march 2016 . the pc is headed by fayez al - sarraj – a former member of the tobruk parliament , where he represented a tripoli constituency – and it was born out of the signing of the un - brokered libyan political agreement ( lpa ) in december 2015 . according to this agreement , the pc presides over the government of national accord ( gna ) , also based in tripoli . the gna should be endorsed by the tobruk - based house of representatives ( hor ) ac - cording to the agreement , but on two occasions the hor has voted down the list of ministers .
developments over the past year have made elements associated with the former gaddafi regime more confident than at any point since his ousting in 2011 . saif al - islam gaddafi , the son of the former libyan dictator , was reported “freed” in june 2017 after being held for six years by a militia in zintan . speculation that he seeks to make a comeback – though in what way is not clear – continues amid growing consensus that former regime elements should be included in any sustainable political settlement . the former regime camp is far from united or cohesive , however , and includes prominent figures like saif al - islam , tribal elements , and armed groups including the one that sabotaged the great man made river project in late 2017 , disrupting the water supply in tripoli and its environs .
while khalifa haftar is recognised as general commander of the armed forces by the hor in eastern libya , his self - styled libyan national army ( lna ) is a mix of military units and tribal or regional - based armed groups , and is not recognised as a proper army by all military personnel across the east or west of libya . a number of senior military figures refused to join haftar’s operation dignity against islamists when it launched in may 2014 . some of these have since joined forces with his adversaries , whether cooperating with militias that comprised the now defunct anti - haftar libya dawn coalition in western libya , or joining with local jihadist - led groups to drive isis out from the eastern town of derna . haftar’s opponents claim his irregular forces include sudanese mercenaries , particularly from the darfuri rebel group jem .
protracted political standoff , coupled with lower international oil prices and generous subsidies have weakened public finances and external position . budget revenues from the hydrocarbon sector have fallen to only a fifth of their pre - revolution levels , while spending has remained high . the share of the public wage bill in gdp is astronomic ( around 60 percent ) , mainly reflecting a plethoric public sector . meanwhile , investments have been insufficient for sustaining adequate public provision for health , education , electricity , water and sanitation services . however , savings have been realized on subsidies thanks to tougher control of the supply chains of subsidized products and lower import prices . overall , the budget deficit rose from 43 percent of gdp in 2014 to more than 75 percent of gdp in 2015 . being highly dependent on hydrocarbon exports and food imports , libya’s balance of payments suffered in 2015 . representing 97 percent of total exports , oil receipts are estimated to have declined to less than 15 percent of their 2012 level . meanwhile , consumption driven imports remained high . as a result , the current account swung from balance in 2013 to a deficit estimated at around 76 percent of gdp in 2015 . to finance these deficits , net foreign reserves are rapidly being depleted .
figure 1 below provides a snapshot of 2012 - 2015 libyan national budget . during the 2010 - 2013 period , the executed budget did not typically exceed the overall amount authorized by parliament , but its composition substantially differed from that of the approved budget . the overall rate of budget execution was around 80 percent in 2010 and 2012 and was about 93 percent in 2013 . there has been no approved ( official ) budget over the past two years ( 2014 - 2015 ) . in fy2012 , development budget spending accounted for slightly more than 52 % of all government spending , with wages and salaries comprising 24 % . however , over the past several years , development spending has virtually collapsed , comprising an estimated 15 % of total government spending in fy2015 , down from a budgeted 52 % of total budget spending in fy2012 .
immediate challenges are to manage fiscal spending pressures while restoring and improving basic public services . a longer term goal is to help develop the framework and institutions for a more diversified market - based economy , broadening the economic base beyond the oil and gas sector . although the bank’s post - conflict engagement was initially expected to accompany only libya’s short term economic recovery efforts , the transition program will lay the foundation for longer term goals . this includes creating a more vibrant and competitive economy with a level playing field for the private sector to create sustainable jobs and wealth . it also includes transforming the management of oil revenues to ensure they are used in the best interests of the country and to the benefit of all citizens equally . this will also ensure that citizens have a role in defining and voicing their communities’ best interests .
libya’s jihadist network can be divided along generational lines , starting with those who emerged in the 1980s . many from that older generation fought against soviet - backed forces in afghanistan . these veterans later created a number of groups in opposition to muammar gaddafi , the largest of which was the libyan islamic fighting group ( lifg ) which is now defunct . several former lifg figures , including its final leader , abdelhakim belhadj , played key roles in the 2011 uprising and went on to participate in the country’s democratic transition , forming political parties , running in elections , and serving as deputy ministers in government as in the case of khaled sherif at the ministry of defence . this did not sit well with the second and third generation of jihadists – among the former were those who fought in iraq after 2003 , among the latter were those who fought in syria after 2011 – who lean towards more radical ideologies and reject democracy as un - islamic . the libyans that have joined isis tend to come from the second and third generations .
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al baraka offers retail , corporate , treasury and investment banking services , strictly in accordance with the principles of the islamic shari ' a . the authorized capital of al baraka is us $ 1 . 5 billion , while total equity is at about us $ 2 billion . the group has a wide geographical presence in the form of subsidiary banking units and representative offices in fifteen countries , which in turn provide their services through over 700 branches . al baraka currently has a strong presence in turkey , jordan , egypt , algeria , tunisia , sudan , bahrain , pakistan , south africa , lebanon , syria , iraq and saudi arabia , including two representative offices in indonesia and libya .
mr . ahmed mohamed ben barka ( chairman ) , mohamed m . benyousef ( md )
that al emad complex , tower 2 p . o . box 2542 , tripoli
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on 29 / 12 / 2009 the extraordinary general assembly meeting of shareholders of lfb decided to increase its capital to 2 billion usd as per decision no . 1 for the year 2009 .
furthermore , the extraordinary general assembly meeting of shareholders of lfb decided in its meeting dated 21 / 02 / 2010 to increase its capital with another 1 billion usd as per decision no . 2 for the year 2010 and with this increase the paid up capital of lfb amounts to 3 billion usd with an authorized capital of 8 . 7 billion usd divided into 87 million shares at a value of 100 usd per share .
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“the mou aims to establish a close cooperation framework through which the two parties can activate joint initiatives and banking activities , as well as prepare technical cooperation programs in the future , ” abg has said .
the mou will include the exchange of information , which in the case of the lfb should benefit it in the field of islamic banking . it is also hoped it will enhance cooperation in correspondent banking and commercial finance operations between the two who have identified each other as “preferred trading partners . ” additionally , the mou will work towards further cooperation in liquidity management , investment and taking advantage of the network of resources available to each party .
firms that carry out proprietary investments ( i . e . their own funds ) in private , government , and publicly listed companies . the investment companies include holding companies , investment groups , and other firms .
companies that primarily invest in companies that operate in various sectors . the investment companies include conventional and islamic private equity , holding , and venture capital firms .
companies that provide financial services and products that facilitate the creation , liquidation , or change in ownership of money and other financial assets . includes credit - related services , investment - related services , oversight services , investment banking , all other banking , insurance , central banks and monetary authorities , and stock exchanges .
companies that collect funds through accepting deposits and channel the funds into lending activities . the companies also provide services that facilitate the lending of funds such as mortgage and loan brokerage services , clearinghouse and reserve services , check cashing services , and other banking operations such as providing atms . includes conventional and islamic commercial , specialized , offshore , and online banks .
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asian refiners buying more oil from outside iran after u . s . sanctions - kpc ceo
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the btl network in tunisia is now made up of 15 agencies employing 250 executives and agents .
libya , home to africa’s largest oil reserves , has seen revenue grow as it emerges from decades of western sanctions , and the government is looking abroad for profitable investments .
“our capital is $ 1 billion , we hope to get it up to $ 10 billion , that’s our plan . . . hopefully in the next two to three years , ” chairman mohamed bait - elmal said , adding that the lender would get the additional funds from shareholders .
“we are going to have a new strategy because of the changes in the world , ” bait - elmal told reporters on the sidelines of a banking conference in dubai . “we would like to have participation in london , usa , paris , rome . ”
western firms have turned increasingly to arab oil exporters and their sovereign wealth funds for cash as the financial crisis freezes credit markets and hits their market values .
“we will buy hsbc’s shares . . . they will go down to 19 percent and we will be buy the rest , ” bait - elmal said , adding it would also buy shares from other shareholders to take its stake above 70 percent . “we hope to have it by end of the year . ”
lfb , which already has subsidiaries in france and spain , will also inject more capital into rome - based banca ubae , in which it holds a 49 . 9 percent stake , according to its website .
in libya there are very few truly national actors . the vast majority are local players , some of whom are relevant at the national level while representing the interests of their region , or in most cases , their city . many important actors , particularly outside of the largest cities , also have tribal allegiances .
since the summer of 2014 , political power has been split between two rival governments in tripoli and in tobruk , with the latter having been recognised by the international community before the creation of the presidency council ( pc ) – the body that acts collectively as head of state and supreme commander of the armed forces – in december 2015 . several types of actor scramble for power in today’s libya : armed groups ; “city - states” , particularly in western and southern libya ; and tribes , which are particularly relevant in eastern and southern libya .
the second centre of power is the rival , but ever weakening government of national salvation headed by prime minister khalifa ghwell – resting on the authority of a rump of the general national congress ( gnc ) , the resurrected parliament originally elected in 2012 . the government of national salvation was also based in tripoli , although it no longer controls any relevant institutions . in october 2016 , ghwell tried to reassert himself but failed to gain wider support and his forces were kicked out from tripoli in the spring of 2017 . the vast majority of the members of the gnc ( also known as the “tripoli parliament” ) have been moved across to the state council , a consultative body created under the lpa which convenes in tripoli and is headed by abdul rahman swehli , a misratan politician ( and hor member ) who had previously been threatened with eu individual sanctions .
initially , the pc comprised nine members . two of them started boycotting its meetings early on , while others became inactive over time so that now only two figures re - main active on a daily basis within the council : pc president sarraj and his deputy , ahmed maiteeq .
prime minister al - sarraj is not a strong figure on his own , but some of the other eight members that originally madke up his pc have close links to powerful stakeholders .
his deputy , ahmed maiteeq , who served a short stint as prime minister of libya before being hit by a court ruling , comes from the powerful city - state of misrata , which is the biggest backer of the gna from both a political and military standpoint , though some elements in the city remain opposed to it . misrata’s militias were a crucial component in the downfall of gaddafi and are still one of the two most relevant military forces in the country , having taken the lead in the fight against the islamic state group ( isis ) in sirte in 2016 .
another important deputy is ali faraj al - qatrani , who is aligned with general haftar , who in turn heads the lna – the other large military force . al - qatrani has boycotted meetings of the pc almost from start on the grounds that it is not inclusive enough , and has publicly called for military rule under the lna .
another member of the presidency council , omar ahmed al - aswad , who comes from the town - state of zintan in western libya , has also previously boycotted the meetings of the pc . zintan played an important role in the fall of gaddafi - controlled tripoli in 2011 and the head of its military council , osama jweili , was appointed commander of the gna’s western region military zone in june 2017 .
others include abdessalam kajman , who aligned with the justice and construction party of which the muslim brotherhood is the largest component while another deputy musa al - kuni was selected to represent southern libya but later resigned .
finally , mohammed ammari represents the pro - gna faction within the gnc and fathi al - majburi , who was once an ally of the facilities guards ( pfg ) commander ibrahim jadhran until he was dislodged from key eastern oil ports by the lna .
the speaker of the general national congress nouri abusahmain and the prime minister of the “government of national salvation” , khalifa ghwell , come from the cities of zwara and misrata respectively . their military support base is the steadfastness front ( jabhat al - samud ) of salah badi . initially they represented the libya dawn coalition which included islamists , the city - state of misrata , and several other western cities ( including parts of the amazigh minority ) . both ghwell and abusah - main have been hostile to the pc and have been subjected to sanctions by the eu because of this . their support base has shrunk considerably and , at the moment , it is unclear whether they are capable of re - establishing a presence in tripoli .
the relationship between haftar and the speaker of the tobruk parliament , aguila saleh issa , has ebbed and flowed since 2015 . over the past year , it has become in - creasingly strained . haftar oversees his forces from his headquarters in marj ( in eastern libya ) and has exerted pressure on both the bayda government and the hor in tobruk . in july 2017 , haftar declared that his forces had “liberated” benghazi from both the islamist - dominated benghazi revolutionary shura council and isis , but fighting continues in pockets of the city . haftar’s camp has faced several challenges from within and without , not least from erstwhile ally faraj ghaim , who was appointed deputy interior minister of the government of national accord in 2017 .
nevertheless , over time egypt has put out at least two statements that contradict this position . on the one hand , diplomats and the mfa have given assurances of their support to the un - led political process ; on the other , the security apparatus has supported haftar , even when it was clear that he was on a collision course with un - backed unity efforts .
the two maghrebian countries , while having a high level of interest in what happens in libya , have not built a network of proxies in the country like other arab or regional powers . both countries have been vocal supporters of reconciliation and a political solution while closely coordinating with each other to contain the spillover from isis’ presence in libya .
the terms “army” and “militia” mean different things to different libyans and this is one of the consequences of the political power struggle that has roiled libya since 2014 .
haftar’s lna has different degrees of control in the area of central and eastern libya that stretches from ben jawad to the border with egypt . in this part of the country , lna’s colonel nadhuri is the military governor and he has replaced elected officials with military figures to head most municipalities across the east .
drawing its strength from a web of tribal alliances , haftar’s lna has expanded its presence across the area of central and eastern libya that stretches from ben jawad to the border with egypt , with the exception of the town of derna which has been besieged by lna - aligned forces for over a year . the lna appointed its colonel abdulrazaq nadhuri as military governor of eastern libya and he has replaced elected officials with military figures to head most municipalities across the east .
the libya dawn militia alliance that formed partly in response to haftar’s operation dignity in summer 2014 , and which drove then dignity - allied militias from the western town of zintan from tripoli , no longer exists . the coalition was made up of both islamist and non - islamist militias , armed groups from tripoli and the port city of mis - rata , and fighters from other parts of western libya , including from the amazigh mi - nority . it had fractured long before the un - brokered deal aimed at establishing a unity government was signed in late 2015 , with tensions growing between misratan factions and tripoli - based groups in particular .
at present , tripoli’s armed groups can be broadly categorised in terms of whether or not they support the unity government led by sarraj . most are either explicitly supportive of , or ambivalent towards , the unity government . one of the most important figures supporting the government is abdel rauf kara , leader of the special deterrent force ( or rada ) which is based in the maitiga complex , also home to tripoli’s only operating airport . kara’s salafist - leaning forces – which number around 1 , 500 – once sought to present themselves as a type of police force for the city , targeting alcohol and drug sellers in particular . now they focus their efforts on tackling isis cells and sympathisers in the capital . armed groups from the suq al - jumaa area of tripoli , including the nawasi brigade , are also key to securing the unity government .
another powerful figure in tripoli is haithem tajouri , who heads the city’s largest militia . tajouri , whose tripoli revolutionaries brigade ( trb ) has threatened and intimidated officials since 2012 , is not a particularly political figure . his priority is protecting the considerable interests he has accrued in the capital .
long - standing tensions between associates of sheikh sadeq al - gheriani , who was appointed mufti in 2011 , and adherents of a particular strand of salafism inspired by a saudi sheikh called rabee al - madkhali , have increased in recent years . colloquially known as madkhalis , they detest the muslim brotherhood and all forms of political islam . as a result , many madkhalis joined haftar’s operation dignity in eastern libya . their critics suspect they may be a trojan horse for saudi influence in libya . kara’s rada force contains a large number of madkhalis , as do a number of other militias in tripoli . the disappearance and presumed killing in 2016 of nader al - omrani , a member of al - gheriani’s dar al - ifta , was blamed on madkhalis , who have made clear their doctrinal disagreements with al - gheriani and his circle . in mid - 2017 , armed groups aligned with al - gheriani and figures from the former lifg lost territory and influence in the capital . several key personalities from this milieu are now based outside libya .
the prosperous port city of misrata is home to libya’s largest and most powerful militias . local rivalries feed the power - play between the city’s constellation of armed groups . several prominent political and business figures in misrata support the unity government , which includes misratan businessman ahmed maiteeq , as deputy prime minister . this has helped secure the backing of a number of the main armed groups from the city , including the two biggest – the halbous and the mahjoub brigades . a wildcard in misrata is salah badi , a controversial former parliamentarian and militia leader who was a key figure in the libya dawn alliance in 2014 and who opposes the un - backed unity government . tensions have also grown between the city’s mili - tary council and its municipal council , with the former attempting to unseat the latter .


roman and williams buildings and interiors is a manhattan-based american design firm founded by robin standefer and stephen alesch in 2002 .

recipients of a 2014 cooper hewitt national design award for interior design , roman and williams has been called " one of the most sought-after design outfits " by w magazine and was named one of america ’s 50 most influential designers by fast company in 2011 .

known for what the wall street journal has named " slow design , " with its emphasis on craft and substance , the firm undertakes building design , interior design , branding , as well as the design of custom furniture , lighting , and plumbing fittings and fixtures .

roman and williams

roman and williams for waterworks – r . w . atlas hardware — roman and williams
custom wall sconces in cast glass and copper were designed by roman and williams . . .
glassdoor gives you an inside look at what it ' s like to work at roman and williams , including salaries , reviews , office photos , and more . this is the roman and williams company profile . all content is posted anonymously by employees working at roman and williams .
roman and williams founders robin standefer and stephen alesch , on their redesign of the royalton hotel lobby .
golden globe awards for ' tennessee williams ' the roman spring of mrs . stone '
gwyneth paltrow tapped roman and williams to design her goop mrkt pop - up shop in manhattan .
click here to see the slide show of roman and williams ' s new colections for waterworks .
the wife - and - husband creative team is behind the architectural and interior design firm roman & williams .
roman & williams buildings & interiors is somewhat better than a sharp stick in the eye .
an original roman and williams drawing showing the design for the new restaurant upland in new york city .
standefer and alesch ' s east 4th street loft ( left ) ; the roman and williams offices ( right ) .
a rendering of roman and williams’s design for the royalton lobby reveals one of the space’s several sunken seating areas .
roman and williams’ custom - designed furnishings at upland capture the californian spirit and aesthetic of upland . the fi . . .
* by tennessee williams , from the roman spring of mrs . stone , copyright ©1950 by tennessee williams . use by permission of new directions publishing corp .
viceroy new york chose local interior designers roman and williams to refashion this venerable mid - town address just off . . .
the main parlor of a brooklyn home designed by stephen alesch and robin standefer , the husband - and - wife team behind roman and williams buildings and interiors .
partners in both work and life , robin standefer and stephen alesch founded their firm , roman and williams buildings and interiors , after successful careers as hollywood production designers ( portrait by jim morrison ) . top : the library in the roman and williams–created home of actors ben stiller and christine taylor , featuring
custom wall sconces in cast glass and copper were designed by roman and williams . visit upland at 345 park avenue south at 26th street .
hartshorne plunkard architecture and roman and williams convert an athletic club into a hotel , imaginatively combining modern and historic architectural flourishes for an updated approach to play and respite .
the dutch wanted a fresh take on american classic design , so they hired roman and williams to custom make everything by . . .
“the new book by roman and williams reveals the inspiration behind the design duo’s most famous projects but also a deeply passionate and incredibly creative world . ”
a grand procession of pewtered - steel chandeliers with hand - blown glass shades , designed by roman and williams , hang from . . .
we interviewed roman and williams principals robin standefer and stephen alesch about emotions and food , how the badlands differ from socal surfer culture , and how to create a relaxed vibe through materials .
the new book by roman and williams reveals the inspiration behind the design duo ' s most famous projects but also a deeply passionate and incredibly creative world .
roman and williams gave the master bedroom in the home of actress kate hudson a highly textured , white - on - white scheme . photo by alexia b
i applied online . the process took a week . i interviewed at roman and williams ( new york , ny ( us ) ) in january 2015 .
stephen alesch and robin standefer , co - principals in the architecture and design firm roman and williams , have very definite opinions about the minimalist aesthetic that has prevailed in manhattan for almost two decades .
roman and williams are interested in spaces and objects that people can truly use and things that genuinely last . they are devoted to rebelling against disposability and the common stereotypes of what it means to be “modern” today .
roman and williams buildings and interiors is a new york - based design studio known for their work on hotels , restaurants , retail spaces , homes , and product design . founded in 2002 by principals robin standefer and stephen alesch , the work of roman and williams employs a range of ideas , materials , objects , and references - from the unexpected to the pedigreed - and is instilled with a heightened sense of narrative .
the floors throughout upland are # 1 common white oak . the antique mirror on the back wall was sourced from mirror fair and customized by roman and williams with a white oak frame .
firm principals robin standefer and stephen alesch founded roman and williams buildings and interiors in 2002 , naming it after their grandfathers . having worked together for a decade designing sets for significant hollywood films , the pair took their first steps away from the movie biz when they were asked to design a home in los angeles ; roman and williams was born and the firm hasn ' t looked back since .
stephen alesch and robin standefer , co - principals of the architecture and design firm roman and williams buidlings and interiors , are the first to take a stand against the modernist mandate that has gripped so much of the manhattan skyline .
after completing castilian and new moon , robin and stephen closed their los angeles office and opened roman and williams studio , a full floor in an old shoemaker’s factory on lafayette street , just three blocks from their fourth street home .
the duo behind renowned new york city studio roman and williams give dwell a first look at the interior they designed for upland , a new restaurant from chef justin smillie and acclaimed restaurateur stephen starr .
1 . / 2 . stephen alesch and robin standefer , the duo behind roman & williams , did the interior of new york’s ace hotel and set the standard for the worldwide haute - lodge trend .
“we created this apartment for someone who is confident and stylish , ” explains robin standefer , a principal of roman and williams . “this is someone who isn’t a slave to trends and embraces an unexpected combination of pieces old and new . ”
in 2013 , replay partnered with roman and williams to explore an immersive retail experience , starting with a flagship location that worked to re - establish the brand’s position as the top tier in italian denim and international fashion . as a result of an intensive study of the brand’s history , values , and factory visits exploring the process involved in both denim design and the signature to replay’s products , roman and williams conceptualized a strong vision .
and , as if to add a capstone to their days as up - and - comers , rizzoli published a hefty leather - bound monograph devoted to the pair last month titled “ roman and williams buildings and interiors : things we made . ”
where starck’s 1988 scheme was a see - and - be - seen marvel of conspicuous contemporary design , roman and williams have opted for a sumptuous , laid - back vibe . gone are the french provocateur’s signature tusk tables and famous—or infamous—catwalk - style promenade . instead , there is a monolithic fireplace of striated blackened steel and cozy seating arrangements where craft and materiality are at the fore . “we wanted it to be known simply as the royalton , ” says stephen alesch , who runs roman and williams with partner robin standefer , “not as a starck hotel or a roman and williams hotel . the poor company has been under that thumb for so long . ”
the name roman and williams comes from alesch and standefer’s grandparents and is nostalgic of the calmer perspective that generation had . they deliberately shied away from naming the firm after themselves , considering it too pretentious and self - inflated , attributes they resolved to reject as much as possible . the appreciation for things that have aged and stood the test of time is something roman and williams strive to demonstrate in their work , avoiding the pitfalls of fads and trends that tend to be fleeting , preferring a classic and timeless aesthetic instead .
all the lighting in the restaurant was custom designed by roman and williams . herves descottes from l’observatoire served as lighting designer on the project ( who also worked on the firm ' s interior lighting for the dutch and lafayette ) .
for an actress , her musician husband , and their children , roman and williams completed a total stripdown to stud and redesign of what was fundamentally a drywall box ( with good light ) . designing and coordinating all interior architecture and custom decoration of the project with sheer energy and completely rule of everything mundane .
robin standefer and stephen alesch’s architectural aesthetic has hit the luxury - recession sweet spot , and their firm , roman and williams , is behind many of the new new york spaces so reassuringly steeped in the old . just don’t accuse them of nostalgia .
it was also at doney that williams had his first meeting in 1950 with the legendary roman actress anna magnani , whom he had in mind to play the widow serafina in “the rose tattoo . ”
we paired them with olollo , and together they built a credenza . the sideboard is made from sapele , and features an open storage and display area , two side doors and removable shelves to accommodate a special curation of porcelain by bavarian brand nymphenburg . it is completed with brass hardware and pulls from roman and williams’ rw atlas collection
the roman and williams aesthetic is a richly textured , purposefully nostalgic and largely handmade one : full of massive , dark woods and animal skins and re - purposed industrial materials , like that factory door . it’s the kind of sturdy design that’s meant to last 500 years—if only trends would permit .
the furniture that’s easiest on the planet is the furniture that doesn’t have to be made in the first place . take some tips from roman & williams , and source originals and antiques ( there’s a lot that can be accomplished with a great re - upholsterer and restorer ) .
credo : “we revere what is genuine ; we love to strip things down to their essence and excavate for integrity and character . ” highlight : opening of roman and williams guild ny . notable clients : gwyneth paltrow , ben stiller , kate hudson . ► new york ; urltoken
since the husband - and - wife team of mr . alesch and ms . standefer founded the architectural and interior design concern roman & williams in 2002 , their aesthetic of a rugged americana lifted from a make - believe past has gained dominion over swaths of new york , especially downtown manhattan and brooklyn .
flawless craftsmanship , smart and elegant design - roman & williams is a visual voice that is creating the look and feel for the new century while rooted in a distinctively american sensibility and history . a great book filled with many wonderful ideas that you can bring into your own home .
new york–based roman and williams was founded in 1998 by hollywood set designers robin standefer and stephen alesch . the pair began by designing celebrity residences . in 2009 , the firm completed the award–winning ace and standard hotels in new york as well as notable residential building at 211 elizabeth street . t…
another much - anticipated opening was the thirty - story viceroy hotel on 57th street in new york city , a roman and williams - designed building from the ground - up with bespoke interiors and sweeping views of central park , featuring striking restaurant kingside and a 29th floor bar , the roof .
as the personal residence of roman and williams ' principals robin standefer and stephen alesch , the 4th street loft was converted from an industrial work space into an iconic downtown new york city residence that has been published in design magazines across the globe and serves as a source of inspiration for many .
by now an international celebrity , williams made regular appearances in the roman society papers . yet his fame was still not such as to prevent him from engaging in another activity of which rome offered manifold new possibilities : cruising .
from its high - gloss black floors to its carefully constructed glass enclosed library , the loft stands as a hallmark roman and williams design , expressing the firm ' s commitment to the use of natural materials , expert craftsmanship , and vintage furnishings and objects . it is a perfect merging of their work and life and represents their inimitable style .
most recently , roman and williams has created their most personal work to date : roman and williams guild ny . showcasing their collection of original furniture , lighting , and accessories designed by the firm , as well as items collected from the workshops of the world ' s best artisans , the space is home also to celebrated french cafe la mercerie , helmed by chef marie - aude rose . it is a modern - day guild , a guild of the senses that gathers the best of everything the firm makes and loves , and helps others to do the same for themselves .
for the latest in its series of design dialogues , the contemporary design magazine surface joined up with 1stdibs to present a rousing panel discussion between stephen alesch and robin standefer , the co - founders of much - in - demand design firm roman and williams , and dennis freedman , passionate collector and creative director of barneys new york .
williams wasn’t alone in this assessment . his social circle at the time included the poet frederic prokosch , truman capote , “that unhappy young egoist gore vidal” and a number of other american writers and artists who , like williams , were gay or bisexual , and had found in rome a degree of creative and personal freedom unheard of back home . they also tended to share another of williams’s well - known traits : a love of drink .
roman and williams strives to create projects which consistently find the tension between spontaneity and rigor , refinement and rebellion , and past and future . the firm was founded by stephen alesch and robin standefer as a vehicle to pursue these dichotomies and reflect their diverse aesthetic interests . from the world of film they cultivated a feel for specificity and storytelling , which the pair soon employed designing residences for notable personalities such as ben stiller , kate hudson and gwyneth paltrow .
roman and williams’ collection of work has been honored and recognized with numerous awards and accolades throughout the years , including the lawrence israel award and three consecutive years as members of the prestigious ad 100 . most notably , in 2014 the firm received america’s highest honor for achievement in design , the smithsonian’s national design award for excellence in interior design .
on the site of the former pearl brewery in san antonio design firm roman and williams - with their passionate and rigorous approach to historic architecture - have transformed a 19th century brewhouse into hotel emma , an extraordinary 146 - room boutique hotel with three inventive culinary venues that will richen and diversify the options in the area . located near the northern end of the san antonio river walk , in an already lively district with an outdoor amphitheater and a year - round farmer’s market , hotel emma serves as the magnificent focal point of the surrounding pearl neighborhood and a connection to its craft past . the hotel represents the first collaboration between silver ventures and design firm roman and williams .
if one was wondering who began the trend of naming hipster brands after grandfathers — justin timberlake’s fashion label , william rast ; robbie williams’s brand , farrell ; gabriel stulman’s restaurant joseph leonard — one might cast blame on roman alesch and william winters , the couple’s maternal grandfathers .
new york–based roman and williams was founded in 1998 by hollywood set designers robin standefer and stephen alesch . the pair began by designing celebrity residences . in 2009 , the firm completed the award–winning ace and standard hotels in new york as well as notable residential building at 211 elizabeth street . their lauded projects include the dutch and lafayette with chef andrew carmellini , the freehand hotel in miami , the thirty - story viceroy hotel in new york , and a product line with waterworks and lalique . recent projects include an eatery for facebook , a restaurant with alain ducasse , and the news room and set for huffington post live . each roman and williams project demonstrates a comprehensive design vision , marking their work as a unique user experience .
with the union of forward - thinking minds , ben weprin of aj capital partners , fellow chicagoan john pritzker , and roman and williams team , the aim was to make the c . a . a into a new hotel and locale that would regain new life , while honoring a long - standing history within its home city .
roman and williams have always implemented their signature style and business sense in the work they produce together . their creative work is typically done at night , which alesch calls the “psychic quietest” time of the day . working from their residences in manhattan and montauk , respectively , they consider their creative marriage a very critical aspect of their success .
roman and williams’s moment officially began in the fall of 2009 , when a pair of ultrachic new york hotels designed by the husband - and - wife partnership of stephen alesch and robin standefer opened more or less simultaneously . between them , the standard and the ace hotel generated a level of buzz not seen since the early - 1990s hotel reign of philippe starck .
others call their work inauthentic , which is something roman & williams actually embrace . “authenticity is over - fetishized , ” mr . alesch said . “everything is a set . the first fire inside a cave was a set with buffalo furs all around it . ”
roman and williams ' projects strive to consistently find the tension between spontaneity and rigor , refinement and rebellion , and past and future . spanning paris to tokyo , among them : ace hotel new york , the boom boom boom room and the standard highline , la rotonde de la muette , freehand hotels , and le coucou . in a project of cultural and civic significance , the firm has been award the commission to re - design the british galleries at the metropolitan museum of art .
honors them with the prestigious lawrence israel prize . the award , given each year to an individual or firm whose projects provide inspiration for fit’s students , will be presented tonight at fit’s katie murphy amphitheatre , accompanied by a talk by roman + williams co - founders robin standefer and stephen alesch .
the sideboard is made from sapele , a subtly grained african wood similar to mahogany , and features an open storage and display area , two side doors and removable shelves to accommodate a special curation of porcelain by bavarian brand nymphenburg . the credenza is completed with custom brass hardware , brass pulls from roman and williams’ rw atlas collection , and black leather - lined drawers that perfectly complement the delicate nymphenburg tableware .
never limited by what they designed last , the roman and williams aesthetic is constantly evolving , reflecting the diverse interests and profound curiosities of the firm’s principals , a practice that has earned them many devoted followers and accolades , including being honorees of the architectural digest top 100 since 2011 . the result is an oeuvre of instant classics — projects that transcend architecture and interiors and rise to the level of cultural polemics .
but after meeting with aaron sittig , facebook’s charismatic bowtie - loving product architect , roman & williams agreed to the project , turning a soulless 1980s building into a mess hall with heavy wooden rafters , old schoolroom benches and arrows stenciled on the floor that guide employees to buffets , a silicon valley heorot .
when invited to design a collection of plumbing fittings and accessories as well as an accompanying tile line for waterworks , the partners at the new york city firm roman and williams buildings and interiors began with a surprising objective in mind . “nondecorative was our goal out of the gate , ” says stephen alesch , who heads the company with his wife , robin standefer .
following a career as hollywood production designers , stephen alesch and robin standefer founded roman and williams buildings and interiors in 2002 . the new york firm’s scope includes buildings , interior design , and product lines , where they place a premium on such aesthetic juxtapositions as high / low and spare / baroque . former surfing magazine editor jamie brisick writes for the new york times and details , and has authored two books , including have board will travel . actor and film director / producer ben stiller is a prolific talent . standefer and alesch did the production design for zoolander and duplex and designed his homes .
to complete the r . w . atlas plumbing , tile , and lighting collections , roman and williams has created twenty - two unique pieces of hardware . from cabinet knobs and handles to towel bars and latches , the hardware is distinctive for its exceptional details and refined touch , creating a uniquely luxurious hand feel . the substantial pieces feature a slotted screw , with carefully placed knurling and noticeably intricate base details . no element is too insignificant for consideration .
following a career as hollywood production designers , stephen alesch and robin standefer founded roman and williams buildings and interiors in 2002 . the new york firm ' s scope includes buildings , interior design , and product lines , where they place a premium on such aesthetic juxtapositions as high / low and spare / baroque . former surfing magazine editor jamie brisick writes for the new york times and details , and has authored two books , including have board will travel . actor and film director / producer ben stiller is a prolific talent . standefer and alesch did the production design for zoolander and duplex and designed his homes .
roman and williams designed the interiors of upland in new york city , a restaurant from chef justin smillie ( formerly of il buco alimentari ) and his partner , acclaimed restaurateur stephen starr . named after the southern california town where chef smillie was born , upland opened on october 28 , 2014 , and offers california - inspired cuisine in manhattan ' s burgeoning nomad district , on park avenue and east 26th street .
for their tenth anniversary , the design studio roman and williams buildings and interiors presents projects that blend the spirit of our collective history with a modernist edge . roman and williams’s style honors craftsmanship , the use of natural materials , and the overlooked in unexpected ways . their understated , glamorous sensibility is imparted in manhattan’s ace hotel interiors and restaurant the breslin , the standard hotel , with its iconic boom boom room , and the royalton lobby . for such popular restaurants as the dutch , the duo created environments with textured backdrops that reference a rich past with a contemporary sensibility . their innovative work has captured the attention of firms such as facebook—they recently completed its campus food hall—and their residences for celebrities such as ben stiller and gwyneth paltrow are equally imaginative . this book surveys the firm’s prestige projects , presented with alesch’s architectural hand drawings and sketches and detailed views . also included is their loft and montauk home , which serve as design laboratories , and a collection of furnishings and fixtures .
robin standefer and stephen alesch founded roman and williams buildings and interiors in new york city in 2002 . having worked together for a decade designing sets for significant hollywood films prior to establishing their firm , standefer and alesch have forged an ability to create projects without boundaries or borders , employing a range of ideas , materials , objects , and references — from the unexpected to the pedigreed to the mundane — and , through the lens of their own singular viewpoint , create alchemy .
, waterworks’ ceo . “together with roman and williams , we went to great lengths to create fittings and tile that combine function with a profound sense of beauty and refinement . this product marries a heritage of great american design perspective with decades of experience engineering and producing the highest quality products . throughout the process , we were inspired by the idea of utilitarian objects that are made exceptionally well and that work beautifully for generations , and this is our hope for r . w . atlas and district tile . ”
but just a decade since its founding , roman & williams is looking to cash in . “we’re not getting any younger , ” ms . standefer said the other day . the company’s most recent projects have jettisoned the scruffy bohemianism of places like the ace hotel for the offices of hip corporate america .
designers stephen alesch and robin standefer , the husband and wife team who head roman and williams firm , have provided the interior decorations for such well - known venues as the standard hotel , ( and its top floor hot spot , the boom boom room ) , the ace hotel , and countless other projects . the versatile couple recently designed the john dory oyster bar at the ace hotel , and we interviewed them to see how their activities together have shaped their sexy , chic aesthetic :
there is an east coast meets west coast vibe to what we do , ” says steven alesch , a wisconsin - born , l . a . - trained , surf - loving architect who—along with his wife , robin standefer , a former hollywood production designer raised in new york—makes up one half of the in demand and critically acclaimed design duo roman and williams .
they had little use for the ache of the new . “i don’t want to be tabula rasa , ” she says . at the same time , they don’t want to be known for a particular style either : roman and williams will do whatever they’re hired to do , whatever makes sense for the film the client sees himself ( and his future customers ) in .
the years after his “golden time” in rome were not particularly kind to williams . much of his later work was ignored by the public and panned by critics . many close friends died prematurely , including merlo and magnani , who succumbed to cancer , he in 1963 and she in 1973 . returning with decreasing frequency to the italian capital , williams sank into depression and drug use , which contributed to his own death in 1983 .
inspired by denim’s connection to rebels of all kinds , from hollywood to the homestead , the stage was a product of roman and williams’ principals calling upon their own deep - rooted experience in set design and art direction in the film industry . they transformed a concept of a soundstage , into a store , showcasing the storied sets with equipment and back - of - house scenes that embody the world of filmmaking .
for their tenth anniversary , the design studio roman and williams buildings and interiors presents projects that blend the spirit of our collective history with a modernist edge . roman and williams ' s style honors craftsmanship , the use of natural materials , and the overlooked in unexpected ways . their understated , glamorous sensibility is imparted in manhattan ' s ace hotel interiors and restaurant the breslin , the standard hotel , with its iconic boom boom room , and the royalton lobby . for such popular restaurants as the dutch , the duo created environments with textured backdrops that reference a rich past with a contemporary sensibility . their innovative work has captured the attention of firms such as facebook - - they recently completed its campus food hall - - and their residences for celebrities such as ben stiller and gwyneth paltrow are equally imaginative . this book surveys the firm ' s prestige projects , presented with alesch ' s architectural hand drawings and sketches and detailed views . also included is their loft and montauk home , which serve as design laboratories , and a collection of furnishings and fixtures .
ever wish you could sneak a peek at gwyneth paltrow’s new york apartment ? this holiday season , you can get a pretty good idea of what it’s like . just drop by the actress’s goop mrkt pop - up in columbus circle’s time warner center to check out paltrow’s home away from home , expertly realized by city slicker firm roman and williams .
standefer remarks : “in our relationship and us working together , we sometimes contradict each other and contrast and there’s voltage between us and it creates sometimes a sense of authenticity because it’s not just about branding or marketing . it’s just about a sense of truth and what you love . ” she went on to say , “i see other couples and i think , okay , what do they talk about , because we’re always talking about that third thing , which is that thing we’re making in roman and williams … life and art for us are one kind of cycle together . “
this meeting would prove the beginning of a decades - long collaboration and friendship that would profoundly influence both of their lives . williams and magnani , both temperamental artists who were fearless in their determination to live unconventional lives , had a deep understanding of each other , and beyond the roles he explicitly wrote for her , from 1950 on , williams’s female characters began to resemble magnani : passionate , sexually vital , complicated and self - confident .
throughout the 1950s , williams , merlo and magnani spent countless nights on her terrace above the piazza minerva overlooking the pantheon and at fashionable venues like rosati , which is still a pleasant place to people - watch over negronis .
unsurprisingly , calderwood shares roman and williams’s quasi - academic mystical design language . “narrative is a very , very important word both for us and them . we like to explore and celebrate a narrative in terms of an item or object , ” he says . “we share a mutual interest in kind of manufacturing techniques and materiality and an appreciation for a sense of history but not being slavish to an absolute re - creation . it hopefully feels like it was collected and curated over time , has a sort of residual feeling . ”
and if one was wondering whom to thank for turning hotel lobbies into communal hives for high - tech movers ( see the ace hotel ) , for the renaissance of tile work ( the standard , high line ) and for the popularization of once - shunned casement windows ( everywhere ) , a thank - you note could be sent to roman & williams’s sixth - floor office on lafayette street .
the space or project can dictate the sources . each has its own distinctive personality—whether it’s gwyneth paltrow’s home or le coucou here in new york , there’s a story within each space we create and that narrative leads us to explore a variety of sources . as we seek and find for roman and williams guild ny we’re thinking about how we live and the objects we want to be surrounded by daily . we’re ultimately sharing our way of seeing and we always try to inspire people to do the same .
at a recent meeting at roman & william’s neo - industrial offices , mr . alesch wandered in and out of the conference room while ms . standefer and andrew carmellini , a restaurateur , debated where to hang succulents in his new restaurant .
much of the appeal of roman & williams lies in ms . standefer and mr . alesch themselves . if they create spaces in which one can star in a dream role — bohemian entrepreneur at the ace hotel , latter - day rat pack at the standard’s boom boom room , hungry schoolboy at the dutch — clients similarly buy into the couple as an idealized version of the husband - and - wife team .
in some ways the two roman and williams interiors couldn’t be more different—“a silk high heel and a big muddy boot , ” according to alesch , the firm’s de facto architect , draftsman , and furniture designer ( standefer could be considered its creative director ) . the standard has a throwback polish , evoking milanese bachelor pads and the golden age of railway travel . the ace is moodier , with salvaged - wood floors , post - and - beam ceilings , and pendant lamps fashioned from plumbing joints . but both share a kitsch - free nostalgia—allusive , paradoxically modern - feeling , and resonantly cool .
so they started a “buildings and interiors” firm called roman and williams ( neither is a registered architect , though alesch trained as one ) , named , with the same create - a - legacy ethic that has come to mark everything they do , after their maternal grandfathers . in 2004 , in the midst of doing a los angeles house for kate hudson , they quit their rental in silver lake and moved back to the loft they owned in noho .
the collaboration started three years ago when peter sallick , the ceo of waterworks , was flipping through a magazine and came across images of roman and williams’s interiors . at the time , alesch and standefer had just wrapped up manhattan’s standard and ace hotels , hip spots that cemented their firm’s reputation for warm , inviting rooms layered with tough , textural materials that evoke an immediate sense of history . “the environments they created conveyed something i had an emotional , impulsive connection to , ” sallick recalls .
black - pipe flanges , filament bulbs , vintage turntables , taxidermy and other old - timey curios — these industrial - chic tropes have come to signify good taste today , and much of it can be traced to mr . alesch , 46 , and ms . standefer , 47 . it is a world in which the newer the space , the older it looks . call it the benjamin button school of design , with roman & williams as its headmasters .
alesch and standefer , unsurprisingly , are workaholics , with a firm named after his grandfather roman , a painter , and her grandfather william , a jeweler . “hardworking guys , working class , ” says standefer . “old school , money under the mattress . ”
williams’s first place of residence was a top - floor room at the ambasciatori palace , a grand neo - renaissance hotel along the tree - lined via veneto . today , like many of williams’s former haunts , both the boulevard and the hotel feel somewhat past their prime . via veneto is still upscale , but its touristy trattorias and chain hotels would be sadly ill - fitted to its former incarnation as the glorious main drag of “la dolce vita , ” the 1960 federico fellini classic . still , despite its depressing subterranean breakfast buffet , the ambasciatori retains a faded elegance that makes it easy to imagine the looks of disdain williams recalls receiving when , on his second night in the city , he brought home a raggedly dressed roman teenager whom he calls “raffaelo” in his memoirs .
for williams , rome offered freedom — an escape from the puritanism that plagued his life back home . in a 1949 letter to his publisher , jay laughlin , williams recounted a dinner with ingrid bergman and roberto rossellini shortly after the hollywood star and the italian director had begun their highly publicized collaboration and extramarital affair . their indifference to the scandal , he wrote , “is very beautiful and should have a salutary affect on discrediting those infantile moralists that make it so hard for anyone to do honest work and live honestly in the states . ”
roman and williams has added lighting to its r . w . atlas housewares for waterworks with two collections , spunflower and cupper . robin standefer , a founder of roman and williams , described the burnished nickel and brass lights as “fairly muscular and sturdy , but with a fine tactility . ” in all , there are two pendants , two sconces and a chandelier , any of which can be described as industrial . but a closer look reveals some frills . the spunflower pendant , for instance , has three tiers of milky white glass crowned with a rim of metal with tiny perforations . ms . standefer said these dots would temper any harshness . the quality of illumination in industrial fixtures is often “pure , tough and authentic , ” she added , “but a light still has to be soft and beautiful . ” prices range from $ 1 , 200 to $ 3 , 500 . the cupper ceiling - mounted four - light pendant , shown , is $ 3 , 500 . information : 800 - 899 - 6757 or waterworks . com .
roman and williams ( who did the redesign of the royalton as well as the interiors of the standard hotel and its restaurant , the standard grill ) are currently at work on two other spaces in the ace — a restaurant called the breslin , which will be run by the spotted pig’s ken friedman and april bloomfield , and a branch of portland’s stumptown coffee ( for which the designers chose a 1960s milanese look ) . when both open in the fall , this still - scruffy neighborhood won’t know what hit it .
the breslin restaurant in new york . photo by katie sokoler . alesch and standefer founded roman + williams in 2002 , after years of working on set designs for the likes of martin scorcese . they’ve brought that filmic sensibility to hotspots across the city , including the royalton hotel , andres balazs’ standard hotel , and the ace hotel—iconic spots with a timeless style that students are likely to study well into the future . the event begins at 6 pm and is free and open to the public , with no reservations required .
in late january 1948 , tennessee williams arrived for the first time in rome , a city that the playwright , then 37 , would quickly call “the capitol of my heart . ” after more than a decade toiling in poverty and obscurity , williams had been catapulted to national fame three years earlier when his loosely autobiographical “memory play , ” “the glass menagerie , ” became an instant critical and commercial hit . its follow - up , “a streetcar named desire , ” opened in 1947 to packed broadway houses and rave reviews , cementing williams’s position as a major figure in the american theater establishment . four months later , he set out for europe .
much like its inhabitants , new york city ' s buildings are famed for their directness . from the skyscrapers of manhattan to the brownstones of brooklyn , to postcard favorites such as the flatiron building , the city is populated with bold residential and commercial architecture , in every conceivable style . the city was shaped by a who ' s who of architecture ' s past three centuries , and it continues , not without some controversy , to be a showcase for cutting - edge modernism . all things considered , when given the opportunity to design a multi - unit residence in the nolita neighborhood , new york city - based roman and williams buildings and interiors felt the weight of expectation upon them .
to be able to put a building on a site in new york city is a big honor ,
says robin standefer , a native new yorker and partner in charge with stephen alesch at roman and williams .
i am hoping this building outlasts us .
once he got standefer on the phone , it didn’t take long for him to be convinced that roman and williams was a perfect match for waterworks . “i heard robin tell a story about how when they’re conceiving a project , they’re reflecting on and reinterpreting common memories and experiences , ” sallick says . “this project adhered to that . while the designs aren’t specific to any one historical period , they have elements we all respond to , for reasons that are associated with our pasts . ”
a long , railroad apartment in new york city’s noho is the incubator for some of the most influential interiors in america . “it was a rabbit warren of drywall and old boxes when we got it in 1997 , ” says stephen alesch , principal with his wife robin standefer in roman & williams buildings and interiors , the firm that famously started an irresistible , can’t - put - a - finger - on - what - it - is style that’s a combination of louche and livable .
we knew they would be busy putting the finishing touches to their interiors for the chicago athletic association hotel ( see w * 196 ) , but we had to ask : would roman and williams , the creative duo behind the wave of industrial - edged interiors that have taken over the world and the holders of a prestigious 2014 cooper - hewitt museum design award , be so kind as to contribute to our handmade project ? they said they would .
after a brief , disappointing stopover in france ( “i found nothing very good about paris but the quality of the whores , ” williams wrote his friend and longtime collaborator elia kazan ) , rome won him over instantly .
on a recent tuesday evening , the sprawling restaurant felt like the set of one of those garry marshall ensemble romantic comedies . it’s the place where ashton and julia would eat on their magical first date . like the dutch , one of mr . carmellini’s other restaurants , lafayette was designed by roman & williams , the husband - and - wife firm behind the ace hotel as well as the sets of movies like zoolander and addicted to love . they are masters of golden - glow maximalism .
the kitchen area—near and dear to paltrow’s heart—looks sleek and sophisticated in a palette of gray , black , and brass .
2017 will mark the opening of a project that is as unique in the roman and williams portfolio as it is in the pantheon of new york city buildings : a luxury building near the high line , clad in jade green terra cotta with interiors and exteriors designed for jds / largo from the ground - up . the fitzroy is already being hailed as the vanguard of a movement towards the use of traditional , hand - made materials that express a new luxury , whose trademark is disciplined craft and quality .
roman & williams , the design firm founded by robin standefer and stephen alesch , won fame for its scene - setting interiors for manhattan’s trendy ace and standard hotels , as well as the restaurants , bars and cafes within them . now it’s moved on to product design , with bath fittings for waterworks . the r . w . atlas collection , which was inspired in part by a 1930s leica camera and by an old microscope displayed in the designers’ offices , has a strong industrial sensibility ; it would look at home in any vintage factory setting .
rosati ( piazza del popolo 5 ; urltoken ) was one of williams’s favorite drinking spots and is still a great place to people - watch over negronis , which cost €15 at the table , but just €5 at the bar .
in san antonio , design studio roman and williams has applied its signature rugged yet refined aesthetic to a former 19th - century brewery reborn as the inviting hotel emma . thick concrete beams , exposed pipes , and leftover machinery give the space an industrial cool that’s softened by vintage leather sofas , lively tilework floors , and loads of antique carpets . the magic is in the mix , according to the firm’s principals , robin standefer and stephen alesch : “this was a place where luxury met the primitive and untamable on the edge of the prairie , and we think it still holds that energy . ” rooms from $ 325 / night ; urltoken
robin standefer and stephen alesch of roman and williams are so busy designing spaces for new yorkers to have fun in that they rarely get to have a cocktail there once they’re finished , leaving the ace hotel lobby ( and the breslin ) and the boom boom room at the standard hotel to the players . but on weekends , their home in montauk , n . y . , becomes the center of a rolling house party , where the food and friends are as exquisitely arranged — yet seemingly haphazard — as their décor . here , the bon vivant masters of tableaux vivants are at their best .
in 2015 roman and williams completed concept work for wework and finished interior work on an unparalleled landmark american building , the chicago athletic association in chicago , for client john pritzker . later in the year they proudly announced the transformation of a 19th century san antonio brewhouse into hotel emma . in paris , the firm is working closely with the renowned costes family to design and introduce a restaurant in the 16th arrondissement and , in another major coup , they were selected as the designers for a global food market at pier 57 on manhattan ' s west side , with renowned food writer and television journalist anthony bourdain . in 2016 their impact on the business landscape was marked by robin and stephen ' s selection for the fast company
most creative people in business
list . their engagement in projects of cultural and civic significance is also apparent in their recently announced collaboration with the metropolitan museum of art for the re - design of the british galleries . in this rare and competitive commission roman and williams are working with the met to create a spectacular , narrative - rich , and profoundly sympathetic setting for the works of art , telling the highly relevant story of creativity in britain ' s entrepreneurial society .
alesch and standefer continue to stay true to their principals and can be skeptical of corporate clients who do not immediately respect their vision . they are very selective of who they choose to work with ; the key being their joint vision of wanting to create something great and original . in honor of their 10th anniversary , roman and williams have released a book chronicling a decade’s worth of work and achievements . the book , published by rizzoli , is entitled things we love , a mantra often used by the pair , showing just how important their personal touch is in all of the work they produce .
these places , as well as many others—including the top of the standard and the ace hotel in new york , la rotonde de la muette in paris , and the freehand hotels in miami , chicago , and los angeles—are the brain children of new york–based interior design firm roman and williams . founded in 2002 by robin standefer and stephen alesch ( a duo who in person are as charismatic , energetic , and appealing as their work suggests ) , the firm has become one of the most sought - after and admired in the industry , with a list of accolades that includes a national design award and , most recently , a james beard award ( for le coucou , which was named best new restaurant , 2017 ) .
2010 marked the opening of roman and williams’ first ground - up building at 211 elizabeth street in manhattan , with the building and interiors for this residential development earning the firm a palladio award . shortly afterward they designed and opened the dutch , the first of two restaurant collaborations with andrew carmellini , followed by the popular lafayette . the firm was also awarded a commission by facebook to design their most prominent indoor - outdoor dining hub for the entire campus , exploring working environments with the opening of a social and communal food hall at the company’s headquarters in silicon valley .
just west of lake michigan , and centered upon millennium park , the chicago athletic association reawakens the dormant 1893 venetian gothic building originally designed by henry ives cobb , a building boasting more than a century’s age . a quintessential roman and williams project , the chicago athletic association hosts a story that couldn’t be resisted . originally founded by a collection of families synonymous with american sport and athletic commerce ( such as wrigley , comiskey , and spalding ) and architecturally developed during the columbian exposition , the c . a . a . was almost lost to plans of demolition in 1997 - - all but save the original façade .