Rare objects and secret addresses: Umit Benan's tips

Alexander Calder's abstract and kinetic sculptures. Made of iron, they appear as three-dimensional paintings due to their lightness and the balance of shapes, lines and materials (the exhibition High Wire: Calder's Circus at 100, until 9 March, whitney.org, calder.org is currently running at the Whitney Museum of American Art in New York).

LAST MEAL THAT IMPRESSED ME

I tasted the grilled San Pietro fish with spinach at Quattro Mani, a restaurant in Palermo that uses only organic ingredients and sustainable catch (quattromaniristorante.it).

THE OBJECT I WOULD NEVER SEPARATE FROM

When I turned 18, my cousin gave me a cedarwood rosary. Apart from the symbolic value linked to the religious sphere, I particularly appreciate its lingering aroma, which has remained unchanged over the years. It is my good luck charm.

Il rosario di Umit Benan in legno di cedro.

LAST OBJECT I PURCHASED AND LOVED

I recently bought an early 2000s Bmw Z8. I love its simple and refined design that recalls that of vintage cars, such as the BMW 507, and combines classic elegance with modern technology (bmw.it).

And THE NEXT ONE I ADOPTED

My dream is to buy a house in Santa Fe, New Mexico. The city fascinates me because of its rich historical and cultural contrasts (Sotheby's International Realty has several exclusive properties in Santa Fe in its portfolio, such as a 10,000-square-foot residence with six bedrooms and nine bathrooms, at $9.9 million, sothebysrealty.com).

IN MY FRIDGE NEVER LACKS

A bottle of Lauretana natural water, fresh seasonal fruit, and ice cream from La Gelateria della Musica. My favourite flavours are chocolate, vanilla and raspberry (lauretana.com; lagelateriadellamusica.it).

The LAST CLOTH I ADDED TO MY GUARDAROBE

Three pairs of shearling slip-ons by John Lobb in tobacco, dark brown and black and a fuchsia crew-neck jumper from my Umit Benan line. A timeless classic that I also gave as a gift to Margherita, my wife (soft slipper by John Lobb, 760 euro, johnlobb.com; pink Milano cashmere choker, 1,600 euro, umitbenan.com).

La soft slipper Kingston II, JOHN LOBB (760 €).

And THAT TO BE TRANSMITTED

I would like to leave my children Maia and Kai both knitted garments by Loro Piana and a series of bags and suitcases by Hermès that I have collected over the years and which are part of my personal archive (loropiana.com; hermes.com).

my favourite beauty products

For my hair, which is always out of control and unruly, I use Eredi Zucca's shampoo, while as a shower gel I like to change often. At the moment, I am using those by Officina Profumo Farmaceutica of Santa Maria Novella (eredizucca.com; eu.smnovella.com).

THE PERFUME THAT I CONSIDERED AN ICON

For 15 years, I have loved Fumerie Turque by Serge Lutens. As a native of Istanbul and a cigar aficionado, I found this fragrance, right from its name, to be perfect for me. Since my friend Francesco Ragazzi started the perfume brand Réservation, I chose the eau de parfum Late Night (sergelutens.eu; Late Night, 100 ml, 250 euro, reservation-parfums.com).

Eau de parfum Late Night, RÉSERVATION(100 ml, 250 €)

THOSE I TRUST FOR MY PERSONAL WELL-BEING

In Milan, Paolo from the Aldo Coppola salon in Via Manzoni and Davide from the Barberia Eredi Zucca in Via Bigli. Here I go not for a shave, which I do at home, but to treat myself to a few hours of tranquillity and a relaxing massage (aldocoppola.com; eredizucca.com).

La barberia Eredi Zucca. ©Oskar Proctor

A PLEASURE I CANNOT WAIVE

I have always appreciated good food. I often used to go to the Latteria San Marco, which was close to where I used to live. It was a habit for me both for lunch and dinner. Its cosy and timeless atmosphere made me feel at home. Now that I live in the Navigli area and have two small children, I unfortunately have fewer opportunities to go there (@latteriasanmarco).

THE VIEW THAT INSPIRES ME

The one over the Utah desert from the Amangiri hotel in Colorado: an oasis of peace where I find myself through energy and silence ($4,078 per night suite, aman.com/en/resorts/amangiri).

La piscina della Spa dell’hotel Amangiri, sull’altopiano del Colorado.

A RECENT DISCOVERY

Palermo. I was struck by its history and extraordinary buildings, a fusion of Western, Arab and Byzantine influences that makes it seem like an open-air museum, where the sumptuous Baroque of the palaces and churches in the centre coexist with the Liberty style of the villas in Mondello and the neoclassical rigour of the Teatro Massimo. A truly unique cityscape (IFExperience organises a tour of Palermo, 3 hours with exclusive access and a dedicated art historian, €5,000 for two people, ifexperience.com).

A SOUVENIR THAT I HAVE TAKEN HOME FROM A TRIP

An indigenous mask of coloured tiles. I bought it years ago in Mérida, Yucatán, one of my favourite places (pre-Columbian Chimu gold mask with scar, EUR 22,495, at 1stdibs.com).

The BEST GIFT I HAVE GIVEN

An Audemars Piguet City of Sails watch, given to my father with the first money he earned as a designer (audemarspiguet.com).

L’orologio City of Sails, AUDEMARS PIGUET.

And WHAT I RECEIVED

An antique Turkish carpet from about 150 years ago, given to me by a close family friend before his death. Only two examples exist: one is mine, the other my brother's (Anatolian ushak carpet, EUR 9,974, on carpetavenue.it).

If I HAD TO LIMIT SHOPPING TO A CITY DISTRICT, I WOULD CHOOSE

Melrose in Los Angeles. I love shopping at Chrome Hearts and Wanna Buy A Watch?, then indulging in a coffee at Urth Caffé (chromehearts.com; wannabuyawatch.com; urthcaffe.com).

The ARTIST I WOULD COLLECT IF I COULD

After years of collecting photographs by Albert Watson, I would love to acquire a Basquiat painting and a sculpture by Doug Owen: his works are creatures that cross the simple boundary between craft and emotion and manage to capture elegance and grace in ways that seem almost magical (albertwatson.net; from 30 January, the Danish Louisiana Museum of Modern Art is hosting Headstrong - Basquiat on Paper, louisiana.dk; < style="font-size: 1.125rem;">dougowenart.com).

“Untitled” (1982), di Jean-Michel Basquiat, in mostra a “Headstrong –Basquiat on Paper”, al Louisiana Museum of ModernArt dal 30/1. ©Estate of Jean-Michel Basquiat. Licensed by Artestar, New York. Foto: Courtesy of Colour Themes.

MUSEUM I FIND MOST INTERESTING

The Guggenheim Museum in New York offers a unique exhibition experience. I visit it every time I am in town (the Gabriele Münter: Contours of a World exhibition is on until 26 April, guggenheim.org).

My favourite room in my home

The small living room on the second floor. It is quiet, lit by large windows overlooking the courtyard and decorated with paintings by Ömer Kaleşi. It is my relaxing corner to smoke a cigar and watch football matches, my great passion (g-artgaleri.com).

If I DID NOT DO WHAT I DO I WOULD

The artist. I would like to create works in iron, shaping the material to turn my dreams into reality.

If I DID NOT LIVE IN MILAN, I WOULD LIVE

At the Venice Lido. Visiting my in-laws often, I imagined myself there one day, driving a Riva speedboat (riva-yacht.com).