A PLACE OF ART

Photography by Garrett Rowland

Studio Fōr designed a penthouse duplex apartment in a landmark building originally designed in the 1920s by the renowned architect Emery Roth in New York.

The owner of the apartment has a career in global finance that has taken her to far off places and allowed her to acquire an extensive art collection along the way. She asked to transform the apartment (previously owned by a fashion photographer with flamboyant taste) into a Bauhaus inspired space she could call home and showcase her collection. To highlight her collected works by artists including Richard Serra, Jeff Koons, Joan Miro, and Ellsworth Kelly, the walls and baseboards throughout the apartment were painted white. The apartment is designed in such a way that space is the backdrop for the art collection versus vice versa. While simplicity was key to allow the artwork to stand out, the designers incorporated minimalist design details such as curved corners and simple finishes. Wood flooring and custom wood millwork, including a builtin entry bench and living room bookshelves, mix with solid stone to give the space warmth amidst the white backdrop. Here, the fireplace is hard to miss. It is a gas unit installed within a customstone enclosure and chimney with rounded edges. A pop of color in the built-in bookshelves serves as a nod to the basic graphicness of Bauhaus design while the decorative lighting fixtures become a part of the art.

Although nature is not as easy to come by in NYC, she found a home that overlooks Central Park with a terrace as an extension of the apartment. New sliding doors and windows with minimal frames were installed to take advantage of the views and natural light. Working with a landscape designer, a terrace garden and modern outdoor furniture were the final elements to create a transition between the apartment and the park.

The kitchen with an island and a couple of stools goes well with the white walls creating a good contrast. Next to it there is an accurate dining area made up of a table with a glass top and gray chairs, thus keeping in touch with the kitchen. There is also an elegant chandelier, but this acts more as a nice home accessory than a source of light as sliding doors leading to the terrace have been installed here as well. Therefore, natural light spreads throughout the room. From the living room a curved staircase leads to the second floor where along the corridor there are the interesting lamps connected by a red thread. And even in this space, the walls are filled with the different paintings.

The bedroom maintains a simple home design. Here the environment is welcoming thanks to the warm colors of the paintings and fabrics, and the use of wood. The two vertical windows, also with a view of the park, illuminate the room making it very bright.

This atmosphere is also present in the bathroom next door where wood, white color and natural light always prevail, except for the splash of color of the blue of the shower tiles.