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Campion Platt
e might be one of the most well-known names in architecture and design after first bringing his sense of style to the home decor scene over three decades ago, but Campion Platt, who has appeared on the AD100 list multiple times, is still paving the way for posh design - in his own way. After graduating from the University of Michigan with an undergraduate degree in architecture, Platt landed in New York. After modeling, traveling around Europe, completing a three-year master’s program at Columbia and serving as an apprentice for a major firm based in Miami which was credited with making the Miami skyline, Campion was ready to champion the design world. He eventually found himself working at their New York office and his extensive travels continue to inspire his design ideals. As Campion explains, architects were required to apprentice with another firm before being allowed to take the necessary
Redesigning the Design World B Y J U L I E S AG O S K I N
exam to become your own architect. His budding home building and design career was about to reach new - and very haute - heights. One of Platt’s first projects which also appealed to his entrepreneurial side was the ownership and construction of the Mercer Hotel in Soho along with business partner Andre Balazs. “Hotels are really the most interesting building type because you can design everything from the toothbrush stand to the front entrance,” explains Campion. While he is sometimes only doing one or the other, Campion enjoys those projects where he can do both architecture and interior decorating together; in New York, there are only about ten top designers who are known for this. He also revolutionized Downtown Manhattan when he started MercBar in 1989, in addition to taking equity interest in other restaurants and bars. Today, Campion mostly uses his creativity to curate spaces for high-profile clients in finance, law and tech, as well as for Hollywood celebrities who have New York apartments or homes in the Hamptons. While he remains humble, let’s just say that the latest celebrity dream home you were fantasizing about was most likely designed by Platt. Although he says that most famous clients outsource almost everything to their handlers, he has always had direct connection to all of his celebrity clients. “Conan O’Brien is such a smart guy, he really got it. We talked about so many things during the whole process. Meg Ryan was also great. We did a 1930s secessionist movement arts and crafts apartment. She was really involved in the design and really knew a lot about it. I’m not a big arts and crafts stye guy but chanelled Charles Rennie McIntosh and she loved it. A lot of celebs don’t have time to deal with things, they usually just jump in to look at floor plans. Most of them will simply choose a famous designer, but there are also others who really do their research and go with someone who makes their heart sing. Those are the ones who I know really appreciate my work.” According to this A-list architect, his own claim to
