The Villa within
A limited palette of materials within white walls defines a sequence of grand and deceptively simple spaces.The high ceilings, rising to double height in the main space, accommodate staggered levels- a bench, a fireplace, sculpture niches, stair treads, a landing with a desk, even the exposed masonry ledge left by the first floor’s removal and also the second living room / guest room, which when its screens are opened, becomes a gallery to the central space. These different levels allow a variety of views and social interactions.
The specially designed central pendant light, ‘Evenlicht’, with its staggered drops of light, echoes, illuminates and unifies the levels through which it descends. At night, concealed lighting glows to theatrical effect within the horizontals of stair treads, panelling, cabinets and wardrobes.
Industrial, perforated balustrades and screens compliment the finely worked marble and white marmarino surfaces in the bathrooms and the walnut panelling throughout. The panelling lines the dining area and also the head wall of the master bedroom, where it conceals the bedroom door and the en suite bathroom. The dressing area opposite is suave with walnut wardrobes and panelling, while its mirror also serves to bring in the greenery beyond.
These villas once had magnificent rooms and huddled under-designed utility, storage and servants’ rooms and then earlier apartment conversions had a similar mix of the grand and the squalid. This interior combines the owner’s practical needs with an honouring of the building’s majestic proportions to elevate every corner, every action, every movement and everyone within.
Usually these retrofit duplexes confine their stair to the darkest middle of the plan. Here, a back bedroom floor has been removed and the stair has then been wrapped up the sides of the newly created, and grand double height space, which can remain uninterrupted, as the otherwise redundant first floor entrance still acts as a secondary means of escape, a requirement.
There is almost no floor area which only serves as circulation. A study area is incorporated within one landing of the staircase and even the stair treads also cap the pantry and storage beneath. The first floor has been re-configured so that all the rooms join at the same top point of the stair.
Even the vestigial First floor vestibule can be read as the underside of its ceiling storage area while the master wardrobe and dressing area provide the route to the new sunlit back terrace.
Author
Kim Finer