CUSTOMIZATION OF AN APARTMENT
SENSUAL ARCHITECTURE /SEDUCTIVE ELEGANCE
Apartment R is located in the city centre of Rotterdam. Originally this apartment was an anonymous ‘minimalist white’, ordinary “feel good” interior. We created a bespoke, made to measure space, reflecting individuality of our client.
Exposing the original quality
To appropriate this space and reveal the original quality of its materials, we embarked on our ‘quest for truth’. We felt that a sensual elegance with unique traits would suit this space best. Initially darkened oak floor was bleached in order to reveal the original colour of the wood. White walls and ceiling were ‘stripped bare’ from the finish to show a beautiful, slightly rough concrete. White partition wall were painted in a delicate grey, blending them into the rest of the interior.
Adding new materials
Carefully selected materials were added to create new accents and reinforce the spatial quality of the interior.
Instead of using standard partition walls we designed individual elements of the furniture that define the space by separating different zones of the apartment. Thus, these furniture blocks are both functional and aesthetic: a kitchen at the corner of a living room, a cupboard placed between living room and bedroom, a wardrobe placed between master bedroom and bathroom. (Here I would like to look at the plan and see them right away as one cannot see it on the pictures) Made to measure, these elements are crafted from bamboo of a deep, dark brown colour obtained by a natural process of smoking.
Every element has an integrated mirror surface which blends it into the space and creates a smooth transition between different zones while visually enlarging them.
Kitchen and bathroom furniture has a ‘cosy’ elegance to it, achieved through the use of copper, rose-gold surfaces produced by combining stainless steel, aluminium, and coloured mirror.
A sideboard beneath a TV in the living room is made from solid resin plates. It lightens towards the window due to a gradient colour applied to it.
A German Industrial Cast Aluminium & Glass Explosion Proof lamp from the 1970s hangs above the dining table. On one hand, it brings together the delicate variety of exquisite materials applied throughout the space. On the other hand, its solid, shining aluminium body makes it a highlight and an emblematic feature of the interior. This unique design object becomes an epitome of the nuanced and sensual architecture of this tailor-made space.
