Architecture
Part 1: A Gulf Coast Penthouse: “Before & After”
It is always exciting when one goes back to the original “before” construction images of any project. In this case we walked into a highly colorful version of Mediterranean-style detailing in a wonderful high-rise on the beach in Naples. This is the third residence for this, now, empty-nester couple whom have 12 children between them. So, the program was for a spectacular master suite, a wonderful and large entertaining apartment, with guest suites that offered everyone a view!
Probably the biggest move after organizing all public space to face the ocean was creating a patterned terrazzo floor, throughout the apartment, with circles and star bursts that included borders with large marble pieces as was used in classical Venetian terrazzo. This low-maintenance solution gave the client an overall easy beach side place for family of all ages to visit.
The client is a passionate collector of Japanese lacquer boxes, which inspired the use of a white oak slatted enclosure around the major support functions of the apartment. All of the Mediterranean was stripped away to be replaced by terrazzo, wood and leather wrapped columns. This created a modern expression of the Japanese Box.
A fine art collection was broadened by the addition of an important painting by Gutai artist Tsuyoshi Maekawa, which will ultimately become part of the collection at the Art Institute of Chicago.
We were also thrilled to add two enormous watercolors by Alexis Rockman from Sperone Westwater gallery in New York.
The light fixture that graces the dining room ceiling is by Jeff Zimmerman, with an Ori Gersht high speed explosive photograph as its backdrop.
