Page 89 - Designing Ways 275

The aesthetic approach was central to this project. The agency selected
noble and durable materials such as wood and painted steel. The
visual direction had to respect the clients' vision of having a refined
and modern space that was personal and full of history.

The agency wanted colour to come from the materials within the
space. The perforated steel of the floors and the stairs can turn from a
dark navy blue to black based on the hours of the day. The opening and
perforation of the holes within the space enable visibility across the
house, while keeping everything visually harmonious. Additionally,
navy blue was selected for the cement tile ceramics from Ramacieri
Soligo. In contrast to the darker colour, and to punctuate the living
space, the designer selected light-coloured woods, such as maple and
light cherry wood.

With the bathroom, a more traditional yet joyful direction was taken
through the selection of ceramics that revisit period cement tiles.
The agency chose joyous paint palettes to reinforce recycled objects,
such as a clawfoot bathtub. Finally, a large and colourful mural at the
entrance gives the space a unique character.

The catamaran net conjures up images of a sailboat suspended above
the living room, from which you can sit and contemplate the starry
sky. It evokes feelings of both weightlessness and escape.

The rock-climbing wall, visible from the ground floor, adds a playful
touch, and Florence had maple panels geometrically drilled in for the
walls to accommodate its coloured attachments. The children can live
in the space at different heights and geometries, and can play where
formerly prohibited, as they can now jump as high as the ceiling.

The objects within the space bring in the majority of the luminous
touches. Vintage objects, found and brought back from travels, also
punctuate the space, including books and antiques that give a nod to
various cultures and world eras. dw

dw • Issue 275 89