Apartment overlooking the Charles River, Back Bay, Boston, USA. 2024.
The deep plan apartment on the 6th floor dates back to the early 1980’s. Low ceilings, limited daylight and a floor plan compromised by structural columns and vertical risers were constraints that bore upon and ultimately forged the final solution.
Given the compressed volume of the low ceilings we chose to accentuate the deep space of the apartment by establishing an enfilade, from the rear study, through the central entrance hall to the drawing room and onward to the views overlooking the Charles River.
The significance of this axis is heightened and formalised by the opposing white marble clad portals that open from the hall into the study and the drawing room.
The apartment was stripped of all finishes and non-structural partitions and floored throughout with European walnut parquet. The partitions were clad similarly in European walnut.
The majority of the furniture was provided by Pinch in London and Faolchu in Glasgow. Rugs, inspired by eighteenth century French textile documents, came from Gallerie Diurne in Paris. The art was chosen by the architect and client in London. Mid-century Swedish lamps came from Modernity in Stockholm, picture lights from T M Lighting in London. Curtains were from Claremont. The apartment follows on, 30 years later, from Shelley Court, for the same long-suffering client. It is handmade, obsessively crafted, carefully conceived and fastidiously detailed.
Là, tout n’est qu’ordre et beauté,
Luxe, calme et volupté.
— Charles Baudelaire
Photography by Scott Frances.
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