To foster a peaceful environment, Oliver Du Puy draws on the Japanese concept of wabi-sabi, which embraces imperfection, transience and simplicity. Existing partition walls, false ceilings and multiple finishes – accumulated throughout the building’s storied history – were removed, revealing 100-year-old timber floors, concrete columns and beams. Forming a generous grid, the original structure accommodates rows of steel-framed windows that offer views of the city and flood the interior with natural light. New curved walls soften the interior expression, shaping spaces according to their function. The walls, together with concealed pivot doors, sit lightly within the existing framework, emphasising its grand proportions.The interior design champions minimalism as a path to mental clarity. Across the pared-back forms, marble, oak and stainless steel coexist in harmony with the architectural envelope. In the bathroom, sinks rest upon self-supported marble plinths, while the walls in the kitchen are lined with stainless steel – an homage to Palazzo Pucci. Used for meetings, meals and storage, the kitchen conceals its appliances within seamless cabinetry, allowing a marble island, framed by octagonal columns, to take centrestage. Throughout the home, art fosters introspection, with works by Gideon Rubin and the late Lawrence Carroll among those displayed.
