Conceived by Homan Rajai and Elena Dendiberia of Studio AHEAD, the project presents a vibrant living gallery as a tailored response to the client’s brief to inject new life and energy into their storied abode. “Meeting over plates of heirloom tomatoes and basil picked from the garden, the couple would share with us anecdotes of their travels, and we’d reply with stories of artists whom we’d introduced them to,” recalls Rajai. “Even though the scope was small, their energy and openness and the home’s architectural beauty compelled us to dive deeper.”
Comprising a ground-floor communal realm, with private upstairs quarters, the architecture deploys order and visual restraint to curate the interior experience. A central hallway signals an arrivals sequence that draws ever deeper into layers of texture and rich tonality. A fitting tribute to the idea that spurred the renewal, a patchwork of Moroccan and Turkish carpets adorns the timber stair in distinguished geometric patterns. “We designed this runner using antique rugs from the couple’s travels – beginning in the foyer, flowing up the stairs and diverging on the upper landing,” describes Rajai. Each enclosed room breaks from convention in unorthodox ways for an inherently playful expression.
