Jean Nouvel Building, Manhattan
To contrast with the sleek, cut pile of bamboo in the other rooms, Barran chose chunky banana silk for the living room. “So many of the surfaces were hard and flat,” said Barran, “that I wanted to incorporate something soft and fluffy.” The sheen of the rug also plays off of the panne velvet upholstery.
“Because Classic Rug Collection specializes in one-of-a-kind rugs, I was up for the challenge.”
Situated next to the Hudson River, 100 11th Avenue, designed by French architect Jean Nouvel, is best known for its unusual fenestration; the curved exterior is a riot of multi-sized windows. To design and furnish an 1800 square foot apartment, the owners chose In Situ, a partnership of architect Edwin Zawadski and his wife, art historian Mason Wickham. They brought a young, fresh aesthetic to this prestigious project.
The building presents many challenges, with its compelling view, the strongly geometric window arrangement, and the curvature of all of the rooms. In addition, inlaid strips of stainless steel echo the front curve, so carpets were an especially tricky detail. Zawadski and Wickham turned to me to tackle the project. I designed five one-of-a-kind rugs for this project.
All of the rugs were woven in Nepal at a GoodWeave facility, ensuring that no child labor was used in their production. The precise appearance of the rugs is a testament to the outstanding skill of the weavers. “I love to work with Ed and Mason,” said Barran, “because they always have a new take on things. They want each of their projects to be unique.” Because Classic Rug Collection specializes in one-of-a-kind rugs, I was up for the challenge. The result? A perfect, tailor-made solution to In Situ’s rug dilemma!
To soften the look of the floors, the designers chose bamboo and banana silk, which are soft, lustrous materials. Barran created companion rugs for the Master Bedroom and its Sitting Room. Working with templates to ensure accuracy, she created 100 knot hand-knotted bamboo rugs that curve where they face the windows; in addition, both rugs incorporate curved silver lines to echo the stainless steel ones in the floors. The result looks tailor made.
The architect, Zawadski, suggested running the nap of the living room rug in two different directions, so the rug was knotted in opposite directions from the line running perpendicular to the windows. As a result, one side of the rug always looks shiny, while the other looks matte and slightly darker. The slightly off-kilter line running perpendicular to the windows adds a quirky touch to the rug.
