design et al are delighted to announce that Bergman & Mar has been shortlisted for Luxury Residence – London Award in The International Design & Architecture Awards 2019.
Bergman & Mar was commissioned by Capital & Counties to design the interiors for their newly redeveloped Southampton Street Penthouse Apartment in Covent Garden. The former residence of David Garrick, English actor and playwright, has been tastefully redeveloped in ten separate residences.
The designers love the playfulness of this project, especially in the lounge area that leads onto the rooftop terrace. Cane, glass, and oxidized metals work against softer finishes of sheepskin and African karakul wool. A handmade abstract wire sculpture made in Barcelona sits alongside a cactus, palm tree and travel collated photography, contrasting the man-made against nature.
Bergman & Mar pay special attention to ensure their projects are always authentic and fresh. The designers find that it helps to use items collected from their travels as they did with the art in this project, and to keep an eye out for emerging talent and new takes on old designs. For example, the Platner coffee table by Knoll used in the main lounge area is an old vintage design with a new finish.
In a similar way, tt was important for in this project to remain true to old methods of making and craftsmanship while reinventing through different finishes and modern designs. This ensured the quality of the item but a distinctive finished product. For example, the vanity table was produced by the long-established company Gebruder Thonet, who used traditional materials and methods of bending wood yet created a fresh and modern design. Coral & Hive produced for this project hand-woven rugs on traditional looms.
The buyer in Covent Garden is an educated intellectual who enjoys the culture of London. Bergman & Mar felt the interior had to reflect this through recognised quality pieces, and by showcasing different areas of design. The aim was to give the impression that the pieces in the apartment could have been collected by the occupant throughout their well-travelled life, showcasing a mixture of new and old.