design et al are delighted to announce that Mar Silver has been shortlisted for Luxury Residence – Americas Award in The International Design & Architecture Awards 2019.
Mar Silver was challenged to completely modernise this family home in Southport, CT. The design brief required Mar Silver to connect all the rooms and give it some harmony and cohesiveness. The goal was to create a sophisticated beach house with a soft soulful essence.
The theme chosen was an organic minimalism whilst blending the old and new to create an ethereal sensibility. Because the home had amazing bones, Mar Silver kept inherent elements that worked in modernising the home, such as using the original beams that pay homage to its roots. Every room in the house was transformed as well as the outside gardens to include modern sculptures. A predominant white and grey palette, art, sculptures and furniture (such as her signature Orchid table) were chosen to work with the home’s sculptural lines to create the serene home the client desired.
Mar Silver’s favourite aspect of the home was the staircase. It was transformed into a sculpture that anchored and penetrated the entire house. Mar Silver reoriented and reconfigured the staircase, eliminating the first floor hallway in order to improve traffic flow and create space for separate dining room. A switchback stairway was designed that synthesized the black steel, character oak and glass elements.
The combination of the art collection, deliberate layering and carefully repurposed architecture turned the house into an evolving statement of its own. Because the home was incredibly dark, Mar Silver used a lot of glass to open up the entire space. With the reflection of art and architecture in the glass, the wall colour alters with the movement of the sun. As a result from the shadow play that occurs throughout the day, the home has created its own mood that is highlighted by all these elements.
This project was very special because every element of the design was part of a larger story that resulted in layering as a central narrative. With all the light, fabrics, and colours; everything is constantly changing. It is impossible to imagine anyone ever getting tired of this house.