PARADISE LOFT - MET HOME OF THE MONTH A SAN ANTONIO ART LOVER TRANSFORMED PART OF AN OLD CANDY FACTORY INTO THE ULTIMATE MINIMALIST SPACE TO ...
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PARADISE LOFT MET HOME OF THE MONTH A SAN ANTONIO ART LOVER TRANSFORMED PART OF AN OLD CANDY FACTORY INTO THE ULTIMATE MINIMALIST SPACE TO DISPLAY HER COLLECTION.
This unapologetically spare, nearly white home occupies the top two
floors and the roof of an 80-year-old red-brick building. Left: A neatly
symmetrical seating arrangement consists of a Kevin Walz sofa (through
Ralph Pucci) and a B&B Italia’s George chairs by Antonio Citterio. The ball
of pencils sculpture above the fireplace is by the Art Guys; the wall hang-
ing “Strudi Flooo” (at far left of the room) is by Trenton Doyle Hancock.
MET HOME OCTOBER 2006
key to the Style
• Custom paint color throughout (grayish white)
• High-gloss epoxy floors
• Simple architectural details in classic materials
• Modern furniture in compatible shades of gray
• Geometric seating groups anchored by rugs
• Sculptural side tables and lighting fixtures
• Sheer, simple window treatments
MET HOME OCTOBER 2006
W WHEN ARE THE SUBURBS OF SAN
ANTONIO, TEXAS, NOT THE RIGHT
PLACE FOR A SUCCESSFUL ENTRE-
PRENEUR? W h e n sh e’s a m a j or p a t r on of t h e a r t s , a not e d
it w a s j u s t w a it i n g for a s m a r t m o d i f ic a t ion i n t h e 21s t c e nt u r y.
“ I h a d a l w a y s a d m i r e d t h a t bu i ld i n g,: s a y s t h e c ol le c t or. W h e n sh e
w a l k e d i n , a d m i r a t ion blo s s om e d i nt o love. T h e d e velop e r, w h o w a s
h a v i n g s e c on d t h ou g ht s , h a d a l r e a d y g u t t e d a l l t h e f lo or s. ” We c ou ld
e a si l y s e e t h e b e a u t y of t h e s p a c e,” sh e r e m e m b e r s. T h ou s a n d s of
c ol le c t or a n d a n a r t i s t i n h e r ow n r i g ht w h o d id n’t h a ve t o om t o s s e h e r
s q u a r e fe et of not h i n g bu t b a r e f lo or s a n d w a l l s s t r et ch e d b efor e h e r ;
a r t . C h a r a c t e r i s t ic of c ont e m p or a r y work , s om e of h e r pr i z e d c a n v a s e s
s t e el - f r a m e d w i n d ow s w r a pp e d t h e s p a c e a n d f lo o d e d it w it h l i g ht .
a r e m a s si ve, a n d s om e of t h e s c u lpt u r a l pie c e s h a ve t o b e s u s p e n d e d
C on c r et e c olu m n s , s et on a 2 2 - fo ot g r id , lo ok e d l i k e t h e u lt r a - m o d e r n
for m a c ei l i n g. P h y sic a l l y, e m ot ion a l l y a n d a e s t h et ic a l l y, h e r
ve r sion s of C or i nt h i a n pi l l a r s. T h e bu si ne s s wom a n i n h e r m a d e a b old
t r a d it ion a l h ou s e ou t sid e t ow n w a s a n i n a d e q u a t e ve nue - for b ot h t h e
d e c i sion : S h e b og ht t h e bu i ld i n g.
c ol le c t ion a n d it s ow ne r.
“ I w a nt e d a pl a c e t o l i ve w h e r e I c ou ld s e e m y a r t ,” sh e s a y s. “ I felt Above: The open dining room features a modular table, Eero Saarinen
Tulip chairs and a David Weeks chandelier. The yellow painting is by Arturo
a w k e a r d l i v i n g i n a f a n c y s u b d i v i sion . I ne e d e d t o l i ve i n t h e c it y a n d Herrera, the shelflike installation by Josiah McElheny. Opposite: The
t o fe el s om et h i n g I w a sn’t fe el i n g i n t h a t ot h e r e n v i r on m e nt .” smaller seating area includes a Moore sofa from Minotti, an Apta chair from
S o i n 2 0 01, w h e n a d i s u s e d c a n d y f a c t or y b e c a m e a v a i l a ble i n a Maxalto and a classic Arco lamp by the Castiglioni brothers; the yellow
painting is another Herrera; the wall-hung sculpture is by Anthony Gormley.
d e r el ic t w a r eh ou s e d i s t r ic t b et we e n I - 35 a n d t h e S a n A nt on io R i ve r,
sh e w a s e xc it e d . C l a d i n br ic k , w it h c a s t- s t one a c c e nt s , t h e si x- s t or y
PRODUCED BY SUSAN VICTORIA AND HELEN THOMPSON. PHOTOGRAPHS
bu i ld i n g w a s e r e c t e d i n 192 6. A h a n d s om e r e m i n d e r of t h e c it y ’s p a s t , BY COLLEEN DUFFLEY. WRITTEN BY HELEN THOMPSON.
MET HOME OCTOBER 2006
THE COLLECTOR CLAIMED t he top t wo f loors
for hersel f: T he f i f t h wou ld be her home, t he si x t h a n ex pa nsive a r t
g a l ler y. A la rg e roof g a rden w it h a deck a nd a sma l l pool wou ld top of f
t he pla ce a nd com ma nd v iews of t he cit y. To f i n ish of f her r aw squ a re
foot a g e, t he enter pr isi ng a r t lover set t led on Sa n A nton io - ba sed
a rch itect Ji m Poteet , who ha d renov ated ot her lof t s i n nea r - dow ntow n
neighborhoods. “I v isited a couple of t hem,” she says, “a nd t hey were
so m i n i ma l a nd clea n, a nd I t hou ght , T h is is ex a ct ly what I w a nt.”
Poteet ha d worked w it h A u st i n a rch itect Pat r ick O u sey on t hose lof t s
a nd ca l led on h i m to joi n t he tea m. “ We work wel l tog et her,” says
Poteet , “a nd besides, it’s more f u n to work w it h a pa r t ner.” A s for t he
i nter iors, it w a s a g iven t hat t he homeow ner wou ld choose Sa n
A nton io decor ator Cou r t ney Wa l ker. “ We’ve been f r iends si nce we
were g i rls,” she says, “a nd Cou r t ney ha s helped me on ot her hou ses.”
“ T he cl ient w a nted a clea n spa ce t hat d id n’t d ist r a ct f rom her col lec -
t ion,” says O u sey. “ T he whole project w a s rea l ly a l l a bout l ight.”
T he pla n ca l led for a n open spa ce on t he shor ter, ea st-west a x is of t he
bu i ld i ng, w it h a d i n i ng a rea set bet ween seat i ng g roups at ea ch w a l l of
w i ndows. “ T hat w ay we cou ld g et t he most l ight i n t here a l l day long,”
O u sey says. T he ma ster bed room wou ld be located at t he nor t h end
of t he lof t , t he k itchen at t he center.
A not her ea rly desig n decision set t he tone for t he job: “ We resu r -
fa ced t he conc rete f loors, wh ich ha d been i r ret r iev a bly da ma g ed f rom
t he yea rs of a bu se,” notes Poteet , “ i n a n i ndu st r ia l - g r a de wh ite epox y,
t he k i nd of ten u sed i n a i r por t ha ng a rs.”
Left (from top):: Architects Patrick Ousey (left) and Jim Poteet; an open
terrace with Paola Lenti seating through Scott + Cooner in Austin and
large ceramic vessels by Jorge Pardo. Right: A zigguratted steel staircase
leads from the open lounge area outside the kitchen to the upper (gal-
lery) floor. The painting above the bar is by Joan Mitchell, the small sculp-
ture by Niki de St. Palle; ceramic bowls are by Alex de leon.
MET HOME OCTOBER 2006
THE IMPACT OF the lustrous epoxy f loor was powerful: s ele c t ion t h r ou g h ou t w a s d el ib e r a t el y s t r a i g ht for w a r d - m o s t of it
“Until we got furniture in here,” says the ownder, “the light bounced off the m o d e r n , It a l i a n a n d r i g or ou s l y neu t r a l . “ We u ph ol s t e r e d f u r n it u r e i n
f loor so much we practically had to wear sunglasses.” Modulated with sh a d e s of w h it e i n s t e a d of g r a y i n t h e b e d r o om ,” not e s Pot e et , “ bu t
sheer window shades, the result is a room lively with illumination as if i nt r o d uc e d m or e c olor i n t h e a r t a n d f u r n i sh i n g s.” T h e r e, a m id n i g ht
from an unseen source. blue c of fe e t a ble a n d or a n g e fo ot s t o ol s a ch ie ve m a x i mu m cl a r it y
For ter race door ways, t he a rch itects chose steel-f ra med gla ss a nd a g a i n s t t h e br i g ht w h it e w a l l s.
“t wea ked t he st a nda rd wh ite t hey ca me in,” says Ou rsey. “ We devel- T h e sh e e r, ne a rl y w h it e e n velop e of t h e lof t of fe r s b ot h g ue s t s a n d
oped a color we ca l l Ca mp St reet W h ite.” Tined w it h a wh isper of g ray, t h e h om e ow ne r a s e n s e of a m pl y s p a c e i n w h ich t o a ppr e c i a t e t h e a r t .
t he shadow y nua nce beca me t he ba sis for t he subt le tona l sh i f ts “ I ’ve l i ve d i n a b ou t 12 ot h e r h ou s e s ,” sh e s a y s b y w a y of s u m m a r y, “ bu t
t h rou ghout t he lof t. Wa l ls a re d r y wa l l because “t he ow ner cha nges her t h i s i s t h e f i r s t one t h a t fe el s l i k e m e.”
a r t work f requent ly a nd d r y wa l l is ea sy to repa i r,” Poteet says.
Above: In the sitting room of the owner’s private quarters, shojilike screens
To a nchor a few of t he seat ing a rea s, t he tea m chose plush g ray made of Corian frame the fireplace and create a sense of privacy. Furniture
r u g s, t he da rkest to go u nder t he d in ing t able modu les desig ned by includes and Arne Jacobsen Egg chair, Paola Lenti cubes and an Yves Klein
Ousey. T he d in ing room is t he scene of f requent fa m i ly d in ners a nd coffee table; paintings are by Byron Kim, the wall hanging (rear) by Arturo
Herrera. Opposite: In the library, an antique Italian table meets an Eames
cha r it y events, a s wel l a s sa lons hosted by t he homeow ner. Fu r n it u re
loune chair; doors by Jorge Pardo open onto an Yves Kelin “Blue Venus.”
MET HOME OCTOBER 2006
1
DETAILS 4
1 To minimize the railings, landscaper designer John A hrens stacked
three tiers of planters to intervene between the roof deck and the
edge of the building. The decking is made of rech red ipé wood.
2 The custom fireplaces are made from painted plaster, stainless steel
and crushed glass to keep them as neutral as possible: “The fire itself is
the focal point,” says Jim Poteet.
3 Siding made of Cor-Ten, an unfinished steel, mimics the deep red
hue of the building’s original brick facade. A white-painted aluminum-
and-steel trellis breaks the sun’s impact by day, turns silvery in the
ref lection of lights and night and pays homage to the building’s land-
mark water tower.
4 A rriving guests debark from the elevator into a foyer that opens
into the main living space. Josiah McElheny’s installation “Charlotte
Perriand, Carlos Scarpa, Others (W hite)” is a tongue-in-cheek take
on traditional display shelving.
5 The kitchen is the only windowless room in the loft, so Patrick
Ousey created a sense of antic light with three Verneer Panton Fun I
chandeliers that catch the sun from a skylight. Countertops are
Corian, but the architects designed the island from seamless ter- -
azzo - with tiny hunks of embedded glass for subtle texutre. Cabinets
are from Poliform, Bertoia barstools from Knoll.
6 The understated drama in the master bathroom comes from the
play of light on different planes: matte dry wall, an opaque glass
shower door and a tub surround and wainscoting made of Corian.
MET HOME OCTOBER 2006
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