Drawing from the history of the original Art Deco building, the story of the building’s past takes you on a journey that riffs original details with a contemporary overlay. ‘The building is called The Regent so we added an inlay at the entry to the apartment and called it The Monarch,’ remarks designer Charlotte McGill, a director at Melbourne-based studio Mim Design. ‘We had the idea that the monarch jaunted downstairs to the speakeasy for a couple of little drinks while the regent is taking care of things upstairs in the formal building. So it’s a little bit playful. The Art Deco references for this project provided a great design ethos. It’s an important part of the process for the studio and for this project, it helped us develop the personality and quirk.'
That quirk is also found in the palette of materials that are at once sophisticated and playful. Asked about her favourite materials and details, Charlotte notes the specialty cross reeded glass that plays with reflectivity and translucency, and the Biscuit wooden floors by Patricia Urquiola for Listone Giordano. ‘We were lucky to have an incredible palette of beautiful materials and therefore work with incredible suppliers to achieve the result. I was so happy to use the Biscuit wooden floors by Patricia Urquiola and Listone Giordano for this project. The proportion of the wood is perfect, it really expresses its materiality. Throughout the day the detail catches the light, its pattern is not only bevelled but gently curved, and underfoot it has a lovely tactility that is perfectly crafted throughout the apartment.’
Trust and collaboration shaped the process. Walls were removed and carefully articulated engineering was designed to free up the spaces, with all focus on interior flow and views from every room. Materials like mirror finished stainless steel, natural stone, polished plaster and crafted timbers now add texture and shimmery reflection to create a visual play between solidity and transparency. Through clever details a relatively small apartment now feels warm and generous.
‘The mirror polished stainless steel column shrouds conceal a huge amount of structure,’ adds Charlotte, ‘but rather than just cladding them with plaster we wanted to be more inventive. They are curved so you get really interesting reflections not only of the water but of yourself as you move through space. Clever storage was also very important so even though it's a small area, the kitchen and living spaces feel huge. Everything is carefully considered and every detail meticulously designed. We think about where your keys go when you walk in the door, where you put the shopping or your handbag. Whilst it feels almost effortless, there’s a huge amount of work that went into how the client will use the space day to day.’
We caught up with Charlotte McGill to discuss the story behind the apartment, the ideas that shaped the design approach, and how the influences of Milan Design Week inspire her design practice.
