The staircase leading to the upper level is clad in plain and
veined marble to create graphic patterns accentuating the movement through the space. In developing its sculptural design,
Schlesinger studied the play of vertical and horizontal geometries
through physical and computer models. “The configuration of the
stair changed about 10 times before we were done,” the architect
recalls. “It was a labor of love.” Stone slabs quarried in Turkey and
Italy had to be lifted by crane and passed through a window to be
installed on the floors and staircase.
Upstairs, a bedroom and a bathroom were demolished to make
way for the open study at the top of the staircase. Dark, marbleclad columns and a gumwood cabinet in the workspace repeat the
downstairs finishes to establish visual continuity between the two
levels. The master suite stretches from the bedroom at the front
to the bathroom at the back. In between the two spaces are closets
enclosed in frosted glass.
Even the most utilitarian spaces in the apartment feel like an art
gallery. In the master bath, the veined marble of the staircase is
repeated on the walls and backsplash. The freestanding bathtub,
which Lassus admits he rarely uses, is displayed against the marble
through a wall of glass. The rectangular, Australian-made sinks are
so minimalist in design that they share a long recessed slot at the
back to catch the water rather than using conventional drains. The
wall-mounted Italian toilet resembles an egg-shaped sculpture.
A globetrotter who has been to Antarctica and frequently travels to Africa, the homeowner has judiciously placed tokens from
his trips around his home. Photos and artifacts provide some of
the few accents of color in the clutter-free interiors, where every
detail is painstakingly considered. As Lassus notes, “Only a perfectionist can live in a home like this.” ?
Writer Deborah K. Dietsch is based in Washington, DC.
Photographer Paul Warchol is based in New York City.
Marble extends into the skylit master bathroom where the large
shower (opposite) and Waterworks tub (top) are screened by glass.
The minimalist Washplane sinks from Omvivo drain (above) through
a slot at the back.
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