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WARM,
UNDERSTATED LUXURY by Marta Bernasconi
A meeting with the New York based architects who create a style that appeals to the trendsetters in fashion and hospitality, and has recently been discovered by the yacht building world
ph. Kaisa Rautaheimo
ph. Thomas Loof
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Dominic Kozerski was born in London, Enrico Bonetti in Bologna. Here they are in their New York studio, founded in 2000, where they handle projects that embrace the entire gamut of architectural scale. Left, the new Pace Gallery building in New York City
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heir work takes them from the Caribbean to Ibiza, the USA and Europe. They are called to the world’s most beautiful locations by illustrious clients like the stylist
Donna Karan or hotel gurus Ian Schrager and André Balazs. The design language of Enrico Bonetti and Dominic Kozerski has many fans, and in 2000 the architects opened a studio in New York specialising in the residential, hospitality, retail and product design sectors. These diverse fields of activity are bound by a common thread. “Our way of working always follows the same objective – to find practical, functional solutions, preferably spatial, to improve use and quality of ph. Luca Pioltelli
life or solve operational problems. Once the solutions have been identified, we allow these to lead the design, and as each individual problem is different we always create an original result”. Their way of organising spaces and linking the interiors seems to be a key element in their architectural design, especially for residential projects. “We try to emphasise control of the traffic, the paths taken, paying attention to how people move around among the spaces. For example, human beings are all drawn by natural light, and we regulate the attractiveness of the interiors through the way we position windows and openings. We usually design from the inside outwards”. Bonetti and Kozerski regard light as a crucial factor. They often shape the qualities of a space by modulating the light to inspire a range of emotions. Another element that, especially in residential projects, displays the architectural duo’s distinctive touch is their search for a fluidity of movement among the interiors, creating spaces with their own functional identity but without brusque interruptions. The studio prefers a more discreet luxury on an aesthetic level, too. “We mainly use natural materials that aren’t too refined. We like emphasising their imperfections as aspects of their beauty. We often contrast unworked with more polished elements. Every material should have a certain weight, and in the context of the project as a whole we like to select a small number of highly distinctive
tactile nature of the surfaces and the amount of natural
examples”. Their individualistic residential design caught the
light. We very much doubt you could find such a coherent
eye of Benetti, which commissioned the architects to shape
experience on other yachts”. The experience with a top-
the interiors of the 40-metre Oasis line. The first of these, the
quality yard like Benetti means constant quality control of
Rebeca, has enjoyed universal acclaim for the solutions adopted.
materials, which are rigorously tested for their resistance
Accustomed to working constantly with a number of European
to sunlight, the sea and wear and tear. The architects
artisans from Italy, Switzerland, France and the UK, Enrico and
have come out of this experience with a new awareness,
Dominic decided to introduce some of them to world of luxury
becoming much more selective in their choice of materials
yachts, bringing aboard ideas and details previously reserved
for projects on dry land. The maritime adventure of
for residential projects. “We spent a long time on every sensory,
Enrico Bonetti and Dominic Kozerski has also led to a
aesthetic and functional aspect, from the first step on board to
new destination – they have just started work on a new
entering the cabin, from the brightness of the materials to the
project, a 56-metre craft for a private client.
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ph. Luca Pioltelli
Above and right, the guest room and spa area for an Ibizan villa. Below, exterior view of the Donna Karan Parrot Cay residential compound in the Caribbean. Opposite page, Tods Miami (top) and outdoor furniture for Plateau Furniture Collection designed for Sutherland Furniture
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Benetti turned to the Bonetti/Kozerski architecture studio for the design of its new Oasis 40m line (left and top, right, Rebeca, the first unit). The duo have created an unconventional layout for a yacht, with integrated spaces. Construction details and materials have been selected to create a feeling of relaxation and an aesthetic image that will retain its appeal
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