The Belnord apartment building has been one of New York City’s legendary residential buildings, ever since it was first built in 1908 on Manhattan’s Upper West Side. Known for being amongst just a handful of apartment buildings in the city to span an entire block, the expansive residence has been revered as much for its classical Italian Renaissance architecture as it is for its private courtyard garden, which boasted a marble fountain and a surrounding driveway, while housing stables underneath.
After years of masterful restoration and renovation of the original Hiss and Weekes-designed building, The Belnord has unveiled a revitalised look featuring interior renovations led by Robert A.M. Stern, thanks to the developers, Westbrook Properties. A new model residence, imagined by designer Anna Karlin, along with enviable amenity spaces designed by Rafael de Cárdenas, together exemplify how effortlessly such iconic environs can be easily brought up to date.
In the breathtaking, 3,000 sq ft four-bedroom, four and a half bath model apartment, Karlin has filled the space with an individualised mix of vintage and custom-designed pieces. Working in a predominantly neutral palette of cream, wood tones and burnished metal finishes that accentuate the building’s historic pre-war features, Karlin reserved the use of more vibrant shades to bring pops of dynamism to each room.
‘The beauty of this home lies in the balance of antique and vintage to contemporary and custom. The building has its own layers of history and so too must the interior,’ Karlin reflects of her approach, which saw her infusing elements of surprise around the home. Unexpected, yet harmonious combinations, such as Afra and Tobias Scarpa dining chairs in the dining room with Karlin’s own Sketch lighting hanging above, as well as her floor-to-ceiling light sculpture, Face Light, which stands opposite a vintage sofa in the living room, all work together to pay tribute to the building’s past and present.
This rich sensuality continues in Rafael de Cárdenas’ vision for the private residents’ lounge and dining spaces. Unexpectedly filled with cool, saturated tones, the long lounge space has been configured into several discrete seating areas that provide privacy (and social distancing) when necessary.
‘In broad strokes, the spaces are meant to feel both homey and not – welcoming yet elevated, familiar yet beautifully dressed-up. They invite a casual treatment to a more buttoned-up environment,’ says de Cárdenas. ‘There are doors that can be used to divide the lounge into two isolated spaces, facilitating social distancing, but this was all designed before we recognized the need.’
He continues, ‘The project as a whole, having multiple lobbies and these lounges, with direct access from the courtyard, do lend themselves to the ways we currently approach being together: small groups of people in a space that behaves with the familiarity of your home, but with less hassle.’ §
