In Josefstadt, the trendy eighth district of Vienna, in a beautiful 19th century Grunderzeit building, Stephen Vary’s architecture and design studio Labvert was tasked with renovating a 130 sq m apartment for a nomadic client who travels between Paris and Vienna.
‘To compose an entire apartment from scratch like this is rare,’ Vary says of the project, that was assigned to him by a former university peer. ‘I greatly enjoyed developing an overall vision together with the client that leaves nothing to chance and is adapted to the needs of the apartment owner down to the smallest detail’.
Vary and his team fully embraced the flowing, open spaces graced by natural light. Aesthetically, the Vienna-based team took on a uniform consistency in colour, shape and material, while a subtle nods to midcentury modern comes by way of Charles Eames Vitra chairs, Harry Bertoia Knoll kitchen stools and a 1960s black leather sofa group by Johannes Spalt for Wittman. Elsewhere, among Joe Colombo lighting produced by Oluce, contemporary elements peep through in the Kvadrat blinds and Tai Ping carpets.
Atop the light-coloured oak floors and between the grey terrazzo countertops, sits a warm teakwood table with slanted legs in nickel plated steel, elegantly designed by Vary himself. Parked around this are upholstered Arne Jacobsen chairs produced by Danish manufacturer Fritz Hansen.
This complimentary mix-and-match formation results in a peaceful ambience. Layers of dulcet tones and detailed high-tech textile weaves, maple and leather lined cupboard interiors, steel and glass room dividers and mustard yellow and brown striped rugs present a dynamic environment.
Vary and his team at Labvert enhance the character of the space via the artworks, which include abstract forms from German artist Peter Kogler and photography by Margherita Spiluttini and Michael Dürr. §
