London House of Architects Andrzej and Collett Zarzhiski

Passing the gallery

Text: Dmitry Kopylov, - (c) Sally Griffiths / Red Cover

A photo: - (c) Ken Hayden/Red Cover

Magazine: (70)

As every motorist wants to buy a new car, an inveterate fashionista seeks to acquire a thing from a prestigious collection of clothes, an experienced tourist looks in at maps of the geographic maps in search of the unknown, and a “hunt for changing places” periodically seizes any thinking and searching architect. Andrzej and Collette Zarzhiski, the well-coordinated and successful tandem of the designer and designer, is no exception. “When our daughter Lily was born, we felt that we had“ grown up ”from our small house,” says Andrzej. “However, the search for new housing has been delayed for several years.” The family of architects was tormented by doubts: something did not suit Collett, Andrzej categorically disagreed with something. Finally, they agreed that the future home should resemble something like a cruise yacht in an ocean of blooming greenery. The most amazing thing was that they managed to find in London a small mansion of the Victorian era, which was hardly touched by the spirit of the times. In addition, the house was buried in the garden. For weeks, Andrzej and Collett thought through the project in detail. As a result, it was decided to abandon most of the eaves and other details, usually associated with the classical style. Stone, marble and wood for exterior finishing were ordered in a deliberately coarse "format" to perfectly harmonize the exterior of the house with the surrounding nature. The ground floor consists of entrance hall, lounge, living room, library and kitchen. To the left of the hall is a living room that combines two clearly defined functions: a comfortable area with a fireplace and large walnut double doors leading to the terrace, and a utilitarian area designed for meals. Designer William Grantham proposed to paint the walls in the color of parchment, advantageously shading the floor of light oak. The original cowboy rug carpet made of cow hides is very well and stylishly in harmony with upholstered in leather and fabric. Opposite the fireplace, decorated with the skull of the African buffalo, there was a place for a black-and-white abstract painting by John Wirth, logically completing the monochromatic "scheme" of the room. The library, located to the right of the hall, was created as a modern version of an old-fashioned era with heavy dark purple curtains, wood paneling and bookshelves. The living room is divided into two parts, in one of which there is a "contemplation area" with leather sofas and armchairs, a table made of ebony and a low African decorative chair. The other part of the living room is the "official" zone. It consists of a modern table and chairs. Both zones are joined by two white cowhide carpets with black leather edging. The simple maple kitchen is successfully complemented by black leather chairs by Mario Bellini, and through the double doors you can from here access to the terrace, finished with oak and untreated limestone. There is never a perfect solution, so the house, even after a year, is still far from completion, according to the Zarzhiski family.