Manifesto for the Modern Home
Manifesto via a few of Felix Burrichter’s favorite architects and designers:
Doors should always be floor-to-ceiling apertures, so as to not break up the geometry of the wall. ROGER BUNDSCHUH, ARCHITECT, BERLIN
Never paint your ceilings white if the walls aren’t – it’d be like wearing white socks with a tuxedo. And have at least one mirrored wall in your home. RICKY ClIFTON, DESIGNER, NEW YORK
Consider wall-to-wall carpeting. There’s nothing more amazing than a pattern that looks like it’s going to swallow you up. BETHAN LAURA WOOD, DESIGNER, LONDON
Include inglenooks whenever possible. DAVID KOHN, ARCHITECT, LONDON
Have as many statement pieces as you want. And don’t cover up materials. Just let them be what they are and do what they do best.
FREDRIKSON STALLARD, DESIGNERS, LONDON
When hanging pictures on a wall, a Petersburg or Salon style of hanging should always be counterbalanced with a single, large and preferably abstract piece on the opposite or adjacent wall.
JONSTON MARKLEE, ARCHITECTS, LOS ANGELES
Build, install, hang and arrange everything symmetrically. ETIENNE DESCLOUX, ARCHITECT, BERLIN
Never put a nail into a wall. Always use doublesided tape! Stick it, post it! JüRGEN MAYER H., ARCHITECT, BERLIN
Only buy furniture you plan on having and using for the rest of your life. PHILIPPE MALOUIN, DESIGNER, LONDON
Our culture overuses walls. Put your books, art and plants on the floor in an organized manner. Your place will feel taller and bigger. You will have less space for furniture, but the pieces you keep will be more important in your life. BEN ARANDA, DESIGNER, NEW YORK
Always have a sunken room…always! MATT OLSON, DESIGNER, MINNEAPOLIS
Avoid paper towels. Instead use lots and lots of white washcloths and white dishtowels. Also, drink wine out of crystal, not glasses. In the bedroom, always use cool colours — and no electronics! RAFAEL DE CÀRDENAS, DESIGNER, NEW YORK
Don’t buy the furniture that you think you need, just buy/find/steal good stuff as it comes along. Things need to come trickling in, even if that means that for a while you’ll have three good tables but no chairs. SAM SHERMAYEFF, ARCHITECT, BERLIN
Every home should have a built-in espresso machine that serves professional hot espresso at all times of the day. WINKA DUBBELDAM, ARCHITECT, NEW YORK
Aim for improved indoor air quality and calibrated light levels through non-stop electronic air filtering and doses of 2500 lux. VILLE KOKKONEN, DESIGNER, HELSINKI
Avoid overhead lighting, smartly placed floor and table lamps create a more comfortable home. LEON RANSMEIER, DESIGNER, NEW YORK
Pay attention to RCP (reflected ceiling plan), which is all the stuff that goes on your ceiling. SO–IL, ARCHITECTS, NEW YORK
Don’t confuse a House with a Home. Instead, try to create a Houme (House X home). Architects design Houses but people live in Homes. DOMINIC LEONG, ARCHITECT, NEW YORK
Organize your possessions into piles, climb on top and read important books while enjoying the view. ANDREAS ANGELIDAKIS, ARCHITECT, ATHENS
Always hire an architect or a designer. ASHE + LEANDRO, ARCHITECT, NEW YORK
The writer is an architect and the founder of PIN-UP Magazine, based in New York.
Jani Leinonen: Kerjäläiskyltit (Beggar signs) (2009–)
