Houssein Jarouche’s Apartment by Triptyque Home Improvement

Houssein Jarouche’s Apartment by Triptyque

January 27th, 2011 | by Isaac Hogan |

Owner of design store MiCasa in São Paulo, Houssein Jarouche gave Franco-Brazilian architecture studio Triptyque full creative control of the design of his amazing 300 square meter (3,200 sq. ft) apartment. The whole reform took them only one year to be finished, reaffirming the fact that when similar philosophies meet everything is much easier. The result is one of the most fascinating houses we have seen, reflecting perfectly the essence of its owner, full of inspirational contrasts and unexpected surprises. But how did it all begun? Houssein Jarouche tells Yatzer.com about it: “We met in 2004, when I chose Triptyque to design my new design store (MiCasa) in São Paulo. I was looking for a contemporary bureau since there are only a few of them in Brazil. Triptyque was the natural choice since they are certainly the best in the scene”. Let’s take a closer look and discover all the details. The 300 square feet apartment of proud owner Houssein Jarouche was planned as a great gallery with aligned rooms without an established function. The goal was to stimulate unexpected occupations and give a certain gratuité to the spaces. The main concept was to unify the space and divide it in smaller rooms. “The first step was to clear the space and observe the potentials. The second step was to establish a new hierarchy that privileges the continuity of spaces. The third, to search and create a language of our own”, say the Triptyques. It was a goal for the architects to obtain this continuity without interfering in the richness of internal spaces. The apartment structure was opened to its maximum in order to clear the plan, where a dialogue between the bookcase, the kitchen and the galleries is set. Rough concrete, demolition wooden floors, stainless steel and white walls are the characteristic elements of this apartment, offering a minimal yet warm identity to the space. The art pieces and the furniture are given in this way enough space to obtain the essential visibility. If there is something that captivates at first glance the attention in this house this is the bookcase, a monumental structure that embraces the technical core of the building (elevators and stairs). It is called Treme Treme and it is a special design by Triptyque. Treme Treme is present in every room and defines the whole project: through the bookcase it is made the entrance to the apartment, “like walking into a cave, through the dark towards the light” as the Triptyques say. It’s like a giant sculpture that sets the main tone to the apartment and at the same time it is the best display that the numerous collections of the owner could have. The kitchen is a great concrete stone that stands in the center of the project. As a reference meeting point, it is placed in a central position, in front of the bookcase. Triptyque are certainly not afraid of contrasts: in this house strong elements are confronted, resulting in a poetic conversation. The treated demolition wood and its irregular pieces juxtaposes with the white lacquered bookcase in a visual contrast between the artificial and the rough. In the same way, the kitchen’s concrete dialogues with the stainless steel of the drawers and doors. This adds certain dynamism to the whole concept, giving the impression of an omnipresent movement. Surprisingly enough, the use of color that is added through the art pieces and the furniture is the unifying factor to all those contrasts: either making things look suave either imposing itself, it certainly makes the house look vivid and warm. Jarouche tells us about it: “These colors are a reflection of my personality. I collect objects I buy when I’m abroad, things from my childhood or gifts people give me, I love mixing them. I like keeping close everything that is important to me, this is my lifestyle.”