Ad Italia, Feb 2022
In Sydney, Nina Maya signs a bright open-plan villa, full of signature design pieces that follow the latest trends in the interior world. It seems impossible, but this property brings with it a great historical legacy, that of Bob Hawke (former owner), the longest-serving Australian Labour prime minister. “One day I suddenly got the request to meet the architect Ian Traill, whom I didn’t know. She wanted me with her in this adventure, I accepted in a closed box and in the end it was a choice that rewarded me!” says the designer who never met the current owners throughout the process. “Customers were sailing abroad with their yacht, the only contact I had with them was by phone, but we were able to complete the project.”
Contemporary architecture, completed in 1993, included a private pier, a gentlemen’s club, five lavish bedrooms and a can-green on the roof. “For the renovation, we eliminated the labyrinthine layout that blocked much of the natural light. Ian removed the walls, raised the ceilings, floated the stairs on five levels and installed floor-to-heated glass in each floor. The customers wanted a minimalist house that showed the grand scale of the structure while keeping the attention on the bay and up to the green beyond,” continues Nina Maya.
For this project Nina Maya worked with a neutral palette, in which the use of marble occurs: from the floor to the walls, in the bathroom and even in the living room, “where the solid marble washbasins were carved from Arabescato blocks, worked in Italy and a splendid gray marble was used on a curved fireplace personalized as a central piece in the living room”, says the designer. But despite the extremely contemporary restyling, customers have decided to leave some elements of the past intact. “The owners have retained a special piece in honor of Prime Minister Hawkes’ legacy, his original pool table, and then bought a trilogy of Richard Freeman’s photographic portraits depicting the former prime minister smoking a cigar,” she said.
Among the designers who inspire Nina’s work we find Joseph Dirand (among AD 100/ 2022). “An example? I always start from a palette of minimal materials in neutral tones using natural finishes and then I like to add intriguing touches through textures, pieces of art and lighting. Especially with regard to the works, my passion is to find the perfect piece at auction or we often commission an ad hoc job. For this project, we have worked with several local artists such as Oliver Tanner and Marcus Piper Studio,” reveals the designer.
A key point is the floating staircase in bronze and porcelain that runs along the entire axis of the building. “We once again wanted the view and the light to invade every room in the house. Building this staircase was a great engineering feat but it was worth it, in fact it is really a surprising piece for the house,” concludes Nina Maya.
For the furniture and lighting Nina Maya has collaborated with the local craftsmen, designing most of the furniture to measure so as to make them unique. Some examples include mohair armchairs that sit on a brass and wood frame, the coffee table on a brass base, and the soft white cushion of the bouclé upholstered living room.
In the smaller dining area we find custom made pieces made by NMI for Contempo & Co; at the top Gem Branch Chandelier by Giopato & Coombes and Greyscape Marble finishes by New Age Veneers.
Among the favorite corners of the customers the bar area stands out for its glam-chic touch.
In the entrance armchairs by Pierre Jeanneret re-edited by Tigmi Trading; an orange table by Floris Wubben for Studio Alm; on the wall the work ‘Eve 2019’ by Jordan Azcune.
The powder room is covered in Black Tiger Marble by Stone Gallery with marble finishes created by Lusso Venetian Finishes; the stool is by Collection Particulière.
