Resale & Rental
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SATURDAY, JULY 17, 2004 THE OTTAWA CITIZEN RESALE HOMES• & RENTAL Editor: Sheila Brady, 596-3709 • [email protected] Above, Paul du Bellet Kariouk used a New York trick of lining window jambs with mir- rors to reflect light and suspended linen-backed glass screens that roll across the windows. Left, tall wood and glass cabinets fitted with interior lights and wheels not only provide storage, but can be ar- ranged for a party, form- ing lanterns of light and conversation nooks. Far left, a handy shower at the entrance takes care of muddy boots and pooches. Pragmatic beauty Renovated Mayfair condo experiments with light, space and a handy shower for dogs BY MARIA COOK Kariouk looked for an apart- (The silhouettes of their con- lives. A consistent palette of con- ment with “good bones” that he tents look quite mysterious.) crete, glass and wood, and a rig- ndividuals have referred to it could transform into a live/work When Mr. Kariouk’s father visits orously edited colour scheme of as The Apartment, as though space. Car-less, he wanted to be for a month, they roll them out to olive-green, and rust-red, white this Centretown address was able to walk to work and shopping. wall off a private sleeping area. At and natural wood, helps the space Ia movie title. Or maybe a short Lightly touched with Art Deco the other end, a translucent glass accept an imperfect variety of story, born of esthetics and econ- details, the seven-storey Mayfair wall backed in red silk screens the personal possessions. omy, complete with epiphanies Apartments in Centretown was master bedroom. Furnishings include family heir- and surprises. built originally as an apartment- “I don’t know if there is any- looms such as an antique dining Located in the elegant 1930s hotel aimed at Parliament Hill thing like it in Ottawa,” says inte- table, silver candelabra and 1950s Mayfair building on Metcalfe types. Former inhabitants include rior designer Helma Gansen, who woven chairs. The couch is a con- Street, Apartment 4D is one of figure skater Brian Orser and Kim lives in the apartment above. “It temporary design. Ottawa’s most talked-about re- Campbell, who chose it over 24 took quite a bit of vision and great “I’m not interested in making cent renovations. Sussex Drive during her brief ten- daring. It’s totally unexpected. everything match perfectly,” he The designer was Paul duBellet ure as prime minister in 1993. It’s a completely thought-through says. Kariouk, a 40-year-old Carleton The $175,000 unit that Mr. environment. There is also the “We all have stuff that we accu- University architecture professor Kariouk bought had the right Quaker approach to take every mulate in our lives.” and transplanted New York City spirit, but it immediately present- object and turn it into a decora- Mr Kariouk spent about architect. ed problems. Long and skinny, it tive piece.” $90,000 on materials for the ren- “I think a house can be some- was originally two small apart- In the centre of the space is ovation, but estimates the true thing more than just being about ments that a previous owner had the kitchen/work area where Mr. value, including his own labour, warmth and cosiness,” says Mr. combined into a string of small Kariouk prepares meal on an 18- to be about $160,000. He was Kariouk, who lives here with his rooms. The north-facing apart- foot-long polished concrete coun- assisted by Chris Davis, a former 100 pound Bernese mountain dog ment looks into a light well and, ter. Mr. Kariouk also uses the Carleton student now working Hannibal. even with 18 windows, the far end surface for model-building. A sev- with him. Designed by Mr. Kari- “Couldn’t it be about playful- was oppressively dark. en-foot-long version of the coun- ouk, the tub, kitchen counter and ness? Eroticism? There are so “I thought I’ll take down one ter is tucked into a window alcove cupboards were made by Frank many other human emotions that wall and then another, and then and functions as a computer desk. Prendergast and Lucy Chapman seem to get excluded from the before you knew it everything It can roll out to join the counter of NeoForm Cabinetry in Ot- standard suburban tract house.” was gone,” recalls Mr. Kariouk. PHOTOS BY ROD MACIVOR, THE OTTAWA CITIZEN if extra space is needed. tawa. Playful? Enter the front door “Everything was about trying The master bathroom, en- Mr Kariouk’s current projects of the fourth-floor condo and you to amplify natural light or putting A curvy tub for two in the master bedroom is filled by closed in a glass wall lined with include two lofts in New York, a water cascading over the side of the concrete sink. step onto a slatted-wood, drain- in systems of electric lighting that woods blinds, is a surprise. The new house on Linden Terrace in able section of floor. Beside it is would make the place brighter. broad, flat concrete sink acts like the Glebe, a kitchen renovation a red plaster wall water-proofed That’s what led to a series of oth- a fountain, overflowing a cascade in New Edinburgh and a court- with marine varnish. Mounted er experiments.” 15-foot wide, 80-foot-long open and all of the rest just becomes of water into the tub to fill it. The yard renovation for SAW gallery. on the wall is a sleek showerhead Mr. Kariouk employed a New space and a question: How to show.” concrete tub is big enough for “There is this misconception designed by Danish great Arne York trick of lining window jambs make a bowling lane accom- Mr. Kariouk’s favourite place two and is lined with a curving that architects just come in and Jacobsen. with mirrors to reflect light. In- modate all the activities of two to sit and read is a suede brown wood seat. do whimsical, beautiful things,” “There’s a slight disconnect in stead of blinds, he devised a set of adults? Mr. Kariouk’s philosophy couch at the front of the apart- When ripping down walls, Mr. he says. a playful way which I like because linen-backed glass screens that are is that the small spaces can be ment. Kariouk discovered the seren- “It’s not that way at all. It’s people don’t know what to make suspended from a track and roll designed to satisfy daily habits Standing nearby is a series of dipitous beauty of the underside about finding the most beautiful of it,” says Mr. Kariouk. “Ulti- back and forth across windows. and rituals. He hates “McMan- tall wood and glass cabinets, de- of the floor above—a structure and poetic way to be pragmatic.” mately, it’s completely a pragmat- “The idea for me is to take com- sions” honeycombed with sepa- signed and built by Mr. Kariouk of mesh and rusted concrete that For more information, visit ic thing, which is hosing off the mon materials and then transform rate rooms for every activity from with flexibility in mind. Fitted looks like draped red fabric. www.karioukarchitecture.com. muddy dog or muddy shoes.” them,” he says. “It’s not going to playing pool to gift wrapping. with interior lights and wheels, He left it exposed. For years ago, when he was pre- Home Depot and buying a fin- “It’s so unnecessary and waste- the cabinets not only provide The overall look of the apart- MARIA COOK writes about architecture paring to move to Ottawa from ished product. That only leads to ful,” he says. “At the end of the day, storage, but can be arranged free- ment is modern, but Mr. Kari- and urbanism for the Citrizen. Manhattan to take a teaching po- conventionality.” there are probably two or three ly for a party, forming lanterns for ouk’s primary motive was not to sition at Carleton, Mr. When the walls came down, chairs we all use in our houses. a party, forming lanterns of light achieve any particular style. It was Mr. Kariouk was left with a We’re creatures of habit and conversation nooks. designed for the way the couple .