Hearst Magazines's sixth annual Designer Visions features three residences which will serve as movie sets for six short films that will be made in the completed apartments as part of Designer Visions’ first collaboration with 48-Hour Film Project, an organization whose mission is to advance filmmaking and promote filmmakers.
This year's venue will be the El Ad Group's 250 West Street in Tribeca. The opening night gala celebration will take place on October 30th. Hearst Design Group publications have partnered with top interior designers Matthew Patrick Smyth for ELLE DECOR, David Rockwell for House Beautiful and Antony Todd for VERANDA.
Acclaimed for his expert blending of European and American traditions and combining the best in classic style with comfort, Matthew Patrick Smyth’s aesthetic illustrates a consistent focus on fine detailing and suitability. Consistently ranked as one of the top designers in America, Smyth’s numerous honors and awards include ELLE DECOR’s 2012 Top 25 A List, the 2011 Stars of Design Award for Interior Design, New York Spaces Top 50, and top designer lists issued by New York magazine, House Beautiful and Gotham.
David Rockwell is founder of Rockwell Group, an award winning architecture and design practice. The firm focuses on a diverse array of projects that include hotels, hospitals, restaurants, airport terminals, Broadway set designs, and consumer products. Some of David’s achievements include the Pratt Legends Award, the National Design Award by Smithsonian’s Cooper-Hewitt for outstanding achievement in Interior Design, and the Presidential Design Award for his work on the Grand Central Terminal renovation.
Antony Todd is known for his infusion of timeless sophistication. Trained as a costume and set designer, his interiors possess an intricate understanding of scale and spatial flow in which three aesthetic strands are interwoven – a European sensibility, an affinity for classic forms, and a global sense of style. Antony’s exquisite work has garnered an impressive following whose ranks include presidents, celebrities, socialites and international clients.
This year two short films will be made in each apartment, and participants must write, direct, film, edit, score and submit their final films within 48 hours. The six films will be screened on October 30, just before the opening night gala. A panel of esteemed members of the film community will judge the entries and select the best film as well as the film that best integrates participating sponsors including Jenn-Air and Benjamin Moore.
“We have always said that the beautiful and innovative design featured in the completed apartments would make perfect movie sets,” says Jeanne Noonan Eckholdt, executive director of business development, Hearst Integrated Media. “For the first time this year each apartment will become an actual movie set and we can’t wait to see what the filmmakers create inside these remarkable residences. We are especially excited about our designer partners this year, each of whom will bring his very unique aesthetic to the project.”
250 West Street, located in the heart of Tribeca’s landmark district, is being transformed by El Ad Group into a collection of 106 spacious condominium residences. Designed by Gal Nauer Architects, the property features two grand entryways with 10-foot iron gates, a magnificent lobby with 24-hour concierge service, and a private library. The two-level amenities area includes a dramatic backdrop of glass mosaic tiles overlooking a 61-foot pool, a sauna and state-of-the-art fitness center. A breathtaking 5,000-square-foot landscaped rooftop with a separate sundeck lounge and dining space features expansive river and city scape views of the Hudson River. The 1906 Neo-Italianate building is located directly across from Hudson River Park’s newly completed Pier 25, which provides a wide range of outdoor activities including a landscaped waterfront esplanade and lawn, kayaking, volleyball and a separate children’s play area.
The Designer Visions residences will host a series of events through the end of the year. Each apartment will be featured editorially in its respective magazine: the November 2012 issue of House Beautiful, the December 2012 issue of ELLE DECOR and the January/February 2013 issue of VERANDA. A virtual tour and behind-the-scenes video, as well as feature interviews with the editors and designers, sponsor information, and resources will be available online on the magazines' websites.
Previous Designer Visions designers have included John Saladino, Celerie Kemble, Thom Filicia, Richard Mishaan, Charlotte Moss, Heather Moore for Jed Johnson Associates, and Jesse Carrier and Mara Miller for Carrier and Company Interiors Ltd., among others, at exclusive properties including 1212 Fifth Avenue, The Setai Fifth Avenue, and Soho Mews.
Note: The event dates in this article have been changed due to electrical damage sustained in the neighborhood during Hurricane Sandy. Check back for updates.
