CULTURAL CONNECTION

Located in the heart of London in Knightsbridge, this duplex apartment encapsulates the multiculturalism of the British capital. A project that was six years in the making, this apartment was designed by Natalia Miyar; the layout was reimagined to unite two adjacent apartments within a 19th-century building in the Belgravia district. It draws on inspiration from around the globe, and strikes the perfect balance between light and colour, as well as masculinity and artistic f lair.

“It was for a long-term client and this was his bachelor pad,” explains Miyar. “Amusingly, he ended up getting married right afterwards, but the brief was to create a light-filled home with open spaces. I had a great experience working with him before. I also knew about his personal art collection, which was a wonderful help, as we had great pieces to work with that add another layer to the design.”

Miyar herself is very much a citizen of the world. Born in Mexico to Cuban parents, she spent her childhood living in her birth country and Miami, and currently takes on projects all over the world, while basing herself in London.

It is clear that she has brought some of the colour and vibrancy from her own life into this apartment, aided by the owner’s extraordinary art collection. The abode features the work of artists such as Alexander Calder, Bernard Buffet, Roberto Matta and

Ben Nicholson, which makes visitors want to linger on in any given room.

The entrance hallway is dominated by a circular mirror and an array of potted plants, leading to a modern staircase.

Here, a painting by Alexander Calder takes pride of place and is the centrepiece in this space. A similar approach is adopted