Mariagroup apt
In the living area, a pair of vintage Ole Wanscher armchairs and Cassina sofa surround a custom Pentelic marble coffee table upon a rug by Sabine Marcelis.

October 23, 2025

Words: Jesse Dorris

Photography: Michael Sinclair

Inside A Frank Gehry Gem Reimagined As An Art Haven

When a prominent Jordanian businessman and the Lebanese-born founder of the MENA-focused arts and culture organization Les Createurs bought a 2,300-square-foot, four bedroom and four bath apartment in Frank Gehry’s distinctive London building facing the Battersea power station, they had a few requirements. First, the residence should serve as a home away from home, for family get-togethers in the U.K. capital. And second, it should house their extensive art collection, without feeling like a museum.

To accomplish the former, architecture firm Mariagroup first had to reckon with Gehry’s design. “The walls and internal structure of the apartment are the internal reflection of the architecture of the whole building: a non-orthogonal skewed geometry,” says firm partner Michèle Chaya. “Unlike other box-like interiors where plans are clearly defined by a rectangular outline, here, walls and columns are angled. Our response to was to treat the perimeter walls with one kind of intervention: a minimal shelving unit in bone lacquer serves as a platform to carry artwork.”

Mariagroup Crafts A Serene Home In London

living area with vintage chairs in home by Mariagroup
In the living area, a pair of vintage Ole Wanscher armchairs and Cassina sofa surround a custom Pentelic marble coffee table upon a rug by Sabine Marcelis.

Which helped to accomplish the latter. “Integrating the pieces within the interiors in dialogue with the furniture and with each other, where they appear as a random collection of items amassed through years,” says partner Georges Maria, “conveys an immediate sense of ‘lived in’ to the apartment.”

Materials and finishes mostly take advantage of the ample natural light, and direct eyes to the walls. One exception? The long corridor connecting the entrance, the bedrooms, and the reception area. The team covered one wall with mirrored brass in a champagne hue, which, says partner Claudia Skaff, “brings color and glamour to an otherwise dark passage.” The panels conceal doors to each bedroom, while also reflecting, literally and figuratively, a thoughtful selection of the couple’s collection on the opposite wall, bringing the artwork to light.

Step Into An Artistic Sanctuary Bathed In Natural Light

little nook with unique chairs overlooking the city
Across from the living area, vintage Jan Bocan armchairs gather at a coffee table by Nanna Ditzel.
corner of room with long brown chair and standing planters
A floor lamp by Barber Osgerby stands watch near a vintage lounge chair by Preben Fabricius & Jorgen Kastholm and vintage fiber-cement planters by Willy Guhl.
entryway with a table bench
A Finn Juhl table bench greets guests at the entrance.
dining and kitchen space with warm oak table and accents
Oak flooring warms up the bright kitchen area, and also takes form as a custom table in collaboration with Yew Studio; the pendant is a vintage Ingo Maurer.
kitchen backsplash with marble and shelves with dishes
The kitchen backsplash is Breccia Viola marble.
corner of bedroom with wooden wardrobe and white chair
In the primary bedroom, a ceramic vase by Alice Gavalet rests on a vintage Tove & Edward Kindt-Larsen chest of drawers, near a Nanna Ditzel armchair.
pendant light overlooking a bedroom with bright artwork
A pendant light by Achille Castiglioni for Afridi hangs above the bed; the table lamp is by Tacchini and the rug by La Manufacture Cogolin.

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