MILAN — With their modernist French flair that is well recognized in the world of luxury travel and hospitality, Humbert & Poyet has finally made its mark on the U.S. design scene.
When architecture and design duo Emil Humbert and Christophe Poyet accepted the challenge to design a collector’s residence inside New York City’s diagonal modern shrine to high-end living, 53 West 53, they first pondered the monumental nature of the project. Designed by French icons Jean Nouvel and the late Thierry Despont, the property soars 1,050 feet over bustling Midtown Manhattan and the Museum of Modern Art.
Humbert & Poyet’s interiors for New York City’s 53 West 53
Courtesy of Humbert & Poyet
“You’re stepping into an architectural icon, and the questions become: how do you create an interior with enough presence to stand within that context? How do you bring a strong interior voice to it? We approached it as a fully articulated living environment, deeply human despite its scale: a collector’s residence designed around real life, not just visual impact,” the Parisian Humbert told WWD in an interview.
Earlier this month, the home, which spans a total of 5,772 square feet, was unveiled. Three bedrooms and 4.5 bathrooms were infused with the duo’s French and European savoir-faire and was decorated with pieces from Philippe Hurel, Pierre Frey and Studio Galerie Diurne. Beyond the model home itself, Residence 69 is symbolic of a broader movement in Midtown Manhattan: a renewed interest in French taste.
Humbert & Poyet Humbert & Poyet’s interiors for New York City’s 53 West 53.
Courtesy of Humbert & Poyet
In terms of furniture and lighting, Humbert & Poyet’s pieces focus on elegant designs that embrace materials such as stone, wood and bronze. Their affinity for the Art Deco movement emerges in their designs enhanced by geometric shapes, bold colors and metallic finishes.
As with every project they approach, the duo tries to create a “tri-dimensional” space, Humbert explained.
“We don’t think in terms of flat layouts, we think in terms of sequence. A space should unfold. It’s almost cinematic: you move through atmospheres, not just rooms. That’s what gives the space its emotional dimension,” Humbert said.
Humbert & Poyet was founded in Monaco in 2008 and their recent work includes several private residences worldwide, the elegant transformation of the Coquelicot barge for the Belmond LVMH group and, most recently, the design of the two latest Beefbar concepts in Milan and New York, as well as the Le Normandie restaurant at Mandarin Oriental Bangkok.
With 53 West 53, the Monégasque Poyet admitted the space isn’t for everyone. It was designed for a collector with attention to detail and atmosphere and someone who understands that the home is a reflection of one’s personality.
“What makes this project compelling is the confrontation between that heritage and New York’s vertical intensity. What we bring from Monaco is something different: a sense of lightness, of pleasure, of art de vivre. We’re not exporting a style, we’re translating a mindset into a new environment,” he said.
Humbert & Poyet’s model apartment for 53 West 53.
Courtesy of Humbert & Poyet
