Argentinian studio Ries designs the interior for two apartments inside the Bonpland 2169 building by Adamo-Faiden architects

Argentinian design studio Ries has overhauled two apartments inside the Bonpland 2169 building by Adamo-Faiden architects. Pictured: the private home that is north facing with plenty of natural light. Photography:  Javier Agustin Rojas

Two flats in the Buenos Aires’ Palermo district have been given a simultaneous makeover. Inside the Bonpland 2169 building by Adamo-Faiden architects, local design firm Ries were assigned with the job, developing two subtly different territories that naturally unify.

Both homes are a project in compact living, with each taking up a 45 m sq and 32 m sq space respectively. The Argentinian design studio was given free reign on the interiors, and designed all of the furniture for both apartments.

‘It has these Blade Runner vibes, its amazing,’ the practice says of the layered design in the first apartment, a private home. Coining it as ‘the pink curtain apt’, the practice took into consideration the sensual direct sunlight that drenches this space. They invited warming tones, and translucent textures like sheer fabric, perforated metal and smoked glass to let the natural glow thrive, and allow shadows to form a filmic personality throughout.

Above, the private home which contains natural light and a layered design. Below, the Airbnb apartment with darkner tones and organic materials

The second apartment adopts a more solemn tone. ‘We wanted it to feel more like a cave,’ says the studio, which is achieved by a darker palette featuring navy curtains, alongside the use of stone and wood. Ries describe this effect as ‘serious’ yet neutral, lending itself to the function as an Airbnb rental. Furniture designed here includes a wooden wardrobe, black coated steel chairs and table, and a terrazzo-style stone tabletop.

There is a subtle trend that aligns the two apartments – circular shapes. This wasn’t intentional, but occurred as a progression during the design procedure. ‘When we first started designing furniture all our pieces were edgy with lots of angles, and orthogonal shapes. Somehow we shifted from that direction and began to design more rounded and circle shaped pieces. So having these pieces is a result of our process as a furniture design studio, applied to an interior design project. It is a picture of a moment.’ Reflective piping, enveloping round mirrors, and back rests curve in a similar direction in both open plan homes. §

Sheer curtains and perforated room divider in the private home

The apartment created for Airbnb rentals has a darker palette

A terrazzo-style table features in the Airbnb apartment