Hariri & Hariri

The sisters Gisue and Mojgan Hariri impress the international design scene with forward-looking designs and minimalist residences such as the now iconic “Sagaponac House” or the apartment “The Sovereign Building” in New York since the establishment of their New York office Hariri & Hariri in 1986. The bathrooms of both projects are equipped with Duravit designs.

Sagaponac, located on the east-of-New-York peninsula Long Iceland, has been transformed from a quiet town into a venue for international architecture. For about ten years now, a high-profile settlement with 34 villas, designed by world-renowned architects such as Stan Allen and Henry Cobb, is created as part of the “Houses at Sagaponac” project. The aim of the project is to create a housing complex with a high quality of life and to motivate the participating architects to create outstanding architecture. The new houses are to be understood as a tribute to the “Hamptons of the 50s and 60s” and stimulate a rethinking in the development of single-family homes. A fitting challenge for Hariri & Hariri: The two sisters launched the “Houses at Sagaponac” with the Sagaponac House as early as 2004. The concept of the architects was inspired by Alberto Giacometti’s sculpture “Figure in a Box between Two Boxes which are Houses”. Like the sculpture, the house has a clear opening at each end - which feat makes it a piece of art in itself. The focal point of the public domain is the prominent swimming pool, surrounded by a covered porch with a shower. This space, which is accessible from all parts of the building and visible from the outside, highlights the dramatic quality of the Sagaponac House: It becomes a stage for its residents. When it comes to the interiors, however, the curtain is drawn for the bathtub designed by Philippe Starck as part of the Starck 1 series by Duravit. It is placed in the center of the bathroom and separated from the bedroom only by a translucent wall. Convenient semi-public view for its residents.

Similar to the Sapanoc House, the sisters’ New York apartment “The Sovereign Building” too thrives on their diverse inspirations. A special highlight of this apartment is the spectacular bathroom with Vero vanity.
“A bathroom is not just a work of art, but always a functional space too, which is used for the purification of body and soul”, Hariri & Hariri say. “We therefore always have designed our baths as highly tangible, intimate and spiritual spaces.” A statement that perfectly fits Duravit’s philosophy of “Living in Bathrooms”. And this is more than just a lucky coincidence when you look from such a spiritual bath onto a most inspiring city like New York. It is typical for Hariri & Hariri. And typical for Duravit too.