Annabelle Selldorf talks personal taste: Part Two
The architect wraps up her style file with Native rubber shoes, WG Sebald novels and “drunken noodles”
My style icon is Miranda Brooks, the great landscape designer and my dear friend. She is not only unbelievably intelligent and beautiful, she also has incredible style and an unequivocal eye. Her look is effortless – she has a natural ease and, while our styles are very different, I find myself aspiring to be like her. +1212-228 3623; www.mirandabrooks.com.
An indulgence I would never forego is fried eggs and bacon at Viand on Madison Avenue. Whenever I am in this Upper East Side area I make a point of eating here, because I love both the food and the atmosphere. I find the whole scene amusing and it makes me feel connected to the city. 673 Madison Avenue, New York, NY 10021 (+1212-751 6622).
Landscape designer Miranda Brooks | Image: WireImage
The books on my bedside table are The Redeemer by Jo Nesbø, a very cool thriller set in Oslo, and My Beloved World by Supreme Court justice Sonia Sotomayor, a humanist who thinks and articulates beautifully. I am also never without a WG Sebald book and am currently finishing The Rings of Saturn, which provides a fascinating tour across the English countryside.
The best gift I’ve received recently is a pair of rubber shoes by Native that are just perfect for walking my dog on rainy days. They are lightweight and breathable and never, in a million years, would I have thought to buy them for myself. Jefferson shoes, $45; www.shop.nativeshoes.com.
The last thing I bought and loved was a smart-yet-sturdy MZ Wallace leather pouch that functions as a clutch. It is made of black leather, has colourful stitching, braided details and a cool copper zip. It also works well when thrown into a larger bag, as it is the ideal size for money and keys. $225; www.mzwallace.com.
And the thing I’m eyeing next is a book entitled Louis I Kahn: 1901-1974, by Maria Bonaiti. I know the writer and, as Kahn is a revered architect, this book will make an important addition to my extensive library.
Selldorf’s MZ Wallace leather pouch, $225 | Image: Dorothy Hong
The last meal that truly impressed me was at a private home on an island in Maine. A chef named Oliver Outerbridge cooked an enormous wok dish full of “drunken noodles” with meat and vegetables over an open fire for 40 guests. In addition to the meal being delicious, his spectacular performance and the seaside setting made it even more special. +1207-699 6302.
Artist Ad Reinhardt working on a painting | Image: Time & Life Pictures/Getty Images
The one artist whose work I would collect if I could is Ad Reinhardt. I love his somewhat rare black paintings and the subtlety that emanates from these works. His paintings are fundamentally minimalist – they speak to me and force me to look deeply.
My favourite room in my house is the living room. It is the largest space in my apartment and I like everything about it – the proportions, the art that fills the room and the Vica furnishings. A focal point is a small wall sculpture by Donald Judd that I just love. www.vicadesign.com.
Louis I Kahn: 1901-1974 by Maria Bonaiti
In my fridge you’ll always find eggs and not very much else. I eat eggs at all times of the day – for breakfast, lunch and dinner – and like them prepared in all ways, with just a pinch of good salt. In addition, I always have butter to cook them with, and you’ll also typically find a bottle of French Pinot Noir as well. I prefer heavier wines in the winter months and lighter, white Arneis varieties when the weather warms up.
The people I rely on for personal grooming and wellbeing are my friend David Palin, a stylist who cuts my hair when I am in London, and my wonderful Pilates instructor, Alissa Alter, at Form Pilates in New York. She’s very precise and funny, and this goes a long way in getting me to exercise. Alissa Alter, +646-237 6928; www.alissaalter.com. David Palin, 07976-327 566.
If I didn’t live in New York City, the city I would live in is Venice. I like the complexity of the place as well as the art, architecture, language and light. I find the Gallerie dell’Accademia to be particularly inspiring, and I like shopping for books about glass and glassmaking at Le Stanze del Vetro bookshop. My favourite meal is at Da Fiore, which serves delicious pasta with clams and mussels, and I also enjoy a glass of prosecco at one of many neighbourhood bars. I love to explore this city and find the rhythm of life – not to mention the slight melancholy – fascinating. Da Fiore, Calle del Scaleter Sestiere San Polo 2202, 30125 Venice (+39041-721 308; www.dafiore.net).Gallerie dell’Accademia, Campo della Carità 1050, 30123 Venice (+39041-520 0345; www.gallerieaccademia.org). Le Stanze del Vetro, Isola di San Giorgio Maggiore1,30124 Venice (+39041-522 9138; www.lestanzedelvetro.it).
My favourite websites are the Chinati Foundation and the Judd Foundation, both for beautiful design and interesting content. I also like The Architectural League of New York for information about new design, and Urban Omnibus, a site devoted to New York City and important contemporary architecture. www.archleague.org. www.chinati.org. www.juddfoundation.org. www.urbanomnibus.net.
If I weren’t doing what I do, I would be a social anthropologist focused on the changes in culture in the western world. As an architect I do that naturally – study how people live and their cultural influences – but I would like more time to study and write about these things.