‘I learnt early that nothing is permanent’

Stella Rosato

• Last Updated: February 14. 2009 9:30AM UAE / February 14. 2009 5:30AM GMT

Where was your childhood home?

I was born in Chicago but moved to New Jersey as a very young child. My father died when I was two so my mother had five boys to raise. She was a vaudeville dancer and I had a big exposure to theatrical settings as a child, which really ignited my love of visual drama. When my mother remarried, we moved a couple of times within New Jersey but when I was 10, my stepfather took us all to live in Mexico, where I stayed until I was 18, before going to study architecture at Syracuse University in New York state.

Did you enjoy such a peripatetic early life?

Yes, I did. I felt that we were this vagabond group moving around and it gave me a real thrill. Because of it, I learnt early that nothing was permanent and so I became interested in the spirit of the celebratory.

Was there a home you lived in during that time that triggers strong memories for you?

In New Jersey we moved to a big house that had a garage with an upper storey. It was a fantasy clubhouse for us young boys and the rawness and emptiness of that space gave it such endless possibilities. I went back to visit it as an adult and, although it wasn’t as large as I remembered, it still had the same magic.

Where do you call home now?

I have two homes. Our country house is in upstate New York and it is the place we go to at weekends and holidays. Our permanent home is a 2,500-square-foot loft-style apartment in the Tribeca neighbourhood of Manhattan.

What drew you to your current home?

It’s in a part of New York that’s not too well-known, which was a real change from our old place on the Upper West Side. There still aren’t many people living there and it’s quite industrial, so it has a sense of authenticity about it. The apartment also has the most amazing views. At the edge of the balcony we have a deep-sea fishing chair that rotates so I can take full advantage of the skyline.

Does the apartment’s interior reflect your professional style?

The interior is a cross between curation, survival and clutter. My wife Marsha and I have similar tastes but the over-riding impression of the interior is that it is very much lived in. It’s not precious at all – having our children, Sam and Lola, changed all that. I like to think that everything – from the art on the walls, to Marsha’s and my things, to the children’s clutter – all interacts in harmony.

What are your most precious possessions?

My piano is very precious because it has been in many homes with me and represents a real continuity in my life. I also have some ceramic jars from the Galapagos Islands that I am attached to and a quilt that was a gift from colleagues in my office, made up of 30 of my favourite fabrics.

Are you a hoarder?

I’m not so much a hoarder as a collector. I’m keen on collecting kaleidoscopes simply because I love the very different perspective on the world they give. I also like to edit the things I collect, so that there is an order to them.

Do you have a favourite room in your apartment?

On the roof terrace we have built a small glass house that is my little escape from the world. It is just the perfect room. I think outdoor spaces are very important and we are lucky to have found one in Manhattan. We also have a hot tub up there so it’s all a viable part of our living space.

Do you have any regrets in relation to your home?

I always strive for perfection, which is not achievable but it keeps me going. I’d like the apartment to be bigger, of course, although it’s big enough for us. As we live in a very urban environment I also wish it were soundproofed.

What, above all, does home mean to you?

Home is the place where you feel totally safe. It’s the place where you can express your most private thoughts and feelings, it’s where you interact with loved ones and can be completely yourself.