“Framing” by Joseph Dirand

Joseph Dirand, a French architect who is infamous for his stunning black and white, lavish designs, is also a master at what I call “frame and contain”. He uses contrast and framing techniques that I find fascinating and extremely effective at highlighting views, emphasizing importance, and delineating spaces. Here are a few examples:

This penthouse apartment on 5th Avenue in New York has an amazing living room, in which Dirand “frames” the window by adding thick black mouldings, which contrast the white surrounding space. Your attention is immediately drawn to the most important thing, the view!

The dining room uses the heavy black framing technique between rooms to create a portal, which also draws your eyes beyond into the kitchen, and to yet another wonderfully framed view.

In the bedroom, the same technique is used to create an amazing real life skyline art piece behind the bed.

At the Habita Hotel in Monterrey, Mexico, Dirand designed a large concrete “box” to frame in and contain the entrance. The success of this look is achieved, I believe, by carrying the finish around all sides, including the bottom.

In the hotel corridor, contrast in black and white creates rhythm and depth, and gives the eye a place to focus.

This penthouse in Saifi, Beirut is another great example of framed views. The black window trims, while thinner, still contrast and draw your eye directly to the views.