“BRIGHT LIGHTS, BIG CITY: INSIDE NEW YORK’S MOST GLAMOROUS APARTMENTS” featured panelist:
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Anne Fairfax : The architectural “bones” behind some of the world’s most sophisticated classical residences, firm based in Manhattan and Palm Beach.
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Alex Papachristidis: The master of maximalist elegance who has collaborated with Anne and Richard on multiple iconic projects.
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Jesse Carrier: The purveyor of tailored, chic interiors.
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Jacqueline Terrebonne: Editor-in-Chief of Galerie, moderating the pulse of modern luxury.
Though the panel showcased a portfolio of soaring Manhattan apartments and park-view penthouses, the lineage of the work remains rooted in a classical tradition that feels just as at home in the archives of Honolulu or the streets of Palm Beach.
For those who follow Anne Fairfax and Richard Sammons, their archive studies take us to their Honolulu vernacular inspiration.
The Klein Residence: The Original Open Plan
Anne’s archival sketch for the Klein Residence is a revelation in “Tropical Classical” design.
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The Dickey Roof: A steep-pitched, double-sloped silhouette that acts as a ventilation engine. By trapping heat in the high peak and using “hooded” wide eaves to keep the rain out, the home remains open to the trade winds at all times.
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The Hooded Window: In the tropics, this provides permanent shade while inviting maximum light. Today, Anne and Richard apply this same “lighting tech” to north-facing Manhattan rooms to make them feel sun-drenched and airy.
The Richard Sammons Collection: Island Logic to Classical Rigor
Richard’s archival drawings show the exact moment tropical necessity became classical elegance. He masters three specific elements that define the Fairfax & Sammons look:
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Passive Cooling: This is the precursor to the “breathability” they now design into dense New York apartments. It’s the art of letting a building breathe.
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Axial Venting & Enfilade: In Hawaii, aligning doors and windows moves the air. In a Park Avenue salon, this creates the Classical Enfilade—those majestic, long sightlines that give a residence its “palatial” feel.
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The Veranda Transition: Richard’s sketches bridge the gap between “inside” and “out,” a skill that transforms a New York terrace from a balcony into a true extension of the home.
