Personal space: Jessica Fox
Jessica Fox; the Long Bay Surf Club, recently fitted out by Ctrl Space and photographed by Fitout Collaborative.
La Colombe d’Or restaurant in Saint-Paul de Vence, France.
The building where Fox stayed for a friend’s wedding week in the South of France.
Atmospheres by Peter Zumthor.
A frame from The Talented Mr. Ripley, directed by Anthony Minghella; Fox’s heirloom ring, passed down from her grandmother; a sketch by Carlo Scarpa.
Chimneys seen in Portugal by Fox during her travels.
Jessica Fox is an interior designer at Ctrl Space, an Auckland-based design studio specialising in hospitality. Here, she shares the things driving her forward.
What’s inspiring you at the moment?
Jessica Fox (JF): People! I’m fascinated by what makes a space work and how interiors influence the way people behave. Otherwise, travel has always been a source of inspiration; I love getting lost in a foreign country with my camera. I recently became completely endeared to the South of France while visiting for a friend’s wedding. The French seem to have a knack for creating spaces that are insanely inviting, authentic and layered in material and texture.
What re-energises you creatively?
JF: An invigorating workout, the ocean and laughs with my three-year-old nephew. There’s something rejuvenating about being transported into another realm through film. The composition, lighting, sound, use of colour – so good! I enjoy seeing how the backdrop of a movie builds the atmosphere and narrative that they’re trying to create, in a similar way to how we design a hospitality fit-out. The Talented Mr. Ripley and The Grand Budapest Hotel are recent favourites.
Have you read any good design books recently?
JF: You can’t beat a good book. Peter Zumthor’s Atmospheres is an inspiring read, especially for the connections that he makes between the built environment, atmosphere and emotion. The sketches in Carlo Scarpa’s coffee-table books inspire me to pick up my pencil more. Brian Little’s Me, Myself, and Us is fun if you’re interested in human nature.
What are you wearing?
JF: Staples include a well-cut jacket, men’s linen shirts, feminine blouses and a wearable pair of boots. Jewellery-wise, you’ll often see an heirloom ring on my hand. This was passed down by my Gran, who was awarded the George Medal for bravery as a nurse in WWII. By wearing it, I like to think that I take on the superpowers of this strong woman.
What are some of the things that you’re working on at the moment?
JF: I’m fortunate to work with a great group of colleagues at Ctrl Space; we have some very exciting projects on the horizon. I was recently part of the team that designed a small fit-out for the Auckland Museum. It was a privilege to work within such an iconic and history-laden building.
Where are you eating and drinking?
JF: For the sake of work research… it’s essential that I dine out regularly! Picasso’s old haunt, La Colombe d’Or in the medieval French town of Saint-Paul de Vence, was a treat and is a must-see if you’re ever in the area. Lately, I’ve been enjoying nipping up the road with the team for a street-side prosecco at Coco’s Cantina. It’s always buzzing, which adds to its charm.
Although it gives me a severe case of design envy, one of my current favourite things to do is to sit at the bar in Amano with a plate of crudo and a glass of rosé. And, again, back to my recent trip to the South of France (yes, I’m slightly obsessed): during my stay, an old friend invited me to his French girlfriend’s apartment for dinner. She laid it on. Six courses, several bottles of wine and five hours later, I came to the realisation that this is how one hosts a dinner party; it was hospitality in its true form.
This article first appeared in Interior magazine.
