Rich Yessian’s contemporary condo sits atop the antebellum building at 301 King that houses an Apple Store on the first floor. The addition—which boasts a green roof, outdoor living room, and fiberglass louvers that act as a bold design element and a privacy screen—is barely visible from King Street, leaving one of downtown’s most picturesque historic landscapes intact.
The residence can be seen best from Liberty Street, where this photo was taken. From this vantage point, its striking angular lines add a rare modern layer to the city’s architecture.
Colorful pots of hardy cast-iron plant (Aspidistra elatior) line the steps to the rooftop living area. Inside, a royal palm further underscores the connection between outside and in.
Yessian, pictured with girlfriend Arielle Stratton and cats Jean Michelle and Jean George, tackled the interior design himself, keeping the furnishings—such as this Ikea couch, West Elm lamp, and All Modern rug—minimal and letting the views take center stage.
Sliding barn doors hewn from reclaimed river cypress can be left open to blend inside and outside living spaces.
A ramp leads to a green roof offering 360-degree views of the city and beyond.
Custom acrylic cabinets in cobalt blue reflect Yessian’s modern tastes.
Yessian gravitates toward bright colors. He painted an accent wall in Sherwin Williams’s “Outrageous Green;” the same bold hue graces the underside of the dome lights above the dining table. Made by furniture designer Ben K. Mickus and sourced on Etsy, the pendants are fashioned from repurposed carbon-steel woks.
Podocarpus hedges add visual interest and provide some privacy to the rooftop living areas.
Inside, a gas fireplace with a Venetian-plaster façade can be lit to cozy things up during the cooler months.
The outdoor living room is outfitted with comfortable furnishings designed to withstand the elements; a weather-resistant cabinet houses an outdoor TV.
