Interiors: Olympic House, George Square, Glasgow

• The view over Glasgow from a balcony at Olympic House

For a man who loves creating interior spaces that embody the homeowner's individual style, kitting out an apartment block might seem something of a departure.

But Adrien's career has been nothing if not diverse. A qualified architect, he headed up the third-largest PR firm in Europe during the 1980s and subsequently moved to Israel, where he was considered one of the country's top interior designers.

Today his job title is "interior architect", his training in the latter discipline having been upstaged by his passion for the former.

"Interiors have a greater capacity to reflect a client's character," he says.

Collins Von Ferscht is the consultancy he runs in partnership with contemporary art specialist Hazel Collins, offering bespoke architectural and design solutions.

He worked on large-scale developments prior to Olympic House, the Grade II listed building converted from office use to 45 residential apartments by developer Ropetune Ltd.

But while he project-managed those earlier developments, at Olympic House property advisors from Glasgow-based Speirs Gumley (which manages the building for the London-based developer) invited him to develop an interior design strategy, furnishing each apartment down to the pots and pans.

What drew Adrien to the project was the willingness of the client to take risks.

Originally the developer planned to sell these apartments but the property downturn prompted a move to rental. Unconventionally, they then decided to create the highest quality furnished apartments possible, the likes of which had not been seen on this scale in Glasgow before.

"It was a bold move as there was no precedent," says Adrien; "Olympic House will act as a blueprint."

By coincidence Adrien moved to Glasgow from London not long before this project arose, and was familiar with the city's architecture, drawing comparisons with New York and Chicago. Although his work focuses on interiors, few of his projects don't engage his architectural skills.

"It's instinctive," he says; "I look at how things might be done differently, and perhaps more efficiently."

At Olympic House his role grew to include project management (working alongside Speirs Gumley), the challenge of which he relishes. He arrived on this project when water was pouring through the building.

"It didn't have a roof," he says; "We advised the client on things that needed attention."

Stripped bare of offices, the guts of the structure were reinstated and a new roof fitted before the apartments took shape.

What's immediately striking is the light and space inherent to homes here, an uplifting vibe not typically associated with a conversion on this scale.

Most apartments at Olympic House are one-bedroom; six enjoy two bedrooms, while there are four splendid penthouses (also with two bedrooms) revelling in an elevated, rooftop position.

The building's listed status entailed the involvement of Historic Scotland, which permitted construction of a new, rooftop floor to accommodate the penthouses.

"There was a caretaker's flat and storerooms up there before," explains Adrien.

Sections of this new-build exterior are faced off behind original stonework while glass balcony walls provide unhindered access to spectacular vistas.

The wide, open spaces of the penthouses sit beneath lower ceilings, while apartments below were designed with high walls as a result of the vast original windows. This generosity of scale reminds Adrien of loft apartments in downtown New York.

"Unless it's a tenement it's unusual to get this kind of space in a rented Glasgow flat," he says.

When it came to furnishings Adrien had to find a source of high-quality, style-conscious pieces, which could supply the quantities required. He had one company in mind, contemporary furniture retailer Dwell, which has a store in Glasgow's Princes Square.

Of course in Olympic House Adrien couldn't work on the basis of individual likes and dislikes; these spaces had to appeal to a range of people yet possess enough character to allow potential tenants to feel at home.

A look round a vacant apartment has you wondering if the resident has merely stepped out to borrow coffee.

Details such as colourful rugs and quirky lighting create individuality without over-stepping the mark. The art has a retro vibe, with black-and-white printed canvases that have impact without offending.

It's as though a lifestyle unfurls before your eyes; in the penthouse it's easy to envisage pre-dinner drinks on one of two external terraces (which enjoy morning and afternoon sun), before gathering round the walnut table in the semi open-plan dining area, then retiring to the corner sofa (a Dwell piece Adrien also chose for his own home).

Attention to detail is evident throughout. In the bedrooms Adrien insisted on tall headboards upholstered in faux red leather.

"Some people thought the red was controversial," he says; "But it has presence and lends personality."

Divans are luxuriously upholstered in suede while high-quality mattresses were chosen for comfort.

"I put these mattresses into Malmaison Hotels," says Adrien, referring to the hotel chain for which he has become an ambassador.

The penthouse boasts a master en suite, presented like bathrooms throughout the building in contemporary style.

Kitchens are modern and practical with lots of workspace. And while basic kitchen equipment comes as standard, tenants can request add-ons such as linen packs, with the cost being reflected in the rent.

Each apartment has a wow-factor; those positioned on the building's corners enjoy five gloriously large windows, while one-bedroom apartments have a generously-sized bedroom. All benefit from the style ethos of a man who intuitively knows what arrangements of furniture and ornamentation are pleasing to the eye.

For all involved in Olympic House the experience has offered something new. Dwell for example has enjoyed its first encounter with contract furnishing, while the developers' risk-taking is paying off. The first tenants have moved in to Olympic House. Of course seeing the building come alive is undoubtedly rewarding, although Adrien has mixed emotions.

"It's like giving birth and handing the baby over," he says.

Speirs Gumley Residential Letting, tel: 0141-332 9225 www.speirsgumley.com/olympichouse; Adrien Von Ferscht, tel: 07770 693415, www.cvfdesign.com; www.dwell.co.uk

This article was first published in The Scotsman On Saturday, May 1, 2010