Why settle for just one style? Maximalism and minimalism coexist under the (certainly not large) roof of this one apartment on the top floor of a Haussmanian buildingin Paris, It goes without saying. The owner, a design and architecture enthusiast, wanted to transform the 40 square meters of his small retreat in a concentration of style and called, specifically, Ronan Le Grand and Konrad Steffensen of Corpus Studio.
The designers distanced themselves from the tendency, understandable in most cases but not always effective, to eliminate any internal partition when it comes to renovating, instead taking advantage of the southern exposure and the view over the Parisian roofs, which radiate light throughout the entire building. the home. “Although we were tempted to knock down the partitions and create an open space, in the end we opted for one classic division of spaces. We preferred to maintain the well-proportioned layout of the apartment to preserve its character, while adding contemporary touches through architectural interventions in a few key points” explains the studio.
With some surprise, under a layer of carpet and another of linoleum, one re-emerged splendid parquet in smoked oak inexplicably buried and which now gives a classy allure and perfectly in tone to the living room, entrance and bedroom. One wonders if, in a few years, when renovating, the parquet will be eliminated and the linoleum will then reappear.
Likewise, from the false ceiling were original stuccos and moldings recovered. The most decisive interventions concerned the kitchen, which now features a linear work surface that transforms into a built-in bench (made to measure) and is completed with an alcove in which to curl up. The floor, however, features soft and sandy colours, with coverings in Perla dei Berici stone by Grassi Pietre.
There passion for design of the owner emerges into the living room, where two arched niches allow you to display decorative objects. The decor is eclectic, with a contemporary black velvet sofa, a 1930s bronze lamp, a mint green Ettore Sottsass plywood chair, and hand-carved oak panels by artist Jean Touret. The juxtaposition of eras, materials, textures and colors gives the project substance and an unexpected liveliness.
It is clear that in such a small space, it is the details that make the difference Corpus Studio has scattered the rooms with devices designed to build an apparent simplety, made, in reality, of carefully chosen elements and others made to measure.
The tight rhythms of textures and colors begin from the furniture doors, covered with brushed aluminum panels and brass details. The smoked mirror cabinets that cover the wall opposite the work area expand the space and are staggered from each other. A glass table designed specifically for the kitchen contrasts happily with the 1970s wooden chair by French modernist architect Dominque Zimbacca, one of the owner’s favorites.
The geometric and almost sculptural refrains become even more evident in other complements, such as the custom-made triangular washbasin, the oblique wall entrance and also the natural light, with the orderly cuts of the Venetian blinds that create strong textures. The bathroom is covered in an all-over green glass mosaic, interrupted only by bold metal elements and the 1940s-style triptych of mirrors.
The bedroom was left as free as possible, recessing the wardrobes flush with the wall. Only two Brasilia lamps by Michel Boyer, with their monumental and iconic black lacquered bases, almost oversized compared to the rest, illuminate the space. Here the Venetian blinds give way to a virgin wool curtain that runs the entire length of the wall, enveloping the space with a soft, suffused light.
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Stefano Annovazzi Lodi is a freelance contributor who mainly deals with design and cultural projects for Elledecor. It seems that for years he has been dedicating himself to a novel with which he will win the Nobel, in the meantime he is revising his acceptance speech and working as a story editor for a production company in Rome.
