The three bedroom apartment is situated on the fourth floor of an old building on the North bank of the River Seine, overlooking the Eiffel Tower. Its remodelling combined a bespoke contemporary style with French neo classic elements, characteristic of the quiet 16th Arrondissement of Paris. Existing narrow passageways and high ceilings steered the overall design direction and the conceptualisation of creative alternatives. The vision was to accentuate the high ceilings to capture views and draw light into the space. The result is a clean, calm space, in which the spectacular Parisian setting take centre stage, and clever refinements to existing architecture add charm and character. Stepping out of the lobby, an open plan space incorporating the kitchen, breakfast and sitting area spans the full depth of the apartment. The monochromatic kitchen space carefully balances old with new: the diamond pattern on the stained glass windows, repeated in the ceiling design, seems to reflect the structure of the Eiffel Tower, whilst custom radiator covers – set within the architectural lines of the existing frame – are patterned to reflect the new herringbone floor. In the salon, the view is perfectly reflected in floor to ceiling smoky mirrors on the side wall behind the sofa and the restored original fireplace, creating a grand illusion of space. The wall panelling that starts in the kitchen and wraps along the inside wall of the salon conceals a door to the master bedroom, behind the breakfast table, and integrates a custom made bookshelf with a book-ladder behind the sofa, creating a library feel. An internal clerestory window at its top allows natural light into the adjacent master en-suite. The walls are made up of white panelling crisply aligned to respect the existing door frames. Abstract, geometric paintings by contemporary South African artist Andrzej Urbanski add a playful inset to the panelled walls on either side of the fireplace. Finally, the bespoke, custom designed bathrooms use a black and white palette, with touches of bronze and copper bringing a playful dash of colour and surprise.
ARRCC – Michele Rhoda, Mark Rielly, Vanessa Canon, Danie du Toit
Anne Molfessis