Custom renovation response

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Everything in this light, space bringing renovation was bespoke, from the chairs through to the kitchen and stairs.

With attention to even the smallest of details,

The new custom central staircase plays an important

At its heart, an enormous island renders the

The light from the light shaft penetrates down

The crisp, light-filled kitchen was also designed from

Wood-panelled screens of Japanese influence punctuate the sequences

The Asian influence in the design is easy

The riserless design of the stairs admits the

Most new furniture in the home was custom

The finely-finished custom furniture was the work of

Renovating architects – Appareil Architecture

From the architects

For this home, Appareil Architecture adds its signature to a bright and harmonious space, where the path unfolds in softness.

With attention to even the smallest of details, the renovation of this city duplex manages to make different styles cohabitate, creating a project in the likeness of its owners.

Following a fire, the owners wished to refurbish their 241m² residence.

On the programme: opening up the ground floor space, optimising the openings onto the back garden, maximising natural light, and furbishing the basement and second floor to respond to the family’s needs.

Contrasting spaces

The project’s identity was inspired by the mingling of cultures between this couple of European and Asian heritage. The home finds a balance between a blend of influences, styles, and materials.

The kitchen was bespoke to respond to the owners’ desire to have a professional, bullet-proof kitchen, that could host and respond to the whole family’s needs.

At its heart, an enormous island renders the space functional and full of character. Made of stainless steel, the island contributes to an industrial aesthetic that contrasts with the white and the residential wood surrounding it – bringing a balance between a cold and a warmer physicality to the space.

With the aim of creating a friendly and bright environment, the opening onto the back garden has been highlighted.

A sequenced path

On the ground floor, if all the spaces are open onto one another, they are discovered as you progress through the path.

Wood-panelled screens of Japanese influence punctuate the sequences and create rich sub-spaces that simultaneously conceal and reveal.

The spaces between the wooden slats and the floor’s grating contribute to the home’s light play.

The central staircase plays an important role: it is the link between the spaces. Segmenting the kitchen and the living room without completely sealing them off, creates a connection between the levels and adds movement.

This space was left open to allow the light from the light shaft to cut across all levels down to the basement. Its steel, wood, and glass materiality brings clarity to the wider space while reinforcing the connection between the different rooms.

A bespoke design

One of the project’s main components is its integrated furniture, situated on the ground floor. Part of a hybrid space, it answers the family’s need for storage and for office space in the living area.

Appareil Architecture created wooden furnishings with horizontal lines that host a couch, a desk, a buffet, and storage spaces. The result is an elegant, efficient design that cleverly optimises the use of space.

Everything in this project was bespoke, from the chairs to the integrated furniture, through to the kitchen and the stairs. Ultimately, there emerges a language coherent at all the levels of the project and a unique signature.