00:03For the inspiration, we draw from various styles, including Charlotte's Perian design for specific details,
00:09as well as Scandinavian and Japanese architecture.
00:16For this apartment, the concept focuses on highlighting the two main parts of the layout.
00:23The first part includes the living room, dining area and kitchen.
00:29It is an open yet optimized space, thanks to the custom furniture pieces.
00:35The second part is more private, containing the bedroom, walk-in closet and bathroom.
00:41The entire space is worn by the use of Okume plywood, creating a cozy atmosphere.
00:48The apartment is 42 square meters.
01:01The apartment is just a 5-minute wall from Canal Saint-Martin and Place de la République.
01:09It is ideally located in the heart of a lively neighborhood, yet once you step into the courtyard, you instantly
01:16leave behind the hostel and bustle of the street.
01:22My name is Charlotte Guillochon, I am an architect and I co-found the architecture firm Atelier Apparat.
01:29The apartment is on the brown floor, which used to be an artist's studio.
01:34Now the studios have all been turned into homes.
01:38The current owner lived in the apartment for a few years before it suffered water damage, which required significant repair.
01:46She took the opportunity to renovate the entire apartment.
01:51The layout was successfully designed, but not fully optimized, so the space felt dark and cluttered.
01:57It added an open plain kitchen, dining and living area, with the sleeping area behind a partition.
02:05We did not make major changes to the apartment's layout, but we optimized it to improve circulation.
02:11We extend the partition wall to close it off from the living area and create a new entrance to the
02:17walk-in wardrobe.
02:18The bedroom is no accessed through the walk-in closet, offering a greater privacy for the living area.
02:25The toilet was relocated into the bathroom to save space and avoid having it open onto the kitchen.
02:32The new kitchen wraps around the window and becomes a desk.
02:37Finally, we designed a custom-built bench in the living area to maximize storage and offer an additional sleeping space
02:44that can be pulled out when needed.
02:53The apartment has its own private entrance opening directly onto the courtyard.
02:59The owner arranges plants and flowers at the front to make the space more pleasant.
03:06At the entrance, we add a built-in dough mat on the floor that helps define the space while remaining
03:12visually appealing.
03:13The mat can easily be replaced in the future if needed.
03:18We designed a floating cabinet using Okume plywood for the entrance, extending along the entire length of the wall.
03:27On the edge of the cabinet, we have an open space for key.
03:32In the living area, we designed a large built-in bench for seating and included a storage underneath.
03:39It was designed so the owner can use it many different ways, by simply changing the placement of a cushion
03:45and objects.
03:46The flat surface of the bench allows the owner to place our plants, use it as a side table or
03:53as a large surface for art and crafts.
03:57Parts of the bays also conceal a pull-out bed, perfect for hosting guests.
04:02We really tried to maximize the storage in the apartment where we could.
04:09The kitchen opens onto the main living area, so the goal was to give it the refined look of a
04:15piece of furniture.
04:16It is made of Okume plywood, like all the custom built January throughout the apartment, echoing a similar design to
04:25the floating cabinet in the entrance.
04:27The countertop is made from white ceramic. It brings dryness to the space and keeps the visual impact to a
04:35minimum.
04:36The dishwasher is fully integrated beneath the countertop.
04:41The fridge has been built into the share wall with the bathroom, allowing it to blend seamlessly into the decor.
04:47It is covered with panels matching the wall's finish, making it almost invisible.
04:55We wanted it to remain as discreet as possible.
05:00The upper cabinets appear to a float above the kitchen.
05:03It cleverly hides the extractor hood and has plenty of storage.
05:09We left space above so the kitchen didn't feel so bulky.
05:13Instead, you can add plants or display objects up here.
05:18The kitchen wraps around the wall to provide more storage and space to prepare meals.
05:26The countertop gradually transitions into a modular desk.
05:30This desk can be extended with a pivoting panel to provide a larger working surface.
05:37The small ledge under the window was already there before the renovation.
05:41We simply add an Okume plywood board to make it more functional, perfect for placing decoration or books.
05:52The high floating shelf between the column and the wall was designed to zone the space while providing a surface
05:59for book, decor or plans.
06:02It also serves to highlight the structural column.
06:05The shelf incorporates lighting.
06:08On the underside, we design a hidden lead strip, concealed by a folded stainless steel plate.
06:15This creates a soft indirect glow.
06:18The owner sometimes uses it as a drying rack, which is quite amusing, but we love how the owner has
06:25made it her home.
06:28At the junction between the living area and the walk-in closet, we choose to incorporate a corner bull shelf.
06:36It optimizes the space by canceling the drainage pipes behind it, while also providing an aesthetic and a functional features
06:44that work whether the door is open or closed.
06:49We design the access to the bedroom through the walk-in closet, much like in hotel suits, creating a private
06:56transitional space.
06:59The closet was fully custom-made and optimized from the floor to the ceiling.
07:04At the owner's request, we add built-in lighting inside the cupboard, as the area was no natural light.
07:12The bedroom is in the back half of the apartment and has no direct light.
07:17So the aim was to create a sense of openness while still allowing for privacy when needed.
07:24We design a large opening with a vertical sliding glass partition, which also ensures proper airflow throughout the space.
07:33The window is about 3m wide, but is very easy to open and close, due to the counterbalance system.
07:42The bedroom door has fluid glass, adding more light into the bedroom and walk-in closets.
07:48It maintains visual consistency with the rest of the apartment.
07:54To enhance the intimate, cocoon-like atmosphere, we create a custom headboard in ukume plywood, aligned with the base of
08:02the glass partition.
08:03It features to integrate shelves that serve as bedside tables.
08:09The wall lights from Charlotte Perriand, above the bed, create a soft glow.
08:14In the evenings, the rooms look like light boxes from the living and kitchen areas.
08:20Before the renovation, there was no dedicated laundry area in the apartment, so the washing machine was visible in the
08:28kitchen.
08:29So, we create a dedicated laundry space at the entrance of the bathroom.
08:35The bathroom is simple and minimalist, featuring a spacious shower and light material, including custom tiles from the Bram palette.
08:45Since the bathroom is also in the back half of the apartment, we create a small window between the kitchen
08:52and the bathroom to bring in natural light and provide proper ventilation.
08:58When the natural light from the window is not enough, there are the recess ceiling spotlights and two vertical neon
09:04lights.
09:05They are placed on either side of the mirror to provide even shadow-free illumination, perfect for daily routines.
09:13With the aim of creating a light and practical space, we use a wall mount vanity and toilets.
09:21In keeping with the material palette, the space features stainless steel taps and custom cabinet tree in Ukume, a warm,
09:30moisture-resistant wood.
09:31In this project, we favours light material, such as polished concrete, light paint and custom tiling.
09:40Carefully, craft detail including continuous wood grain following seamlessly from panel to panel,
09:46and bespoke lightened fixture made from folded stainless steel sheets that blend perfectly into the space.
09:54With thoughtful solutions like modular layout and integrated storage, we can create a compact home that are both functional and
10:02full of character.
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