1+ Hour Must See Small Paris Apartments

Never Too Small

Issue 3 of the NTS Magazine is a celebration of Japan! And it’s finally available to purchase 🙌 Limited copies available so grab your copy now! https://www.nts-store.com/   From attics to ateliers, minimalist retreats to technicolour playgrounds, these are eight of our favourite small apartments in Paris. From a heritage flat reimagined with a bold, luxe '70s twist to a playful live-work home complete with a retractable staircase and hammock. You’ll also find a bright, Scandinavian-inspired apartment with a mustard-accented home office nook, and a unique open-plan loft centred around a 4.2-metre-high grey box—housing hidden rooms and custom furniture made by friends, including a 3D-printed coffee table inspired by Super Mario. Though they differ in style, each of these homes shares the joy of living small—through reinvention, creative constraint, and small-space ingenuity in one of Europe’s densest cities.  #smallapartment #architecture #interiordesign   Episodes & Credits  00:00-07:09 Panama https://youtu.be/y0N1QSH_6TM?si=3qAXg448uL_Cr0GX Architect: https://www.ovostudioarchi.com/bertille-bordja   07:09-16:56 Appartement Rue De Nantes https://youtu.be/7GN1eeSi6_M?si=YEyNrlOE4PSt-X05 Architect: https://www.psstudio.archi/   16:56-25:17 CAPSULE https://youtu.be/W4yyEEK39ds?si=PKCFUpdwe0WEFXXy Architect: https://www.freres-voirin.com/   25:17-32:29 Maximalist Mini Loft https://youtu.be/8ZTPMRk2yjo?si=QGiB4MTZkPFdlKi2 Architect: https://www.zyvastudio.com/   32:29-40:23 Jules https://youtu.be/tLnXGMLwcK4?si=He1O3DtNxWP4jUpQ Architect: https://amate-architecture.fr/   40:23-47:26 Crussol https://youtu.be/DJPsDSi0vtA?si=MGuiUrLo8tbMqa1I Designer: https://www.spacefactory.fr/   47:26- 55:09 Villa Saint-Michel https://youtu.be/lFfT6zbcKIg?si=EImDmKElGVMXZv6c Architect: https://www.instagram.com/nicolasbossardarchitecture/?hl=en   55:09-1:00:58 Apartment With A Shoji https://youtu.be/bRf-5iWqc7Q?si=PZioKIbQRxpVWP-6 Designer: https://m-a-a-x-i.com/   Music: Artlist.io Late Night, Instrumental Version by Kyle Cox  Beholding, Instrumental Version by Marshall Usinger The Lifespan of a Star to Forgive by Imaginary Towers At the Viewpoint by Skygaze When Skies Meet Shores by We Dream of Eden Taj Mahal - No Drums by Crazy Paris Penance & Better Off by warmkeys Sunset Views & Like the Old Days by warmkeys Pappa by mee   Light bending by We Dream of Eden Water Colours by We Dream of Eden To Lay Down Everything You've Built by Dear Gravity Shifting by Sun Wash Best Summer Ever by When Mountains Move  Share you projects with us- https://www.nevertoosmall.com/submissions Subscribe to our newsletter- https://www.nevertoosmall.com/subscribe  Check out our store- https://www.nts-store.com Website- https://www.nevertoosmall.com Instagram-  https://www.instagram.com/nvtsmall Facebook- https://www.facebook.com/nvtsmall

Transcript

00:00:05We were inspired by the client's 70s furniture, such as the smoke USM cabinet, Togo sofa and her orange artemite

00:00:15lamp.

00:00:16We took into account their colors and materials in order to create a cohesive space.

00:00:25The idea of our design was to create balance between functions and a clear and flexible space so the client

00:00:35can rearrange as her life changes.

00:00:41My office specially works on existing buildings because I love the older materials and I think it's important to have

00:00:49a connection with the past.

00:00:54The apartment is in a very large neo-Osmanian condominium built at the beginning of the 20th century.

00:01:03It's located in a popular district in Paris called Goud d'Or. It's a very lively district.

00:01:12My name is Bertie Borgia. I'm an architect, founder of OVO Studio in Paris.

00:01:25The client is a young professional working with startups and this is her first home.

00:01:33She initially hired me to help remove a load-bearing beam in the kitchen, but we ended up renovating the

00:01:42whole apartment.

00:01:46The apartment had not been renovated in a long time.

00:01:49There was an enclosed kitchen and an open living and dining area, a bedroom at the end of the hallway

00:01:57and a small and dark bathroom.

00:02:00The client's first request was to remove the walls around the kitchen and open it up to the living area.

00:02:07We also removed the walls around the bathroom and created a new toilet and a new entrance to the larger

00:02:15bathroom.

00:02:16So the door to the bedroom was removed and allowed more light to enter the bathroom.

00:02:26Immediately when you enter the apartment, you can see part of the kitchen.

00:02:32There is a tall closet for coats and shoes and other items and we heat the electrical cabinet with a

00:02:40curtain in order to have a cozy entrance.

00:02:46After removing the walls around the kitchen, we were able to increase the size of the kitchen.

00:02:53The kitchen cabinets are oak with polished concrete for the countertop.

00:02:59The storage unit heats the fridge, washing machine and a lot of storage for the kitchen.

00:03:06And there is a water boiler hidden behind a hidden wall.

00:03:12Because the kitchen is a part of the living room, we wanted the kitchen to have a clean and open

00:03:18look.

00:03:19This is why we chose not to have cabinets above the kitchen counter.

00:03:23This also meant we couldn't have a traditional range hood.

00:03:27So the induction cooktop we chose actually has an extraction fan built in.

00:03:34We chose to use mirrors for the splash back because they are easy to clean while also reflecting the surrounding

00:03:42space.

00:03:44The kitchen cabinets and countertop seamlessly transitions into a large oak wall storage unit.

00:03:51To taper off at the end of the kitchen storage unit, we added a curve front to wrap around the

00:03:57existing beam.

00:03:58It softens the space and is a nice contrast to the flat lines of the joinery in the living room.

00:04:07We left the bare metal beam to remind us of its connection with the past.

00:04:12We love this link between the structural and decorative elements.

00:04:18The dining area has a generous dining table that can fit six people.

00:04:24As it is in the open space to the living room, it allows guests to interact between the two spaces.

00:04:32The living room has two large windows which brings in a lot of natural light.

00:04:38We designed the space to be fluid so that the client can move things around and rearrange it to suit

00:04:46her needs.

00:04:47This is also why the togo sofas are great as they are very easy to move and because of the

00:04:53low profile,

00:04:54it also gives the small living room feeling more spacious.

00:04:59We added floating shelves on either side of the old fireplace which was removed before the client arrived.

00:05:07One of the walls, we left it blank so the client can use a projector to watch movies.

00:05:15We extended the storage closet at the entrance to wrap around the bottom of the living area.

00:05:23The color of the storage is the same as the kitchen countertop.

00:05:28It also can be used as a bench or surface to sit on and display artwork and plants.

00:05:37The toilet uses a pocket door to maximize the space.

00:05:41This allowed us to add a small wash basin in the corner.

00:05:46The square orange tiles give some warmth to the toilet room and the 17th filling.

00:05:55We created the new and sweet bathroom.

00:05:58It makes the bedroom feel a lot bigger.

00:06:02The floor and walls in the bathroom are polished concrete.

00:06:05They are the same materials we used in the kitchen.

00:06:09We keep the bathroom simple.

00:06:11There is a shower with a niche for toiletries and white vanity with a terrazzo basin.

00:06:18The bedroom is at the far end of the apartment.

00:06:23And we keep the original closet but we abraded the closet doors using second hand fabric and oak frames.

00:06:32The fabric can really add some soft touch to the bedroom.

00:06:38For the bedroom, we design a bed head with a niche on both sides to act like a bedside table.

00:06:47So the approach to design small spaces is to be very personalized and to be a good listener.

00:06:55There is no one set of rules that we apply to everyone.

00:06:59So it is important to understand their lifestyle and needs.

00:07:11The goal of the renovation is to create a playful and functional space.

00:07:17My intention was to make use of the ceiling height and craft a timeless environment through the use of different

00:07:25materials.

00:07:28I aim to optimize the layout by combining five modular spaces where they can be open but also partitioned off

00:07:39when needed.

00:07:40I am Pierre. I am the founder of PS Studio in Paris and south-west of France.

00:07:47I live in this apartment with my boyfriend who is a fashion digital designer.

00:07:58The apartment is 60 square meters.

00:08:02The high ceiling, the largest windows and the interior perspective give a sensation of a generous and extensible space.

00:08:13The previous owner combined two separate apartments together.

00:08:17So the kitchen was one end of the apartment and the bathroom was on the other.

00:08:27I was strongly influenced by the proportion of European architecture.

00:08:33And the absence of furniture which is common in Japanese minimalist designs.

00:08:43I removed all of the interior walls to create a large open space.

00:08:49The living space, the kitchen and office are placed in the center of the apartment.

00:08:54The bathroom and toilet are compact at the ends of the apartment.

00:09:01The elevated mezzanine can be accessed from the office via a retractable pint staircase.

00:09:10This neighborhood is a peaceful place away from the hostel and bustle of Paris.

00:09:18The building was built in 1905 as a brewery.

00:09:23Later in the century, it was changed to a residential building and four more floors were added.

00:09:31The entrance is located at the end of the apartment.

00:09:35Under the mezzanine, we added some storage for shoes and has a lot of storage even for a compact space.

00:09:45It was important to have a toilet that is separated from the bathroom so guests can use it without having

00:09:52to enter the private areas.

00:09:55A tall storage unit was made for coats and bike helmets.

00:10:04Along the other wall, we added a lot of storage units for other general items.

00:10:10We used it to store documents, board games and where we stored the hammock.

00:10:17The living room is open and bright in contrast to the entrance.

00:10:22We spend a lot of time here so it was important for us to have a nice, cozy and bright

00:10:28spot.

00:10:31We bought a second-hand sofa from Muji and we often move it around the space depending on the occasion.

00:10:40We actually decided to make the window and the surrounds the same height as the sofa in order to create

00:10:46a uniform line in the living room.

00:10:50As I lived in Brazil, it was important to keep an area for the hammock to read a book or

00:10:56sleep swinging.

00:10:58One of the columns had the hook to hang the hammock.

00:11:02The hammock goes all the way to the office where the other hook is placed.

00:11:11I like to have my kitchen as a single module along the wall.

00:11:16It helps when you have two or more people helping to prepare meals and set up the tables.

00:11:24The kitchen is from IKEA with some modifications to make it fit perfectly lengthwise.

00:11:31All of the kitchen appliances are integrated.

00:11:35I like the fact that there is a bookshelf in the kitchen area as it makes the functions of this

00:11:42space fun.

00:11:45All tiles in the apartment are identical because I want to have a continuous look throughout the apartment.

00:11:53Behind the sink, we create a tile recessed area to dry our dishes.

00:12:01The perspective between the two columns is theatrical.

00:12:06The lamp takes place center stage in the middle and gives a spotlight that draws you into the dining table.

00:12:15We think that plaster work is an ideal way to create integrated furniture at low cost.

00:12:23We have spots for our plants, our books, vases and our watering can.

00:12:34A section of the kitchen can be moved and conceal the trompe l'oeil door.

00:12:39When this section of the kitchen is removed, it can be moved around the apartment.

00:12:44It allows access to the bathroom without guests having to pass through the bedroom.

00:12:51A white curtain at the entrance to the bedroom is reminiscent of the ones in the living room.

00:12:57We decide to have an open system where we can close it off using the curtains.

00:13:07Two windows give an alternating light source throughout the day.

00:13:12Walking into the bedroom is a bit of surprise, with the walls also in a bright yellow and khaki.

00:13:19Besides the bed, we have two floating metal shelves, which are made by T-books.

00:13:25By night, the orange from the bathroom add a third color to the palette.

00:13:30We designed the bathroom to have a similar feel at the bedroom.

00:13:37The bathroom doesn't have any window, so we create a large secular window

00:13:41between the bathroom and the bedroom to borrow some of the natural light.

00:13:47We enant the tiles using a colored joint, which is the same color as the ceiling.

00:13:52It's also an easy way to make these cheap tiles look great.

00:13:57On one side of the bathroom, we left the ceiling height for a removable cloth drying rack.

00:14:04It can be lowered and lifted up using a rope system, so it doesn't take up much space in the

00:14:11apartment.

00:14:17From the living room, there is an office where we can walk from home.

00:14:22We made sure there were two desks for both of us.

00:14:27The office space can transform into a bedroom when guests stay over.

00:14:35Having clear divisions of private and office space was important to create an office atmosphere when we walk from home.

00:14:44From here, you also have a great view of the bamboo garden in the courtyard.

00:14:57The elevated mezzanine can be accessed from the office via a retractable pint staircase.

00:15:07Upstairs, there is a large bed that welcomes the guests.

00:15:13We designed a platform for the bed and space around it to put personal effects.

00:15:19The round mezzanine windows provide a touch of softness and continuity to the space.

00:15:27When designing a small space, it is also important to optimize the space according to the needs of the owner.

00:15:36Professionally, for me, I want to make it playful. The more playful, the better.

00:15:42Making a compact space pleasant is a proof that we can comfortably coexist in cities like Paris,

00:15:49which is the densest in Europe, while maximizing our natural and communal space.

00:16:01Japan. It's a delicious puzzle of contradictions.

00:16:05So delicious, in fact, that we've dedicated an entire issue of our magazine to it.

00:16:10But this is not the Japan you might expect.

00:16:12In issue 3, we go beyond the golden turd to explore the art of bending space and light with architect

00:16:19Takeshi Hosaka,

00:16:20and Paul Smith's 40-plus year love affair with Japan.

00:16:24We ask how legendary product designer Naoto Fukasawa finds the essence of an object,

00:16:29while also celebrating the Japanese-born art form of chindogu, that is, designing almost useless gadgets.

00:16:36And, of course, there are new compact Japanese small homes to fall in love with, too.

00:16:41There's so much more inside, including a double-sided pull-out poster, featuring original artwork,

00:16:47and a city guide, curated by Creative Tokyo Locals.

00:16:50Get your copy now. Visit nevertosmall.com slash store.

00:17:06Most small Parisian apartments give you the impression that you're always in the same room.

00:17:10Like, the kitchen is mixed with the living room, it's mixed with the bedroom, it's mixed with the bathroom.

00:17:17We kind of wanted to separate these spaces by really giving them character,

00:17:22so it feels like you're not living in the same room all the time.

00:17:27In a space capsule, every object is designed for one purpose.

00:17:31Every space is super-optimized to consume the least amount of space.

00:17:38That was also the reason why we called this project the Space Capsule.

00:17:44My name is François Bourin.

00:17:46And I am Pierre. We are brothers and architects working in Paris.

00:17:57The apartment is located in the 14th arrondissement of Paris.

00:18:03Across the square is Rue Daguerre, which is a vibrant market street,

00:18:07and one of the most artistic streets in Paris.

00:18:11It is very close to a big public transport, which makes it super easy to reach.

00:18:19From here you can access popular markets, grocery stores, and a very nice park.

00:18:29The building was built at the end of the 19th century.

00:18:34The client is a screenwriter for French cinema and television.

00:18:38She loves art and architecture.

00:18:44Before the renovation, it was two small studios next to each other,

00:18:48which added up to 17 square meters.

00:18:51One was her office, the other one was left unused.

00:18:54The ceiling was quite low and there was a lot of space between the ceiling and the skylight.

00:19:00She wanted to merge the two studios to create a fully functional apartment.

00:19:05The Observatoire de Paris, which is the oldest functioning observatory in the world,

00:19:10is very close to this apartment and became a symbol of the project.

00:19:14So we wanted the apartment facing the sky to be our own observatoire.

00:19:21Before the renovation, the office space was very narrow.

00:19:24It had a skylight and a very high window.

00:19:27The small studio was completely run down, but had a large window facing west.

00:19:32There were no bathrooms or kitchen, not even the plumbing.

00:19:36We began by taking down the wall between the two studios.

00:19:40We kept one door and boarded up the inside of the other one.

00:19:44Then, we brought down the ceiling and were pleased to find one meter and a half of extra space to

00:19:49work with.

00:19:50A kitchen and toilet was added on the lower floor and connected by a staircase.

00:19:56We created an upper floor, which became the private area.

00:20:00It has the bedroom with a wardrobe, a shower and the sink.

00:20:08When you enter the apartment, there is a three meter high closet in front that underlines the significant volume of

00:20:15this part of the apartment.

00:20:19Behind the doors, there is a room for jackets, shoes and other clothing items.

00:20:27Right next to it is an open wooden shelf, which we call the library.

00:20:33We designed the library with different shelf heights to break the symmetrical aspect of the entrance.

00:20:44The living room is located next to the window, looking towards the rooftops of Paris.

00:20:55We created a small and comfortable L-shaped sitting bench to fit perfectly just below that window.

00:21:03Keeping all the functions of the apartment in the corners to make a clear space for the living room enhance

00:21:08the feeling of open space.

00:21:14When we took down the ceiling, we found old beams.

00:21:18The beams had a lot of nails to hold the plaster ceilings inside them.

00:21:22We like the historical value of that aspect.

00:21:30The dining space is made up of a round table with two chairs.

00:21:35It could become a desk, a dining table or a surface to prepare meals.

00:21:44The location of the kitchen is in the corner of the apartment and underneath the upper floor,

00:21:49so it could disappear as much as possible from the other spaces.

00:21:55The kitchen cabinets are nestled along the wall.

00:21:58It is an IKEA kitchen with a third-party poplar plywood facades.

00:22:03We chose it for its clear tones and durability.

00:22:09We added a marble countertop in light gray.

00:22:12We continued the countertop up the wall for the splash back to create a seamless look.

00:22:18We also put up three paintings by Francois to make it more colorful.

00:22:26To hide away the kitchen when not in use, we used the partition.

00:22:30As it is not permanent, it can be moved around the apartment or removed altogether.

00:22:36It is the same color as the roofing of the observatory,

00:22:39so we thought it would be a good connection between the two.

00:22:45By the kitchen, there is a custom door that follows the same angle as the stairs.

00:22:51We used the space under the staircase to incorporate the toilet and the laundry.

00:22:57These features are at the very end of the apartment,

00:23:00so they can be as discreet as possible for the visual aspect as well as for the noise.

00:23:09Using the space under the stairs, we added more storage.

00:23:14It wasn't specifically designed for kitchen items and can be used for larger household items.

00:23:23The sleeping and bathroom area is where the idea of a capsule really translates.

00:23:29There are no limits between them.

00:23:32They are one single tiny space where every centimeter is preciously used.

00:23:37The passage from the staircase to the bed is narrow but allows enough room for the shower and the bathroom

00:23:43sink.

00:23:44A skylight brings in a lot of natural light in this otherwise dark part of the apartment.

00:23:51The skylight can also be closed using a curtain.

00:23:57The bed is beside the bathroom.

00:23:59It sits on a custom platform that raises it off the floor.

00:24:07The bed looks down and over the living area, borrowing the natural light from the windows there.

00:24:13We purposely open the upper space to reduce the claustrophobic feeling you can have in such narrow spaces.

00:24:20We thought it would be nice to have a space to fit in a lamp.

00:24:24It gives, you know, more comfort and coziness.

00:24:32On the other side of the bed is a large custom storage wall for clothes and other items.

00:24:38We also added curtains here to hide away the mess as the storage wall is visible from the lower floor.

00:24:48Paris is very dense and most of the dwellings that people occupy are very compact.

00:24:56We feel that better design means better living and that thoughtful thinking improves the way you interact with your space.

00:25:05Our approach is very rustic in some ways.

00:25:08We like to design honest spaces without too many moving parts so they retain their simplicity and ease of use.

00:25:24I always try in my project to go back into my childhood.

00:25:33My desire is just to travel, you know, into another world.

00:25:40Because it's a small space, we can push all the details to create this world.

00:25:47My name is Anthony Othier. I am an architect and designer at Ziva Studio in Paris.

00:25:53I live in this apartment with my wife, Adele, and my dog, Nepal.

00:26:06The apartment is located in an old industrial building in the suburban town of Bagnolet. It's close to Paris.

00:26:16This building was originally an office building for a company that made wood floor in the 80s.

00:26:22I think the building was converted into a residential building in the 2000s.

00:26:31The goal for me and my wife was to create a truly unique experience that reflects who we are.

00:26:38I'm very inspired by the childhood play like Legos or Memories playing Mario on my Nintendo growing up.

00:26:50When we found this space, we were super happy to see the high ceiling and this big volume.

00:26:59Some spaces were already there, but it was much more compact.

00:27:04We increased the size of the kitchen and we modified the staircase to wrap around the kitchen

00:27:10and opened it up to create one big airspace.

00:27:13We also removed a small wall in the bathroom to add a closet.

00:27:20The entrance of the apartment is the start of an L-shaped hallway.

00:27:25The walls are bright yellow and the floor is a grey terrazzo.

00:27:30The living room is essentially a large grey box that's 4.2 meters high.

00:27:36It shares the space with the kitchen and dining.

00:27:41There are two large tall windows to provide the natural lighting for the entire apartment.

00:27:48The pieces of furniture here were either made by me or by my friends.

00:27:54The sofa is a wood structure with red leather cushions.

00:27:58The shelves are actually kitchen shelves, but work well in this space.

00:28:03The base of the coffee table was 3D printed by myself.

00:28:08They were inspired by spiny Koopa Troopers in the Mario games.

00:28:14I called on various designers I admire to find company for my bandit chair created with the carpenter Maxime Comet,

00:28:21a name after the fictional criminal Dalton Brothers from popular Belgian comics, Luke & Luke.

00:28:29We have also pieces by my friend Alex Coco, who is a super talented designer.

00:28:35We have the JoJo stools, which is like a little yellow octopus.

00:28:40And the Dino dish.

00:28:45The artwork of the living room and in the other areas of the apartment are all from designers that I

00:28:52love.

00:28:55The kitchen is on the other side of the living room.

00:28:58The metal doors and grey granite countertop was inspired by Mr. Freeze from Batman.

00:29:05I often think of kitchens as a cult science lab where experiments are conducted and things are preserved.

00:29:14All the door handles were all 3D printing at my studio.

00:29:19I like to play with scale with the pattern of the granite.

00:29:23The countertop is large with a darker tone.

00:29:27The dining table is lighter with a smaller pattern.

00:29:32There are 4 orange tools that look like the pipe in Mario Bros.

00:29:38There is a staircase at the end of this open living kitchen and dining space,

00:29:44which also acts as a wall for one side of the kitchen.

00:29:48The stairs lead to the bedroom.

00:29:52The outer layer of the curtain is a block out fabric in yellow.

00:29:57So from the lower floor, the bedroom looks like a large yellow box.

00:30:02When in the bedroom, there is another layer of curtains with a 3D fire simulation pattern

00:30:10that I designed and printed into the curtain.

00:30:14On the wall, there is a storage for our clothes.

00:30:20The lighting in the bedroom is inspired by the industrial lighting you can find in the subway of Paris.

00:30:30The bathroom is located by the entrance through the yellow door.

00:30:35It is quite a spacious room and contains a large sink, shower, closet and laundry space.

00:30:42The floor and walls are the same grey terrazzo as the rest of the apartment.

00:30:49The sink is a large floating white resin slab with a large mirror above.

00:30:54I also designed and made the yellow 3D printed lights that illuminate the space.

00:31:03The shower sits in the corner of the room and it's always open as there is no need for a

00:31:10door.

00:31:10It also increases the usable area in the shower.

00:31:16The green closet provides extra storage for our clothes and also hides the washing machine.

00:31:23The space feels a bit like a walk-in closet that you can often find in larger houses.

00:31:31It's a bit of luxury but it's also convenient to have all these functions close by.

00:31:37I can change, wash and store my clothes within the same area.

00:31:43The toilet is in a separate room next to the bathroom.

00:31:48It has a similar design to the bathroom.

00:31:51I try to integrate into my work a bit of humour.

00:31:55I really like to think of spaces and pieces of furniture like fictional characters.

00:32:01Just like the toys in Toy Story that come to life as soon as Andy leaves the room.

00:32:05They are an integral part of a larger play that enact around me.

00:32:11I think my philosophy with small spaces is to create a truly unique experience.

00:32:17As if you are entering into a time machine and travelling through new and explored worlds.

00:32:23The space is bigger when you have this kind of feeling.

00:32:37I wanted to open up the space so the light would come into the whole apartment.

00:32:43And to make it cosy and full of light.

00:32:50I was inspired by the Villa La Roche from Le Corbusier.

00:32:53With the curved wall and the colours.

00:32:56Mostly the Prussian blue and the terracotta.

00:33:00It's a beautiful house to me located in the 16th district of Paris.

00:33:06My client Damien used to live in the same street as this very house a few years back.

00:33:13So he was really amused and he really liked the idea of using this reference for his project.

00:33:22My name is Flore Gustin. I'm a French architect based in Paris and co-founder of Studio Amaté.

00:33:37The apartment is located in the 18th district of Paris.

00:33:42It's a district called Jules Geoffrin. It's close to Montmartre.

00:33:45It's a very cute corner of Paris. I really love coming here.

00:33:51The apartment is located next to the beautiful church called Eglise Notre Dame de Crignancourt.

00:33:57It's very close to the metro and also the city hall of the 18th arrondissement.

00:34:04The building was built in the 1890s. It's a façade from the post-Houseman era.

00:34:13The apartment was in a really bad shape with a very dark core so we had to rethink everything from

00:34:20scratch.

00:34:22I love finding projects in fairly worn conditions like this one because it gives me the ability and justification to

00:34:30redesign everything.

00:34:33I suggested to Damien a very compact but functional floor plan with influences from the architectural modernity movement during the

00:34:421930s.

00:34:47In the initial plan, the apartment had a kitchen in one corner, a small toilet, a central living room, a

00:34:54bedroom and also an extra living room.

00:34:58The apartment was occupied by an old person who still washed in the old way so we needed to create

00:35:04a whole new bathroom without losing too much space.

00:35:07First, I created a new bathroom where the kitchen once was.

00:35:12I removed the small toilet room and moved the kitchen to the middle of the open space.

00:35:17I also removed all the partition walls that were non-structural in the plan.

00:35:23The curved wall around the bedroom was added which lets the light come into the dark corner of the apartment.

00:35:30Lastly, I simply designed a large storage wall that goes from the kitchen all the way to the bathroom.

00:35:40There's a small entrance as you enter the apartment.

00:35:44Blue tiles and paint were used on the floor and walls to create a unique experience when entering.

00:35:53I wanted to create a kitchen which is open to the living room, enabling the client to welcome guests in

00:36:00a casual atmosphere.

00:36:03The kitchen island is the centerpiece here. The countertop is made of dark blue tiles with red grout.

00:36:10There's a round sink on one end and an induction hub on the other.

00:36:16Above the induction hub, there's a round stainless steel wrench hood.

00:36:21It's like a totem in the center of the room, visible from all the angles of the apartment.

00:36:28The island also contains lots of storages as well as the oven.

00:36:37Below the island, there's also a washing machine.

00:36:44The entrance is a part of a large storage wall composed of a wide okume wood facade,

00:36:49which hides most of the functions of the flat.

00:36:53This includes the wardrobe, wash basin, boiler, fridge, pantry, plumbing and more.

00:37:01This makes it possible to free up space in the apartment so we can bring in more light into the

00:37:07entrance and kitchen area.

00:37:11Beside the kitchen is the dining area. There's a square wooden dining table that can sit up to four people.

00:37:23A brand new bathroom was created where the kitchen once was.

00:37:28The door of the bathroom has two functions. It's either part of the storage wall or either it closes the

00:37:35bathroom.

00:37:36The wash basin area is hidden within the main storage.

00:37:40When you enter the bathroom and close the door behind you, the wash basin is revealed.

00:37:48The bathroom was kept simple and consists of a shower and a toilet without any elements that could stop the

00:37:55entry of natural light.

00:37:57The colors in the bathroom were inspired by the colors of Villa La Roche by Le Corbusier.

00:38:03For the grout between the tiles, contrasting colors were used.

00:38:08Red on blue and blue on red like a negative.

00:38:21The living room is through a passageway between the curved wall and the dining space.

00:38:27I decided to bring the light from the living room facing the street to the heart of the apartment by

00:38:33removing the walls between the living room and the bedroom.

00:38:38We changed the stone of the fireplace.

00:38:42We replaced it with a red Prussian travertine to match with the colors of the apartment.

00:38:50Behind the sofa is a large black tomato shelf, which really fits into the lightness and airiness of this space.

00:39:01At the end of the living room, there is a small balcony that can be accessed by the two glass

00:39:06doors.

00:39:11The bedroom is behind a curved wall. It hugs the room and softens the space inside and outside the room.

00:39:20The bedroom feels like a white modernist cocoon with an integrated bench on the edge of the window.

00:39:28There is an additional storage underneath this bench.

00:39:32On the other side of the room, there is a built-in shelf with the bottom shelf extended to act

00:39:38as a bedside table.

00:39:41At the end of the bench, there is a small shelf for a bedside lamp.

00:39:45It is at the same height as the lamp on the other side of the room.

00:39:53Paris is known for having extremely expensive housing, often in a pitiful state and also with fairly small surfaces due

00:40:01to these extreme costs of living.

00:40:04So, to me, in such a metropolis, we should assume that tiny living space could be the norm.

00:40:11The spaces can be made to be a great housing solution with some work on speciality and rationalism in an

00:40:19ecological way of thinking.

00:40:32For this project, we were both the architects and the clients.

00:40:41The brewery was the same.

00:40:45Find a place with a soul and make it an apartment.

00:40:54What we found was a studio from the mid-20th century.

00:41:02It has now been transformed into a family home.

00:41:06We live here with our baby daughter.

00:41:20The apartment is located in the center of Paris, in the 11th district, a neighborhood

00:41:26called Oberkampf.

00:41:30Oberkampf is a very lively area.

00:41:34It is also close to Le Marais, which is a popular historic area.

00:41:44Edouard loves busy places with a lot of objects and full of stories.

00:41:51Ophélie is more attracted to open plans and simple lines.

00:41:57That's how we came up with the concept L'atelier rangé-dérangé, which can be translated

00:42:04to a tidy and busy workshop.

00:42:11When we first found the apartment, there was a single half-length wall which divided the

00:42:17main space.

00:42:23The rest of the apartment was opened with no other walls or rooms.

00:42:29We sectioned off the entrance, created a bedroom and bathroom area that can be closed off from

00:42:36the main space.

00:42:37Then, we added a toilet.

00:42:40We also added a mezzanine above the office space, which is now transformed into a nursery.

00:42:47Lastly, we removed one of the entrance doors and replaced it with a window and a reading

00:42:52nook.

00:42:56As you enter the apartment, you are faced with a glass divider made using the same glass

00:43:02as the original windows of the workshop.

00:43:08There is a wall made of pine wood which has hidden storage space.

00:43:14We added a small pine wood bench, which also doubles as storage for our shoes.

00:43:23The kitchen, the living and the dining areas are on an open plan.

00:43:32Low furniture can make the space feel more generous.

00:43:35So, we designed a low storage unit that wraps around the wall within the living room.

00:43:43We also included a built-in planter and added some floating bookshelves.

00:43:52We designed a bench that wraps around the heater.

00:43:56It allows us to cover it and also create another area to sit and relax.

00:44:04We divided the living and the kitchen area using the sofa and custom-made bench seat.

00:44:15We designed an integrated kitchen.

00:44:19We chose a matte black finish so that we could feature the existing beautiful stone wall and

00:44:26contrast with the marble.

00:44:29The kitchen is equipped with a modern stainless steel oven and an induction cooktop.

00:44:38It has also a laundry and plenty of pantry space.

00:44:46We separated the bedroom with a recycled glass window.

00:44:53The sleeping area is very compact, there is a queen size bed, a closet and a small bench.

00:45:10The bed was custom made so we could add storage and make use of the space under the bed.

00:45:19The bathroom is ensuite with a bedroom.

00:45:23It was important for us to have a full size bath as we didn't want the apartment to lack

00:45:29the comforts of a bigger space.

00:45:35We installed a mirror into the side of the bathtub to reflect its surrounding and give the

00:45:42illusion that the space is bigger than it actually is.

00:45:51Finally, we installed floating wooden shelves to visually open up the space.

00:46:03The nursery was originally used as an office.

00:46:07We turned it into a nursery with the arrival of our daughter.

00:46:13There is a custom made closet and a multifunctional furniture that integrates the cot, a changing

00:46:21table and an armchair.

00:46:24This piece can be transformed into a larger bed when our daughter is toddler age and into

00:46:31full size bed when she reaches school age.

00:46:36The mezzanine area is currently used as storage but we plan to make it into a reading corner

00:46:44in the future.

00:46:46We replaced the original skylight with a much larger one to bring in as much light as possible.

00:46:57When it comes to designing a small space, it's not the square meters that matter, it's what

00:47:05we do with them.

00:47:08Paris is an expensive city and space has become a luxury.

00:47:14This is actually the way we advise our clients.

00:47:17This is better to have a smaller space well designed than a larger one but impractical.

00:47:33The apartment is located on the penultimate and last floor of a Fabergian building in the

00:47:3918th district of Paris near the Place Pigalle and the Grand Carrières district.

00:47:47The building was built in 1880, it has always been an apartment building.

00:47:55The apartment had been abandoned when the owner found it, with only a worn and weathered structure

00:48:02and frame remaining.

00:48:06When the client approached me, she already had an idea.

00:48:10She imagined a small duplex between a cabin perched under the roof and a beach house.

00:48:27The emerging Grand Carrières neighborhood revolves around the Montmartre cemetery, where historical figures such as François Truffaut are buried.

00:48:40It's quiet residential streets are lined with Osmanian and modern buildings, many of which house

00:48:47local cafes and supermarkets.

00:48:54The client is a woman in her 30s and she lives by herself.

00:49:04When I first came to the apartment, it was an uninhabited and dirty Hivik space with pretty good structure and

00:49:12framework.

00:49:15I wanted to create a compact and fluid space with lots of natural light.

00:49:21We reinforced and modified the structure and framework to add a staircase and an attic to the space.

00:49:29The owner also wanted a real separate kitchen, which is not common today where we tend to place them in

00:49:37living rooms, especially in small spaces.

00:49:43When we enter the apartment, we are greeted by the future floating staircase made out of birch and white plywood.

00:49:52We purposely made part of the staircase like a floating staircase so it doesn't take up too much floor space

00:50:01in the living room.

00:50:04The living room is designed to maximize comfort for the client.

00:50:09We created a feature burgundy wall with shelves made out of birch wood and we added some storage space underneath.

00:50:19We installed a contemporary ethanol fireplace and a TV corner as well.

00:50:27At the corner of the living room, we created a rounded corner cupboard for more storage.

00:50:35For a bit of Scandinavian touch, we used ash wood chairs in the dining area.

00:50:41The table is illuminated by bell suspension lighting.

00:50:45We used a linen curtain along the windows.

00:50:49It really gives you the seaside atmosphere.

00:50:54Next to the staircase, we have a sturdy home office area with the wall painted in mustard color.

00:51:02Above the sturdy, we have a little opening through to the kitchen.

00:51:06It helps with air circulation and light when you're walking at the desk.

00:51:12We also integrated a storage space under the staircase where the client can hang her coats

00:51:18or storage for shoes or other belongings when she enters the apartment.

00:51:26The kitchen is separated from the living room by this luminous archway painted in yellow color.

00:51:33Small niches have been arranged to accommodate decorative objects.

00:51:40We have all you need in the kitchen, like white cooktop, full oven, fridge, dishwasher and lots of storage.

00:51:50We installed a mirror splash back to increase the feeling of space.

00:51:57The floor is covered with terracotta tiles and we used white quartz for the kitchen bench top.

00:52:05We made the range wood with rounded soft edge.

00:52:09We even built a wine cellar made from birch melamine.

00:52:17Across the arch, above the dining area, we can see the beams that reinforce the wooden structure to support the

00:52:25mezzanine room.

00:52:27Glass windows have been installed to let the light penetrate through to the upper level.

00:52:34On the upper level, we continued using the plywood as the balustrade and it also allows light to come into

00:52:42the upper level.

00:52:44The client wanted a compact bedroom but that ticked all the boxes of functionality.

00:52:51A skylight installed in the bedroom maximizes the natural light along with glass windows to bring in natural light from

00:53:01the living room windows below.

00:53:04The space is minimal but it's optimized with a large linear storage unit that presents a smooth, calm and soft

00:53:14facade with its matte lacquered doors in the same brick tones used in the living room.

00:53:22The bathroom occupies the greatest height below the ridge.

00:53:27We wanted to be the most spacious as we imagine a seaside home to be.

00:53:34We designed a spacious and minimalist room with marine echoes.

00:53:40The walking shower is separated by a partition that incorporates the beams of the original frame.

00:53:51The green tile is an arrow model from Equipe Ceramicas.

00:53:57It evokes watercolour fish scales.

00:54:01A tiny dressing room has been created next to the bathroom.

00:54:08We also included a washing machine in the dressing room.

00:54:15It offers storage while hiding the chimney flues.

00:54:22It's not so easy to meet the demands of clients who want a comfortable kitchen, a nice living room, an

00:54:29airy cozy space as well as practical storage in a few square meters.

00:54:34But it's a fun challenge.

00:54:36In order for everything to harmonize in the right way, without wasting space, the project is designed to the centimeter

00:54:45in its entirety.

00:54:48How the population is growing and the property price continues to grow in Paris.

00:54:55Architects have a role to play in this challenge so these small spaces can offer high quality of life and

00:55:02experience.

00:55:11My idea for this apartment was to use traditional and natural materials such as granite and plywood.

00:55:20I took inspiration from the Japanese concept of the Shoji.

00:55:25It's a sort of merging of French inspiration and Japanese inspiration.

00:55:30And I think it's at the core of my practice as an architect.

00:55:42The apartment is in the eastern area of Paris.

00:55:47The building was built in the middle 19th century during the Industrial Revolution.

00:55:53Today, most occupants are students, or young professionals like me, or young couples.

00:56:01My name is Marlies Salferra.

00:56:03I'm an engineer and architect based in Paris.

00:56:07I actually own this apartment.

00:56:12The floor plan of the apartment hasn't changed since it was built.

00:56:16There were two small rooms, a tiny kitchen and a small bathroom.

00:56:21The front door opens directly into the living room.

00:56:25There used to be a small entrance with a partition, but I wanted the space to be fluid so I

00:56:31removed it.

00:56:33I removed the central partition between the bedroom and the living room.

00:56:37And I designed a furniture that would be at the same time a bench, a closet, a desk, and that

00:56:45would serve as a partition between the new living room and the new bedroom.

00:56:52From the entrance, the first thing you'll notice is the shoji and the bench.

00:56:59Usually shoji are made out of rice paper on a lattice frame.

00:57:03These materials are not easy to find in Paris nowadays, so I decided to use plywood cleats and polycarbonate in

00:57:12order to create a new style of shoji.

00:57:16The living room is a simple open space.

00:57:19There is a couch that can become a bed when I have guests.

00:57:23I built some wall shelves out of the leftover plywood and painted it in white so it would blend with

00:57:30the walls.

00:57:31I have my books and plants here.

00:57:33They are the only possessions that I have a lot of.

00:57:37On the other side of the couch, there is a bench that is also part of the shoji wall.

00:57:44The bench can also hold a TV if new owners or occupants want it.

00:57:52In front of the couch, there is a coffee table that I just found on the street and painted in

00:57:58white.

00:58:00The kitchen is in a nook next to the living room.

00:58:04I like to call it my minimalist cave.

00:58:08The countertop is granite which is very versatile.

00:58:11There is an induction hub, a sink, a dishwasher and an oven.

00:58:17And there is also a washing machine hidden behind a door.

00:58:21There is no need for an exhaust fan because of the ventilation of the wall, which saves space for more

00:58:29kitchen storage.

00:58:31On the other side of the kitchen, there is a storage unit that goes from the floor to the ceiling.

00:58:38When I need to work from home, there is a hidden door that folds out into a desk.

00:58:44It's a really nice place to work as there is plenty of natural light from the large window beside it.

00:58:51Having the storage unit sit slightly out of the side from the living room creates a separate zone in a

00:58:59small open apartment.

00:59:02The door of the bedroom is made of polycarbonate so the light can circulate in the whole apartment and enter

00:59:10the bedroom.

00:59:12Inside, the space is designed to feel like a cabin.

00:59:16At night, the light inside the bedroom transforms it into a light box in the middle of the apartment.

00:59:25In order to create a relaxing and warm atmosphere in the bedroom,

00:59:30I just wanted a soft glow coming from the wall and no light from the ceiling.

00:59:35In the bedroom, there is an additional closet unit and you can have access from within the bedroom or from

00:59:43outside.

00:59:48The bathroom was newly renovated when I moved into the apartment so it was already quite functional with a shower,

00:59:57a mirror, a sink and water closet.

00:59:59So I focused on the living room and the bedroom and decided to save my time and money and keep

01:00:07it what was already functional.

01:00:09I tried to have, in general, a frugal approach with reduced carbon footprint materials and natural materials.

01:00:18When you make a project with good materials, you'd better think about the design because you're going to keep it

01:00:25for long.

01:00:26When you manage to find a way to make it last in time, in the material but in the use

01:00:33also.

01:00:33That's how it becomes sustainable.

01:00:35That's how it becomes sustainable.

Category

Transcript

Comments

Recommended