A young Italian family chose a flat in the center of Paris as their pied-à-terre, among the blue-grey rooftops and the banks of the River Seine. Studio noa* was asked to design the interior and help create a home atmosphere. An interesting task, which deals with sensations, images and memories.
One aspect of Paris that has become firmly established in the collective imagination is the hôtel particulier, an elegant family palace dating from the 18th century that stands proudly alone amidst the fabric of the city. One such building, the hôtel Nicolai, was the reason for noa*’s first site inspection at Ville Lumière. His task: renovate the flat that occupies part of the second floor and attic to make it a new home for a young family.
Space continuity. Following a design philosophy that has always been characterized by a noa* approach, the interior designers started with a research phase and intensive dialogue with the client to ensure that the flat would tell their story in the best way. The result is a formulation of the owner’s “nomadic spirit” as well as a reminder during the initial conversation to an object that, for those who describe themselves as citizens of the world, has a strong symbolic meaning: the logarithmic spiral shell of the Nautilus:
“The Nautilus is one of the rare creatures to have survived the Cretaceous period. This is said to be due to the shape of its shell, which allowed it to feel at home all the time – a well-designed shell that has made it possible for the ermita crab to survive from the time of the dinosaurs to the present day.”
The shell, which symbolizes domestic comfort, together with the Parisian inspiration has led to a project with a classy and timeless character. Curved lines are the signature of this apartment style: this undulating movement is also present in the spatial distribution, as the various living functions naturally follow each other.
Custom Design. In choosing the fixtures and designing the oak furnishings, noa* wanted to convey the relief of the Marais district, where the property is located, into the flat. The blue-grey color of the marble, the fabric of the cushions and upholstery, the choice of materials and colors for the floors, ceilings and walls were all inspired by the rooftops of Paris.
The ground floor has the service and guest entrances. From both perspectives, the chromatic division and floor materials stand out: the living areas are in bleached white oak parquet in a French fish anchor pattern, while the circulation corridors are in terrazzo. This landing seems to divide the floor into two islands: on one side, a corner overlooking the Seine, where one can read or chat, is equipped with oak seating and black leather cushions. On the other hand, the kitchen and living room area, where the view rests on the elegant blue-grey marble “Bardiglio Imperiale”, used for the fireplace remedy and kitchen top. A Chester sofa and a comfortable dining area with benches complete the furnishings.
The focal point of the design is the connection between the lower and upper floors: a winding, organically shaped staircase visually extends the terrazzo corridor. The service areas (laundry, toilet, wardrobe) follow the path of the stairs and are surrounded by curved walls. Also downstairs are two bedrooms and a bathroom. The master bedroom features a freestanding bath, carved from a single block of “Botticino Fiorito” marble. The sink and shower surface are made of the same material. Distributing the loads created by the bathtub so that the old load-bearing structure could support them was one of the most demanding challenges in the project. The upper floor has a multifunctional room equipped for a home cinema and a guest room with bathroom.
The result is a project with a serene, calm and welcoming atmosphere – a flat with curved lines and a woody aroma, where you immediately feel at home.
Architects: noa* network of architecture
Area: 168 m²
Year: 2021
Photographs: Antoine Huot | https://www.archdaily.com/photographer/antoine-huot?ad_name=project-specs&ad_medium=single
Manufacturers: Louis Poulsen
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