Garden House & Studio Duplex

This Duplex was originally a part of a whole house. It was detached and thought as an independent Duplex Unit. A place to live as well as an architecture studio.

The original 1st floor was demolished and the space was though as one generous empty shell in which 3 very light metal half levels were inserted.

The main concept was to create a long “promenade architecturale” that went from the open and shared spaces to the more intimate ones.Even though the Bedroom is in top of the entrance, in order to get there, you have to walk through all of the apartment, climbing the stairs along the giant oak bookcase and towards the garden and then make a u turn to the bedroom and bathroom, each of the programs being materialized by a different half level. This extension of the path not only creates levels of intimacy but also makes you feel like the space is bigger, richer.

The Garden plays a central part in the apartment. The idea was to feel its presence as much as possible, all the time. The studio was created in the middle of the trees.That way, creation could be inspired by the changing seasons and wild nature.

The work space is completely separated, isolated, in the edge. The 6 meters high bookcase rhythms the entire loft and enhancing its lengh.This one continuous wood element creates a link in all of the apartment and enables to insert program such as the kitchen, closets a toilet.

Continuity, Materiality, Hierarchy and Modularity are 4 key concepts here. The bookcase is continuous, so is the long and aerial metal path that starts with stairs, continues with a footbridge and again with stairs. It rhythms the apartment and plays with the void. In order to fit a tight budget, a lot of elements were prefabricated and inserted in the design in order to feel like everything is built in. Materiality here defines program. It was kept as minimal as possible using oak wood, concrete and black metal mostly.

Project Year: 2012

Built Area: 80 sqm

Project location: Paris, 6th arrondissement

Budget : 80 000 euros

Pictures by Gabrielle Toledano

Collab with B.Whauthier-Wurmser