In the 19th arrondissement of Paris, architect Dario Musseda connected two small spaces on two levels above a 1980s building to create a bright and charming duplex penthouse.
2D firm founder, DPLG architect, graduate of the Institute of Architecture Lumber Lombard and the Institute of Saint-Luc in Belgium Dario Museda first cut his teeth in the hotel industry and construction projects. An exception such as La. Air France premiere lounge. On the strength of his experience, he then multiplied residential and commercial projects. This rich career has shaped his attention to detail and his affinity for…storage. An expert in the optimization of colors, materials, lighting and also space, he does not forget to let the emotions speak. Proof with this small, charming apartment transformed into a warm duplex penthouse suspended in the Paris skyline.
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The starting point
“I remodeled this apartment for a friend who I had already worked for three times. He’s always bought apartments in buildings from the 70s and 80s because they often have balconies or patios, and he appreciates outdoor spaces. Lo and behold, it was a small apartment in the 19th arrondissement of Paris that enjoyed the top or top floor. There was no connection between the two levels, and the upper space was not divided, knowing that it was in joint ownership with other residents of the building. But this feature, which included the construction of walls, the creation of stairs and windows, gave this purchase real potential. Today, this 70 m² duplex has a living room bordered by a balcony and a bathroom on the first level. The bedroom is upstairs and opens onto the balcony.
Living room and balcony
“We chose the living room on the first level, there was already a large space bordered by a balcony and floor-to-ceiling windows, which gives the impression of additional space. it was perfect. The kitchen area is black. I love black kitchens because I think, especially when they are open, that this color helps to soften their presence, in addition to giving them a certain elegance. Hanging cabinets and storage therefore seem more elegant to me, but also more restrained. We had a preference for a high island dining room. It was the client’s request that also allowed us to free up the work surface in the kitchen area. Indeed, this island also accommodates the plates and stove in its “dining” extension. There are also cupboards on the window side. This porcelain stone island is arranged as a center table, with pendants that light it up, catch the eye and also help distract from the more technical part of the room. We have to go back to stock because they are part of my obsession too. They are everywhere from floor to ceiling in this room. So, I installed a 2.50 m long dressing room on two levels in the living room, in the part that is adjacent to the airport, where the staircase is located. Like the back wall in the bedroom, it is painted lime green. I use colors to create blocks, zones in the same space. they are like abstract partitions. And to develop a form of harmony, there is a waxed concrete effect floor throughout. It brings a small industrial note. The balcony has been newly modernized with a floor-to-ceiling window and is well furnished.’
The bathroom
“The bathroom is on the first level like the living room. It was originally larger, but we reclaimed some of the space to accommodate the staircase. This bathroom, managed as a large block behind the stairs, is therefore not very large, but we still wanted to make it a comfortable relaxation area. That’s why we chose the beautiful shower 1.30 m. more than 1.25 m. The basin and toilet bowls are quite delicate, which lightens the space.
Ladder
“We placed the ladder in a balloon created over part of the bathroom. It’s quite compact as we didn’t have room downstairs, but especially upstairs where the bedroom is. It was necessary, in fact, to move easily in the room.
Bedroom and balcony
“At first we thought of placing the living room upstairs. For this we wanted to make an extension to the existing outdoor space. But we did not have permission. Consequently, we lacked the square footage for an actual living room, and we changed our tune. We considered this room to be a perched nest. The head of the bed leans against the black wall and looks at the vegetation of the terrace, the Paris sky. Here we created everything, including the glass facade with its sliding windows. On this floor we were able to arrange a small laundry room to the staircase to accommodate the machines. The layout of the bedroom is minimalist, as this room is also the entrance to the terrace where you can eat and receive. It was limiting to know that this room was a passageway especially for visitors. But given the rarity of this type of appearance in Paris, it is worth accepting this limitation.
2D cabinet. lecabinet2d.com
Source: Le Figaro
