A Giant Ribbon of Wood Wraps This Mind-Bending Parisian Apartment
Sculptural plywood walls weave new life into a 19th-century Parisian apartment while preserving its historic Haussmannien features.
When a young French couple with a child on the way reached out to architect Gabrielle Toledano to renovate their recently purchased apartment in the 10th arrondissement of Paris, the timing was fortuitous.
Toledano had just returned to work from maternity leave, and she was eager to flex her design prowess in reshaping the old apartment into a contemporary abode—without breaking the couple’s relatively modest budget.
The new wooden partition provides a sculptural counterpoint to the historic apartment’s ornate elements and rigid geometry. The original herringbone hardwood floors were refinished throughout.
Salem Mostefaoui
The new wooden walls stop short of the ceilings, preserving the moldings and the outline of the historic floor plan.
Salem Mostefaoui
The apartment was built in the late 1800s, and it’s filled with Haussmann-style elements—including elaborate moldings and herringbone hardwood floors—that the clients and architect wanted to highlight.
"The challenge was preserving these layers of history while creating a strong contemporary identity," explains Toledano. "I wanted something young, playful, but still chic…a contemporary architecture that would preserve all the historical elements and confer a strong character to the place while unveiling new uses and a new appreciation of space, suited to its 21st-century inhabitants."
"I think these curves awaken one’s curiosity and make them question the space—and by extension, other matters of life," says Toledano. "The clients are very sensitive to art and design, and I wanted them to feel like they were living in an art piece—one that they can make evolve through time and shape according to their way of life."
Salem Mostefaoui
See the full story on Dwell.com: A Giant Ribbon of Wood Wraps This Mind-Bending Parisian Apartment
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