Treilhard Apartment
Altered by successive renovations, this Haussmannian apartment had lost much of its original proportions and decorative mouldings. The project reinterprets the principles of Haussmannian architecture through room proportions, sequences of interconnected spaces and an exploration of wall thickness, while reintroducing ornamental details. These interventions are expressed through a contemporary architectural language, adapted to the needs of family life.
Originally, the living and dining rooms faced exclusively north, while the kitchen was isolated at the far end of the apartment. Opening up the central load-bearing wall creates a dual-aspect living space that benefits from southern natural light. Relocated closer to the dining room, the kitchen becomes part of a sequence of distinct yet interconnected rooms, reviving the traditional enfilade arrangement.
The new layout also accommodates three bedrooms, including a principal suite with a walk-in wardrobe, dressing table and private bathroom, as well as a second bathroom.
Circulation spaces have been redesigned to extend sightlines and allow natural light to flow throughout the apartment. The central corridor has been removed, while the hallway leading to the bedroom at the far end has been reshaped to follow the curve of the stairwell and widened to incorporate a small washbasin.
Beyond the spatial reconfiguration, particular attention has been paid to the thickness of the walls, transforming them into defining architectural elements that accommodate everyday functions. The central load-bearing wall, the backbone of the apartment, has been thickened to integrate a bookcase, coat storage and a wine cabinet.
This approach extends to the openings between rooms, where deliberately deepened thresholds echo the substantial walls of Haussmannian architecture and incorporate niches, display cabinets and built-in storage.
Restored mouldings and cornices reconnect the apartment with its Haussmannian architectural vocabulary. In the main rooms, cream-coloured walls envelop the spaces and warm the northern light, contrasting with the dark timber of the contemporary interventions.
By contrast, spaces with indirect natural light develop a more abstract atmosphere, where glazed zellige tiles, lacquered surfaces and antiqued mirrors blur perceptions through an interplay of sheen and reflections.
Finally, kano studio designed and handcrafted ceramic pieces specifically for the project, extending its architectural approach to the scale of individual objects.
