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74 m² of playful, lively space
A family cocoon that doesn't take itself (too!) seriously, in Paris' 11th arrondissement
74 m²
Paris, France
100 000 €
Cosy minimalism
Three-bedroom
Atelier Boteko
For Sloft+ members only
"The presence of a courtyard with a play area 'saved' us during confinement. So when the family grew, we looked for something bigger... in this building, of course.”
The couple's attachment to the premises took root as early as 2015. Coline convinced Guillaume that the 11th arrondissement (this 1960s residence in particular) was a perfect match for their needs, with Rue de Montreuil and Rue Paul Bert just a stone's throw away, and a plethora of restaurants, nightlife and markets nearby.
“We lived in another two-room apartment in the residence for five years. In 2020, while confined, we greatly appreciated being able to meet neighbors in the communal garden, and Ambre, our daughter, was happy to make new friends there."
When his little brother Auguste came along, they found their new home on the 8th floor of another building in the complex. The compact, practical floorplan offered the possibility of three real bedrooms, and the 6 m2 south-facing balcony was a real asset. A few original materials, such as the herringbone mosaic parquet floor, sealed the deal:
“From the very first visit, we had stars in our eyes and great plans for our family." Plans that took shape with the indispensable support of Léa Casteigt, an architect at Atelier Boteko. For, apart from the two existing bedrooms, which will only need a refresh, a complete overhaul was required, taking almost five months to complete.
"We had to integrate a large kitchen into the main living area and have three bedrooms, which meant transforming part of the double living room into a bedroom/office,” explains Léa.
The challenge of the project was to work on the transitions and sequences between the different spaces. A large storage/library unit marks the transition between the living room and the entrance hall, while a sliding door marks the living room-office sequence, so as to preserve the original diagonal views between the two rooms, ideally oriented towards the balcony and the south. And finally, there is a transition between Guillaume's study and the master bedroom, with the design of a large custom-made skylight that again takes advantage of the south-facing aspect.
" summer evenings in the living room and balcony are quite pleasant, with the view of the sunset over Paris. The architects were able to help us unlock the potential of the space, and the apartment matches the expectations we had from the first visit," rejoices Guillaume. "We hope it reflects our desire to spend some quality time together, in our fun, happy little universe.”
Guillaume can rest assured that this is the case!
The apartment is located in the Univers 21 residence, completed in 1970 by architect Maurice Novarina. Immediately noticeable is the transparency of the lobby, allowing the eye to take in the interior spaces even before entering the building.
