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Kim and Sergio dreamed of a terrace overlooking the architectural richness of the capital from their Montmartre apartment. It was up to Francesco Loconte, founder of Kida Architecture & Design, to turn this dream into reality. The couple bought the three former maid’s quarters above the property they already lived in, and, after preliminary studies carried out by his colleague Anne-Laure Dubois, the Locontes set about transforming the patchwork of rooms into a peaceful living space.
“Kim, a stylist, and Sergio, a textile designer, wanted a minimalist setting for their fine furniture and numerous works of art,” explains Francesco Loconte. He envisioned a living space like a blank canvas, similar to their existing home, which is already a case study in minimalism: “We brought this aesthetic into the upper level,” Francesco continues. “To access it, we also designed a lacquered steel staircase that seamlessly blends into the space.” As white as its attendant wall, like a reference to Malevich’s famous painting, it leads to a spacious living room bathed in light: “The roof structure had to be completely reworked to create this large living space on the south side, a bathroom, a dressing room, and a bedroom on the north side,” explains Francesco. Not to mention, the new south-facing terrace this all opens onto.
At the same time, the architect designed and built a private outdoor space for the couple, five square meters of terrace with a breathtaking view. The work was complex and constrained by certain urban planning regulations, as the roofs of the capital are listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. With patience and tenacity, Sergio and Kim saw the portion of the roof they bought from their fellow building owners become an urban oasis. The custom-made glass walls flanking the living room not only flood the space and its designer furniture with sunlight, they also reveal a breathtaking panorama. From this vantage point, furnished for the most part with garden furniture, one can contemplate Notre-Dame, the Centre Pompidou, the Panthéon, and La Défense over dinner with friends, or admire the fireworks over the Seine on Bastille Day.
