Emilie Bozek, the architect for this project who now lives in it, welcomes us for a private tour.
A garden in the city
For Sloft+ members only
When Emilie Bozek, architect and founder of Studio Emilie Bozek, and her husband set out to find a property to buy, they had two prerequisites: the possibility of carrying out work, and a garden. "We love gardening, so it was important for us to have an exterior, to take the opposite stance from urban life, which often favors interiors." Their search led them to Saint-Mandé, where they visited a 50 m² ground-floor apartment dating from the 1970s. " It was dilapidated and badly laid out, but we fell in love with the potential," recalls Emilie Bozek. Above all, the apartment is complemented by two terraces for a total of 63 m² of outdoor space. Enough to double the surface area and enjoy an almost garden! Sold! The couple then embarked on a major renovation project to transform the apartment into a soothing, intimate haven of peace. " Originally, the walk-through apartment was obstructed by a disproportionate entrance leading to a windowless bathroom and separating the kitchen on one side from the living room on the other". Emilie then decided to move the kitchen to the living area, gaining in flow and feeling of space. On the night side, she added an extra room in the form of a guest bedroom, as the apartment initially had only one bedroom. And to add character, the architect imagined a set of curved partitions that accompany movement and lead to the various rooms, creating visual openings on either side towards the outside. How could these terraces have been so neglected? A real waste, which seems anachronistic in 2023. Emilie and her husband have transformed them too, thinking of them as verdant interludes. They now give the impression of a green cocoon in the heart of the city. The couple enjoy lunches in the sun, naps in the shade of the birch trees and gardening afternoons... A new way of life, inviting them to slow down and contemplate nature as it evolves with the days and seasons before their eyes.