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A bird’s-eye view of the rooftops of Paris, abundant light, and vintage 1970s charm: that was all it took to convince Briac to move to Batignolles. All that remained was to transform this large 50 m² studio apartment, frozen in its original state, into a functional and welcoming Parisian cocoon.
White tiles in the kitchen, Winckelmans floor tiles, old steel windows, dated partitions:
“The apartment had never been renovated since the building was constructed in 1970,” says Briac.. “The layout was very dated: a large closed kitchen, no separate bedrooms, and two windows overlooking the courtyard that had been bricked up, making the space dark and impractical.” He chose to entrust the transformation of his home to the Bateaumagne agency, which he heard about through word of mouth. “I heard about Audrey through an acquaintance of my mother’s. When I saw her work, I immediately felt that her approach matched my tastes and needs.” Briac’s specifications were clear: to create a separate bedroom and a large living room opening onto the kitchen and dining area, while optimizing storage space. “I wanted a bright, uncluttered, and decidedly contemporary space. Opening up the kitchen to the dining room, which is connected to the living room, seemed essential to me in order to foster a convivial atmosphere,” he explains.
The challenge went far beyond aesthetics: the apartment also suffered from a lack of insulation. Located on the sixth floor and facing north, it was prone to drafts and humidity: “The window frames had to be replaced, as did the glass bricks in the bathrooms,” recalls Audrey Magne, co-founder of the agency.. “Briac did not have any strict stylistic requirements, but he did have a solid background in design and architecture. We quickly found common ground. ”
To give the place a new identity, Bateaumagne chose to play the continuity card. The building’s 1970s DNA has been respected, but revisited with a contemporary loft-style touch: raw concrete ceilings, steel framing for interior openings, and hammered and mirrored glass for bathroom doors. ” We like to work with what’s already there. Here, the idea was to honor the place’s original spirit while bringing out the exceptional light of the space,” continues Audrey. The key decision was to open up the main room to take advantage of the two large windows at the front. An existing structural beam allowed for a wide opening, creating a more spacious feel and spectacular light. The bedroom, meanwhile, naturally found its place on the quiet courtyard side.
This project also provided a welcome break from the usual for Audrey Magne and her colleague Guillaume Maton: “Most of our projects involve apartments built over a hundred years ago, and we can now do this with our eyes closed. This 1970s building won us over with its modernity, its sun-bathed location, and its breathtaking view of Paris. Guillaume and I often ended our site meetings by saying to each other, ‘I would love to live in this apartment!’ ”
Briac shares this sentiment: “I am delighted with the work carried out by Bateaumagne. I really appreciated the quality of the supervision and the attention to detail. The apartment perfectly meets my expectations and it is now a real pleasure to live there. “
