For Sloft+ members only
The architect Guillaume Bressy has revealed the potential of this 1960s apartment in Annecy. With its curves and natural light, this organically designed project extends, on a smaller scale, the dialogue embodied by the “Venice of the Alps” between urban energy and the natural horizons.
1960s buildings bring to mind highly partitioned layouts, limited natural light, and unreliable plumbing. Émie’s new apartment was no exception to these clichés. Despite its east-west orientation, the space felt confined, fragmented by an imposing bathroom unit and crisscrossed by pipes that were impossible to conceal.
But necessity is the mother of invention, and so the young owner, a marketing manager at Jaeger-LeCoultre in Geneva, saw potential in the space and entrusted Guillaume Bressy with the challenge of redesigning it. The space thus became a testing ground for the architect, for whom it was the first project.
He structured the apartment around a central spinal cord shaped like a wave, which allows the different functions to be reorganized and the transitions to be softened: “In the center of the apartment, curves and waves are a common thread, redesigning the space and embodying the concept,” summarizes the architect. The eye wanders along the different uses. For Émie and her partner Clément, the project had to reflect a clear intention: “An elegant and warm apartment with a strong identity.” There was no question of giving in to the conventions of small, standardized homes: “We wanted original and unusual elements.” This desire for a unique interior is reflected in clear choices and custom-designed elements that carry the architect’s vision. Wood interacts with stainless steel, tapestry softens the walls, and the understated furniture allows the space to express itself and the light to flow toward the ceiling.
