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Leaving the city, while living in it: such is the paradox that Nicolas uses to describe his 12th-arrondissement hideaway. Close to the Bois de Vincennes, Place Daumesnil and Bercy, he found a space that met all of his requirements: a ground-floor apartment that is nonetheless bright, private, and high ceilings. Not to mention a readymade pretext to redo everything. And its location at the end of a private alley is by no means a flaw: “from here, you can’t hear any cars, only birdsong. The large wisteria, the drooping vine, the shrubs and plants all provide a little oasis in the middle of the city’s bustle.”
Originally from the north of France, Nicolas moved to Paris in 2018 after spending two years in Chicago and another two in Mayotte. Now an HR strategy and digital transformation consultant, he cultivates his taste for the arts, architecture and design in his free time, as demonstrated in this collaboration with Studio IDÀ. The apartment had not been renovated for several decades: “the humidity-damaged floor, the cracked ceilings, and the suffocating partitioning weren’t a hindrance,” recalls Nicolas. “Venturing into an overhaul requires an active imagination and a no-compromise approach.” His exacting specifications were not intended to undermine the architects’ aesthetic: “Nicolas was very open to clever solutions and fun ideas, and he trusted us to highlight the materials and, above all, his collections and works of art.” art.”“I wanted a sort of capsule with a timeless feel and a strong identity,” continues Nicolas. “I wanted it to have an art gallery feel, with concrete and Plexiglas, but also a hidden kitchen with a large fridge, and a large dressing room, all with a sense of flow.” And all that, in just under 35 square meters of space. The architects drew inspiration from Japanese architecture to create this ambitious roadmap: “over there, spaces and their interrelationships are shaped by the notion of progression and threshold. We drew inspiration from this to avoid creating a feeling of suffocation. The space is designed as a journey through increasingly intimate spaces.”
