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Jul 03, 2023

This 540

By Nicolas Milon Photography by BCDF Studio In the north of Paris, near the Marché aux Puces Saint-Ouen, the city’s legendary flea market, a 540-square-foot Paris apartment provided an opportunity for

By Nicolas Milon

Photography by BCDF Studio

In the north of Paris, near the Marché aux Puces Saint-Ouen, the city’s legendary flea market, a 540-square-foot Paris apartment provided an opportunity for Studio Baha to turn an attic unit into a light-filled home. “I go there very often,” the studio’s architect Ariane Bromberger says about the flea market. “It’s a very inspiring place for my furniture research, especially for this project.”

Ariane was in charge of the complete renovation of the beautiful, though small, attic space and her plan provided it with plenty of natural light and cross-ventilation. Her first task required rebuilding the somewhat wobbly floors. At the owners’ request, she created a bedroom with an additional sleeping area on a mezzanine level, without breaking up the beautiful attic space. “Sunlight fills the apartment all day long: It rises on the living room side and sets on the dining room side while pouring through the skylights in the afternoon. The plan had to follow the path of this direct light, which is why the living area has been designed to run the length of the unit and be open.”

In front of a vintage Sesann sofa by Gianfranco Frattini, a resin coffee table by Marie-Claude de Fouquieres (Fred and Sophie Bordes, Marché Paul Bert), a round Youmi table by Mademoiselle Jo and a Louis 4.0 chair by Clémentine Chambon (both from Maison Contemporain). In the foreground, on a Lato LN8 pedestal table by Luca Nichetto (&Tradition), a vase (HK Living). Above the sofa, a painting by Bertrand Fompeyrine (Galerie Olivier Castaing/Team School Gallery). In the background, above an M stool by Nomade Atelier and a Zéli vase by Clémentine Chambon (both Maison Contemporain), a painting by Fabien Ficher and another by Bertrand Fompeyrine. To the right, Dismorphia, a large painting by Ficher. Fossiles rug by Emmanuel Gallina (Toulemonde Bochart).

The wide central entryway leads to the bedroom on the left, located behind a wall with storage, and to the bathroom on the right, also behind its own wall of cabinets. The storage walls are custom-made and clad in matte white lacquer with integrated dark oak handles. “The circulation is important because it’s important to preserve the flow in the space and, when you are in the apartment, you want the open volume to be the focus. The curves of the storage walls contrast with the angularity of the roof.” The living area is divided by a low storage bench that extends into the kitchen to accommodate all the elements needed for cooking and entertaining. The multi-functional piece connecting both spaces was made to measure in two materials: dark stained-oak beveled fronts and a blue quartzite top that mirrors the sky above.

The rounded contours of the bathroom, on the left, and the bedroom, on the right, soften the volume. To the right of the curtain that conceals the front door, under a mirror by Bertrand Fompeyrine (Galerie Olivier Castaing /Team School Gallery), Bettoïa vases by Alexandre Labruyère (Maison Contemporain). The Italian hanging lamps are from the 1970s (Marché Paul Bert).

From its choice of materials to the furniture selection, the apartment by Studio Baha is all about contrasts, from waxed concrete to blue quartzite, dark oak to chrome and linen-colored Chaux Ferrée paint with its striking mineral effect. The paint was also used in the entrance and on the headboard with its dark wood frame—the same is used in the living room, because a focus on contrasts doesn’t preclude other consistent themes. The sobriety and limited palette of materials is paired with an eclectic selection of pieces found at flea markets and works by artists Bertrand Fompeyrine and Fabien Ficher. “I really like the chrome found in the Italian table from the 1970s, the base of the Tacchini sofa, and the resin coffee table by Marie-Claude de Fouquières.” Ficher’s artwork lights up the living room with its brushed aluminum and reflective surface highlighting the different sculptures on display on the living room bench. It is another moment where Ariane demonstrates her masterful use of light.

The impression of spaciousness is real, thanks to the streamlined kitchen that provides a strong element in dark oak and blue quartzite that links the spaces together. On the shelf, behind a Louis 4.0 chair by Clémentine Chambon (Maison Contemporain), candles by Noka Design (Maison Contemporain). Fossiles rug by Emmanuel Gallina (Toulemonde Bochart).

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The waxed concrete floor and white walls help to make the space feel larger. The integrated, rounded handles on the dressing room doors echo the apartment’s wood elements. “As these built-in units line a space used for circulation, they shouldn’t have handles that are too conspicuous,” Ariane says. “Here, they punctuate the curves and are visually discreet.”

On a Tung JA3 side table by John Astbury (&Tradition), a Ribbon table lamp by Habitat. Next to it, a corner chair in turned wood with a straw seat.

Above the bedroom is an additional small sleeping area accessed via a small ladder. The dark oak door frames integrate the storage into the depth of the room.

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In the bedroom, the custom-made headboard incorporates small rounded bedside tables for ergonomic circulation. The room is characterized by its use of natural materials and contrasts: linen-colored Chaux Ferrée paint (Ressources) and an oak frame echoes one in the living room. Above, an Odyssey wall lamp by Studio Schwung and a painting by Bertrand Fompeyrine (Galerie Olivier Castaing/Team School Gallery).

The bathroom door seen from the bedroom.

Access to the bathroom and bedroom is via sliding doors that disappears into wooden frames behind the built-in storage. In front of the large window, a 9 Tabouret stool, designed by Charlotte Perriand and part of the Le Corbusier, Pierre Jeanneret, Charlotte Perriand Collection (Cassina iMaestri Collection).

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Blue quartzite was used for the sink in the bathroom.

This Paris apartment was first published by AD France.