Known for…
its manicured lawns, geometrically set gravel pathways, 400-year-old Medici fountain and large central basin full of miniature sailboats, Jardin du Luxembourg is one of Paris’ most storied locations. It was here that Victor Hugo set the scene of Cosette and Marius’ first encounter in Les Misérables. Ernest Hemingway also loved to stroll through the gardens, which he once cited as the only place in Paris where he was happy to escape the tempting aroma of freshly baked patisseries. For centuries, it has remained a place of tranquility, surrounded by old mansion blocks and luxurious hotels particuliers. This apartment in the 18th arrondissement is located in one such historic building overlooking the park.
An absence…
of original features meant that the firm leading this project, Studio Razavi, was keen to reinstate a sense of old-world grandeur within its walls. The team started from scratch, knocking down all partitions and adopting a pared-back, spartan approach with an emphasis on elegance, strong finishes and a romantic sensibility that focused on the well-made, with bespoke fixtures and fine art objects. Natural light streams in from three sources which the designers have capitalized on by covering all walls in Venetian plaster, filling interiors with softly diffused illumination. Playing with contrast, the designers have used dark natural wood and cream tones to bring tactile warmth and visual interest to the main living room space.
In the spirit…
of Haussmannian style, Studio Razavi has created a ‘roundabout’ at the heart of the room, wich is delineated by curved Ateliers Jouffre sofas set around a hand-tufted ‘Eclipse Disc I’ rug by Tai Ping, whose woven wonders can be found at Buckingham Palace, the White House, and the Élysée Palace. The dynamic centerpiece table by Riva 1920 is crafted from ancient New Zealand Kauri wood recovered from riverbeds, firming up a connection between the inside space and the green outdoors. Objects of contemplation include contemporary earthenware, ancient Egyptian artifacts and prized modern prints by Richard Serra and Joseph Albers. Note the two vintage floor lamps designed by the late Italian architect/designer Luigi Caccia Dominioni: their long stems and round glass fittings recall the Holophane globe streetlights originally used to light up the Parisian streets in the early 1960s.
Ceilings…
are generous but not as high as those typically found in 18th century Parisian apartment blocks. The Razavi team has used this to its advantage by enhancing the material presence of load bearing walls, turning them into artistic features in their own right, using trompe l’œil painting techniques and incorporating smooth arches and recessed display niches. They’ve also removed all doors in shared areas to create a more open and airy floor plan.
Light and…
transparency play a leading role in the dining room, which looks like a spiritual gathering space, thanks to a minimal palette of materials. A simple Austere suspension light designed by Belgian architect Hans Verstuyft for Trivo21 along with bespoke arched wood cabinets, add to the minimalist ‘chapel-like’ feel of this serene dining space. A majestic dining table crafted from Fior di Pesco Italian marble and glass was sourced from Studio Razavi’s own ‘Alborz’ furniture collection and features a series of stone cones that appear to ‘pierce’ through the glass sheet, inspired perhaps by church steeples peaking through the clouds.
The kitchen…
design balances richly hued custom cabinetry with smooth white stone and a delicately mottled terrazzo floor. Using the same aesthetic cues, the architect and his team have created a study where warm and inviting reductionism prevails, transforming this space into a sophisticated sanctuary. Here, a single wall of recessed shelving brings depth, intrigue and a strong orthogonal geometry to the home office. Thoughtfully chosen objects include a series of oil paintings by contemporary Brooklyn-based artist, Douglas Diaz, statement accessories such as a Bert Frank table lamp and a Hug office chair by Spanish product designer Estudi Manel Molina for Punt Mobles.
Put simply, minimalism entwines with coziness in this home, thanks to a beautifuly cohesive aesthetic and material rhythm that flows from room to room. But more than this, the apartment has been designed for curious minds, spotlighting objets d’art and architectural savoir-faire, fostering creative conversations and moments of quiet contemplation, thanks to some of the loveliest garden views Paris has to offer.
Tap the look…
Architect: Studio Razavi Architecture
Photography: Vincent Leroux
