Real Life Stories Renovating An Apartment In Paris

Date Published:

16/06/2008

A love of all things symmetrical inspired French architect Eric Chabeur to design his own Paris apartment as a homage to the founder of abstract art, Wassily Kandinsky.

Best known for his geometrically abstract designs, it is easy to see how the work of the great 20th-century Russian artist, Kandinsky, has had a major influence on Eric Chabeur. 'Although in his paintings objects appear to be floating, they somehow still relate to each other,' he says.

Credit: Stephen Clement/Photozest

In his long career as an architect, Eric has become well-known for his skill in conjuring up bold, well-ordered interiors in the smallest of spaces, so when given the chance to create a design for his own Parisian attic apartment, it is no surprise that he turned to Kandinsky for inspiration once more.

The row of three typically tiny Parisian windows face onto the street and flood the double-height space with an atmospheric light, highlighting the curves of the building and boucing off the sculptural glass and steel staircase. The PK22 Poul Kjaerholm leather chairs are available at Aram.

Credit: Stephen Clement/Photozest

The magic of symmetry alone, however, was not quite enough to create the living space Eric required in his family’s 80 sq m loft. So, his first decision was to raise the roof, adding an extra storey, and with it 50 sq m of floor space. Although this meant he and his wife, Isabelle, along with their three kids, were temporarily homeless while the work was carried out, the end result was more than worth the inconvenience. 'The new double-height ceiling means the entire space benefits from far more natural light, but without compromising the arithmetic of the apartment's original row of windows,' he explains.

Credit: Stephen Clement/Photozest

The second living room is a great place to relax and enjoy reading. The Chabeurs' collection of vibrant Kaiapo Indian art makes a striking display against the dark-brown feature wall.

Extending upwards also gave Eric the opportunity to preserve the distinctive curve of the building's walls, typical of Parisian attic apartments. 'Had we lengthened the walls to make them straight, we'd have probably created something resembling a cathedral,' he explains. 'We were interested in retaining the original architecture of the building, yet taking it a step further.'

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