Open Plan Paris Micro Studio Apartment, 24sqm-258sqft

The owners wanted a studio for their child to live, study and eventually work in Paris. The idea was to bring a countryside in Paris feeling, something authentic but still refined. They wanted it to be bright and highly functional with a contemporary design. Also what really makes the space special is how it blends Parisian and references to their Mediterranean origins. My name is Aurélien Duny. I'm an architect based in Paris. The apartment is in the 6th arrondissement of Paris. It's located one block away from the Luxembourg garden. It's a lively area with a lot of cute coffee shops and sunny terraces. The building was built in the early 19th century on what used to be a religious land and around the 1950s it was converted into apartments. The original layout had an enclosed entrance which isolated one of the three windows. The bathroom and the kitchen were in a very small dark room with very little storage. There was a very narrow mezzanine that could be accessed using a ladder. It allowed for storing boxes but it wasn't suitable for sleeping. The starting point for the layout was to make the space feel as open as possible and bringing as much natural light as we could. We started by taking out all the mezzanines so we could make the most of the ceiling height and create a more open feeling. Then we knocked down the bathroom which was near the entrance and replaced it with an open kitchen. The old kitchen was removed to make room for the toilets and a big storage column. Then we built curved walls of different heights to define the remaining spaces. This episode is brought to you by Odoo. Odoo is an all-in-one management software to start and run your very own business. With Odoo's project app you can organize tasks, your stakeholders and get a comprehensive overview of your project. Creating a new project is easy using Odoo's intuitive interface. We can assign a start and end date then assign people to the project so they can view it too. Odoo also lets you invite people from outside your organization to the project. When the project is all set up we can add tasks and assign people to them. When a task is completed we can mark it as approved and move it on to the next stage. The dashboard allows you to view your projects at a glance. It can also be displayed in many different ways such as the Gantt view which is perfect for time-based planning. Let Odoo help you manage your next project. The first app is free forever with unlimited hosting and support. It also includes a free custom domain for the first year. Click on the link in the description and try it today. The studio is 24 square meters. As you enter immediately to your right is the brain of the apartment. The large built-in cupboards hide an electrical panel and an internet router. At the very top we wanted to maximize storage space and added a few shelves to store books. The window at the entrance brings a lot of natural light and connects the entrance area with the rest of the apartment. The combined living and dining area is bright and airy. The lounge chair is from Zaha Home. It was chosen to provide a comfortable spot to sit and read. It is light and compact and it can be easily moved around if more space is needed. It also unfolds into a bed to accommodate a guest staying over. In the living room there is no TV. Instead you'll find a bench for reading, working from home or dining. The bench is made of plaster and finished with micro cement which pays homage to the Mediterranean lamb plasters. The round cave home dining table happens to also be made from micro cement and the shape makes it easier for people to move around. In the corner of the room we added mirrors to reflect the image of the building's garden. It also gives an illusion of a bigger window and larger space. The mirror is made of a few pieces. We line it up with the window frame and make sure the joints didn't fall right at eye level. The view from the three windows helps to enhance the sense of openness in this small space and brings in a little bit of green. The sleeping area is tucked inside the curved walls creating a cozy feeling. We kept the original ceiling beams. They really give structure to the space and highlights its history. The owner really wanted lots of storage especially for big items like suitcases. So I designed a raised bed platform. The storage can also be accessed from above by moving the mattress and slats. We use IKEA slats because they can be easily replaced by the owner in the future if they get damaged. The bed slats are level with the platforms and currently have a double-sized mattress but there is enough space to upgrade to a queen size if needed. Thanks to the high ceiling you can stand comfortably and walk around on the platform. It also makes it easier when making the bed in the morning. In the corner there is a pendant light you can turn on with a switch and the platform space around the mattress works like a bedside table. There is also a power outlet nearby for charging your phone. We added a small wall shelf in the corner perfect for a candle or some books. It's placed in this corner so it's out of the way when moving around the bed platform. The kitchen was moved out of its tiny enclosed space. It feels much more spacious and allows for interactions with guests. We wanted to keep the minimal clean look by hiding technical elements like the fridge and dishwasher. It contains all the essentials for cooking and hosting such as a moderate sink, an oven and an induction hob. The countertop and backsplash are made from a natural stone tile reflecting the apartment rustic character. They are actually the same tiles that we used throughout the floor of the apartment. It's our nod to traditional french country homes. We made the most of the storage in the kitchen by using the height of the apartment. There is a ladder stool to assist in accessing the upper cabinets and shelves. It's great for storing less commonly used items. The bathroom was moved from the entrance to the middle of the apartment. So even though it is in a darker part we wanted it to still receive as much natural light as possible. Like the kitchen, the bathroom is open to the main volume of the studio. The varying heights of the partitions let the light pass through and define the spaces. These partitions provide complete privacy with no views from the outside windows. A stainless steel sink was chosen to contrast with the countryside mood of the apartment and the tap is installed right on the mirror which makes it look like it's floating. It's a little bit of magic. The closet provides storage for all clothes and shoes in the apartment. One door is for hanging clothes above and storing shoes below. The other door has shelves for sweaters and stuff. The toilet is the only room where we're extending the wall all the way up to fully enclose it. It is also the only space with a door. We hang the toilet on the wall. This makes it appeal as bulky and is easier to clean around. Even in this compact space we managed to fit a washing machine in here. Above the washing machine we added a heated towel rack which also helps to dry the laundry. Most of the time my work consists of adapting old spaces to contemporary uses. Every era of construction has flows that need to be corrected. Every space has a particular quality that must be highlighted. My motto, minimalism and more, is about keeping things simple and elegant while making sure the space becomes comfortable and practical. I think a well-renovated space creates a better experience for its occupants. A good renovation makes living in existing homes much better so people don't have to move far away from the city centre to find a nice place to live. Sign up to our newsletter for subscriber-only content and exclusive offers. Visit nevertosmall.com slash subscribe