NEA renovates a 19th century apartment in paris to create a timeless light-filled space

in the 9th district of paris, nathalie eldan architecture (NEA) has completed the thoughtful refurbishment of a late 19th century haussmann apartment. designed for young couple who recently moved to the french capital from london, ‘chaptal residence’ has been renovated to meet their needs while creating an elegant and timeless space. 

all images © lorenzo zandri

before NEA‘s refurbishment, the 1614.59 ft2 (150 m2) property had remained untouched for more than six decades. the floor plan of the apartment is composed of a spacious living room, an open kitchen, two bathrooms, a laundry room, a walk-in wardrobe, two bedrooms and an office space.

the renovation preserves many of the original features and fabrics, such as the intricate wall and ceiling moldings, the main structural divisions and the generous room height. rather than bowing to current trends, the project focuses on creating a home-like atmosphere within a quiet and timeless light-filled space. to achieve this, a selection of natural, raw and light materials and colors have been curated with precision.

while the apartment’s original oak floor was restored, the bathrooms enjoy colorful terrazzo floors. the contrast of the natural oak floor and the bright white walls create a soft light, refinement and elegance. natural light flows between the rooms bringing a warm and inviting atmosphere. details such as brushed brass electrical hardware and door handles enrich the tactile experience, affirming the conception of architecture as a whole and coherent project. NEA also designed the bathroom stool, the entrance bench, the library and all the other built-in furniture.

the layout has been organized in a way that preserves the client’s privacy and autonomy while hosting their friends and family. to achieve this, a large storage area was placed between their master bedroom and the other parts of the house, this works as a sensorial buffer zone.

while the two bedrooms are oriented towards the building’s inner court, the shared spaces such as the kitchen, living room and office room face the street. even though very spacious, the original layout of the apartment lacked storage areas and closets. therefore one of the main approaches was to provide high built-in functionality and make the most of every available ‘pocket’. a wide walk-in closet is articulated within the master bedroom and a large storage area is accessible from the entrance.

project info:

name: chaptal residence

location: paris, france

area: 1614.59 ft2 (150 m2)

architect: nathalie eldan architecture (NEA)

photography: lorenzo zandri

designboom has received this project from our ‘DIY submissions‘ feature, where we welcome our readers to submit their own work for publication. see more project submissions from our readers here.

edited by: lynne myers | designboom