Paris duplex by Johanna Amatoury references Greek island architecture
CategoriesInterior Design

Paris duplex by Johanna Amatoury references Greek island architecture

Harnessing soft whites and gently curving plaster forms, interior designer Johanna Amatoury has brought a holiday-house feel to this apartment in the peaceful Paris suburb of Neuilly-sur-Seine.

The duplex belongs to a couple who work in real estate and their three young children – a globetrotting family with a particular love for the Greek islands.

Exterior of Paris apartment by Johanna AmatouryExterior of Paris apartment by Johanna Amatoury
Interior designer Johanna Amatoury has renovated a Paris duplex

Amatoury designed their apartment as a homage to the region’s vernacular architecture.

“Because of their love for this part of the world, we arrived in this apartment and imagined a holiday house feeling, using warm and textural materials – very unlike typical Parisian apartments,” she told Dezeen.

“We worked with mineral materials, textures and raw colours in the apartment to provide depth and achieve the desired ambience.”

Hallway of Paris apartmentHallway of Paris apartment
Curving plaster-covered surfaces feature heavily in the entryway

The design of the home was also shaped by its layout, arranged over the ground and first floors of a large 1980s building that opens onto a small garden.

This encouraged Amatoury to model the apartment on a single-family house.

View into living room of flat by Johanna AmatouryView into living room of flat by Johanna Amatoury
The design draws on the vernacular architecture of the Greek islands

“We wanted to imagine it as a house, to create a more outside-in atmosphere, increasing all the size of the windows,” she said.

“The apartment is on the garden level, so my guideline was to open as much as possible to the outside and the planting there.”

Living room of Paris apartmentLiving room of Paris apartment
Violetta marble tables anchor the living room

The apartment’s whole floorplan was reworked in order to create a living room, dining room and kitchen that all look onto the gardens outside.

The staircase was relocated to a more logical location close to the entrance, while upstairs the space was completely reconfigured to create four bedroom suites.

Artwork hanging over console table inside Paris apartment by Johanna AmatouryArtwork hanging over console table inside Paris apartment by Johanna Amatoury
Artworks reflect the Grecian theme of the interior

As a homage to Greek island architecture, Amatoury used Roman plaster to soften the forms within the apartment, particularly in the entrance hall.

“We used warm, textural materials including lots of softly curving and tactile plaster finishes that give the space a sculptural look,” she said.

“Roman plaster is a very ancient technique that has a mineral appearance with a smooth, soft and slightly glossy finish, which catches the eye and dresses the wall through classic mineral colours while also embracing brighter nuances.”

In the kitchen, smoked walnut timber cabinetry is paired with splashbacks and worktops made of Navona travertine.

Set in an otherwise open-plan space, the area is enclosed in glazed panels.

“The family entertains a lot and cooks a lot, both the parents and the children,” Amatoury said. “As a result, it was necessary to be able to close off the kitchen while maintaining this visual openness.”

Kitchen of Paris apartment with glass partitionsKitchen of Paris apartment with glass partitions
The kitchen is enclosed by glazed partitions

Much like a window, the glazed panels feature curved grilles and are set on an oak base that creates a visual link with the built-in oak banquette upholstered in white boucle wool.

“We create a lot of benches because they’re so practical, incorporating storage chests, but most importantly for their cosy appeal,” Amatoury said. “Benches introduce a mix of fabrics and through these fabrics, the space becomes more welcoming.”

Dining area of Paris apartment by Johanna AmatouryDining area of Paris apartment by Johanna Amatoury
Amatoury fashioned an oak seating banquette for the dining area 

For Amatoury, the furniture edit was a balancing act between creating a “harmonious yet eclectic atmosphere” that blends sophistication and comfort.

Taking a central role is the curving sofa in the living room, which is upholstered in off-white linen and paired with monolithic Violetta marble tables.

Stairwell of Paris apartment Stairwell of Paris apartment
A staircase leads up to the second floor

“Its design not only provided a focal point but also added a touch of elegance and softness to the space,” she said.

“The curving shape offered a sense of flow and organic grace, enhancing the room’s visual appeal. The choice of off-white linen contributed to a serene ambience here, promoting a feeling of openness and lightness.”

Bedroom of apartment by Johanna AmatouryBedroom of apartment by Johanna Amatoury
The upper level houses four bedroom suites

Amatoury, who has worked on several residential and commercial interiors across Paris, says she was tasked with the project after the owners admired a home she had completed for friends of theirs.

“They liked our work and especially the warmth we bring to our projects, almost like a cocoon,” she said.

Other residential interiors in the French capital that have recently been featured on Dezeen include a loft apartment in a former textile workshop and a Haussmann-era flat that was restored to its “former glory”.

The photography is by Pierce Scourfield.



Reference

electric staircase and expandable platform modify meditation duplex in hong kong
CategoriesArchitecture

electric staircase and expandable platform modify meditation duplex in hong kong

Sim-Plex composes adaptable Meditation Duplex living space

 

The Meditation Duplex by Sim-Plex explores the integration of meditation spaces within compact urban living in Hong Kong. Addressing the desire for tranquility amidst hectic urban life, the project utilizes a transformable electric staircase and a detachable, expandable platform to create a flexible living and meditation space. The design accommodates various scenarios, allowing for a seamless transition between living and meditation modes. The concept particularly focuses on optimizing space and circulation in micro-unit living, often prevalent in densely populated areas. The clients, a young couple with specific lifestyle needs, influenced the project’s direction. Notably, the utilization of high ceilings for creating spacious areas and maintaining privacy became a central design consideration.

foldable electric staircase and expandable platform modify meditation duplex in hong kong
all images courtesy of Patrick Lam

 

 

Green Plants and Eco-Friendly Materials optimize living setting

 

The duplex incorporates smart technology for remote home management, enhancing energy conservation. The inclusion of green planting, environmentally friendly materials, and natural ventilation adds a touch of nature to the living environment. The detachable and expandable platform, made from E0 grade fine-grained plywood, ensures sustainability and facilitates easy relocation without waste. The design prioritizes high-capacity storage and diverse functionalities to prevent clutter in the open layout. Sim-Plex Studio also integrates sensory control and comprehensive voice control into the smart home features, providing a holistic approach to technology.

foldable electric staircase and expandable platform modify meditation duplex in hong kong
transformable space achieves a balance between urban life and tranquil atmosphere

foldable electric staircase and expandable platform modify meditation duplex in hong kong
the project addresses the limitations of micro-units in Hong Kong

foldable electric staircase and expandable platform modify meditation duplex in hong kong
flexible design utilizes smart technology for a versatile living experience

foldable electric staircase and expandable platform modify meditation duplex in hong kong
the design integrates meditation zones for contemplation in compact living spaces

foldable electric staircase and expandable platform modify meditation duplex in hong kong
floating resting area accommodates private spaces within a limited footprint

Reference

Naturehumaine draws on Streamline Moderne for Montreal duplex
CategoriesArchitecture

Naturehumaine draws on Streamline Moderne for Montreal duplex

Local studio Naturehumaine has completed a two-family housing block located in the Côte-des-Neiges borough of Montreal that draws on 1930s architectural styles.

The project comprises 297 square metres of housing on a narrow urban strip, which formerly served as a large swimming pool site for a neighbouring building.

Called Le Paquebot – or The Steamer– the project references and builds on the architectural styles of the surrounding neighbourhood, which is made up of 1950s multi-residential buildings that surround the project on three sides.

Red brick building with curved edges and metal top floor
Naturehumaine created a structure that holds two homes in Montreal

It includes two semi-detached duplex units spread over four floors with outdoor space on the rooftop and at the sides.

Round corners, various masonry configurations, strict symmetrical layouts and refined geometries characterise the structure.

Its form was influenced by the Streamline Moderne architectural style, commonly associated with the 1930s interwar art deco movement.

Curved brick facade with metal staircase and winter greenery
It has a brick-clad facade with curved edges

“Since we found in the immediate neighbourhood various beautiful examples of art deco residential projects from the 1930s, it became obvious for us from the start that we wanted to revive in a contemporary way some of the features of that period in architecture,” Naturehumaine told Dezeen.

The facade is clad in red clay brick with steel details that have been painted wine red.

Privacy screens as well as the terrace railings were made from perforated steel painted in a terracotta colour, along with the curved roofs of the mezzanine floors.

Red brick building with metal top and metal privacy screens
The top floor has a metal exterior that matches the privacy screens on the windows below

“Our first intention was to choose a burgundy colour that would contrast and stand out with respect to the immediate neighbours where both are in tones of light and darker brown,” Naturehumaine told Dezeen.

“What turned out to be interesting is the variation perceived in the tonality of the brick based on lighting; the brick becomes particularly warm and orangey when directly exposed to the sun.”

The primary bedroom and mezzanine are on the top floor

The homes are set up symmetrically, with four bedrooms each. There are semi-submerged basements that hold single bedrooms and a family room, while the ground floor holds the common areas.

The third floor is dedicated to two bedrooms meant for children, while the top floor, which acts as a mezzanine, holds the primary bedroom.

A central staircase bisects each of the homes and each has a carport topped by a terrace that extends from the ground floor

Sunlight on top of red brick building in Montreal
It has curved windows and terraces that act as car ports

The ornate masonry work exists in its usual horizontal layout until coming to head at the curved windows, where it has been turned vertically and tilted toward the two front corners of the home in order to accentuate the curve.

The corner masonry comes to a halt at large, curved-corner windows.

Because the large window needed double-glazing and used curved glass, the windows had to be fabricated by specialists in Texas and then shipped north to the site in Montreal.

“For a modest residential project like ours, it was effectively a challenge to build the rounded roofs and curved metal lintel needed to support the brickwork above our rounded corner window.

“All of these elements needed to be perfectly erected one above the other on the same radius,” said the studio.

Red brick and curved glass windows on housing block
The windows were shipped from fabricators in Texas

Nonetheless, the strict geometric identity of the construction adds to the strong identity of the building. Curves and colours of the project aid in making this home a statement piece in the area.

Naturehumaine has completed other multi-family projects in the area such as a project with twisting yellow external staircases and single-family projects such as a home with a staircase inspired by Dutch artist MC Escher.

The photography is by Ronan Mézière.

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