Gambetta Apartment: A Theatrical Architectural Renovation

Enhancing Existing Geometries

In the Gambetta Apartment renovation, Jean Benoît Vétillard Architecture skillfully blends added forms with existing geometries, amplifying the flat’s inherent theatrical character. The 100-square-meter Haussmannian flat, characterized by its mostly cornerless rooms, curved walls adorned with moldings, and hidden doors, served as the primary inspiration for this project. The renovation extends and enlarges the original plan, emphasizing its lines of force.

Depths of Field in New Composition

The new layout of the apartment creates a series of depth-of-field effects, resembling more of backstage and stage spaces rather than conventional serving and served spaces. This reorganization of the domestic areas is achieved through the strategic placement of multifunctional furniture made from oiled okoume wood and brushed aluminum.

Functional and Hidden Spaces

In the redesigned space, the front of the kitchen conceals access to the child’s bedroom, while a bow window shapes a modular tatami area. The living room is multifunctional, housing a large library as well as the parental bedroom, enhanced by geometric mirrors.

Preserving Original Structure and Materials

One of the key advantages of this renovation design is its respect for the original structure, which remains unaltered. The renovation allows the original materials to shine through, bringing back the natural light of Boulevard Gambetta, the white stucco, and the oak parquet floors, all of which reappear in their original splendor.