Situated within a 1970s residential building, this ground-floor apartment is the only remaining structure of an 18th-century Parisian hotel. The space was initially dark with uneven surfaces, but the partially-exposed stone walls showed strong character.

Our first challenge was to drastically increase the natural light despite the thick stone structures which we did by removing doors, using glass partitions, and implementing an open floor plan.

The layout shifts gracefully between living, dining, and sleeping, all unified by an intelligently designed circulation axis. The stones have been exposed, sandblasted, and re-grouted for a harmonized look. Plastered surfaces received a lime wash for a soft texture. A custom openable glass roof illuminates the dining area, while our use of reflective materials, bleached timber floors, and industrial accents meld past and present with an aesthetic that is as refined as it is industrial and masculine.

Photography by Amaury Laparra