Two Apartments Joined Into A Stylish Family Maisonette
When a single apartment just isn’t enough anymore, especially if it’s an efficiency apartment with very limited floor space, sometimes an ideal option is to join it with an adjacent one to create a larger and more enjoyable home. This was the case with two small apartments found in Paris’ 16th arrondissement, in France.
The two apartments were joined to create a maisonette. The clients were a couple with three children. Prior to the transformation, they lived in the lower apartment which was situated on the 6th floor. When the opportunity arose, they linked their home to the apartment on the 7th floor.
During the renovation and construction period, all the interior walls were removed and the entire space was reorganized. On the 6th floor, four individual rooms were created while the 7th floor became a single open space which contains the public areas.
The former entry situated on the 6th floor is no longer used but was kept functional for special occasions. All the private rooms were gathered in the lower part of the maisonette. The reception spaces and the living areas are positioned on the 7th floor.
The upper floor now houses the entry, the cloakroom, a guest bathroom, the kitchen, dining room, living area and a terrace. All these functions share an open space with no dividing walls. The distinction between them is made through the use of furniture and is highlighted by the choice of materials and colors.
This entire transformation was a collaboration between Ulli Heckmann and Eitan Hammer Architecture. The project was completed in 2014 and the resulted maisonette measures a total of 185 square meters.
By deliberately choosing to use a limited palette of materials and to generally reduce them to a minimum, the team allowed the maisonette to become an open and generous home, with a spacious and airy interior.
The clients requested as much storage space as possible and, as a result, all the rooms were furnished with customized cupboards and additional features. All their designs are simple and modern, with clean lines and neutral colors. The occasion accent furniture piece gives the rooms character.
The open social area is mostly defined by a white and gray combination with the occasional touch of color which comes in the form of a red accent chair or a mixture of different-colored dining chairs. The spaces are also defined in other ways.
The entry, kitchen and dining space have a concrete floor while the other social areas along with the private rooms and the staircase have wooden parquet flooring. This combination is simple and practical, helping to create a clear but smooth distinction between various zones and establishing a balanced and harmonious ambiance where warm and cool elements blend naturally.
The parents’ bedroom is connected to a bathroom, forming a master suite. This area also includes the dressing and a small study. The kids share a single bathroom and a separate restroom. Their bedrooms are simple, elegant and inviting, sharing similarities with the rest of the spaces.