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Architecture A 19th Century Timber Frame House Adapted To A Contemporary World

A 19th Century Timber Frame House Adapted To A Contemporary World

This beautiful maison à colombages dates back to the late 19th century and is located in Paris, France. In 2015 its interior has been renovated by 05AM Arquitectura. The project’s main objective was to improve the functionality of the house and this was done in the most graceful way. The architects were careful to preserve as much of the original charm of the building as they could. They made a few changes to the floor plan and took some time to identify the characteristic elements in each space before making any modifications which might alter the character of the structure.

The exterior of the house was left pretty much intact, reflecting the original 19th century design

Inside the house, a section of a partition from the ground floor was removed in order to connect the living areas

Now the kitchen, dining room and living area form a single large space

The term maison à colombages describes a type of house with timber framing, a style typical to buildings from the 19th century and earlier. In this case, there were many elements worth preserving such as the alcoves on the first floor and, obviously, that unique exterior design. The changes made were primarily meant to increase functionality without visually transforming the house too much. Have a look at the images and see for yourself.

Marble was used strategically in some parts of the house, being chosen for its simple elegance

The first floor features a series of alcoves which were preserved and more than that highlighted by the new design

The bedroom alcoves give the rooms a very cozy look and they're integrated into the new design in a very natural way — The bedroom alcoves give the rooms a very cozy look and they’re integrated into the new design in a very natural way

To put an emphasis on these cozy alcove nooks, the designers painted them in eye-catching colors

Dark marble was used to create this stylish fireplace nook which is great for storing firewood

White marble was used in the bathroom to create an elegant shower and bathtub nook

The new interior design focuses on simplicity and functionality and aims to highlight the remarkable architecture of the house

The kitchen island doubles as a space divider and has a marble top

The staircase and the ornate railings keep the original character of the house alive

The kitchen is long and narrow and has large windows which let in lots of natural light

The marble kitchen is detached from the rest of the furniture and serves as a focal point

A corner fireplace adds charm to this room, maintaining a symmetrical look

The dining area is open to the kitchen and the living room

In the living room, a pair of comfortable two-seater sofas form a cozy sitting area

The sofas frame the fireplace, once again emphasizing the symmetry of the layout and decor

The ground floor is mostly monochromatic and, by comparison, the upper floor is quite colorful