Paris Apartment With A Curved Wooden Ribbon

This typical Hausmann apartment in Paris got a renovation and redesign with a curved wooden space divider that doubles as an artwork

This typical Hausmann apartment in Paris got a renovation and redesign with a curved wooden space divider that doubles as an artwork

Toledano + Architects has renovated a typical Haussman apartment in Paris for a young family of three, adding a curved wooden ‘ribbon’ that doubles as an inhabitable wall and sculptural installation. This lightweight spatial element allows for the preservation of all existing historical elements that confer a strong character to the house, while unveiling new uses and a new appreciation of space. The wooden wall is lower in height than the ceilings in order to keep the signs of the former historical layout plan.

The apartment features typical Haussmann elements, including its moldings, fish bone parquet, and a linear long balcony. Circulating through the bearing molded walls, the wooden curved ‘ribbon’ dissimulates the entrance to the rooms and bathrooms, creates niches for storage or for the kitchen. The architects created walls entirely made of wood, from the rails inside, cut with a lasercut to the curved surfaces manufactured with molds. All the walls were pre-fabricated and assembled at the carpenter’s workshop and then reassembled onsite within a day.

On one side there are a master suite, with the bedroom, open bathroom and dressing room, and on the other side the children area, with a bedroom and a bathroom. The two parts of the ribbon define these two areas of the apartment. A narrow corridor separates the entrance from the wide and spacious common spaces: the living room and the kitchen and dining room.

2 of 10
This wooden wall features some storage space, too, and it wraps the whole apartment dividing it into zones and keeping the historical touches seen

This wooden wall features some storage space, too, and it wraps the whole apartment dividing it into zones and keeping the historical touches seen

3 of 10
moldings and parquet looks great together

moldings and parquet looks great together

4 of 10
The furniture is exquisite, modern and bold to compensate the vintage feel of the apartment itself

The furniture is exquisite, modern and bold to compensate the vintage feel of the apartment itself

5 of 10
The wooden ribbon was assembled at the carpenters's and then brought here to install

The wooden ribbon was assembled at the carpenters's and then brought here to install

6 of 10
The kitchen is neutral, with light plywood cabinets, there's a stone kitchen island

The kitchen is neutral, with light plywood cabinets, there's a stone kitchen island

7 of 10
The living room is done with a cool curved sofa, there are Roman shades and built-in shelving units

The living room is done with a cool curved sofa, there are Roman shades and built-in shelving units

8 of 10
The vintage elements paired with ultra-modern furniture and built-in lights create a unique space to live in

The vintage elements paired with ultra-modern furniture and built-in lights create a unique space to live in

9 of 10
The storage is done accurately, with plywood and wooden furniture items

The storage is done accurately, with plywood and wooden furniture items

10 of 10
There's a kids' reading nook with bright plywood walls and built-in shelves

There's a kids' reading nook with bright plywood walls and built-in shelves

Source: designboom