Apartment Rue de l’Université

This commission is sited in a late 19th century building at the back of a courtyard looking out over a garden and is contained within a redeveloped section of a former town mansion house.

With its high-ceilinged rooms and low, badly-accessed mezzanine balconies, the commission presented a design challenge. This has been met by retaining the architectural structure of the site and using the highest quality ‘noble’ materials – stone, marble, wood – in the latest state-of-the art design context. The designer’s touch has nevertheless been refined and discreet.

Olivia de Pazzis Hanemian and AIM Hanemian Architects placed the highest priority on reinforcing the architectural character of the site. The greatest care was devoted to the choice of materials, wall papers and colour schemes. The bathrooms installed in these excessively low mezzanines are particularly refined with their horizontal surfaces in rare dark wood and stainlesssteel basins. One could easily believe that these bathrooms were part of the property from the start.

The large bay windows look out over the garden and their moulding has been preserved together with a restored furniture lift in front of the central pier of the façade. The kitchen is thus linked with the living and dining area in a way reminiscent of the reception rooms to be found in certain châteaux.

This apartment has received much favourable comment for its discreet elegance.