Description
A duplex loft at the gateway to Paris
This contemporary loft with terrace has been converted from a former packaging factory. Entirely refurbished by an architect in 2002, it has retained its original glass roofs and offers a wide range of uses, making it ideal for both residential and professional use.
Set over two levels, it spans 220 m² (200 m² LC), with a sunny terrace surrounded by greenery.
The ground floor opens onto a superb 1950s kitchen in metal and frosted glass, made locally, leading to a light-filled dining room lit by the façade’s workshop windows. A cathedral-like space with 9-metre high ceilings houses a living room with a minimalist fireplace designed by craftsman Stéphane Caudan, with lines inspired by the Scandinavian aesthetic of the 1960s. A vast open-plan workshop/study area, a bathroom and a utility room with double storage space complete this level.
The first floor is accessed by a sculptural staircase that leads to a second lounge or workspace with a 5-metre high ceiling. Unlike the neighbouring lots, this one enjoys uninterrupted views of the surrounding area, with the Mercuriales in the distance. The floor is covered with a colourful Bauhaus carpet designed by German designer Monica Bella-Broner. The sleeping area comprises two bedrooms, one with a mezzanine, and a bathroom.
All the skylights on the roof have been renovated with double glazing and a motorised opening system.
A parking space completes this property.
Just 700 metres from the Mairie des Lilas metro station (M11) and the Adrienne Bolland tram stop, this loft enjoys a privileged location with all local amenities.
A scholarly rehabilitation
The challenge of the refurbishment project was to create flexible spaces that could be easily adapted within a vast open volume. The architect took the clever decision to create a sculptural cubic module housing the vertical circulation between the two floors and a monumental fireplace. Placed at the centre of the composition, this module naturally delimits the spaces on the ground and first floors, leaving a great deal of freedom of movement; it provides a gentle transition between the two levels.
The generously proportioned building is characterised by an asymmetrical double-sloped roof pierced by skylights. Typical of factories and manufacturing plants of the period, this principle creates a dynamic, graphic volumetry for the upstairs living areas. Skylights have been built into the structure to allow light from overhead to reach the ground floor, giving the whole project a very light feel.
The original metal structure, left exposed, is magnified by the use of a soft colour palette that recalls the tones of the original anti-rust paint used in the factory. The original cement floor, left unfinished, is set against the clean flat tones of the minimalist white-painted fittings. Great care has been taken in the choice of materials, the quality of the paints used and the thermal and acoustic insulation between the different rooms, for optimum living comfort.
