In the City of Light, In Situ & Partners revamped a family residence that has stunning views of the Eiffel Tower, recreating classic details as well as bringing in modern elements
This family residence in Paris’s chic 16th arrondissement, which encompasses 4,090 sq ft and has striking views of the Eiffel Tower, is located inside a Haussmannian apartment building. Yet prior to a revamp by the Hong Kong-based architectural and interior design firm In Situ & Partners, it had few original features associated with Haussmanian design, which dates back to the 19th century and is considered the definitive architectural style of the French capital.
“I immediately fell in love with the potential of the space when I visited it,” recalls the firm’s founder and principal Yacine Bensalem. “Even without its original features, I could envision the grandiosity of a Haussmann-style apartment––the high ceilings, the monumental entrance, the grand salon and the big windows with stunning views of the Eiffel Tower.”
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The brief was simple, explains Bensalem. The client asked the firm to create a family home and restore the aesthetics of a classic Haussmannian apartment, while integrating contemporary design and modern comforts.
A year-and-a-half-long renovation process ensued, during which Bensalem and his team overhauled the space. They recreated previously removed Haussmann-style features, such as plaster and wood mouldings, herringbone parquet floors, built-in shelving and French doors, while incorporating contemporary elements like leather panels and magnetic walls. The floors, windows and all partitions were replaced, with new spaces including a study, a gym, a playroom and an additional bathroom added to the original four-bedroom and two-bathroom layout.