Casa Balthazar

24 m² Apartment Renovation in Paris

  • Categories Residential
  • Status Completed
  • Year 2022
  • Location 11th arrondissement of Paris, France
  • Area 24 m2
  • Collaborators Studio N53

Located in Paris’ 11th arrondissement, this 24 m² apartment was renovated to provide a comfortable home for a university student during his years of study in the city. The challenge was to accommodate all the requirements of everyday living within a very limited footprint, while avoiding the feeling of living in a single multipurpose room.

The project reorganises the apartment around a compact service core positioned near the entrance. The bathroom was redesigned as a minimal volume containing a walk-in shower and custom storage, while the kitchen was relocated to the opposite façade to benefit from natural light and to free the main living area.

The defining element of the intervention is a lightweight sliding partition made of birch plywood and translucent polycarbonate. Rather than creating a permanently enclosed bedroom, it allows the occupant to choose between an open-plan studio and a more intimate sleeping space. When closed, it provides privacy and the perception of a separate bedroom; when open, the apartment regains its full spatial continuity and natural light.

Given the limited surface area, every piece of furniture was designed to perform multiple functions. The raised bed incorporates generous storage drawers, while the continuous bench beneath the windows conceals additional storage and provides seating for dining or studying. The tall kitchen cabinetry integrates not only the wardrobe but also the technical equipment, including the boiler, allowing the rest of the apartment to remain uncluttered.

A restrained palette of white surfaces, birch plywood and original timber flooring enhances the natural light and reinforces the perception of space. A high-level internal window between the bathroom and the sleeping area brings daylight into the bathroom while preserving privacy, further contributing to the bright and open atmosphere of the apartment.

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