PHILIPPE HARDEN

Located in close quarters to Place Gambetta’s sprawling gardens in the 20th arrondissement of Paris, the apartment of architect Philippe Harden is set on the top floor of an early 20th Century building. The 75m2 apartment is composed between a union of a main apartment and an old service room on the upper floor of the 1905 building. 

Deteriorated and uninhabitable, the apartment had never been touched since its construction, and was not only suffering from the plight of ageing conditions but also the absence of a bathroom. For the architect, however, this was a dream, as the apartment was elevated and had an attractive clear view of the trees and gardens. Like an artist with a blank canvas, Harden reconfigured the floor plan of the apartment to unveil the potential of this real estate. 

Harden removed the partition walls to liberate the living and dining rooms, and to allow the natural light to transmit through the two floor-to-ceiling arched balcony windows that face towards the direction of the park. “This restoration was guided by the will of creating fluid spaces and circulation, creating perspectives without obstacles”. The living area has been treated with a luminous aesthetic which is heavily contrasted with the more intimate spaces within the apartment. The heritage parquet floors have been revived and have been stained with a darker oil to create a contrast. Throughout the apartment, an eclectic and modern mix of furniture, lighting pieces can be found, such as the pair of Joker chairs by Olivier Mourgue (c.1960s), artworks by American Abstract Expressionist Conrad Marca-Relli, and Mid-Century Pendant Lamp by Carl Thore (c.1960s).

Adjacent to the dining room, the kitchen has been designed and installed in the centre and heart of the apartment, receiving light from the direction of the courtyard. The kitchen has been partitioned with a modern statement piece using glass and steel to serve as a facade. An artery corridor that connects the living spaces and kitchen, leads to the architect’s bureau that also functions as a second guest room when required.

On this same level, where the kitchen was once located, is now superseded by a bathroom with views of trees from the bathtub. Meticulously designed to create as much space, Harden designed a custom vanity unit to fit within the small proportions of the bathroom. 

The kitchen, bureau and bathroom were all treated with darker and contemporary finishes such as the black-stained plywood texture, glass, carrara marble, as well as the absence of mouldings on the ceilings. Harden desired to create a contrast between the luminous space of the living room, and therefore create a point of difference with the more intimate quarters of the apartment.

On the upper level, the main bedroom has its own private quarters within the apartment. The room is accessible by a custom designed minimalist staircase from the living room, that functions as an integrated media storage unit wall and hosts the fireplace, library, CDs and the TV. Harden has applied a contemporary aesthetic to this by moderately using a bright yellow colour within the cabinetry as a stroke of bold colour. The bedroom speaks in the same contemporary language as the other intimate spaces in the apartment as there is an absence of mouldings, the parquet flooring having been treated with a white varnish, and a geometric patterned wallpaper frames the bed. The room itself is drenched and bathed in the same natural light from the windows that face towards the gardens of Place Gambetta. From the arched windows, another charming Parisian balcony is also at hand to wake-up and look out to the beautiful garden views, whilst enjoying the morning sun.

Harden has marvelously combined two real estate spaces into one new home, whilst retaining the Parisian charm of the apartment. He has created this through his selection of noble materials, minimalist fittings and a contrasted palette between dark and light colours. He has created a refined and modern apartment by giving attention to textures and proportions, rather than sophisticated and demonstrative forms.

PHOTOGRAPHY | COURTESY OF PHILIPPE HARDEN