Type architecture: Vernacular

A complete renovation carried out by ARCHIK and the architect Baptiste Legué (ABL) in a house from the beginning of the century, near Paris.

Target

To give back to this doll’s house where small volumes and numerous rooms follow one another, a more contemporary functionality by decompartmentalizing the spaces and revitalizing their layout.

Course of action

Expand the house to offer three distinct spaces: living area, master suite and children’s area, all on two levels, and focus on the outdoors with an extension of the living area facing the garden, opening onto a shaded terrace.

Achievement

Natural materials were used as the main thread of the renovation: Okoumé wood for the custom-made woodwork, natural and pink travertine in the bathroom and kitchen. The pink and beige tones of the whole project create an enveloping and soft atmosphere.

On the first floor, the staircase is moved and becomes an integrated element that creates a bench for the dining room. The open kitchen with island is the nerve center of this first level and is adorned with pink travertine. The day and night areas have been separated and Okoumé wood panels, some of which serve as doors and others as storage, mark this distinction. The master suite has a bathroom entirely made of travertine with a custom-made double sink.

Upstairs, two attic bedrooms each offer built-in storage and an office area. The relocated hopper allows the creation of a pleasant shower room with window, as well as an independent toilet. Two rooms in total look terracotta.

A family cocoon, warm and bucolic, turned towards the outside.

L'ARCHITECTE LA MAISON ROSE

  • Crédits photosAgathe Tissier
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Before …

In the heart of Vauban, this townhouse entirely restructured by architect now enjoys an outdoor patio redesigned in a Mediterranean spirit, to enjoy every day.

Objectif

Develop this small area nestled at the back of the house, and bring together all the functions of an exterior, playing on its connection with the large living room.

Ligne de conduite

The intention was to free up the space while integrating it into the interior renovation thanks to the choice of materials, to blur the inside-outside boundary, typical of the Marseilles way of life.

The 4.50 by 2.50 meter freijo wood bay window naturally connects the two spaces.

Mise en oeuvre

The idea was to work with masonry elements to gain space and create rhythm. Basin, benches and planters are directly inserted into the volume of the patio, which is now ready to house the bulk of the summer kitchen. The tree planters in the background break the verticality of the space, and are composed of strelitzia reginae and augusta, aspidistra, and euphorbia ingens and myrsinite.

The strict lines of the elements are mixed with raw and mineral materials in warm tones to invoke the sweetness of Mediterranean living.

While the walls are adorned with a light sand-colored plaster, the floor is entirely covered with tiles made of quartz powder and salmon-colored granite with an aged look by the Italian brand La Pietra Compattata. The southern influence continues in the choice of outdoor furniture, with the custom-made dark brick-colored seat cushions and the terracotta tiled table, made by Honoré.

A summer feeling all year round.

L'ARCHITECTE PIETRA

  • Crédits photosGabrielle Voinot
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Before …

Complete renovation of an old townhouse orchestrated by JoBe Architecture and ARCHIK to create an open and friendly living space, turned towards natural light.

Target

At the bend of a steep alley in the heart of the typical Vauban district, an old townhouse evokes the Marseille of yesteryear. On this playground, the will of the renovation duo was to create an open living space, turned towards natural light and inviting to conviviality. For an art of living à la marseillaise.

Course of action

The intention was to give this townhouse, with its succession of small, narrow, dark rooms, a Mediterranean flair as well as a functionality suited to urban family life. To enlarge the house and offer an isolated and suspended parental space, an attic mezzanine was created above the living room. The new floor plan is distributed over 4 levels of living space, with an aerial staircase as a common thread.

Achievement

The interior charm of the house echoes the Mediterranean way of life, with its raw and mineral materials in warm tones and its sand-colored resin floor.

On the first floor, the objective was to create a functional and comfortable entry space for daily use. The concrete staircase, the backbone of the house, provides direct access to the living areas.

The second floor offers two bedrooms and a children’s playroom with artist’s frescoes, adorned with cream curly carpeting, as well as a pleasant bathroom in total terracotta look where a tiled niche welcomes the bathtub.

The heart of the house is discovered through a terracotta cloister. A large bay window in freijo wood opens the living room on the terrace and its pond, letting the sun fill the living room. On the other side, the open kitchen offers a terracotta tiled island and a recycled plastic worktop in beige tones.

The climb ends with the master suite. A beautiful attic room with its adjoining shower room entirely tiled with grey ceramic, including a white matte pedestal sink.

Outdoor

The outdoor space has been cleared and landscaped to bring together all the functions of an outdoor space in a small area. A pool, a dining area and masonry benches invite you to relax. In the background, planters give rhythm to the whole and break the verticality of this space located at the back of the house.

A stylish renovation with a singular character, inviting to conviviality.

L'ARCHITECTE LA MAISON 1492

  • Crédits photosFlorian Touzet
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Before …

Under the roofs of Montmartre, a 63 m2 flat with eleven windows finally reveals its full potential to become an open, raw yet intimate and warm living space.

Target

To arrange each space in the flat in such a way that it can always benefit from the light coming in through the eleven windows. The challenge was also to make the corridors disappear.

Course of action

The choice of framing, transparency and perspective were essential to reveal each space. Finally, in keeping with the architecture of the place, the exposed beams and the volume of the main room were preserved.

Raw materials such as Vals stone, steel, stainless steel, glass, and a raw oak parquet floor have been used to magnify the project without ever stifling it.

Mise en oeuvre

Les meubles d’agencement, dessinés sur-mesure, viennent créer les espaces autour d’un mur porteur central : aucune cloison n’a été ajoutée dans l’appartement.

Chaque espace est pensé en lien avec le suivant par une série de meubles. Nous passons du salon à la chambre au travers d’une bibliothèque aux montants en acier et vitrée, vers la salle de bain, en traversant un des meubles.

Enfin, un soubassement ceinture la pièce principale  et permet de cacher subtilement le chauffage tout en créant une assise conviviale et en dissimulant du rangement.

A refined optimisation.

L'ARCHITECTE Baptiste LEGUÉ

architectes@archik.fr
  • Crédits photosABL
  • honoraires180 000
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L’ avant …

In the heart of Mazargues, the exterior of this apartment was already structured by its shape but never really invested. A challenge in only 50 m2!

Target

The exterior of this apartment, located close to the hills of Marseille, was already structured by its shape but never invested. It consisted of a wooden terrace that covered the entire space, and on the side, an outdoor shower/mini pool to cool off in the summer. It was essential for the clients to protect themselves from the opposite side of the house, to occupy this exterior as a real additional living room. A challenge in only 50m².

Course of action

Vegetate the whole space, but also create real distinct living spaces.

Achievement

The shower/mini pool area has been rethought in the choice of materials, a square blue Onyx mosaic has been put in place, to allow this element visible from the living room, to be an “object” highlighted summer and winter. The low wall separating it from the terrace was widened to provide a comfortable seat on both the shower/mini pool side and the terrace side. Facing this element, a module in waxed concrete and red cedar comes to dress the wall until now unoccupied and is broken up of several elements: air conditioner cover, summer kitchen and large masonry bench. These elements allow the installation of a lounge area, to spend convivial moments from the arrival of the beautiful days.

To protect the terrace from the opposite side, the openwork red cedar and metal screens close the terrace on the hillside without depriving the owners of the green view. The colors of the landscape are also found on the terrace: shades of green/gray for the plants, Ravel pottery in white terracotta, and a planter in earth fiber. Even the choice of furniture (Fermob and Arkimueble) links the different shades of the hills and the sea that is so dear to them.

Finally, a custom-made awning protects the entire length of the terrace and custom-made seat cushions have been designed in nautical fabrics, all made to measure for optimal comfort.

A renovation that smells like summer!

LE QUARTIER

Mazargues

A real village in the city, it has kept this spirit around its shopping streets.

L'ARCHITECTE COTE OUTDOOR

paysagistes@archik.fr
  • Crédits photosGabrielle Voinot
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Before …

In a 1930s building, this apartment with beautiful art-deco rosettes required a total rehabilitation.

Target

This apartment benefits from significant assets: beautiful volumes, a pleasant distribution, a crossing light. In its original state, the toilets were on the balcony, the kitchen was independent, the small living room was no longer functional, the living room lacked light. The objective is to connect the living rooms and give them back meaning, to write the history of the new occupants while respecting the place.

Course of action

To bring coherence to the different spaces, while proposing a real decorative bias.

Achievement

The living room becomes an office and has been opened on the corridor, thanks to a set of light wood claustras. The corridor, original by its U shape is highlighted by a game of color. The partition between the kitchen and the living room is transformed into a light wood skylight, thus bringing light and finally connecting the two spaces. Storage units have been specially designed for the office and the parents’ bedroom, and particular attention has been paid to the choice of materials in the kitchen and bathroom.

A gentle renovation, where life is good!

LE QUARTIER

Private: Cinq Avenues

Away from the Old Port, beyond the Canebière, is the Cinq Avenues neighborhood.

L'ARCHITECTE Un jour d’avril

architectes@archik.fr
  • Crédits photosChrystel Laporte
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Before …

In the heart of an old Marseille neighborhood, a fisherman’s house with a whitewashed facade has been given a new lease on life after an in-depth renovation. The project was developed around a monumental staircase reminiscent of Valentine Schlegel, taking over each level up to the roof terrace where an idyllic landscape is revealed.

Target

To circulate easily, to benefit from the freshness and to invest the lowest levels, in garden level.

Course of action

Beginning with the roof and extending to the patio, the “root” of the house, the four levels have each undergone a transformation with a common thread: the Mediterranean.

Achievement

Formes organiques et brutes, patines naturelles, murs arrondis et garde-corps maçonnés sont les témoins de techniques méditerranéennes que la rénovation, fidèle, a mis en exergue et magnifiés. Les menuiseries sur mesure en chêne massif, réalisées par Raboniak, soulignent l’ensemble, précis et intemporel. Les différents espaces entremêlés signent un art de vivre méditerranéen. Le rez-de-chaussée décloisonné et ouvert sur le patio accueille une grande bibliothèque et, à part, la suite parentale immaculée. L’espace de vie fait la transition au premier étage entre les deux espaces nuit bien distincts. A l’abri des regards, le toit-terrasse cache une cuisine et un salon d’été à ciel ouvert, dépaysant. Le blanc est à l’honneur dans la maison. Un style contemporain affiché avec des références au design des années 50 – 60, répond au style vernaculaire. Charlotte Juillard, Eames, Paola Navone et Michel Ducaroy habitent l’intérieur. Lise Prévot, Martin Parr et Alexandre Benjamin Navet, quant à eux, les murs. Les luminaires CVL ponctuent le tout. Il s’en dégage une certaine harmonie, rythmée de touches de velours bleu nuit et de lin blanc.

An open-air cocoon, undeniably reminiscent of Greece.

LE QUARTIER

Mazargues

A real village in the city, it has kept this spirit around its shopping streets.

L'ARCHITECTE MARE MEDI TERRA

  • Crédits photosEdwige Lamy
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L’ avant …