Australian architecture practice Wood Marsh has added a soft and warm color palette to a historic apartment within the 4th arrondissement of Paris, France.

Named Paris Apartment, the apartment was originally built as a single home in the middle of the 20th century, and the apartment underwent partial renovations in the 1970s that drastically changed some of the original architectural details.

Situated in the famous baroque Hotel de Sagonne, which was created by Jules Hardouin-Mansart in 1668 as his own Paris residence, Paris Apartment is situated in the 4th arrondissement of Paris, close to the Place de Bastille.

Paris's highest heritage classification helps to protect the Hotel de Sagonne, and any changes are carefully considered in order to preserve its historic elements.

The apartment's interior design achieves a balance between adding contemporary amenities and removing later additions, while also restoring important historical architectural elements. Rather than being copied, the original elements are respected and kept intact. 

The apartment is filled with the client's vast collection of Australian and international art, including digital pieces that are shown on monitors built into the wall. European furniture enhances the room's overall aesthetic while blending in with the art collection.

Many rooms, including the formal living area, feature a white color scheme that evokes a cozy and gentle feeling. 

This is accentuated with organic beige sofas and striking pastel artwork. The apartment is brought together by the installation of new timber floorboards, which remove floor finishes that clash and level variations from previous eras. 

Black wood and nero marquina marble in the kitchen create a striking and modern statement. A central, symmetrical niche is highlighted by the geometric, sculptural feel created by the hidden detailing and integrated appliances. The room is finished with framed artwork and a casual dining area.

The foyer, kitchen, and living room branch off of the formal dining area, which is the center of the house. The baroque grotesque forms framed in the mouldings, which emphasized the panels, provided the inspiration for the space's salmon hue. 

A custom chandelier designed by Nathalie Ziegler Pasqua hangs over the dining room table, adding to the room's grandeur and completing the overall design. A concealed bar covered in a magenta mirror that was added as a new wall between the formal dining area and the master bedroom accentuates the room's eye-catching hue.

The formal living room and the master bedroom are separated for a brief period of time by the study, which has a charcoal paint job and charcoal furnishings. The master bedroom has a certain amount of privacy thanks to the visual intimacy of the dark room, which also serves as a casual lounge area.

The bed is positioned as the main, monolithic feature that divides the room in the spacious master bedroom. With 3mm of white marble bonded to an aluminum honeycomb substrate, the master ensuite boasts an elegant design that allows for a robust yet light finish in an old building with little structural support.

The meticulously restored historical elements and modern elements in Paris Apartment create a polite and harmonious dialogue throughout the house. 

The area is a tasteful blend of modern and historical design, fusing the past and present of Australian and Parisian architecture.

Site plan

Floor plan

Wood Marsh abstracted Darebin’s roofscape with a three-dimensional concrete pattern for the new Bell and Preston Stations in Preston, Victoria, Australia. In addition, the firm completed the Peninsula House, featuring sinuous lines, raw sculptural language, light and bold material palette in the south of Melbourne.

Project facts

Project name: Paris Apartment 

Architects: Wood Marsh

Location: Paris, France

Year: 2023

All images © Tommaso Sartori.

All drawings © Wood Marsh.

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