WILSON PROJECT

17 Mar

MARTIN MASSÉ

Boldly coloured, a Haussmannian apartment in Trocadéro is reinstated with vibrant modernist eclecticism for a young, growing family.

Featured in the living room, is a Martin Massé Maen Guéridon, a Driade Mickville chair by Phillipe Stark, a Pierre Charrié x CushCush Gallery Rambut (Nisksala) stool, a Frank Beat chair no. 3, a Goons Foundation console, a Lukas Cober New Wave glazed coffee table, a Codimat Collection wool and silk rug, accessorised with Anna Zimmerman Vessels of Imperfection from Gallery Scene Ouverte, Philippe Starck Cendrier Ray Hollis from Ketabi Bourdet, Accolay ceramic from Appartment Témoin, a Christian Duc ‘Orwell’ (1980) from Remix Gallery Design, a ‘Six Reclining Figures with Buff Background’ hanging linen by Henry Moore produced by Garro Éditions, ‘Six Reclining Figures with Buff Background’ cushions by Henry Moore, produced by Garro Éditions and ‘Stonehenge’ fabric cushions by Henry Moore, produced by Garro Éditions.

Characterised by heritage details throughout the 160-square-metre apartment, with neighbouring views of the Eiffel Tower, architect and designer Martin Massé preserved the original 19th-century features as a backdrop for his canvas. “The apartment is clearly rooted in the Haussmann style, and the goal was not to lose this typically Parisian historical anchor, but neither was it to exaggerate it. The aim was to modernise the style, making it more eclectic by combining contemporary design with the Haussmannian base of the space,” Massé explains.

Playful energy is infused by introducing a touch of 90s eclecticism and post-modern details within the heritage shell, employing vibrant primary colours. Between the preserved oak parquet floors and ornate ceilings, the chilli-red lacquered cabinets in the kitchen stand out daringly, subtly cooled with the Mont Blanc quartzite stone. Adjacent in the dining room, a vivid blue Knoll table acts as a focal point, paired with Philippe Starck oak chairs that blend seamlessly with the timber chevron floors.

The Knoll dining table is paired with Draide Aleph Tessa dining chairs by Philippe Starck, a Galerie Jaïs 18 août bowl and a vintage Italian Memphis coffee set from Appartement Témoin.

Exploiting the sightlines to the Eiffel Tower, Massé designed a versatile room that serves as both a primary bedroom and a study. Clear views of the Parisian landmark are visible from both rooms, while the primary room features a solid oak sliding door lined with sisal wallpaper for privacy when needed. The cocooned envelope of the solid oak timber continues into the dressing room, with cabinetry accentuated by the return of the vivid blue from the carpet and a red cushioned seat.

In the primary bedroom, a Basny Rug Arren rug is draped over the bed, with a Martin Massé Orsetto stool, a ‘Les Corps Délibérés’ by Audrey Guttman from Ketabi Bourdet on the custom-designed headboard, and vintage stone lamps from Appartment Témoin.

Offering a brief interval from the colour vibrancy, travertine tiles and creamy concrete mark a point of separation between the dressing room and the ensuite. An immersive, cave-like spa provides a retreat, distinguished by the return of lively monochrome hues through colour saturation. Mosaic tiles veil the floors, walls, and ceilings of the showers in both the primary and main bathroom, with one featuring an emerald shade and the other vivid blue.

Deftly reconfigured to optimise living spaces and enhance views of the Parisian skyline, this Haussmannian apartment is reignited with playful, eclectic energy, delicately harmonised within the framework of 19th-century architecture.