Just a few steps away from the famous Rue Montorgueil in Paris’s 2nd arrondissement, the Art Deco–inspired design of this 538-square-foot apartment incorporates materials elegant, rough, and raw. “The apartment is located in a 1930s building,” designer Elena Alexopoulos tells us. “The owner is a 38-year-old actor who works in contemporary theater and has a passion for ancient Greek tragedies, particularly Sophocles. She wanted a space that would reflect her theatrical and artistic sensibilities, and that walks a line between historical and contemporary elements.” She also had two other specific requests: A large living room and a generous bathtub where she can relax.
Designed by the French-Greek firm Stene Alexopoulos Agency, this small apartment in Paris blends the brutality of concrete with the refinement of green marble. The designers created a dialogue between matter and light, functionality and aesthetics, where every element is unique and some of them masterfully sculpted by artisans working on-site.
The firm wanted to highlight the era when the building was completed, drawing inspiration from a great Italian architect of that period, Carlo Scarpa. “The design,” Alexopoulos continues, “is inspired by ancient architecture, particularly with the reinterpretation of an ancient column for the dining table’s base, and Brutalism, through the use of raw materials such as concrete and marble. The owner’s theatrical universe influenced the design of the space, and we wanted to emphasize the original construction period of the building by looking to Carlo Scarpa for inspiration.”
The kitchen has several custom bookshelves above the worktop while functional elements are hidden in cabinets behind walnut fronts. Concrete and green marble, from Rajasthan, act as common themes to the design and are found throughout the apartment. The building’s original construction is reflected in the studio’s redesign, with concrete beams left exposed to reinforce the dialogue between past and present.