ICE CUBE

EXPECTATIONS ' HIDDEN IN A PEACEFUL COURTYARD OF CENTRAL PARIS, THIS STUDIO APARTMENT STRICTLY ACCOMMODATES WHAT'S NECESSARY TO GET AN URBAN FEEL OF THE WORLD MOST DENSE CITY.' Used as a "pied-a-terre" by the owner (actually myself), the place regularly offers shelter to foreign creative friends during short-term visits. Consequently, the design was expected to meet international standards in terms of usability, readability or comfort, and also occasionally bear intense use. KNOW-HOW ' CONSIDERING THE PRETTY LIMITED FLOOR AREA, THE IDEA WAS TO DEVELOP A BESPOKE VOLUME ABLE TO CONTAIN ALL REQUIRED EQUIPMENTS IN A SINGLE DESIGN, AND LEAVE THE REMAINING SPACE FREE OF ANY BUILT-IN STRUCTURE.' The aforementioned volume came to be a massive cube actually composed of several sub-volumes. Kitchen, wardrobe, bathroom, laundry,... everything fits in! Despite the relative obviousness in this arrangement of functions, the extreme efficiency of the cube came out after having tested and detailed all possible combination. The rigorous approach proved that option to be the most compact and cost-effective ; moreover every detail was meant to facilitate workers' building process within the tiny space. ATMOSPHERE ' TAKING ADVANTAGE OF 3 WIDE OPENINGS TOWARDS THE SHARED GARDEN, A PARTICULAR CARE WAS GIVEN TO THE SO-CALLED ICE CUBE'S CUTS AND MATERIALS.' The recess of the kitchen allows natural light to pass through and free the view from any obstacle. Then, slick materials were specifically picked for their reflective ability - acrylic resin, varnished wood, steel and glass - letting sun beams bounce to light up the entire volume. To underline the brightness of the white cube, natural materials cover the main surfaces, from the rustic wood flooring to a revealed raw stone wall. Besides, nature is ubiquitous, with the presence of lush plants in and outdoor creating an "urban jungle feel"!