Bérénice Curt Architecture restores light in a private mansion

In a historic Parisian townhouse dating from the 15th century, Bérénice Curt’s 003JCB project orchestrated a major renovation blending heritage and modernity. Behind this transformation, the challenge was twofold: to reveal the nobility of the original volumes and to offer a contemporary reading of the spaces guided by light.

The 160 m² apartment, laid out enfilade and featuring ceilings reaching 3.70 m, was first the subject of a series of exploratory studies. Seventeen layout scenarios were drawn before finding the most fitting composition for its new occupants. This meticulous analytical work allowed the living areas to the east—designed for conviviality and light—and the private spaces to the west, more intimate and introspective, to be balanced. At the heart of the project, a structural reorganization provides clarity and coherence throughout. Partial removal of partitions exposed the wooden framework, now embraced as a full-fledged architectural element. It contrasts with a contemporary metal grid, an aesthetic statement bridging heritage and renewal. Yet the keystone of the project remains the restored and reinterpreted glass roof overlooking the inner courtyard. Once dilapidated and weakly connected to the residence, it was entirely rethought to regain its role as a luminous interface. Raised and redesigned, it aligns with the height of the living rooms, highlighting their grandeur and enhancing the diffusion of natural light. This new glass enclosure becomes a poetic transition space, both a source of illumination and a place of enjoyment.

The interior design follows a sober and sensory language, limited to five materials—travertine, wood, steel, black lacquer, and lime plaster. This restrained palette reinforces visual unity and the purity of the volumes. In the wet rooms, elevated plinths structure the surfaces and lend an almost theatrical dimension to the space. The integrated furniture, crafted in continuity with this palette, organizes the spaces with precision: concealed storage, alcoves, bookshelves, and custom frames contribute to the staging of perspectives. Finally, a parquet floor in marquetry and the preservation of an original fireplace mantel add further character to the apartment. Between constructive rigor and material elegance, this apartment exemplifies an interior design approach where reclaimed light breathes new life into history.