Paris-based architect Quentin Sommervogel likes simplicity and sincerity in the use of material, form, and details. The 33sqm/355sqft attic he shares with his partner brings that ethos to life.
“I like simplicity – sincerity – in the use of material, form, and details”, Paris-based architect Quentin Sommervogel told Never Too Small. The L-shaped apartment he shares with his girlfriend Sarah, a video production manager, puts this ethos into practice time and again within its small 33sqm/355sqft. Sommervogel, who founded his namesake Quentin Sommervogel Architecture in 2015, was – at least in part – inspired by the apartment of a friend previously featured on NTS: “I liked how he made use of the height by adding a mezzanine”, adding, “And his use of plywood”.
Sommervogel thus sought out a space of his own that would meet his main requirements of plentiful natural light and, ideally, an attic that could be opened to gain in volume and light. The home meeting their requirements was discovered in the 20th arrondissement of Paris, near popular spots such as La Campagne à Paris, Place Edith Piaf, and Saint-Blaise. The area, Sommervogel explained, used to be garden plots that then became warehouses, workshops, and factories with small working-class housings over the past couple centuries. And today, it remains a popular lively neighbourhood with plenty of small squares and gardens.
The unit was in poor condition when they discovered it. Some new, but poor quality, tiles and a splash of white paint on the walls weren’t quite enough to detract from its ageing features and the low, cramped ceiling. Sommervogel knew there was an attic above, though it was hard to access. “It was kind of a mystery up there”, he said. The couple began their transformation of the L-shaped space by opening up the attic and reorganising the layout to accommodate a shared living and kitchen space to the larger end and the bathroom and bedroom to the smaller end. The corridor in between serves as a transitional zone between the two, with elements from each meeting at the junction of the L.
True to his declared love of simplicity and sincerity in the use of materials and form, the overall aesthetic of the home is minimal yet with authentic and novel applications of colour, texture, and sentimental furnishings throughout. Take, for example, the kitchen cabinetry made from hydro MDF panels, which Sommervogel enjoys not only for their durability and scratch-resistance but also their muted green hue. As a complement to this and for a touch of fun, he added a small green powder-coated backsplash behind the cooktop. The living room, though lightly furnished, is filled with hand-me-down and antique pieces like the antique mahogany cabinet that belonged to his grandfather, giving the space a true homey feel.
Sommervogel’s home is a testament to how a combination of innovation and personalisation can transform a dilapidated, underutilised space into something not only liveable but cosy and unique too. A gesture he feels is important for the future of cities: “Small spaces are very present in our dense cities, so they become essential opportunities for our growing cities”, he noted, continuing, “The work of renovating these small-scale spaces contributes among other things to sustainable development, heritage conservation and improving the quality of urban life”.
