Cover Contemporary home interiors for a family designed by Le Berre Vevaud

Le Berre Vevaud crafts a Parisian townhouse that pairs a mesmerising blend of art and design with an utterly calming wellness room

The 16th arrondissement of Paris is an artistic district known for its storied mix of museums and art nouveau architecture, as well as its graceful rows of prized abodes. In this notable neighbourhood stands an enchanting hôtel particulier designed by Le Berre Vevaud—this grand Parisian townhouse is the home of a French couple and their two children.

Having been familiarised with the work of Le Berre Vevaud through their friends, the clients engaged the Paris-based firm to undertake the renovation of their residence, with the aim of highlighting their extensive art collection and crafting a comforting atmosphere within a contemporary interior. While marrying elements of art and design is already de rigueur for the studio, what was unusual about this 3,229 sq ft property was the requirement for a wellness zone.

Don't miss: Home Tour: A Beautiful Apartment in Singapore With a Parisian Spirit

Tatler Asia
Above A view of the living room from the dining area
Tatler Asia
Above The coffee table by Yann Dessauvage in the living area picks up the metallic sheen of the artwork by Anne Gaiss in the dining room

“The concept behind the renovation was to create an elegant and sophisticated space full of natural light and rich in soul. We wanted to design a space that resonated with the owners’ personal aesthetic and lifestyle to create a home that would enchant their daily lives, blending the art of living with comfort,” say Raphaël Le Berre and Thomas Vevaud, the founders of their eponymous practice.

Right from the start, the designers were taken with the original architectural elements, admiring the grandeur of the abode’s voluminous spaces and the “incredible amount of light in the space”. Still, they felt that the home needed an extensive makeover to realise its full potential. With art being a personal passion of the owners, their treasured paintings and sculptures became a big part of the design process.

In case you missed it: Home Tour: A Calming Apartment with Modern Parisian-Style Details

Tatler Asia
Above Le Berre Vevaud designed a custom oak-veneer screen and a bronze table for the area by the curved steps, which also features a 17th-century portrait by Hans Hansen Rasch
Tatler Asia
Above A Liaigre tray and bar stools by Majd Bazerji from Galerie Patrick Fourtin add colour to the white kitchen

“The plethora of styles and mediums, ranging from the 17th-century paintings to contemporary sculptures, had a prominent influence on our design as we wanted to showcase the artworks and maximise their presence in the spaces,” says Le Berre. “We tried to imagine the perfect positioning for the main pieces, and then we directed our design around that. Throughout the process, the clients would also propose new pieces to include, which meant adjusting and finding the ideal space to display them.”

While many such historical properties in the City of Light tend to preserve their original elements earnestly, Le Berre Vevaud was also unafraid to introduce bold, modern additions, such as a mezzanine area on the ground floor. This split-level design breaks up the six-metre-high ceiling and incorporates a staircase landing and study that overlooks the lofty kitchen and dining room; the curved steps by the entrance lead to the mezzanine as well as the bedrooms on the upper floor.

Tatler Asia
Above A screen dressed in wallpaper from De Gournay adds a characterful touch to this bedroom, which also incorporates a custom bed and bench designed by Le Berre Vevaud
Tatler Asia
Above he hallway offers a glimpse of the bathroom and a lounge area upstairs

Decorative screens help delineate the different areas of the open-plan ground level from one another. These include an openwork screen in black brushed oak that separates the entryway from the living area. “We were inspired by the voluminous space with its six-metre-high ceilings and large windows, so we decided to design an open-plan layout to maximise the natural light inherent in the original architecture. To redefine the transversality in this open space, the separate areas have been distinguished through a play of divisions and partitions,” explains Le Berre.

Walls in light and off-white tones form the perfect backdrop for the thoughtful selection of monochromatic furnishings in matte and burnished gold finishes. The staircase was redone in an anthracite-grey waxed concrete, complemented by a wrought iron handrail. Rich accents in hues such as cobalt blue and burnt umber are accompanied by softer shades of copper green and baby blue that also pick up the tones found on the artworks

Tatler Asia
Above Bibelo chairs and a ClassiCon Bell table by Sebastian Herkner stand among the greenery in this outdoor terrace
Tatler Asia
Above The home office is artfully decorated and overlooks serene views of the garden

The assemblage of textures and materials in this home is at once elegant, layered and well curated, while conveying cadences of the firm’s Memphis and art deco influences. “Our creations draw inspiration from the bold colours, shapes and forms of the Memphis movement as well as materials and textures from the art deco period. We like to marry fine essences which mix lacquered and waxed materials, and to enhance them with soft marble and deep lacquer,” says Vevaud.

The courtyard received the most extensive alterations. This outdoor area is now partially enclosed to form a covered terrace that’s connected to the kitchen and a wellness zone. The translucent glass floor of the terrace—which also forms the glass ceiling of the wellness space—brings an abundance of natural light into the spa area, which also leads to a guest room and adjoining office. “The translucent glass ceiling provides the space with beautiful light and enhances the size of this relaxing private zone, while bringing an element of the outdoors in,” says Le Berre

Tatler Asia
Above Waxed concrete steps lead to the Clairazur hot tub in the jacuzzi zone, with a Lindsey Adelman pendant light and a large artwork by Gaultier Rimbault-Joffard bringing creative flair to the space

This spacious 1,076 sq ft wellness room incorporates a jacuzzi, hammam (Turkish-style bath) and a gym. The jacuzzi is the centrepiece of this space; embedded into an asymmetrical platform with angled steps, this area is the perfect spot for a revitialising soak. The connecting hammam is clad in shimmering glass-mosaic tiles that catch the light when seen through a glass partition, and features a monochromatic palette elevated with pops of tangerine orange and gold accents that continue the colour scheme from the upper storeys.

“The concept behind the well-being area was to create a space where the owners could be transported into a tranquil and serene environment in the comfort of their own home. We wanted the space to immediately evoke the ambience of a spa, so we designed the staircase that leads down to the area with dark materials to create a subdued atmosphere and decorated the space with waxed concrete to mimic the natural textures of stone,” says Vevaud.

Tatler Asia
Above A chaise longue by Jérôme Faillant-Dumas from Love Editions is one of the colourful accents in this wellness zone
Tatler Asia
Above Glass-mosaic tiles add textural interest to the monochromatic hammam

While the massive overhaul of the courtyard presented several technical challenges, the designers also found it the most rewarding aspect of the project. “We worked alongside engineers from GMT to adapt the structures and create brand-new spaces which were not already there. We used concrete as the main material for this well-being space; it’s a material which we often enjoy using in our projects as it is structurally beneficial and also enhances the natural lighting and vision of the space,” shares Le Berre.

The designers’ relationship with their clients was as collaborative. “The coherent relationship between the artworks and the design was a factor that was crucial to the clients and to us. The clients really trusted us and our vision of the townhouse, and gave us great creative freedom. Throughout the design process, we would meet them to fine-tune ideas and [hold discussions to] understand exactly what they wanted,” shares Vevaud.

Tatler Asia
Above Another view of the jacuzzi and hammam
Tatler Asia
Above nother view of the hammam, which also features the Chloe side table by Le Berre Vevaud and a Diurne rug in the lounge area

The design process for this home began three years before the start of the Covid-19 pandemic, and the firm managed to complete the renovation within a year recently. “The greatest challenge was to imbue each space with its own character and personality. The intertwining worlds of art and design have always been central to our ethos, so the opportunity to work closely with these clients and their incredible art collection was an inspiring challenge for us,” adds Vevaud.

Most importantly, the sporty owners were delighted with the outcome, and particularly enjoy using the wellness zone of their abode. It is now a space of calm and well-being, where they can relax after an active day out or simply enjoy an indulgent soak in the jacuzzi during a quiet afternoon.

Tatler Asia
Above A walkway into the home’s wellness area that consists of a home gym, jacuzzi and traditional Turkish hammam

Credits

Photography  

Stephan Julliard

Topics