Cover Inside Kenzo Takada’s Japanese-style Parisian home, designed by Kengo Kuma. Photography: Jimmy Cohrssen
Inside Kenzo Takada’s Japanese-style Parisian home, designed by Kengo Kuma. Photography: Jimmy Cohrssen
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Designed by Kengo Kuma, the iconic fashion designer Kenzo Takada’s beautiful Japanese-style property in Paris is now marketed by Christie’s International Real Estate
Known for his vibrant floral patterns and his masterful blend of cross-cultural influences, the Japan-born, Paris-based fashion icon Kenzo Takada left behind a remarkable legacy.
Even after his retirement, the trailblazing fashion designer continued his prolific and multifaceted oeuvre through collaborations with designer furniture brands including Roche Bobois, and founded a home and lifestyle brand, K3 in 2020, just months before his sudden passing from Covid-19 complications.
His passion for home design is evident in his Parisian home in this historic Bastille district, which is now on the market with Belles demeures de France, an affiliate of Christie’s International Real Estate.
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Japanese architect Kengo Kuma and his team gave the Kengo House a masterful renovation in 2018
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First completed in 1993 and redesigned in 2018 by notable Japanese architect Kengo Kuma, the Kenzo House is a tranquil refuge that’s constructed around its courtyard that features a Japanese-style koi pond and garden.
Located within the fashionable Left Bank enclave, the cedar-clad abode initially took seven years to complete and blends eastern and western influences in a way that is true to Takada’s eclectic designs.
See also: Singapore firm K2LD Architects will design the Founders' Memorial with Kengo Kuma
Above Architect Kengo Kuma explains that the house is designed as a “frame of nature”
Above The use of wood for the French louvres, beams and other interior architecture reference the building’s history, which dates back to the 18th century
Architect Kengo Kuma explains that the house is designed as a “frame of nature”
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Above A view of the engawa-style porch that faces the koi pond and garden
Above Various nooks of the home feature windows and portals that frame the surrounding area beautifully
A view of the engawa-style porch that faces the koi pond and garden
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Architect Kengo Kuma’s masterful renovation turned the abode into a “frame of nature” through the usage of traditional Japanese building materials that include ceramic, bamboo, stone and wood. “With it, we can experience nature more deeply and more intimately,” says Kuma. “Transparency is a characteristic of Japanese architecture; I try to use light and natural materials to get a new kind of transparency.”
He also reconfigured the layout of the abode to imbue it with all of the attributes and details fitting of an authentic Japanese house and garden, by orientating all of the views from the rooms to face the garden. A flourishing mix of cherry and maple trees, along with bamboo, juniper, lichen, moss, and rocks, create an enviably calming mood in the landscaped garden.
As part of the renovation, Kengo Kuma and his team updated the floor plan to maximise the verdant views
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The facade incorporates the use of clay, cedar shingles, and teak to bring a sense of warmth and add a tactile touch to the house, while the interior features a contrasting use of French oak louvres, beams and flooring that are made to match the original wood finishes.
An engawa—a traditional Japanese-style exterior porch constructed with wooden lattices—offers another nod to Takada’s heritage and has replaced an indoor lap pool. A tea ceremony room can also be found on-site within a Japanese pavilion fitted with tatami mats and shoji sliding doors.
The rooms are orientated to maximise views of the garden
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The four-storey abode is also fitted with four ensuite bedrooms that include a Japanese-style suite that overlooks the restful garden. Other facilities include a music room, study, fitness area, as well as three self-contained studio apartments for staff staying on the site, along with two reception rooms, two dining rooms and two kitchens.
Above The house facade is clad with a mix of cedar wood and clay to create a textured look
Above The rooms are enviably furnished with a tasteful blend of designer furnishings
The house facade is clad with a mix of cedar wood and clay to create a textured look
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Above Various nooks of the home feature windows and portals that frame the surrounding area beautifully
Above Another view of the rooms on the fourth storey
Various nooks of the home feature windows and portals that frame the surrounding area beautifully
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Credits
Photography: Jimmy Cohrssen
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