Atelier Général recently converted a duplex into a cottage for a young professional couple wishing to adapt the layout to their needs. The main challenge was to transform the small, dark and enclosed rooms of this 150-year-old home into a bright and fluid space.
On the ground floor, sliding doors disappear to maximize the flow between rooms. The steel plate forming the stringboard of the stairs opens a gap between the interior and the original structure. Upstairs, a partition concealing structural elements is provided with a wide opening, organized with a seat shared by the two spaces it separates, allowing views from the living room onto the courtyard. An opening in the ceiling of the second floor liberates a double height, generating new views between the mezzanine and the spaces below.
As the owners are frequently cooking and like to entertain, the kitchen had to be structured to allow a festive atmosphere and a functional organization. Thus, the black lacquered kitchen unit is placed in the space and extends towards the adjacent room. It is joined with a movable wooden kitchen island that allows for the reconfiguration of the kitchen to accommodate receptions. The natural patina of the Carrara marble of the countertop and the backsplash ages over time, in contrast with the more static appearance of the lacquered surfaces.
Photos: Atelier Général