Full Breakdown
Paris Renovators Blend Heritage and Modernity in a 16th-Arrondissement Apartment
By Drooid · · How we work
Project Overview
A 2,476-square-foot third-floor apartment in a classic stone building on Paris’s 16th Arrondissement—nestled between the Trocadéro Gardens and the Bois de Boulogne—was purchased by a French couple returning from London with their two teenage children. The unit had been vacant for several years and required a complete overhaul before it could become a family home.
Design Philosophy (Official Statements & Responses)
Samantha Hauvette and Lucas Madani, partners of the firm Hauvette and Madani, describe their approach as a seamless blend of historic Parisian elements and contemporary design. They aim to create interiors that feel both timeless and freshly updated, preserving features such as parquet floors, crown moldings, and marble fireplaces while introducing modern spatial flows and industrial touches.
Renovation Process
The renovation began with demolition before a final design was locked, reflecting the firm’s willingness to let the space evolve during construction. This early-stage deconstruction allowed the architects to respond to the building’s structural realities and the clients’ lifestyle needs in real time, shaping the final layout as work progressed.
Data & Statistics
- Apartment size: 2,476 sq ft.
- Firm founding: 2010, shortly after Hauvette and Madani graduated from the design-focused École Camondo in Paris.
- Partners’ ages: 42 years old at the time of the project.
- Neighborhood context: Two-thirds of Paris’s buildings retain mid-19th-century Haussmannian style, creating a market where renovation often balances preservation with modern demands.
Verbatim Quotes
- “We blur the limit between what’s new and what’s old,” — Samantha Hauvette
- “We started the demolition without having the final vision of the space,” — Lucas Madani