After buying a worn-down, 244-square-foot apartment in the 10th arrondissement of Paris, the owner of Achille—a young bachelor—stripped away the wallpaper, hauled in his temporary furniture, and spent a couple months living in the small space to let it guide the design direction.

After some time, he envisioned a renovation with space-saving solutions that would retain and celebrate the rough-hewn character of the original apartment.

He enlisted the help of French architecture and interior design practice Batiik Studio to bring his ideas to life.

Working within his budget of just under $40,000, Rebecca Benichou, founder of Batiik Studio, came up with the concept of a black wooden box that integrates the bed, closet, and bathroom to optimize space.

With the help of MMD Construction, the architects removed an existing partition wall and created a “space cube” made of Fenix NTM's matte nanotech material combined with warm oak.

The cube, which is positioned in one corner of the apartment, contains a sleeping nook that can be accessed via steps with storage underneath, and a wardrobe and bathroom with doors that are almost unnoticeable.

The cube is connected to a discrete kitchenette with built-in cabinetry.

On one side of the cube, black doors that meld with the wall open to reveal an efficient wardrobe and a surprisingly bright marble bedroom.

Beyond the cube, the walls of the apartment were left unplastered, and their exposed patina in varied colors imbue the space with an artistic atmosphere that brings to mind the raw beauty of ancient European ruins. Wooden parquet floors and high ceilings with moldings add contemporary elegance to the interiors.

By placing the space cube in the corner, the remaining floor area was freed up, so the owner had room to create a small living lounge where he can place his vintage furniture and display his decorative objects.

Project Credits:

Architect of Record: Batiik Studio

Builder: MMD Construction