Imagining a tall house, at the crossroads of the influences of Tadao Andō, Le Corbusier and Jean Nouvel: this was the dream of Anne-Laure Hédon and her husband, ten years ago. That of creating a refined living space where they could see their family grow. This project came to fruition a few steps from the town hall of the very lively 18^th arrondissement of Paris, on land acquired at auction.

 

The perfect opportunity for these two creative minds to design, from A to Z, an open-plan and modular space, in collaboration with the architectural agency Hardel Le Bihan. The challenge was brilliantly met: these five floors of raw concrete, largely open to the outside, offer a real breath of fresh air in the middle of the city and have many surprises in store. Visit of an atypical property, with brutalist accents, offered for sale by the Junot Montmartre agency.

Can you introduce yourself?

Hello, I am Anne-Laure Hédon, owner of this house that we built with my husband ten years ago. I have been working in fashion for about twenty years as a collection director, while my husband is an entrepreneur. Both creative: me through my work, him through his very free way of thinking, we share a passion for photography, design and architecture. This common sensitivity for these creative worlds was fully expressed in this house project, where everything had to be imagined and built. We wanted to create a place that resembles us: atypical and evolving.

How did you find this land and How did you design this house with the help of your architect?

In 2011, during a visit to our notary, we discovered an auction that immediately caught our attention. It was a small house and a plot of land in this Jules Joffrin neighborhood that we particularly like. Although the property itself did not particularly appeal to us, we decided to put all our energy into winning the auction and acquiring this land, which we managed to do!

 

Once the lot was acquired, we entrusted the realization of this house project to our friend Cyril Le Bihan, from the Hardel Le Bihan architectural agency. The hollow tooth configuration of the land offered us a wonderful opportunity to play on the height and to free ourselves from the constraint of a ground surface limited to 50 m^². With the desire for an artist's studio and that of a fairly modern architecture, we crossed our influences – Le Corbusier, Tadao Andō and Jean Nouvel – to imagine a refined, open and modular space. We opted for for light materials that are consistent with the structure of the house: concrete, metal and light wood. Another important aspect of the project was to work on the openings, especially these curtain walls in the living room to let in light and offer an exterior view that is never monotonous!

What was the biggest challenge in the work and the layout of the spaces? Do you have an anecdote to share with us?

The biggest challenge was carefully choosing the craftsmen and coordinating the different trades. The staircase, the backbone of our house, was designed by Mr. Vildieu, a talented carpenter. For the floors, we collaborated with Joël Savry and opted for a seamless poured concrete with a very mineral finish, which sometimes gives the impression of seeing a sky. With its dimensions close to a small building, the construction of this house confronted us with: major challenges, such as bringing the entire electrical network up five floors.

 

This major project also had its share of anecdotes: For example, when the metal structure was finished, we climbed the scaffolding to reach the roof, where the rooftop terrace is located. And there, surprise: we discovered a view of the Sacré-Cœur in the distance. It was the icing on the cake!

How would you define your interior style? Where did you get your inspiration?

Our decorative style is strongly inspired by 20^th century design. Jean Prouvé, Charlotte Perriand and Pierre Guariche: here and there we find the creations of these designers that we admire. My husband and I have always loved to rummage around. In this house, we have designed a decor that avoids overbidding, favoring a minimalist and light environment, far from showrooms or design catalogs.

How did you choose furniture and decoration?

When we choose our furniture, we look for overall but specific coherence. The story of our second-hand furniture is above all that of encounters and love at first sight. This is the case for the PK22 Fritz Hansen armchairs that we bought in the United States and brought back by plane, all disassembled in cabin baggage! Other pieces have imposed themselves on us from our first thoughts on the layout of spaces, like the Cerf-volant wall lamp by Pierre Guariche or the Cansado bench by Charlotte Perriand, found at an auction.

 

And then other creations have always followed us like the Knoll bench upholstered in Maharam Dot fabric designed by Charles and Ray Eames, or the nomadic lamp by Christophe Pillet. In this house, we frequently test new arrangements and do not hesitate to challenge ourselves. If a combination does not work, it does not matter. The decoration evolves with time and discoveries. This space is both our workshop and our small personal gallery, a real playground that amuses our children, I think.

Which room do you feel most comfortable in?

The third level is, without a doubt, the family's favorite space. Designed as the main living area, it is located at the heart of the house. This is where we do our homework, where we read, where we rest, where we eat dinner, where we have breakfast with the family, but also where we celebrate all the birthdays!

What do you like about this neighborhood? Can you tell us your 3 favorite addresses?

Living together is particularly exceptional here. Rue du Poteau is full of food shops, as well as restaurants and new tables that are popping up everywhere. We recommend L’Ouzerie, as well as the burgers at Le Ruisseau restaurant, my children's favorite, or the pizzas at Il Brigante that transport us straight to Calabria!