Names: Franz
Location: Paris, France
Size: 180 sq ft
Lived in since: Two years
Remember Colette & Pierre's apartment in the building where Colette has lived in for more than 50 years in Saint-Germain-des-Prés? If that was a study in classic Parisian eclecticism, the studio she carved out of the first floor for her grandson Franz, a physics student at university in Paris, has got to be one of the coolest pieces off-campus student housing in Paris.
Colette decided to make the compact studio with a main room equipped with a sofa bed for sleeping and lounging and a large desk for Franz's computer. The room has exposed beams and a clock Franz picked up secondhand in London, and Colette included built-in shelves for books and CDs.
She put in a streamlined modern one-tone bathroom with a shower and no tub, and designed an industrial-feeling brick kitchen that Colette says was inspired by the idea of an English kitchen. It's spacious and airy with brick, a glass roof, draped pale ceiling curtains to keep out the summer heat and offer privacy, and a sassy red floor.
If only everyone were as lucky to have a stylish Parisian grandmother to design them a private dorm room. So what does Franz think of his good luck? "C'est cool," he says.
- Kristin Hohenadel blogging from rue Vieille du Temple, Paris, France. If you have an idea for a European house tour, please write kristinh @ apartmenttherapy . com
Copyright © 2008 Apartment Therapy
The space itself has a lot of potential. I like the skylights/light shaft, the red floor, French doors, the little modern kitchen, etc.
Franz's furniture though is thoroughly depressing (and no, being a student is not an excuse for a complete lack of effort).
view arza's profile
Paris must have more interesting off-campus housing. I feel pretty sure about that.
view davidasposted's profile
I have viewed the slideshow a few times, yet still feel as if I am missing something here...
view Hydra's profile
it's a bit rough which must add to it's charm. the skylight must be part of what makes the size bearable. although, a student probably has more of an "in and out" lifestyle as they would say in nyc.
if anyone has a reason to make do with function and comfort of design and style, it's a student.
the pictures over the couch are the most interesting. what floor is the apartment on?
view Lady J's profile
This is a great place for a college student. He has everything he needs.
I'm not sure if I like the glass ceiling in the kitchen. It does make it more open. It would also be cold in the winter and make me feel really exposed every time I was in there.
view zazzu's profile
Actually, Paris has virtually no on-campus housing. There are a bunch of dorms - most of them for foreign students - in the Cité Universitaire Internationale, but they're away from the colleges themselves. There are also a number of "foyers", privately-run dorm buildings. But most of the students either still live at home or rent some tiny place.
view Alienor's profile
Yeah, arza, the furniture's too much of a downer. As for the space itself---the photos don't really let me get my mind around it, and I like to think one can't really get one's mind around it when in it, it which case I give it the old 2-thumbs-up.
view Aulaire's profile
I agree with Hydra !
And I can't see how the kitchen relates to any English style at all.
view parfait amour's profile
I'm sorry, but that place is a dump. And if it were anyplace but Paris (or a similarly scintillating city) it would be obvious that it is a dump.
view icebergwtq's profile
While I'm not wild about it, I think some of the previous comments have been awfully harsh. The space does have potential, and it looks much nicer than a lot of college students' (and post-college adults') abodes. The average student of twenty or so shouldn't be spending a lot of time and money buying or scavenging furniture, he or she should be studying and maybe falling in love.
view Spotsalots's profile
In which case, why are we being treated to the dump-like domicile of a college student who shouldn't be doing much with design (and obviously hasn't) in a design venue?
view icebergwtq's profile
I don't agree that this apartment is a "dump", but I do think it's in need of a Cure. So the tenant is a student and is probably on a budget. It doesn't cost anything to organise, get rid of clutter, rearrange furniture - the small things that make a place feel like a home and not a crash pad.
view arza's profile