The project of the Taquin house could be a subject given to students in architecture studio classes. The instructions were clear and simple. Transform a large house into two homes for two couples of graphic designers. All with a very tight budget.
The original house, built in the 1950s, was a wealthy house according to the generic rooms, the large windows, and the especially beautiful marble, terrazzo and sandstone flooring. Given that the organization of spaces does not longer fit to the needs of the new occupants, the interior partition has been modified.
If the modifications could be hidden, here the transformations are underlined by a new material, a pale blue tiling of 5x5cm. This tile is applied like a neat patch acting as witness of relations between the old and the new.
Besides, for economic reasons, the original partitions, made of plaster brick were not perforate to integrate the bleeds. The cost of the many bleeds required for the integration of the networks was too expansive. All the more so as that system cannot evolve on the professional needs of the owners. So new networks of water, electricity and heating are apparent, there are a kind of rampant sculpture on the walls and ceilings.
With the new partition of the space, functions overlap. The lagoon-style sink in the former shower room sits both in the middle of the kitchen / music room / office. The laundry directly communicates to the bedrooms. The office and the kitchen are separated with a simple multifunctional furniture.
The owners who are graphic designers have helped to define the color palette of the walls, hence not less that 10 hands spearheaded the color chart. The house bears somehow of a common work, fulfilling owners’ wishes.
