Paris rarely sees walls torn down casually, especially in a neighborhood as historically dense as the Marais. Yet, when architect Clément Lesnoff-Rocard took on an 18th-century apartment on a side street, he boldly undid a number of alterations to the home over the years. What was left when he was done? Parisian limestone, plenty of light, rounded walls, and the freedom to suddenly transform 250 years of architectural history into what the designer calls a “happy Gothic” cathedral, where the lives of a young family of six could unfold.
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This home was built around 1775, during the reign of Louis XVI, when Paris was reinventing itself. The Aubert building, where this project is located, was an experiment in collective living initiated by the sculptor Denis Aubert and his brother, the architect André Aubert. Artists moved in and created a milieu of pragmatism and imagination felt to this day, though a series of renovations had made this particular apartment feel more modern than Lesnoff-Rocard would have wished.
“The apartment had been perfectly renovated, and yet it was completely soulless,” says Lesnoff-Rocard. “I always try to return to the fundamentals of a place.” So began the search for an architectural starting point: Lesnoff-Rocard removed every modern, unnecessary addition in the 1,722-square-foot home. Consequently, the space’s clear proportions emerged. A circular courtyard at the rear became the basis for the home’s layout. “One must follow the original trends of a house,” says Lesnoff-Rocard—so the flow of the different rooms dates back to the 18th century, too. Public spaces—including the living area and kitchen—are at one end of the apartment, and private spaces, including the principal bedroom, are located at the opposite end.
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Happy Gothic
Lesnoff-Rocard’s clients both work in fashion and have a deep passion for music, literature, art, and comics. They wanted a place that would support their lives: A growing art collection, their four children, and the entertaining and quieter moments alike that come with a large family—reading together on the large round couch is one of their most important rituals. Lesnoff-Rocard calls the resulting interior “happy Gothic.” The phrase may seem contradictory—today, “Gothic” is associated with malevolence or hauntings—but historically, the architectural style was one of optimism and progress. Gothic buildings achieved greater heights, harnessed more light, and took up more space than their predecessors. In this apartment, the original Gothic idea is reinterpreted.
Despite being filled with art, the interior doesn’t feel like a staid gallery. The space trades restrained asceticism for playful exuberance, largely thanks to the artworks themselves. Paintings by Aloïse Corbaz and Thornton Dial stand out with a directness rarely found in traditional homes. Enhanced by the clarity of the bleached walls and floors, some works—such as the two cloud paintings by American artist Mimi Gross in the kitchen—were created specifically for this project. A wooden chair by Antoni Gaudí represents one of many heart motifs found throughout the home. “They have a particular fondness for humorous and fun elements,” says Lesnoff-Rocard of his clients. “They don’t take things too seriously while still loving the sophisticated and sublime. They appreciate craftsmanship and art.”
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In the kitchen, bespoke white-painted double doors are a statement element that blur the boundaries of historicism. Lesnoff-Rocard spent over a year developing two reliefs with New York artist Justin Giunta—who had previously designed jewelry for the couple—and a Paris-based sculptor. “I wanted to create something that represents the couple,” says Lesnoff-Rocard. Referring to the husband’s Argentine roots and
