An Architect’s “Garden”: Francesco Balzano in Auteuil, Paris

In the Village d’Auteuil in Paris’s 16th arrondissement, designer Francesco Balzano of After Bach has reworked a 775-square-foot Haussmann apartment as his own home and studio. Located near Villa Montmorency and the Fondation Le Corbusier, the apartment sits in one of Paris’s quieter residential neighborhoods—”calm, vegetation, and history—and very close to the countryside,” as Balzano puts it.

Renovated over the past two years, the interior is conceived as a refined Parisian garden: a palette of pale green and ivory; white and green onyx; and floors in ash parquet, sisal, and abaca. Organized around a gallery-like entry hall with east-west exposure, the apartment integrates pieces from Balzano’s own designs alongside art, antiques, and references to Italian architect Piero Portaluppi. Here’s a look inside.

Photography by Vincent Leroux for After Bach.

Above: The hallway pairs dead flat Farrow & Ball paint with Holland & Sherry fabric. The plaster ceiling cornices were preserved to maintain the historic character of the 775 square foot flat. The Guéridon Dolce Four Seasons marble stool is a piece from Balzano’s own collection. Above: The flooring throughout is a natural sisal floor from Codimat. Lighting in the living room is made up of Inga Sempé’s Vapeur Lamp, the Miguel Milá TMM Floor Lamp, the Muller Van Severen Hanging Lamp, and Miguel Milá Cesta Lamp. The sculptural fireplace is a piece from Balzano’s Mosaico collection in green onyx, designed special for the flat. Above: A Kaare Klint Safari Chair, the Apollo Coffee Table from Balzano’s collection, and a Floris Wubben side table. Above: Stacks of design books and onyx sculptural pieces from Balzano’s XXS collection. Above: A Hans Wegner Folding Chair and Balzano’s Cloud Onyx Stool. Above: A Marcin Rusak wallhanging. Above: Opposite the sitting area is a large dining table, the Table de Repas Mosaico by Balzano—paired with Carl Hansen Wishbone Dining Chairs. A symmetrical library design behind was inspired by the Italian Renaissance. Woodwork was done custom by Ateliers Saint Jacques and painted with Farrow & Ball paint. Above: Balzano renovated the apartment in full, minus the ceiling in the living room. Above: The color and material palette is inspired by the work of Piero Portaluppi. Above: The kitchen is designed in soft white onyx with a Waterworks faucet. Above: A Louis Poulsen VL 45 Radiohus Pendant hangs overhead. Above: In the bedroom, a curved niche frames the bed. Green onyx bedside tables and a suspension Luce Light in green onyx by Balzano act as accents and reference the work of Ellsworth Kelly. Throw cushions are from Chiarastella Cattana and the throw blanket is a Carl Hansen design. Above: The doors are all custom made pivot doors finished with Holland & Sherry or Chiarastella Cattana fabric. Above: The concealed bathrooms draw inspiration from Versailles interiors. As with the kitchen, the build out was done in soft white onyx. A Waterworks light is set onto a custom mirror. Above: Designer Francesco Balzano of After Bach in his own space.

For more Parisian apartments, see our posts:

• Classical Composure: A Place Dauphine Apartment Reimagined by After Bach Studio
• A Poetic Echo: A Restored Apartment in Le Corbusier’s Molitor Building in Paris from RREEL
• A Paris Apartment with Artful, Architectural Interventions from Corpus Studio
• Multiplying Light and Space: A Compact Paris Apartment with a Vintage Quality
• The Modern Attic Apartment: An Inventive Remodel in Paris, Tiny Ikea Hack Kitchen Included