SABO carves a cat door into duplex apartment renovation in paris

brooklyn-based architecture office, SABO, has completed the renovation of a duplex apartment situated in paris‘ 15th arrondissement. designed for a young parisian family, the home has been planned over two floors to provide a contemporary residence that is characterized by functional spaces and an abundance of natural light. challenged with the task of meeting the client’s requirements, the project has also been envisioned to consider another very important family member – the cat.

all images courtesy of SABO

with two storeys to work with, the scheme of the apartment has been designed by SABO to separate the different rooms of the house according to their functions. in doing this, the floors are defined by the varying degrees of privacy. the bedroom spaces have been formed on the lower floor, affording a quieter space as it is protected from neighboring noise, while the upper floor comprises of more social areas and boasts unobstructed views of paris. on this level, the entire floor is designed as a single, open space, housing the kitchen living and dining areas.

on the main, social floor, due consideration to the family’s cat has also been paid. within the birch plywood partitions and cabinets that are built into the spaces, a small opening has been formed, allowing the cat to easily pass through even if the kitchen space has been closed off. to avoid the cat entering into the bedrooms below, the spiral staircase also includes a curved door to keep him away. to accompany the elements of light-colored wood, white resin walls and floors, and exposed concrete ceilings are combined to create a pared-back material palette. this subtle blend makes for a sleek, contemporary aesthetic, while the wood also adds a warmth, welcoming feeling.

in addition to the clever solutions to accommodate the family’s cat, the apartment has also been conceived with plenty of storage space. by forming cabinets around the perimeter of rooms and incorporating pegboard walls in the entrance, living room and master bedroom, the design frees up the rest of the space. in essence, with its light material palette and simple, open-plan, SABO realizes an ideal place for a young family to grow.