In the Marais district of Paris, AFTERBACH delivers Turenne, a 120-square-meter apartment conceived for gallery owner Thibaut Van Den Bergh of Kolkhoze. The project reflects a long-standing collaboration between Van Den Bergh and Francesco Balzano, founder of AFTERBACH, evolving from a professional relationship into a creative partnership grounded in trust. Together, they shape a space that frames collectible design within a disciplined architectural structure.
INTERIOR DESIGN
Located on the third floor of a historic suburban building, the L-shaped apartment unfolds with clarity. A carved wooden entrance opens onto two adjoining rooms facing the street: a dining room with an open kitchen and a living room of equal proportions. On the courtyard side, two bedrooms each include a private bathroom. The master suite, set apart from the reception areas by a concealed door, integrates a small sitting room and a bathroom fully clad in solid marble, complete with a monolithic washbasin and walk-in shower. Storage elements disappear behind flush panels, preserving a calm and uninterrupted spatial rhythm.
Balzano approaches the interior with rigorous composition and controlled balance. Van Den Bergh sought an understated architectural frame that would allow strong design pieces to assert their presence. The entrance hall sets the tone, where a bronze console by Johan Viladrich meets a lamp by Robinson Ferreux. In the living room, a marble fireplace anchors the space, accompanied by stools designed by Balzano, a sofa and armchairs by Frédéric Pellenq, and Thomas Lemut’s Lézard lamps, which introduce sculptural light accents.
Material selection plays a defining role in articulating the apartment’s atmosphere. Lightly stained solid oak runs alongside large slabs of softened beige stone, enriched by wood detailing and ivory carpeting. The kitchen features Breccia Aurora marble, while the bathrooms incorporate green Alpine marble. Walls in gray-green, ivory, and warm gray tones subtly reinterpret the historic character of the Marais, grounding the contemporary interventions within their Parisian context.
Conceived as a collector’s interior, Turenne fosters dialogue between architecture and design. Contemporary works with varied references coexist without forced uniformity. Van Den Bergh describes his approach as treating design pieces like paintings, allowing each object to maintain autonomy while participating in a coherent ensemble. This curatorial mindset shapes the apartment’s identity, where bold furniture inhabits a refined architectural shell.
