Family
In a 1960s Residence by Roger Anger, the Pristine Setting for a New Name in Architecture
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Cyrus Ardalan and Jasmine Keivanlo
When you enter Cyrus Ardalan and Jasmine Keivanlo’s home, you will find the enveloping warmth of wood everywhere. An elegant refuge you would never suspect is tucked away in this 1960s building in northern Paris designed by Roger Anger. Yet this interior, tangible proof of the young couple’s sensitivity to line and form, is there. Thanks to their respective professions – one an architect, the other a visual merchandiser – they were able to redesign this property in its entirety. Because when they began, “the apartment was in a pitiful state”. The rooms were subdivided in a way that would have put many people off — it was difficult to imagine how it could be, But it wasn’t hard for two creative minds! In particular, Cyrus, one of the new generation of architects, who found in these 50 m2 of dilapidated space an ideal playground as he opened up and redistributed the living spaces. He introduced wood to give it a new dimension. From the bench that runs from the living room to the dining room, via the centrepiece of the living space: the bookcase. The custom-made design incorporates clever storage units to optimise this small area while playing on the contrast with a floor covered in industrial paint originally intended for car parks. A nod to the young man’s passion for cars that gives this flat a certain “restraint” and a “humility” that the duo has complemented in decorating it, summoning up in the process works from leading figures in design. Curvaceous vases by Alvar Aalto and Jean Prouvé’s “Anthony” chair are balanced harmoniously with the prototypes the Parisian has designed. Creating a seductively simple decor where attention to detail is the key to the project!
Location
Paris
Author
Juliette Bruneau
Photographer
Valerio Geraci
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TSF
Cyrus and Jasmine: can you introduce yourselves, please?
Jasmine
I’m of Swedish and Iranian origin and was born in Sweden. I’ve been living in Paris for about 13 years. I work there as Head of Visual Merchandising for a French luxury brand.
Cyrus
I’m of French and Iranian origin; I was born and raised in Paris. I’m a self-employed architect.
TSF
Tell us how you learned about “beauty”. How did your tastes develop?
Jasmine
In my job, which I’ve been doing for 12 years, I have to work with beautiful pieces from the world of fashion, design and architecture.
Cyrus
My parents collected a lot of Art Nouveau furniture, and my eye was largely shaped by this major stylistic school and those that followed.
TSF
What about designers and artists: whose work has influenced you and your work?
Jasmine
I’m very much influenced by Scandinavian furniture, especially Alvar Aalto. As for my preferences in the art world, I’m a great admirer of the work of the Iranian artist Monir Farmanfarmaian.
Cyrus
For my part, I really developed my passion for architecture and design when I discovered Jean Prouvé’s work when I was quite young. I’ve also always had a great passion for cars, and it seems to me that this field, which concentrates on systems and aesthetics, plays a significant role in my imagination.
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My parents collected a lot of Art Nouveau furniture, and my eye was largely shaped by this major stylistic school and those that followed.
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TSF
Tell us about the first time you saw this 1960s Parisian apartment.
Cyrus et Jasmine
We found it on Leboncoin. The photos were almost out of focus, which intrigued us. We went to visit because there was a parking space and Cyrus collects and restores old vehicles. When we got there, the place was in a terrible state, and that’s what we were looking for. During the viewing, we realised that the current layout could be completely changed due to the absence of load-bearing walls and the presence of several sets of drains. The residence, built by the architect Roger Anger (who designed the master plan for the town of Auroville in India), also appealed to us immediately. It’s very well-thought-out, and everything has been carefully considered: the quality of the interior space, the orientation, the green spaces between the different buildings.
TSF
How did you go about redeveloping the premises?
Cyrus et Jasmine
We demolished everything, the flat was irretrievable, so there was no remorse. Under the layers of tiles, we’ve rediscovered elements of the first layout, but they were too damaged to use. As far as the layout is concerned, there was initially a small corridor, a separate kitchen, a toilet, a bathroom, a bedroom and a living room side by side. In the new arrangement of the space, putting a sleeping area in the former kitchen allowed us to reclaim a larger area for entertaining by merging the former bedroom and the living room. Of course, we also moved the kitchen into the living area.
TSF
And how did you make most of these 50 m2 of living space?
Cyrus et Jasmine
We really tried to use the 50 m2 to the utmost, reducing the space dedicated to the bed, creating as much built-in storage as possible and maximising the living area.
TSF
Wood is everywhere in your home. How did you work with it, and what did you combine it with?
Cyrus et Jasmine
We decided quite quickly to build storage into the majority of the walls. With this in mind, we turned to custom-made wooden joinery. We worked with a carpenter to treat the wood everywhere to give it a warm colour and make it resistant to stains and wear.
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TSF
Where does your selection of designer furniture come from?
Cyrus et Jasmine
We’re both very attracted to the 50s, 60s and 70s. We don’t have a favourite designer but try to combine pieces from different periods (Prouvé, Jeanneret, Botta, Gae Aulenti, Nakashima and so on).
TSF
What does this interior say about you?
Cyrus et Jasmine
This interior has a certain humility, a restrained feeling, where it’s the details that make up the design but in a way that you hardly notice at first glance.
TSF
Can you recommend any of your personal favourite addresses in the 19th arrondissement?
Cyrus et Jasmine
We often go to the Odilon café by the canal. We enjoy the canal there a lot, especially in summer!
TSF
What does The Socialite Family mean to you?
Cyrus et Jasmine
We’ve only discovered it relatively recently, and we’re delighted to be able to contribute to it with this shoot.
TSF
Where will you see us next?
Cyrus et Jasmine
This autumn, you’ll be able to find me in Senegal finishing off a bioclimatic house that I designed for a client.
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We really tried to use the 50 m2 to the utmost, reducing the space dedicated to the bed, creating as much built-in storage as possible and maximising the living area.
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