Research to reinvent the French residential model – after the traditional family.
Status: Delivered, 2020
Client: Bouygues Immobilier
Type: Residential, Coliving
Scope: Interior Design Concept, Innovation Research, Look & Feel Guidelines
Size: Average of 6,000 m2, Adaptive
For Bouygues Immobilier, one of the largest developers and operators in France, we developed a comprehensive ‘look & feel’ interior brand experience and guidelines for their new shared living brand (formerly Koumkwat). The project focuses on all-inclusive services that can flexibly accommodate short, mid, and long stays.
This mission included defining ideal ratios between private and shared spaces, multi-function spatial programming, curation of materials, color palettes, and furniture, and the design strategy of how the brand will scale across multiple sites.
With the ambition to develop over 15 sites in France, our work is ongoing and multidisciplinary, including architecture, interior design, innovation research, custom furniture and interior fittings, feasibility studies, and artistic direction for photo, video, exhibition, print materials, etc.
How can we balance generous shared spaces and compact, intimate living space?
It’s only possible to live together if there is always the possibility to be alone.
Different levels of shared space offer different kinds of interaction, intimacy, socialization, and community building. Our design helps to make it easy for residents to appropriate any space to feel ownership and comfortably at home.
Reconfigurable Private Spaces
To reimagine the potential of compact private spaces, we worked to make it simple and intuitive to reconfigure studios for a range of different activities: sleeping, eating, working, socializing, relaxing, yoga, etc.
Modular, multi-use furniture, sliding partitions, smart storage give residents flexibility to adapt the space to their ever-changing needs.
Reconfigurable Private Space
To reimagine the potential of compact private spaces, we worked to make it simple and intuitive to reconfigure studios for a range of different activities: sleeping, eating, working, socializing, relaxing, yoga, etc.
Modular, multi-use furniture, sliding partitions, smart storage give residents flexibility to adapt the space to their ever-changing needs.
How can we hide the bed away to free up space for other activities?
The bed is the thing that takes up the most space in a bedroom. In our design, the bed lifts to disappear into the ceiling, opening up its footprint to be used in other ways during the day.
Concealing the bed also helps to change the perception of the space, freeing residents’ minds to imagine new possibilities and usages beyond a typical ‘bedroom.’
How can we integrate a comfortable kitchen and a generous sink into a compact space?
To expand the kitchen and food prep area, we integrated a folding cabinet that allows residents to quickly hide the sink and tap out of sight, and open them up when needed. This allows the counter space to seamlessly fit residents’ lifestyles and evolving needs. Pictured here, the left side compartments serve as a vanity for everyday items and can act as a direct extension to the bathroom.
How can we integrate a comfortable kitchen and a generous sink into a compact space?
To expand the kitchen and food prep area, we integrated a folding cabinet that allows residents to quickly hide the sink and tap out of sight, and open them up when needed. This allows the counter space to seamlessly fit residents’ lifestyles and evolving needs. Pictured here, the left side compartments serve as a vanity for everyday items and can act as a direct extension to the bathroom.
How can we make the shift between working and eating on a single table effortless?
The ‘Work Station / Dining Table’ is designed with generous drawer space. Here, one side is dedicated to work tools, and the other to eating utensils, allowing residents to easily change the table between working and eating.
How can we rethink compact storage to not consume living space?
To help open up living space, we integrated vertical storage, bookshelves, and cubbyholes throughout the studio. The wardrobe and cabinets are covered with a sliding panel, directly inspired by the Japanese shoji 片引障子 single-rail doors.
How can we rethink compact storage to not consume living space?
To help open up living space, we integrated vertical storage, bookshelves, and cubbyholes throughout the studio. The wardrobe and cabinets are covered with a sliding panel, directly inspired by the Japanese shoji 片引障子 single-rail doors.
How can we rethink extra-compact bathrooms to feel open and spacious?
The bathroom features a full-width mirror and a glazed window in the shower, opening the small room and allowing light to pour in, helping avoid the feeling of being “boxed-in.” Carefully curated materials, open storage, and lighting help to amplify this effect.
It’s only possible to live together if it is always possible to be alone.
What does it mean to live between a compact private space and a generous shared space?
We designed cluster units with shared kitchens and extended living areas to encourage interaction in the community.
Super common spaces (ground floor café, rooftop bar, coworking, events space) are open to the public, integrating the building into the local neighbourhood fabric.
What does it mean to live between a compact private space and a generous shared space?
We designed cluster units with shared kitchens and extended living areas to encourage interaction in the community.
Super common spaces (ground floor café, rooftop bar, coworking, events space) are open to the public, integrating the building into the local neighbourhood fabric.
Material Curation
1. Valchromat – INVESTWOOD.PT
2. Hammered Oak Veneer – OBERFLEX
3. Canvas 2 – KVADRAT
4. Pico Tiles – MUTINA
5. Fenix NTM – Arpa
6. Origami Acoustic Pulp Panel – BAUX
7. Wired Glass – Sisecam Flat Glass
8. Y-D Woods – Ducerf
9. Floyd Screen – KVADRAT
10. Hot-Rolled Steel Fittings – Cutwork
Project Summary
1. 🏡
Designing a built-to-rent residence that leaves enough ‘blank space’ for inhabitants to personalize and feel at home.
2. 🛏
Reimagining the bedroom space to flexibly accommodate a wide range of usages.
3. 🔆
Defining different levels of intimacy—private, semi-private, public—to make shared living comfortable.
“ Cutwork brings the best of international practices and designers to build the new standards of living and working today.
— Augustin Rousseau
Head of Coliving at Bouygues Immobilier
Modular architecture
for the next urban era
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