Industrial Revelation
You would expect to see grand but demure apartments in pretty French cities and industrial style lofts in downtown Manhattan. The discovery of an industrial style apartment in the historic town of Colmar in France therefore comes as a bit of a surprise.
This unexpected mashup is courtesy of London-based design studio OZA, who are masters at injecting modernity into historic buildings. Their skills are put to great use at this 2,700 square feet apartment. It is located in a modernist block built in 1912, one of the first buildings in Colmar to use reinforced concrete. The apartment has extensive industrial features such as exposed brick walls and large steel-framed windows. The latter are echoed in the use of steel-framed glass panels as internal walls, which let light into the inward-facing rooms. Floor-to-ceiling curtains can be drawn across the glass partitions to provide privacy, a stylish design gesture which also adds an element of softness and drama.
The blocky concrete kitchen counter top provides a sculptural focal point for the apartment. The design is reflected in the living room, with the sofa and chaise longue in bold geometric shapes. The two areas are separated by custom made open shelves with metal poles and wooden planks which resemble building scaffolding. In fact, much of the fixtures and cabinetry are custom made by local craftsmen in a nod to the artisanal heritage of the building. The monochrome colour scheme creates a cool and sleek atmosphere, the natural wood and rattan finishes of the dining chairs the only flash of colour amongst the blacks and greys.
Despite the masculine styling, the apartment feels warm and welcoming, no doubt helped by the generosity of light and space. A testament to the beauty of loft living.
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Product Inspiration
For a similar blocky sofa to the one in the Milo apartment try the Step Sofa from Viccarbe. It will look great with the Frederic Daybed from Collector and the Metrica Shelves from Mogg.
The sleek and dramatic Sahn Chandelier from 101 Copenhagen would look great over the dining table or kitchen counter. For an industrial look try the 90 Degrees Wall Light from Frama and the Spring Floor Light from Diesel Living.
For accessories go for simple shapes with a sculptural impact, such as the Cricket Hanger with Mirror from Woak, the Secant Jug from Atelier Polyhedre and the Taylor Valet from Stellar Works.
