Showering Above The Rooftops Of Paris –With a Superplan In a Chambre de Bonne

Living space has always been scarce and expensive in the city of love. For years, there has been a huge demand for the so-called “Chambre de Bonne” in Paris - former attic rooms that were occupied by the staff of aristocrats, business people and major industrialists until the 20th century.

Architect Massimo De Conti has transformed one such space with a living area of just 11 square metres; close to the centrally located Gare du Nord into a compact mini-apartment. At the centre of his design is a shower with a Superplan shower surface from Kaldewei.

Photo: Marco Guastalla

This Parisian micro-apartment on the sixth floor of a Haussmann-era building contains a String

Shelving desk, a Bensen daybed and a Vitra armchair, perfect for a brief visit. The apartment is primarily intended for short stays, business appointments or simply a weekend à la Seine. Architect Massimo De Conti has made a virtue of the lack of space here.

The architect from Milan has been working for the London studio of Claudio Silvestrin for 25 years, whose philosophy of an elegant and never ostentatious style is in demand worldwide. His designs never fail to impress with their sensitivity, clarity and inventiveness – an approach that also suits Kaldewei perfectly.

The name of the maid's attic rooms is derived from the colloquiel term “Bonne à tout faire“ which could be best translated as "girl for everything". People sleep or work on their laptops in the eleven square metres of the Chambre de Bonne in Paris. 

Every centimetre of the original design and layout was important. The entire interior was developed around the capsule shower within which sits the customised Superplan. The shower surface from Kaldewei offers elegant aesthetics and a high level of comfort. Its low installation height makes the Superplan ideal for sanitary solutions in the Tiny Living sector, such as in this converted attic.

In addition to the bathroom area, the modernised Chambre de Bonne has a small pantry and a mini kitchen with a microwave, fridge and cooker, which can be pulled out when needed. The wooden screen originally planned for the shower capsule has been given a metal finish, which provides more light throughout the room. Both natural and artificial light is moderately intensified by the subtly shimmering surface. The dominant white and metal surfaces are accentuated by the three shades of blue chosen for the wall and the floor is a sophisticated midnight blue. Finally, the daybed, armchair and desk provide a warm contrast bringing harmony with their softer brown tones.