Coralie Gruit's Bagnolet Duplex: Raw Concrete and Bold Color
In Bagnolet, France, architect Coralie Gruit has reimagined two stacked units from the 2000s into a unified duplex. The renovation reveals the building's skeletal structure, highlighting a central concrete beam that supports a newly created slab opening. A diagonal pathway traverses the living areas, forming a triangular cut in the floor slab for the staircase. The original slab is marked by dark concrete, while new elements are defined by white aggregate. A bright yellow volume encases the staircase, making it a luminous focal point. The kitchen features yellow polyethylene cabinetry and counters, reminiscent of poultry colors. A deep blue ceiling delineates the entry and sanitary areas, while a soft peach volume rests beneath the concrete beam on the lower level. Gruit developed her skills at various firms in Paris and New York, and this project exemplifies a trend in French residential design that merges historical context with modern requirements.
Key facts
- Coralie Gruit transformed two stacked units in a 2000s-era building in Bagnolet, France, into a duplex.
- The interior was stripped to expose a primary concrete beam supporting a new slab opening.
- A diagonal path creates a triangular opening in the floor slab for the staircase.
- Dark concrete marks the original slab; white aggregate distinguishes new interventions.
- A vibrant yellow volume encapsulates the vertical circulation, turning the staircase into a glowing core.
- The kitchen features polyethylene cabinetry and counters in a yellow tone used for poultry.
- A deep blue horizontal ceiling organizes entrance and sanitary spaces.
- A soft peach-colored volume sits under the concrete beam on the lower level.
- Gruit worked at firms in Paris and New York before this project.
- The project exemplifies 'archaeological' renovations in French residential design.
Entities
Artists
- Coralie Gruit
Locations
- Bagnolet
- France
- Paris
- New York