jean couvreur + NeM reimagine workshops at the cité des arts

jean couvreur design and NeM architects are co-signing the renovation of both the equipment & open space of the 3 live-in workshops of the ministry of culture at the cité internationale des arts in paris. the proposition aims to make the workshops as functional as possible, through rooms with specifically designed furniture: perfectly white spaces easy to repaint, black technical furniture easy to accessorize.

the proposition aims to make the workshops as functional as possible
all images by matthieu gauchet

built in 1965 by architects paul tournon & olivier-clément cacouble, the cité internationale des arts has since always been used for the artistic practice. with more than 300 live-in workshops, the building welcomes artists from around the world year round, articulating both living and working spaces. in december 2015, the ministry of culture and communications entrusted jean couvreur design and NeM architects with the collaborative renovation of 3 of these live-in workshops.

the cité internationale des arts was built in 1965 by architects paul tournon & olivier-clément cacouble

painters, sculptors, but also other visual artists and even musicians find their way in the varied artistic residency programs. this variety of artistic fields requires a unique conception of space for each individual. the international nature of the cité des arts strengthens the need for living spaces capable of meeting their residents’ many different customs and lifestyles.

the variety of artists in residence requires a unique conception of space

the project presents itself as a neutral ground meant to be inhabited, divided into volumes that invite the resident to reconfigure freely as best to fit their use of space. a wide range of accessories are at hand to help them build their own living and working spaces. as such, the bedroom may shift into a screening room, or the workshop into an art gallery. the kitchen can be camouflaged behind a magnetic panel and the chairs, trestles and boards are easily piled up and stored away thus freeing the space entirely.

a wide range of accessories are at hand to help them build their own living and working spaces

dimmer equipped lighting and removable overhead fixtures allow the artists to either recreate the bright atmosphere of a roomy gallery or to give the necessary precision of a workstation lamp. the wall becomes the easel, the hand lamp a nightstand addition, and the canvases suspended from the ceiling structure redefine the space as a whole.

chairs, trestles and boards are easily piled up and stored away thus freeing the space entirely

residents can recreate a bright + roomy gallery or the precision of a workstation lamp

lighting sticks in powder coated steel can be screwed onto the suspension bars

coasters allow items of furniture to be easily reconfigured

the wall becomes the easel, the hand lamp a nightstand addition

legs are easily folded for compact storing

easy to repaint, easy to accessorize

project info:

project: complete renovation
location: cité internationale des arts, rue de l’hôtel de ville, 75004 paris
surface: 3 apartments of 40 m2
specific furniture: stackable chair, armchair, bed, trolley, trestle, suspension bar, shelves, lighting and accessories in black thermo-lacquered steel, honeycomb sandwich trays and black valchromat
steel manufacturer: atelier vdnb
photographs: matthieu gauchet

designboom has received this project from our ‘DIY submissions‘ feature, where we welcome our readers to submit their own work for publication. see more project submissions from our readers here.

edited by: peter corboy | designboom