Architecture studio RREEL has successfully transformed a third-floor apartment within the historic Immeuble Molitor building in Paris, giving it a contemporary feel while honoring the legacy of legendary architect Le Corbusier, who lived directly above for more than three decades. The renovation project aimed to restore the modernist principles that had been compromised during previous alterations in the 1970s.
Immeuble Molitor, located on the edge of Paris' 16th arrondissement, was designed by Le Corbusier and his close collaborator, Swiss architect Pierre Jeanneret, in 1931. When construction was completed in 1934, Le Corbusier moved into the top two floors of the eight-story building, which he had reserved as his personal living quarters. He remained there until his death in 1965, making the building a significant piece of architectural history.
The apartment that RREEL renovated originally embodied several elements that Le Corbusier considered essential to modern building design, including principles outlined in his famous Five Points of Architecture. These features included an open layout, long ribbon-like windows, and columns instead of load-bearing walls. However, during the 1970s, previous owners significantly altered the space by inserting numerous partitions, installing thick brown carpeting throughout, and painting surfaces an unattractive shade of orange.
When new occupants moved into the apartment last year, they specifically requested that RREEL "restore the atmosphere and qualities of Le Corbusier's work." The studio conducted extensive research into the apartment's historical appearance but deliberately chose not to replicate it exactly. "The plan is entirely contemporary and is not a reproduction of the original state. We had no intention of recreating a pastiche of the 1930s, but rather of taking advantage of the open plan offered by Le Corbusier to create something new," explained Rosalie Robert, co-founder of RREEL.
Robert further elaborated on their design philosophy, stating that "the new interior is conceived as a dialogue of several distinct objects, whose shapes, colors and materials give a historical and poetic echo to the existing building." The renovation process began with completely stripping back all surfaces throughout the home. During this process, workers discovered a layer of wallpaper that Le Corbusier had actually designed for Swiss manufacturer Salubra in the early 1930s. Unfortunately, the wallpaper was too damaged to preserve, leading the studio to paint the walls a clean shade of white instead.
One of the most significant changes involved relocating the kitchen from the back of the apartment to the front, where it was integrated with the lounge area to create a flexible living-dining space. The new kitchen is anchored by a large counter clad in sienna-red tiles, a color that RREEL carefully sourced from Le Corbusier's 1931 Colour Keyboards. This series consisted of complementary color palettes that the architect had curated to capture different interior moods and atmospheres.
Throughout the apartment, the radiators, structural columns, and exposed pipework have all been painted in a specific shade of blue that was present in the original wallpaper discovered during renovation. This attention to historical color accuracy demonstrates RREEL's commitment to honoring Le Corbusier's original vision while creating something entirely new.
A curved wall that RREEL believes was featured in Le Corbusier's original plan has been reinstated and now conceals the bedroom and its adjoining bathroom. The shower in this area is contained by a similar curved wall, covered in the same red tiles used on the kitchen counter, creating visual continuity throughout the space. Additionally, a sink has been cleverly integrated into a concrete ledge that has run beneath the apartment's courtyard-facing windows since the 1930s.
The significance of Immeuble Molitor extends beyond this single apartment renovation. The building has been listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2016, recognizing its importance in architectural history. That same year, the Fondation Le Corbusier launched a comprehensive restoration of Le Corbusier's own apartment on the top floors. This restoration involved repairing the home's peeling walls, restoring original furniture, and refreshing the original paint scheme. The architect's personal apartment reopened to the public in 2018.
The renovation project represents a thoughtful approach to historic preservation, balancing respect for Le Corbusier's modernist principles with contemporary living needs. Rather than creating a museum-like reproduction, RREEL has demonstrated how historic architectural spaces can be adapted for modern use while maintaining their essential character and honoring their creator's vision.
