Pannecau Apartment Renovation in Bayonne, France by Concheiro de Montard.

Hidden behind the facade of a traditional French house in Bayonne lies a renovated heritage apartment masterminded by Concheiro de Montard.

The architects refer to the central division of the apartment as The Equator – on each side lies a double bay, with three beams between dividing walls. Two rooms that face south, towards the street, feature new double shutters and a pattern of vertical strips under the windows. An original wide-board dark timber floor adds texture in the space that’s otherwise been painted in crisp white.

In the living room there are traces of an old wall – an alcove from another time. The timber paneling is interrupted by a door frame, small alcove cutouts provide views from one room to another, heritage elements are retained in some of the areas, while in others contemporary finishes and forms counterbalance the existing features. The kitchen feels like the most contemporary room in the apartment, featuring crisp joinery, raised pine-timber and cement tile flooring that ads visual interest.

Although the interior of the apartment feels quite complex and layered, featuring a melange of finishes and materials, the end result has been masterfully balanced by the Swiss architecture firm. Respect.

[Images courtesy of Concheiro de Montard. Photography by José Hevia.]