There’s a lot we could and should say about Paris but one thing’s for sure, it’s not what you would call a haven of peace. There’s still a lot of traffic, people tend to be in a hurry and as is the case for most cities, the hustle and bustle never stops. There’s always a siren to be heard, a car in sight or a neighbour too close by. It’s a great place to live when you’re called Emily but for many Parisians, life’s mainly expensive for what you get in return. For most, that is.
Fast forward to the eleventh district, to the Rue Sedaine. On the street corner lies the entry to a house that’s barely, if not at all, visible from the street. And once you’re inside, you quickly realise you’ve not come to just any Parisian home. This minimalist villa has an undeniable uniqueness, which can most certainly be explained by its former owner, no one else than fashion designer Kenzo Takada, aka the man behind world-famous fashion house Kenzo.
Surely, Kenzo didn’t just leave the premises. The astonishing villa was built in 1989 and remained in the hands of Takada until 2009, when it was bought by Frenchman Pascal Breton for a whopping 12 million euros. In 2014, it exchanged hands once again when it got purchased by French entrepreneur Olivier Chouvet for a non-disclosed price. And now, it has been put on the market once again by Christie’s International Real Estate. Asking price unknown, but bound to be on the higher side for sure.
Since it was built in 1989, the villa underwent a massive renovation in 2018. That renovation was carried out by architect Kengo Kuma, who is a bit of a celebrity in his domain. The Japan National Stadium and the Suntory Museum of Art in Tokyo are just a few examples of his work, even if he has done some residential projects as well.
So what do you get for that undisclosed price? A lot. As in about 1.300 square meters, with no less than four bedrooms and six bathrooms. There are several receptions rooms, two dining rooms and two kitchens. And as if that weren’t enough, it included three self-contained studio apartments for your staff, a koi pond and a fitness room, amongst others. In other words: not your usual Parisian apartment. All designed in a minimalist, Japanese style, including a lot of cedar wood, gigantic windows opening onto the garden and rice paper doors. Perfect if you’re looking for a relaxing headquarter in Paris.
