Architect Anthony Authie, the founder of Zyva Studio, lives with his girlfriend and dog in Bagnolet, France. Their 600-square-foot maximalist loft features all manner of riotous color contrasts, it’s a pure explosion of shapes, vibrant hues, and striking furniture. “In my design, I’ve tried to work in humor and a bit of irony to challenge the expectations that people can have of architects and traditional architecture,” says Anthony. The design concept behind the apartment reflects his free spirit, with all its sparkle and playfulness, and his passion for comics.
For this surprising universe, the couple developed a fresh concept that breaks with traditional notions of what an apartment should be. The floor is covered with a smooth gray terrazzo, which is repeated on the tabletop and kitchen countertop, contrasting with the bright colors to provide a calm, mesmerizing element. Metallic highlights in the kitchen draw attention as well. Along with the general air of playfulness, the pop culture inspiration gets pretty granular. The metal fronts of the cabinets pay homage to the costume worn by Mr. Freeze, a villain from Joel Schumacher’s Batman & Robin film, and all of the kitchen handles were 3D-printed to resemble the spiny turtle shells seen in the Mario Bros. franchise.
A narrow staircase behind the kitchen leads to the bedroom. Here, too, the architect plays with the fantasy world—you just have to look closely to spot it. Once in the bedroom, the fantastical energy is hard to ignore, between the intentionally kitschy “it” piece—a curtain with a printed flame motif—and the vibrant yellow walls. “Imagining this room as a sunny, small, and completely glassed-in hut perched in the clouds helps me have beautiful dreams,” he says. Every aspect of these 600 square feet is indeed carefully thought out to reflect pure joy.