Surrealist Design Elevates Picassos in Paris Apartment

This article examines Maxime Bousquet’s Paris top-floor apartment—a 3,000-square-foot jewel box that signals a new chapter in his design practice. It blends surrealist motifs with a fully lived-in gallery of art, furniture, and historic objects.

The upper levels were reconfigured to create a spectacular rooftop terrace. The home houses works by Cocteau, Picasso, Sterling Ruby, Bill Viola, Joe Bradley, and others, yet remains a warm, day-to-day residence.

Project scope and concept

Over two and a half years, Bousquet reconfigured the top two floors to better connect living zones. He introduced a dramatic rooftop terrace inspired by Helena Rubinstein’s gardens.

The redesign lowers ceiling heights in places to make the spaces feel more intimate. This also enhances the way daylight moves through the apartment.

Architectural interventions

• Reconfiguration of the top two levels to improve circulation and create sightlines that frame artwork from multiple viewpoints.
• Lowering ceiling heights on select bays to emphasize horizontal relationships and to direct attention toward the terrace and artworks.
• Introduction of a rooftop terrace designed for sculpture display, an outdoor dining area, and an outdoor fireplace—extending the living space outdoors in a daylight-rich environment.
• Careful alignment of glazing and interior volumes to ensure daylight interactively coexists with the art collection.

Material palette and finishes

The project establishes a luxurious material language. Hazelnut travertine runs through key areas, paired with Taj Mahal marble and a glowing Iranian onyx backdrop.

Carved stone fireplaces and blown crystal lamps punctuate the spaces. Objects sourced from Galerie Jacques Lacoste add patina and narrative.

The interiors also feature bronze wall lights with a natural patina, originally used to illuminate a swimming pool. These lights tie the exterior glow to the interior ambiance.

Art, furniture, and objects

The living room merges history with modern craft. 1940s Otto Schultz armchairs sit beside a 1950s T. H. Robsjohn-Gibbings coffee table, creating a dialogue between eras.

The art collection includes Stephan Balkenhol’s 2010 sculpture and a 2023 painting by Ser Serpas, adding contemporary energy. In the entrance hall, Bill Viola’s video Bodies of Light plays beside a ribbon-like staircase.

The bar area showcases vintage pieces, including a monk’s chair and a 1930s Pietro Chiesa pendant. These elements weave historical craft into daily life.

Living with art: daily life in a gallery-like home

Bousquet’s design philosophy centers on letting residents really live with their art, rather than turning the residence into a museum. The interiors celebrate perceptual shifts—moments of awe alongside intimate corners for daily living.

Exterior and rooftop terrace

The rooftop terrace is the project’s outdoor centerpiece. It is designed to host sculptures, dining, and social gatherings by an outdoor fireplace.

The terrace extends the interior’s narrative. It acts as an elevated, garden-like room where sculpture, light, and seating interact with the cityscape.

A 16-foot window framed with floor-to-ceiling velvet curtains inside is a key feature. This window visually connects the terrace’s daylight with the living spaces and creates a dramatic threshold between indoors and outdoors.

• Dedicated terrace space for sculpture display and social dining
• Outdoor fireplace and lounge area to extend evening living
• Garden-inspired design cues translated into architectural and landscape details

 
Here is the source article for this story: Surrealist Design Enhances the Picassos in this Paris Apartment