Masterminded by the late Paris-based Japanese fashion designer Kenzo Takada in 1993, the Kenzo House serves as a peaceful retreat, complete with slick, minimalist interiors and plenty of natural light.
Adding to the sense of privacy, the 13,778sq ft, four-story home is located in the courtyard of an 18th-century residential building in the city’s historic Bastille district, a quiet, fashionable enclave of the Rive Droite.
Photos show how the abode boasts its own interior courtyard, with the living spaces leading through to an authentic Japanese garden decked out with a natural-looking stone koi pond, mature bamboo and ornamental trees.
Inside the home, natural woods run throughout, from the ceiling beams to the floorboards, to create a warm and aesthetically pleasing look, while open plan living areas create a feeling of space.
It makes for the perfect family home or place to welcome guests with four bedrooms, six bathrooms, two reception rooms, two dining rooms and two kitchens to work with.
Other perks include a music room, gym, study, a wine cellar, two private parking spaces along with three self-contained suites to accommodate staff.
To move between the floors, there is an elevator as well as stairs.
A unique provenance
Kenzo Takada (1939-2020) was a legend in the fashion industry and his luxury label Kenzo brought fresh life to the ready-to-wear runways of the ’70s, ’80s and ’90s with a mix of colorful and free-spirited designs.
The property listing with Christie’s International Real Estate notes that ‘like his fashion, Kenzo conceived his house as an eclectic convergence of East and West, cultures and art, textures and colors, light and form, with a Zen master’s reverence for nature.’
His original home design project took around seven years to complete.
A redesign by architect Kengo Kuma followed in 2018 and the architect – who is known for grand projects such as Japan National Stadium and Suntory Museum of Art in Tokyo – ensured that the renovation was in line with Kenzo’s vision.
One of his additions includes a traditional tea-ceremony room with tatami mats and sliding doors which open out onto the koi pond.
The Kenzo House is currently offered for sale, price upon request, with Marie-Hélène Lundgreen of Christie’s International Real Estate.
