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About
This Space
Soaring high above the historic heart of the Left Bank, this one-of-a-kind 5 Bedroom/ 4 bathroom duplex apartment with private terrace, and panoramic views, provides the ultimate in Parisian family living. Owned by the German artist Markus Hansen and French writer Valentine de Ganay, this spacious apartment is more than a home: it’s a collector’s haven. Conceived by architect Pierre Louis Falloci, the apartment was designed to maximize light and space and to create a place where Hansen’s exceptional collection of rare furniture could be both used and displayed. Striking a fine balance between aesthetic style and practicality, this Paris apartment rental is a masterpiece in both design and functional family living—perfect for groups of friends or families with children. Aside from the furniture, the apartment’s décor is minimal in order to emphasize the large windows and sweeping views of the sprawling cityscape below.
Designed by landscape artist Pascal Cribier, the apartment’s wraparound balconies and extensive two-story 300m2 (over 3000 sq ft) terrace are undoubtedly its most spectacular features. From this perch high above the Latin Quarter, you can enjoy a 360º panoramic view of Paris that includes the Eiffel Tower, the Pantheon, Sacré Coeur, Notre Dame, and countless other monuments and landmarks.
The apartment occupies the top two floors of a 10-story modern building. Your own private elevator opens into the foyer of apartment’s upper level, where an open dining and living area lead out to the main terrace. Furnished with rare and customized furniture by designers such as Mies van der Rohe and Bruno Mathsson, this area is the perfect place to entertain guests or enjoy a quiet family dinner at home. The airy interior and the outdoor spaces create an ambiance that is both elegant and casual, stunning but comfortable.
During your stay here, you will get a feel for the way that the owners live. From their impressive furniture collection to their children’s toys, Lacépède projects a lived-in yet tasteful vibe that will make you feel instantly comfortable.
The top floor is serviced by a kitchen—one of two kitchens in the apartment. The upper level also includes the master bedroom and l guest bedroom - both with en suite bathrooms - a half-bathroom, and a laundry room that includes a bathtub and sink.
An open wooden staircase leads to the lower level (**Please note: this could be dangerous for small children or anyone with trouble walking). Playful and colorful, this floor was designed with children in mind. From the lime green foyer to the built-in storage shelves stocked with toys, games, books, and DVDs, this space is both aesthetically exquisite and kid-friendly. The three bedrooms on the lower level are painted in bright colors with colorful stenciling on some walls, and eclectically furnished and decorated with whimsical details. This floor includes two full bathrooms, one of which is located off one of the bedrooms. A second kitchen can also be found on this level.
The living room / lounge area of the lower level affords access onto the apartment’s lower balcony, which wraps around three sides of the building. From high atop the city, you can spend hours scanning the skyline for major monuments and attractions.
While the upper level of the apartment is decidedly more “formal” than the lower level, this is a true family apartment. While you may be tempted to spend your entire stay on the apartment’s terrace, you won’t want to miss the surrounding neighborhood. One of Paris’ oldest and most charming areas, the 5th arrondissement offers something for everyone. Just up the hill from the front door of the apartment, you will find the picturesque Place de la Contrescarpe, whose cafés were frequented by writer Ernest Hemingway during Paris’ literary heyday. From here, you can walk down the winding rue Mouffetard where countless boulangeries, patisseries, cheese shops, wine shops, and fruit and vegetable stands await you. On Sundays, there is no better spot for people watching! The open-air market at nearby Place Monge is the perfect place to pick up groceries and flowers on your way home.
A short walk up the hill from the apartment, you will find the stunning Pantheon, where you can visit the tombs of French literary icons Voltaire, Jean-Jacques Rousseau and Emile Zola. Strolling along the Seine river, you can cross over to the charming Ile St. Louis, or continue on to Notre Dame and the famous cafes of St. Germain-des-Prés.
For those craving outdoor space, the nearby Jardin des Plantes and Jardin du Luxembourg provide the perfect backdrops for a morning stroll or an afternoon picnic. There is no better setting in which to wile away the hours and watch the world go by.
Room by room, your luxury Paris vacation rental includes...
UPPER LEVEL
Entryway
• Your own private elevator opens into the apartment’s upper level
• A marble staircase also leads to the upper level from the front door on the floor below
• Wooden chair designed by Marc Newson
• ½ bathroom with toilet and sink
Living / Dining Room:
• Hardwood floors
• Stereo w/ CD player and iPod dock
• Dining room table designed by Martin Szekely (seats 6)
• Jacques Jarrige designed armoire / desk
• Bookshelf by Ron Arad
• Lounge area with designer furniture (accommodates up to 12 people)
• Lounge chair by Bruno Mathsson
• Leather daybed by Mis van der Rohe
• Lamp by Achille Castiglioni
• Lamp by Carlo Scarpa
• Sofa by Warren Platner
• Butterfly chair by Jorge Ferrari-Hardoy, Juan Kurchan &
Antonio Bonet
• 2 coffee tables
• 3 luxurious cow skin rugs
Two-story terrace with garden:
• Designed by Pascal Cribier
• Garden furniture designed by Richard Schultz
• Full garden including many varieties of flowers and potted plants
• Main level with views of northern, western, and southern Paris
• Upper level with exquisite 360º view of Paris and major monuments including the Eiffel Tower, the Pantheon, Sacré Coeur & Montmartre, Notre Dame & Sainte-Chapelle, the Mosquée de Paris, the Tour de Montparnasse, and others…
Upstairs Kitchen and Breakfast Nook:
• Kitchen table designed by Eero Saarinen (seats 4)
• Kitchen ceiling lamp designed by George Nelson
• Fully equipped kitchen with refrigerator / freezer, full dishwasher, oven, 4-burner gas stove, espresso machine, kettle, pots, pans, utensils and everything you might need to cook at home like a true Parisian
Master bedroom and en suite bathroom:
• Access onto wraparound terrace and 180º view of eastern Paris
• King-size bed with high quality fresh linens
• Chair designed by Paul Goldman
• Bedside lamp designed by Serge Mouille
• Large-screen TV with DVD / VCR players
• Large work desk with chair
• Large walk-in closet
• Luxurious suede curtains
to block light when necessary
• Sliding door that can be pulled closed for privacy or left open onto the main hallway
• En suite bathroom: Separate toilet, double pedestal sink, marble tub with handset, access onto balcony, 3 large windows that afford with views of the Pantheon and the Eiffel Tower, plenty of fluffy towels for your comfort
Guest bedroom and en suite bathroom:
• Queen-size bed with high quality fresh linens
• Large work desk (with chair designed by Arne Jacobsen)
• View of the Pantheon and Eiffel Tower
• Bookshelves stocked with books for you to browse
• En suite ½ bathroom: Walk-in shower, small sink, plenty of fluffy towels
Laundry Room:
• Washer and dryer
• Plenty of fluffy towels and fresh linens for your comfort
LOWER LEVEL
Terrace:
• Terrace extends around 3 sides of the building
• Views of eastern, southern and western Paris and major monuments (Pantheon, Tour de Montparnasse, Eiffel Tower, Mosquée de Paris, etc.)
Living / Dining Room:
• Wooden dining designed by Jacques Jarrige (seats 8)
• Built-in shelves designed by Jacques Jarrige, fully stocked with toys, games, DVDs for children
• Ceiling lamp designed by Jacques Jarrige
• Mac Laptop Computer w/ high-speed wireless Internet?
• Television with cable, DVD / VCR players
• Hardwood floors
and large sisal rug throughout
• Lounge area with sofa that seats 6
• Open staircase leading to upper level
Downstairs Kitchen:
• Fully equipped kitchen with refrigerator, freezer, full dishwasher, oven, electric 4-burner stove, pots, pans, utensils, blender, food processor and everything you might need to cook at home
Bedroom 3:
• Twin bunk bed (sleeps 2)
• Armoire, dresser and plenty of storage space
• Child’s desk and chair
Bedroom 4:
• Lofted single bed with work desk underneath
• Armoire and storage closet
• Access onto wraparound terrace
Downstairs Bathroom:
• Walk-in shower with wall-mounted rain shower and handset, double sink, toilet, plenty of fresh towels
Bedroom 5 (with en suite bathroom):
• Lofted single bed with queen bed on lower level (sleeps up to 3)
• Closet and storage cabinets
• Piano
• En suite bathroom: toilet, bowl sink, bathtub and handset, hand-tiled stone floor
The apartment is within walking distance to the Pantheon, Place de la Contrescarpe, rue Mouffetard, Place Monge, the Jardin du Luxembourg, the Jardin des Plantes, the Institut du Monde Arabe, Ile St. Louis, Notre Dame, the Cluny Museum, and the St. Germain-des-Prés neighborhood. Countless cafes, restaurants, boutiques, galleries, and shops are located in this neighborhood.
Whether you are traveling with your family or are interested in renting a space where you can entertain, this apartment affords an unrivaled space in one of Paris’ most-loved neighborhoods. Your time here will be truly unforgettable.
