champagne bar

location: Paris
project type: architectural competition
year: 2014

Designing a small champagne bar on the Seine in the very heart of Paris proved to be a subtle and complex task. The site is surrounded by iconic landmarks — the Pont des Arts, the Louvre, and the Institut de France — and shaped by the everyday life of Parisians and tourists resting along the riverbanks. The narrow riverside plot, located along a busy pedestrian route, offered little room for architectural intervention.

After multiple design iterations, the solution became clear: rather than filling the space, the project should enhance its openness. The final concept connects Quai François Mitterrand (on the upper level) with the riverbank through a lightweight architectural structure in the form of a red steel truss. This minimal, linear structure gently descends from the street level, aligning with the Pont des Arts, and frames the site without obstructing views. By leaving the central part of the promenade untouched, the intervention creates an urban moment - more a passage or gesture than a conventional building.

The project was developed in collaboration with architect Przemysław Smalcerz.