At a time when most architects dream only of superlative descriptors and building immense structures, Antonin Ziegler seeks to return to the very foundations of architecture, namely, the private home. This philosophy can be traced back to the Parisian’s earliest strides, where he wrote his student dissertation on the most basic of architectural components - the wall. After graduating in 2003, he quickly ascended the ranks of large firms such as Paul Chemetov in Paris, CBA Architecture in Rouen, and YH2 in Montréal before returning to Paris in 2012. Here, he founded his own studio, firmly focused on the architecture of the personal domain. Antonin Ziegler’s own space, which he conceived for himself, his partner, and his architectural studio, was built upwards on a plot of 35m² on a quiet street in a suburb of the city. Standing narrow and tall behind an iron gate, Le 107, as it has come to be known, is a sculptural portrait of the independent architect, which he invited us to discover.

What makes Le 107 work is a mix of verticality and openness. It feels bigger than it is. The ground floor, for example, opens with large bay windows towards the street in the front and with a patio extension to the back, effectively enlarging the interior space both ways. The upper two floors are just as open and cascade into one another via sets of stairs. It’s a loft—but vertical. I’m generally drawn to the idea that rooms can be interchangeable, that their purpose isn’t set in stone. I wanted my home to be somewhat dreamlike, to live by its own rules.

For me there is no difference between the two—there can’t be any as a building must be considered as a whole. I draw the exterior facades at the same time as I conceive the interior, and I can’t imagine working in any other way. It would be like a painter who only paints half the picture. It’s all about maintaining the cohesiveness of the vision.

I do indeed. When I take on a project now, I only design what I am capable of getting done myself. This is what I like about the scale of the individual house: I can realize my vision independently and remain in full control. But there’s more to it: I enjoy designing homes because they’re the very essence of architecture; one of our most primal instincts is to find shelter. As an architect, the first thing you sketch is a line delimiting space on which a wall is built.