Champs-Élysées: A Weightless Triplex by César Pupat

Perched between the fifth and seventh floors of a Haussmannian building overlooking the gardens of the Champs-Élysées, this expansive triplex is the work of architect César Pupat. Despite its exceptional vantage point, the apartment lacked any real identity — at the owners' request, it needed to become a light-filled home where the treatment of volumes takes precedence over everything else.

Far from any pursuit of spectacle, César Pupat conceived the top floor as a fully glazed rooftop, envisioned as a meditative retreat — a bubble suspended in the Parisian sky.

Conceived and realized by César Pupat, the project unfolds as a succession of spaces linked by a single intention: to erase the boundaries between indoors and outdoors. The rooftop's glass architecture, made up of massive panels bonded together with no visible joints, runs through the triplex as a unifying thread.

The aesthetic draws on a palette of noble, raw materials: Arabescato quartzite, Smoked Robusta oak, Calacatta marble, and solar-treated glass. Each space develops its own atmosphere, from the rooftop lounge to the dining room, while contributing to an overall coherence carried by light and transparency.

Alongside César Pupat, Silvera supported the project through a furniture selection mission conceived as a natural extension of the architectural intention. The project had to meet several challenges: reinforcing the dematerialization sought by the glass architecture, creating comfortable seating capable of receding in the face of the panoramic view, and offering premium furniture in keeping with the space's raw materials.

Behind every piece selected lies careful sourcing work: exploring collections, comparing finishes, adjusting proportions, weighing usage against architectural intent. The goal was to strike the right balance between design signature, comfort, and discretion within such a spectacular setting.

On the rooftop, the Natté sofa from the Leki collection, by AM.PM, stands as the lounge's centerpiece, paired with DKR chairs by Charles Eames for Vitra, dressed with Soft Seats cushions. Around them, the Carmel side tables designed by OEO Studio for Gubi, and the Cambio table by Victor Carrasco for Viccarbe, punctuate the space with sculptural accents that echo the glass structure.

In the kitchen and adjoining living areas, the Lauren side table by Draga & Aurel, for Baxter, softens the mineral quality of the Arabescato quartzite and Smoked Robusta oak.

In the dining room, the Anaïs pouf by Draga & Aurel, for Baxter, completes the space's color palette in a nod to the Scarlet rug by the same brand.

In the living room, facing the Clara modular sofas by Christophe Delcourt, a second version of the Anaïs pouf pairs with the Moulin armchair by Pierre Paulin, for Artifort, whose yellow hue brings a chromatic breath of fresh air against the Calacatta marble fireplace.

The triplex conceived by César Pupat illustrates the role furniture curation can play in a high-end interior architecture project. When conceived in harmony with the architectural intention, furniture becomes an essential lever for translating an atmosphere into an experience. It enhances transparency, underscores volumes, and gives concrete materiality to the vision carried by the architect and the owners.

Through this project, Silvera reaffirms its conviction: furniture is not limited to furnishing a space. It plays a full part in shaping its identity and the way it is experienced.

This project was featured in issue no. 92 of Côté Paris, published in June-July 2024.

Architect : César Pupat
Furniture Consultant : Silvera
Photo Credits : Nicolas Millet