discover the transformation of a concrete bunker into modern housing

In the former Coop industrial site in Strasbourg, a couple transformed a raw space into a cozy five-story loft. Between exposed concrete and precious wood, their inverted duplex offers a modern vision of industrial housing, while preserving the historic soul of the place.

We will take you to Strasbourg, to the port of the Rhine, to the former Coop industrial site. It was here that, more than a century ago, workers came together in a cooperative to create a distribution company. Today, the Coop no longer exists and the buildings are taking on a new life. In this new episode of Cozy, the decoration magwe set off to discover a loft like no other, nestled in the heart of the former Coop site. Mélissa, a photographer of Quebec origin, and Manu, her Belgian companion, open the doors of their atypical apartment to us, the result of a participatory project bringing together 39 accommodations.

It was Mélissa's dream to live in a place with an industrial look: “I grew up in an American-style suburb. When I was a teenager, I often rode my bike around the old port of Montreal. I saw industrial buildings converted into lofts and it made me dream.” It was on the fifth and last floor that the couple set down their suitcases. Shall we visit?

The duplex is organized in an inverted manner, with an office space, a workshop, a bedroom and a bathroom on the ground floor.

The concrete staircase, a true architectural piece, leads to the main living spaces.

On the upper floor, under an asymmetrical framework culminating at four meters in height, there is a vast open space. This space did not exist. It was the roof of the Coop. In the living area, you are immersed outside thanks to a huge wall of windows. Outside, there are BSOs (adjustable sunshades). They were part of the architectural design of the building to avoid heat storage inside. The advantage of BSOs is that they adapt to a particular architecture. The blades are cut to measure. The disadvantage is that total darkness is less effective.

The floor was made of poured cement, then sanded to bring out the gravel. The advantage of this type of floor is that they are very easy to install because they require a thinner layer than polished concrete. However, they are not recommended in humid rooms because they are very porous.

The heart of the loft revolves around a generous kitchen, designed as a living room. The owners chose noble materials such as Okoumé, a pink-tinted wood from the Congo, used both for furniture and paneling. For this type of wood, you need to count between 30 and 80 euros per square meter. The worktop is white marble. The couple chose it by bringing a sample of Okoumé to the marble shop.

A large central table is reminiscent of Belgian farmhouses, while open furniture creates a traditional china cabinet ambiance.

The exterior offers a breathtaking view of the transforming neighborhood. “I consider the terrace to be my observation point of the landscape”confides Mélissa. The owner is a photographer and decided to carry out a project to document the evolution of this wasteland. The couple cleverly recycled trolleys from the old Coop into outdoor armchairs.

This renovation perfectly illustrates how an industrial space can be transformed into contemporary housing while retaining its raw character. The mix of noble materials and creative solutions demonstrates that it is possible to create a warm interior in an initially austere environment. Cozy, the decoration magan Ici Grand Est program, to be found on your France 3 channels Alsace, Champagne-Ardenne and Lorraine every Sunday at 12:55 p.m. and onfrance.tv.