A Dated Flat in a Building by None Other Than Le Corbusier Gets a Reverent Refresh

In 2010, Michel Noiset and his wife, Danielle Noiset-Lekeu, were living in Germany, but they longed to return to Geneva, where Michel had lived for 30 years. When they heard there was an opening in the Immeuble Clarté, a building designed by Le Corbusier and his cousin Pierre Jeanneret and finished in 1932 in the lively Eaux-Vives neighborhood, they jumped at the opportunity because of the location, light, and views. "My first impression was that I found the building superb. It was a jewel," says Michel, 78, a former electronics engineer and IT executive. The couple purchased the five-room, 1,345-square-foot flat, which had not been altered since 1975.

Danielle, a former interior designer, reached out to Brigitte Jucker-Diserens of DVK Architects to collaborate on a renovation that would honor the clarity of Le Corbusier’s vision and unfold over a quick four months thanks to the efficiency of the craftsmen they hired. New electrical and plumbing systems were put in, while original elements such as the wood floor, radiators, and doors were preserved.

Upon entry, one is greeted with a deep-red wall painted with Rouge Vermillon from Les Couleurs Le Corbusier, a historical palette of 63 original colors created by the maestro in 1931 and 1959. To take advantage of the second-floor view, the main room was divided into two; a custom oak-and-steel dining table by Geneva architect F. Joss and vintage 3103 wood chairs by Arne Jacobsen were placed in the north-facing dining room. Diagonally across is a Dossier Basculant armchair designed by Charlotte Perriand, Pierre Jeanneret, and Le Corbusier in 1929. Sitting catty-corner is a modular gray sofa, juxtaposed with work by Swiss artist Carmen Perrin above. "You have the impression that the flat is bigger than it is. The circulation is wonderful," Michel says.