Kenzo Takada, late founder of the Kenzo fashion brand, was known for his bold use of colour. Yet his unique vision and vibrant style extended beyond the realm of fashion and into his personal life, as evidenced by his stunning Parisian home, in a quiet corner of bustling Bastille on the Rive Droite.

Three years after the designer’s death, The Kenzo House is now on the market with Christie’s. A four-storey home located within the courtyard of a traditional 18th-century building, it was initially created by Takada in 1993, but its architectural history has many layers.

Takada, who was inspired by his adopted city and designers such as Yves Saint Laurent, sought to create a more serene space that reminded him of his native Japan. The cedar-clad seven-bedroom house is a blend of Eastern and Western design with its own interior courtyard. Four storeys in all, it features a subtle extravagance that is reflective of the designer’s personal style.

The original 13,778-square-foot, four-storey house took seven years to complete. Then, in 2018, a new owner hired acclaimed Japanese architect Kengo Kuma to redesign it entirely. Kuma is known to use natural materials like bamboo, stone and wood to create deep, intimate connections with nature and his redesign of The Kenzo House was no exception. The architect reoriented each of the four main en-suite bedrooms to face the stunning landscape gardens, complete with cherry trees, maples, bamboo, moss, rocks, and waterfalls – all intended to mimic the tranquillity of the Japanese landscape. This created a seamless connection between the interior and exterior spaces.

‘Transparency is a characteristic of Japanese architecture,’ Kuma said of this building philosophy. ‘I try to use light and natural materials to get a new kind of transparency.’

Kuma refined the interiors with French oak louvers and floors that complement the original wood finishes. New oak floors all sit flush with the lawns and stonework outside. The house also boasts music and fitness rooms, a study, elevator and three staff studio apartments. The elegant stone bathtub is the perfect place to unwind and enjoy the breathtaking view.

Beyond the façade, enhanced with cedar shingles, teak and clay, is a garden featuring a stone pond filled with orange nishiki carp, which add to the distinctly Japanese sense of tranquility that permeates the property. The outdoor engawa, crafted from wooden latticing, offers an atmospheric entertaining space.

The Kenzo House is a testament to Takada’s East-West style influences. Born in Japan in 1939, he moved to Paris in 1965, where he established his eponymous fashion label. In contrast with his global aesthetic employing bright colour and animal print, it makes sense the designer sought a more sober living space that reminded him of home.

‘A Japanese pavilion with a traditional tea-ceremony room with tatami mats and shoji sliding doors opens to the koi pond,’ according to the listing.

Takada’s affection for Paris was evident throughout his career. He often drew inspiration from the city’s vibrant culture and rich history, though he once remarked that, upon arriving at a Paris train station in 1965, he found the city to be ‘dismal and bleak’. (He changed the characterisation to ‘magnificent’ after passing Notre Dame.) He went on to establish himself as one of the most influential designers of his time, popularising his unique Japanese-European aesthetic. His use of colour and pattern helped redefine fashion in the 1970s and ’80s, and his influence on the fashion industry continues to be felt today.

The sale of The Kenzo House represents a rare opportunity to own a piece of fashion and design history.

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