Stéphane Plaza presents the Espaciel reflector

Stéphane Plaza explains the problem to Sylvain Juster

Stéphane Plaza submits an issue to Sylvain Juster, architect of the TV show Mieux chez Soi. This issue concerns many homeowners: How to bring natural light into a ground floor interior? The challenge is simple : to let in as much light as possible or to play with light to brighten these rooms. Olesia, a client of the agency, has the problem of not having enough light in her living room.

Owner : Olesia
Type of accommodation : Apartment on the ground floor
City : Bourg-la-Reine
Opening : French window
Room : Living room
Model to be installed : Balcony Reflector and Garden Reflector

“A lot of people buy ground floors. The problem is what? Humidity and/or light. »
Stéphane Plaza

In the ground-floor dwellings, many negative points are evoked such as a north-facing orientation, the balconies of the upper floors preventing the sun from entering the house…

Nicolas Juster’s challenge :

Bring in as much natural light as possible
Do not do any work
Making the room more pleasant for the comfort of the occupants

CONTEXT OF OLESIA’S APARTMENT

Olesia’s ground floor apartment

This is the case of Olesia, she lives in a ground floor apartment. It faces west and the neighbour’s balconies cantilever over the room’s bay windows. The living room is grey, electric lighting is essential for her to have light in her living room. She wants to find a solution to bring as much light as possible into her ground floor apartment.

SEARCH FOR SOLUTION AND PROPOSAL OF SYLVAIN JUSTER

Sylvain Juster’s explanation for bringing light into an apartment

“I’m going to put up reflective panels in the garden that will bathe the living room in light. »
Sylvain Juster

The Balcony Reflector on the balustrade of Olesia

To naturally light up Olesia’s living room, we put the Balcony Reflector parallel to its bay window. The Espaciel Reflector is 35x 80cm. There are different sizes. They are reflective panels that can be placed either on a railing, in front of a window or a French window. They will seek the luminosity of the sky and by following the inclination they will redirect the light in the room.

And to bring more light, Sylvain went further. This ground floor apartment is west facing, an exposure that allows light only at the end of the day. To solve this problem, the architect installed the Garden Reflector outside. It is placed on a post, high up, and is therefore oriented above the level of the bushes that are planted in the garden.

The Garden Reflector in Olesia’s garden

For a few hundred euros you can install an Espaciel Reflector and gain up to 50% extra brightness, which is not negligible. Moreover it is not a mirror, it is a specific alloy which is resistant to rain, bad weather and all external elements.

Stéphane Plaza with Sylvain Juster and Olesia