JEAN-FRANCOIS Met opens his doors and offers a peek into his private sanctuary on the top floor of a six-floor 1940s building on the corner of Gao'an and Kangping roads. The Frenchman finds that he gravitates toward what is simple and relaxed and this 180-square-meter very lived-in flat best reflects his tastes and design sensibilities.

An old apartment in the former French concession area, this home still exhibits its age in small ways that give it a certain character. "Compared to other old flats I've visited, this building and the flat itself features great shape and is very well maintained. It's not too cramped and so you end up with excellent views," he said.

Changes have been made to it structurally to meet today's living standards, and Met has exerted his influence in terms of decoration.

One of the highlights is the top floor of the building which affords the apartment a spectacular view of the surrounding area, considered as one of the best areas in Shanghai. Standing on the spacious rooftop terrace, surveying rows of platane trees, a good mix of old and new architecture plus the warm smell of spring makes for a picturesque street view.

Met tried to let the light do the work for him as he got such wonderful natural illumination from almost all directions. It bathes the whole apartment, which has a distinct shape allowing an almost 360 degree view.

While Met was sympathetic to the history of the building, he still wanted a modern home designed for the 21st century. The whole place was emptied, and everything has been rebuilt from scratch. Regarding the design of the original space, it was unique and gave Met a lot of room to play with. By utilizing the uncommon layout, such as the curved line crosses throughout the apartment and the circular guest bedroom, a homely and stylish space is created. The space is opened wide, creating a sense of openness and an airy feeling for anyone who sets foot in Met's home.

Primarily, he wanted to make sure that the overall design would not block the view and this would also cater to the homeowner's belief about allowing for natural ventilation and light to filter freely within the space. He ensured that one end of the apartment would be visible from the other, creating a larger and roomier feel.

"At my home it is important to have a feeling of happiness like vacations," Met said. "Friends visiting or staying at my home always share the same feelings: they feel totally relaxed in this bright, peaceful space in the middle of the city."

The 30-square-meter terrace is such a luxury in the city and Met's favorite spot in the house. To make such an inviting terrace, he imagined a living space and expanded it, creating a relaxing oasis with lush plants, comfortable wood lounging areas and a sun umbrella. It is a great venue for small parties, meals and conversation with friends and cocktails at sunset.

The owner of this two-bedroom apartment is a simple man thus simplicity rules in this home with the design theme more along the lines of comfortably lived-in. He focused on the basic design with clean, modern silhouettes, with some stand-out pieces.

A modern style requires only a few, well chosen pieces to establish the environment in a room. Only a small selection of eye-catching items set the tone for an entire space without overdoing it. The green Yoda chair designed by the world famous Filipino designer Kenneth Cobonpue looks more like a piece of sculpture here. Made of rattan vines woven through a strong steel frame, it is actually very comfortable especially when leaning back on the vines. And another chair created by famous Chinese artist Shao Fen is the best gift Met ever received. Amazingly, the modern-style interior has been achieved with a few basic choices, showing a sophistication of selection. To compliment this, Met kept the color choice down to a minimum as well.

Here and there a few artifacts and art pieces that Met has picked up in China and on his travels lend a somewhat eclectic lived-in feel.

The two bedrooms in this apartment have been designed to meet the needs of the homeowner. The smaller guest bedroom has a round shape, so fitting perfectly into the cozy alcove is a circular bed and an orange ceiling light to give the all-white room a soothing warmth. Met's master bedroom is also a cozy and inviting area demonstrating a practical minimalist style.

The kitchen is also a lesson in minimalism. Straight lines, sharp edges and clean surfaces flatter the whitewash feel. The cabinets are convincingly hidden from view and the counters provide a sleek and smooth work surface.

The small area facing the bar counter is a breakfast space where three small tables are placed with a long bench. "I can easily move the tables to the terrace or create a romantic dinner in this small space."

The open and clean concept carries on throughout the home and into the bathrooms. It's surprising that the bathrooms take on a design personality of their own. The master bathroom is decorated with a comfortable Jacuzzi bathtub and home exercise equipment where Met loves to spend quality time.

The homeowner chose natural colors and materials, and the words "fresh" and "clean" were the themes for this apartment.

Who is he?

Denis Montel is architect DPLG, managing and artistic director of RDAI and RDAI Architecture. Born in Paris in 1967, and graduated from the Paris School of Architecture at La Defense, he is a member of the French Order of Architects. He has participated in many architecture competitions and worked with a range of architecture agencies from 1992 to 1999. His experience is at the crossroads of several disciplinary fields of architecture, from reflection on the urban environment to the specific design of domestic spaces and demanding programs. In 1999, he joined Rena Dumas at her agency RDAI and co-directed the design and completion of Hermes boutiques and "houses" all over the world as well as the agency's major projects. In 2008, with Dumas and Nicolas Karmochkine, he founded the agency RDAI Architecture, a sister company of RDAI. After Dumas passed away in 2009, Montel became managing director and artistic director of the two agencies.

Tell us some of your works, and name the one you are most proud of.

Our agency became a specialist in the luxury sector. We work a lot with Hermes Group all over the world. Currently, we have two important projects in Shanghai: the first is the extension work of the existing Hermes shop in Plaza 66, and the second is the renovation of a building on Huaihai Road. That will be a type of "cultural embassy" for Hermes which will include exhibition space, showroom and retail. The project I'm most proud of is always the last one. And the last one was a very important shop for Hermes: the new Left Bank store in Paris. The store, finished five months ago, is transformed from the former swimming pool built in 1935. The idea was to develop a harmonious dialogue between the origin and the present. This 12-meter-high huge space is composed of three wooden structures that disrupt the proportions of the existing space. The invasion of what was once the pool by these huts, flexible, light and nomadic, suggests the creation of houses within the house. The use of a lot of wood warms up the space. Playing with materials is fantastic. We have somebody at the agency in charge of researching and finding new materials so we are always open to new materials.

Are you currently involved with any project?

We're involved with the design of all Hermes stores in India, USA, Japan and Singapore.

Describe your design style.

I'm always trying to express contemporary architecture on a classic basis. The proportions, quality and details are very important as a solid basis, and the expression can be very different depending on the projects. We are working on a lot of concepts before the actual construction. We are always very close with the clients to understand their philosophies and ideas.

Where are you most creative?

I never know where and when the ideas come from. My ideas always come from a mix of different things: discussions, sketches, images and objects in life.

What does your home mean to you?

Privacy and intimacy.

What do you collect?

I'm not a collector. I like the collections of others but I don't like many objects surrounding me. I love objects but only for my eyes.

Where would you like to go most in Shanghai?

I don't know Shanghai very much but really want to discover this amazing city.

What will be the next big design trend?

Now people really appreciate knowing the stories behind the design. I think it's interesting to design a space where people can read the stories. I feel that the trend will shift more toward warm, humanist design.