Behind the simplicity of its listed facade — a pleasant respite from the sometimes disorienting repetition of elaborately ornamented Haussmannian avenues — three buildings from the sixteenth, seventeenth and eighteenth centuries were brought together, whereby a hodge-podge of different volumes and ceiling heights lend each of its five floors a characterful and unique charm.
It is, in its very essence, a place in which to gather and rejoice, far removed from the sometimes stifling, inhospitable codes of luxury hospitality. It was designed to be lived in, worn in, even as a modern-day hotel. References to the past or the building's heritage are hinted at. Our aim? To remain contemporary and classic. The result is a laid-back space where residents and non-residents alike can relax after an exhausting day of shopping at nearby Charvet , Maison Auclert or JAR either on banks of caramel-upholstered banquettes or on the Villa Malaparte-esque sofa, which, convivially close to the cream panelled fireplace, is the perfect spot too cosy up on those cold winter nights.
There, waiters in the sort of crisp, starched white jackets that would have Wes Anderson b. The pair posed up a veritable storm preparing for the nearby Schiaparelli show, for which Daniel Roseberry b. An unusual feature that might come as a surprise to some, are the plentifully stocked pantry-like mini bars, replete with not only the requisite wines, spirits and gourmandises, but also an exceptional illy coffee machine designed by Veronese architect Luca Trazzi b.
Perhaps most remarkable for a five-star hotel, this maze of gracious, interconnected spaces avoid all ostentation, focusing instead on quality and craftsmanship, as seen in carefully conceived details such as the Serge Roche inspired plaster suspension lights, oak panelled corridors and black and white tiled lobby, which, for all intents and purposes, appears to be a contemporary take on the courtyard at Versailles.
TLL: What was it that initially drew you to a career in design? I was a very introverted child, constantly observing what was around me. I kept this sense of observation, this curiosity — and it led me to an artistic career; interior design combined many of my interests — art history, painting, objects and the way all these facets work in dialogue in the heart of a place.
