Renowned throughout the world for its geranium dotted facade and heralded as Paris’ home of haute couture, Hôtel Plaza Athénée recently debuted 25 completely renovated Art-Deco suites on the hotel’s 7th floor. Designed by dynamic duo Bruno Moinard and Claire Bétaille of Agence Moinard Bétaille, the new suites are light-flooded and design details are reminiscent of the hotel’s legacy of being a mainstay for fashion icons. The guest suites are residential in feel, spacious and ready to welcome weary travelers to the city of love with a color palette of natural tones and pops of the Plaza’s signature red throughout. Moinard and Bétaille walked us through the design of the new rooms, their inspirations and how they captured the essence of Dorchester Collection:
What inspired the design of the new rooms?
Moinard: We have a long history with the Plaza Athénée which started in 2011 when we won our first renovation project for the hotel. We’ve since redesigned the Lobby, the Relais Plaza, the Gallery and the reception rooms. Our offices are based just around the corner on Avenue Montaigne so we’re lucky to have got to know every inch of this historical and unique place.
The inspiration for the rooms came from their Art Deco history, it is an inexhaustible source of inspiration, especially because there are several forms of Art Deco. Here we can see one that recalls the old cruise ship style of varnished ebony, but also another more avant-garde brushed bleached oak and nickel-plated metals, graphic and rhythmic.
We were given the Art Deco theme and we chose a renewed and more audacious vision of this style, but we were also inspired by the place, its volumes and proportions. Many of the rooms and suites are located under the rooftops and the size of these spaces distinguishes them from the more classic, high-ceilinged lower floors. Thus, the skylights and small balconies inspired the spirit of a Parisian pied à terre for guests from around the world. Warm and almost informal spaces, more open to each other, large blinds diffusing the light and stylish custom-made furniture, create a unique and extremely comfortable decor that is ‘just like at home.’
As with our previous projects at the Plaza Athénée, the idea was to completely reshape the client experience in these rooms while still preserving their original essence and ambiance.
In terms of design, what makes this distinctly Dorchester Collection?
Bétaille: We have been working closely with Dorchester Collection for nearly a decade. As guests and partners, we know the core value of the group: legacy, service, comfort and care. Beyond that, they encourage designers to focus on the sense of place and allowed us to propose a vision tainted with modernity, this is how we created this concept of ‘Avant garde’ but comfortable Art deco under a ‘Pied à terre’ roof.
How did you incorporate local culture and history in the design?
Moinard: Although there is no doubt that you are in Paris from the rooms’ beautiful views, the Plaza is also its own universe with a special but ‘home-y’ atmosphere. The renovations have given the rooms a new sense of energy and dynamism, while all those who frequent this palace-rated luxury hotel (guests, admiring visitors, staff) have even more reason to come ‘home’ to this incredible place, whether for an hour, a day or a lifetime.
The Plaza as a whole has a look and feel that we not only incorporated but celebrated; the light, which enters the hotel through Avenue Montaigne and the Cour Jardin and spreads everywhere, the platinum color of the chandeliers and silverware, the red details, the chandeliers, platinum metal, etc. You can see this inspiration and reference to the hotel’s Art Deco history in the details throughout these 25 rooms.
What’s unique about the design? What’s going to surprise guests?
Bétaille: It is the details and materials that make it unique, brought to life by the best craftsmanship. So much care and attention are placed on the materials we use; brushed wood, mass cast glass, precious lacquers, hand-hammered metals, etc. As well as the way they are treated.
The bar shows this wonderfully, inspired by Japanese design it stands at the centerpiece of the room like a veritable ‘cabinet of secrets.’ Or the linen blinds that filter the light entering the smaller windows, created by one of the last professional fabric pleaters Pietro Seminelli, who has transformed them into true works of art, flat shades diffusing the light through a geometric design.
