France is currently experiencing a strong revival in the use of colour and pattern, and this hotel is in the vanguard of this move away from minimalism. Carpets use the computer controlled dyeing methods of Directory company ege carpets to create strong patterns complemented by digitally produced wall coverings. Colour is full blooded and untrammelled, and the clever use of mirrors creates the illusion of space in a very small footprint.
The antiquity of the building is acknowledged and many of the constructional timbers are exposed, their strength and massiveness contrasting with the delicacy of the imagery in the wall coverings. Invited to choose from the rooms available I quickly checked them out and there were some rooms that quite frankly I would not have been able to sleep in, as the pattern was so overwhelming. The downside risk of a strong design personality creating interiors is just this – the interior statements can be so powerful as to repel some guests whose aesthetic conflicts with the aesthetic of the designer.
For owners there is need to be aware of another problem too – how to ensure that the functionality of a hotel is built in. In this instance bathrooms do not offer shower facilities and during my stay the supply of hot water was not consistent. The switching for the bedroom lighting also seemed somewhat irrational and the effectiveness of the lighting was also variable, leaving the display for the air-conditioning, for example, quite illegibly in shadow.
Despite these problems the exuberance of the design was a delight. The visual trickery used by the designer made spaces appear larger than they actually were. The whole effect was an interesting contrast to the anodyne formulas used in some chain hotel interiors. The utilisation of the past of the building was especially appropriate in the area of Paris it is in, and the sense of fun that is engendered throughout will delight many guests.
