Boutique Design - April 2019 - 28

PROJECT
PARTICIPANTS
CLIENT
The Ascott Limited
DESIGN FIRM
Studio Jean-Philippe Nuel:
Jean-Philippe Nuel, founder;
Valérie Binder, managing
director; Marine Lafon,
project manager
DESIGN CONSULTANTS
Sevessence (perfume)
Distylight (lighting)
ART AND ACCESSORIES
Anthropologie
Bloomingville
AUDIOVISUAL
Mues-Tec
CARPETS/RUGS
Ulster
FABRICS
Casamance
Créations Métaphores
Delius
Designers Guild
Febrik
Maison Pierre Frey
FLOORING
Living Parquet
Vicalvi Contract

SCENTS-ORY DELIGHTS

LOBBY AT LA CLEF CHAMPS ELYSÉES PARIS
Nothing's one-note about the design or the experience inside the
long, narrow public space here. In this new, upscale blueprint for
interactive, multisensory hotspots, every touchpoint is deliberately layered to appeal to the discerning guest. "The lobby of the
hotel is a dialogue between classical architecture and contemporary features such as the suspended mirror ceiling. The idea for
the space, as for clothing, is to create harmony, consistency and a
unique and original balance," says Jean-Philippe Nuel, founder of
his eponymous studio.
The scale for the interior design tips heavily toward a very
21st-century spin on opulence. Take the communal table. Don't
plop your laptop down on it before you stop to smell the flowers.
It's the central element anchoring a fragrance lounge. "Guests can
discover the signature perfume of the hotel and all the components that are necessary to produce it," says Nuel. The front desk
is equally inventive. It's a golden piece that's conceptualized to
look like a jewel, framed by a sweep of floor-to-ceiling marble
meant to echo a jewel case.
The seemingly controversial inclusion of a formal check-in
space wasn't Nuel's concept. As it turns out, not all clients are
ready to embrace the trend for stripped-down multivalent pieces.
The desk is there at the owner's request. One could argue that
this-a return, not to the look of traditional luxury, but to the
28

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sophisticated vibe generated by rich materials and FF&E with
dedicated single functions-might be the next iteration to take
the world by storm.
"Some people still like the 'palatial' kind of hotel experience,
which has a more formal atmosphere," says Nuel. That was a challenging squeeze for the lobby at La Clef (the hotel shares its name
with several other properties in Paris also under The Ascott Limited's ownership). "This type of concept usually needs quite a lot of
space. To activate the public area, typically you would need to integrate the lobby with F&B," he says. "The proportions of La Clef
meant that didn't fit." So, the restaurant and bar, run by Singaporean chain Imperial Treasure, will open in a couple of months
and have a separate entrance-another example of the decision
not to require guests to work, eat and play in a single space.
That added a level of complexity. Without the draw of F&B,
Nuel had to work harder to find ways to change the entry experience from transactional to unforgettable. It's the look-and-lookagain draw of the surfacing and FF&E (think wire mesh chairs,
delicate ceiling art installations and supertall sculptural elements
that resemble candlesticks) that spell luxe for the modern
consumer. Single-tasking has become one of modern life's most
sought-after experiences, and savvy designers need to mirror
that in their work.

LIGHTING
Flos
Lee Broom
Marzais Créations
Michael Anastassiades
Parachilna
Tom Dixon

2 Sniff out the the lobby,
where perfumes and
their ingredients become a quirky centerpiece. Design alchemy,
here we come.
3 Wire mesh chairs and
hard surfaces add an
elegant restraint to
the space.

JEAN-PHILIPPE NUEL
STUDIO JEAN-PHILIPPE
NUEL

G I L L E S T R I L L A R D ( L A C L E F C H A M P S E LY S É E S ) ; J F J A U S S A U D ( N U E L ) ; G E O R G E S B I A R D ( S I D E B A R )

FURNITURE
Euroformes
Gallotti&Radice
Lammhult
Lazer Agencement
Knoll
Moroso
Stellar Works
Tabisso
Tacchini
Tino Sana

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Boutique Design - April 2019

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