Boutique Design - May 2016 - 26

La maISON
SaarLOuIS, GermaNy
It's not just angsty teenagers who are entitled to an

boutiquedesign.com may 2016

PROJECT
PARTICIPANTS
LA MAISON
OWNER

Günther Wagner
DESIGN FIRM

Nicolay Design: Birgit Nicolay,
founder
ARCHITECT

CBAG.studio: Christine Beaumont
and Achim Gergen; principals
DESIGN CONSULTANTS

DANE Landscape Architecture
(landscape)
Günther WaGner
LA MAISON

LIGHTING

Divus Superio

2 The spiral stair that
connects LA MAISON's
two buildings draws
its shape from historic
influences, but glass
pendant lights and a
stark white finish bring
a modern edge.

C O U R T E S Y O F D E S I G N H O T E L S ( L A M A I S O N , WAG N E R )

identity crisis. Offbeat sites and guests who've been there/
seen that are pushing owners and designers to not just
rethink what a boutique hotel can be, but to challenge their
own vision for the property.
That's reflected in the white sculptural staircase CBAG.studio and Nicolay Design used to link the two disparate
buildings (a 19th-century former courthouse and an edgy
minimalist new structure) that comprise LA MAISON hotel in
Saarlouis, Germany. That city is near the French border, and is
named for King Louis XIV. But LA MAISON wound up being a
long way from the Sun King theming owner Günther Wagner
originally envisioned for the 37-room property.
"We decided that we were better off abandoning the idea
of theming and focusing on the heritage of the town. Only a
few references to the king remain," says Wagner.
Wagner brought the same clean-slate thinking to his renovation of the Design Hotels member's historic courthouse (which
houses the hotel's lobby, restaurant, LOUIS Bar and Library and
private dining, as well as some suites and a glassed-in extension
that's home to the PASTIS bistro and its deli).
Sure, the courtroom's 15-ft. ceilings and travertine tiles
made a great focal point, but Wagner and his team comprised
of architects CBAG.studio and interior designer Birgit Nicolay
were looking at the bigger picture-and the elegance of the
original courthouse was just too one-note. So, they added a
new building whose perforated-and-edged aluminum facade
doubles as shutters for the guest rooms.
In the old building, chandeliers made from pots and pans in
the PASTIS bistro, Mondrian-esque bath tile installations in
some guest rooms and a film noir-style photo over the bar
realize Wagner's dream of spaces that avoid becoming repetitive. Reimaging the lighting on a historical image of the local
castle brings in a modern art gallery feel to the courthouse's
reception. Deep teal and burgundy tones on the walls of the
LOUIS Bar add in richness without ostentation. In the new
building, which also houses the hotel's fitness center, the
designers took the generous natural light and airy proportions
of the rooms as the jumping off points for individualistic spaces.
A quirky suite channels the personality of Remy from the movie,
"Ratatouille." And stylized branches in the Park Side Room celebrate contemporary sleekness-no halls of mirrors needed.

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Boutique Design - May 2016

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