HISTORIC TOWNHOUSE REIMAGINED FOR THE MODERN HOSPITALITY ERA
Hidden behind the bustling streets of Paris, the Hôtel de Pourtalès is a former private mansion that has been transformed into a secluded luxury apartment hotel. Once a private townhouse built by architect Félix Duban for Swiss-born banker and art collector Count James-Alexandre de Pourtalès in 1839, this neoclassical building has been reimagined as a luxury destination for those who value privacy and design. Since 2002, the building has been listed as an official historical monument with every contemporary intervention carefully balanced to preserve its aristocratic soul. For designboom, a stay during Paris Design Week offered an intimate perspective on this unique transformation, showcasing a new vision on hospitality.
all images courtesy of Hôtel de Pourtalès
THE PERFECT DESTINATION FOR A LUXURY STAY IN PARIS
With its discreet charm, tasteful décor, and prime location near the Champs-Élysées, a stay at the Hôtel de Pourtalès serves as a key anchor for an on-the-ground exploration of Parisian design culture. The hotel‘s historical inspiration draws on a Renaissance Revival style, making it a perfect example of the fusion of heritage and modernity celebrated during Paris Design Week. Founded on the idea of privacy, the Parisian establishment offers a new experience — more confidential than a guest house or luxury hotel.
founded on the idea of privacy, the hotel presents a new vision on hospitality
NINE PRIVATE SUITES AT HÔTEL DE POURTALÈS
The hotel’s design is a masterclass in creative tension, a subtle combination of its classical roots with a contemporary and avant-garde vision. The renovation, led by Studio Labaye Sumi, preserved the DNA of the building — from its intricate cornices to its vaulted arches — while introducing contemporary additions. This creates an aesthetic coherence between the two contrasting expressions, transforming the space into a dynamic experience where historical grandeur and modern comfort coexist.
The design team’s aim was simple yet profound: to create the impression of a home. Each of the nine private suites is designed as an exceptional living space, far more intimate and confidential than a guest house or luxury hotel. They redefine hospitality as a highly personalized, residential experience. Iconic pieces by Charlotte Perriand, Le Corbusier, and Gerrit Rietveld are thoughtfully positioned with creations from a new generation of French designers, such as Garnier & Linker. The studio also designed a custom line of furniture, with marble and metal pieces created in collaboration with renowned specialists.
the former private mansion that has been transformed into a luxury apartment hotel
Guests find themselves in apartments complete with private kitchens, spacious lounges, and dining rooms, with some even boasting a planted terrace or a rooftop with an enviable view of the capital. With suites ranging in size from 95 to 367m² spread across seven floors, the hotel offers an incredible diversity of volumes, all with its own specific decor, furniture, fabrics, and color palette. The Hôtel de Pourtalès also reveals a profound passion for contemporary art, turning the residence into a curated, private gallery. This artistic vision, combined with the refined service and discreet charm, ensures a stay that creates a timeless and intimate home-away-from-home experience.
the hotel combines its classical roots with a contemporary vision
the suites range in size from 95 to 367m²
the apartments are completed with private kitchens, spacious lounges, and dining rooms
spread across seven floors, the hotel offers an incredible diversity of volumes
the goal was to create the impression of a home
at Hôtel de Pourtalès historical grandeur and modern comfort coexist
each of the nine private suites is far more intimate than a guest house or luxury hotel
each apartment owns specific decor, furniture, fabrics, and color palette
some suites even boasts a planted terrace or a rooftop with an enviable view of the capital
Hôtel de Pourtalès redefines hospitality as a highly personalized, residential experience
since 2002, the building has been listed as an official historical monument
project info:
name: Hôtel de Pourtalès | @hoteldepourtales
location: Paris, France
design team: Studio Labaye Sumi | @labayesumistudio
The post hôtel de pourtalès turns renaissance townhouse into private luxury suites in paris appeared first on designboom | architecture & design magazine.