Hotel Sezz

Photographs by Manuel Zublena, Courtesy of the Architect.

Project details

• Project Name: Hotel Sezz
• Location of Site: Paris, France
• Design Team: Studio Christophe Pillet
• Project Type: Boutique Hotel
• Date of completion: February 2005

Photographs by Manuel Zublena, Courtesy of the Architect.

Words from the architect

Please don't call Sezz a home away from home. Shahe Kalaidjian, General Manager, cringes when you use the term, which denotes a certain hang-around-in-your-sweatpants sloppiness. Informal yes, but muscularly informal, if there is such a thing. There are strong bones underneath the loose garments of this hotel.

Photographs by Manuel Zublena, Courtesy of the Architect.

Much of the credit for realizing Kalaidjian's bold ideas must go to the designer Christophe Pillet. Pillet received his Masters in design from the prestigious Domus School in Milan, and cut his teeth working with powerhouse designers like Martine Bedin and Philippe Starck.

On his own since the mid-90s, his work has cut across all the traditional categories of design from architecture to furniture and product design, interiors and set design. His furniture designs have been sold through Domeau & Percs, he has envisioned interiors for the likes of Renault and Bally, and he has done product work for clients like L'Oreal and Whirlpool. Not bad. That breadth of experience made him the perfect partner to realize Shahe's vision, of which design is a key element.

Photographs by Manuel Zublena, Courtesy of the Architect.

The concierge-less lobby is the first view of this unconventional space. Two salons flank the entrance, done in muted shades of red and brown that set off the khaki-grey stone from the town of Cascais in Portugal that appears throughout the hotel. Around the back, you find the Grande Dame bar, named for Veuve Clicquot´s most prized champagne cuvee. The bar is a partnership with Veuve Clicquot - the first time the renowned champagne maker has allowed its name to be used by an outsider. In the bar area, Pillet has designed a pair striking seating nooks that let you slip away from the public gaze, if that's what you want. Downstairs is where you find the hammam, Jacuzzi and massage room, although if you want a massage upstairs, that's just fine too.

Photographs by Manuel Zublena, Courtesy of the Architect.

The upper seven floors of the hotel contain the hotel's 27 rooms, of which seven are full suites and seven junior suites. All rooms have flat-screen TVs, and of course there's WiFi standard. Free. What, you should pay for internet access, like in many other luxury hotels? An absurd idea, if you ask Kalaidjian.

Each room is equipped with a CD/DVD player and flat-screen TV. CDs and movies are available free on request. Once again, do you really want your four-star hotel nickel-and-diming you by making you pay to watch a film. Probably not.

It all fits together, the place, the style and the refusal to fall back on the old formulas of hotel management.

"The idea is to surprise people - to supply the 'wow factor' that elevates the hotel experience to another level", says Kalaidjian. "I want this hotel to feel as if you're going to a friend's house where you're pleasantly surprised by the level of decor and the comfort. You never knew your friend's taste was quite this good". Maybe your friend's taste isn't that good, but luckily for you, Shahe Kalaidjian and Christophe Pillet's are.

Credits

• Text, Courtesy of the Architect
• Photographs - Manuel Zublena, Courtesy of the Architect