W Hotel Makes its Debut in Paris with a Unique Design ConceptBlendingthe Energy of New York with the Luminosity of Paris
Nov. 5, 2009 (Business Wire) -- Rockwell Group Europe (“RGe”) has teamed up with Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide to design the W Paris-Opéra, W Hotels’ debut in France. Diego Gronda, Managing and Creative Director of RGe, the Madrid satellite office of New York’s Rockwell Group founded by David Rockwell, is leading the design team on this innovative project scheduled to open in 2011. Owned by Barcelona-based Meridia Capital, the hotel occupies an elegant 1870s Haussman-era building located across the street from the famous Opéra Garnier and near Galeries Lafayette and Place Vendome in the 9th Arrondissement. Taking the inspiration from combining New York’s energy, where the W brand began in 1998, and Paris, the “City of Light,” RGe is flooding the new W Hotel with illumination and color.
“Taking the W brand into Paris, the European capital of fashion, will mark a true milestone in W’s global expansion into the world’s most exciting and vibrant destinations,” said Eva Ziegler, Global Brand Leader, W Hotels Worldwide and Le Méridien. “Through W Paris-Opéra, we will further demonstrate our passion for fashion as well as our leadership in cutting-edge design, setting the stage for W’s unique lifestyle programming, which will make W Paris the coolest place in the city.”
The 19th century building with a striking original neo-classical interior will be re-invented by a contemporary cool sparkle of luminosity and brilliant energy in the quintessential Parisian neighborhood, infusing light and mutating color. The ground level and mezzanine floors have spectacular views of the Opéra and provide the perfect setting for a signature W Living Room where guests and locals are invited to mix, mingle and relax in a stylish social atmosphere. Along with a new modern concept restaurant, W Paris-Opéra will feature a destination bar, a state-of-the-art fitness facility and 90 stylish guest rooms.
Elaborating on their design concept, Mr. Gronda adds, “For the first W Hotel in Paris, we wanted to give guests an unforgettable experience of the light and energy emanating from this incredible city. Our design feeds off the elegance, history, richness and radiance of the city, while layering in the contemporary cool and light-hearted approach of the W brand. Our goal was to transform this historic building into a W Hotel that literally shines with innovative and unexpected details, materials and technology.”
An oversized undulating wall of light is the central design feature that defines the building from the inside and from the street as it weaves through the public spaces, secret corners of DJ booths and martini bars, through the corridors and finally into each guest room.
