Explore Hotel De Crillon And “Les Grands Appartements” By Karl Lagerfeld

Rosewood Hotel is a collection of hotels and resorts around the world in 16 countries. Inspired by the heritage of Rosewood’s first hotel, Rosewood Mansion on Turtle Creek in Dallas, Texas, the properties are located either in one of the greatest cities like The Carlyle in New York or in a remote tropical island like the Rosewood Guanahani hotel in St Barths which is planned to open next summer. Each Rosewood’s hallmark combines heritage and tradition with elegance and sophistication. Managed by Rosewood, French Neoclassical Hotel de Crillon in Paris radiates as the most important creation of the Enlightenment on the biggest square of the capital: Place de La Concorde, also part of Unesco World Heritage.

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Commissioned by Louis XV in 1758 and built by his favorite architect Ange-Jacques Gabriel, the property was occupied -around 1820- by the family of Duc de Crillon. In 1909, it became a hotel. For 250 years, the Hotel de Crillon has been the witness of the tumultuous and rich history from the French Revolution and the execution of Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette to the coronation of Napoleon Bonaparte and the scenes of final war combats for the Liberation of Paris in 1944. Hotel de Crillon has always owned a strong reputation for its exquisite hospitality and  its great success with royal families, heads of states and celebrities. So many artists have written their names in the hotel’s guestbook. 

In July 2017, Hotel de Crillon reopened after four years of an extensive major restoration. A thoughtful design that bridges the 18th and 21st centuries reinterpreted by a collective of leading architects, designers, artisans and artists. The goal was to find the balance between conservation and transformation. Today, the 18th century iconic hotel shines as a Palace for the 21st century travelers. 

Architect Aline Asmar d’Amman pointed out: “ I had three main missions in Hotel de Crillon, first as the Artistic Director of the entire project, second to redesign the historic salons and iconic suites and the third one was to be the second hand of Karl Lagerfeld to realize Les Grands Appartements”. Born in Beirut in the 1970s, Aline Asmar d’Amman built a shield made of words, literature and artistic references, an armor against war chaos in Lebanon. In 2011, she settled her architecture firm Culture in Architecture in Paris and Beirut. Culture in Architecture believes in bridging cultures and their know-how with a forward-thinking reinterpretation of the past into the future. Aline is always seeking spaces with an intense resonance to work on and Hotel de Crillon was definitely one of them. 

The historic salons of Hotel de Crillon are listed heritage landmarks. The Salon des Aigles, Salon des Batailles and Salon Marie Antoinette are three ceremonial salons. “These three historic grandiose salons belong to a certain Art de Vivre, now, they can be lounges, small salons to have a drink, and suites can be connected with them” said Aline Asmar D’Amman. “The goal was to make the three salons in a row easily exploitable while keeping the historical elements” she added. The six meter high salon ceiling dating from 1775-1776 can accommodate any events and meetings. Magnificently realized. The 18th century spirit of luxury and refinement plays with contemporary codes where pieces of different artists like Mathias Kiss are included. A veritable contrast from historic objects and furniture to new conceptual creations. A wink at the signature of the Covenant of the League of Nations signed in this chamber in 1919, the curtains are embroidered with ink drawings. 

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250 craftsmen and master builders worked on the restoration of the hotel. “It is a constant dialogue between the past and the present” said the Artistic Designer when touring the Palace. The gracious Salon Marie Antoinette is open onto this spectacular view over Place de La Concorde. Each object of the decor owns its proper meaning and reference to history. In this exceptional room, the former Queen of France took her piano lessons from 1789 to 1792. The rich French history breathes through the Hotel walls. 

“The signature of Culture in Architecture was to respect the heritage in the revival, through a very contemporary interpretation of the French chic” showed Aline Asmar D’Amman when opening the door of Marie Antoinette Suite, one of the ten signature suites of the Hotel de Crillon. The Suite named in honor of one of the hotel’s most famous former royal visitor is decorated in an eighteenth century decor with pink grey tones. Both urban and very feminine spirit. “Marie Antoinette: she is a strong woman, she lives in the 21st century in her Parisian apartment where she finds this painting handmade by Ateliers Gohard or these made to measure curtains embroidered like a couture dress by Lesage Ateliers” said the Interior Designer. Everything in the Marie Antoinette Suite is custom made like this canopy bed with a very light linen by Pierre Frey which gives a modern touch to the room. The 1783 famous portrait of Marie Antoinette by French woman painter Elisabeth Vigéee le Brun (the original is in Versailles) has been revisited by modern artists Pascal Dangin and Lauren Collin. A play of black and white photos and stickers which brings a rock n’roll touch. Obviously, imagine an elegant bathroom, a dream dressing room for all kinds of women and a private outdoor terrace. A very feminine, discreet and architectural suite. 

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Then on the Fourth floor of Hotel de Crillon come Les Grands Appartements by Karl Lagerfeld. Probably the most unique suites around the world in a Palace. Everything has been designed by the genius Karl Lagerfeld. The Suites 401, 404, and of course the Suite Choupette are the greatest vision of the royal living in Paris by the Maestro. The quintessence of the chic “à la francaise” mixing couture, fashion, books and sumptuous decor.

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Aline Asmar D’Amman had the chance to be the second hand of Mr Lagerfeld on this distinctive project. “I tried to be connected to him via friends but it never happened, one day I wrote him a letter and went to his library, the Library 7L asking the team to give him my letter, I tried, but I never thought this would happen” told the Architect. “One day he called me and we met. I told him about the Hotel de Crillon project and he accepted asking me to assist him. He already knew the spaces he wanted to create”, she added. Les Grands Appartements are an ode to the Parisian grey sky. “Karl had two loves: the sky of the Parisian area and the Eiffel Tower ”. Inside the two Suites which can be connected all the grey color palette is present from the shiny grey to the silk or metallic grey. The proportions of the suite are unbelievable. A definition of the grandeur of Karl Lagerfeld’s world. His interpretation of French chic and modernity with an insatiable love for the eighteenth century.

The common thread: the photographs of a Marie Antoinette theme shooting realized by Karl Lagerfeld. Also a secret door decorated with books selected by Karl which opens onto a sublime couture dressing and the most stately bathroom decor with the imposing bathtub carved from a single slab of Carrara marble. The epitome of the suites: the views over the Eiffel Tower and Paris. A must see in a lifetime.

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