Diego Gronda, managing and creative director of RGe, the Madrid satellite office of New York’s Rockwell Group is leading the design team on this project that is scheduled to open in 2011.
Owned by Barcelona-based Meridia Capital, the hotel occupies a 1870s Haussman-era building near Galeries Lafayette and Place Vendome in the 9th Arrondissement. Taking the inspiration from combining New York’s energy, RGe is flooding the new W Hotel with illumination and color.
The 19th century building features an original neo-classical interior and the space will be re-invented by infusing light and mutating color. The ground level and mezzanine floors will offer views of the opera. Along with a new modern concept restaurant, W Paris-Opera will feature a destination bar, a state-of-the-art fitness facility and 90 stylish guest rooms.
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. This programmable wall of light can transform based on season, event or time of day to create a festive and celebratory atmosphere, bringing the historic building to life with sophistication and a glowing vibrancy.
Guest rooms and suites, including W Hotels’ renowned WOW suites and Extreme WOW suites – W Hotels’ take on the traditional Presidential Suite – feature three-meter ceiling height. All W suites will boast of an existing fireplace, white marble bathrooms and oversized dressing rooms.
RGe, based in New York, with satellite offices in Madrid and Dubai, is an award winning, cross-disciplinary 140-person architecture and design firm specializing in cultural, hospitality, retail, product, and set design.
W Hotels is the luxury lifestyle / boutique hotel brand of Starwood Hotels & Resorts.
