ES WITH 5 MINUT

New York-based Peter Marino is a world renowned architect redefining modern luxury through equal emphasis on architecture and interior design. Known for integrating art into his creations, and for commissioning contemporary artists, he was named a Chevalier de l’ordre des Arts et des Lettres and an Officier by the French government, for his contributions to art and culture. His career spanning over four decades include award-winning residential, retail, cultural, and hospitality projects worldwide. He has worked with the brand for two decades, before designing Louis Vuitton’s Maison on Place Vendôme. it as per the original—and to rebuild the inside was a great challenge. The balance between what is modern and what is old, is for me, what Paris is all about. The staircase is a particularly good example of this—an 18th century design in stone contrasted by high-tech glass balustrades suspended by stainless steel cables. The stair itself is art. And artwork is embedded within the stair as well, with Stephen Sprouse’s ‘Speaker (Orange-green)’ visible from the ground floor. The facade has an extensive number of windows and doors that bring light into the space— our challenge was actually more on the side of navigating a space that had almost more window than perimeter wall on the ground floor. The ultra-modern insertions bring an element of transparency, increasing the flow of natural light within the space. We also filled in what was a courtyard between the two townhouses— now a double height space with a skylight introducing daylight from above.

What techniques did you employ to reinvent the space of the two hotels particuliers, what have you preserved and what have you totally reviewed?

We used many 18th century techniques in our work that reference French history and craftsmanship. We worked with French artisans to fill the store with vintage and modern