Hôtel de Crillon

Luxury Parisian heritage

In 1763, Louis-François Trouard built the Hôtel d’Aumont on the site before it was acquired in 1788 by François-Félix Crillon, after whom it is still named. Transformed into a luxury hotel at the start of the 20th century, the establishment quickly became an essential destination of the who’s-who of Paris, frequented by royalty, heads of state and international elites. Classed as a historic landmark since 1964, the salons of the first floor are precious witnesses to the splendor of the era.

At the turn of the 21st century, the Hôtel de Crillon was suffering from a state of disrepair. Its restoration was made possible thanks to an investment from the royal family of Saudi Arabia, before being entrusted to the Rosewood Hotel Group, specializing in high-end luxury.

Affine Design led this large-scale project, the goal of which was to restore the prestige of the Crillon, while adapting it to the standards of a 21st-century palace.

An extraordinary project

The complexity of the project lived up to the history of the building. Two complete levels were dug out below the courtyard, into the sands of the Seine, in order to make room for technical areas, a pool and a spa.

The historic entry hall was restored and the whole of the main level was restructured to develop the reception areas. The discreet integration of modern equipment in the historic areas was a major challenge.

Reinventing the art of hosting

The restoration of the Crillon mobilized an international team of interior designers: Tristan Auer, Aline Damman, Chahan Minassian, Cyril Vergnolles and Karl Lagerfeld, under the direction of Affine Design. Each individual brought their vision, notably for rooms and suites, where neutral spaces left them free to use their talents and imagination.

The public areas benefited from particularly intense collaborative work. Negotiations with the Architectes des Bâtiments de France enabled the lightening of certain dark colors and the restoration of certain hidden painted ceilings.

The famous Ambassadeurs restaurant rediscovered its multicolored marble and allegorical paintings, while the winter garden and salons were restored with precision and an eye towards preservation.

A contemporary palace in a historic setting

Today, the Hôtel de Crillon brings together the majesty of its classic architecture and the comfort of contemporary palaces.

Behind its monumental facade, each space illustrates a dialogue between history and modernity: landmarked salons exist in harmony with audacious suites, interior courtyards are adorned with light thanks to new perspectives, and modern infrastructures are made invisible to leave pride of place to legendary elegance.

A place of memory and prestige, the Crillon remains, more than ever, an emblem of Parisian luxury. Its restoration attests to an encounter between heritage, technical innovation and artisanal excellence, in service of a destination whose reputation extends beyond the borders of France.