Tremend architects and architects from Tremend studio have developed a comprehensive project for the adaptation of a historic building that remembers the time of Georg Haussmann. The 19th-century building was not only a place of creation, but also an inspiration for the creators.
Magdalena Federowicz-Boule of the Tremend studio talks about the process, inspiration and challenges of creating this project.
Wiktor Bochenek: Hotel Alberte must have been quite a challenge. What was it like working entirely in French?
Magdalena Federowicz-Boule (Tremend): The project was extremely interesting, but I will mention that I am also French, so I know the language very well, so in this respect it made no difference to me whether I was running the project in Polish or French. What was probably the most difficult was the local procedures and regulations. Although this is not our first project with the French, this one, although relatively small in area, with only twenty-seven rooms, was extremely complicated. It was made up of many factors like the tiny rooms, the fact that the building is under a historic preservation order, the cramped historic staircase that we wanted to preserve, as well as many other bits and pieces of this Haussmanian building that houses the hotel.
Hotel Alberte is located in the seventh district of Paris
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Victor: The property was located in a 19th centuryHaussman redevelopment townhouse. How did the history of the site influence the design process and the final result?
Magdalena: The place where we designed was absolutely magical. The building has its own soul, which we wanted to preserve. The stone walls, the period wooden historic staircase, the historic basement with brick arches. We tried to highlight and expose all this in our design. In the rooms we left fragments of stone walls, so the interiors received a unique atmosphere. The whole project was subject to the conservationist's approval, and it was also necessary to pass a variance from the fire department, as well as to obtain a building permit for the reconstruction of the building and modernization of the facade.
In addition, it was also a procedurally difficult project, especially since we inherited something that did not comply with local regulations, even though a hotel had previously been located there. Working on Alberte was an incredible challenge for us, a great adventure, a great artistic and functional creation.
The whole project was subject to the approval of the conservator of historical monuments, it was also necessary to obtain a variance from the fire department, as well as permission to remodel the building and modernize the facade.
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Wiktor: What, besides historical issues, was important when designing these spaces?
Magdalena: It was a very big challenge to fit all the hotel functions into such small spaces. We had to give some rooms and furniture a dual function. For example, the reception table is a reception desk and a social table. The bar behind it is used for customer service and also has a reception function. In the historic basement is the breakfast room, which is multifunctional. Breakfast is served there in the morning, and in the afternoon the furniture is rearranged and it turns into a conference room. Similarly, the room for people with disabilities has a classic solution: a bed folded into a bookcase. The room in the afternoon becomes a small meeting room if needed.
Some of the hotel's space is multifunctional
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Wiktor: What are the main things to look out forwhen staying at Hotel Alberte?
Magdalena: Undoubtedly, the art. As in many of our projects, it could not be missing in this one either. We invited the MAG Gallery and the artists working with it to join us. From among many talented artists, we chose painter MagdalenaGłodek and her concept of a personalized art collection #Originalberte containing 24 paintings. They were inspired by the context linking the hotel's owners to the production of premium cognac, as well as the connection to nature and intergenerational relationships. Therefore, in the paintings you will find references to nature, vineyard landscapes and linear rows of plants.
Polish artists and craftsmen were invited to collaborate
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The paintings painted by the artist adorn the walls of the rooms of the Alberte Hotel, and their colors naturally intertwine with the colors of the interiors we designed. The second gallery invited to cooperate was Your Art Maison gallery. This cooperation resulted in the creation of several sets of graphics, authored by Piotr Tarasiuk, which also decorate the rooms of the Alberte hotel. In addition to paintings and graphics, noteworthy is a beautiful blown glass lamp by Velt. These are glass icicles suspended in the staircase from the ceiling up to the first floor.
We are happy that we were able to involve Polishsuppliers in this project: artists, craftsmen, furniture makers. I think we can be proud of our domestic manufacturers and artists. They are extremely creative, imaginative and accurate. Behind every such project is excellent quality, at the world's highest level.
The furniture and other necessary buildings were delivered by crane through the windows
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Victor: What was the most difficult, and what are you most proud of?
Magdalena: As I mentioned, the most difficult thing was to combine the necessary hotel function in such a small space. So the most important thing was to create and design a multifunctional space. Everything was done the Parisian way, meaning furniture and other necessary built-ins were delivered by crane through the windows.
Parisian buildings are extremely narrow, with cramped space everywhere. However, the beautiful historical architecture, the potential of which we tried to make visible in our project, makes up for everything.
Wiktor: Thank you for the interview.
common space
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