Renaissance Paris La Défense Hotel completes second phase of redesign

Virserius Studio completed the second phase of the redesign of the Renaissance Paris La Défense Hotel. This involved a partial renovation of the lobby, repositioning the existing executive lounge and creating a restaurant.

The design intent was to reflect the La Défense neighborhood and its surroundings through curated art and lighting.  The spaces blended existing elements like the classic towers with more contemporary art conceived and produced by Paris-based art consultancy, Imaggo Production.

With the renovation, one can now enter the property on three different levels. The ground level is for check-in, the second floor houses the executive lounge and event spaces, and the third floor was the brasserie. Virserius Studio connected the second and third floors by extending the staircase and tied all three floors together with a rotunda with a grand light piece that cascades down all three floors. The abstract light sculpture, measuring 50 feet, was custom designed by Virserius Studio and is made of handblown glass.

According to Virserius Studio founder and lead designer Therese Virserius. to make the restaurant more visible and to further immerse it into the neighborhood, the design team changed its façade and moved the physical space, bumping it out onto the sidewalk. The design team also wanted to make the brasserie more intimate, so it created screens that can be used to section off the restaurant if it is not too busy. Different zones were also created to cater to a busy restaurant crowd while simultaneously holding a different event nearby.

Multifunctionality was also important for the new executive lounge. A space was added to allow guests to focus on work as they would in an office, but also allow them to take breaks and be more social.

Photo credit: Virserius Studio