Header: Cyrille Weiner
Walking through the 8th arrondissement of Paris, it is easy to get lost in the sea of Haussmann-style buildings that define the city. But right at 25-27 Place de la Madeleine, a distinct structure from 1938 breaks the mould while respecting its neighbours. Known as “Le Palacio,” this office building designed by Marcel Hennequet has just undergone a major update. The team at Baumschlager Eberle Architekten took on the challenge of bringing this late 1930s gem into the present day without losing the character that makes it special.
Restoring the ocean liner look
Hennequet’s original design was a nod to the Streamline Modernism of the era, also called Style Paquebot or “ocean liner style.” You can see this influence clearly in the rounded corners, the porthole-like round windows, and the heavy use of glass and concrete. The renovation team focused heavily on these details. They restored the facade with a fresh coat of white paint that matches the original hue and installed new double-glazed windows that look just like the ones Hennequet chose eighty years ago.
The entrance is one of the most inviting parts of the building. It functions as a chic passage that links the busy street to the quieter interior of the block. During the renovation, the architects paid close attention to this area. They restored the old, neglected display cases so they now serve as elegant wall coverings again. This creates a transition zone that feels open and three-dimensional, pulling visitors in from the sidewalk.
A staircase with a view
Once you get past the entrance and toward the rear, the design shifts. While the front pays homage to the classic Parisian square, the back is all about modern lines. The highlight here is the semicircular stairwell. It features bands of windows that let light pour in, revealing the dynamic winding shape of the stairs. It is a visual experience that separates the structural columns from the staircase itself.
To make the building accessible without ruining this vintage aesthetic, the team added a separate elevator. They were careful to match the transparent and delicate design of the original stairs so the new lift does not look out of place. Inside the offices and the mansard level, thedesigners kept the warm colors, wooden fittings, and parquet floors that Hennequet originally used, preserving the comfortable atmosphere he intended for his own workspace.
Hidden tech and smart insulation
The biggest challenge with historic buildings is usually energy efficiency. You cannot simply slap insulation on the outside of a protected monument. To solve this, Baumschlager Eberle Architekten developed a clever interior insulation system using glass wool mats that run the full height of the room. This kept the exterior untouched while earning the building a BREEAM “very good” certificate.
They also had to figure out where to put the ventilation. Instead of lowering the ceilings or cluttering the roof with heavy machinery, they hid the ventilation systems in wood-clad boxes right under the window parapets. This preserved the original high ceilings and kept the roofline clean. This careful balance of preservation and modern ecology is likely a big reason the project picked up a win at the BLT Design Awards for Restoration and Renovation.
The renovation of Le Palacio proves that you do not need to choose between history and modern performance. By respecting the flexibility Hennequet built into the original open-plan floors, the architects adapted the space for today’s work habits without erasing its past. It is a practical approach that saves a piece of Parisian architectural history while making it useful for decades to come.
Project info
Design Company: Baumschlager Eberle Architekten
Lead Designer: Anne Speicher
Design Team: Mathias Bernhardt, Astrid Lampl, Roland Vastra, Ruth Patricio Lloret
Architecture Firm: Baumschlager Eberle Architekten
Interior Designer: Baumschlager Eberle Architekten
Construction Company: EISI, Mellun
Photo Credit: Cyrille Weiner
Project Location: 25-27 Place de la Madeleine, 75008 Paris, France
Client: Black Swan Real Estate Capital, Paris
Project Date: 10/2024
