Header: Clement Gerard
La Fondation, one of Paris’ new high-end hospitality landmarks, is located at 40 rue Legendre, in the 17th arrondissement, and houses a five-star hotel, two restaurants, a rooftop, offices and a sports club with a climbing wall and a semi-Olympic pool. Galia Group, the developer, entrusted the architecture to PCA-STREAM, the interiors to New York studio Roman & Williams and the hospitality operation to Terlia. The luxurious space is located between Parc Monceau and the Batignolles village, on a plot that was once a 1960s building and an open-air car park.
Keeping the brutalist vibe
PCA-STREAM decided not to erase the building’s previous brutalist look, having kept its roughest iconic parts: the raw helical ramp that cars once drove up and the wide industrial spaces inside. The façade is covered in a mix of wood panelling and black metal, cut by large windows that bring daylight into the floors behind. Despite the use of raw materials, nature is omnipresent: green walls, terraces, patios, and a suspended garden were designed by Christophe Gautrand & Associé to form a lush retreat in the bustling French capital.
“We aimed for a beautiful, pleasant space that gives pride of place to the outdoors, a setting where everyday concerns disappear.”
Brice Errera, President of Galia
Interiors by Roman & Williams
Robin Standefer and Stephen Alesch, the founders of Roman & Williams, carefully curated the interiors to create the artsy and chic atmosphere the client was looking for. The seven floors and 58 rooms (three of them suites) are dressed in materials directly sourced by the duo. For an extra touch of individuality, the team asked artisans to create custom detailing and art to dress the interior, such as a shutter painted by an artist and furniture made by hand.
In the end, they created a series of connected rooms that act as a homage to modernism. Artworks were sourced by the gallery Amélie Maison d’Art and placed throughout, so visitors who come across them organically can discover the creative spirit of 40 rue Legendre.
Two restaurants and a rooftop
With two restaurants and a rooftop, overseen by Chef Thomas Rossi, La Fondation is set to become a must in the city’s food enthusiasts’ calendar. On the ground floor, the brasserie La Base serves French classics made with seasonal, organic and locally sourced ingredients. Here, guests get to enjoy the iconic cuisine in a room whose walls are decorated with abstract frescoes that, per the design team, “shimmer in the sunlight”.
Les Ailes, the signature restaurant and the most elevated option, overlooks the city while offering modern, seasonal French recipes in a room filled with organic details. A few steps higher, the rooftop opens onto a 360-degree view of Paris and serves wine, cocktails and a menu inspired by world cuisine.
The sports club and the spa
La Fondation offers a sports facility open to all and a spa in a relaxed and welcoming atmosphere. The gym is fitted with modern machines, a climbing wall and a variety of group and private classes for every level. Furthermore, well-known athletes come in to provide expert coaching.
The spa is separated from the busiest parts of the building and offers treatments in partnership with Biologique Recherche, a French brand that begins every session with a precise analysis of the client’s skin before deciding what to apply. Guests can also swim in the 25-metre pool or unwind in the sauna and hammam.
Spaces for shared work
La Fondation was also set with office floors designed for freelancers, creatives and companies. There, professionals can enjoy fully equipped offices designed to enhance productivity and collaboration, which include hybrid workspaces, meeting rooms in the converted parking ramp-turned-art gallery, modular work areas, private terraces, the hanging garden and an auditorium.
Alongside the offices, a dynamic cultural programme invites residents and visitors to explore their creativity in rooftop concerts, themed sunset dinners, exhibitions in the gallery, festivals, cooking classes and talks.
“Whether you’re a hotel guest, a sports club member or a professional looking for a focused environment, we’re here to ensure your well-being, allowing you to concentrate fully on what truly matters to you.”
Emmanuelle Le Vaillant, General Manager of Terlia
As everything is run by Terlia, the same team looks after the hotel guests, the club members and the people renting a desk for the month. A member can, then, swim before work, spend the day on the office floors and finish with dinner on the eighth floor. The building was designed for that mix, inviting the people who live around Rue Legendre to share the rooms with the ones who flew in the night before.
Project information
Architecture Company: PCA-STREAM
Interior Design: Roman & Williams (Robin Standefer, Stephen Alesch)
Developer: Galia Group
Landscape Design: Christophe Gautrand & Associés
Location: Paris, France
