The opening of lyf Gambetta Paris marks the arrival of a new Ascott Group brand in the French capital, following on from Citadines and the three luxury La Clef establishments in the Crest Collection. This Asian brand, which made its European debut two years ago in Vienna, is aimed directly at the French market. digital nomads. And with good reason, as it has been created for and with millennials, the concept having been tested in real life by students from Singapore Management University, before this laboratory becomes the first residence, lyf Singapore Funan, at the end of 2019.
Since then, in addition to the City-State where the brand will soon have five establishments, its expansion has taken detours through most of the Asian capitals and now includes 35 establishments in totalThree of these are in Europe, in Vienna, Frankfurt and now Paris. The opening, which took effect at the beginning of May, has been long-awaited, ever since the Ascott group approached property developer Coffim in 2021 to take over a turnkey project initiated by the City of Paris, namely the conversion of the former Cité Press printing works in the 20th arrondissement of Paris.e arrondissement.
Previously a craftsman's house in 1915, then a boiler works before becoming a printing worksThe venue has been completely redesigned by architects Hardel Le Bihan and Roque Intérieurs for the interior decoration, preserving the spirit of its industrial past. With stainless steel, chrome, raw concrete and a dominant blue-green, which were the existing colours, but also exposed IPN beams in the bedrooms, because, in line with a desire for HQE certification, almost 50% of the existing building has been preserved.
Although the reception area is on the ground floor, the building has been excavated to create a garden level in the basement, a landscaped patio which leads to the hotel's living spaces, all distinctive of the lyf concept. On the left as you descend the stairs, the 'Burn' fitness room with sauna and the 'Connect' coworking space, with 40 flexible workstations and silent capsules for small meetings, videoconferences or telephone exchanges in complete privacy. To the right of the patio, the laundry room with ironing board and the shared kitchen Bond, where guests can prepare their own meals and socialise with other travellers.
The Bistouille restaurant also offers home-made snacks, seasonal soups, cured meats and cheeses from the Beillevaire cheese dairy. As well as the bread and Viennese pastries supplied by the Graine bakery, close to Place Gambetta, the establishment backs up its offer with best local traders. " As part of the brand's ambitions, we want every Lyf to be connected to local traders and artists, and for the neighbourhood to benefit from this." Vangelis Porikis, lyf brand manager for Europe.
As well as offering people the chance to come and have a drink at Le Bistouille, this also takes the form of events for the local community, such as a recent vin d'honneur or a discussion followed by a signing session with Mathias Malzieu, the lead singer of Dyonisos. " It's not just another hotel, it's more than just a place to sleep. We live here, we create links" explains Arthur Loiseau, the "Lyf Champion" at Lyf Gambetta, a name more in keeping with the young spirit of the brand than "director" or "general manager".
But we still come here to sleep. And for this purpose, the establishment has 144 unitsA large proportion do not have kitchenettes, unlike apartment hotels, with shared kitchens fulfilling this function. The inventory ranges from the 16 m² room to the duplex studio or the "One of a Kind Plus" studio, suitable for families. The "Two of a Kind Plus" category - two rooms joined by a kitchen - is suitable for groups of colleagues. In the same vein, but on a larger scale, the Lyf Gambetta also houses a small 74 m² house with gardenThis is a three-bedroom apartment with its own bathroom and communal living area. This service is also available at other Lyf sites, and is particularly popular with groups of professionals working on the same project.
For meetings, head for the hotel's rooftop with the Serre, a space that can accommodate around twenty people indoors and is extended by a green terrace of around 30 m². The whole area can be used for private functions, while an identical terrace will remain available to guests. To round things off, at the end of the summer the hotel will have a karaoke room to liven up evenings.
After this opening in Paris, other establishments are expected in a few months, in particular in London, as part of the transformation of the hotel next to Stamford Bridge stadium, the Ascott group having become a partner of the Chelsea club. Manchester and Glasgow will also see lyf hotels opening soon. " We're seeing a huge amount of interest in this attractive concept, which appeals to the new generation." says Ngor Houai Lee, Ascott Group Operations Director for EMEA, South Asia and China. " We aim to 150 sites worldwide by 2030whether in capital cities or major regional metropolises" says Philippe Mettey, Ascott's Vice President Sales and Marketing for Europe.
