"These projects must reflect the times we live in": interior designer Jean-Philippe Nuel

Is transforming historic buildings into hotels another source of inspiration for you?

Jean-Philippe Nuel - Today's hotel industry spends a lot of money on interior design. Architecture, on the other hand, is a bit of a poor relation these days. Particularly when it comes to volume, both for reasons of cost and sustainable development: a large space is harder to air-condition. On the other hand, in older buildings, you have an incredible wealth of architectural and volumetric features: a 32-metre dome at the Hôtel-Dieu in Lyon, a magnificently high salle des pas perdus at the court in Nantes... It's important, when approaching this type of project, to look at the opportunities offered by these places rather than seeing them as constraints that you have to fight against.

In what spirit are you transforming these places?

J.-P. N. - We need to listen to them. That's what we're doing by working with the architects of historic monuments. Lyon's Hôtel-Dieu, the future InterContinental, is a magnificent landmark in the city. But its essence was that it was first and foremost a hospital for the poor. So the interior design should not be sophisticated, but rather monastic. We've already done this for the InterContinental Hôtel Dieu in Marseille, and we're going to keep it for Lyon. That's one of the difficulties: you have to be able to meet the specifications of a luxury brand without being ostentatious. But I like to do something sober and elegant, with beautiful materials. I'm not into over-writing.

It's very contemporary writing, though...

J.-P. N. - Projects must reflect our times, offering a balance between the past and the present. The evolution of our heritage has to be clear. On the one hand, we don't compromise with the old parts, where we have a duty to be perfect in our restitution; but apart from that, I like to give the sites a very contemporary feel. For example, at the Molitor swimming pool, a future Accor hotel, you have some very fine 1930s ceilings. Does that mean you have to go overboard with Art Deco furniture? I'm not in favour of pastiche, but rather of opposition. I want to create tension through the juxtaposition of different styles. Just because you live in a Hausmann-style building doesn't mean you're furnished in Napoleon III style. It's the same for a hotel.