Up until June 2008, the Royal Monceau was a classic Luxurious Parisian hotel that had hosted Ernest Hemingway, Walt Disney, le général Eisenhower, Joséphine Baker, Madonna and Robert de Niro. Then a number of other high profile guests were invited to wreck the hotel in a single night.
In 2007, Alexandre Allard 39, bought the hotel his step father was the first owner of the hotel. He says:
“I bought the Royal Montceau because I’m the first Frenchman to reconquer a Parisian palace in 50 years. It’s now time that someone creates a hotel dedicated to the French way of life.”
Allard’s objective is to reconsider the Hotel Business:
“Nothing has been invented since the Delano in Miami. Wealthy people are used to immaculate and beautiful rooms, but for real they are looking for an art of living. Culture and Elegance are not accessible in hotels. I want to create a space completely turned towards art, generosity, the environment and sharing”
Before completely transforming the place, a massive auction was organized to empty the hotel of all its antics, furniture and accessories. Then, to launch a 15 months project to rebuild the place under the guidance of designer Philip Stark, Alexandre Allard set up a “Demolition Party”. This festive and ferocious happening hosted 1200 celebrities, models, politicians, hipsters and a few of my colleagues from work to completely trash the place. Throughout this big event many rooms of the hotel hosted mini concerts, art expositions, shows etc…
Here is how Tina Isaac from style.com described the event:
“Artsy hipsters, models in glittery costumes, and a Marie Antoinette look-alike mingled with guests in evening dress as they milled through 20 rooms specially commissioned from contemporary artists who decked out the empty spaces in spray paint, neon lights, bubble machines, hologram videos, and a bathtub equipped with a churning motorboat engine. It didn’t take long for door numbers to start vanishing and the echoes of shattered glass to resonate in the courtyard. Dominique Isserman and Charlotte Rampling took refuge in the VIP lounge, while guests such as Vanessa Bruno circulated enthusiastically. “Throwing aparty like this is brilliant,” commented Bruno. “Paris needed a shot of excitement.”
Eric Mitchell called this event as “Bourgeois Punkitude”. He says it funny to see “Bourgeois” people attack the symbols of bourgeoisie.
Two of the hotel’s existing staff attending the event couldn’t believe their eyes:
“We are all quite sad to witness such a scene, we feel quit bitter…but we’re just staff, we don’t have our word to say.”
Contributed by Marc Sutton
