Spatial still life: Hotel transformed into workspace reflecting past and future

The French Artistic Nationale Commission asked Makkink & Bey to redesign the interiors, turning the historic chambers of the 17th-century building into lively public spaces. A total of 24 work and meeting rooms were refurbished to represent the future as well as the colourful past of the location, once the home of a notorious bishop. 

The spatial installations feature custom-designed furniture by PROOFF and objects created by students of École Supérieure d’Art et de Design d’Orléans, as well as antique pieces of furniture. To visualise the rich cultural context, Makkink & Bey translated the stories from the local archives, including the House of Jeanne d’Arc, into graphic compositions printed onto carpets and curtains. The translucent textiles divide the space, creating separate rooms within the interior.

The project is an example of an eclectic interior combining historic references and a modern feel. To find more examples of designs that draw inspiration from a historic aesthetic, read our Renaissance Revisited section in the Milan 2014: Part 2 review.