The widespread influence of Brutalism has left a substantial legacy of buildings everywhere, and Paris wasn’t spared. But now this controversial architectural movement’s legacy is finding new life. La Fondation, the latest five-star hotel opening in the City of Light, is a great example of where architectural past successfully meets future.
A dull 1960s car park and a soulless office block have undergone a dramatic transformation under the lead of New York studio Roman and Williams. A renowned design firm whose previous projects include NoMad London and The Fitzroy New York, incorporated luxe natural materials such as bleached oak, hand-glazed ceramics and textured travertine within a Brutalist shell.
Everything about this place is different from traditional hotels: from staff wearing white T-shirts and French-chic russet-red foulards (silk neck scarves) instead of office suits, to a climbing wall in the gym.
Understated minimalist luxury
The rooms are modern, with chic wood floors, high ceilings and large windows. Interiors that are halfway between a loft and a cosy apartment showcase sleek minimalism at its best, and prove that luxury doesn’t have to come with a lot of shiny bells and whistles.
Shelves and panelled bedheads are all custom-designed; the slippers might be the most comfortable of all hotel slippers we’ve ever had. They are lined with red carpet, enhancing that VIP feeling. Robes are also very unique, tailored to various sizes and adorned with black belts.
But the standout feature is the bathroom – spacious, stylish and definitely one of a kind. Once relegated to rooms you only ventured into when absolutely necessary, luxury hotel bathrooms now serve as the ultimate status symbol. At La Fondation it’s green mosaic-tiled with gold brass taps, a large walk-in shower and Typology products throughout. It’s a beautiful expression of interior design. Better grab that “Do Not Disturb” sign now.
Strength, space, light
The hotel is extremely well equipped for wellness facilities. The spacious fitness centre is outfitted with top-of-the-range Technogym equipment you’d normally find in a high-spec private club and there’s a whole area just for boxing, filled with punching bags.
Speaking of clubs, one of the advantages of La Fondation is that it’s not just a hotel – it’s a unique space where you can mingle with residents of the prestigious 17th arrondissement. Seeing real Parisians working out alongside you gives a genuine sense of community, like you’re living there. There are also complimentary daily dance, Pilates and yoga classes, plus many more, spread across five studios.
Semi-Olympic pool
What surprised us most about La Fondation was the massive climbing wall – we’ve never seen that in any hotel before and opened to guests to use unsupervised as it’s designed to be used without assistance. And the surprises don’t end there.
Hidden in the basement is a 25m pool – significantly longer than average hotel pools and one of the largest in Paris. It’s large enough to host guests doing lengths and aqua aerobics classes at the same time. This is not your usual light, half-relaxing session at all-inclusive hotels or on cruise ships. Here, you get 45 minutes of intense exercise with proper equipment, including riding a bike in the pool and water trampolines. Who said workouts couldn’t be fun! The saunas and steam rooms (separate for men and women) feel incredibly rewarding afterwards.
The locals know best
If we know one thing, it’s this: Paris knows how to do a good hotel restaurant. La Fondation brings two solid additions to this list, attracting both guests and locals.
La Base Brasserie on the ground floor focuses on French classes with a modern touch. This is the kind of restaurant you want to lose an evening in – an airy romantic space with funky emerald-green wooden armchairs and ginger-leather banquette seating around white marble tables. The wine list is, unsurprisingly, a delight – order by the glass as you graze your way through a menu of sure-fire hits, whatever the season.
This is your chance to try unique local dishes, such as the Roscoff onion tart – sweet, caramelised onions from the famous Roscoff region wrapped in perfectly crisp pastry. Carnaroli croustillant, thon rouge de Méditerranée épicé et pickles de jalapeño – five croutons made of Carnaroli rice topped with spicy Mediterranean bluefin tuna and jalapeño pickles. Both starters were absolutely sensational.
For mains, we noticed a lot of people going for the beef tartare, so we had to try it. This traditional French dish has a unique twist here, as it’s served on the softest brioche imaginable, making it a perfect combination and helping those not accustomed to eating raw meat focus on flavour rather than preparation. It was delicate, delicious and the best steak tartare we’ve ever had. The rib steak was tender and juicy. Sides such as mashed potatoes, sautéed seasonal mushrooms, roast potatoes and mixed green salad with Parmesan deserve standalone ovations.
Our plates were spotless but fortunately had room for dessert. The first, intriguingly named Comme un Mont Blanc (“Like a Mont Blanc”), is a dessert of sweetened chestnut purée in the form of vermicelli, topped with whipped cream and edible silver garnishes, shaped like a snow-capped mountain. Following our waiter’s recommendation, we also ordered the quince tart filled with Normandy cream and vanilla, which was absolutely divine. Wash everything down with one of the beautiful cocktails.
Breakfast with a view
Breakfast is served on the eighth floor at Les Ailes restaurant. If you’re lucky, you might even get a table with a view of the Eiffel Tower, but thanks to floor-to-ceiling windows, every table feels special. Breakfasts here undoubtedly surpass the average morning pick-me-up and deliver a carefully crafted dining experience.
The space buzzes with energy, upbeat music and food options ranging from a simple coffee and croissant to the sumptuous La Fondation breakfast. The latter includes a detox shot (especially welcome in winter), speciality coffee, fresh juice, pastries, eggs of your choice, two sides, seasonal fruit and delightful granola.
After your meal, walk around the floating garden or head to the rooftop for picture-perfect views of Sacré-Cœur and the Eiffel Tower.
Live like a Parisian
La Fondation is a destination hotel, not merely a place to lay your head between intense sightseeing days. The location is slightly removed from the main tourist areas, set in the chic Monceau district of Paris’s 17th arrondissement.
Surrounding the magnificent Parc Monceau, one of Paris’s most beautiful gardens, and grand Haussmannian private mansions that offer a glimpse into authentic Parisian life. Grab a coffee on trendy Rue Legendre, visit the Musée Jacquemart-André or the Musée Nissim de Camondo and feel like one of the locals. Paris is more than just the Louvre and the Eiffel Tower.
So if all you need is a bed for the night, don’t bother. Come to La Fondation for a week – you’ll get everything, and more, and by the end you’ll never want to leave.
Learn more about La Fondation Paris.
Image credits: © La Fondation, Romain Ricard, Clement Gerard
