Did you see the first episode of the BBC’s Inside Monaco: Playground of the Rich on Tuesday? (If not, click here.) Needless to say, whatever we are watching (TV, films, Zoom backgrounds….), we have what you might call "heightened-luminaire-awareness", just as you, for your part, will never not be evaluating the interiors. We just can’t help it, can we!
This episode featured the Hôtel de Paris, which has just had a four year, $280,000,000 make-over. If you, rather than Affine Design in Paris, had got that gig, what lights would you have specified? The brief was to give the hotel a lighter, more modern look. "Monaco has year-round mild temperatures and generally sunny days, and our idea was to give guests the chance to enjoy the outdoors without having to leave their rooms," said the hotel’s MD.
So what was selected for the €40,000-a-night Suite Princesse Grace, that featured so heavily in the programme? (Warning: no lights look good in TV screen grabs!)
Quasar Universe by Jan Pauwels
That is the Disc version of Quasar’s Universe…
…seen in situ more clearly here:
It is at night that the Universe magic happens—the galaxy of tiny stars on their delicate metal web. During the day, it is so light and airy that it does not draw attention to itself and, critically, does not obscure that view.
In the entrance hall to the Suite is a vast (200cm x 400cm!) custom Orion version…
…this time turned on. It looks wonderful—its broad, shallow shape suited to this quite low-ceilinged space. Again, it does not obscure the view (this time of portraits of Grace Kelly). A standard Orion looks like this:
The programme had really got our attention now! I spotted this fleetingly in the background in another suite (that costs only €15,000 a night…)
What could it possibly be? Its irregular outer arrangement suggested Orion, but it could also be Spectre:
It turned out that it must have been the latter. Quasar’s MD, Arjens, sent me this photo…
…and tells me that they did these specials, based on Spectre (the one by the window a large 140cm). Because the ceilings are low, they removed one tier, and concealed the transformers in the void so that they could have a flat ceiling rose, as you can see.
Its appropriateness to this location, and its adaptability, demonstrate how and why Jan Pauwels’ Universe series for Quasar is one of the finest of all 21st Century luminaire designs—and one of the most useful. Click here to read my post about the collection (which has continued to grow since I wrote that).
Arjens also confirmed that I’d had a fleeting glimpse of Edward van Vliet’s Alistair in the programme. Although designed in 2003, its time has well and truly come, because every man and his dog is currently producing designs based on glass rods and tubes (when they aren’t doing ballsonsticks….). But neither every man, nor his dog, does very much with them, whereas Edward has added colour and light effects (that move as you walk past) by introducing translucent coloured sheets between two rows of solid six-cornered rods:
Those for the Hôtel de Paris were custom sizes. Do remember that Quasar is positively happy to customize designs (helped by the fact that they make them themselves).
So, what else did we see?
Pouenat Ferronnier Last Night
It was inevitable that a project worked on three years ago would include ballsonsticks. But some are OK—not just jumping on the bandwagon. Jacques Rayet, the MD of Pouenat, knew that he had one of the finest teams of metal workers anywhere. To get designs of a similarly high calibre, he selects designers who he feels really understood metal, and gives them carte blanche to create whatever they like. The result is a important catalogue that contains very distinctive collections. This design is from Damien Langlois-Meurinne’s. Above is a pendant version, the Last Night Branche:
We also saw the Last Night Totem::
The version specified is attached to the floor and the ceiling, like a lap dancing pole. Of course, you should be able to have pretty much whatever you like for your €40,000 but, frankly, Totem would be uncomfortable to use this way. I don’t think Affine Design thought it through.
(I think I also saw Lindsey Adelman’s Branching Bubble chandelier through a door. If so, kudos to Affine Design for specifying the fons et origo of all ballsonsticks.)
Paolo Castelli Allure
I wrote an introduction to Paolo Castelli’s fine lighting collection in March—click here.
This is their candle, Allure, as it appeared in the programme:
And this is what it looks like in professional photos:
Don’t you just want to lick it?! Or is that just me….
Not in the programme, but in an image I found on the hotel’s web site:
…we see two versions of:
Terzani Argent
And also this wall light:
FontanaArte Lunaire
It comes in a variety of finishes. The centre section pulls out like a drawer, allowing more or less light onto the gilded surround.
Finally, I was so pleased to see this:
Catellani & Smith PostKrisi T 10 Malagolina
Why was I pleased? Because it’s such a great way to use this light! It is being treated more as an objet d’art, its gilded fibreglass form being part of a composition that also includes the three ceramic vases, the leather(?) box and the relief on the wall.
Here it is, seen from the other side:
Needless to say, we’ll continue watching Inside Monaco: Playground of the Rich for more fine luminaires!
If you are interested in any of these collections (bearing in mind that most can be customized), do get in touch. And also do so if you land a €40,000-a-night presidential suite project, obviously!
PS What really stood out for us was that these hotel interiors were not BROWN!
PPS Here is a description of the Princess Grace Suite—what you get for your €40,000.
Spread across the 7th and 8th floors, the lavish two-bedroom property is filled with all of the Princess’ favourite things; poems, artworks, photographs and flowers. Its vast terraces boast a private pool. Inside, floor-to-ceiling windows show off impressive views of Monaco’s harbour, the Mediterranean and, of course, the Palais Princier de Monaco. With a private wine cellar, three lounges, one living room, and a harbour-view dining room, it makes a superb base for those that wish to entertain. Kitted out with various heat experience rooms and a private fitness area, even though the hotels offers a direct access to the Thermes Marins Monte-Carlo. Come summer, a tent at the exclusive Monte-Carlo Beach Club awaits.
