Maison Heler Hotel in Metz: A 19th-Century House on Top of a Modern Building

Introduction

In the city of Metz, France, designer Philippe Starck built a very unusual hotel. He placed a traditional 19th-century house on top of a modern nine-story building. The hotel is called Maison Heler, and it is located in the Amphitheatre District, close to the Centre Pompidou-Metz. The Maison Heler Hotel is a unique architectural marvel in Metz.

Hotel Design

The hotel has two main parts:

• The lower part: A modern building made of glass and steel. It has a simple design and calm colours. This lower part adds to the overall aesthetic and appeal of the Maison Heler Hotel.
• The upper part: A classic house from the Lorraine region. It looks like an old house from the 1800s, placed carefully on the top of the building.

A Fictional Story Behind the Design

Philippe Starck created an imaginary character called Manfred Heler. He said this man used to live in that house, then lifted it into the sky. Starck used this story as the base for his design of the Maison Heler Hotel.

Hotel Features

The Maison Heler Hotel includes:

• 104 rooms and suites
• 2 restaurants
• 2 bars
• Meeting and event spaces

Hotel Restaurants

La Cuisine de Rose

This restaurant is open all day. Starck used soft pink colours and simple decorations. He named the restaurant after “Rose,” a fictional woman who loved Manfred. Dining at the Maison Heler Hotel is an exquisite experience.

La Maison de Manfred

This restaurant looks like a dining room inside an old house. The designer used different materials like leather and wood to create a calm atmosphere. Artist “Ara Starck” designed stained glass windows that bring coloured sunlight into the space, enhancing the atmosphere of the Maison Heler Hotel.

Room Design

Philippe Starck designed the rooms in a simple and clean way:

• He used soft colours like white and grey.
• He placed cosy furniture like leather chairs and thick carpets.
• He added small details like old coins or secret phrases written inside drawers, enhancing the Maison Heler Hotel’s distinctive charm.

Starck said:

“I used honest and simple materials. White for fabric, grey for concrete.”

Artistic Details in the Hotel

The designer placed unique art pieces throughout the hotel. He got inspiration from the drawings of a French artist named Jacques Carelman. Some of these pieces include:

• A crystal hammer
• Upside-down chairs
• A plaster anvil. These artistic details reflect the creativity and uniqueness of the Maison Heler Hotel.

Starck said about these works:

“They are strange objects, but they show what humans can invent—even without reason.”

Summary Table