W Hotels Unveils Innovative Design Concept of the Soon-to-Open W Paris - Opéra by Acclaimed Rockwell Group Europe

W Hotels Worldwide will mark its debut in France on February 14, 2012 with the opening of W Paris - Opéra hotel. Owned by Barcelona-based Meridia Capital, the hotel is set inside an elegant 1870s Haussman-era heritage building. W Paris - Opéra has been designed jointly by W Global Brand Design and Rockwell Group Europe (RGe) led by Diego Gronda, its Managing and Creative Director. RGe is the Madrid office of New York-based Rockwell Group, founded by David Rockwell over 25 years ago. Known for iconic design projects, including the 81st and 82nd Annual Academy Awards in Los Angeles, the Juana Manso complex in Buenos Aires and Wasabi by Morimoto restaurant in Mumbai, Rockwell Group’s projects around the world demonstrate the company’s capacity to understand global brands while creating immersive, experiential, locally relevant environments. Design has been at the forefront of W Hotels since 1998 with the launch of the first W hotel, W New York, which was designed by Rockwell Group.

Situated across the street from the renowned Opéra Garnier, W Paris - Opéra is certain to become a buzzing landmark in the city. Inspired by the creative idea of "The Spark,” the hotel was conceptualised to create a dynamic dialogue between the following: the historic façade of the building, Paris as the "City of Light” and W’s DNA by infusing a sense of energy into the quintessential Parisian neighbourhood. This approach results in a stimulating fusion of New York’s dynamism and its never-ending energy with the sophistication and culture of Paris.

"Taking the W brand into Paris, a global fashion capital, will mark a true milestone in W’s global expansion into the world’s most exciting and vibrant destinations,” said Eva Ziegler, Global Brand Leader, W Hotels Worldwide and Le Méridien. "Unique lifestyle programming within a cutting-edge designed environment will bring a new and distinctive experience to Paris and the Parisians alike.”

Elaborating on the design concept, RGe’s Diego Gronda said, "For the first W Hotel in Paris, we wanted to provide guests with an unforgettable experience of the light and sophistication present all over this amazing city. Our design feeds off the elegance, richness and radiance of Paris, "La Ville Lumière,” while layering in the contemporary cool and free-spirited energy of New York.”

The hotel design revolves around an oversized backlit digital undulating wall that defines the central core of the building and weaves through the public and private spaces. The "spark” will appear as a dotted pattern that forms abstract clouds. This wall will be set at various tempos to create different moods to match the season, event, time of day, and location within the hotel, bringing the historic building to life with a glowing vibrancy. The elevators, DJ booth and staircases will be cloaked in red to give the illusion of being inside an epicentre of energy.

Historic features of the 19^th-century building, such as ornamented columns, vaulted ceilings, marble staircases and fireplaces, have been partially restored, celebrated and often juxtaposed against contemporary elements. The original stained glass windows and mosaic flooring on the second floor will be protected to reflect the building’s heritage.

The five-storey hotel will have 91 stylish guest rooms, including 20 suites and two Extreme WOW Suites (W’s interpretation of the Presidential Suite). With soaring ceilings up to three and a half metres in height, the guest rooms and suites offer a contemporary, spacious design and stunning views of Opéra Garnier and the Parisian streets.

Meridia Capital was advised in this project by GCA Architects, a renowned architecture and interior design firm with global experience.

W Paris - Opéra is located at 4 rue Meyerbeer, 75009 Paris, France, across the street from Opéra Garnier, and near Galeries Lafayette and Place Vendome in the 9th Arrondissement. The hotel is now accepting reservations, including group arrivals and event bookings. For further information and bookings, call W Paris - Opéra on +33 (0)1 44 77 10 68 or visit www.whotels.com/parisopera.