The Garnier Opera, Paris, France
Post By:Kitticoon Poopong
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| Photo © Courtesy of Roland Halbe |
The Opera Garnier’s first ever
restaurant has opened in July 2011 and has become Paris’ toughest reservation. After three attempts over the last 136 years,
Charles Garnier’s wish was granted and in his words, ‘a restaurant worthy of my Opera,’ has been completed.
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| Photo © Courtesy of Roland Halbe |
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| Photo © Courtesy of Roland Halbe |
The architectural office of
Odile DECQ Benoit CORNETTE - Architectes Urbanistes was assigned to the project after a contest and the project was completed within the space of three years (2008-2011). The Phantom restaurant is located at the
Opéra Garnier, more commonly known as the Paris Opéra, a 1,600-seat
opera house on the
Place de l'Opéra in Paris, France, which was the primary home of the Paris Opera from 1875 until 1989. The grand building designed by Charles Garnier in the Neo-Baroque, or "
Baroque Revival" style (it is also said to be of the related
Second Empire style) was and is regarded as one of the architectural masterpieces of its time.
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| Photo © Courtesy of Roland Halbe |
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| Photo © Courtesy of Roland Halbe |
Like a « phantom », silent and insidious, the soft protean curves of the
mezzanine level float above the dinner guests, covering the space with a surface that bends and undulates. Behind the columns of the east facade of the Opera Garnier, the restaurant is located in a place where, when the building first opened, horse-drawn carriages would drop off ticket holders, arriving for a performance.
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| Photo © Courtesy of Roland Halbe |
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| Photo © Courtesy of designboom |
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| Photo © Courtesy of Roland Halbe |
Creating a new space in the Opera Garnier meant following strict guidelines concerning the historical character of the monument: in order to ensure the possibility of completely removing the project without damage to the existing structure, we were not allowed to touch any of the walls, the pillars, or the ceiling.
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| Photo © Courtesy of designboom |
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| Photo © Courtesy of designboom |
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| Photo © Courtesy of designboom |
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| Photo © Courtesy of Roland Halbe |
The facade of the restaurant is a veil of undulating glass, sliding between each pillar. With no visible structure, the glass is held in place by a single strip of bent steel running along the arched curve of the ceiling. This steel strip is fixed to the upper cornices of the columns 6 meters above the ground with stainless steel connecting rods. The glass is therefore held in place as if « by magic ». The façade therefore allows for clear views and a minimum impact. Providing enough floor space to seat 90 people was another requirement for this limited space.
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| Photo © Courtesy of Roland Halbe |
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| Photo © Courtesy of designboom |
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| Photo © Courtesy of designboom |
The mezzanine was therefore created as a continuous surface. Narrow columns extend upwards towards the molded plaster hull, which curves to form the edges of the handrail. This vessel, which has been slipped under the cupola, is a cloud formation floating between the existing elements of the room without touching them. It’s an allusion to the changing form of the phantom, whose white veil glides surreptitiously in space. Quietly, almost insidiously, the soft protean curves of the mezzanine cover the space with a volume that arches, undulates, and floats above the guests. The space is open and turned outward.
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| Photo © Courtesy of Roland Halbe |
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| Photo © Courtesy of designboom |
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| Photo © Courtesy of Roland Halbe |
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| Photo © Courtesy of Roland Halbe |
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| Photo © Courtesy of designboom |
The keystone of the existing dome remains visible from the ground floor, while suddenly becoming very close to the diners on the upper level. Sitting close to the stone arches of the ceiling, the symmetry of the cupola is no longer apparent, the reference points change, and sense perception of the space is altered. In the curve of the hull above, immersed in warm red tones, the upper level becomes an intimate and private space.
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| Photo © Courtesy of designboom |
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| Photo © Courtesy of Roland Halbe |
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| Photo © Courtesy of designboom |
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| Photo © Courtesy of designboom |
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| Photo © Courtesy of designboom |
The red carpeting flows down the steps of the main staircase dramatically, spreading out into the center of the black floor below, and running under the tables until it arrives at the edge of the facade. At the back of the room, in the area closest to the entrance to the Opera, the space becomes more protected and private, contrasting with the whiteness of the rest of the room.
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| Photo © Courtesy of designboom |
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| Photo © Courtesy of designboom |
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| Photo © Courtesy of designboom |
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| Photo © Courtesy of Roland Halbe |
Long red booths line this space, creating the « lounge » area for the restaurant. At the outside edge of the lounge, a long black bar snakes around a nearby column. The design for this project is based around creating a space that will highlight the restaurant inside the Opera Garnier, without mimicking the existing monument, but respecting it while affirming its truly contemporary character. Odile Decq Architect
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| Photo © Courtesy of designboom |
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| Photo © Courtesy of designboom |
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| lower floor plan--drawing © Courtesy of ODBC-Odile Decq Benoit Cornette |
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| lower floor plan--drawing © Courtesy of ODBC-Odile Decq Benoit Cornette |
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| section AA--drawing © Courtesy of ODBC-Odile Decq Benoit Cornette |
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| section BB--drawing © Courtesy of ODBC-Odile Decq Benoit Cornette |
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| section CC--drawing © Courtesy of ODBC-Odile Decq Benoit Cornette |
Video: The Palais Garnier, also known as the Opéra de Paris or Opéra Garnier, was constructed by Charles Garnier from 1861 to 1874 and is regarded as one of the architectural masterpieces of its time. The building (and the real life tragedy of the chandelier falling in 1896 and killing one person) was the inspiration for the 1910 Gaston Leroux novel "The Phantom of the Opera."
The entire building underwent a massive restoration from 1994 to 2006. This video was produced in 2008.
Project Data
Project name: Phantom Restaurant
Location: The Garnier Opera, Paris, France
Program: Implement of a restaurant in the Garnier Opera
Gross floor area: 1100 M2
Budget: 6 M€ excl. VAT
Dates: 2008 - 2011
Opening: July 2011
The people
Client: GUMERY
Facade consultants: Odile Decq Benoit Cornette Architectes Urbanistes / HDA - Hugh Dutton Associates
Kitchen consultants: C2A Architectes
Acoustics consultants: Studio DAP
Plants consultants: MS Consulting
General Contractor: Entreprise PETIT
Photographs: © Courtesy of ODBC-Odile Decq Benoit Cornette,
Roland Halbe,
designboom
Note>>Location in this map, It could indicate city/country but not exact address.
