A new life for Hôtel Monsieur le Baron in Aix-les-Bains

The construction works at Hôtel Monsieur Le Baron in Aix‑les‑Bains have reached a new milestone, marked by the completion of the deconstruction phase and the start of the structural works. Beyond technical progress, this phase gradually reveals the project’s overarching ambition: to turn the rehabilitation of this emblematic building into an architectural narrative in its own right.

Formerly Hôtel Métropole, built in 1883 and deeply shaped by its history, the building no longer met contemporary uses. The project led by Patriarche aims to give it a new life as a 4‑star hotel, while preserving the significant traces of its past. The conservation of the historic façade facing Place Carnot, retained as a heritage witness, embodies this desire for dialogue between memory and transformation.

Hôtel Monsieur le Baron, a new life for this emblematic hotel in Aix-les-Bains

From the outset, the project was structured around an approach driven by narrative design, conceived as a guiding thread connecting architecture, interior architecture, graphic design and wayfinding. The objective: to infuse the project with a late nineteenth‑century universe, paying tribute to the city’s history, its landscapes and its art of living, through the perspective and stories of Marie de Solms, an emblematic figure of Aix‑les‑Bains.

This narrative informs all design decisions. Volumes, circulation, materials, graphic details and wayfinding elements all contribute to shaping a continuous experience, in which each space reinterprets traces of the past.

This cross‑disciplinary approach ensures strong coherence between design intent and execution, while also giving the project true narrative depth.

Today, the project is entering a phase in which these intentions are taking shape. The preserved historic façade now enters into dialogue with the new structures currently under construction. The execution of the façade mock‑up also represents a key milestone, enabling the testing and validation of material choices, mouldings and construction details, which are essential to ensuring fidelity to the original narrative.

Ultimately, Hôtel Monsieur Le Baron will offer far more than a simple place to stay. It will provide an immersive experience, where architecture, design and graphic expression intertwine to offer visitors a singular story, deeply rooted in the identity of Aix‑les‑Bains and resolutely oriented toward contemporary uses.

Client
Casino Grand Cercle

Team
Patriarche (Architecture, Interior Architecture, Landscape Architecture, Engineering, Cost Consulting, QEB, BIM, Graphic Design, Narrative Design, Wayfinding)
Partners: Léon Grosse, CTE

Credits
Patriarche