The new arsenal site chosen by Colbert

Competition brings out the best in us sometimes. In the mid-17th century, Louis XIV wanted to build his own royal navy – one capable of rivalling those of the English and Dutch. At the time, France owned no more than twenty ships, of which only three were seaworthy. Jean-Baptiste Colbert chose Rochefort as the site for the new arsenal, which would arm warships that were built in Brest. The architect François Blondel and the military engineer Louis Nicolas de Clerville designed the ambitious project.

Home of the famous ship Hermione

For over two-hundred years the site was the bustling centre of French naval operations, with more than 350 ships passing through its dockyards, including the famous ship Hermione. The site was redesigned several times in its history, to add new workshops, accommodate new steam-powered ships, and then motor-driven vessels. It was finally closed in 1926 and was severely damaged during the Second World War. In 1967, a 15,000 square metre area of the arsenal was listed as a historic monument. This launched long-term renovation projects that continued up until 1988.

Specific interior decoration

Inside the former armoury with its symmetrical openings, so distinctive of a military garrison, the first hotel was built. Éric Pacaud, a hotelier and interior designer who works for Option d’intérieur, bought the building in 2017. The hotel had remained the same for nearly thirty years and visitor numbers had dropped drastically when it became part of the Mercure hotel franchise, which began extensive renovations to revitalise the site. ‘We wanted to give the building back a majestic quality and celebrate its rich history using interior decoration’ Éric Pacaud explains. ‘The hotel tells a story and recreates a unique experience. The challenge was to give each space its own specific interior decoration, so it resembles ports of call on a voyage’. 

Frescoes, botanical illustrations and wallpaper

The frescoes in the reception area, guest rooms and restaurant, recall the landscapes discovered by legendary navigators of the past, such as Duperré, La Pérouse or Lafayette – their portraits hang in some rooms. The walls are decorated with oversized antique illustrations, sketches, botanical drawings and frescoes, which catalogue the various fauna and flora discovered on their journey. The spaces in the restaurant have a naval theme, which is emphasised by wavy wallpaper patterns and deep aqua blue painted walls evoking the ocean. The space is extended further with a large glass conservatory.

Colour coded

Elements with a more contemporary feel made by manufactures like Resistub Productions, Petite Friture and Pro-Living, offer a modern take on the same theme, and include brass lamps, crimson picture frames, decorative hemp ropes, and chairs in the colours of the sea. The omnipresent shades of navy, red and gold symbolise the colours of uniforms worn by French naval officers. Other hotels may need to fall in line.

Written by Jordi Patillon

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