Hôtel de la Marine Reopens in Paris After €130M Restoration
In June 2021, the Hôtel de la Marine in Paris welcomed visitors once again following a €130 million renovation that commenced in 2017 and faced delays due to the pandemic. The exhibition route was inaugurated by President Macron. Originally constructed for Louis XV and designed by Ange-Jacques Gabriel, the building functioned as the Garde-Meuble de la Couronne from 1772 and served as the French Navy's headquarters until 2015. The restoration, overseen by the CMN, recreated apartments based on original inventories. Highlights include the Table des muses by Jean-Henri Riesener and a canapé by Jean-Baptiste-Claude Sené. This autumn, the Al Thani Foundation will unveil a museum space, alongside a new restaurant by Jean-François Piège. Interactive audio guides and digital installations will enhance the visitor experience.
Key facts
- Hôtel de la Marine reopened June 2021 after €130M restoration
- Restoration launched in 2017, delayed by pandemic
- President Macron inaugurated the new exhibition route
- Building served as Garde-Meuble de la Couronne (1772) and Navy headquarters (1789–2015)
- Designed by Ange-Jacques Gabriel for Louis XV, construction directed by Jacques-Germain Soufflot from 1768
- Original furniture borrowed from Louvre, Versailles, Mobilier national, and others
- Table des muses by Jean-Henri Riesener returned from Versailles
- Riesener commode donated by Al Thani Foundation, auctioned at Christie's New York in April 2019
- Al Thani Collection museum space designed by ATTA – Atelier Tsuyoshi Tane Architects
- Glass roof by Hugh Dutton covers Cour de l'Intendant
- Restaurant by Jean-François Piège opening autumn 2021
Entities
Artists
- Ange-Jacques Gabriel
- Jacques-Germain Soufflot
- Pierre-Élisabeth de Fontanieu
- Marc-Antoine Thierry de Ville-d'Avray
- Jean-Henri Riesener
- Jean-Baptiste-Claude Sené
- Tsuyoshi Tane
- Hugh Dutton
- Jean-François Piège
- Louis XV
- Louis XVI
- Marie Antoinette
- Napoleon I
- Charles X
- Louis Philippe
- Napoleon III
- Dario Bragaglia
Institutions
- Centre des Monuments Nationaux (CMN)
- Mobilier national
- Musée du Louvre
- Musée des Arts Décoratifs
- Château de Versailles
- Ministère de l'Armée
- Manufacture de Sèvres
- Christie's New York
- Al Thani Foundation
- ATTA – Atelier Tsuyoshi Tane Architects
- Goppion
- Artribune
Locations
- Paris
- France
- Place de la Concorde
- rue Royale
- Madeleine
- Tuileries Gardens
- Seine
- Champs-Élysées
- Louvre
- Palais de l'Assemblée Nationale
- Tour Eiffel
- Grand Palais
- Versailles
- New York
- United States