In the northeastern French city of Metz, acclaimed designer Philippe Starck has created one of his most imaginative hotel projects yet — Maison Heler, a striking gothic-style mansion perched atop a modern tower.
A Fantastical Concept
At first glance, the building appears surreal: a nine-storey contemporary block crowned with what looks like a 19th-century house. The design is not a retrofit but an entirely new construction, inspired by both Starck’s family history in the region and his father’s career as an aeronautical engineer.
The project draws on a fictional narrative Starck wrote in his novella The Meticulous Life of Manfred Heler. The story follows an orphan, Manfred, whose house and garden are mysteriously lifted into the sky. Starck explains: “Fiction itself becomes the object. Maison Heler is the first hotel born from and preceded by a novel.”
From Story to Architecture
Maison Heler’s design reflects this whimsical tale. The stone-clad base resembles an extrusion from the ground, while the mansion above recalls Metz’s historic Villa Salomon. Inside, the hotel blends surrealism with theatricality: crystal hammers in lobby vitrines, a brasserie shaded in pink named after Manfred’s fictional love Rose, and model planes suspended above the bar — a nod to Starck’s father’s inventions.
The hotel offers 104 guestrooms that balance eccentric details with understated elegance. Interiors feature leather sofas, raw concrete ceilings, and marble-lined bathrooms. On the ninth floor, “La Maison de Manfred” serves as the main dining space, complete with stained glass panels designed by Starck’s daughter, Ara, and a convivial terrace overlooking both modern developments and Metz’s gothic spires.
A Long-Awaited Opening
First announced in 2017 with an intended opening in 2019, the project faced years of delays due to financing issues and the pandemic. Its eventual completion has turned it into something of a local legend.
For Starck, Maison Heler is both personal and symbolic. “I am not Manfred Heler, but it is true that we are somewhat alike,” he admits, reflecting on his neurodivergence and his perpetual drive to create.
More Than a Hotel
Maison Heler stands as a blend of architecture, narrative, and fantasy — a surreal vision that challenges the boundary between fiction and reality. While unconventional, it embodies Starck’s belief that hotels are not just places to stay but immersive stories for guests to inhabit.
