Restoration
Hôtel de Beauvais
The restoration of this private residence in central Paris is a key project in the career of Louis-Joseph Lamborot. His passionate approach to this project earned him the prestigious decoration of a Knighthood of the Order of Arts and Letters from the French government.
When in 1980 the government decided to restore Hôtel de Beauvais, it was in ruins. The successive owners had adulterated the house to such an extent that two years of almost archaeological research were required to discover the original features of its sublime architecture. Built in 1661 from the plans of architect Antoine Lepautre, upon completion Hôtel de Beauvais was considered one of the most important examples of 17th century civil architecture in Paris. The architect cleverly toyed with the irregular terrain to create highly original plans, with expert theatrical effect generated by subtle plays on curves and perspectives.
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“I must admit, my first visit to Hôtel de Beauvais on a grey November day was a shock: empty of occupants for several years, serving as a resting place for Paris’ pigeons, the building was in such a state of advanced disrepair that one could not be sure that two years of work would be enough to completely restore it.” Pierre-François Racine
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