BRACH Paris – Modernist Bauhaus Meets Urban Jungle
A Philippe Starck Masterpiece Blending Art, Architecture, and Immersive Design
1-7, rue Jean Richepin
75116 Paris
Type: architectural hotel, design hotel, luxury hotel
Style: 1930s Modernism, art & culture, Bauhaus, cinematic, ethnic
Vibe: lively, rooftop bar
A world where design becomes theatre
Step past the quiet façade of a former 1970s postal sorting facility, and BRACH Paris unfolds like a cinematic reveal. Inside, Philippe Starck orchestrates a kaleidoscope of textures, colours and curiosities: Art Brut prints, marble vases, African stools, surrealist photography, leather-and-stick chairs, and Masai beadwork tables. This is not a lobby; it’s a living gallery—one that instantly signals BRACH as more than a hotel. It’s a cultural salon where the unexpected thrives and where the 16th arrondissement—traditionally reserved, residential and refined—finds its boldest new voice.
A Starck-crafted story full of contradictions and seductions
Evok Hôtels asked Philippe Starck to rewrite the DNA of the building, and he did so with theatrical gusto. His vision pulls from Bauhaus rigour, château opulence and African craft traditions, weaving them into a narrative that embraces disorder, sensuality and surprise. Starck speaks of wanting “moments of uncertainty, where nothing happens and suddenly magic appears.” BRACH delivers exactly that. Sculptures stand next to leather banquettes; polished brass catches the shadow of raw concrete; and a ceiling canvas by Starck’s daughter Ara presides over it all like a blessing from above.
Rooms that feel curated, lived-in, and quietly extravagant
Guestrooms are bright with natural light and wrapped in rosewood and mirrors, but they never feel cold or hyper-designed—they feel collected. Masks rest beside framed sketches, lamps masquerade as bookstands, and art books are tucked into niches like secrets waiting to be discovered. Carpets are plush, headboards grand, and the warm palette softens the modernist lines. Bathrooms, meanwhile, are miniature palaces of marble offset by cacti and stone basins—spaces that tempt you to extend your mornings. Suites raise the stakes further with terraces, hot tubs, barbecue setups, flower-filled planters, and uninterrupted Eiffel Tower views. These are rooms for those who love design but live in comfort.
A dining scene that never sleeps
From the moment breakfast plates start leaving the open kitchen, the BRACH restaurant hums with an energy that feels distinctly Parisian yet unmistakably its own. Organic eggs Benedict with Label Rouge salmon, arancini threaded with saffron, beef kafta paired with labneh—chef Adam Bentalha fuses Mediterranean ease with Levantine depth. The tone is set by casually chic servers, an international soundtrack and a room filled with Parisians who treat this as their neighbourhood canteen. Evenings bring candlelight, cocktails and a sense of conviviality that lingers long after dessert is cleared.
Service that anticipates, adapts and never intrudes
From the doorman who remembers your name to the fitness trainers who treat every guest as a regular, service at BRACH is tuned to luxury without stiffness. Warm, skilled and discreet, the team embodies the best of contemporary Parisian hospitality—personal without pretense, stylish without attitude.
A crowd that reflects the hotel’s charisma
This is where the in-crowd comes to play: Parisian creatives unwinding over cocktails, cool-hunting locals claiming prime tables, business power brokers conducting breakfast meetings, and the area’s elegant residents slipping in for dessert or a nightcap. Everyone belongs, yet no one blends in.
A neighbourhood reborn around a singular hotel
BRACH has recharged the 16th arrondissement—an enclave once defined by elegant townhouses, embassies and museums. Now, thanks to this exploratory hotel, the district feels renewed, youthful and unexpectedly vibrant. The Palais de Tokyo, Fondation Louis Vuitton and Bois de Boulogne are close by, while Rue de la Pompe offers quintessential Parisian charm.
A subterranean world built for strength, ritual and pleasure
Hidden beneath the hotel is one of Paris’s most remarkable wellness complexes—a sports club inspired by a 1930s New York boxing gym. Starck wanted guests to “feel powerful,” and the mood delivers: a 23-metre pool bordered by a second, 35-person plunge pool; a salt grotto; hammam; sauna; and Clarins treatment rooms. The moment you descend the staircase, the energy shifts. It feels like a private, stylish universe carved into the city’s underworld.
DNA Hotels verdict
BRACH Paris is a rare creature: bold yet refined, sensual yet thoughtful, luxurious yet full of playful disorder. Starck’s vision transforms a forgotten building into a breathing, layered world—one that surprises, seduces and delights at every turn. For travellers seeking Paris beyond the postcard, BRACH is a revelation: immersive, imaginative, and unmistakably alive.
Amenities:
• 24-hour front desk • air conditioning • free bicycles • fitness centre • free WiFi • massages • on-site parking (charged) • penthouse suite • pet friendly (no charges) • 2 restaurants • room service • room with a view • sauna • spa & wellness • sustainability certification • indoor swimming pool • wheelchair accessible • yoga
