Martin Brudnizki speaks to Cultural Union about Le Grand Mazarin – the Maisons Pariente hotel that has brought a dazzling new energy to Le Marais.
Paris has no shortage of new hotels, but few manage to feel as rooted in the city’s cultural history as Le Grand Mazarin – the debut Paris property from family-owned luxury hotel group, Maisons Pariente.
Designed by Martin Brudnizki’s MBDS, the studio behind London private members’ club Annabel’s and Belmond’s Splendido hotel in Portofino, the hotel is tucked just off Rue de la Verrerie in Le Marais. More than a reflection of the neighbourhood’s aesthetic, it seeks to rekindle the vibrant social energy that has defined Paris for centuries.
“Paris has always had great hostesses who entertained like-minded artists, politicians, and authors,” Brudnizki explains. “We wanted to create a series of spaces within this hotel where you meet different creative people from different parts of life.”
That ambition is most clearly expressed in the public areas. The lobby and lounge are layered with patterned textiles, hand-painted murals, and a mix of antique and bespoke furniture. The effect isn’t minimal or restrained – Brudnizki works in density, creating interiors where the eye rarely rests on a single element for long.
Despite the exuberant mix of prints, the space is unified by a painterly, well-calibrated palette: pistachio greens and soft corals sweep across walls and seating, punctuated by accents of lavender, golden ochre, and dusky rose. Murano glass chandeliers, tasselled lamps and flea-market finds layer in texture and narrative, weaving a story that feels as theatrical as it is lived in. The design encourages gathering; low-slung seating grouped in clusters makes conversation a natural outcome, and the bar area extends the salon concept into a contemporary format.
The guest rooms continue the theme – here, canopy beds draped in art de lys tapestries, whimsical paisley-and-lobster wallpaper tucked inside antique wardrobes, striped and chevron sofas, and oriental rugs all coexist in effortless, elegant harmony. Rather than a uniform, brand-led identity, the rooms lean into eclecticism – different patterns layered together, finishes that recall 18th- and 19th-century Parisian homes, and flashes of humour in the decorative details.
“We wanted the hotel to feel as though it has always been a part of Le Marais’ landscape,” says Brudnizki, “so we sought inspiration from the great houses of the aristocratic era, where figures from literature, art and music gathered in sumptuous residences, exchanging ideas and thoughts. Our design concept was to reignite this historic ambience for the modern world, where guests feel as though they have arrived home and have the freedom to express themselves.”
Throughout, Brudnizki’s design avoids neutral sameness, instead taking risks: patterned carpets against patterned walls, bold colour blocking, and decorative objects that resist easy categorisation.
“Paris has always had great hostesses who entertained like-minded artists, politicians, and authors. We wanted to create a series of spaces where you meet different creative people.”
Martin Brudnizki
The materials are lavish, while the aesthetic occasionally flirts with kitsch, punctuated by quirky details that strike a unique balance – opulent yet approachable, luxe without ever feeling stiff. For instance, despite being a city hotel, whimsical sea motifs – shells, lobsters, and fish – appear throughout the interiors, adding an unexpected touch.
The location in Le Marais is crucial to the concept. The neighborhood’s mix of aristocratic hôtels particuliers, contemporary galleries and nightlife has long attracted a cross-section of creative communities. Le Grand Mazarin mirrors this blend – its interiors feel simultaneously historic and contemporary, formal yet playful. By setting itself in the middle of Le Marais, it avoids the grand boulevard anonymity of some Paris luxury hotels and instead feels embedded in the daily life of the area.
“We wanted the hotel to feel as though it has always been a part of Le Marais’ landscape.”
Martin Brudnizki
The dining spaces continue the hotel’s signature eclecticism. Breakfast is served at the fusion restaurant, Boubalé – its name drawn from a Yiddish term of endearment as a nod to Le Marais’ historic Jewish roots. The room is filled with duck-egg blue bobbin-leg chairs and hand-embroidered wallpaper, evoking a folk-inspired charm that steers clear of generic uniformity. Service is polished yet relaxed, seamlessly aligning with the hotel’s ethos as a social, rather than ceremonial, space.
What emerges overall is a luxurious and deliberate point of view. Le Grand Mazarin makes design the central part of its identity, looking back to the aristocratic salons of Paris and the literary gatherings that defined them while positioning itself as a setting for modern social encounters. And while it might not be for those seeking minimalism or a subdued retreat, for those drawn to visual richness and social exchange, Le Grand Mazarin offers a wonderfully distinctive and immersive experience.