Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The restaurant Le Relais-Plaza was built in 1936 as part of the modernization of the Plaza-Athénée hotel, located in the 8th arrondissement of Paris. Located on the ground floor of a late 19th-century adjoining building, it was designed to complete the hotel's dining room. The works were entrusted to architect Constant Lefranc, co-author with Georges Wybo of the George V Hotel. This project was part of a desire to enhance and extend the luxury services of the neighbouring establishment, while integrating remarkable artistic elements such as bas-relief Diane Chasseresse, carved by Francine Saquy and placed above the counter.

The restaurant now retains most of its furniture and decor from the 1930s, including a famous bright ceiling, symbol of the aesthetic innovation of the era. In 1992, some additional decorative elements were added, but without altering the Art Deco spirit of the place. The front and the bas-relief, recognized for their heritage value, were protected by a registration order under the Historic Monuments on November 15, 1994. This status underlines the architectural and artistic importance of the Relais-Plaza in the Parisian landscape of the 20th century.

The integration of the restaurant into a pre-existing building illustrates a typical approach to urban planning in Paris in the 1930s, where modernity and architectural heritage coexisted. The choice of Constant Lefranc, an architect renowned for his prestigious hotel achievements, and the collaboration with artists like Francine Saquy, reflect the ambition to create a space that is both functional and aesthetically successful. The Relais-Plaza thus embodies the golden age of major Parisian hotels, where art, luxury and innovation met to serve a demanding international clientele.

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