INFANTE SAGRES

Porto - Portugal

opening december 2026

Chem. de Paomia Montalbo, 20130 Cargèse, Corsica

2025

Designing a hotel in Corsica is a rare opportunity. Our second stroke of luck was that it was located in Cargèse, a village I knew well, with its two churches, its Bon Accueil bar, its harbour, its magnificent beaches, and its ice cream parlour on the road to Sagone.

Building a hotel overlooking the Mediterranean, with panoramic views, is an ambitious and demanding undertaking. Our third stroke of luck was to work with an architectural firm like Orma, which envisioned a building made from earth excavated on site, fragmented and nestled within the maquis.

And so it all began: Corsica, the endless sea, the maquis, and the earth. Naturally, it was essential to reconnect with the history of the village, a Greek settlement in Corsica, with its orderly streets, orange-tiled roofs, shifting levels, and breathtaking views.

The rooms are mineral and textured. Nothing is smooth. The rock emerges here and there. Desert Modernism thus became a starting point for this thoroughly contemporary project, perched on a mountainside and exposed to the elements.

We wanted to tell the story of the Mediterranean, with a few nods to Greek mythology through recreated columns, alcoves, and friezes carved into the plaster. But above all, we wanted to tell the story of Corsica: its shepherds, the colour black, the holm oak, the rock, fishing, and its churches.

The colours are matte. Wood is sculpted into waves, fragments of tiles are embedded in the plaster, and tables feature amphora-inspired handles. Friezes depicting waves adorn the bathroom walls, marble is veined with green, lime-washed surfaces take on shades of ecru and beige, wood turns red, concrete is black, and the rock remains raw.

The headboards evoke shepherds' hats, the fabrics recall fishing ropes, and the bathrooms draw inspiration from ancient architecture.

The sea is everywhere: in every window, from every balcony. It borders the swimming pool, the spa, and the restaurant terrace, perched at the very top of the building, where the most spectacular view unfolds towards infinity, with the rooftops of Cargèse in the distance.

The maquis breaks through here and there, crossing the ground to create small inner gardens. A giant belombra tree inhabits the atrium, providing welcome shade.

Clients : Pierre Mattei & Dominique Leca

Interior Architecture + Design : Dorothee Meilichzon

Photos : Julie Ansiau

Rue de la Poste, 73150 Val-d'Isère, Savoie, France

Christmas 2024 / Christmas 2025

Located at the foot of the slopes, in the heart of the Val d’Isère ski resort, this expansive hotel sits in a small high-altitude village in the Vanoise mountains and features 113 rooms. It is our largest hotel project to date.

It represented a real challenge for us: how could we recreate a contemporary mountain spirit? Almost immediately, this imposing building of slate, concrete and wood brought to mind an American-style lodge. Timber logs, branches, stonework and woodwork would become our starting point.

“The spirit of the forest” became our guiding architectural concept, shaping everything from door frames, cupboards, headboards and handles to bathroom furniture and the benches surrounding the imposing stone fireplace.

Naturally, we also wanted to pay tribute to skiing. Val d’Isère is a renowned resort, known for its demanding slopes and sporting spirit. We designed mirror frames inspired by ski tips, incorporated snow-white marble, and created table legs from sections of ski poles.

Above all, we invented our own “ski” finish: a surface reminiscent of the snow on the famous Face de Bellevarde slope after a day of skiing, marked by long, sweeping tracks sculpted into a lime-based plaster finish.

And, of course, we wanted to celebrate Savoy and its traditions. We drew inspiration from traditional Savoyard wooden chests, passed down from father to son, as well as from the carved wooden stamps once used to mark loaves of bread before they were taken to the communal wood-fired oven in the village below the resort.

Client : Experimental Group

Interior Architecture + Design : Dorothee Meilichzon

Graphic Design : Studio l’Etiquette

Photos : Patrick Locqueneux

Cowley, Cheltenham GL53 9NL, Royaume-Uni

July 2024

We have added an extension to the original manor, built in 1695. Designed by architects De Matos Ryan, this new structure, crafted entirely from white stone and wood, draws inspiration from the original manor.

The interiors remain faithful to the original design concept, while the colour palette has evolved to complement the new architecture, with its walls entirely clad in wood.

Client : Experimental Group

Interior Architecture + Design : Dorothee Meilichzon

Graphic Design : Dorothee Meilichzon

Architecture : De Matos Ryan

Photos : Patrick Locqueneux

Cowley, Cheltenham GL53 9NL, Royaume-Uni

july 2023

Built in 1695, this manor changed hands several times before James Horlick acquired it in 1895. Together with the next owner, Colonel Heber Percy, he oversaw most of the building’s transformations.

Now converted into a hotel, the manor also features stables, a contemporary extension and a large spa. It offers 36 rooms, alongside a wealth of living and social spaces: a garden room, a games room, a cocktail bar, a cocktail lounge, a restaurant, a library, a mudroom and two swimming pools, among others.

Our intention was to do what we love most: bring together geometric elements, mix styles and eras, and celebrate the many transformations the buildings have undergone, from 1695 to the 2000s. The result is, ultimately, a delightful joyeux bordel — a beautifully eclectic mix of styles, periods and ideas.

Our main source of inspiration was, of course, the building itself. We combined classical references, paying tribute to the original manor, with canopy beds, figured maple, verdigris finishes and sophisticated rattan furniture, alongside contemporary elements such as enamelled lava stone, lime-plastered walls, boldly graphic fabrics and carpets, fully upholstered furniture, vibrant colours, glossy lacquer and, above all, an abundance of checkerboard patterns!

These patterns were also a nod to Alice in Wonderland. Lewis Carroll wrote Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland while staying at Cowley Manor, inspired by its grounds.

As a playful wink to this story, we incorporated hidden little doors and subtle references to Alice throughout the interiors. Checkerboard patterns appear everywhere: on rugs and carpets, across fabrics and painted walls, in varying scales and colours, from tone-on-tone combinations to sculpted surfaces and enamelled lava stone.

Client : Experimental Group

Interior Architecture + Design : Dorothee Meilichzon

Graphic Design : Dorothee Meilichzon

Chef : Jackson Boxer

Photos : Patrick Locqueneux

52 Av. de l'Impératrice, 64200 Biarritz

July 2023

Perched on a cliff in Biarritz, overlooking Cap Saint-Martin and the Atlantic Ocean, the Hôtel Regina has stood proudly for nearly 120 years.

Built as a hotel in 1906 by architect Henry Martinet, the building is a remarkable example of Belle Époque architecture. This period naturally became our starting point, with its impressive 15-metre-high atrium, grand windows and sculpted architectural details.

We also wanted to draw inspiration from local architectural styles of the same period, particularly Neo-Basque architecture. The work of the Gómez brothers, especially Villa Malaye, served as a reference, alongside Villa Leïhorra by Joseph Hiriart and Villa Arnaga by Albert Tournaire. These influences informed a vocabulary of white architecture, semicircular forms, sculpted frescoes, fluted cornices, 45-degree angles, tiled génoises, semicircular mirrors, black wrought iron and Art Deco stoneware tiles by Winckelmans.

We also drew inspiration from the Atlantic Ocean itself: rope-inspired mouldings and skirting boards, striped fabrics, dark and pale blue lacquer finishes, ocean-liner architecture, bathroom vanities echoing the shape of a pelota pediment, and fabrics draped like sails. And, of course, shells! Razor clams are sculpted into the reception desk, while marine life appears in wall lights, carpets, fabrics and bas-reliefs.

We also wanted to pay tribute to Japan and its close historical and cultural ties with the Basque Country. Japanese straw, black lacquer, indigo-dyed hanging fabrics and paper lanterns all contribute to this dialogue between cultures.

The result is a luminous, layered interior where dark green, deep red and shades of blue are balanced by stoneware, ceramics and natural materials such as straw and rope.

The rooms are predominantly white, blue and mint green, with undulating génoises, panelled doors, wardrobes clad in Japanese straw and rope details, and oversized headboards finished in pale blue lacquer.

The corridors open onto the grand atrium and feature carpets printed with aquatic motifs. The spa combines pale blue and warm green tones, curved tiles, lime-plastered walls and straw wallcoverings.

The restaurant and atrium take inspiration from the architectural language of Eileen Gray in the late 1920s. Curved wooden furniture, her iconic bar stools and a counter inspired by her house at Roquebrune-Cap-Martin evoke the streamlined elegance of a grand ocean liner.

Within the atrium, we have created a series of intimate sitting areas, furnished with suspended paper lights by Ingo Maurer and Anthony Dickens, alongside sofas inspired by the forms of the Itsasoan bridge in Guéthary.

Client : Experimental Group

Interior Architecture + Design : Dorothee Meilichzon

Graphic Design : Studio L’Etiquette

Chef : Gregory Marchand (Frenchie)

Photos : Patrick Locqueneux

Passeig de Vara de Rey - Ibiza - Balearic Islands - Spain

april 2023

Following the renovation of Sabbaba restaurant and its rooftop in 2021, we went on to renovate the rooms of this legendary Ibiza hotel, the first to open on the island.

Dating back to 1933, the building features a Neo-Colonial architectural style, with columns, pediments and arches painted in pale yellow and white.

For the interiors, we developed a colour palette that echoes the pale yellow of the façade while drawing on Ayurvedic principles. To counterbalance the heat outside, we introduced cooler, calming colours throughout the hotel: solar tones in the communal areas and lunar hues in the bedrooms, with shades of white, blue, grey, pale green and soft pastels.

We embraced Ibiza’s bohemian spirit through an abundance of fabrics, patterns, fringes and pompoms, pairing them with light wood, colourful rugs and richly textured walls.

We even created a bespoke shell-textured wall finish for the hotel, pressing seashells into the lime plaster by hand, one by one.

The hotel is bursting with colour, reflecting the joy and tolerance that define Ibiza. Cosmic shapes and playful details appear throughout the interiors. In every room, an oversized moon is carved into the wall, creating an opening between the bedroom and the bathroom. We designed iron chairs featuring a moon motif, added brass suns to the walls and introduced wavy lines throughout the spaces.

Other distinctive details include handmade masks by Anna Alexandra in Mallorca and the Playdough stool by Diego Faivre.

Tiles also play an important role in the design. Traditional zellige tiles in shades of orange, brown and off-white line the minibar niches. The wardrobe doors feature interlocking jigsaw-puzzle shapes and a high-gloss lacquer finish.

The bathroom vanities are made from French lava stone and paired with generously proportioned, sculptural mirrors in walnut and lacquer — and, of course, a few little pompoms to complete the look.

Client : Experimental Group

Interior Architecture + Design : Dorothee Meilichzon

Graphic Design : Studio l’Etiquette

Photos : Karel Balas & Patrick Locqueneux

30/33 Henrietta St - Covent Garden - London

2021

In late 2021, we expanded the Henrietta Hotel with an additional 22 rooms overlooking St Paul’s Church in Covent Garden.

The new townhouse follows the same interior design concept we developed for the Henrietta Hotel in 2017, reinterpreted through a fresh colour palette and a series of new details.

Client : Experimental Group

Interior Architecture + Design : Dorothee Meilichzon

Graphic Design : Dorothee Meilichzon

Photos : Mr Tripper

Fondamenta Zattere, Dorsoduro, Venezia, VE 30123

2019

Il Palazzo Experimental is housed in Ca’ Molin, a historic palazzo that later became the headquarters of Adriatica, a maritime transport company, until its closure.

Located along the Zattere waterfront in the Dorsoduro district of Venice, the palazzo has two points of access: one facing the Giudecca Canal and another via a private pier on the Rio de Ognissanti. The hotel features 33 rooms, a restaurant with a terrace overlooking the Giudecca Canal, a garden terrace and a cocktail bar.

We designed the interiors of the hotel and restaurant by combining the traditional Venetian elements we love with more contemporary influences, including references to the Memphis movement, bold colours, brushed aluminium, scalloped edges, glass lighting by Luciano Vistosi, Breccia Capraia marble and arches framing the bathtubs.

We preserved as many of the palazzo’s original architectural features as possible: the exposed beams, the impressive ceiling height on the first floor, the gallery, the magnificent Gothic windows and the double wooden doors.

These existing elements already possess a strong identity, which we sought to enhance through a rich Venetian vocabulary: symmetrical compositions, marble surfaces, stripes in many forms — painted, in metal marquetry or in fabrics — references to gothique fleuri, and colours inspired by the lagoon and Venetian façades.

We also embraced traditional Venetian craftsmanship and timeless techniques, including black lacquer, traditional Venetian cement terrazzo, and marmorino and calce finishes on the walls.

The restaurant occupies a generous space on the ground floor. A counter near the entrance welcomes guests with wines, Spritz and cicchetti, while an open kitchen at the back of the room is set behind a large counter.

The interiors have a timeless feel, combining a monumental marble plinth, furniture inspired by lits-bateaux, abundant fabrics, antique-inspired details, stripes and terrazzo in the spirit of Carlo Scarpa. A pale green ceiling evokes the lagoon, while shades of white, salmon pink, burgundy and pale green complete the palette.

For the cocktail bar, I invited my friend, architect Cristina Celestino, to develop the interior design and create a distinctively Venetian atmosphere of her own.

 Client : Experimental Group

Interior Architecture + Design of rooms & restaurant : Dorothee Meilichzon

Interior Design of Cocktail Bar : Cristina Celestino

Graphic Design : Cecilia Cappelli

Photography : Karel Balas

Sant Llorenç - Menorca - Balearic Islands - Spain

2019

43 rooms, 1 vegetable garden, 9 private houses with swimming pools, 1 indoor restaurant and cocktail bar, 30 hectares, 1 large outdoor swimming pool, 1 poolside cocktail bar, 1 outdoor restaurant…

Menorca Experimental is a 30-hectare estate near Alaior, Menorca, imagined as the summer residence of an artist who exists only in our imagination. Just as Miró found inspiration in Mallorca, Dalí in Cadaqués, and Picasso on the French Riviera, this is a place devoted to drawing, contemplation, meditation, music, swimming, watching the sunset and, above all, taking the time to do nothing, surrounded by an extraordinary landscape.

The overall aesthetic of the hotel was conceived as an invitation to creativity and inspiration.

Dorothée Meilichzon and her team began by drawing on Menorca’s traditional craftsmanship and local materials: stone, built-in concrete furniture, terracotta, semicircular forms, architraves, wooden shutters, leather and reclaimed materials from the estate’s former farm buildings, including wooden beams, roof tiles and marès stone.

These elements were combined with distinctive details and bespoke designs: colourful door architraves, rounded concrete headboards and bathroom vanities, vibrant combinations of cement and lacquer, terracotta, and handmade glazed tiles.

The furniture was crafted by local artisans on the island, following Dorothée’s designs.

Dorothée also collaborated with a number of talented creatives to create a unique, handcrafted experience in Menorca:

KAREL BALAS created all the graphic elements, including a hand-drawn alphabet and a series of illustrations inspired by the ink drawings of Miró and Picasso.

LRNCE designed a collection of bespoke handwoven blankets, made in Marrakech exclusively for the hotel. Their illustrations echo Karel’s drawings and Dorothée’s colour palette.

Léa Munsch hand-shaped large-scale light fixtures from a specially developed clay, working from Dorothée’s designs.

The outdoor spaces are an essential part of the project. We preserved the local plant species, allowing nature to continue reclaiming the estate and maintaining its original character.

A vegetable garden supplies the restaurant and cocktail bar with fresh fruit and vegetables, further connecting the project to its landscape and its Mediterranean roots.

Client : Experimental Group

Interior Architecture + Design : Dorothee Meilichzon

Graphic Design : Fovea - Karel Balas

Photography : Karel Balas

17 bvd Poissonnière - Paris II

2018

Back when the Grands Boulevards were still a leafy promenade and the French Revolution was in full swing in 1789, this private mansion was built. Three centuries later, the Hôtel des Grands Boulevards was born.

The rooms play with the splendour of the period: canopy beds, glass-fronted cupboards and red marble, much loved by Louis XVI, are paired with a more rustic aesthetic — antique linen, textured plaster walls, weathered wooden furniture and bronze wall sconces with a beautifully aged patina.

Set between the street and an inner courtyard, the hotel reveals itself only after passing through the building’s entrance porch. A hidden retreat, a little secret tucked away from the bustle of the city. It is home to a generous restaurant led by Giovanni Passerini and an intimate cocktail bar beloved by the Experimental Group.

Set back from the street, as was customary at the time, the building offers a wealth of terraces and courtyards in which to gather and unwind. An outdoor bar, yoga classes, lush greenery and open-air grills bring these spaces to life, blurring the boundaries between indoors and out.

Client : Experimental Group

Chef : Giovanni Passerini

Interior architecture + Design : Dorothee Meilichzon

Illustration + logo : Apolline Risser

Photos : Karel Balas & Paul Bowyer

14/15 Henrietta St - Covent Garden - London

2017

The Henrietta Hotel was my first hotel project in London, and my fourth project in the city with the Experimental Group. The hotel features 18 rooms and a restaurant led by chef Ollie Dabbous.

My first source of inspiration was the street itself. I always try to begin with the neighbourhood. On Henrietta Street, the buildings are very traditional, with understated façades, yet an extraordinary variety of rooflines and window ornamentation. Each building has its own rich and distinctive character.

This reminded me of classical architectural ornamentation — arches, capitals and bas-reliefs — as well as the magnificent door surrounds often found in Milanese apartments.

Inspired by these references, I designed oversized headboards conceived as bas-reliefs, combining different elements: mirrors, fabric panels upholstered in Rubelli fabrics, and hand-painted patterns, all assembled by hand.

The doors are topped with decorative capitals, and a glazed capital separates the bathroom from the bedroom.

For the bedroom carpets, I designed a pattern inspired by the shapes of mosaïque casson, while all the skirting boards are made from white Carrara marble.

Four distinct colour schemes bring individuality to the hotel’s 18 rooms, ensuring that each has its own character.

The bedside lights are made of brass and rise unusually high, integrated into the bedside tables. As I often enjoy mixing styles and periods, I also introduced references to the 1970s, designing a small armchair inspired by Pierre Paulin’s work and incorporating brushed aluminium details.

In the bathrooms, the vanity area was conceived as a fountain: two large pieces of granite meet at a right angle, creating a sculptural form inspired by the architecture of one of the buildings on Henrietta Street. A large mirror rests above this composition.

The flooring offers a more traditional touch, with black-and-white octagonal tiles and cabochons.

* HENRIETTA HOTEL HAS BEEN SHORTLISTED IN THE BEST URBAN HOTELS BY WALLPAPER IN 2017*

Client : Experimental Group

Chef : Italian Supper club

Interior Architecture + Design : Dorothee Meilichzon

Graphic Design : Dorothee Meilichzon

Photos : Karel Balas & Paul Bowyer

20 rue du Faubourg Montmartre - PARIS IX

2016

The Hotel Panache was inspired by both its neighbourhood and the building itself. Shaped like New York’s iconic Flatiron Building, it became the starting point for a design built around angles and geometry. Triangular mirrors, geometric patterns on the carpets, walls and mosaics — even the wardrobes are tucked into corners. Nothing is square, except the bed!

The turn of the century, or Art Nouveau, was another major source of inspiration. I designed bas-reliefs and curved headboards inspired by the turned wood and sculptural forms of traditional Art Nouveau furniture.

The hotel also features a restaurant on the ground floor, with David Lanher at the helm.

Client : Adrien Gloaguen

Restaurateur : David Lahner

Interior Architecture + Design : Dorothee Meilichzon

Graphic Design : Dorothee Meilichzon

Photos : Romain Ricard

18 rue Bachaumont - Paris II

2015

After 3 years of work, hotel bachaumont, a **** hotel has finaly opened its doors in 2015. Located in the Montorgueil area, this 1900 building offers 49 rooms all created in a very parisian style : black and white, wood mouldings, cornices, wooden floor ... almost all furnitures are bespoke and designed by Dorothee Meilichzon. A restaurant and a bar are located on the ground floor, they will be run by the Experimental Group together with Gregory Marchand (Frenchie).

Client : Samy Marciano

Restaurateur : Experimental Group

Interior Architecture + Design : Dorothee Meilichzon

Hotel Graphic Design : Koniak design

Photos : Paul Bowyer

 29 rue Victor Massé - Paris IX

2015

The Grand Pigalle is my first hotel with the Experimental Group. After one year of renovation, the hotel opened in the 9th district, in front of the Villa Frochot. This first «bed & beverage» in Paris counts 37 cosy rooms and a wine bar in the lobby. Rooms are dressed with brass lights, fireplaces, carpets, cement tiles, and textured wallpaper ... the wine bar is inspired by the orient express, we have worked on a masculine atmosphere : wallnut wood, mahogany with brass insert, blackened brass wall lights, grey marble fireplace, lava, octogonal windows .... and handmade mosaics at the entrance of this 25 meters long frontage !

Client : Experimental Group

Chef : Giovanni Passerini

Interior Architecture + Design : Dorothee Meilichzon

Graphic design : Dorothee Meilichzon

Photos : Kristen Pelou & Paul Bowyer