Philippe Starck's ‘Surreal’ Maison Heler Reimagines Hospitality

Perched atop a modernist monolith, a 19th-century Lorrain-style house appears to hover above the skyline of Metz, France.

This striking vision is Maison Heler, a hospitality project by Philippe Starck that merges architectural surrealism with poetic storytelling. Located in the city’s Amphithéâtre district, the nine-storey hotel redefines the interplay between past and present, stability and movement.

GALLERY  

Maison Heler’s base is a sleek, contemporary structure of steel and glass, providing a stark contrast to the traditional house that crowns it.
The juxtaposition creates an almost dreamlike effect, reinforcing Starck’s vision of a hospitality experience steeped in whimsy and invention. Inspired by his fictional protagonist, Manfred Heler—an eccentric inventor whose home is mysteriously lifted into the sky—Starck has crafted a space that blends narrative with design.

Inside, the hotel offers 104 rooms and suites, alongside two restaurants, two bars, and event spaces. Each interior detail reflects the surreal nature of the project. The reception area pairs immaculate ceramics with dark-toned furnishings, while La Cuisine de Rose, the hotel’s brasserie, is imagined as a romantic sanctuary dedicated to Manfred’s great love, Rose. Bathed in soft pink hues and anchored by a ceiling adorned with a giant origami airplane, the space embodies Starck’s flair for the theatrical.

The main dining space, La Maison de Manfred, evokes a timeless warmth with rich textures of leather, wood, and embossed green columns. Stained glass windows designed by Ara Starck bathe the interiors in shifting hues, their 19 panels telling a silent, luminous story. This infusion of light and colour furthers the illusion of a space caught between worlds.

True to Starck’s penchant for the surreal, Maison Heler also functions as a living gallery. Playful objects inspired by Jacques Carelman’s Catalogue d’Objets Introuvables—including crystal hammers and inverted rocking chairs—are scattered throughout the hotel, reinforcing its fantastical aesthetic. The rooms and suites continue this theme, balancing minimalism with curiosity. Sliding mirrors, marble panels, and hidden surprises such as antique coins and handwritten quotes encourage guests to engage with the space in a uniquely interactive way.

‘An almost Spartan spirit,’ describes Starck, ‘stripped of any superficiality, where each material asserts its own colour: the white of cotton, the grey of concrete on the ceiling and walls.’ This deliberate restraint ensures that every detail carries meaning, transforming Maison Heler into an immersive exploration of history, architecture, and imagination.

Images by Philippe Starck via designboom

In the world of interior and exterior architecture, few materials offer the visual allure and transformative qualities of ...

The Committee for Geelong has unveiled an ambitious $1 billion vision to transform the Market Square site from ...

Perched atop a modernist monolith, a 19th-century Lorrain-style house appears to hover above the skyline of Metz, France. This ...