Dominique Perrault completes the Pavilion of Dufour at the Palace of Versailles; Alain Ducasse's new restaurant, Ore, and the auditorium are now open to the public with golden undulating-ceilings. Officially inaugurated las June by French President François Hollande, the Pavilion Dufour is now completed. 

Monday morning, during a press conference, Catherine Pegard, President of the Palace of Versailles, said that ''Dominique Perrault to Versailles all the comfort and the services of a great contemporary museum while preserving the Palace's heritage.''

Image © André morin / Dominique Perrault Architecture / adagp

Combining restoration, renovation and contemporary intervention, Dominique Perrault's created a new entrance to the Chateau, a reception gallery in the Pavilion Dufour, as well as an exit- a large an outdoor staircase in the Courtyard a new shop and services areas, and recently completed: Alain Ducasse's new restaurant of 120 seats (second floor), and auditorium of 150 seats (third floor). The new definition of the Pavilion Dufour and Old Wing is enhanced by the subtle contemporary treatment of the interiors developed by designer Gaëlle Lauriot-Prévost, with a focus on three key areas: flooring, ceiling and chandeliers.

Image © Vincent Fillon / Dominique Perrault Architecture / adagp

By utilizing metal throughout the space, the new design creates a unified look while highlighting the contemporary nature and strengthening the visibility of the intervention. Alain Ducasse's restaurant, Ore, is located in a string of rooms on the second floor of the Pavilion Dufour and the Old Wing. 

Its furniture and chandeliers come in russet and metallic hues, matching the colour scheme of the building. In the Pavilion Dufour, the structural intervention needed to level the floors was used as an opportunity to redesign the period rooms. 

Image © André morin / Dominique Perrault Architecture / adagp

A set of gilded geometric surfaces was applied to the doorways and door bases, giving the rooms a more contemporary look. In the Old Wing, the intervention took the more discreet form of a taupe tint, which was applied to the listed wood floors, paneling and woodwork. 

This homogeneous treatment prescribed by Chief Architect in the charge of Historical Monuments Frederic Didier, bears the added bonus of honouring traditional usages. The bar area tying the two spaces together has a mysterious atmosphere created by metallic onyx-colored mirroring and vertical light tubes.

Image © André morin / Dominique Perrault Architecture / adagp

The auditorium nestles under the mansard roof of the attic, where the existing dormer windows shine like light boxes on the wood-sheathed roof break. Thanks to the wide splays surrounding them, the daylight coming in is tinged with gold. 

''At the Pavilion Dufour, we have achieved a work of revelation. The dialogue between patrimonial and contemporary architectures is ambitious and requests patience, gentleness and sensitivity. With the respectful work completed Gaëlle Lauriot-Prévost and I, the Palace's heritage is preserved and Versailles' history goes on,'' said Dominique Perrault.

Image © André morin / Dominique Perrault Architecture / adagp

Image © Patrick Tourneboeuf / Tendance Floue / OPPIC

Image © Patrick Tourneboeuf / Tendance Floue / OPPIC

Image © Patrick Tourneboeuf / Tendance Floue / OPPIC

Image © Patrick Tourneboeuf / Tendance Floue / OPPIC

Image © Vincent Fillon / Dominique Perrault Architecture / adagp

Image © Vincent Fillon / Dominique Perrault Architecture / adagp

Image © Vincent Fillon / Dominique Perrault Architecture / adagp

Image © Vincent Fillon / Dominique Perrault Architecture / adagp

Image © Vincent Fillon / Dominique Perrault Architecture / adagp

Top image courtesy of Dominique Perrault Architecture

> via Dominique Perrault Architecture