Aline Asmar d’Amman at Culture in Architecture, Paris, in July 2018. Photographed by Pascal Dangin
It is nestled in the heart of the Eiffel Tower, serving up French cuisine amid a spectacular view of the City of Lights – and it is set for a makeover. Jules Verne, the iconic restaurant located in the Parisian landmark, will be redesigned, it has been announced, with a Middle Eastern architect awarded the prestigious task.
Aline Asmar d’Amman will head up the renovation of the second-floor eatery, winning the interior design project following a year-long competition alongside the Umanis Group led by Sodexo. The Beirut-born creative will bring the gastronomic venue into a new era, together with her design studio, Culture in Architecture, and Michelin-starred chef Frédéric Anton. While details about Jules Verne’s new look are yet to be revealed, the design will “embrace the femininity and the irreverence of the legendary ‘iron lady’,” a statement shared exclusively with Vogue.me confirms.
“I imagine the Jules Verne to become a manifesto of French chic; a state of mind, synonym of a certain classicism, combined with a slight irreverence,” d’Amman adds. “The tower is an embodiment of a balance between industrial aesthetics and high metal workmanship. The graphic and refined culinary aesthetic of chef Frédéric Anton, who himself advocates the femininity of his cuisine, is a whimsical inspiration for the holistic decor.”
The Jules Verne, which opened in 1983, was last renovated in 2007 under the helm of Patrick Jouin. Offering gourmet dishes with unobstructed views 125m above the city, the restaurant’s unique location and elegant fare has made it a famed destination for those seeking a unforgettable experience in the city. The Jules Verne officially shut its doors on September 3, with its revamped interior set to be unveiled in the spring of 2019.
D’Amman, who founded Culture in Architecture in 2011 in Beirut and Paris, already has many high-profile projects under her belt, including the art direction of Hôtel de Crillon’s renovation and the design of the hotel’s most iconic suites and historical salons. The 18th century Parisian property was restored and modernized, with the results – unveiled last year – much lauded by critics and peers alike.
D’Amman also engaged designer Karl Lagerfeld alongside other interior designers to contribute to the renovation of Hôtel de Crillon, the elite accommodation that has provided a home away from home for presidents, royals, and Hollywood stars for a century.
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