INTERIORS (1)

  

Main Lobby

Oudin used for this room a very plain design with great effect in contrast to other rooms of the hotel which are decorated with stencils in a strong and stressing polychromic pattern.

This very large space, with its walls of plain ivory colour, is only punctuated by two large columns enclosing the magnificent revolving door ; a symbol of luxury palaces. Topping these columns is a an illuminating cornice, where light effects on the ceiling divide it into several different areas and diminishes the effect of height and thus structures the area. This lighting system avoided the use of chandeliers, made ​​impossible by the fragility of the ceilings, and emphasized the overall purity of the architectural design.

The floor is covered with a paving in a beautiful blue and ocher "art nouveau" pattern. Such paving can be found on the floors in many works of the architect.

detail of the main lobby paving

Elevators designed by “Roux & Combalusier Co” are an essential piece of the decoration of the main lobby. They were designed very carefully, because they express hotel modernity and luxury.

At that time, a luxury for a palace does not only lie in its décor but also in technical systems that now seem very common, such as central heating designed by “Herbert Co” in Saint Brieuc (Britanny) or by hygiene appliances such as the hundred bathrooms that can be found at the "Gallic Hotel" in 1927 among its hundred and fifty rooms.

There are today in France only two known examples of this exceptional set of two elevators, still in working order : those of the “Gallic Hotel” and those of the famous Westminster Hotel in Le Touquet. Elevators of the "Gallic Hotel" were restored in 2010 under the authority of the “Architecte des Bâtiments de France” by “Schindler Co” who still has the original plans.

Original scaled elevation drawing of the elevators doors
(Archives Schindler company) 

The monumental staircase was, like the living room and dining room, decorated with stencils of floral themes.

What was a very interesting feature of the main lobby is its brightness. The wall fully glazed separating the lounge, dining room, gallery and the main lobby, let in the northern light, windows of the revolving door and eighteen windows of the cage stairs brought successively in turn, the morning and afternoon sun light..

View of the gallery between the lobby 
and the garden - sea side view.
The lounge was located behind the glass wall on the left, 
and the dining room behind the right one
(private collection

Picture of the lobby taken from the stair
(private collection)

Armchair and pedestable table made in wicker
from the lobby
(private collection)

View of the lobby from the revolving door.
At the back, on the left, the elevators
(private collection)

Elevators at the ground floor, after their renewal in 2010 
(photo P.Viger)

Elevators - Details of the ironwork
after their renewal in 2010
(photo P.Viger)

Elevators at the 6th floor after their renewal in 2010
(photo P.Viger)

The entrance to the hotel bar, named in a very British manner "Gallic's Bar" was located behind the elevators. One had to climb a flight of three stairs to enter this very narrow room later expanded with a glazed pergola where stood the dance floor. The decor was also made ​​of stencils of decorative sea scenes framed with painted ropes. Furniture came from the “Fischel Co”, a typical choice for bars at the time. The bar which remained open all year round, also had a street entrance. 

View of the Gallic's bar 
(private collection)

Jug, coffee pot, tea pot, in silver plated metal, designed by Christofle company, for the Gallic's bar and the hotel.

(private collection)

Ashtray HAVILAND's china

The state of conservation of the main lobby is remarkable. Only two minor amputations where made when the building was turn into apartments in 1948 by Alexis Daniel, former assistant to Oudin, in order to add two shops located on both sides of the entrance. Apart from that, the main lobby retained its proportions and original decor. It is thus a very rare example of interior decoration by Oudin “designer of ephemeral”, which are mostly all gone by now.