Hôtel de La Vaupalière

Hôtel de La Vaupalière is a neoclassical mansion on Rue du Faubourg-Saint-Honoré marked by elegant rooms with white and gold wood paneling and ornate stucco decorations. A central staircase organizes the interior space and creates a harmonious flow between the floors.

The building was designed in 1768 by architect Louis-Marie Colignon as a residence for the Marquis de La Vaupalière, embodying the style of Parisian noble homes from that era. Over time it shifted from a private dwelling to a modern office building.

The mansion served as a gathering place for thinkers and artists during the 1700s, with salons hosting literary and philosophical discussions. This role as a center for intellectual exchange shaped its reputation as a house of ideas.

The exterior and some interiors can be viewed from the street, though the building now serves as office space and is not fully open to the public. It sits in central Paris near Franklin D. Roosevelt Square and the corresponding metro station.

The building has undergone significant changes over time: designer François-Joseph Graf modernized the interiors, while architect Ricardo Bofill later added a metal and glass structure connecting adjacent office buildings. This addition shows how historic homes can adapt to new purposes.