Mathieu Lehanneur: Le Balcon, Air France
Mathieu Lehanneur designs 'Le Balcon', an exclusive space within the new Air France Business Lounge.
Air France has worked with designer Mathieu Lehanneur to create a bespoke bar titled 'Le Balcon' within the new Air France Business lounge in hall L at Paris-Charles de Gaulle terminal 2E. A luxurious space that acts as a transition between Earth and the air, members are welcomed to a bright and airy interior containing high-gloss and reflective surfaces to capture the movement of the surrounding airport and runways within a relaxing and luxurious space.
The design includes a central bar clad in white marble with a succession of outlying theatrical booth seats where passengers can relax and enjoy gourmet delicacies prior to their flight. Each of the booths is upholstered in a luscious blue velvet, embroidered with their respective numbers and clad on the exterior with natural wood, forming a curved installation beneath a golden mirrored ceiling.
Dark wooden panels of the flooring pair beautifully with the matte brass fittings used in the legs of the table and chairs, along with the trim for the seating and exterior facade. Echoing the central bar, white marble has been selected for the dining and drinks table surfaces, reflecting and absorbing light, colour and movement from its surroundings. The area between the ceiling and booth seating remains open, maintaining a connection to the surrounding areas and providing unobstructed views of the runways and the rest of the airport.
At the centre, Lehanneur has integrated a LED screen into the parquet floor depicting an image of the sky. From daybreak to dusk, this giant window of light imitates the progression of the day in real-time. For members departing, it provides a connection between the bar and the flight, as if you were already looking through a window in the plane, out across the sky. This symbolic farewell is but a temporary one, welcoming guests back time and time again, each visit a unique experience.
