Mercure Toulouse

— Toulouse (31) — 2016
Architect: Joseph Grappin
Client: Accor
Location: hotel

For the Mercure hotel in Toulouse, architect Joseph Grappin designed an organic staircase where the railings transform into seating. While retaining the existing structure from 1970, rattan was chosen for the cladding.
The rattan staircase extends into two benches. The first, in direct continuity with the railing, follows a comma-shaped path. The second, called a “confident,” is independent of the staircase.
The intervention also includes the rehabilitation of existing elements: sanding and varnishing of the old railings, as well as sanding, machining, and varnishing of the steps and stringer.
Both benches are made of peeled rattan, 20 mm in diameter, M1 fire-rated, with a varnished finish. The strands are fixed to plywood ribs that create the general shape of the seats.