The mayor of Paris is blocking the Emir of Qatar’s plans for a multimillion-dollar renovation of the Hotel Lambert, an historic 17th century mansion in the Quai d’Anjou on the city’s Île Saint-Louis.
Bertrand Delanoe says that the alterations to the 17th century mansion on the exclusive Saint Louis island in the heart of Paris including an underground carpark, the addition of elevators and new rooms, will spoil the important heritage of the building.
He wants the owner to re-consider and look at more friendly way to renovate the three-storey Hotel which was built in 1639 by Louis Le Vau and is part of a Unesco World Heritage site.
‘This is a real threat to a gem of Paris’ heritage, the only private house from the end of Louis the XIII’s reign that remains untouched. I want this plan to be reconsidered, taking the time for a thorough examination,’ he said.
The Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al-Thani, bought the mansion at the tip of the Paris island in 2007 from the Rothschild family for a reported €80 million.
He was ranked at No. 7 on Forbes’ list of the world’s richest royals in 2008 with a fortune of $2 billion. Propertywire
We have the obligation of preserve the art in the world. This is a very important piece of architecture and it is going to be ruined a little bit more. Monsieur Perrault please!!! dont do it!!!
As an American expatriate living in Paris, I had heard about this sale recently and was horrified. The French state really dropped the ball on this. There is absolutely no reason why this property should not have been bought by the government and turned into a museum. Quite possibly the most spectacular private residence in the city, it is now at the mercy of a private owner who may not have the historical and cultural sensitivity required for this restoration. This is one instance where the slow, painful wheels of French bureaucracy might actually be welcome!