Architect and designer Maxime d'Angeac reimagines mobile hospitality with two large-scale projects: the train Orient express and the first of the Orient Express Silenseas sailing ships. Both inspired by the 1920s-1930s and drawing on the codes of contemporary luxury.
For thirty years, Maxime d'Angeac has turned his profession as an architect into a true work of art, as exemplified by the Guerlain boutique on the Champs-Élysées. He is a lover of the Italian Renaissance, Art Deco, Palladian architecture, the stories of Jules Verne, and comic books. The Transperceneige He therefore examines each of his projects on a case-by-case basis. "I am not a bespoke architect; I work to the specifications of my clients." he advocates. Whether it's preliminary sketches, interior design, lighting, or art acquisition, Maxime d'Angeac oversees the design from start to finish and pays meticulous attention to detail. In recent years, the 62-year-old has dedicated himself to what he describes as "a lifelong project" with the train. Orient express and its maritime variant, one of the first two Silenseas ships, planned for around 2026.
A treasure on rails that defies time
Through this vast program, the architect and decorator, appointed artistic director in January 2024, is collaborating with the Accor group to reinterpret this railway legend, founded in 1883 by Georges Nagelmackers and closed in 1977. While this gem was able to revive itself for a few years during the 1980s with the Nostalgia for Istanbul-Orient-Express Its owner, businessman Albert Glatt, eventually sold his creation to the Orient Express brand in 2018.
Today, Maxime d'Angeac is reviving the legend, drawing inspiration from Le Corbusier's Modulor concept established in 1945, Art Deco, and Empire and contemporary styles. All of this is enhanced by the expertise of French artisans. The carriages thus revive Suzanne Lalique's "rail" motif and the original Morrison and Nelson marquetry panels. The bar car is presented in shades of green, combining rosewood, marble tabletops, and bronze capitals. The bar's glass counter, like the dining car, continues its homage to Lalique through its tapestry motifs.
In the suites, the designer softens the angles and plays with perspective using whimsical mirrors. The wall leather reinterprets the "rail" motif, the headboards are adorned with embroidery, and the bathroom is finished in marble. As for the hallways, these narrow circulation spaces are transformed into a theatrical setting with graphic carpeting.
A dream at sea combining technology and comfort
It is now time to set sail with the Corinthian, The first of two Orient Express Silenseas ships, designed in partnership with Accor and Chantiers de l'Atlantique, this magnificent 220-meter-long sailing vessel, with 4,500 square meters of sail area spread across its three masts, is expected to reach "a speed of 17 knots, powered solely by the wind." It draws inspiration from the golden age of luxury cruising, with planned itineraries in the Mediterranean, the Adriatic, and the Caribbean.
On board, Maxime d'Angeac once again showcases wood, leather, and marble. The 54 suites, ranging from 45 to 230 square meters, feature panoramic windows or private terraces. The sailing ship also boasts five restaurants, eight bars including a speakeasy inspired by the 1930s, a 115-seat Parisian cabaret, a recording studio, a cinema, and a spa. The marina, located at the stern, provides space for dining and water sports, while the 16-meter-long swimming lane invites athletes to exercise.
More than 140 years after the luxury railway icon and nearly a century after the ocean liner Normandy, le Corinthian continues the Orient Express legacy, embarking on a new maritime chapter powered by sustainable energy. But that's not all. As part of its numerous Orient Express hospitality projects, the Accor group has also planned the launch of the train La Dolce Vita and the first hotels La Minerva in Rome and Palazzo Donà Giovannelli in Venice.
