Built in 1767 for King Louis XV by his royal architect Ange-Jacques Gabriel, the Pavillon de la Muette is a classified Historic Monument and former royal hunting lodge, nestled in the forest of Saint-Germain-en-Laye at the gates of Paris. After decades of abandonment, it has been saved from ruin by Benoît d’Halluin and Emmanuel Basse, founders of ESPRIMM, through an ambitious five-year restoration campaign. The monument reopened its doors in May 2024, having reclaimed its former splendor.

Recruited specifically for our expertise in heritage restoration, along with the architects Perrot & Richard, we joined in February 2020 and took full ownership from day one. Our greatest challenge has been treating the merule fungus, which had severely damaged both the timber structure and the stonework. Every element had to be diagnosed, assessed in close coordination with the DRAC, and either restored or entirely rebuilt : a painstaking process that lasted well over two years. The other two years were spent on the interiors, the vaulted cellars and the gardens, where our second challenge has been integrating all the amenities demanded for an event venue (running water, electricity, heating, and others) into a monument that had none, without compromising its historic character.

Benoit d’Halluin and Emmanuel Basse entrusted us with full project management : heritage authority approvals, structural diagnostics, coordination of all technical consultants, grant management with the DRAC, procurement and supervision of every trade — masonry, carpentry, roofing, ironwork, marble works, joinery, interiors, gardens, and more. We also oversaw the design and delivery of a bespoke 250-person event tent, managed the financial follow-up in its entirety, and contributed to the commercial development of the venue.

The Pavillon de la Muette is a project unlike any other. Today, this extraordinary monument welcomes private and professional events within its historic walls : a living testament to what meticulous restoration, passion, and years of dedication can achieve.