“Imagine you are a wealthy businessperson who bought a luxury space on the 8th floor of the George V. How would you like it designed and turned into an elegant and contemporary apartment offering the most stunning views of the City of Light?”

This was the pitch Christopher Norton, Four Seasons Hotel George V general manager and regional vice president, gave interior designer Pierre-Yves Rochon when he asked him to create what was going to be the Hotel’s new Penthouse Suite. A place where time would not exist anymore, meant to fulfill the most discerning guests’ wishes to experience Paris like never before.

With six terraces offering a 360 degree view of Paris and 160 square metres (1,630 square feet) of pure luxury, this new Penthouse confirms the landmark Hotel’s intention not to rest on its laurels but in the contrary, to pursue its search for excellence by constantly reinventing itself.

Designed as a real Parisian pied-à-terre, the Penthouse Suite offers a romantic hideaway among Paris rooftops. The understated, light and airy interior architecture puts the emphasis on open and elegant spaces. The soft tones of the travertine flooring are reflected in the walls decorated with sycamore and majilite, while the beautiful floral arrangements created by Jeff Leatham, the Hotel’s Artistic Director, create a sense of home the moment one opens the door.

Among the great surprises of the Penthouse Suite is the elegant winter garden, decorated in floral fabric and separated from the living room by a wrought iron door. At any time of the day or night it is the perfect place to enjoy a meal or drink while overlooking the Invalides, the American Cathedral and Eiffel Tower. The terrace, shaped like the bow of a ship, provides an even wider view of the City of Light: the roofs of the Madeleine, the Opera and the Pantheon are at one’s feel while the Eiffel Tower seems so close one almost touch it. From the terrace, steps lead to an intimate upper balcony perched even higher on the roof, where guests can enjoy a last glass of Champagne and savour the shimmering Eiffel Tower. The bedroom with its own terrace is a new invitation to peacefulness. An elegant four-poster daybed invites to the most romantic nap perched high above the hustle and bustle of Paris.

Another gem in this suite is the spectacular beige marble bathroom, designed to be as luxurious as a lounge. Next to the huge walk-in shower stands a grand overflow bath fitted with jets and a chromotherapy system. Elegant white orchids give the impression that the outdoor extends right into the bathroom while a large dressing room bathed in natural light is decorated like a boudoir.

The brain behind this spectacular apartment is Pierre-Yves Rochon. He worked with the biggest luxury houses such as Baccarat, Lalique, Lelièvre, Edmond Petit, Veraseta and Bobic (a Slovenian company specializing in yachting) for the furnishings and fittings, demonstrating the importance he attaches to precision, aesthetics and high standards.

“The aim was to redefine the idea of a hotel suite by creating a refined and inviting apartment,” explains Christopher Norton. “For this haute couture work of art, I gave Mr. Rochon complete creative freedom to design a unique, infinitely sophisticated place where the boundaries between the inside and the outside would be blurred, so that nature is part of the interior and vice versa. With this in mind, we placed mirrors on certain walls of the balconies to create perspective, change the way we see common landmarks, and see Paris even when we are facing the other way. Inside, we created warm, inviting and friendly spaces on a human scale, to recreate the feel of a cozy Parisian apartment.”