Kevin Machefert, just 24, came up with the idea for this new, out-of-the-ordinary place, which fits in well with the revival of eastern Paris. Business school, finance... His background is prestigious. But above all, he's in love with Peru and thinks about what he could do. After a great deal of study and reflection, he and his friend Martin Gunther, whom he met on the benches of the LSE, took the plunge. After almost 4 months of renovation, the establishment is now glowing with the colors of blue nights and precious metals. With its bar, lobby, restaurant, terrace and 52 rooms, the 1K was born under the sign of the Incas.
Peru is one of those countries with a bright future, and the founder of 1K understands this! Inspired by traditional Andean architecture, the structure of 1K is a back-and-forth between tradition and modernity. Architect Raymond Morel (creator of Murano and Kube, among others) juggles bronze, gold, copper and wood to create a visual and emotional shock. The entire décor is reminiscent of the imagery of the People of the Sun: Peruvian masks on the backs of seats, gilding and Inca motifs on the ceilings, floors in changing colors.
It's hard to miss the 1K , with its floodlit facade revealing the deep blue blinds with their brassy, slightly brassy edgings on the hotel windows. The royal-blue terrace is framed by giant planters where plants serve as a wall of sound. In the blue-walled entrance hall, our eyes are immediately drawn to the ceiling, where masks, warrior and animal heads have been molded in plaster and aged with gold leaf. The floor is a woven vinyl, satin-blue on one side and terracotta on the other. Long moving chains undulate on the walls in a midnight-blue ambience. High benches create intimate niches around tables where you can eat directly from the Wengé wood. You completely lose your bearings in this "ethnico-contemporary" universe, reinforced by an ultra-sophisticated sound system (FOHHN). Its cutting-edge
technology means you never know where the sound is coming from, all controlled from iPads placed in brass cases bearing the 1K logo, housed in each of the hotel's common areas. Inside these boxes, the iPads provide a level of home automation control never before seen in an establishment of this category: playlists, volume and choice of audio or video source in real time are just some of the possibilities offered by this custom-built system, named "1K2C".
1 of the hotel's 3 mascot monitors
Behind the granite stone service bar, a rusted plate door invites mystery. A surprise awaits 1K guests in October...
The dining room is separated from the lobby by a glass wall, with the gold-leaf pods on the bar reflecting the long, moving chains. Embedded in one of the walls of the lobby, which stretches as far as the eye can see, a giant terrarium displays three wild monitor lizards, each over a metre long. The hotel's mascots... You're in a new and atypical place, which creates a certain mystery...
The 1K Restaurant
The aim is to introduce visitors to Andean gastronomy like nowhere else in Paris. Deeply rooted in the culture of the Incas, the concept aims to combine these distant flavors with today's Western trends. Young chef Julien Burbaud (Top Chef 2012 candidate) offers an ethnic cuisine, adapted to Western palates, where textural contrasts will once again unsettle your senses: crunchy and soft, spicy and sweet, tangy and sweet. Peruvian cuisine is one of the healthiest in the world. Among its specialties, parihuela (a dish based on seafood and fish) is said to have aphrodisiac properties... Rich in superfoods and ingredients with essential nutrients, such as quinoa, corn, sweet potatoes... Julien Burbaud reinterprets it in his own way to bring out the best in even the most unfamiliar flavors... On the menu: sea bream ceviche (€12), red tuna (€14), pork belly with crunchy cabbage and peanuts, beef ribeye with corn croquetas, cocoa and tonka bean, or veal quasi with sweet potato, badian and chimuchurri...
The 1K bar
Enjoy an aperitif at the bar, which offers a wide range of cocktails, including signatures like the Pisco Sour (Pisco 1615 Quebranta Fresh Lemon Juice Egg White Angostura Bitters),Tommy's Margarita ( Tequila Arette 100% Agave Fresh Lemon Juice Agave Clove) or the 1K Daïquiri Espacial (Cuban Rum Kirsch Yellow Grapefruit Juice Rosemary). To accompany all this, we've got chicken kebabs with tamarind and peanuts, spice-fried king prawns, green asparagus tempura and even a few sweets for those with a sweet tooth, such as the large coconut, turmeric and vanilla rocher or the tonka bean financier!
Le 1K l'hôtel
Dressed in woven alpaca, the 52 rooms and suites promise a unique journey into the heart of tradition and modernity. Bedspreads, plaids, cushions and armchairs all evoke the symbols of Inca culture. Behind this neat and typical decoration lies a connection system to all the hotel's services. With a single gesture, you can activate videos on demand at
, the concierge service, Online Stream, Screen Mirroring, Chrome Cast Dongle, AirPlay and Bluetooth. To continue the high-tech theme, the cell phone is the only key to open the door of every room. To continue the disproportion, there are also 2 magnificent 75m2 suites, each with its own swimming pool. 2 courtyards will make you forget you're in Paris!
As you can see, the 1K is an UFO in Parisian life, offering an experience rich in discovery and emotion...
Practical info
Le 1K
13, boulevard du Temple - 75003 Paris
01 42 71 20 00
Rooms from €200
Cocktails at the bar: €12-17
Location
Hotel 1K
13 Boulevard du Temple
75003 Paris 3
Access
M° FIlles du calvaire
Prices
Cocktails: €12 - €17
Le plat: €22 - €29
La chambre classic: €200
