Style in the City of Love at Pullman Bercy

DISCOVER the latest in hotel concept rooms in Paris, where the boundaries of typical luxury rooms have been erased.

Stay in the heart of Paris and visit sites like The Louvre while staying at Pullman Bercy. Picture: AFP

WE'VE all heard of concept cars, but did you know there are concept hotel rooms?

They are futuristic rooms showcasing avant-garde design and cutting-edge technology, often not yet available to the general public. Many concept rooms are closely guarded, only seen by hotel hierarchy, but I'll let you in on a secret: at the Pullman, in Paris's newest hot spot, Bercy, there's a concept room you can request when booking.

All the mod-cons
The Pullman name, synonymous with luxury train travel of the 19th century, now brands Accor's network of five-star business hotels, which aim to offer the latest technology, comfort and convenience for business travellers.

To keep abreast of technological developments, and evaluate them under real circumstances, the chain has been building concept rooms since 1996 and the Pullman Bercy has the latest. Room 1014 reflects the vision of designer Natacha Froger, who wanted to "erase the boundaries" of a typical hotel room to create a greater sense of "space and volume".

I'm not sure she has achieved the latter, but the space is certainly unconventional and there are some stunning features. Access is via a radio frequency microchip in a mobile phone or key card, technology that should be in all mobile phones within three years. Personally, I'm nonplussed, but if it means I'll never have to traipse down to reception with a faulty key card again, I'm hooked.

What I do love is the "wall of glass" (floor to ceiling windows sans drapes) which floods the room with natural light, a luxury lacking in many business hotels and Froger's key to the sense of spaciousness. The bed, positioned in the middle of the room, faces the glass wall, which incorporates, wait for it, a see-through TV, so as not to detract from the view. It's seriously cool, as is the glossy black Le Corbusier-style desk-cum-table-cum-seat that runs in front of the glass wall.

The TV and view can also be seen from the oversized shower, made of Privalight glass, which switches from clear to opaque. It's positioned in the middle of the room, behind the bed, and looks like a giant glass Tardis, with an adjustable rain shower and funky coloured lights for "wet ambience".

The 5.1 surround sound system is hidden from view, unlike the electrical, internet, iPod and other outlets, which are easily and conveniently located, including in both bedside tables. A single remote controls everything from the shower lights to window shades, which are all energy-efficient.

Don't worry if 1014 is unavailable, the standard Pullman rooms are five star and it's possible to choose your preferred colour scheme.

The area's history
During the 19th century Bercy was a huge wine storage centre. Taxes did not apply and, with the Seine to transport wine from Burgundy, it became the biggest wine-trading centre in the world.

However, as technology allowed wine to be bottled at its source, the area eventually declined and by the 1970s the warehouses were abandoned. Now the area, in the 12e arrondissement, has been transformed into a trendy shopping and dining precinct alongside a huge park.

At pedestrian-friendly Bercy Village, just a short stroll from the Pullman, restored stone warehouses now sport boutiques, restaurants and wine bars that overflow on to cobblestoned laneways lined with original rail tracks.

Adjacent to the village is Parc de Bercy, a 14ha green haven of gardens, lawns and ponds. A small vineyard pays homage to the area's history. There's a small park opposite the Pullman, too, which when I was there featured a small growers' market.

With its village ambience and convenient location, Bercy makes a great business or holiday locale in the heart of Paris.

Pullman Bercy
1 Rue de Libourne, 75012, Paris. Metro stop Cour Saint-Emilion, in Bercy Village.
Rooms, including 1014, start from $A250 a night.
More: www.pullmanhotels.com

 Top tips: Paris Destination Guide

The writer travelled courtesy of Accor Hotels and Virgin Atlantic.