La Grande Ourse is an urban inn that opened in 2023 in Charleville-Mézières, France. I collaborated with a set designer to imagine a strong artistic direction and crafted a custom stained-glass ceiling design for the main hall.
Our concept started with the idea of the inn as a gateway for travellers — a place of stories and paths crossing, with a unique soul anchored in the local city and open to the world. Inspired by the colonial aesthetic (with all its eclectic heritage), we embraced a style rich in textures, natural materials, cultural artefacts and layered references to exploration, adventure and history.
The identity of the place was built like a journey. Each room had its own visual tone and narrative — from the exotic bar to the gentleman’s club-style lounge. I contributed to the spatial storytelling through moodboards, research, and decor suggestions, from colonial motifs to nautical references (compasses, sextants, maps). I also designed an original stained-glass ceiling for the hallway — a geometric and floral composition with celestial references (moon, stars, constellations), blending Art Deco lines and a mix of historical stained glass influences.
The identity of the place was built like a journey. Each room had its own visual tone and narrative — from the exotic bar to the gentleman’s club-style lounge. I contributed to the spatial storytelling through moodboards, research, and decor suggestions, from colonial motifs to nautical references (compasses, sextants, maps). I also designed an original stained-glass ceiling for the hallway — a geometric and floral composition with celestial references (moon, stars, constellations), blending Art Deco lines and a mix of historical stained glass influences.
Type: Artistic direction, visual research, illustration
Year: 2023
Role: Concept co-creation & stained glass design
Location: Charleville-Mézières (FR)
Final result
Production
Art direction moodboards and proposals for the interior decoration
