HIMACS shapes the 4-star experience at Parkest Hotel aand Spa in Genas

HIMACS shapes the 4-star experience at Parkest Hôtel & Spa in Genas

2 November 2026

Design, durability and bespoke fabrication: HIMACS solid surface takes centre stage at Parkest Hôtel & Spa, the Arteloge hotel group’s new 4-star destination on the outskirts of Lyon.

In Genas, to the east of Lyon, Parkest Hôtel & Spa, the latest property from Lyon-based hotel group Arteloge, presents a contemporary vision of hospitality centred around wellbeing, fluidity and versatility. Designed by Atelier 4+ EC, under the direction of architect Eric Charpy, with interiors by Laurine Darne Intérieurs, in collaboration with Kathleen Giorgi on the decoration, the project combines generous and spacious architecture with a selection of elegant, durable and long-lasting materials.

Among them, HIMACS plays a central role. The solid surface material was selected for its performance in demanding hospitality environments, as well as its ability to bring bespoke designs to life with flowing lines and meticulously finished details.

A haven of tranquillity on the outskirts of Lyon

The Arteloge group set out to create a property offering the standards expected of a 4-star hotel while meeting the needs of a highly diverse clientele: business and leisure travellers, sports enthusiasts, families, young professionals and seniors. Inspired by the spirit of Lyon Plage in Caluire, the project brings together a lobby, bar, restaurant, indoor swimming pool, spa, seminar rooms, fitness and strength-training areas, as well as an indoor paddle ball court, creating a rich and varied offering where guests can enjoy multiple experiences within a single destination.

The interior architecture reflects this ambition through clear, fluid and welcoming spaces. The volumes have been designed to facilitate movement and wayfinding, while the guestrooms, organised according to a repeating layout across three floors, create a clear, efficient and cohesive arrangement throughout the hotel.

The interiors were conceived as a genuine haven of tranquillity within a dynamic business district. The selection of materials plays an integral role in creating this identity. Natural hazel wood, bronze-finish metal elements and HIMACS surfaces are combined with soft, warm tones. More pronounced accents punctuate the scheme: mesh curtains in shades of blue and orange in the restaurant, graphic wallcoverings in the lobby and a distinctive colour code on each floor, which also helps guests find their way around the hotel.

HIMACS, from reception to restaurant: a material designed for hospitality

In a hotel subject to intensive use and frequent cleaning, materials needed to meet demanding requirements for durability, ease of maintenance and long-term performance.

HIMACS was therefore selected for numerous applications, including the counter tops for the hotel and spa reception desks, the buffet counter, plus the bar, and the restaurant reception, both of which also feature downturns and fascias clad in HIMACS, The material is also used for various surfaces throughout the communal areas and for the worktops of the fitted furniture in the spa’s treatment rooms.

This breadth of applications demonstrates the versatility of HIMACS Solid Surface, enabling bespoke elements to be designed around both the architecture and the practical requirements of each space.

“We chose HIMACS for its durability and quality, which are essential in hospitality spaces subject to intensive use and cleaning. The wide variety of colours available also reinforced our choice from the very beginning of the project,” says Laurine Darne, responsible for the interior decoration.

Aurora Bisque, a mineral-inspired signature at the heart of the project

For the public areas, the designers selected HIMACS Aurora Bisque from the Aurora & Marmo collection, a shade characterised by warm, soft tones and delicate veining that blends naturally with the welcoming atmosphere envisioned by Laurine Darne Intérieurs and Kathleen Giorgi.

Used for the lobby and the restaurant reception desks, in the spa, on the bar and the buffet counter , HIMACS Aurora Bisque also clads the cantilevered sections and returns of the bar and the desk in the restaurant.

The choice was driven as much by aesthetics as by the desire to achieve a distinctive result. In particular, the design team sought to create an irregular appearance in the surface finish, avoiding repetition in the pattern or veining and thereby preserving a natural appearance across the surfaces.

HIMACS Alpine White, meanwhile, was selected for the worktops of the fitted furniture in the spa treatment rooms, where hygiene, understated aesthetics and ease of maintenance are essential considerations.

An oval buffet that pushes the boundaries of bespoke design

The most striking element of the project is the restaurant’s central oval buffet. A true centrepiece combining technical requirements, aesthetic quality and functionality, it was designed to allow guests to circulate smoothly around the island while incorporating extensive storage.

It also responds to demanding technical requirements, with refrigerated areas integrated directly beneath the HIMACS Aurora Bisque worktop. Edges that have been seamlessly fabricated to curve upwards around these refrigerated zones both emphasise the ergonomic shape of the structure and enable condensation to be managed discreetly, as do grooves milled into the surface.

Aesthetically, the HIMACS worktop, fabricated with inconspicuous joints, creates a visually continuous surface and the high-quality finish required for the project. The fascias of the rounded buffet counter feature curved ceramic-tile cladding, creating visual harmony between the different materials.

This bespoke installation demonstrates the ability of HIMACS to respond to complex projects where design, functionality and technical precision must work together without compromise.

A material supporting the complete hospitality experience

“In hospitality, material selection must address two key challenges: creating a strong, lasting identity while meeting the demands of particularly intensive daily use. Parkest Hôtel & Spa perfectly illustrates this search for balance. Here, HIMACS enables a consistent material language to be carried across very different spaces and functions, while providing the design freedom required for bespoke features such as the restaurant’s central buffet,” says Félicie Koeppel, Project Manager, HIMACS France.

Project Information

Project: Parkest Hôtel & SPA
Location: Genas, France

Architect / Designer:

Atelier 4+ EC, Architecte Eric Charpy | https://lesateliers4plus.fr/ | Instagram @lesatelier4plus
Interior Architecture: Laurine Darne Intérieurs | https://laurinedarne.fr/ | Instagram @ld_interieurs ; en collaboration avec Kathleen Giorgi pour la décoration
HIMACS fabrication: SAGA Agencement | https://www.hasap.fr/maison/saga-agencement/ | Instagram @ @hasapgroupe
HIMACS Distributor: Aska Interior | https://www.aska-interior.com/ | Instagram @aska_interior
HIMACS applications: Restaurant buffet, bar and reception desk countertops; cladding to the restaurant reception desk, work surfaces in the spa treatment rooms
Material: HIMACS Aurora Bisque and Alpine White | https://www.lxhausys.com/uk-en/ │ Instagram @himacseurope

Photography: Xavier Ferrand

Comments on this guide to HIMACS shapes the 4-star experience at Parkest Hôtel & Spa in Genas article are welcome.