With sharp positioning, a unique customer experience and a colourful visual identity, this small 31-room hotel is unlike any other.
Starting point
In 2019, a family of hoteliers acquired the Troyon hotel, a few steps away from the Arc de Triomphe, a poorly maintained but well-situated establishment. The brief was simple: to change everything, from the name to the decor, in order to awaken a sleepy neighbourhood.
Not only murders in the building
During our research, we were able to dig up the hotel’s history all the way back to 1885, thanks to a job listing in the Figaro. In our research, we also learned that a young woman was murdered in the hotel in 1931, perhaps not relevant, but worth a mention.
The birth of Dadou
The need to bring a mischievous and relaxed tone in order to stand out was unanimous. The name of the hotel required several rounds of feedback and a check with the INPI before being confirmed.
Dadou was born. It’s a word without meaning, but that recalls the words “dad” and “doux,” (soft, gentle); in short, a nice, laid-back place.
Dive-in movies and maids’ room
“Parisian with a twist”, the tagline, which was settled on before the name, expresses the spirit of the hotel: a reimagined Parisian boutique hotel.
The visit begins at the basement level with “La Nouvelle Vague” (the new wave), a pool with a big screen, never before seen in Paris. The concept quickly found its audience.
At the lobby level, the “Brûloir” (roastery) welcomes Parisian passers-by who wish to get a quick coffee. The reception is an improvised boutique with a collection of unexpected objects and Dadou goodies.
The elevator is equipped with a speaker system that plays a track of birdsong, and the stairwell is decorated with satirical quotes. The “chambres de bonnes” (maid’s rooms) are beneath the roof, while the “bonnes chambres” (good rooms) have balconies.
La vie en rose (and green and orange and blue)
The graphic identity of Dadou dares to contrast and mix pink, green, orange and blue. The typography, with its elongated letters and serifs, is a bold assertion of style, and the calligrams bring a playful side while remaining elegant.
Our clients were charmed and opted to apply the identity everywhere: coasters, candles, tote bags, bookmarks, water bottles, trays, room keys, luggage tags — the list goes on. Texts full of humour give the final twist, like notepads upon which it is printed, “ce bloc-notes est inutile, ce qui le rend indispensable” (this notepad is useless, which makes it indispensable).
The final word
Since its opening, Dadou has been seducing customers. Reviews on booking.com and Google speak for themselves.
A client who left a Google review perfectly sums up our work: “What a beautiful discovery, this Dadou! The rooms are comfortable, and the decoration gives you the comforting impression that you are friends of the family in town to spend a weekend in Paris. Dadou is a cosy cocoon; it’s chic and joyful. The refined details and touches of humour won us over. We’ll be back!”
To reserve your room, click here.
