Shedding light on the artisans behind l'Orient Express
Artisans
The Rebirth of a Legend
The Rebirth of a Legend
Shaped by Architect Maxime d’Angeac, Artistic Director of Orient Express
Under the artistic direction of architect Maxime d’Angeac, Orient Express Art Director, the brand remains true to its heritage while reinventing the contemporary codes of luxury. Maxime d’Angeac and his teams do not reinterpret the past, but extend its spirit.
The new Orient Express revives the same pursuit of excellence, elegance, and meaning that defined the original train. This approach is entirely rooted in modernity and in the extraordinary resources of French craftsmanship, the true protagonists of this project.
Every line pays homage to the intelligence of design: a meticulous dialogue between fine craftsmanship and the technical demands of the railway – safety, weight, vibration. The design embraces contemporary principles such as energy efficiency, durability, advanced technology, and safety, without ever compromising on elegance, comfort, or emotion.
Suites
The suites translate a dual pursuit of functionality and refinement, the two cardinal values of Orient Express. Their composition is built around the motif of the circle, a symbol of harmony and balance.
Precious wood paneling frames the windows, extending the line of the ever-changing landscape. The upholstered walls, inspired by Suzanne Lalique-Haviland’s Rail motif, evoke the train’s historic lineage. The polished rosewood headboards, hand-embroidered with mother-of-pearl and bronze beads, express the virtuosity of French craftsmanship.
The design combines luxury with engineering precision: modular furniture transforms the space into a spacious night suite. A marble washroom and integrated dressing area complete an ensemble conceived down to the smallest detail.
Every element contributes to a single idea of luxury: discreet, measured, grounded in the quality of craftsmanship and the truth of materials. These suites embody the spirit of the Orient Express, where comfort moves in rhythm with beauty.
Bar car
Beneath its frosted-glass domes, the space reinterprets two great decorative movements: the Second Empire and Art Nouveau. The layout recalls the splendor of 19th-century salons, reimagined with a contemporary sense of composition and light. Slender columns structure the perspective, while the ribbed velvet banquettes, in a vibrant green, define the seating and bring rhythm to the ensemble.
Rosewood paneling and gilded-patina capitals create a dialogue between the warmth of wood and the brilliance of metal. At its heart stands the fluted glass bar, inspired by the work of René Lalique, echoing his mastery of transparency and play of reflections.
The careful attention to circulation, to the fluidity of lines and balance of volumes, reflects a pursuit of both precision and elegance. Certain details – the wall clock, the service and champagne call buttons – recall the hedonistic and refined spirit of grand travel.
Restaurant car
The décor of the restaurant car is a brilliant reinterpretation of the Rail motif created for the historic train by Suzanne Lalique-Haviland, a leading figure of the Art Deco movement. Reduced to its purest abstraction, the design evokes both the discipline of line and the poetry of travel.
The mirrored ceiling recalls the monumental glass roofs of 19th-century European train stations. Here, those metal structures are reimagined as lacquered wooden arches, balancing architectural rigor with the warmth of craftsmanship.
The atmosphere is deliberately intimate and rests on a vocabulary of familiar details: crisp white tablecloths, shaded lamps, and welcoming armchairs, all evoking the refined signature of Orient Express.
On the walls, a contemporary marquetry with warm reflections extends the play of light and texture, bridging memory and modernity. At the far end of the dining room, the open kitchen is visible through a rippled glass partition that reinterprets the transparency of the original restaurant cars. This balance between precision of line and fluidity of gesture captures the enduring spirit of Orient Express: an art of travel founded on restraint, comfort, and the beauty of detail.
Stay on track
Stay on track
Plan your grand tour, request bespoke guidance, or simply let us know what you're dreaming of. Our dedicated team will be delighted to assist, guided by the art of service that defines Orient Express.
Maxime D’Angeac Redefines Art Deco Luxury
Artisan of travel since 1883, Orient Express has been shaping journeys that linger in memory. For over 140 years, it has set luxury in motion, creating experiences that awaken curiosity and inspire discovery.
Now, guided by the creative vision of Architect Maxime d’Angeac, Artistic Director of Orient Express, a three-year dedication comes to life at the Musée des Arts Décoratifs. From 1925 to 2025, every detail, masterpiece, and artisan gesture tells a story of enduring elegance.
Maxime d’Angeac reminds us: “It is not the richness of a material that makes an object luxurious, it is the richness of the design.”
Orient Express x Musée des Arts Décoratifs
Orient Express is a legend, its name evokes adventure, refinement and mystery, born of a singular vision where excellence admits no compromise. Under the patronage of Accor CEO Sébastien Bazin, Orient Express proudly partners the centennial of Paris’s 1925 International Exhibition of Modern Decorative and Industrial Arts.
Begin your journey
Begin your journey
Plan your grand tour, request bespoke guidance, or simply let us know what you're dreaming of. Our dedicated team will be delighted to assist, guided by the art of service that defines Orient Express.
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