JO&JOE Paris Gentilly Hotel

JO&JOE Paris Gentilly is the second JO&JOE open house from PENSON’s portfolio and is the world’s first BBCA low-carbon hotel. It is a place that brings genuine experiences to its guests – so much so – the hotel was fully booked on its first opening month in April 2019.

PENSON created the seven-floor, 485-bed hotel as a hybrid – it meets somewhere between an open house, a hotel, and a hostel. This model is unlike anything the sector has seen to date.

The JO&JOE brand was co-created by PENSON and Accor Group in 2016 to disrupt the economy hospitality model. PENSON envisioned a physical and branded experience for JO&JOE to offer a fresh take on the interior design, atmosphere, dining, service, and customer experience.

JO&JOE Paris Gentilly combines JO&JOE’s unique DNA with hotel-style service, disruptive design, and a humorous and authentic atmosphere. The hotel’s distinctive identity comes from its Open House design and Street Art concept, both envisioned by PENSON.

To solidify the project’s success, JO&JOE Paris Gentilly was awarded the Best Hotel & Tourism Resort at the 2020 MIPIM Awards, specifically for its Open House design and Street Art concept.

Being a stone’s throw from Paris’ major attractions and with beds from €25 a night, PENSON sought to create a hub away from the centre of the city. A place where guests and locals could relax, eat hearty food from a seasonal menu, down some serious drinks, meet new people, party, and plan new experiences – all on a budget.

PENSON worked with Accor Group to select a key area for the hotel outside central Paris. It needed to be a place that would give back to the local community through the promotion of creative talent, employment, co-working spaces and simply somewhere social to meet others. Gentilly was the ideal locale as it had a connection to street art and was lacking in existing bars and public areas.

Design: PENSON
Contractor: Demathieu et Bard
Photography: Tom Donald