The Solar Apex of Creative Entertaining

Written by Joyce Bidouzo-Coudray – Paris

David Lynch’s SILENCIO undoubtedly stands as one of the apex clubs per excellence of the French capital.

Erected in 1883, the walls of 142 rue Montmartre beheld some of the most important moments of the Third Republic – from the prohibited printing of the Emile Zola’s pamphlet “J’accuse” in L’Aurore to Jean Jaurès’ newspaper l’Humanité.

Arnaud Frisch (also owner of the neighboring Social Club) chose to call on David Lynch’s surrealistic endowment to revive the soul of this historical place with a new members only club experience.

For almost two years, the multidisciplinary mogul conceived the macrocosm Silencio; imagining and conceiving the entire décor including the furnishing elements, which he created in collaboration with designer Raphaël Navot. They were realized by architectural agency ENIA, textures and materials made to measure especially for the club.

Already a celebrated film director, photographer, musician and painter, this unprecedented venture marks Lynch’ first interior design project to date.

The result: a 650 m² underground space bathed in gold, consisting of various interconnected amorphous suites including a concert hall, a fine art library, two bars, surrounding lounges, an illusive maelstrom forest as the fumoir…and of course a two decked dance floor.

Regal beams of lights, imagined by maestro luminescent Thierry Dreyfus, blend perfectly with the shifting underground volumes and the lacquered extrusions, creating a strange conversion between individuals, materials and ambiances.

Throughout the entire space randomly scattered raw wood cladding blocks create a bewildering 3D effect, rendering a sort of protective soul to the club, and ultimately allowing the Silencio guest the illusion of gliding through space and time; encouraging oneself to surpass the illusion of muteness, to be wary about one’s speech and to consider the surrounding works of art without any other signification than itself.

Aside from the obvious reference to his 2001 Academy Award nominee film Mullholland Drive, SILENCIO reveals many other cinematographic references, from Godard’s Nouvelle Vague to John Cage’s Desecration of Stage Space.

Yet the real ‘cherry on top of the pie’ is without contest the club’s private movie theater (accessible only to members): a vast amphitheater hosting 24 luxury ergonomic seats designed by Domeau & Peres, each with their own leg stretch pouf, tray, lamp and uncompromised space. The film programming is elaborated in partnership with the French leading independent films distribution company MK2; Steve McQueen’s recent film Shame and Mikael Buch’s Let my People Go premiered there.

Before midnight, the privileged club members will be able to attend private launch parties – earlier this month Linda Farrow hosted its Paris Men’s Fashion Week bash there in collab with magazine SOME/THINGS – as well as a series of concerts by the likes of The Kills, Lykke Li and French artist Gonzales.

This unparalleled venue stands as the realization of Lynch’s vision for a unique club experience.

Club Silencio is meant to be a creative and broadcasting laboratory; a space for attribute interactions and prophetic discoveries. It upholds the legacy of the salons from Parisian literary circles of the 17th century to London 18th century private clubs, from the Cabaret Voltaire’s Dadaists of Zurich to the Tabou existentialists of Saint-Germain-des-Près, all the way through to the early 90’s legendary Club Palace in Paris to New York’s Studio 54.

“It is an invitation to the unknown, to the act of listening, which refers to the freedom of initiating encounters, stirring up curiosity, favoring discovery, provoking surprise, arousing desire, defending convictions, comprehending the unexpected.” Those are Silencio’s watchwords.

Club Silencio, 142 rue Montmartre, 75002 Paris.

For submissions, visit http://silencio-club.com/en/.