The Starck Surreality: Le Dali at Le Meurice

It's only natural that any project signed by Philippe Starck guarantees attention to an establishment, whether it be a hotel, restaurant or a high-rise apartment tower. But now the maestro seems to be making space for another family member - his daughter Ara.

In the latest example, she was charged with the only truly "artistic" part of a restaurant renovation project for the Meurice hotel, while her famous father was busy desgnining the 600+ pieces of furniture that went into the restaurant.

The hotel restaurant, Le Dalí (named after the surrealist painter who actually stayed at the hotel in the years between 1950 and 1980) is headed by a star chef Yannick Alléno who was recently awarded three Michelin stars.

The father-and-daughter team handled the project much to the generally approving hum of interior design critics. Philippe's furniture pieces include such "Daliesque" items as chairs with legs shaped like those of a woman and table lamps with drawers (a rather direct reference to one of Dali's paintings).

Ara's painting, which now hangs over the main dining room measures 145 square meters (1,500 s/f) and weighs a hefty 250 kilos (550 pounds). The artist worked on it for five months.