This Art Deco building, classified as a historic site, is situated near the city’s main train stations and shopping areas. The building has undergone a significant transformation by Oceania Hotels, combining its architectural heritage with modern amenities.
Architectural transformation
Transforming this historic building into a 4 Hotel & Spa* presented various challenges. In collaboration with the city’s heritage management and the A26 architecture firm, Oceania Hotels preserved and enhanced key Art Deco features such as the monumental hall, glass ceiling, marble staircase, and the original vault room, now home to an 8 x 4-meter stainless steel pool surrounded by the preserved original safes.
The transformation required technical work, including discreet equipment integration and foundation reinforcements to accommodate the pool in the former vault room. This project marks Oceania Hotels’ first conversion of a building initially designed as a bank into a hotel.
First low – carbon hotel in Lille
The Hotel & Spa Oceania Les Augustins 4* is the first hotel in Lille to receive the BBCA low-carbon label (Association for the Development of Low-Carbon Buildings). This project follows the “Lille Low Carbon” approach and includes several sustainability initiatives:
• Optimization of the project within existing spaces at all stages
• Use of bio-based insulation, including flax grown locally
• Material reuse before demolition
• Creation of a green wall and garden
This hotel is Oceania Hotels’ first low-carbon property and a pioneering effort in the region to reduce the carbon footprint while maintaining the same level of service.
It’s a real source of collective pride. For several years now, we have been pursuing a concrete and ambitious CSR policy, in the firm belief that the hotel industry of the future must reconcile comfort with environmental responsibility. – Rozenn Branellec Dumon, Managing Director of Oceania Hotels
The hotel offers 87 rooms, inspired by Art Deco elements from the former Scalbert-Dupont bank. The rooms are divided into six categories, from Comfort to Suite, with views of the city or courtyard.
The Les Augustins Spa features a steel pool surrounded by original safes, preserved and displayed behind transparent glass, creating a distinctive atmosphere for relaxation. The spa includes four treatment rooms, a sauna, and a fitness area, with a menu inspired by global wellness traditions.
The Les Augustins restaurant, led by Jayson Clément, serves homemade dishes focused on fresh, seasonal ingredients. The restaurant follows a sustainable, “anti-waste” approach, with a specialty in carbonnade flamande, showcasing slow-cooking and balanced flavors.
Moreover, the Bar Les Augustins pays homage to the building’s banking history, with a brass and green marble counter reminiscent of old bank counters. Furthermore, the hotel features coworking spaces and modular meeting rooms, equipped with the latest technology to host seminars, conferences, and private events.
