Minister’s Office

TODO(contenu EN) — placeholder English copy. The Figma file carries no English version of this page: this body mirrors the structure and the substance of the French one paragraph for paragraph, and has not been validated as the reference wording. It is demonstration content, not a survey.

On the third floor stood the original apartment of the first director of the Institut océanographique, Paul Regnard. What is now the Bureau du Ministre served as its dining room. The room takes its present name from the former French minister Édouard Bonnefous, a member of the board of the Institut océanographique and then its President between 1962 and 1996. The decor, by Emmanuel Cavaillé-Coll, features a painted ceiling with exposed joists and central coffers, a carved oak fireplace and an ornamental glazed screen whose stained glass depicts marine animals taken from the drawings of the zoologist Ernst Haeckel that inspired Art Nouveau.

Intimate and elegant, the Bureau du Ministre offers a singular atmosphere drawn from the great studies of the early twentieth century. Its carved panelling, its monumental fireplace, its decorated coffered ceiling and its stained glass with marine motifs bear witness to the rich architectural heritage of the Maison de l’Océan. Every detail, from the bookcases to the scientific instruments kept in the original furniture, contributes to the unique identity of this space.

Particularly suited to small-group meetings, it hosts boards, executive committees, working sessions or confidential appointments in a setting at once warm and prestigious. Its heritage table also allows seated lunches or dinners for up to 10 guests.

Thanks to its strategic position immediately next to the Library and the Grand Salon, the Bureau du Ministre shows its full versatility during large events. It can be set up as a catering pantry for receptions, provide a logistics area with easy access to a water point, or become a production office for the organising teams.

Much appreciated for the filming and photo shoots held within the Maison de l’Océan, it also makes an elegant, discreet backdrop or green room for speakers, artists or technical crews.