Philippe Ménager & Nicolas Hug

“Since the day, already distant, when Résidences Immobilier was launched, and we were the first to decide to place our trust in this project and become its partners, we have built privileged relationships with this magazine of which we are very proud.”

We are celebrating this month with Philippe Menager our 30 years of partnership. Originally from Switzerland, I came to Paris to finish my art history studies, but at the end of my studies in 1994, the art market was quite depressed. I met Philippe at that time, he was starting a real estate business and asked me to join him. His proposition left me pensive, but I said yes, while I looked for a job in my field.

Very quickly, I realized that we had the same clients as my antique dealer and gallery owner friends, and I got into the game. Together, we decided to specialize in a field that we invented: Real Estate as Fine Art. 30 years ago, the profession was very different, there were no mobile phones, no internet, and specialized magazines were fewer, but we always maintained a strong relationship with them, as well as with architects and decorators. In October 2000, we even opened a pioneering gallery of Scandinavian design from the 50s to the 70s, which was a real success for 7 years but became too heavy to manage alongside our main activity.

Paris 7, near the Orsay Museum, this mansion, opening onto a courtyard on one side and a garden on the other, was built in 1754. It spans four floors and a basement connected by an elevator, and opens onto a non overlooked, south-facing private garden of 221 sq.m. This residence features listed elements (façade, roof, and 3 salons opening onto the garden with a ceiling height of 4.70 m.), magnificent period architectural details, 5 reception rooms, 4 suites, a gym, 2 separate apartments and 2 service studios. Autour de 30 M €. Philippe Menager & Nicolas Hug, 31 rue de Tournon, Paris 6 (01 53 10 22 60). www.menagerhug.com

Today, our expertise brings us a significant number of extremely rare apartments and houses for sale or rent. Our development has been somewhat contrary to other agencies that are multiplying to become a group. We have chosen to stay small but improve our services by specializing in very high-end real estate, characterized more by rarity than by size. Our confidential aspect appeals to people who do not want their property to be advertised, which is a very frequent case in France: we had a mansion for sale in complete secrecy, without even the building caretaker being aware, and we succeeded.

In 30 years, illustrious personalities have often trusted us, and we have repeatedly achieved record sales, such as the most expensive apartment in Paris in 2019 located on Rue des Saints-Pères, sold for 39 million euros. Our specialization often leads us to sell the immeasurable, remarkable properties whose value cannot be calculated in square meters,” explains Nicolas Hug.