Upon being commissioned to restore and redesign a majestic property set amongst twenty-five acres of sprawling grounds and beautiful sea views, I knew the new entire layout had to include a strong connection to outdoor living. The Château de la Croix des Gardes embodies the luxury and glamour of its movie-star history both inside and out, blending architecture, nature and design to create a beautiful yet functional residence lauded for its outdoor entertaining spaces. With seven separate buildings, the estate naturally includes multiple alfresco areas, and my favourite is the Italian Pavilion.
Nestled amongst an array of European botanical species arranged in symmetrical flower beds, we worked closely with landscape and garden design Studio Atelier François Navarro to reinstate the planting, stonework, follies, outhouses, pool and wisteria walkways to reflect the splendour in place over a century ago. The Italianate gardens are the jewel in the crown. Sculpture-filled vistas, rockeries, and fountains frame the picturesque structure at the heart of it all: a hand-painted indoor room.
The Renaissance and Baroque Gardens in Italy were particularly famous for their elegant and balanced designs. Pavilions were often placed at focal points within the garden to provide a moment of respite and a spot to enjoy the vista. Sitting at the intersection of Italian history, classic French design and English eclecticism, our Italian Pavilion is defined by its hand painted trompe-l’œil walls and large, open windows that allow for unobstructed views of the garden. This creates a sense of immersion in nature while still being sheltered. The design is simple and open.
Trompe l’oeil, the artistic device in which the eye is tricked into seeing painted walls and surfaces as three dimensional, has long been used in garden rooms as a way of bringing the outside inside and stamping a very personal mark on a space. Across all cultures, and due our instincts and human nature, a connection to outdoor living and classical traditions is found across most developments, with nature adopted as the focal point in both public and private settings. It stems from an inclination of behaviours towards relaxation, contemplation and enjoying nature as the definition of luxury. The view through the gardens at our South of France project is equally captivating at day or night. In the evening, the Italian Pavilion glows beautifully with soft lighting, capturing the symmetry of the stone work and rose filled flower borders.
I was exceptionally proud when the project Château de la Croix des Gardes was called ‘a contemporary reimagining of an historical masterpiece’ in last summer’s issue of Architectural Digest France. The largest remaining estate on the Cote D’Azur, this legendary Belle Époque Château is unparalleled in the beauty of its architecture, its sublime Mediterranean views, the scale of its surrounding gardens and its magical history. Dating back to the early 19th century, the chateau was built alongside a series of outstanding properties in the region (Villa Rothschild, Castle Vallombrosa, and Villa Romée, among others) that became known as Quartier des Anglais. In 1919, Swiss industrialist Paul Girod purchased the property and built a Florentine-style villa atop the hill, surrounded by twenty five acres of authentic hanging gardens designed by a famed landscape architect known throughout the region. These iconic gardens defined the estate.
We commissioned a wonderful artist and friend, Piero, to paint all four walls with views of the gardens. The process was a complete joy to oversee. He captured the grounds by hand, meticulously detailing the 60 acres of jasmine, lavender and rows of cypress trees reaching up to the sky. In total we have thirteen hand-painted murals across the property but this one is by far my favourite. It details the original rear facade of the property, as well as the vast array of flora and fauna that have remained the same over the years as owners have changed.
In our restoration of the Château de la Croix des Gardes we emphasised a seamless connection between architecture, nature, and design. The Italian Pavilion is the perfect example of approach, with its symmetrical layouts, manicured flowerbeds, and artful placement of sculptures and water features reflecting the elegance of Italianate garden design. The project’s transformation of this historic property has proudly earned praise for its modern reimagining of classical luxury, maintaining the grandeur and beauty of its past while embracing a contemporary approach to living.
