Conceived as a succession of exceptional moments, the La Perle d'Azur villa redefines the essence of high-end hospitality. Marcoux Mathern & Associés undertook an ambitious transformation, redesigning the architecture to establish a new coherence: a hierarchy of volumes, spatial continuities, and plays of shadow and light.
Unveiling the building's full potential
Although recently built, the villa presented an unbalanced architectural style, with heterogeneous facades, a monumental but unwelcoming entrance, overly assertive thresholds, and uncertain proportions. Marcoux Mathern & Associés' intervention therefore sought to reveal the building's true potential by refining its proportions and orchestrating smoother transitions between the various phases of the project, from the arrival by car to the most intimate spaces.
At the heart of the intervention, a striking entrance hall now sets the tone: a double-height volume, reconfigured by a vertical metal structure extending to the ceiling and incorporating discreet lighting. Like an inhabited sculpture with precise lines, it redefines circulation, offers a filter of privacy, and creates a welcoming yet impressive setting for the entrance of the house.
“We needed to transform very sleek and minimalist spaces into a warm and welcoming home, where every gesture adds character,” explains Pierre-Guillaume Mathern, architect and partner in charge of the project. “Our priority was to correct the flaws, but above all to create meaningful spaces: an event that unfolds as soon as you cross a threshold, fostering emotion with every movement in the house.”
Luxury in the details
The master suite exemplifies this quest for excellence: merging and enhancing the two original suites, it houses a remarkable walk-in closet in polished Macassar ebony and topstitched leather—a meticulous attention to detail inspired by the nautical world. The centerpiece, a bathtub sculpted from a single block of travertine, asserts a raw yet precious aesthetic. Marble also extends to flush, invisible doors, for perfectly integrated refinement.
In the basement, the studio transformed a darkened swimming pool into a theatrical and luminous spa: marine teak floors, relaxation alcoves, a massage room, and, at the bottom of the pool, a backlit rock crystal wall that extends to the ceiling. The result is a vibrant mineral presence that resonates with the light, transforming a previously neglected space.
A villa in dialogue with the Riviera
Externally, the property re-establishes a strong connection with its Azure surroundings. Custom-designed sliding screens modulate transparency and unify the facades. The garden reinterprets a Mediterranean landscape composition—olive trees, lavender, inviting terraces—and even a restored stone chapel as a poetic pause along the outdoor pathway.
“We wanted each space to express its own intensity,” explains Pierre-Guillaume Mathern. “The architecture becomes a series of sensory experiences, capable of elevating the everyday to the level of an art of living.”
Resolutely forward-looking, while respecting the existing framework, La Perle d'Azur stands out as a benchmark villa on the Riviera, where transformation restores the building to its former glory.
