Renewal of a family home

Lydia Bacrie | 5/30/24, 9:04 AM

One of the city's most beautiful Belle Époque residences. After a long period of eclipse, the Villa Camille has been restored to its former glory by the Assas Hotels group, who have transformed it into a charming retreat. A new address to discover, in the heart of Banyuls-sur-Mer, backed by the Pyrenees and facing the azure sea...

The people of Banyuls have a real fondness for this palm-fringed villa, which has always been part of their landscape. Built in 1888 by a Danish architect for industrialist Pierre Bardou (creator of the famous JOB cigarette papers), this Belle Époque residence remained in the family for several generations before being transformed into a vacation home, losing much of its charm in the process. Fortunately, in 2022 it was bought by the Assas Hotels group, who decided to restore it to its former glory, making it once again part of the town's rich real estate heritage.

Local architect Philippe Pous and interior designer Leslie Gauthier have carefully preserved what remains: the historic black-tiled roof (the only one in Banyuls), which allows the villa to be recognized from the sea; the original Villa Camille typography, which is once again on display at the entrance to the villa; and, last but not least, the new Villa Camille. the Villa Camille's original typography, which is once again displayed at the villa's entrance, reworked in ironwork; or the former courtyard, which has been returned to its original dimensions and now houses the swimming pool. Inside, the spaces have regained their majesty, as in the 42 bedrooms and suites, where the modern ceilings have been removed to restore the amplitude of the volumes and the delicacy of the historic moldings. The walls are hung with Jouy canvases, heckled by the red-and-white striped fabrics that adorn some of the bedspreads, inspired by the canvases of the deckchairs lined up on the nearby beach. A true piece of history, the dining room once again boasts coffered ceilings, cement tiles and an imposing fireplace. contemporary elements that give the space its style, such as the poetic cloud-like chandeliers.

Here, guests meet up with the locals, who have once again made the villa one of their HQs. At the start of the evening, the ever-increasing number of regulars join the bar for a first drink and a few tapas, before enjoying some of the finest Catalan cuisine.one of Banyuls' finest Catalan cuisines, also served in the garden overlooking the port and its ballet of fishing boats returning to dock in the twilight. Just a stone's throw away, the former courtyard with its adjoining swimming pool, the Nuxe spa where guests come for a session in the sauna or ice grotto before choosing a treatment or massage. Perfectly revitalized, all that's left to do is head to the rooftop solarium for a deckchair and admire the 180° view over the city, with its cobbled streets and promenade along the harbour and the Mediterranean.

Three questions for interior designer Leslie Gauthier

Villa Camille is a symbol of the Belle Époque architecture that made the coast so famous. What condition was it in when you set about restoring it?

Leslie Gauthier: Unfortunately, there was very little left of the historic building, which had been extensively altered over the years. On the upper floors, the Belle Époque codes had all disappeared, and we did some real archaeological work to reintegrate them. We removed the false ceilings and restored the historic mouldings and cornices. Fortunately, the first floor had retained some of its original features, including some 200 m 2 of beautiful cement tiles and the old coffered ceiling, which we restored. In another nod to history, we framed and distributed in the rooms some very fine drawings of the villa, by the architect Viggo Dorph-Petersen.

How did you go about designing the interior architecture?

L.G.: We kept the spirit of the house as it had been conceived by Viggo Dorph-Petersen, but we wanted to avoid an overly literal restoration. In the bedrooms, traditional toile de Jouy is blended with more contemporary light oak parquet and sleek furniture. In the large dining room, we've warmed up and modernized the space with wood panelling, a huge orange tree for a touch of greenery and a neon sign that echoes the town's motto, "In mare via tua" ("Your way is by the sea").

The restoration of the Villa has just been completed. How would you define the place now?

L.G: The villa has its own history, but there's nothing intimidating about it. The hotel is a cheerful, lively place. We've reunited the lobby and bar, so that guests immediately feel as if they're in a family home. Villa Camille is once again a meeting place for Banyuls locals, who come for a drink or a meal. And for travelers, it is without doubt the most beautiful hotel on the coast.

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