Marcoux Mathern & Associés reshaped La Perle d’Azur in Cannes through a full architectural transformation focused on proportion, circulation and atmosphere. The villa, already recent in construction, needed a clearer spatial order. Its facades lacked unity, its entrance felt monumental yet cold, its thresholds carried too much force, and its proportions created uncertainty across the house. The studio answered with a sequence of precise interventions that guide movement from the first arrival by car to the most private rooms.
HOUSING
The architects set a new tone through the entrance hall. A double-height volume now organizes the arrival, with a vertical metal structure rising to the ceiling and integrating discreet lighting. This element controls circulation, adds privacy and gives the entrance a strong sense of occasion.
Pierre-Guillaume Mathern, architect and partner in charge of the project, said the team needed to turn sleek minimalist spaces into a warm home. He described the work as a process of correcting flaws while giving each room stronger meaning.
The master suite shows the studio’s focus on material richness and detail. Marcoux Mathern & Associés joined and upgraded the two original suites to create a larger private area. The suite includes a walk-in closet in polished Macassar ebony and topstitched leather, with references drawn from the nautical world. In the bathroom, a bathtub carved from a single block of travertine brings weight and texture to the room. Marble extends across flush, invisible doors, giving the suite a refined and integrated finish.
The basement gained one of the project’s clearest transformations. The studio turned a dark indoor pool into a bright, theatrical spa. Marine teak floors, relaxation alcoves and a massage room give the lower level a clear purpose. At the bottom of the pool, a backlit rock crystal wall rises to the ceiling, creating a mineral surface that reacts to light and activates a space that previously felt neglected.
Outside, the villa renews its relationship with Cannes and the Riviera. Custom sliding screens adjust transparency and bring greater unity to the facades. The garden draws from Mediterranean planting through olive trees, lavender and open terraces. The team also restored a stone chapel, giving the outdoor route a quiet point of pause.
Mathern said the architects wanted each space to carry its own intensity. That idea guides the villa’s progression from the entrance hall to the suite, spa and garden. Each area creates a different sensory experience through light, material and scale.
La Perle d’Azur respects the existing structure while changing the way the villa works and feels. Marcoux Mathern & Associés corrected the imbalance of the original house, clarified its volumes and gave its spaces greater warmth.
Official Project Name: Perle d’Azur
Location: Cannes, France
Architects/Designers: Marcoux Mathern & Associés
Project Manager: Pierre-Guillaume Mathern
Design Team: Azur Home Interiors (Angélique Altur)
Landscape Architect: Aurélien Liuktus (Nelumbo)
Lighting Designer: Custom creations by Marcoux Mathern & Associés
Project Completion Date: June 2024
