Five years after the opening of the first Hotel Sezz in Paris, designed in the 16th arrondissement by the architect and interior designer, Christophe Pillet under commission by Shahé Kalaidjian – member of the historic Armenian family of hotel owners – the Hotel Sezz Saint-Tropez is inaugurated in the dream-like landscape between fields and vineyards, between the sea and the beaches of the Côte d'Azur.
Amazing quality and excellent service distinguish this “boutique design hotel”, immersed in nature, comprised of one spa, one restaurant, one swimming pool, one bar, five 30 m2 “bungalow” rooms, thirty 40 m2 junior suites and two villas with private swimming pools: a total of 37 rooms complete with every comfort distributed throughout an 11,000 m2 park.
While the interiors were designed by Christophe Pillet, including the furnishings and objects, the architect Jean-Jacques Ory was responsible for creating the neo-provincial spirit of the 2,000 m2 of constructed area, and the landscaper Christophe Ponceau designed the outdoor spaces; manning the kitchen is the renowned chef, Pierre Gagnaire, who through his unique gastronomic signature transcribes the simple quality of the local products.
Joyful colours, vibrations of light and the immensity of the sky and sea in this location are all factors that have contributed to the birth of prolific artistic expressions, influencing Christophe Pillet’s choices of furnishings. The few pieces he uses to outfit the Sezz Saint-Tropez have a strong personality and a timeless style, and they have all been designed ad hoc.
“I wanted simple and elegant furniture that would somehow reflect the seaside. And above all they had to be light, as if they were fluctuating in space. Very contemporary, with pure lines and noble yet discreet materials. Furniture written in the history of time, belonging to our own period, yet nevertheless timeless. And as much as this pertains to the rooms and suites, it is also true of the common areas, around the pool, the reception area, the spa and the restaurant. Everywhere I have tried to mediate the correspondence between form and material, to play with this incredible provincial light, where lightness and density are only rediscovered with the falling of night, privileging the exceptional view of nature which characterizes the Sezz Saint-Tropez.”
For the furnishing of the hotel rooms, Pillet turned to Porro, a collaborator since 2005.
At the centre of the rooms, a good night’s rest is guaranteed by the inviting suspended bed with wood or leather headboard, flanked by unique end tables comprised of seven wooden trays positioned in a slightly offset manner; the traditional typology of this object was reconsidered, creating a small and elegant miniature architecture, where functional rigor is combined with the passion of detail, as in all of the French designer’s creations for the company.
On the wall, illuminated by the natural light pouring through the full-length windows, a white-lacquered writing desk is suspended, with essentially built-in drawers, whereas the informal relaxation area is composed of two inviting Jade lounge chairs and a Shahan coffee-table designed by Pillet for this hotel and already incorporated in Porro’s catalogue.
Jade is distinguished by harmonious lines and a relaxed position, presented in each room in yellow – the most intense hue, naturally energetic and solar – or in turquoise – the colour of travelling and the sea, of the horizon and of positivity. Suspended on a structure of black-stained ash wood with a cross-shaped base, Jade is accompanied by Shahan, its ideal complement, reflecting its woven wood structure and supporting a circular tabletop.
Design rigor and formal harmony combine to form a passe-partout that works perfectly in the home as well as in the office or in a luxury hotel, such as the Hotel Sezz-Saint Tropez, demonstrating the company’s ever-increasing ability to move among diverse territories.
Project information
Destination: Boutique Design Hotel
Client: Shahé Kalaidjian
Location: Saint-Tropez
Architectural Design: Jean-Jacques Ory.
Interior Design: Christophe Pillet.
Area: 11000 m2
Year of Completion: 2010.
Porro Products Involved: 66 end tables, 30 blue Jade armchairs, 30 yellow Jade armchairs, 30 Shahan coffee tables, 39 shelf-desks, 39 beds.
