A black-crowned night heron with red eyes and a black beak has landed on the wooden fence. In the distance, herons are frolicking in a large tree and a flock of wild ducks is squawking through the sky. On the pond, a swan is silently gliding by, while a clicking sound betrays the coypu… It is 9.30am in Bains Gardians, and the horses are out for a ride with their day-long riders on the lagoons and marshes of the Camargue Regional Nature Park.
Located 800 meters from Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer (Bouches-du-Rhône), Les Bains Gardians, Jean-Pierre Marois’ second dream hotel after founding the 5-star Les Bains Paris, is installed in the place of a renowned inn.
“I didn’t want to open a Relais & Châteaux or settle in a place like Saint-Tropez” declares the former film producer. of the 4 On several hectares of his Camargue estate, between canals and marshes, there are forty-eight shepherds’ huts, traditional whitewashed houses covered with reeds, whose rounded backs cannot withstand the violent winds. The complex also includes a large farmhouse, stages for equestrian shows, stables, tennis, two swimming pools, a restaurant, a spa and other facilities intended to be renovated later (in particular a large wellness area).
“Interior architects Hauvette & Madani worked on the existing structures, specifies the founder, and removed all the embellishments to return to something more natural and beautiful. » The duo also took up some existing details, such as these bull or trident motifs painted on tiles, as well as certain codes of the region: shepherds’ crosses, beige and brown checkered patterns, in reference to the blankets of Camargue horses, curtains with the Mosca pattern (“fly” in Occitan) – taken from the archives of the Les Indiennes house in Nîmes…
A space for contemplation without cars
“We are not looking to make grand architectural gestures, explains Samantha Hauvette. The idea was to restore an authentic atmosphere, in keeping with the country. For the rooms, which we are gradually renovating, we have imagined a cocoon of meditation, without an overdose of decoration.. » A cozy bed, a mosquito net, a very simple bathroom, furniture. Found by Arles-based antique dealer Julie Barrau… The contemporary art is curated by former gallery owner and Bains Paris exhibition curator Jérôme Pauchant, and in the near future, resident artists will be involved on site.
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