The Hôtel Les Roches by PietriArchitectes

Invisible at first glance, the complexity of the Hôtel Les Roches project by PietriArchitectes lies in its remarkable ability to merge naturally with the landscape. Every volume, line, and material has been precisely considered to create the impression that the ensemble has always belonged to its site—embedded in the rock, facing the sea, and shaped by the slope. Behind this apparent simplicity lies a technically sophisticated reconstruction defined by precision, restraint, and respect for place.

A Legendary Riviera Destination Reborn

Overlooking the bay of Le Lavandou, the Hôtel Les Roches holds a special place in the history of the French Riviera. Originally built in the 1930s, when Mediterranean tourism was at its height, the hotel quickly became an emblem of discreet luxury—attracting guests who valued calm, authenticity, and breathtaking views over ostentation.

Over the decades, the hotel was expanded several times: modestly in the 1950s, then more substantially in the 1980s. These successive additions formed a layered patchwork of styles and materials, including white plaster walls, blue shutters, fragmented volumes, and the region’s iconic Bormes stone. Despite its charm, time left its mark—the structure became fragmented and outdated, losing its coherence while retaining its aura and exceptional location.

When a French family-owned hotel group acquired the property in 2009, their ambition was clear: not to erase history, but to reinterpret it with elegance. The result is a complete rebirth—a balance between the site’s memory and the pursuit of contemporary hospitality excellence.

Two Worlds in Dialogue

The site sits in the calanques of Peire Gouerbe, where steep cliffs descend toward the Mediterranean. The new project builds upon this geography through two superimposed worlds: a solid, protective stone base and a light, fragmented upper volume.

The lower level, clad in locally sourced Bormes stone, contains the guestrooms closest to the sea. Vaulted and partially embedded in the slope, these rooms evoke the feeling of sleeping within a grotto—thick, textured, and in direct dialogue with the water. Above, a horizontal platform forms the heart of the hotel, accommodating the reception, restaurant, pool, and shared amenities.

Higher still, four independent pavilions rise gently from the terrain, separated by planted voids and stone stairways. These interstitial spaces allow light and vegetation to flow between the buildings, softening their presence and weaving architecture into the Mediterranean landscape. Green roofs, planted terraces, and local vegetation complete the composition, blurring the boundary between the built and the natural.

Mediterranean Architecture, Contemporary Spirit

The architectural approach reinterprets Mediterranean construction principles—thick walls, filtered light, durable materials, and an intrinsic connection with nature—through a contemporary lens. The upper structures employ ultra-high-performance fibre-reinforced concrete (UHPC) for balconies and shading devices, their perforated motifs filtering sunlight and casting delicate shadows. These elements express a refined relationship between light, material, and intimacy, embodying a modern Mediterranean restraint.

Each volume was designed as an independent yet interconnected structure, precisely embedded in the topography. This strategy eliminates any sense of artificial imposition and ensures the architecture remains in equilibrium with its natural environment. Vegetation becomes an active material—softening contours, filtering views, and extending the landscape into the built form.

Technical Mastery and Poetic Construction

The project’s apparent lightness conceals significant structural innovation. The entire composition rests on a complex assembly logic, adapting to the site’s steep topography and exposure to sea winds.

Locally quarried Bormes stone defines the base, grounding the hotel in the geology of its setting and lending a sense of permanence and gravitas. By contrast, UHPC slabs and overhangs bring lightness—fine-edged, perforated, and sculpted to filter the sun’s intensity. This duality between solidity and transparency expresses a subtle dialogue between tradition and innovation, between material weight and technical finesse.

Circulation between volumes is ensured through metal footbridges, stone stairs, and landscape-integrated pathways, connecting guests to the natural contours of the site. Every joint and junction was crafted with precision, turning construction into a form of architectural poetry—a project where material and technique serve both beauty and meaning.

Photography: Nicolas Anetson