Renovating a contemporary luxury villa in Cannes: a 1970s estate transformed

Sometimes the finest projects emerge from the most unlikely circumstances. Such was the case with this estate in the hills above Cannes — a collection of 1970s buildings, devoid of character and harmony, set on a sloping, partly wooded plot with exceptional panoramic views of the Mediterranean. The future owner was hesitant to acquire it, so stark was the contrast between the ugliness of the buildings and the beauty of the setting.

An urgent 3D simulation by Bérengère Leroy changed everything. Within hours, the potential of the site was clear — and the decision to buy was made. What follows is the story of this transformation: from a tired, soulless collection of buildings to a luxury estate that now hosts photo shoots for leading international luxury Maisons, prestigious holiday rentals and the most exclusive weddings on the Côte d’Azur.

The setting: an exceptional location, buildings to be entirely reimagined

The site

The hills above Cannes offer some of the Riviera’s most breathtaking views: Cannes Bay, the Lérins Islands and the Mediterranean stretching to the horizon. The partly wooded, sloping plot had a naturally generous topography — levels to make the most of, vistas to frame and a relationship with the landscape to choreograph.

The problem was simple: the existing buildings were entirely at odds with their surroundings. Architecture without identity, volumes without harmony, grounds without structure. The exceptional potential of the site was squandered by buildings that could have stood anywhere.

Bérengère Leroy’s approach: reinvent everything, demolish nothing

The most obvious — and most expensive — solution would have been to demolish everything. Bérengère Leroy took the opposite approach: completely reimagine the estate by working on the architectural envelope, the grounds and the interiors, without altering the load-bearing structures. This bold approach made it possible to achieve a luxurious result within controlled timescales and costs.

The chosen design direction: a refined contemporary style that engages with the Mediterranean vegetation and views, without seeking to dominate them.

The exterior: structure, frame and enhance

Architectural ironwork

To give the buildings character while steering them towards a resolutely contemporary style, Bérengère Leroy designed and commissioned ironwork with square motifs  across all the railings, balustrades and fences. Repeated consistently throughout the estate, these elements create a unified architectural vocabulary that softens the differences between the original buildings and gives the whole a strong, instantly recognisable identity.

Steel-framed shade sails

To dress the terraces and outdoor living spaces while preserving the views, Bérengère Leroy designed shade sails created especially for the setting, held in place by steel triangulations. These light, elegant structures filter the light without blocking it, create comfortable shade in the height of the Mediterranean summer and lend the outdoor space a sculptural quality.

Restructuring the grounds and circulation routes

The sloping topography was used to create a clear, elegant layout for the outdoor circulation routes.  Terraces  — tiered platforms characteristic of Mediterranean architecture — were created to structure the grounds and connect the estate’s different levels with ease.

Some  decorative carved-stone spheres  were placed at strategic points along the routes, adding a classical sculptural note that subtly contrasts with the contemporary ironwork.

Infinity pools and swimming pool

Water is the estate’s defining feature. Bérengère Leroy designed  several arrangements of infinity pools  around the main villa — reflecting pools that mirror the sky and vegetation, create a visual connection with the sea below and bring welcome coolness to Cannes summers.

On the lower part of the plot, a  18-metre swimming pool  paired with a  6-metre infinity jacuzzi  have been created, together with a  350 m² panoramic terrace  overlooking the site, complete with a pool house and integrated bar. Together, they form the estate’s summer heart — an outdoor living space befitting the finest properties on the Côte d’Azur.

The interior: simplicity, flow and noble materials

The interior design approach

For the interiors, Bérengère Leroy chose a style that is refined and fluid, in deliberate contrast to the cluttered character of the original buildings. The aim was to create spaces that recede in favour of the views, with the Mediterranean as the only picture that matters.

Every choice of material and furniture was guided by this principle: nothing should compete with the landscape. The interior should be the perfect frame for a perfect view.

White and grey polished-concrete floors

The floors in white and grey polished concrete create a fluid visual continuity between the different living spaces and echo the outdoor terraces inside. Their smooth, reflective surface amplifies the natural light entering through the glazed doors and lends the volumes a sense of space and lightness.

Glazing throughout

Standard generous glazed doors have been installed in all the main spaces to open them up to the views as fully as possible. This architectural decision lies at the heart of the project: it turns every room into a belvedere overlooking the Mediterranean and dissolves the boundary between indoors and outdoors, the very essence of the Côte d’Azur art of living.

Armani furniture

To furnish these refined spaces without weighing them down, Bérengère Leroy selected Armani furniture — pieces with contemporary lines and noble materials that complement the understated floors and expansive views. With its considered proportions and neutral colours, Armani furniture never dominates: it enhances.

Bespoke dressing rooms and screens

In every bedroom, bespoke screens were made to the designs of the Bérengère Leroy studio to manage access to dressing rooms and bathrooms while preserving the visual flow of the spaces. Precisely designed, these architectural elements create interplay between transparency and opacity, structuring the space without dividing it.

The The dressing rooms were also made entirely bespoke, in a contemporary style consistent with the architectural language of the rest of the house.

Exceptional bathrooms

The bathrooms were conceived as true wellness spaces, with exceptionally designed baths carefully selected as much for their visual impact as for their comfort. Each bathroom is an experience in its own right — not a functional space relegated to the background, but a place to be enjoyed.

The result: a luxury estate that creates value

The transformation is total. What was once a soulless collection of 1970s buildings has become an estate with an instantly recognisable identity — contemporary, elegant and Mediterranean.

Today, the estate hosts:

• Standard photo and video shoots for leading international luxury Maisons seeking exceptional settings on the Côte d’Azur


• Standard prestigious holiday rentals at rates perfectly in keeping with the quality of the spaces


• The Cannes’ most exclusive weddings — events that call for settings worthy of their ambition

This achievement reflects what Bérengère Leroy has been doing for more than ten years: creating value through design, transforming underused properties into prestigious assets and delivering interiors that support their owners’ aspirations.

Have a similar project on the Côte d’Azur?

Bérengère Leroy works throughout the Côte d’Azur and Var on renovation, interior design and prestigious architecture projects: contemporary villas, Provençal bastides, high-end apartments, luxury hotels and rental residences.

Discover our interior architecture service in Cannes and on the Côte d’Azur and our interior designer in Mougins for projects in the hinterland.

For furniture projects bespoke integrated into a renovation — sofas, headboards, armchairs, footstools — our workshop handcrafts each piece in 30 days.

Explore our bespoke sofas and our One-off Pieces available immediately.

Visit our Bérengère Leroy showroom in Cannes or contact our team on +33 (0)4 67 57 11 84, Monday to Friday, 8 am to 7 pm, to get your project started. Discover all our projects and sources of inspiration on Pinterest.

Are you planning to renovate or decorate a villa on the French Riviera? Contact our team for an initial consultation. Discover all our projects on Pinterest.