The new Design Hotels property in Porto-Vecchio celebrates its grand opening in April. With its own exclusive piece of this paradise and just 15 rooms, off-the-menu service is a given.

Bertilaccio has used the natural treasures of the island as inspiration for the hotel: set directly on a private, white sand beach, the property has uninterrupted views of the surrounding bay. Within easy reach is the charming old town, teeming with glitzy boutiques, international dining, lively bars and quaint architecture, all topped off by a laid-back seaside vibe.

Architect Jean-François Bodin – who was also responsible for sister property the Casadelmar – is well-known for his large-scale museum commissions, such as the Mathaf: Arab Museum of Modern Art in Doha, Qatar and the Cité de l’Architecture et du Patrimoine in Paris. Bodin renovated the existing structure to blend seamlessly with the coastal surroundings, using natural materials such as old stone, volcanic rock, cement, resin, glass, and 300-year-old oak. The color scheme also draws from the surroundings with moss and dark green couches, bright turquoise cushions, sandy light browns, white, beige and cream.

The 15 rooms and suites follow the same color palette and are decorated simply. The hotel features an open-air beach grill restaurant, a lounge bar and a 16m heated pool surrounded by day beds.

“The elements, the colors, the food, the warmth you get from the people, these are all our raw ingredients,” explains Bertilaccio. “Our passion is to make these raw ingredients inspire us to create a hotel that has a genuine goodness about it. That is what this project is
really about.”

www.laplagecasadelmar.fr

www.designhotels.com