Novotel
Bringing the sea into the hotel
Underwater Depths Reflected. Perched above Monte-Carlo, the Novotel offers a breathtaking view of the Monaco Marina. The quality of its volumes and light, in the terraced architecture designed by Jean-Michel Wilmotte in 2007, is mirrored by the design of Saguez & Dash. A huge blue wave has erased the former atmosphere to bring the enchanting world of the sea into the hotel. From the entrance, it flows inside to flood every space: the lobby, the restaurant, the bar, the garden, the floor, the furniture...
Decorator: Didier Gomez
Key facts
260 rooms
11 floors
750 m² lobby, bar & restaurant area
84 m² swimming pool
900 m² garden
A fantastical universe
In the lobby, there’s no traditional front desk creating a barrier between hotel staff and guests. Instead, visitors are welcomed around low tables, sitting on poufs that instantly create a warm and inviting connection. Seated on the coral sofa, check-in happens over a drink with a stunning view overlooking the pool and outdoor bar.
The lobby’s low ceiling height, limited to 2.3 meters, is cleverly compensated by a distorted mirror on the ceiling that plays with volume and weightlessness. Its reflection blends images of the interior and exterior, extending to the pool, evoking a sense of being underwater.
How do you turn a hotel into a resort ?
Saguez & Dash embraced heights, volumes, light play, and material choices to amplify the presence of water. From the entrance, the breathtaking view across three wood-paneled levels, dressed in vast white cotton curtains, heightens the cathedral-like effect reminiscent of underwater depths. Transparency is treated across different heights, inviting guests into a mysterious, fantastical world.
On the floor, the varied blue and white tile patterns draw inspiration from Italian designer Gio Ponti’s cement tiles. Arranged to blur indoor and outdoor boundaries, their irregular patterns define the four distinct restaurant areas and connect seamlessly to the pool. The rattan cane in the floor lamps and seating reinterprets fishing nets and beach screens, weaving together the maritime atmosphere.
The bar, a cactus garden
At the bar, you leave the water behind and enter a lush cactus garden. The blue tones of the water give way to coral orange, cactus green, and the cliff-gray of bleached wood. Within the three monumental bookshelves, soaring 6 meters high across two levels, a treasure trove of found objects is displayed, souvenirs brought back from journeys along the world’s Rivieras. Candlelight softly illuminates the shelves and tables, while the backlit, whitewashed moucharabieh brick behind the bar recreates the gentle, ambient glow of a seaside evening.
Suites and rooms
Like emerging from a deep dive, each room offers a warm, soothing atmosphere. Pastel tones bring softness and harmony, creating a sense of well-being in a chic, cozy hideaway. Every room invites escape, featuring a unique “artwork” wallpaper panel handcrafted by Élitis with raffia and collage techniques. Each design is original and distinct, evoking the watercolor sketches found in travel journals.