The Summer House – Villa W

Nestled among mighty pine trees at the foot of the Maures Mountains, Villa W is nestled in the grounds of the Lily of the Valley Hotel on the St Tropez peninsula, renowned for its health and wellness facilities, a quiet and secluded luxury villa with panoramic views of the sparkling Mediterranean Sea. It is the perfect place for those who want to spend peaceful summer days away from the hustle and bustle of St Tropez. This special hotel is the result of the shared vision of a father and daughter who wanted to create a unique place in this exclusive location. Lucie Weill told us about the inspiration behind the project and how architect and designer Philip Starck turned it into a reality. vision into a hotel and a private Villa, available to rent this summer.


IRMA: Where did the inspiration for the hotel’s unique name come from?
Lucie Weill: The sea daffodil, known as the “lily” in the south of France, is a rare plant that only blooms on the Mediterranean coast. It is a wild flower that can withstand the sea spray and adapts well to its environment. Naming our hotel after it is a tribute to the Côte d’Azur, whose sometimes glittering image is nevertheless incomplete. The peninsula of St Tropez is also the beach of Gigaro – home to Lily of the Valley – with its 6 kilometres of fine sand, its protected coastline, its thousands of hectares of natural park and pine forests as far as the eye can see.

IRMA: How did you come up with the idea of creating a hotel with a strong focus on wellness?
Lucie Weill: The Lily of the Valley is a family project based on conviction. We have always been aware of how important it is to do something for our health, to pay attention to the quality of our diet and to exercise regularly. When the idea for a father-daughter hotel project was born, the concept of a wellness hotel was obvious.
Nevertheless, we wanted to offer our guests a pleasant experience where enjoyment takes centre stage. Lily of the Valley is not a clinic.
We offer four wellness programmes to help you achieve your health goals without the penalties and frustrations. Each programme is a mix of exceptional technological and manual treatments, sports activities in the middle of nature with a view of the Mediterranean and meals prepared with exceptional products, all compatible with the goal of losing weight, for example.

IRMA: The wellness trend seems to be very popular in Europe. How have you adapted this concept to the French lifestyle?
Lucie Weill: Our customers want to do something for themselves and have fun at the same time: Our four programmes (lose weight, exercise, detox and age better) are designed to satisfy this need and avoid frustration. Diet cuisine is at the centre of the hotel concept: a glass of Bordeaux and truffles with dinner will make you forget that you are on a low-calorie diet.

IRMA: Philippe Starck played an important role in the design of the hotel. Can you explain his involvement?
Lucie Weill: The decision to entrust Philippe Starck with the project was an obvious one. All the restaurants and hotels designed by him that we have seen around the world are warm and original. Asking him to design the Lily of the Valley was an important part of the concept. We dreamed of a place where our guests would feel at home, far away from the stereotypical hotel-clinic. We knew that Starck had this talent and gave him free rein.

IRMA: What criteria were used to select and compile the books and objects?
Lucie Weill: The books and objects have been selected in line with Starck’s artistic direction to celebrate the cultural mix and create a warm atmosphere. Warm colours mix with natural and raw materials to create a vibrant and colourful atmosphere.

IRMA: There is a continuous transition from outside to inside. Nature seems to come in, and the outdoor areas are furnished in a very familiar “living room style” – is there a method behind this?
Lucie Weill: Starck had a free hand in the design of Lily of the Valley. However, we asked him to make the building invisible so that it would not be visible from the sea. His aim was to create a free, open space in which light, colour and vegetation connect the outside with the inside. The rooms were designed as warm places where people and nature can meet.
As Lily of the Valley is open all year round, the changing seasons play an important role in changing the landscape, sublimating the hills of Cap Lardier and the Mediterranean Sea.

IRMA: The gardens and fauna play an important role in this concept. Why do you think that nature is becoming increasingly important in the hotel industry?
Lucie Weill: At Lily of the Valley, nature reclaims its place over the years by gradually greening the buildings.
The growing awareness of the importance of environmental protection means that guests are looking for places that correspond to their values and allow them to escape from everyday life in an atmosphere of peace and serenity.

IRMA: How did Starck incorporate the mid-century modern aesthetic of the Eames House into the design of Villa W?
Lucie Weill: Like the Eames House in Los Angeles, Villa W is designed as a refuge embedded in the hotel complex. Its sober structure and the use of raw materials are reminiscent of the architecture of the Eames House, while the long glass façade offers a view of the Mediterranean and pine trees are the only neighbours. This modernist villa, built in 1966 and later redesigned by Starck, promises discreet luxury with a colourful, cheerful private pool and private access.

IRMA: What plans do you have for the future to expand or improve the hotel’s offering?
Lucie Weill: We will soon be opening a Lily of the Valley in Courchevel. As in St Tropez, this second hotel will be open all year round and will focus on sports, treatments and weight loss. In order to continue our development projects, we would like to go abroad, and we are not ruling out Europe or the United States.

IRMA: How do you think the role of luxury wellness hotels will develop in the coming years?
Lucie Weill: The trend of capitalising on one’s health and prioritising wellbeing will continue to evolve as customers seek a balance between indulgence and a healthy lifestyle. The role of wellness hotels is to adapt to each individual with personalised programmes (as Lily of the Valley is already doing) to meet the unique needs of each customer.