Nestled against the slope of the mountain above the Côte d’Azur, the luxury Villa Magnolia near the small town of Mougins, France, catches the eye thanks to the strong linearity of its architecture – which is reminiscent of the great masters of modernist art, and discreet touches of the Far East. All nine bathrooms on the three floors of the mansion bear the hallmark of Axor, the designer brand of Hansgrohe SE.
Inspired by the diversity of collections and options for individualising the bathroom as a living space, Polish architects Sotyrys and Aleksander Pantopulos selected products from several Axor collections designed by Philippe Starck, Patricia Urquiola, Jean-Marie Massaud, Antonio Citterio and the Bouroullec brothers.
All bathrooms are located between salons furnished and decorated with design classics, ranging from Charles Eames to Arne Jacobsen. Sophisticated spacial concepts are highlighted by the quality of the design and materials used.
The parent’s bathroom reflects the close connection between nature and comfort that is characteristic of the Axor Massaud collection. The organically-shaped bathtub is enclosed in a timber platform – giving the impression of being in a small lake and looking out past the palm and pine trees, and onto the medieval town of Mougins on the hill across the valley.
In keeping with Patricia Urquiola’s vision of the bathroom, the space featuring the designer’s products features floor-level windows which open out into nature. An abundance of greenery, spaces bathed in light and a high degree of individuality at the washbasin play prominent roles in the bathroom concept.
The value placed on design and state-of-the-art technology is evident – not least in the salon bar in the basement, complete with home cinema and billiards, right next to the sauna, gym and the guest bedrooms. The adjoining bathrooms reproduce the spatial concepts developed in collaborations with Philippe Starck, Antonio Citterio and Ronan and Erwan Bouroullec.
Revitalising pleasure is delivered by the showerheads from the Axor ShowerCollection, which feature twice in the master bathroom. Wall claddings of whole bamboo stems also emphasise the theme of nature in this bathroom – as does the illuminated Japanese garden elsewhere on the grounds.
