Villa Kerylos

The south of France has an Ancient Greek past.

We are near Nikaia, the Greek colony that later developed into the city of Nice. But this home is not an archaeological find.

As we leave the bright sun and the sound of the waves behind, we step into a sombre space with geometric mosaics and dark monochromatic murals. With our eyes still adjusting to the new setting, we are drawn towards the light coming from the peristyle at the other end: a courtyard in the centre of the house. 

Crisply carved fluting on Ionic and Doric columns softens the sunlight as it bounces on the white marble. The symmetry and solemnity of the arrangement evoke a sense of formality, appropriate to the public character of the courtyard. By contrast, further into more private interiors, we are greeted by a celebration of colour, patterns and elaborate ornamentations on floor mosaics, murals and ceilings. Mythological scenes and symbols, and a coordinated use of colour, orchestrate a coherent environment in a style that extends to the furniture and tableware.

Built in Beaulieu-sur-Mer, on the French Riviera, Villa Kerylos is an architectural experiment. A departure from the Belle Époque or Art Nouveau styles, chosen for the majority of the villas on the Riviera, and a creative interpretation of Hellenistic references that leans towards an early Art Deco simplicity. And rather than attempting to copy or recreate an ancient Greek ruin, it is shaped into a home aligned with contemporary living.

We are immersed in Greek artistry in a way that feels familiar. A home the Ancient Greeks would have created, had they lived in the twentieth century. 

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