Palais Bulles Explained

Palais Bulles
Building Type:Villa
Owner:Pierre Cardin
Location Town:Théoule-sur-Mer
Location Country:France
Groundbreaking Date:1975
Completion Date:1989
Architect:Antti Lovag
Main Contractor:Pierre Bernard
Other Designers:Patrice Breteau, Jerome Tisserand, Daniel You, François Chauvin, Gerard Cloarec

Palais Bulles ("Bubble Palace") is a large house in Théoule-sur-Mer, near Cannes, France, that was designed by the Hungarian architect Antti Lovag. It was built for the French industrialist Pierre Bernard, and later bought by the fashion designer Pierre Cardin as a holiday home.[1]

History

The 1200m2[2] house was built between 1975 and 1989 for Pierre Bernard, a French industrialist. The architect Antti Lovag hated straight lines as "an aggression against nature" and designed the house as a "form of play—spontaneous, joyful, full of surprise".[3]

Fashion designer Pierre Cardin bought the house after Bernard's death in 1991. While Bernard never actually lived in the building, he said that "[t]his palace has become my own bit of paradise. Its cellular forms have long reflected the outward manifestations of the image of my creations. It is a museum where I exhibit the works of contemporary designers and artists".[3]

In 2016, a five-year renovation by French architect Odile Decq was completed.[4] [5] In March 2017, it was listed for sale with an asking price of €350 million[1] but did not find a buyer. It could be rented to groups for $33,200 a day.[3]

Following Cardin's death in December 2020, it has been suggested that the building be turned into a public venue for art expos.[3]

Description

The house comprises a reception hall, panoramic lounge, 500-seat open-air amphitheatre, 10 bedrooms, various swimming pools and waterfalls in extensive landscaped grounds.[6]

The Palais has 29 rooms, 11 bathrooms, and ten bedrooms that have each been decorated by a specific artist, including Patrice Breteau, Jerome Tisserand, Daniel You, François Chauvin, and Gerard Cloarec.[6]

In the popular culture

Emma Bunton, the British pop singer and former member of the band Spice Girls shot the artwork for her 2004 album Free Me at the house in the summer of 2003.

The house was featured in .[7]

The house was featured in the music video for the lead single 'K-Pop' off rapper Travis Scott's 2023 album Utopia featuring the Weeknd and Bad Bunny

The French band L'Impératrice recorded a session at the house in 2024.[8] [9]

Notes and References

  1. News: Jill Papworth . Pierre Cardin's Bubble Palace near Cannes – in pictures | Money . . 1 January 1970 . 17 March 2017.
  2. Web site: Une invitation à la fête |Le Palais Bulles.
  3. Nadja Sayej, What Will Happen to Pierre Cardin’s Iconic Palais Bulles?, Architecturaldigest.com, 12 February 2021
  4. Web site: Angharad Jones . Antti Lovag's Bubble House . Coggles.com . 18 March 2016 . 17 March 2017.
  5. Web site: Anna Winston . Odile Decq renovates Antti Lovag 1970s bubble house . Dezeen.com . 3 March 2016 . 17 March 2017.
  6. Web site: 'Palais Bulles' Pierre Cardin's Bubble House by Antti Lovag (VIDEO) . Jebiga.com . 20 June 2014 . 17 March 2017.
  7. News: O'Malley. Katie. Take A Peek Inside The Absolutely Fabulous Bubble Mansion. 17 March 2017. Elle. 5 August 2016.
  8. News: Le concert fou de L’Impératrice au Palais Bulles sur Arte. 18 June 2024.
  9. Web site: L'Impératrice - Palais Bulles - Passengers - ARTE Concert . 19 June 2024. YouTube. ARTE Concert.