Italian
The international call for the refurbishment of the scholarship holders’ accommodations is now open: a project that combines heritage, design, and craftsmanship
ROME – Restoring the charm of Villa Medici is not just an evocative title, but the heart of a redevelopment project that marks one of the most ambitious chapters in the recent history of the French Academy in Rome. The director Sam Stourdzé, confirmed for another three years by the President of the French Republic, has announced the continuation of the program launched in 2022, which now enters a new phase with a call for the reinstallation of the fellows’ pavilions.
These are nine terraced houses designed by architect Jacques Carlu between 1956 and 1957, each about 60 square meters with a private garden, intended to host artists and families during the year of residency. The competition, open until December 1, 2025, includes two areas: the internal renovation of the pavilions and the creation of a line of original furnishings. The work will be carried out under the direction of architect Pierre-Antoine Gatier, with the support of the French Ministry of Culture, and will also include the restoration of the surrounding gardens.
The project is part of a long-term vision that has already seen, in recent years, the reorganization of the representative halls curated by Kim Jones and Silvia Venturini Fendi, the historic rooms reinterpreted by India Mahdavi, and new interventions in guest rooms and gardens. Now, with the direct involvement of artisanal crafts, Villa Medici aims for an increasingly close dialogue between heritage and contemporary creation.
The protagonist of this relaunch is the Bettencourt Schueller Foundation, Grand Patron of the project until 2029. The Foundation not only provides exceptional financial support but also promotes residencies dedicated to artisans and students from vocational schools, enhancing the social and cultural role of crafts. Each year, six residents will be welcomed, invited to develop works in dialogue with the spaces of the Villa. Furthermore, the winners of the prestigious Prix Liliane Bettencourt pour l’Intelligence de la Main® will have the opportunity to experience a collective residency in Rome, fostering exchanges and creative contaminations.
Alongside the Foundation, a key role is entrusted to the Manufactures nationales – Sèvres & Mobilier national, established in 2025 from the merger of two historic French institutions. Thanks to the Atelier de Recherche et de Création (ARC), they will create the prototypes for the new line of furniture intended for the pavilions, bringing to Rome the excellence of French design and high craftsmanship.
With this project, Villa Medici reaffirms its vocation: to be not only a custodian of a unique architectural and landscape heritage but also a laboratory of innovation, a meeting place for arts, knowledge, and generations. An institution that, true to its history, continues to reinvent itself as a space for inspiration and international dialogue.
