Favourite Designers Part II: Jacques Garcia...

Jacques Garcia, (born September 23, 1947) is a French architect and interior designer. He has designed many private residences, including his own, the revamped Chateau du Champ de Bataille. He is also noted for his hospitality design, designing many hotels including in Hotel Costes in Paris, Hotel Danieli in Venice, and Hotel Metropole in Monte Carlo.

Above: Foyer of the Hotel Danieli, Venice

Below: Hotel Costes, Paris

Hotel Metropole

Chateau du Champ de Bataille

The Château du Champ-de-Bataille, located in the region Haute Normandie, between the commune of Neubourg and Sainte Opportune du Bosc, in the Department Eure, is a baroque castle built in 17th century. It is situated in the Campagne du Neubourg between the rivers Risle and Iton.

The history of the castle goes back to the tenth century, went it was the site of a definitive battle, hence the name Champ-de-Bataille - Battlefield. The two families who reigned over the region under the French feudal system battled for power. They were led by Guillaume Longue Épée, and Robert le Danois. William (Guillaume) won, and with his victory, Normandy gained its independence.

Much later, in 1651, there was a seminal event: Marquis Alexandre de Créqui-Bernieulle (1628-1703), a friend of the Prince of Conde, was exiled to the region by Cardinal Mazarin, who governed France during the minority of Louis XIV. Crequi then decided to build a magnificent palace which recall the splendor of the Court that he would never know. He built the Château du Champ-de-Bataille between 1653 and 1665. Unfortuantely, Crequi died backrupt, but bequeathed the castle to his nephew, Anne-François d'Harcourt, Duc de Beuvron and governor of Normandy. At that time the house was very dilapidated. D'Harcourt then undertook considerable work to restore the glories of yesteryear. But the Revolution interrupted this gigantic task, which remained unfinished for generations.

It languished in the hands of several owners in a ruinous state until Jacques Garcia purchased it in 1999, and transformed it to the glorious house and gardens it is today.

Initially there were no gardens on the property, but Garcia designed the gardens from period plans.

Above: The French Parterres

Below: The Temple of Leda

Which leads to an elegant segue: the story of Leda and the Swan. This tale comes from Greek mythology. The legend recalls that Zeus came to Leda in the form of a swan and raped or seduced her on the same night she slept with her husband, King Tyndareus of Sparta. According to later Greek mythology, Leda bore Helen and Polydeuces by Zeus whilst bearing Castor and Clytemnestra Tyndareus. In some versions, she laid two eggs from which the children hatched.

Above: Reproduction of a lost Michaelangelo Painting of Leda and the swan

Below: The most famous depiction of Leda and the swan, by Leonardo da Vinci.

Below: A more controversial depiction (does one censor art?)

(If this offends anyone's sensibilities please let me know and I shall remove it directly)

"Leda and the Swan" is a poem by William Butler Yeats describing the swan's seduction of Leda.

A sudden blow: the great wings beating still

Above the staggering girl, her thighs caressed

By the dark webs, her nape caught in his bill,

He holds her helpless breast upon his breast.

How can those terrified vague fingers push

The feathered glory from her loosening thighs?

And how can body, laid in that white rush,

But feel the strange heart beating where it lies?

A shudder in the loins engenders there

The broken wall, the burning roof and tower

And Agamemnon dead.

Being so caught up,

So mastered by the brute blood of the air,

Did she put on his knowledge with his power

Before the indifferent beak could let her drop?

The Official website for his chateau is here

Favourite Designers Part I: Juan Pablo Molyneux...

Juan Pablo Molyneux was born in Chile in 1946. His grandfather was British, and deciding to travel to China from London ended up getting lost in Chile, where he married and remained.

Molyneux studied architecture at the University of Santiago, where designers such as Le Corbusier et al had previously studied. Molyneux was attracted to classical architecture fairly early on in his studies and enrolled at the prestigious Ecole des Beaux Arts in Paris, where he really developed his strong sense of classical design, with just a dash of the idiosyncratic eclecticism that makes his work unique.

Above: The foyer of his Manhattan penthouse. Note how the coffered ceiling is mirrored in the marble floor. I love the recessed lighting in the coffer beams - brilliant finishing touch.

His interiors are renowned world wide for being the ultimate in luxury: a combination of the comfort and opulence; of Neoclassicism and aesthetic Modernism. Molyneux said:

"Our roots are Neoclassical, but we are of course living in the 21st century. There are some aspects of the strict rules of Neo-classicism which we must apply - invariably constituting simplification and minimalization of the basic theme and addition of contemporary elements. That makes my interiors lighter, because I like to combine antiques with modern pieces." "I'm not in favour of repeating interiors from the past. That's all very well for museums or exhibitions. My knowledge enables me to translate highly formal Neoclassical architecture and interiors, adapting them to the present day and modern life-style. That's our strength."

Above and Below: A town house in Michigan

Above: Blue Dining Room

Below: Some of his Antiques for auction

He trained as an architect and went on to master interior and garden design as an extension of his architecture.

His clients are generally people with particularly refined tastes; and because the process of creation entails intense cooperation with the client, the designers must possess flexibility and a sound knowledge of architectural design. "You're working with the most sophisticated or powerful people in the world, [you] have to dig deep to make really good things happen."

"When you're developing a plan, it's essential to listen well. You have to come to grips with the situation quickly and discover how the clients live. You must always be aware that you're making a home for the client, not for yourself. The client's input is an important factor, although inevitably mistakes are made. The mistakes are often what makes a job interesting. If we only supplied perfection, you might wonder: for whom. The interior resembles a good cocktail party - by inviting different guests you get a pleasant overall result. People enjoy themselves and, although everyone looks different, everything goes together and looks attractive"

The Official Molyneux Website can be found here.