At Villa Maïa, art is an integral part of the interiors. From Guy de Rougemont’s sculptural columns to Charles Maze’s circular photographs, the artworks complement the spaces and contribute to their character. On Fourvière Hill, this luxury hotel in Lyon brings together architecture by Jean-Michel Wilmotte, interiors by Jacques Grange and gardens by Louis Benech, united by a shared attention to form, materials and perspective.

A Dialogue Between the History of the Site and Contemporary Art

Located on the historic Antiquaille site, Villa Maïa belongs to a neighbourhood closely connected to Lyon’s history. Jacques Grange references this heritage through columns, marble and mosaics, particularly in the lobby and the thermal baths.

Within this setting inspired by Gallo-Roman architecture, contemporary artworks introduce a deliberate contrast. Their colours and forms give the spaces a modern interpretation, alongside furniture designed specifically for the hotel. This combination evokes the site’s past while allowing creative freedom in the interiors.

Guy de Rougemont: Sculpture in the Living Spaces

Guy de Rougemont’s totemic columns punctuate Villa Maïa’s lounges. Their vertical presence gives rhythm to the spaces, while their colours draw the eye among the furnishings.

Geometry and colour are two essential dimensions of the artist’s work. At the hotel, they become part of the living spaces: guests discover the sculptures as they move through the interiors, where they contribute to the composition of the lounges. They extend the dialogue between architecture, art and interior design.

Peter Gee: A Pop Art Touch at the Bar

At the bar, a composition by Peter Gee comprising six oil-painted wooden panels creates a strong graphic presence. Target motifs, repeated circles and vivid colours give the space a different visual expression from that of the guest rooms.

Paired with green armchairs, the artwork contributes to the lounge’s atmosphere. It reflects the creative freedom of Villa Maïa’s interiors, where classical references sit alongside a bolder Pop Art vocabulary. Colour becomes a central element, present both in the artwork and in the furniture surrounding it.

Charles Maze: Anamorphoses as a Signature of the Guest Rooms

In the guest rooms, Charles Maze’s anamorphoses hold a special place. These circular photographs introduce a play on perspective and a touch of colour to the brown and greige interiors designed by Jacques Grange. The hotel itself describes them as a form of “artistic irreverence”.

Each room features a different image, displayed above the bed or in the sitting area. Their distinctive format invites guests to pause over the composition, follow its lines and observe the transformations of the photographed subject. They give the rooms an individual identity within interiors that also draw on Japanese and Art Deco influences.

Alexander May: Another Contemporary Voice

Alexander May’s works complete the artistic selection incorporated into Jacques Grange’s interiors. The artist’s practice explores materiality and the layering of different pictorial languages, with compositions that resist an exclusively abstract or figurative reading. This approach invites viewers to look beyond their first impression, taking time to observe the layers and relationships between forms.

His presence alongside Guy de Rougemont and Peter Gee enriches the dialogue between the artworks and the interiors. This diversity of artistic voices allows the spaces to be understood as an open composition, in which Gallo-Roman references, bespoke furniture and contemporary creation respond to one another.

An Invitation to Look Closely

This attention to the visual experience extends throughout the hotel. Jean-Michel Wilmotte’s architecture opens up views over Lyon, which Villa Maïa describes as a “living painting”. Louis Benech’s gardens offer another composition, shaped by plants and seen from the interiors and terraces.

The artworks form part of this visual experience. They invite guests to contemplate a photograph in their room, a sculpture in a lounge or a colourful composition at the bar. For travellers with an interest in art and design, Villa Maïa offers a way of discovering Lyon that begins within the hotel itself.

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