L'Arlatan Hotel in Arles, France With Interiors by Jorge Pardo

L’Arlatan is an eclectic hotel in the pretty, unassuming little town of Arles in the South of France. Spanning 4,000 sqm, the design presents vibrant interiors by artist Jorge Pardo, in collaboration with architects including Max Romanet and Renzo Wieder, set within a historic, centuries-old building.

The property dates as far back as the 5th century, built on the ruins of a Roman Basilica. In the past century, L’Arlatan was primarily a private residence, and in 1988 the previous owners uncovered the ruins of the Roman basilica and the bases of statues and a fountain in the basement. In designing the hotel, Mexico-based Cuban artist Jorge Pardo sought to preserve L’Arlatan’s history while infusing a new creative spirit.

Pardo worked closely with Maja Hoffmann, the Swiss billionaire who is on a mission to transform Arles into an arts destination. Hoffmann acquired the mansion in 2014 and oversaw a three-year-long renovation before opening the L’Arlatan hotel in October 2018.

The hotel is essentially a total work of art for Pardo, working within the confines of heritage protection yet still managing to deck the walls with colour and vibrancy. With his Jorge Pardo Sculpture Inc. (JPS) team comprised of 30 painters, architects, designers and cabinet-makers, Pardo created a space inspired by the landscapes and history of Mexico combined with that of the city of Arles, Van Gogh, and Pardo’s own personal life.

Van Gogh’s paintings led Pardo to use the walls, doors, wardrobes and offices as an artistic medium, painting onto them directly and transforming each panel into unique works of art. The artist’s own mother and daughter are depicted in some paintings, along with scenes of everyday life. Each piece of furniture in L’Arlatan is a signed and listed work of art, produced in JPS workshops using the tropical timber Guanacaste, from the national tree of Costa Rica. The timber was specially planted for the furniture, cut in an environmentally friendly process on land dedicated to timber production.

L’Arlatan features 6,000 sqm of mosaic tiling, 4,000 sqm of which cover the floors. Each tile fragment was made to measure in Yucatan, Mexico, with nearly two million pieces produced from 11 computer-drawn shapes in 18 different colours. Laser-cut metalwork in various forms and colours, inspired by Mexican ‘banderine’ garlands, contrast the mosaic patterns. Original ceilings add another dimension to Pardo’s eclectic interiors, with exposed beams, brick, and facets. JPS designed sculptural chandeliers and ceiling lights reminiscent of intricate lanterns, made from a plasticized material.

Outside in the former Provençal courtyard, Pardo planted a combination of exotic plants including trees from Patagonia and maple from Japan with plants native to the South of France; a reflection of his overarching approach to L’Arlatan’s worldly design.