Le Collateral Cultural Hub & Guest House in France

Set within a medieval church in Southern France, Le Collatéral is a hybrid creative sanctuary that hosts exhibitions, workshops and events while also offering short and long-term accommodation. The space includes four artfully designed guest-rooms, each with a unique personality and style, as well as several shared spaces designed to foster creativity including a salon, library, terrace and gallery.

Conceived by communications specialist Anne-Laurence Schiepan and her designer husband Philipe Schiepan, Le Collatéral came together over a three-year period. The entire design, from the spatial planning through to the palette and materiality, focuses on the manipulation of light – a conceptual approach inspired by the surrounding Arles area that is known for its soft natural light. While the original stone structure of the church remains, the interior is now brimming with contemporary artwork and sculptural lighting pieces, including personally commissioned installations by Erick Helaine who is fittingly the assistant to the number one master of light, James Turrell.

We love the different character of each room, appealingly summed up in a couple of neat words by Le Collatéral. Room A (our favourite) is ‘totally zen, just matter and softness’ and features partitions clad with beaten metallic sheets, old masonry walls and soft natural layers of materials, whereas the darker and moodier Room B is ‘digital art, sofa, wood and metal staircases’. We’re big fans of hybrid spaces, and Le Collatéral sets a new standard for what’s possible, thanks to their artful realisation of a unique concept.