Peter Marino Restores Coco Chanel's Riviera Gardens with Tweed-Inspired Palette

Architect Peter Marino has completed the restoration of La Pausa, Coco Chanel's Mediterranean retreat in the South of France, returning the gardens to their 1930s splendor. The project, featured in Architectural Digest, involved flooding the hillsides with lavender and iris, and illuminating centuries-old olive trees with a moonlit glow. Marino, known for his work in fashion and architecture, drew inspiration from Chanel's iconic tweed suits, incorporating their textures and colors into the landscape design. The restoration aims to revive the original vision of the property, which Chanel purchased in 1929 and where she entertained luminaries like Winston Churchill and the Duke of Westminster. The gardens, which had fallen into neglect, now reflect a careful balance of historical accuracy and contemporary sensibility. Marino's approach included extensive research into period photographs and plant species to ensure authenticity. The project underscores the enduring legacy of Chanel's aesthetic and the importance of preserving cultural heritage sites. The restoration also highlights the intersection of fashion, architecture, and landscape design, as Marino translated the tweed fabric's palette—blues, beiges, and blacks—into the garden's plantings and hardscape. The result is a serene, evocative environment that echoes the elegance of Chanel's era while offering a tranquil escape for future generations.