Updated on July 13, 2026
Pierre-Yves Rochon has designed the seven new Diamond Suites at Hôtel Hermitage Monte-Carlo in close collaboration with the Construction and Built Heritage Department of Monte-Carlo Société des Bains de Mer.
More than twenty years after contributing to the vertical extension of the five-star property, the renowned interior designer, whose work has shaped luxury hospitality both in France and internationally, returns to the hotel with the same guiding principle: creating a dialogue between heritage and contemporary tastes, in a spirit of continuity, comfort and harmony.
Your name has long been associated with the architectural identity of Hôtel Hermitage Monte-Carlo. What did you hope to bring to the hotel?
Pierre-Yves Rochon : More than twenty years ago, when we worked on the vertical extension of Hôtel Hermitage Monte-Carlo, we were already pursuing the idea of a dialogue between classical architecture and more contemporary elements. The building carried a strong history, and it was essential to support its evolution without betraying its spirit. At the time, it represented a significant milestone for the hotel: introducing a new offering while remaining true to its identity.
Today, with the renovation of the seven Diamond Suites, the challenge is different, although it remains part of the same continuum. What matters most is trust. When you are invited back to a project, it means a relationship has been built and that previous work has left a positive legacy. I am fortunate to experience this with several great houses, where collaborations endure over time. It allows us to continue a story, enrich it and move forward without starting from scratch.
I believe the hotel is now telling a new story. Over the years, it has undergone several renovations and interventions, sometimes guided by different approaches. Today, it is becoming more unified and finding a renewed sense of coherence. It is not simply a matter of decoration; it is an overarching vision.
Is this overall vision essential in a hotel project of this scale?
Pierre-Yves Rochon : It is fundamental. Without a vision, trends, influences and design codes become intertwined, often unsuccessfully.
In the case of Hôtel Hermitage Monte-Carlo, that vision truly exists. It has been carried forward with remarkable sensitivity by the teams at Monte-Carlo Société des Bains de Mer, particularly by Stéphanie Rainaut, Head of the Design Office within the Construction and Built Heritage Department, with whom the project was developed hand in hand. It was a genuine partnership built on trust and mutual respect.
A hotel like this already possesses a soul. The objective is not to artificially create an identity, but to allow it to continue evolving. Monte-Carlo Société des Bains de Mer enjoys a rare asset: an exceptional hotel heritage that is alive, recognised and cherished. Many major groups have to invent a story. Here, the story already exists. It simply needs to be extended, refined and adapted to contemporary expectations.
Have the codes of luxury hospitality changed over the past twenty years?
Pierre-Yves Rochon : Absolutely. Hospitality has evolved considerably. Guests remain human beings with fundamental needs: sleeping well, feeling comfortable, enjoying a well-appointed bathroom and living in pleasant surroundings. What has changed is the way we respond to those needs.
Technology, for instance, has taken on a major role. Lighting has completely transformed the way we conceive interiors. Today, we can shape atmospheres, adjust intensities and colour temperatures, highlight a bookcase, a headboard or an architectural volume. This is very much part of contemporary luxury.
Lifestyle habits have evolved as well. Twenty years ago, the bedroom and the living room were often clearly separated. Today, many suites feature more fluid layouts. We seek perspectives, sightlines and openness. At Hôtel Hermitage Monte-Carlo, the idea was to give pride of place to the living spaces: the sea, the light and the sense of volume. We no longer design rooms alone, we design a way of living.
You also reimagined the internal circulation of the suites. Why is this so important?
Pierre-Yves Rochon : Because luxury is not always visible; it is something you feel. In these suites, we redesigned the interior architecture to recreate the atmosphere of a private residence. The circulation has been carefully conceived to ensure that service operations do not unnecessarily intersect with guests. Luggage can be delivered without passing through the living room. Bedrooms, bathrooms and living areas enjoy greater independence. We also worked on the connections between the suites, enabling an entire floor to be reserved seamlessly while preserving guests’ privacy and avoiding the main corridors.
How do you strike the right balance between heritage and contemporary standards of comfort?
Pierre-Yves Rochon : First and foremost, one must remain humble. I prefer to speak of heritage rather than classicism. What we call “classic” today was modern when it was originally conceived. Every era has produced talent. There is no need to oppose the old and the new.
At the Hermitage, certain architectural elements were preserved because they are intrinsic to the building’s identity: cornices, mouldings and proportions. However, we treated them with greater softness and in a more contemporary way. That dialogue is what interests me most: respecting what already exists while ensuring it feels right for today.
The furniture, for example, is highly contemporary. Rather than creating a rupture, it allows the architectural heritage to breathe.
What, in your view, defines the uniqueness of a palace?
Pierre-Yves Rochon : Quality comes first. And the precision of the design. But true luxury is space: a large living room, generous volumes, high ceilings, light, a view, a sense of breathing…
Luxury is not gold, silver or bronze. It does not lie in spectacular effect. It stems from an alchemy of real elements: space, craftsmanship, quality of life, proportions, light and comfort. A freshly arranged peony can be a luxury. A bathroom filled with natural light can be a luxury. A well-designed dressing room can be a luxury.
A palace is not only a décor. It is a place where everything contributes to giving the guest the feeling of being exactly where they are meant to be.
How do you design a suite that is sufficiently “universal” for everyone to appropriate it, while still giving it enough character to make guests want to stay?
Pierre-Yves Rochon : This is the very challenge of international hospitality. You cannot design a suite by trying to satisfy every culture, every guest, every personal taste. If you take one hundred guests, you will have one hundred different expectations. It is impossible.
So you must work with sincerity, with a vision, with a clear set of codes. Axes, proportions and symmetry are essential. A table placed slightly off-centre in a space where it should not be can create an imbalance that the guest will feel, even if they cannot always explain why.
It is a bit like cooking. A great chef knows when to add a gram of salt. It is exactly the same in interior design. The choice of taupe, beige, blue or sea green is never incidental. Here, we chose soft tones, in harmony with the sea, the light, the warmth and the Mediterranean environment. When you arrive by the sea, you do not necessarily want to stay in a red or very dark room.
The goal is not neutrality, but the creation of an environment that as many people as possible can enter, while still discovering something that exists nowhere else.
You often speak about a “just décor”. What does this concept mean?
Pierre-Yves Rochon : It is an expression Alain Ducasse once used to describe his cuisine, and one I very much like. A “just décor” is one that does not try to prove anything. It accompanies the place, the guest and its function. It does not impose itself unnecessarily.
With Stéphanie Rainaut, we did not set out to appeal to a specific clientele. We tried to do our best, with our sensitivity, our experience, and above all with the spirit of the hotel. It is very different from Hôtel de Paris Monte-Carlo, which has its own personality. This diversity is also what makes Monte-Carlo Société des Bains de Mer so rich.
A “just décor” must reveal the identity of a place, not erase it.
What role does execution quality play in a project like this?
Pierre-Yves Rochon : It is essential. One can write the most beautiful score in the world; if it is poorly performed, it is no longer the same music. The same applies to a hotel project. Drawing, intention and vision are not enough. Execution must follow.
At Hôtel Hermitage Monte-Carlo, I feel the music has been well performed. This is crucial, because it is what will remain. Once we are gone, it is the guests who will live in these suites. They are the ones who will judge whether the balance is right, whether the space works, whether the comfort is there.
This is not about renovating for the sake of renovating. It is about rethinking for the guests. Together with Stéphanie Rainaut, we worked to ensure they would experience the best possible comfort.
What was your first impression upon discovering the completed suites?
Pierre-Yves Rochon : I believe the result corresponds to what we set out to achieve. As perfectionists, we always want more. But here, there is space, quality, coherence, and a genuine attention to comfort and execution.
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