Built in the 1920s, Villa Helios once welcomed numerous patients suffering from respiratory ailments, at a time when the city of Grasse was renowned for the benefits of its climate.
Originally intended for male patients, the villa rose over 7 levels and comprised 45 rooms, surrounded by a vast park. Sadly, after standing unoccupied for nearly twenty years, the former rest home gradually became a place of expression for street artists, lending it an entirely different—and unexpected—charm.
Today, that chapter belongs to the past. Overlooking the world capital of perfume, the building is set to be given a new lease of life through a major restoration project. It will be transformed into high-end residential housing, comprising 11 luxury apartments spread over 1,400 m², with the addition of 36 parking spaces.
SOLE AGENT : "COUP DE COEUR" AND PANORAMIC VIEW
Several essential steps were required to bring this ambitious project to fruition. First, the local urban development plan had to be amended in order to change the building’s designated use. According to Nathalie Campana, Deputy Director General of Urban Planning, the property was originally required to remain a hotel. It was therefore officially reclassified for residential use. Specific access for people with reduced mobility was also mandated, along with compliance with current construction and safety standards.
Next came the appointment of key partners to carry out the transformation.
The architectural firm Atelier Aïno and the developer Saint-Roch Habitat, responsible for rehabilitating the building, will undertake approximately two years of work to complete this remarkable conversion. Supported by local authorities, their mission is clear: “to give a second life to our heritage.” The goal, as Pierre Blanchard, President of Saint-Roch Habitat, explains, is to pass on rather than replace.
Many of the villa’s defining elements will be preserved and restored, including the glass roof, the façade, the bow windows, the marble staircase, and the elevator shaft.
Each of the 11 luxury apartments will feature either a spacious terrace, a refined balcony, or a private garden, and all will be offered for sale.
A sumptuous wellness area will further enhance the exceptional amenities of this historic residence.
A truly remarkable place, Villa Hélios boasts unique potential. Through its thoughtful transformation, it stands as a powerful promise for the future of the city of Grasse.
Historic villa on the French Riviera