When Valéry Grego, the visionary behind Perseus Properties, and the talented team at Festen Architecture Venkay with an idea for the Hotel du Couvent – a 17th-century convent in the heart of Old Nice that was to be transformed into a luxury hotel – they had one central desire: they wanted something unexpected, something that captured the joy and vibrancy of this historic gem.
This project had a unique design from the start: instead of a traditional hotel film, the entire website would be brought to life through a series of films, linking the stories of the behind-the-scenes team with the experiences guests have exploring the site.
Venkay had different approaches in mind: some films would be shot in one unbroken sequence to capture the dynamic energy of the kitchen or the smooth work of the housekeeping team. Others would take a more playful approach, such as a Snorri-cam attached to a fennel bulb as it travels from the farm to the monastery’s bustling market.
Ultimately, this collaboration was a true adventure in storytelling, merging past and present in a way that is as vibrant and full of character as the Hotel du Couvent itself.
Kristell Chenut – Director @Venkay, said: “Valéry invited us on a guided tour of the monastery months before the restoration was completed so we could soak up the energy of the place, learn its rich history and get to know the neighborhood. This early immersion sparked a flood of ideas and led Vincent and I away from traditional hotel storytelling and towards something much more exciting – little vignettes giving insights into life within the monastery walls.
Of course, every project has its challenges and this one had budget constraints and some casting hurdles, but these constraints only fueled our creative direction. With shooting dates set, we had to adapt quickly. The original script and casting plans were adjusted to redirect our idea of capturing real people on the fly and making the hotel staff and locals the stars of our films.
By working directly with a client like Valéry, who has a clear vision and makes decisions quickly, we were able to maintain momentum and stay on schedule – which was crucial for us to achieve our vision on this project.”
