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Re-enchanting Villa Medici
CALL FOR PROJECTS
Refurbishment of two spaces
The Re-enchanting Villa Medici refurbishment program continues!
Villa Medici is launching a call for projects from May 7 to August 24, 2026, for the refurbishment of two spaces located on Villa’s estate: Studio 5bis and Studiolo 26.
As part of Re-enchanting Villa Medici, this new call for projects invites participants to rethink two spaces dedicated to hosting artists and other guests connected to Villa Medici’s cultural program, for short- or medium-term stays.
This call is led by Villa Medici and made possible through renewed patronage from the Bettencourt Schueller Foundation, Grand Patron of the project, and in partnership with the Manufactures nationales – Sèvres & Mobilier National.
Nestled on the edge of the historic gardens, Studio 5bis is a 31m² space built in the second half of the 19th century as an annex, now used as an apartment for former fellows, residents, and visiting guests. It includes a 10m² open terrace offering panoramic views over Rome and the adjacent park of Villa Borghese. It will continue to serve as a hosting space for Villa Medici’s various guests. Studiolo 26 is a 38m² space located within the historic building of Villa Medici. It may be expanded by incorporating adjoining spaces of 13m². Studiolo 26 will serve hybrid functions, both as a study and as an occasional guest room for artists, residents, former fellows and other guests connected to the cultural program.
The call for projects aims to select two refurbishment proposals: one for Studio 5bis and one for Studiolo 26.
It is open to French and foreign architects, interior architects and designers, with no age or nationality restrictions.
Candidates must propose projects that necessarily involve the significant contribution of craft professionals.
SELECTION CONDITIONS
Before submitting a project
- The call for projects is open to French and foreign architects, interior architects and designers, with no age or nationality restrictions. One or more craft professionals must be associated with the application.
- A project leader must be designated for each application. He or she will be the contact person for the French Academy in Rome – Villa Medici, and will be responsible for uploading the application documents onto the platform.
- Applications must be submitted exclusively electronically via the online platform between Thursaday, May 7, 2026 at 12pm (CET, Paris time) and Monday, August 24, 2026 at 12pm (CET, Paris time). Be sure to finalize and submit your application before this time.
- The files making up the application must begin with the name of the candidate, office or association (e.g. for Mr. Dupont: “dupont_portfolio.pdf”,“dupont_projet.pdf”, etc.). Documents must be submitted in PDF format, and headings must not contain any accents or special signs (e.g. £. *, #, (),^…).
- The total size of the electronic application file must not exceed 20 MB.
- Be sure to use browsers like Google Chrome.
- To definitively validate your application, please fill in all the required fields, read the rules of the call and click on “Submit application”. Confirmation of submission will be sent by e-mail. If it does not arrive at the address indicated, please check your spam folder, as the acknowledgement of receipt received by e-mail is deemed authentic.
The Jury
Chaired by Sam Stourdzé, Director of the French Academy in Rome – Villa Medici, the selection jury is composed of partners from the Re-enchanting project, as well as qualified and independent figures from the French and European cultural scenes, particularly specialized in the fields of architecture, interior design, and design.
APPLICATION
The file, written in French or English, must include the following elements:
- A portfolio, including: a detailed curriculum vitae of the project leader/team members/craft professionals, team composition and mention of craft professionals, a description with visuals of previous projects of similar scope carried out by the project leader/team members/craft professionals;
- A presentation of the refurbishment project for the chosen space, including: a cover page summarizing the application, a second page detailing the candidate team, a third page with visuals reflecting the project leader/team members/craft professionals’ past achievements and a fourth page outlining the main lines of the project;
- A descriptive document of the refurbishment project for the chosen space, including: sketches and/or diagrams, a floor plan (1:50 scale), two significant cross-sections (1:50 scale), and at least two 3D visuals; details of the layout, furniture, and materials envisaged; and a detailed budget including the applicable VAT.
- A scanned copy of the proof of identity for the project leader/team members/craft professionals.
- A scanned copy of the proof of professional activity for the project leader and team members.
All documents must be uploaded in PDF format to the platform.
For any questions regarding the call for projects, please contact us to the following email address; we will do our best to assist you: [email protected]
PROVISIONAL SCHEDULE
- May 7, 2026, at 12:00 PM (CET,Paris time): Opening of the application platform;
- August 24, 2026, at 12:00 PM (CET, Paris time): Closing of the application platform;
- September 2026: Examination by the jury of the applications and selection of the candidate teams for the stay in Rome;
- October 12 – 15, 2026: Stay at Villa Medici of the shortlisted teams;
- November 16, 2026: Submission of deliverables refined following the stay in Rome by the shortlisted teams;
- December 2026: Examination of applications and interviews by the jury of the shortlisted teams in Paris;
- Early 2027: Announcement of the winning teams.
DOCUMENTS TO DOWNLOAD
SPACES TO BE REFURBISHED
Studio 5bis © Daniele Molajoli
Studio 5bis © Daniele Molajoli
Studio 5bis © Daniele Molajoli
Studio 5bis © Daniele Molajoli
Studio 5bis © Daniele Molajoli
Studiolo 26 © Daniele Molajoli
Studiolo 26 © Daniele Molajoli
Studiolo 26 © Daniele Molajoli
Studio 5bis © Daniele Molajoli
Studiolo 26 © Daniele Molajoli
Studiolo 26 © Daniele Molajoli
Re-enchanting Villa Medici
Re-enchanting Villa Medici is the most ambitious refurbishment project in the recent history of Villa Medici since the work carried out by Balthus, painter and director of the institution from 1961 to 1977. After six historic salons refurbished by Kim Jones and Silvia Venturini Fendi (2022), six historic rooms by India Mahdavi (2023), six guest rooms by teams of architects, designers and crafts professionals (2025) selected through a competition, two citrus gardens by landscape architects and artists (2025), followed by the launch of two calls for projects focusing on interior design and the creation of a furniture line for the fellows’ pavilions, this new phase takes Villa Medici’s commitment to the arts and crafts and design to the highest level.
Patrons and partners
The Bettencourt Schueller Foundation has been a patron of Villa Medici since the beginning of the project (2022), and today renews its commitment as Grand Patron for a further four years (2029). The Foundation’s support enables Villa Medici to carry this project to an unprecedented level. Its commitment makes it possible to fulfill the ambition of a Villa broadly open to the diversity of arts and excellence in craftsmanship—a place of inspiration for creators and a site of dialogue across eras.
Manufactures nationales – Sèvres & Mobilier national, also associated with the project from its launch and indispensable players in the ecosystem of the decorative arts, arts and crafts, and design in France, will contribute their expertise to the next stages of the re-enchantment of Villa Medici.
The Bettencourt Schueller Foundation
“Giving wings to talent”
Both a family foundation and a public-interest foundation since its creation in 1987, the Bettencourt Schueller Foundation seeks to “give wings to talent” in order to contribute to the success and influence of France.
To this end, it identifies, selects, supports, accompanies, and promotes men and women who are imagining today the world of tomorrow, across three fields that contribute concretely to the common good: life sciences, the arts, and solidarity.
Guided by a spirit of philanthropy, the Foundation acts through prizes, grants, tailored support, recognition-oriented communication, and co-constructed initiatives.
Since its creation, the Foundation has honored 676 laureates and supported nearly 1,400 projects led by talented individuals, teams, associations, and organizations.
Committed for over 25 years to the crafts sector, it was among the first to highlight the contemporary dimension of these métiers, notably through the Liliane Bettencourt Prize for the Intelligence of the Hand®. The Foundation regards these skills of excellence as an asset for international visibility that must be promoted abroad. To this end, it has contributed to the recognition of craftsmanship as an artistic practice eligible for international residencies.
Through its commitments, the Foundation aims to foster interdisciplinarity between craftsmanship, the life sciences, and sustainability, and to open the way for innovative, responsible, and meaningful creations for the future.
Villa Medici’s commitment to the prestige of arts and crafts will also be reinforced by developing the residency program devoted to this discipline, thanks to the support of the Bettencourt Schueller Foundation. Four residents will be welcomed each year in the context of this program to conduct a project or create a work related to the spaces and spirit of the place. The call for applications for these residencies is currently open until December 1, 2025.
Manufactures nationales - Sèvres & Mobilier national
Born of the merger between Mobilier National and Cité de la Céramique – Sèvres & Limoges, the Manufactures nationales were created on 1 January 2025 to promote the excellence of French craft skills and showcase the richness of this tangible and intangible heritage, with more than 53 artistic crafts practiced within its factories and workshops. Unique in the world, this new public body devoted to the decorative arts, arts and crafts, and design combines heritage and creativity to play a central role in implementing the national strategy for the crafts sector.
Grand Patron of the Re-enchanting Villa Medici project
In partnership with
Re-enchanting Villa Medici
How can we change the way we look at Villa Medici and make it a living showcase for contemporary expertise while retaining the Renaissance spirit? This is the ambition of the vast redevelopment project named 'Re-enchanting Villa Medici', launched in 2022 to promote contemporary design and craftsmanship that interact harmoniously with the historical heritage.
