Cherry Blossom

India’s sliver of Francophonie, the region where French is still the official language, still occupies a grid of tree-lined boulevards just south of Chennai along the Coromandel coast. Since 2006 the town has officially been known as Pondicherry, where an elegant new boutique hotel opened in August. Sylvain Segiyane Paguiry opened La Villa, an intimate six bedroom hotel that was carved out of a 19th-century home. Sharing the principals of transparency, honesty and simplicity, Segiyane and his architects transformed the home into an intimate hotel that combines a respect for the buildings heritage with a clear-eyed approach to contemporary design.

The property boasts a modern swimming pool on the roof alongside local elements like old teakwood doors sourced from the city’s antique markets. Other features include a small boutique designed by the architects selling items found around town, as well as a 12-table garden restaurant which serves simple cuisine inspired by ingredients produced nearby. Segiyane hopes to see La Villa along with his other property, La Villa Shanti, expand to other cities and towns across India, taking with them their ethos of strong local identity and a pared-down vision of luxury disconnected from the marble and gilt that dominate the country’s five-star properties. www.lavillapondicherry.com