Capturing the properties of Yves Saint Laurent and Pierre Bergé

A stunning new e-book by Jacques Grange takes readers on a dizzy tour of the properties of Yves Saint Laurent and Pierre Bergé. Photographer Marianne Haas reveals how she got here to snap the dazzling abodes..

Yves Saint Laurent and Pierre Bergé have been world-builders of an unparalleled calibre; true taste-makers who approached every inside venture with creativeness and rigour, crafting grand areas infused with character and provenance. Connoisseurs in each sense of the phrase with a deep information and appreciation for artwork and inside design, the 2 constructed and lived amongst a spectacular and carefully-considered assortment. In shut collaboration with world-class designer Jacques Grange, they crafted non-public areas filled with marvel and enchantment.

In a wonderful new shiny quantity by Grange, readers are invited to find the couple’s savoir-faire by means of essentially the most beautiful pictures of the interiors and gardens of Yves’s Château Gabriel, the dacha in Deauville; the Villa Majorelle in Marrakech; the condo on Rue de Babylone; and his maison de couture on Avenue Marceau. With pictures by Marianne Haas, and texts and particular contributions from Jacques Grange, Catherine Deneuve, Betty Catroux, Laurence Benaïm, Louis Benech and different members of Yves’s tribe, the artistic couple’s legacy lives on.

Marianne Haas was born in Sursee, Switzerland, and relies between Paris and Zurich. She specialises in portraits of artists and designers, and interiors and gardens. Her work has appeared in Elle Décor, Elle Ornament, Elle, Vogue, Paris Match, Madame Figaro and Architectural Digest. Right here she introduces the e-book…

1982

I had hardly been again in Paris after 5 years within the States when the phone rang. It was Jacques Grange, asking me to fulfill with Pierre Bergé, who wanted somebody to {photograph} the items of their assortment for insurance coverage functions. Not fairly the dream job, however as I used to be fully broke and Jacques insisted, I met Pierre.

He confirmed me the condo on Rue de Babylone, with its unbelievable assortment. It appeared extra like a museum than a residence. I identified that I didn’t have the suitable cameras. “No drawback,” he replied. “Purchase what you want.”

Along with photographing the small gadgets, we put in a studio on the highest flooring, with an elevator. My assistant, Jacques Pepion, and I spent three months photographing all of it.

At some point I used to be carrying an alabaster cup full of necklaces, and it instantly broke aside into 4 items. I went right down to the condo, the place I met Bernard, the valet, who, with malicious pleasure, referred to as out, “Monsieur Saint Laurent, she broke one thing!”. In a flash, Yves arrived, assessed the injury and found that the cup had beforehand been damaged and glued.

I loved going to work there on daily basis. I discovered the right way to {photograph} bronze sculptures, work, crystals and extra, which helped me lots in a while once I photographed interiors for well-known designers.

One morning I arrived on the condo as common, when Bernard instructed me with a mischievous smile that he had a message from Monsieur Saint Laurent for me. It was a scolding. The day earlier than, we had photographed a sculpture by Constantin Brancusi that was perched excessive above the hearth on a base, reachable solely with a ladder. It was comprised of three items that match collectively, which we disassembled and re-assembled within the studio to {photograph}, earlier than placing the sculpture again as an alternative. What made Monsieur Saint Laurent so offended was that we had re-assembled the items within the mistaken formation, however the sculpture had appeared okay to us. It was all the time tough to maneuver an object, even a centimetre: he noticed any error instantly, and it drove him loopy. Ultimately we purchased a Polaroid SX-70 for scouting, which saved us from additional blame.

At some point Pierre got here residence for lunch and referred to as Bernard to inform him that he had some nice information: he had simply purchased a grave for him. Bernard protested and mentioned he already had one, and that he needed to be buried in his household’s plot within the countryside. “However,” Pierre protested, “I purchased this tomb for you and you’ll go there.” I don’t know the top of the story.

SOME YEARS LATER…

“As a toddler I dreamed of getting a cabin,” mentioned Pierre Bergé. “After we got here again from a visit to the USSR, the place we visited Moscow and Leningrad, we remained immersed within the Russian spirit. Throughout the journey we had purchased a Nineteenth-century e-book on Russian picket structure, which impressed the thought of constructing a luxurious cabin, a dacha, and with just a little assist from our buddy Jacques, this dream got here true.”

To {photograph} the backyard, Pierre gave us the keys to the gate with the permission to return and go as we happy. We made a number of journeys, relying on the blooms and the climate. Typically Pierre would name me to say sure vegetation have been in bloom and that I needed to come. To create this backyard, Pierre and Yves have been vastly impressed by English landscapers and Impressionist work. Yves additionally beloved to populate the backyard with statues, as did Cocteau, mysteriously.

To {photograph} the pond, we arrange the digicam a day early, going through the solar. It was nonetheless darkish once we arrived. We waited for the dawn, “and right here comes the solar… Solar, solar, solar, right here it comes”. It was a rush to take the photograph within the good glow earlier than the solar appeared and ruined the sunshine. Photographing the Château Gabriel was like engaged on a Luchino Visconti movie set. At any given second Helmut Berger, Alain Delon or Claudia Cardinale may seem on the door. There have been sufficient bedrooms for these prestigious visitors, and all of the bedrooms have been named after the characters in Marcel Proust’s novel, In Search of Misplaced Time. Baron de Charlus, Charles Swann, Prince de Guermantes, Basin, Oriane de Guermantes. The rooms nonetheless await visitors.

PART III

Instantly off to Marrakech. After our flight landed, we collected our cumbersome baggage and have been immediately stopped by a customs officer, who requested for our permission paperwork for the gear. There was an issue with the types, and our supplies have been confiscated.

After a number of days we had the suitable types. We went to the customs workplace on the airport, however it was closed. It had been per week, and we nonetheless hadn’t gotten the gear again. On high of all of it, they’d closed the roads as a result of King Hassan II was supposed to go away on a visit. Lastly, after greater than per week, we have been in a position to get well our gear – however with a deposit examine of 20,000 francs (about $3,000). Amid all of this, we have been residing with Jacques Grange and Pierre Passebon on the Villa Dar es Saada, the “home of happiness”. It was as soon as the residence of Yves and Pierre earlier than they acquired the Majorelle Backyard, with its workshop and villa. The Majorelle property, deserted for the reason that loss of life of painter Jacques Majorelle, required main restoration. As soon as restored, it was renamed Villa Oasis.

When Yves found Marrakech in 1966, it was love at first sight. On the similar time, a sure architect named Invoice Willis arrived in Marrakech, accompanied by Paul and Talitha Getty, by no means to go away once more. He was eccentric and really stylish, and had the look of a pop star. His visible aesthetic, his creativity and his inventiveness made him one of many best fashionable Moroccan architects of his time.

Yves and Invoice grew to become pals. They shared the identical passions, and naturally Pierre and Yves requested him and Jacques to revive the Villa Oasis. It was the Marrakech years.

The Palmeraie was nonetheless wild, there was no golf or swimming swimming pools, and nearly nobody had a phone. You wanted messengers to speak. To ask a buddy for dinner you despatched a messenger with a observe, and they’d come again with the reply. This way of life allowed an escape from on a regular basis life, from the hustle, and a devotion to artistic actions and leisure. 5 years later the villa was restored, respecting the Majorelle spirit, in an Indo-Moorish re-creation. It was magnificent.

PART IV

We took possession to {photograph} the property. Each morning we went to the backyard by means of the Bab Doukkala Gate in 20 minutes. Fatima ready a picnic for us, which we savoured on the kiosk in the midst of the water lily pond. Who may dream of a greater job?

PART V

Again in Paris, we went to see Yves to point out him the images. I had mounted the Ektas in a black body. He favored it very a lot. We drank champagne late into the night time, and Pierre drew playing cards for everybody. All’s properly that ends properly.

From France Right this moment Journal