Axelle de Buffévent, a Paris-based creative, has restored an 18th-century former clergy house in Burgundy, originally built in 1748 and revamped in 1841, into a personal country retreat. The property, discovered online in 2018, was previously owned by an art-world photographer and filled with works by artists like Pierre Alechinsky, Olivier Debré, Robert Combas, and Cy Twombly. De Buffévent worked with local artisans and her friend, architect Gaël Lunven, to restore the house, blending 18th-century antiques from her father with contemporary design pieces by Bethan Laura Wood, Noé Duchaufour-Lawrance, and Mathieu Mercier, as well as works by digital artist Miguel Chevalier and others.
This article matters because it profiles a prominent figure in the art and design world—Axelle de Buffévent—whose personal project reflects broader trends in art-world patronage, heritage restoration, and the pursuit of creative authenticity. It highlights how collectors and creatives are investing in historic properties as spaces for artistic production and restoration, while also showcasing the integration of contemporary art and design with historical architecture. The piece underscores the cultural significance of lesser-known regions like northern Burgundy as emerging hubs for art and slow living.