In January 2025, Themis International School moved into its new premises at Les Beauhinias, the former administrator’s house in the region. With Bruno Gourel de St Pern, Operations & Project Manager at Novaterra, we take a closer look at the transformation that turned this space into a functional and welcoming school for its students.
While awaiting its relocation in a few years next to Greencoast, in Mon Rocher, Themis International School has just experienced the start of its very first school year at Les Beauhinias. It was an unusual start for its students: instead of a typical school building, they settled into a renovated historic home! Though it is uncommon for a school to be surrounded by a lush park and to have classrooms within a house, the interior now fully resembles a real school. Thanks to the dedicated efforts of Novaterra’s teams and their construction partners, the building has been transformed into a fully-fledged school.
Yet, this house has had many occupants over the years—it has hosted small businesses, a spa, yoga classes, and even a photography studio. “It was really an old-fashioned house,” recalls Bruno Gourel de St Pern. “We had to tear down walls to enlarge rooms, reinforce beams, redo the electricity and plumbing, refurbish the floors… In short, reshape the spaces to meet the school’s needs.” Today, Themis is fully equipped for an enriching academic experience: classrooms, a director’s office, an infirmary, a generator in case of power cuts, and even a basketball court in the garden, much to the delight of the students!
Bruno, who oversaw the entire project, reflects on the experience: “This renovation took us six months of work. Seven members of the Novaterra team were involved, along with all our gardeners to breathe new life into the garden. We also worked with contractors for the major structural work.” It’s a project the team can take great pride in, given their hard work and dedication. “Personally, I really love the space, with its garden and views of the mountains. I would have loved to study in a school like this!” he shares.
Once Themis moves to its future location near Greencoast, who knows what the next chapter will be for this house? “Its walls are made of reinforced concrete—they’re solid. This house still has many great years ahead, if new projects come its way!” concludes Bruno.
