Villa La Vigie sits splendidly above the Bay of Monaco, looking out to the azure waters of the Mediterranean Sea beyond. Built in 1902 for English politician Sir William Ingram, its most famous resident was Karl Lagerfeld, who lived there during the summer months from 1986 to 1997. It was at La Vigie that Lagerfeld housed his famous collection of Memphis Group designs, which makes it a fitting location for the inauguration of Giorgio Pace and Nicolas Bellavance-Lecompte's NOMAD design fair . The villa had not been open to the public for the past 100 years, so showcasing a group of the most prestigious and younger galleries from around the world made for a refreshing take on the traditional design fair setup.

While walking through the villa and discovering each gallery in its own personal space, I had the feeling of being in a private home. The sunlight streaming in through the windows was a welcome change to the harsh spotlights used at most fairs, and the natural light enhanced the many beautiful works on show. Without a doubt the intimate ambience of NOMAD allowed collectors to imagine more easily a piece within their own home. Many designers of the exhibited pieces were present to talk about their inspiration and design process, which gave the fair an added dimension.

As the name suggests, NOMAD is a fair that will travel. Pace spoke about the possibility of future projects in other spectacular architectural locations in Palm Springs, Marrakech, and Beirut. Rest assured, La Vigie will not be abandoned. NOMAD has booked the villa for the next two years, and I highly recommend you put it in your diary for 2018.

VILLA LA VIGIE

The venue for the first NOMAD design fair.

VILLA LA VIGIE

The crowd arriving at the fair.

NILUFAR, MILAN

Nina Yashar, founder of Nilufar, took inspiration from the elegance and majesty of Villa La Vigie's salons. Her minimal installation of blue-on-blue tones created a calming environment that related directly to the landscape outside. Also featured: a cherry-bomb ceiling light by Lindsey Adelman, Atollo tables by Massimiliano Locatelli, a sofa and two armchairs by Ico Parisi (circa 1951), a bookshelf by Martino Gamper and Chromosome-P, a carpet by Caturegli Formica.

GALERIE BSL, PARIS

Coral-like porcelain stools in an array of soft colors by Djim Berger placed on one of the balconies of La Vigil were part of Galerie BSL's installation.

Peter Copping and Nina Yashar of Nilufar discuss design on the terrace of La Vigie. In the frame is a sculpture by Arik Levy, from the Louise Alexander Gallery in Porto Cervo.

SEEDS, LONDON

Nathalie Assi from Seeds Gallery London chose the stairwell of La Vigie for the installation of Cumuliform, a neon light chandelier by Jochen Holz. Made using free-blown borosilicate tubing, it radiates a soft pink glow of varying intensities. It was at the same time both poetic and striking.

GALLERY FUMI, LONDON

Many of the works shown by Fumi Gallery at NOMAD had their roots in classical furniture. Thomas Markunpoika's Engineering Temporality Low Cabinet is one such piece. Metal rings soldered together overlay a Baroque cabinet that is later burned away; its classical proportions remain apparent. Sam Orlando Miller's Untitled Mirror 7 reinforces a historically inspired decor.

CARWAN GALLERY, BEIRUT

The beautifully curated space of Carwan Gallery included works by Karen Chekerdjian, Mary-Lynn Massoud and Rasha Nawam, Garnier and Linker, and Paul Matter and Kallol Datta.

CARWAN GALLERY, BEIRUT

Another view of Carwan Gallery's space. Works by the Norwegian designer are displayed around a marble fireplace. The ceramic piece is by Mary-Lynn Massoud and Rasha Nawam. The mixed-marble stool based on classical columns is by Oeuffice, a collaboration between Jakub Zak and Nicolas Bellavance-Lecompte, the founder of NOMAD.

GIUSTINI/STAGETTI GALLERIA, ROME

The centerpiece of Giustini and Stagetti's room were works by the Campana Brothers. Featured were parts of the "Brazilian Baroque Collection," which were inspired by Roman Baroque and interpreted through the use of gold and white faux fur. To maximize the effect, the room was carpeted with white Mongolian lamb.

MANIERA, BRUSSELS

Amaryllis Jacobs and Kwinten Lavigne founded Maniera in 2014. Before they opened their gallery in 2016, their first exhibitions took place in domestic settings in Brussels, so it felt appropriate for them to revisit this concept with NOMAD. The small room they chose at La Vigie, once a bedroom, was dominated by "World Mask," an exceptional rug by Christoph Hefti. Hefti was once a creative assistant to Dries Van Noten, which is apparent from the mix of texture and color he applied. The installation was completed with works from Mumbai Studio, Studio Anne Holtrop, and Jonathan Muecke.

MASSIMO DE CARLO, MILAN, LONDON, HONG KONG

Massimo de Carlo presented works by Gelitin, a Viennese collective of four men founded in 1978. Diverse objects are recombined to create brand-new furniture sculptures. The display was complemented by L.A.-based artist Jennifer Guidi.

ETAGE PROJECTS, COPENHAGEN

Guillermo Sintomc's glass-and-steel table and chair set was the focal point of Stage Project's space. Additional works from Sabine Marcelis and Fredrik Paulsen created an impactful room.

DAVID GILL GALLERY, LONDON

An overview of the David Gill Gallery space, exhibiting work by Zaha Hadid, Matteo Bonetti, and Michele Oka Doner.

ALAMAKI, TOKYO

Alamaki presented KO-TONE , a limited edition playing device created by Invisible Designs Lab. A collaboration between a visual artist, composer, and technician, the instrument mixes art, design, and music. Bach's "Jesus, Joy of Man's Desiring" is played by the ball rolling down the spiral structure.

HERITAGE GALLERY, MOSCOW

Heritage gallery presented a collection of original furniture and interior design items in Soviet Art Deco Style. Their rigorous design made them stand apart from other pieces at the fair, yet they would mix perfectly in the contemporary home.

NOMAD LOUNGE

Ernest and Ange, the two sons of gallery owner Armel Soyer, discover a work by Rick Owens in the NOMAD Lounge. The space, decorated by Owens, was the venue for several additional events held during the fair, including a conversation between Lord Norman Foster and Deyan Sudjic.