Architecture de Collection opens the doors to the Villa Benkemoun in Arles

Thank you to Brigitte Benkemoun for welcoming us to this exceptional site, preserved with such care and spirit.

After a tour of this “house-work of art”, guests enjoyed a convivial aperitif on the terrace, prepared by chef Yvan Cadiou – based in Graveson and Marseille.

Aurélien Vernant, director of Architecture de Collection, and Noël Castinel, head of the Marseille branch, took the floor to present the challenges facing the agency’s development in the South of France.

Among the partners and friends of the agency who responded to our invitation were architect and designer India Mahdavi, teams from the Fondation Luma, Katia Imbernon and Alexandre Sap, Maison Mirbel, Valérie Palacios, Les Toquées de la Com, Stone Investment, and journalists from Cote Magazine and Magazine Fred.

Built in the early 1970s by architect Émile Sala, this villa, located just a few minutes from the center of Arles, is a masterpiece.

Designed for Simone and Pierre Benkemoun after their return from Algeria, this family project features remarkable architecture, marked by the affirmation of a sculptural modernism with organic accents, nourished by Mediterranean dreams and tinged with Provencal regionalism.

This “white” house, whose facade oscillates between curves and sharp breaks, rises like a work of art from the center of a one-hectare garden. Bordered by a vast terrace and topped by a roof terrace, it blends perfectly with its surroundings and the Mediterranean climate. Inside, the space develops as a journey of experiences, fostering the “inside-outside” continuum that the commissioners wanted.

Guided by a spirit of synthesis of the arts, architect Émile Sala called on decorator Robert Heams for the interior layout and choice of colors; artist and designer Max Sauze for the sculptural, sheet-metal fireplace; and ceramist Guy Bareff to design the terracotta surround.

The collaborative aspect of this project and the close relationship between the architect and his partners, craftsmen, decorators and designers, contribute to the exceptional character of the site, positioning the Villa Benkemoun as a total work of art.

© Architecture de Collection