Description
An emblematic modern pied-à-terre in an enchanting setting
This flat with views over the Bay of Bandol is located in the residence ‘Les Katikias’ , a remarkable 20th-century listed architecture built by architect Jean Dubuisson between 1965 and 1977.
With a total surface area of 68 sqm, it offers two independent areas.
On the 1st floor, a 39 sqm apartment includes a living room with a lounge and a custom-fitted kitchen with a central island serving as a dining area, a sleeping area with a system of adjustable screens and a shower room.
The space opens out onto a superb 20 sqm terrace offering panoramic views of the Mediterranean Sea and the horizon, framed by the architectural features.
Accessed by a private outside staircase, the ground floor, formerly a garage, has been converted into a 29 m² extra bedroom with shower and toilet. Light floods in through a French window and a small window that was enlarged during the refurbishment works.
The apartment has privileged access to the residence’s swimming pool, located on the same level.
Recently refurbished to a very high standard, the complex boasts top-quality amenities including air conditioning, ceiling fans and appropriate home automation.
The residence is located in the charming seaside resort of Bandol, ¾ of an hour from Marseille and 20 minutes from Toulon by car. A sought-after holiday destination, Bandol offers a high-quality lifestyle thanks to its port, beaches, numerous sports facilities (golf, water sports) and Casino. This seaside resort is alive and kicking all year round.
The region is best known for its well-preserved coastline and numerous beaches, but it also boasts a wealth of modern and contemporary architecture. Notable among these is the iconic Villa Noailles, built by Mallet-Stevens in Hyères between 1925 and 1927 and since transformed into an exhibition space and artists’ residence.
Les Katikias
Les Katikias (1965-1977) is the result of a collaboration between Jean Dubuisson and the property company SETIMEG. It is one of the finest successes of the Trentes Glorieuses in terms of collective holiday housing. The architect delivered a residence integrated into its natural environment and largely open to the sea. The project includes two distinct buildings, a hotel complex and a private residence, divided into different 3-storey units arranged in tiers along the slope.
The residence is built from a thick reinforced concrete structure clad with prefabricated concrete façade elements. The dense volume, pierced by deep loggias, allows each home to retain its independence and privacy while offering a framed view over the bay of Bandol. The location of the residence, at the top of a hill, and the fact that it faces due south, means that the homes benefit from optimum sunlight and shaded areas thanks to the patios. The external envelope forms a long curve, the orthogonal partition of which echoes the serial motifs dear to Jean Dubuisson.
The long, low building forms a long blue and white ribbon that echoes the designs Le Corbusier drew up for the Algiers coastline in 1930 (Projet Obus). The blue horizontal line curves, rises and seems to float above the bay of Bandol.
Jean Dubuisson
Jean Dubuisson (1914-2011), a prolific builder of large housing estates in the 1950s and 1960s, was one of the leading architects of the Trente Glorieuses period. His style was widely recognised, both in Paris and in the suburbs. He designed numerous property programs for low-income housing associations, such as the “La Caravelle” housing block in Villeneuve-la-Garenne (1959-1968), as well as luxury projects such as the flats for the headquarters of the Allied Forces in Europe, the “Shape village” in Saint-Germain-en-Laye (1951). He has also designed emblematic buildings in Paris, such as the two apartment blocks in the Maine-Montparnasse development (1966) and the Musée des Arts et Traditions populaires (1969).
