Description
An Organic Home in the Heart of the Mediterranean Landscape
Perched on a rocky promontory overlooking an unspoiled Mediterranean panorama, this bubble house, self-built in 1975 by artist Alban Blin, offers a living space designed in harmony with nature.
It is part of the architectural inquiry led by a small group of avant-garde architects in the 1960s and 1970s, including habitatologist Antti Lovag, the creator of the Bernard house in Théoule-sur-Mer and the Gaudet house in Tourrette-sur-Loup. His work, liberated from the teachings of Modernism, inspired this creation.
Set within a 3-hectare terraced plot planted with olive trees and Mediterranean vegetation, the house spans a living area of 414 m² (approximately 500 m² total).
Laid out on a single level, it features organic spaces arranged across various volumes surrounding a central patio. The entrance leads westward to the reception areas, including a double-height living room beneath a dome punctuated by skylight portholes, a kitchen with a central island and bread oven, and a dining room opening onto the terrace.
A spectacular hallway separates the living spaces from the sleeping quarters. It leads to a suite comprising a lounge with a fireplace, a bedroom, and an en-suite bathroom, as well as three additional bedrooms, two bathrooms, and one shower room.
A studio with independent access completes the living spaces.
The villa boasts 520 m² of outdoor terraces arranged around a circular mosaic-tiled pool approximately 20 meters in diameter. These terraces offer a sunny relaxation area with panoramic views of the rocky landscape and mountains.
The property also includes a 4-room annex that can be converted to accommodate a garage, guesthouse, or additional guest rooms.
The property enjoys an exceptional location on the heights of La Gaude, just 5 minutes from the center, shops, and amenities. It is close to Vence, Saint-Paul-de-Vence, and Cagnes-sur-Mer, and less than 30 minutes from Nice Airport.
Away from urbanized areas, it offers absolute tranquility in the heart of nature and a preserved living environment. Numerous walks and hikes are nearby, such as the Baou de Saint Jeannet.
A cocoon of concrete
This type of habitat is rooted in a search for harmony between human living spaces and the natural environment. The building’s masses integrate into the terrain and landscape, aiming for a balance and symbiosis with nature.
The bubble house is an artisanal construction made of concrete sprayed onto a steel frame, with multiple layers of insulation and sprayed plaster for the interior finishes. Curved walls and roofs form a single concrete shell. Inside, the spaces unfold in a series of more or less interconnected pods or are linked by curved passageways. Some interior features—shelves, kitchen and bathroom furniture, and bedroom alcoves—are handcrafted and integral to the architecture.
Architecture as a sculpture
In response to the austerity and functionalism of postwar Reconstruction, many artists and architects from the 1950s onward advocated for a new synthesis of the arts and a more artistic approach to housing. This involved reaffirming the human presence in domestic spaces, in total continuity with nature and spirit. New techniques, such as steel-reinforced sprayed concrete, made this liberation of form possible.
Several trends emerged during this period. Some, like Jacques Couëlle or André Bloc, emphasized personal expression and allowed architecture and utility to emerge from their works of art. Critic Michel Ragon coined the term “architecture-sculpture” in his 1963 book Where Will We Live Tomorrow? to describe these creations.
Others derived architectural form from a functional approach to space, adhering to modernist functionalism but without the orthogonality of early 20th-century design. This was the case with Antti Lovag, whose works unfold organically, exploring new ways to embody and meet inhabitants’ needs.
A passion for sharing
The bubble house’s construction principle, with its flexibility and ease of execution, easily adapts to self-build housing projects. While primarily building for wealthy patrons, Antti Lovag actively promoted self-construction. He conducted workshops teaching sprayed concrete construction techniques with his partner Marie-Claude Cuisin, advised self-builders, and shared his templates with those interested in this type of housing.
“I believe we should eliminate architecture, architects, and builders. Design and construction should be undertaken by the user themselves, through self-construction.”
Antti Lovag in Guy Rottier, ArTchitecte, Paris, Alternatives, 2008 and Raphaëlle Saint-Pierre, Maisons-Bulles, Paris, Editions du patrimoine, Centre des Monuments Nationaux, 2015
Technical info
Price: €3,450,000
Agency fees payable by the seller
Full ownership
Property tax: NC
Information on risks to which this property is exposed is available at the Géorisques website: www.georisques.gouv.fr
ENERGY CLASS: C / CLIMATE CLASS: A
Estimated average annual energy costs for standard use, based on 2021 energy prices (including subscriptions): between €3,220 and €4,400