Contemporary House

The property is situated in a highly sought-after residential area, both peaceful and close to beaches and coves, such as Canadel (3 minutes by car). It is also 15 minutes from Le Lavandou and 30 minutes from the Golfe de Saint-Tropez airport.

Its location allows easy access to the shops of Cavalaire-sur-Mer and the Domaine du Rayol, a symbol of the Var landscape.

This house embodies the essence of Maurice Sauzet’s architecture: a contemporary work that follows the natural slope of the land and opens onto the sea, where each living space is shaped by light, natural materials, and the landscape. Curves, plunging roofs, the omnipresent connection with the outdoors, and the integration of vegetation are key elements of the design.

Materials, chosen for their authenticity and connection to vernacular architecture—such as terracotta tiles, wood, dry stone, and earth-toned renders—enhance this harmony.

Inside, the “outdoor feel” persists through large windows and carefully designed sightlines that capture distant landscapes, literally integrating them into the living space. Gardens, created both around and within the volume, and openings in the roof through which vegetation can flourish, accentuate this “inside-outside” continuum.

One moves through the house via varied spatial sequences; the senses are engaged by the diversity of materials and atmospheres. The architect thus composes a journey, from the garden entrance to the living spaces, rhythmically punctuated by solids and voids, plays of light, and subtle transitions, transforming the house into a true sensory experience.

Maurice Sauzet (born 1939) is a renowned French architect known for his unique approach to housing, where the relationship between man and nature is central. After graduating from the École Spéciale d’Architecture in Paris in 1957, he won the Academy Prize before traveling to Japan, where he studied Zen Buddhist architecture with Junzo Sakakura Nishisawa, a disciple of Le Corbusier.

Returning to France in the 1970s, he built his own home near Toulon, synthesizing Western modernism and Japanese tradition. This project marked the beginning of a prolific career, with nearly 150 homes designed according to an innovative architectural philosophy: “counter-architecture” or “natural architecture.” Developed with geographer Augustin Berque, this concept prioritizes the relationship between man and space, beyond facades or proportions. His houses, organized around paths connecting the exterior to the interior, invite immersion in the landscape.

For Maurice Sauzet, the essence lies in the dialogue between habitat and environment. His creations, inspired by both Provençal culture and Japanese principles, emphasize fluid spaces, open volumes, and continuity between inside and outside.