Description
A woodland bower in Seine et Marne
This superb contemporary wooden house, designed by Atelier Gauthier in 1993 and awarded a prize by the US Academy of Architecture in 1995, offers a warm and welcoming place to live in an exotic setting just 1 hour away from Paris.
Set in landscaped grounds of 4,591 sqm, this house spans 240 sqm over two levels.
The ground floor features an entrance hall with cloakroom leading to a large double-height living room with a magnificent cylindrical stainless steel fireplace, the centrepiece of the living space, surrounded by American-style conversation benches. The living room opens onto pleasant wooden terraces, below which stretches a lush exotic garden, complete with boardwalks, ponds, a gazebo and a heated swimming pool surrounded by stone beaches. A fully-equipped kitchen completes the living spaces, which are floored entirely in river gravel.
This level also includes two bedrooms with washbasins and a relaxation area opening onto the terrace, featuring a spa, shower and sauna.
The first floor, accessed by two Japanese staircases, houses a 49 sqm master suite with bedroom, bathroom, separate toilet and dressing room, and a vast space that could be converted into a bedroom, dormitory or games room. A footbridge suspended above the living room links these two areas to a central mezzanine, on which a small sitting room and study have been arranged.
The property also benefits from a tree house and a garden shed.
Two parking spaces are available, with the option of creating a carport.
The property benefits from a calm and relaxing environment in La Celle-sur-Morin, 55 km from Paris. It is a 3-minute drive from the train station, which serves Paris in 45 minutes from Gare de l’Est, and 20 minutes from Disneyland.
Contemporary approach and traditional forms
This house combines contemporary design with inspiration from the vernacular forms of traditional rural architecture. The architects have created a farmhouse-like structure, with a double-pitched roof enlivened by three large dormer windows in a minimalist design.
The project places great emphasis on materials, particularly wood, which the architects used for the structure of the building, its external cladding and the cladding of the interior spaces, giving the whole a sculptural quality. They worked with two main species: red cedar for the exterior cladding, and a veneer of Finnish birch with a smooth, soft-touch finish for the interior walls.
Atelier Gauthier USA
Atelier Gauthier is an international agency specialising in the design of contemporary homes. Founded by Michel Gauthier, an architect trained in both France and America who bases his work on the nobility of materials and craftsmanship. His qualities as an artist have given him a particular sensitivity to textures and colours, which are reflected in his architectural practice.
Technical info
Asking price: €840,000
Seller to pay fees
Property tax: €2,100
Planning permission for 50sqm extension
Electric underfloor heating and low-temperature heating upstairs
General sewerage
Alarm system
Fibre
ECD: IN PROGRESS
