Description
An eagle’s nest architect-designed loft in Saint-Etienne
This loft was built in 1978 in a former 19th-century trimmings factory by an architect and collector from Saint-Etienne, who made it his home and workplace. Ideal for professional or artistic use, it has an indoor swimming pool, a landscaped garden and a glazed workshop area on the street, with parking for several vehicles.
This loft occupies the majority of the building in a co-ownership of 3 lots. It has a floor area of 307.6 sqm Loi Carrez (416.8 sqm on the ground) spread over 6 levels;
Accessible via the building’s communal areas on each floor, the grand entrance opens onto the living areas, spread over two levels, under a skylight. A dining room, a double-height winter garden and a kitchen offer uninterrupted views of the panorama. A flight of steps leads up to a warm and inviting lounge with a fireplace.
The sleeping area, accessed by a suspended wood and metal staircase, comprises a mezzanine, a master suite with bathroom, two bedrooms with en suite shower rooms and a laundry room with independent access. A dressing room and attic complete the upper levels.
Below the living room, a vast two-room office space originally housed the architect’s workshop. It offers a bright workspace with its own entrance.
A white concrete staircase leads to a double garage opening on to the street. Staggered on half-levels are a bedroom, a storage room and finally an indoor swimming pool on the garden level with a planted relaxation area and shower room, benefiting from access to a private landscaped garden of 225 sqm. A summer dining room opening onto the garden, with a duplex outbuilding for conversion, completes this property.
The loft features a large collection of works of art from the Ecole Stéphanoise, curated by the owner. It is possible to purchase all or part of this collection.
The building is located in the Crêt de Roc district, at the top of one of the city’s seven hills, with uninterrupted views over Saint-Etienne and the surrounding countryside. Just a 10-minute walk from Saint-Etienne Châteaucreux station and the city centre, it is close to all local shops and amenities.
A scholarly rehabilitation
The interior design of this loft takes advantage of the large volumes typical of buildings housing workshops and factories during the 19th and 20th centuries. The creation of tiered half-levels throughout the height of the structure has maximised the space available and diversified the uses of the space.This ingenious use of the existing volume creates a multiplicity of circulation routes and a rich spatiality, enlivened by variations in height, interplay of volumes and transparency. The large skylights with their orthogonal frames, bearing witness to the site’s industrial and craft past, flood the various spaces with natural light.
The interiors feature a range of noble materials to create a warm, authentic atmosphere. The walls alternate between rough-cast concrete, local stone (sandstone), light-coloured wood and fine-grained plaster; the 7-coat lacquered ceilings subtly reflect the light; the floors are covered in Verona moonstone.
Technical elements
Asking price: €790,000.
Fees are payable by the vendor.
Property: 3 lots.
Annual share of running costs : NC.
Property tax: €3,092.
Heating: recent gas boiler, bthermodynamic heat pump.
Photovoltaic panels.
Double-flow ventilation for the living area.
ENERGY CLASS: C / CLIMATE CLASS: B
Estimated average annual energy costs for standard use, based on energy prices in 2021: between €2,560 and €3,530.