Description
An exceptional property, between vernacular architecture and Japanese art of living
Backed by Mont Saint-Amand and surrounded by organic vines, this remarkable architect-designed property, built in 1972, offers a contemplative place to live, facing a breathtaking panorama stretching from Mont Ventoux to the Dentelles de Montmirail.
Set in terraced grounds of almost 4,500 m² planted with pine, oak and olive trees, the property comprises a main house and several outbuildings, for a total living area of 290 m².Facing south, the main house is currently converted into two communicating apartments that can easily be joined together.
A staircase leads to the reception areas on the lower level. The latter features a butterfly-shaped floor plan and hosts two large lounges linked by a central space with a pool, one of which is currently used as a workshop, a kitchen with pantry and a kitchenette. The living spaces open onto a beautifully landscaped terrace with curved lines, paved with refractory bricks and punctuated by planted beds.
The upper levels include three bedrooms with en suite shower rooms, one of which has its own entrance.A little further away, an outbuilding called “Yin et Yang”, currently used as a gîte, also has a butterfly layout. It comprises two independent apartments, mirrored on either side of a shared patio. Each comprises a living room, kitchen, bedroom and bathroom.
This property is located in an unspoilt part of the Vaucluse region, highly prized for the quality of its environment and its authenticity, around 40 km from Avignon (45 min by car) and 17 km from Vaison-la-Romaine. Marseille Provence airport is 1h30 away by car.
Between inside and outside
The house and outbuildings offer bright, open-plan living spaces. Numerous windows and bay windows, skilfully positioned, frame paintings of nature and selected perspectives on the grandiose panorama. The generosity of the volumes and the omnipresence of unspoilt nature create an atmosphere of serenity, conducive to relaxation and contemplation.
Large glazings are protected from the summer sun by wide overhanging eaves, which block the midday sun’s rays. In winter, on the other hand, low-lying rays penetrate and warm all rooms. The travertine flooring in the living areas echoes the brick color of the terraces, creating a sense of continuity between inside and outside.
A blend of influences
Tailored to the topography of the site, the house’s structure, divided into several volumes staggered along the slope, blends into the terrain and blends into nature. Its architecture combines the simplicity of modernist design with the quality of traditional Provencal materials such as stone, brick and canal tiles.
The gentle slope of the wide, fan-shaped roofs, the wooden support posts, the layout of the spaces and the use of vegetation as a natural screen recall the principles of Japanese architecture. In addition, the aesthetics of the complex and the richness of the circulation between interior and exterior, forming a journey between architecture and nature, evoke the many Japanese creations of architect Maurice Sauzet.