Description
Contemporary architecture with a minimalist design
This contemporary house with its clean lines was built in 2010 by architect Franck Martinez on the site of a former truffle plantation.
Set in 4,931 m² of wooded grounds, it offers 142 m² of living space.
It features a beautiful central living-dining area, a patio, a kitchen, three bedrooms, a bathroom and a shower room. The living space is extended by a wooden terrace and a swimming pool protected from view by two unfinished concrete walls. A 25 m² convertible outbuilding completes the property.
The house enjoys a peaceful setting 2 km from a market town with all local amenities (shops, schools, doctor’s surgery, etc.). It is 20 km from Cahors and 7 km from the A20 motorway.
Minimalist architecture
The house has a compact silhouette, and its composition, orientation and positioning on the plot have been meticulously studied to respect the pre-existing vegetation and trees, and to control the framing of the openings. The volumes have a rigorous geometry with minimalist, clean lines, emphasised by the use of rough concrete and vertical wood cladding.
In a poetic attempt to harmonise the different construction elements, the concrete has been left unformed, retaining the imprint of the horizontal planks of the formwork into which it was poured, and the wood has been left to naturally grey under the action of time and the elements.
Between opacity and transparency
The clients wanted a living space that was bright and protected from view, both inside and out. From the garden, the house has an opaque structure, which contrasts quite spectacularly with the clarity and transparency of its interior spaces, which are wide open onto unspoilt nature and vegetation. The two walls on either side of the living room extend onto either side of the terrace, protecting it from any external view and framing the landscape.
The creation of recesses allows light to penetrate the different volumes, and a square patio to the west of the building connects the living room, kitchen and master suite from the inside.
Atelier d’Architecture Franck Martinez
Since 2007, Franck Martinez’s business has been diversifying its programmes, but he continues to explore the subject of single-family homes.
He has developed a particular typology of the patio house, a central theme in his work. His studio promotes a refined, sculptural aesthetic, using concrete, wood, metal and stone as his preferred raw materials.
Here, his work exploits the evocative power of concrete through its sober forms and sculptural monumentality, recalling the work of Japanese architect Tadao Ando.
