Description
A bold contemporary rehabilitation in the hinterland of Provence
Completely transformed in 2004 by architect Henri Gueydan, this village house embodies the encounter between a traditional envelope of local stone and a contemporary structure of glass and metal, offering a new interpretation of traditional Provençal housing.
Developed over three levels served by a sculptural spiral staircase, it spans a living area of approximately 87 m².
The ground floor features a living space paved with natural stone, including a large living room, dining area, and minimalist open kitchen. This space opens onto a quiet pedestrian street in the village, extending the living area outdoors during fine weather.
The first floor houses a vast suite with a bathroom fitted in an element clad with colored panels. Mobile partitions allow for easy modulation of the space according to needs.
On the second floor, a light-filled room opens generously onto a spectacular panorama, from the green reliefs of the region to the Mediterranean Sea and Corsica. It can accommodate a main bedroom with its integrated bed and storage, or a living space.
A chimney flue with sober lines runs through the structure of the house, featuring a fireplace on each floor.
A cellar accessible from the outside of the house completes this property.
This house benefits from a peaceful and authentic environment in the heart of the medieval village of Mons. Perched at over 800 meters altitude, the village offers an exceptional panorama of the Provençal mountains extending to the Mediterranean coast.
The village regularly hosts cultural events (concerts, exhibitions, etc.) and benefits from nearby points of interest such as the Gorges de la Siagne, Lake Saint-Cassien, and the Baume Obscure cave.
Transparency as a material
The rehabilitation revolves around a harmonious dialogue between raw materials. Glass, steel, and Provençal stone form a minimal space, a permeable setting for changes in light and atmosphere with the seasons, in a poetic and sensory approach.
Inspired by his walks through ruins, the architect transcribes the power of these structures invested by the elements on the scale of this housing project, fully opening the structure up to the sky. He conceives the house as a vertical traversing volume, a true light well marked by glass floors laid on metal beams in a checkerboard pattern. The visual connection from the ground floor to the roof offers a new experience of a suspended space, structured by the framing effects produced by the orthogonal lines of the beams. These provide an anchor that transforms the perception of emptiness into a sensation of gentle levitation at each level.
Variation on the glass house
Henri Gueydan’s approach follows in the wake of modern achievements such as Pierre Chareau’s Maison de Verre (1928-1932), Mies Van der Rohe’s Farnsworth House (1945-1951), or Philip Johnson’s Glass House (1949). The architect delivers here a contemporary reinterpretation of the glass house motif, the ultimate dream of Modernity, in a form of radicality. He materializes the concepts of transparency, lightness, dissemination, and the erasure of boundaries, while respecting the local identity and the soul of an ancient village.
Henri Gueydan
Founder of the Ciel Rouge Création agency, based in Tokyo, Paris, and Marseille, Henri Gueydan has signed numerous varied projects, from new constructions to rehabilitations, including individual houses, hotels, thalassotherapy centers, residential buildings, shops, temples, and schools.
His architecture is distinguished by a particular attention to the environment, a play of organic forms, inspiration drawn from local traditions, and a masterful integration of contemporary materials. He favors soft lines, natural light, and the search for harmony between humans, built space, and the surrounding nature.
Technical Information
Asking price: 375,000 €
Fees at the seller’s expense
Property tax: €1151
Information on the risks to which this property is exposed is available on the Géorisques website: www.georisques.gouv.fr
© Textes Architecture de Collection
© Photos Valérie Ruperti
Energy Performance Certificate (DPE): F – Greenhouse Gas Emissions (GES): C
Estimated annual energy costs for standard use: between 2,720 € and 3,720 € per year (average energy prices indexed on the years 2021, 2022, 2023, including subscriptions).
