Description
Living in the landscape
Set against the rock, this spectacular house featuring modernist lines was built into the cliffside in 1969 by architect Georges Guillermont, overlooking the sumptuous landscape of the Monts d’Or.
Set in 4,000 sqm of wooded grounds, it offers 240 sqm of living space over four levels.
The ground floor facing the street comprises an entrance hall, a large double garage, cellars and machine rooms. The staircase leading to the upper level is illuminated by a large, stylised stained-glass window created by a stained-glass craftsman.
The 1st floor includes living areas comprising a lounge with a sculptural fireplace set into the wall and a dining room opening onto a garden terrace, a grotto carved directly into the rock and covered by a tavaillon ceiling, and a separate kitchen with terrace. The walls and ceilings are finished in oak veneer, bringing a warmth to the whole. Two bedrooms and a bathroom complete this level.
The 2nd floor is accessed by a superb solid wood console staircase, with canted steps suspended in space. It houses a large master bedroom, a bathroom, a bedroom and a mezzanine study.
The roof terrace of the house has been converted into a swimming pool surrounded by a terrace with panoramic views over the landscape.
The property also includes a 14 sqm wooden shed converted into a Corbusier-inspired studio, as well as a small 1920s house for conversion.
The property enjoys a privileged setting on the heights of the Monts d’Or, around ten kilometres from Lyon.
A popular holiday destination for the people of Lyon since the early 20th century, the region boasts a rich ancient and medieval heritage. Numerous villages and unspoilt countryside make for pleasant walks and hiking trails.
Synthesis of the arts
The interior of the house has been carefully designed and decorated in a spirit of artistic synthesis. They feature a palette of noble materials and a strong emphasis on craftsmanship.
The floors are covered in botticino, an Italian marble stone, terracotta and Briare enamel. The living area is enlivened by a curved wall, the curves of which create a fireplace with a hearth carved directly into the rock. Closed off by a rounded glass door, an alcove built directly into the cliff brings the rocky materiality of the site into the heart of the living spaces. An integrated library, with its airy lines, contrasts with the massiveness of the rough stone, which is left exposed. The structural concrete posts of the house are highlighted by ceramic cladding from the “Planète” series (1950) by French ceramist Roger Capron.
Between nature and brutalism: an inspired architecture
The house has a stepped structure, made up of three volumes set against the rocky slope of the cliff, which was probably blasted during construction. This spectacular integration into the site is based on a concrete construction system and the use of a ‘domino’ type structure, whose load-bearing posts allow great freedom in the layout of the floors. Each level is extended by a garden terrace set into the slope, bordered by glass or concrete railings.
On the façade, the house’s horizontal lines are emphasised by wide bands of white-painted concrete. Sometimes set off by a natural stone base, these concrete structures, with their strong graphic treatment, are reminiscent of certain contemporary projects by the architect Claude Parent.
The large glazed surfaces, facing south-west, bathe the spaces in natural light and offer carefully considered views of the landscape and the path of the sun.
Georges Guillermont
A friend of Jean-Louis Chanéac, architect and project manager Georges Guillermont began his architectural apprenticeship at Joseph Maire’s studio in Aix-les-Bains, first as an apprentice and then as a project manager. He left the studio in 1960, registered with the Chambre des Métiers in 1961 and with the fédération des Maîtres d’œuvre en bâtiment in 1963. He applied for registration with the Ordre des Architectes in 1977. He is active in the Aix-en-Provence region, working on numerous public and private projects.
Technical information
Asking price: €1,550,000
Including all taxes, payable by the vendor
Land tax: €2,439
Full ownership.
Swimming pool: heated by heat pump
Forced-air central heating (oil tank)
Wood-burning stove
Fibre / Satellite alarm
ENERGY CLASS: F / CLIMATE CLASS: F
Estimated average annual energy costs for standard use, based on 2021 energy prices: between €5,630 and €7,680.
Low-performance housing.