Achille Penciolelli is passionate about the modernist movement and the Californian scene of the 1960s, which he studied in terms of its influence on French architecture as part of his architectural training.
Currently based in Biarritz and Cap-Ferret, he collaborates with Architecture de Collection in identifying, promoting, and preserving remarkable properties along the Atlantic Coast in his role as project manager. In this article, he reveals the key elements of this exceptional heritage, which remains largely underappreciated.
French modernist architecture is full of unsuspected treasures. While we are familiar with the great figures of the Modern Movement—Le Corbusier, Robert Mallet-Stevens, Jean Prouvé—an essential part of this heritage remains largely unknown. This includes domestic architecture from the second half of the 20th century, a discreet heritage overshadowed by the grand official narratives.
Where California succeeded in establishing the Case Study Houses as international models, France still struggles to recognize the value of its own modernist experiments. Among them, an exceptional group of houses can be found nestled in the landscapes of the Atlantic coast, particularly around the Bassin d’Arcachon. Bold houses, designed to blend with the landscape, yet they have never received the recognition they truly deserve.
Mid-Century Villa, 1970s, Lège-Cap-Ferret (33)
For Sale by Architecture de Collection
© Suzie Donnat
As an architect, I thought I knew modern domestic architecture. I had studied the Case Study Houses, analyzed the plans of Richard Neutra, Craig Ellwood, and Pierre Koenig. I believed I had mastered this light and rational architecture, where spatial fluidity and continuity with the landscape define a new way of living. Yet, I was in for a shock. The revelation came far from California, in a place where I least expected it. On the shores of the Bassin d’Arcachon, between pine forests and dunes, I discovered an unsuspected heritage. Remarkable modernist houses, with pure lines and controlled volumes, are hidden here, discreetly, ignored by the public and institutions alike. They exist, they embody a form of radical modernity, yet they have never achieved iconic status.
Mid-Century Villa, 1970s, Lège-Cap-Ferret (33)
For Sale by Architecture de Collection
© Suzie Donnat
In the 1960s, a generation of Bordeaux architects tackled the issue of individual housing and developed an architecture suited to the conditions of the Atlantic coastline. Salier, Courtois, Lajus, and Sadirac designed homes that engage in dialogue with their environment rather than imposing a form upon it. They are built on light structures, favor raw materials, and promote spatial continuity between the interior and exterior. These principles, which irresistibly evoke the American Case Study Houses, have never been celebrated as such.
Yet, their quality is undeniable. One need only walk through these landscapes, catch sight of one of these villas behind a pine hedge, and step inside to understand the precision of their design. Inside, you’ll discover light-filled interiors, open volumes, and subtle framing of the surrounding nature. These homes embody a different way of living, where architecture becomes the backdrop for a simpler, more essential relationship with the world. They neither seek to impress nor dominate their site but instead extend a dialogue with it. A lesson in modernity, still remarkably relevant today.
Villa Geneste, Salier, Courtois, Lajus, Sadirac architects, 1967, Pyla-sur-mer (33)
Sold by Architecture de Collection
© Suzie Donnat
Villa Geneste, Salier, Courtois, Lajus, Sadirac architects, 1967, Pyla-sur-mer (33)
Sold by Architecture de Collection
© Suzie Donnat
Among these overlooked houses, the Villa Geneste is undoubtedly one of the most striking examples. Designed with an airy framework and a total openness to the landscape, it combines the influences of Richard Neutra and Brazilian modernism. Much like in Californian designs, the structure seems to fade away in favor of transparency, inviting nature to enter the living space. However, it also reflects the Brazilian approach of architects like Lúcio Costa and Oscar Niemeyer, where the house, slightly elevated, lifts off the ground to better engage with its surroundings. The use of concrete strengthens the tension between brutalism and finesse that characterizes the finest modernist works. An exceptional house, whose very existence raises a troubling question: how many other masterpieces are today at risk of being forgotten?
The lack of recognition of these architectures is no accident. Unlike the Case Study Houses, supported and documented by institutions, these French houses have never received media attention, nor have they been genuinely acknowledged in the official history of modern architecture. They have remained local productions, relegated to the status of mere vacation homes, even though they provide an exemplary response to contemporary housing issues.
Villa Geneste, Salier, Courtois, Lajus, Sadirac architectes, 1967, Pyla-sur-mer (33)
Vendue par Architecture de Collection
© Droits réservés
But there is still time to act. These houses, far from being mere architectural curiosities, embody an approach to living that resonates deeply with our current concerns. They remind us that there is another way to build and inhabit: one that is more respectful of the landscape, more open to the outside, and more in tune with our needs today.
Their rediscovery is an invitation. An invitation to explore these areas with a fresh perspective, to uncover behind a weathered wooden facade or a subtle concrete structure a forgotten chapter of our architectural history. To step into these spaces, to feel the light, the flow of air, the connection to nature. To understand that in France, we have an exceptional modernist heritage, one that is ours to preserve and celebrate today.
France need not envy California. We have our own “Case Study Houses,” but they have remained in the shadows. Perhaps it is time to finally reveal them.
Achille Penciolelli
HMNOP Architect, Atlantic Coast Advisor at Architecture de Collection
