Houzz Tours
Houzz Tour: A Bright and Contemporary Home on the French Riviera
A beautifully minimal, three-storey home, complete with swimming pool, has cleverly been slotted into a small site by the ocean
Architect Frédérique Pyra’s clients gave her free rein to design a summer house on this long, narrow seaside plot on the French Riviera. Frédérique wanted to give the Parisian family something contemporary, using neutral colours and ‘natural yet noble materials. I imagined a three-storey, half-buried house stretching out towards the ocean,’ she says. ‘The swimming pool is the furthest point of the property, the goal to reach, before the land dives into the sea.’
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here A French family
Location The Var region of southeast France
Year built 2010
Size 3,767 sq ft
Architect Frédérique Pyra of Frédérique Pyra Legon Architecte
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here A French family
Location The Var region of southeast France
Year built 2010
Size 3,767 sq ft
Architect Frédérique Pyra of Frédérique Pyra Legon Architecte
The entrance, which is on the north side of the house, is actually on the first floor. ‘The house extends over three floors,’ explains Frédérique. ‘The entrance is on the first floor, along with the children’s bedrooms, the guest room and the study. The master bedroom and balcony are on the top floor, while the communal rooms, such as the living room and kitchen, are on the ground floor.
Glass bricks flanking the aluminium pivot door maximise natural light while preserving the privacy of the home. The stairs are made of white concrete topped with chocolate-coloured waxed concrete.
Sofa, Victoria & Albert by Ron Arad at Moroso. Tolomeo Mega floor lamp, Artemide.
See ways to incorporate red into your scheme
Glass bricks flanking the aluminium pivot door maximise natural light while preserving the privacy of the home. The stairs are made of white concrete topped with chocolate-coloured waxed concrete.
Sofa, Victoria & Albert by Ron Arad at Moroso. Tolomeo Mega floor lamp, Artemide.
See ways to incorporate red into your scheme
The house features two balconies, one on the first floor and one on the second. The children’s bedrooms look out onto the lower one, which forms part of the living and dining room ceiling. The master bedroom looks out onto the second, which forms the ceiling of the children’s bedrooms.
Here is a view of one of the bedrooms overlooking the balcony and the sea. The bedrooms have wooden floors for continuity with the ipe wood balconies.
The terrace railings are made of steel, with stainless steel cables. Solid glass slabs cover light shafts that naturally illuminate the living room below.
The first floor study features an artistic wall of display shelving.
An interior patio, also on the first floor, allows natural light to pour into both the guest room and the hallway.
The top floor master bedroom has a glorious sea view.
The en-suite bathroom offers the luxurious option of showering right in front of the ocean. The walls and floor are covered with stone tiles and tadelakt, a waterproof polished plaster. ‘The finish has the great advantage of being decorative and waterproof. It’s reminiscent of marble,’ Frédérique says.
Black and white dominate the living room, which is next to the kitchen and overlooks the terrace and swimming pool. The clients chose their furniture, such as the Eames Lounge chair, with care.
The space also features a concrete ceiling imprinted with wood grain. ‘I was aware of the process, but had yet to apply it in my work,’ Frédérique says. Although her clients were not taken by the idea at first, they ‘allowed me to pursue the idea,’ she says, ‘and they were glad they had trusted me.’
The ceiling is dotted with strong round glass slabs, which let light in and connect the room with the balcony above. ‘The room is extremely deep and it was necessary to find a way to bring more light into it,’ Frédérique says. At the same time, the round shapes soften an otherwise strict architectural composition.
Eames Lounge chair and ottoman, Vitra.
The space also features a concrete ceiling imprinted with wood grain. ‘I was aware of the process, but had yet to apply it in my work,’ Frédérique says. Although her clients were not taken by the idea at first, they ‘allowed me to pursue the idea,’ she says, ‘and they were glad they had trusted me.’
The ceiling is dotted with strong round glass slabs, which let light in and connect the room with the balcony above. ‘The room is extremely deep and it was necessary to find a way to bring more light into it,’ Frédérique says. At the same time, the round shapes soften an otherwise strict architectural composition.
Eames Lounge chair and ottoman, Vitra.
What appears to be a wooden shelf on the wall of the living area is in fact a concrete slab, which acts as an ethanol fireplace.
Between the chocolate leather sofa and the terrace is a white leather sofa – the perfect spot for watching TV. The family can easily dine outside thanks to a table and chairs on the terrace.
Panton chairs, Verner Panton at Vitra.
Panton chairs, Verner Panton at Vitra.
The kitchen was installed by Italian design company Lineaquattro. ‘I had sketched the idea on paper and the kitchen designer took it from there. We went with a central island and white Corian worktops,’ says Frédérique.
Metamorphosis kitchen, Lineaquattro.
Discover how to choose the perfect kitchen worktop
Metamorphosis kitchen, Lineaquattro.
Discover how to choose the perfect kitchen worktop
The clients wanted an open kitchen, but a short stretch of wall separates it slightly and offers a little privacy. Narrow vertical openings keep the sense of flow and continuity. ‘The chef is not seen cooking, but can keep a close eye on what’s going on in the living room,’ Frédérique says.
Here is a view of the south side of the house, which looks out onto the terrace, the swimming pool and the sea. ‘The piece of land is only 50ft long, and the house covers 40ft,’ says Frédérique. ‘The idea was to open the perspective towards the sea by using bay windows.’
The terrace overlooks the swimming pool, which seems to flow directly into the ocean.
The beach is quickly accessed from the end of the plot through a gate. ‘I designed the swimming pool, and then a specialist company, Diffazur, from nearby Cannes installed it,’ Frédérique says. ‘This pool is like an inlet, or a peaceful harbour.’
TELL US…
What do you like about this French home? Share your thoughts in the Comments below.
TELL US…
What do you like about this French home? Share your thoughts in the Comments below.
‘The walls of the patio correspond to those of the former cabin,’ says Frédérique. ‘I cut random, geometrical shapes out of the walls in order to modernise the site – so it feels modern from the moment you arrive.’