AMORGOS
Leaving Lille for Marseille, experiencing a change of scenery, light, and pace of life… That was the plan Juliette and her husband Thierry had been nurturing. Their goal was clear: to find a contemporary home, open to the outdoors, that would be the perfect setting for a new life on the Mediterranean coast.
And it was Marie who gave them a sneak peek at their future home: redesigned by an architect and nestled on the hillside of L’Estaque, she was convinced it was perfect for them. Just a few hours after walking through the door, an offer was made. A new adventure then began: a renovation tailored to their tastes, led jointly by our partners Camille Herbinet and Élodie Wehrlen, followed by the ordeal of the wildfires that struck the region and destroyed the garden. In those difficult moments, one thing became clear: the relationship between Juliette and Marie had long since gone beyond the scope of a real estate transaction. Today, as the garden gradually regains its splendor, they look back on this story of trust, encounters, and rebirth.
Leaving Lille for Marseille is a real life change. What prompted this move?
Juliette – I’ve always dreamed of living in the sun, by the sea. My husband, on the other hand, was more attached to Lille and his family. At first, we were leaning more toward Morocco. In the end, a weekend in Marseille—followed by a family vacation there the next year—was a real eye-opener.
We fell in love with this truly unique city: its mix of cultures, its energy, the sea, the light… We found a diversity there that reminded us of Morocco. For us, it was the perfect balance. And then, one day, we came across a house posted on Instagram by ARCHIK. That’s where it all began.
You had first visited a house, but it didn’t really catch your eye. What happened next?
Thierry – To be honest, we really fell in love with that first house!
J – It was a beautiful house in L’Estaque, all right. But when we went back the next day, we realized we couldn’t picture ourselves in its immediate surroundings. The house was gorgeous, but the neighborhood—in that specific spot—just wasn’t right for us after all.
I had told Marie at the time that we no longer wanted to look at properties in L’Estaque. However, a week later, she called us back to say that a new house was coming onto ARCHIK’s list in L’Estaque, and that she had immediately thought of us. We hesitated… but then we figured that if Marie lived in and loved this neighborhood so much, it must have something special about it. So we made the round trip to come see it. Very quickly, a real bond of trust developed with Marie. She immediately understood our tastes and expectations. More than just a real estate agent, she became our guide to discovering Marseille!
“Its architecture, the layout of the spaces, the room sizes, the outdoor areas, and especially the pool with its view of the hills of L’Estaque immediately won us over.”
Do you remember the moment you first saw this renovated 1970s house?
T – All right. I remember it as if it were yesterday. The weather wasn’t very nice that day, and from the outside, the house hadn’t really impressed us. But as soon as we walked in, we were truly amazed.
Its architecture, the layout of the spaces, the open floor plan, the outdoor areas, and above all the pool with its view of the hills of L’Estaque immediately won us over. We could instantly picture ourselves living there. We knew all that was left to do was to reimagine this house according to our tastes and our vision for our lives.
Marie knew the Estaque neighborhood inside and out. How did her perspective influence your decision?
J – From the very first time we met, we had a great connection. Each visit only confirmed that first impression. We came to trust her very naturally. Her love for L’Estaque was contagious. She shared her passion for this Marseille neighborhood—its history, atmosphere, and identity—with us. Marie helped us discover L’Estaque just as Cézanne had painted it. And we fell in love with this artists’ neighborhood!
Once you moved in, you set out to restore this 1970s architecture to its former glory. How did you envision this transformation?
J – This house was a perfect fit for our style. We love hunting for 1970s furniture and mixing it with more contemporary pieces. Our furniture actually found its place here very naturally. ARCHIK recommended Camille Herbinet, an interior designer who, by a fun coincidence, is also from Lille. She immediately understood what we were looking for—it was the perfect match.
For the outdoor spaces, we were introduced to Élodie from Côté Outdoor. We wanted a very bright color palette with lots of white and stainless steel, as a nod to the ’70s. Inspired by the Mediterranean landscape, the garden has become a real playground for Thierry, who’s passionate about plants and cacti. With its terraced fields, hill, and numerous terraces, it offered incredible potential.
T – The challenge here in Marseille was to tame the terraced terrain. For me, Élodie served as the bridge between my passion and the creation of an outdoor space that blends modernity with the spirit of the South—the pool area is the perfect embodiment of this.
The outdoor areas were also the focus of a major landscaping project before they were severely damaged by the fires. How did you experience that period?
T – It was a very difficult time. We had just finished the outdoor areas. The work around the pool had been completed just a few days before the terrible fire on July 8. Everything was brand new. But after the initial shock came resilience. We decided to rebuild everything, with even greater determination.
J – As Elodie told us, this project will remain etched in her memory—it’s so rare to see a garden disappear just a few days after it was completed. She hadn’t even had time to photograph the finished project.
Today, when you look at this house and garden that have been brought back to life, how do you view this journey?
T – It forced us to face the reality of climate change. But above all, this ordeal taught us resilience—bouncing back is part of our family history. Ultimately, this rebuilding process allowed us to take our project even further. The outdoor spaces we recreated with Élodie reflect who we are even more. They blend much better with the house’s architecture. Everything is more cohesive, more fluid, more personal.
J – We lost two massive pine trees that lined the pool. At the time, we thought that space would never regain its charm. Yet we managed to envision something else—perhaps even something even more beautiful.
T – And, ironically, since the hills were cleared by the fire, we can now see the ocean from the house. Today, despite everything we’ve been through, this 1970s house has become our true source of renewed happiness.
LES 3 FÉTICHES
LA PIÈCE PRÉFÉRÉE
J – The living room, with its fireplace, is our favorite room. We also really love our bedroom, which opens onto the upper terrace. But it’s hard to choose—we feel so at home in every space.
L’ÉDITION ARCHIK
J – La Revue ARCHIK n°5,whose aesthetic particularly resonates with the architecture of our 1970s home.
L’ADRESSE DU QUARTIER
T – Casaïoum, for its summer dinners and incredible ocean view. Marie introduced us to this place, and we love it.
Photos credits: Julie Fleutot