In the heart of an old Marseille neighborhood, a fisherman’s house with a whitewashed facade has been given a new lease on life after an in-depth renovation. The project was developed around a monumental staircase reminiscent of Valentine Schlegel, taking over each level up to the roof terrace where an idyllic landscape is revealed.

Target

To circulate easily, to benefit from the freshness and to invest the lowest levels, in garden level.

Course of action

Beginning with the roof and extending to the patio, the “root” of the house, the four levels have each undergone a transformation with a common thread: the Mediterranean.

Achievement

Formes organiques et brutes, patines naturelles, murs arrondis et garde-corps maçonnés sont les témoins de techniques méditerranéennes que la rénovation, fidèle, a mis en exergue et magnifiés. Les menuiseries sur mesure en chêne massif, réalisées par Raboniak, soulignent l’ensemble, précis et intemporel. Les différents espaces entremêlés signent un art de vivre méditerranéen. Le rez-de-chaussée décloisonné et ouvert sur le patio accueille une grande bibliothèque et, à part, la suite parentale immaculée. L’espace de vie fait la transition au premier étage entre les deux espaces nuit bien distincts. A l’abri des regards, le toit-terrasse cache une cuisine et un salon d’été à ciel ouvert, dépaysant. Le blanc est à l’honneur dans la maison. Un style contemporain affiché avec des références au design des années 50 – 60, répond au style vernaculaire. Charlotte Juillard, Eames, Paola Navone et Michel Ducaroy habitent l’intérieur. Lise Prévot, Martin Parr et Alexandre Benjamin Navet, quant à eux, les murs. Les luminaires CVL ponctuent le tout. Il s’en dégage une certaine harmonie, rythmée de touches de velours bleu nuit et de lin blanc.

An open-air cocoon, undeniably reminiscent of Greece.

LE QUARTIER

Mazargues

A real village in the city, it has kept this spirit around its shopping streets.
  • Crédits photosEdwige Lamy
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L’ avant …

Here is the beautiful potential we found right in the Vauban neighborhood: 150 m2 we transformed into a home. We created two contemporary duplexes by recovering the height under the roof.

Target

The stake was to create two family flats, with 3 bedrooms. The tool we used: volume and light! And of course, cherish and reveal the testimonies of the past: the stone window’s frames, the roof structure’s wood beams and the local Cassis’ stones retaining walls. This traditional materials work gives a contemporary and comfy look to the duplexes.

Course of action

We worked on the house plan to rethink the space and allow fluid movement, as a family home should. We created a mezzanine and let the natural light flow into the room. We worked mainly with white and raw materials like wood, and added light touches of colors to soften the atmosphere.

Achievement

In this room, the taylor-made oak joinery underlines the plain white walls and genuinely expands the space, in the wake of the fair wood floors. The skylight around us sheds dancing light on the pink and midnight blue walls. As we move forward, we enter a large living room, going on two floors under a row of windows. The kitchen is structured around a central wooden recess and a bookcase stair leading to the master suite. This architecture achieves to give us an overall feeling of conviviality and intimacy at the same time. As we get closer, we can get a glimpse of what is coming up next. A real cocoon is suspended under the roof, layered with soft carpeting and indirect light. As a natural extension of this space, we find a peaceful parental shower room. As for the children’s side, the two bedrooms share a large bathroom with white ceramics, contrasted with soft pink.

Partners

Pièce A Part, curation & works
Double V Gallery, artworks
Good Design Store, furniture (FermLiving & Ethnicraft)
Bonsoirs, bedding
The Socialite Family, furniture

Photos @OlivierAmsellem

A singular exercise to start from a blank sheet of paper, without constraint and leaving free rein to creation.

  • Crédits photosOlivier Amsellem
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