Budapest Post

Cum Deo pro Patria et Libertate
Budapest, Europe and world news

Design Project: Explore a strikingly modern home in Provence with Mediterranean views

Design Project: Explore a strikingly modern home in Provence with Mediterranean views

Michaelis Boyd's latest project is inspired by the idea of a modern-day ruin. In the summer you slide open the doors and all you are left with is a bare structure...
The property


Located in the Var, this striking modern hillside home is discreetly set into the hillside overlooking the Mediterranean coastline, its local stone and glass façade blending naturally into the surroundings. Although inspired by the local architecture of traditional Provençal courtyard houses, the secluded location of this family home afforded space for modern structural innovation.

It marks the first new-build project in the South of France by architecture firm Michaelis Boyd.

            

The architecture is carefully structured to maximise the building’s sustainable assets. Large glass picture-frame windows and doors work alongside stained Ipe hardwood shutters to minimise solar gain. Together they slide back into concealed pockets, transforming the house into an open pavilion. Two wings and a south-facing central courtyard provide cross ventilation and an outdoor space sheltered from prevailing sea winds and strong summer sun. Its north-south axis orientation ensures the infinity edged pool is bathed in warm sunlight and blends into the horizon when viewed from the house.

Ground floor


The pared-back design demonstrates Michaelis Boyd’s ethos of fusing elemental nature into organic architecture, and a strong belief in the connection between a building and the surrounding landscape.

With this in mind, the external walls are clad in local Gneiss – a natural stone chosen for its distinct foliation stripes and beautiful metallic flecks – which blends naturally with the tonal hues of the cliff.

Simple limestone flooring throughout and natural rendered walls encourage this concept of fluidity between internal and external space, to bring the outside in.

            

Striking contemporary touches feature throughout, including a minimal staircase designed to ‘disappear’ so that the visual focus remains on the breath-taking views of the surrounding landscape.

Courtyard garden


Centrally, double height sliding doors lead onto the courtyard, where a glass balustrade and walkways provide uninterrupted views across the Riviera coastline from every corner of the property.

                

                

Kitchen


A streamlined white kitchen from Bulthaup and minimalist dining area open onto the pool terrace, a favourite place for the family to gather.

            

Living areas


Pared-back interiors were chosen for this home that was designed to inspire relaxation. The furnishings are kept minimal throughout, providing the perfect backdrop for the owners’ collection of artwork that reflects the scenery.

Michaelis Boyd worked with Dodds & Shute to procure statement loose furnishings – design classics from Piero Lissoni or Naoto Fukasawa find their place in the living room.

                

Landing


Built over two stories, an expansive ground floor level houses the main living spaces, with 4 generous bedrooms and en-suite bathrooms located on the top floor.

                

Bedrooms


Minimalist Ipe veneered wardrobes feature throughout, designed to have a strong monolithic feel and do away with door handles where possible.

                

Pool


The grey glass mosaic lining the pool creates a reflective surface that absorbs sunlight, with slate surrounds that help indirectly heat the water to naturally regulate the temperature.

                

Projecting balconies and roof overhangs have delicately thin edges to lighten the overall look of the stone structure, whilst double height glass doors bookend the building’s spine.

Michaelis Boyd worked very closely with local landscape firm Derbez on the landscaping strategy and design throughout the site. The result is a beautifully manicured yet wild, structured yet organic backdrop that softens the distinct angles of this modern new home.

                

“The philosophy of the design is that the house is like a modern-day ruin. In the summer you slide open the doors and all you are left with is a bare structure,” explains architect Alex Michaelis.

                

AI Disclaimer: An advanced artificial intelligence (AI) system generated the content of this page on its own. This innovative technology conducts extensive research from a variety of reliable sources, performs rigorous fact-checking and verification, cleans up and balances biased or manipulated content, and presents a minimal factual summary that is just enough yet essential for you to function as an informed and educated citizen. Please keep in mind, however, that this system is an evolving technology, and as a result, the article may contain accidental inaccuracies or errors. We urge you to help us improve our site by reporting any inaccuracies you find using the "Contact Us" link at the bottom of this page. Your helpful feedback helps us improve our system and deliver more precise content. When you find an article of interest here, please look for the full and extensive coverage of this topic in traditional news sources, as they are written by professional journalists that we try to support, not replace. We appreciate your understanding and assistance.
Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
JD Vance Warns Europe Faces “Civilizational Suicide” Over Open Borders and Speech Limits
Germany Enters Fiscal Crisis as Cabinet Approves €174 Billion in New Debt
Trump Administration Finalizes Broad Tariff Increases on Global Trade Partners
JD.com Launches €2.2 Billion Bid for German Electronics Retailer Ceconomy
Azerbaijan Proceeds with Plan to Legalise Casinos on Artificial Islands
IMF Upgrades Global Growth Forecast as Weaker Dollar Supports Outlook
House Republicans Move to Defund OECD Over Global Tax Dispute
France Opens Criminal Investigation into X Over Algorithm Manipulation Allegations
Trump Steamrolls EU in Landmark Trade Win: US–EU Trade Deal Imposes 15% Tariff on European Imports
ChatGPT CEO Sam Altman says people share personal info with ChatGPT but don’t know chats can be used as court evidence in legal cases.
Intel Reports Revenue Beats but Sees 81% Rise in Losses
Politics is a good business: Barack Obama’s Reported Net Worth Growth, 1990–2025
UN's Top Court Declares Environmental Protection a Legal Obligation Under International Law
"Crazy Thing": OpenAI's Sam Altman Warns Of AI Voice Fraud Crisis In Banking
The Podcaster Who Accidentally Revealed He Earns Over $10 Million a Year
UK Government Considers Dropping Demand for Apple Encryption Backdoor
Japanese Man Discovers Family Connection Through DNA Testing After Decades of Separation
Russia Signals Openness to Ukraine Peace Talks Amid Escalating Drone Warfare
Switzerland Implements Ban on Mammography Screening
Pogacar Extends Dominance with Stage Fifteen Triumph at Tour de France
President Trump Diagnosed with Chronic Venous Insufficiency After Leg Swelling
CEO Resigns Amid Controversy Over Relationship with HR Executive
NVIDIA Achieves $4 Trillion Valuation Amid AI Demand
Tulsi Gabbard Unveils Evidence Alleging Political Manipulation of Intelligence During Trump Administration
Centrist Criticism of von der Leyen Resurfaces as she Survives EU Confidence Vote
Trump Announces Coca-Cola to Shift to Cane Sugar in U.S. Production
FIFA Pressured to Rethink World Cup Calendar Due to Climate Change
Zelensky Reshuffles Cabinet to Win Support at Home and in Washington
"Can You Hit Moscow?" Trump Asked Zelensky To Make Putin "Feel The Pain"
Church of England Removes 1991 Sexuality Guidelines from Clergy Selection
Superman Franchise Achieves Success with Latest Release
Hungary's Viktor Orban Rejects Agreements on Illegal Migration
Air India Pilot’s Mental Health Records Under Scrutiny
Jamie Dimon Warns Europe Is Losing Global Competitiveness and Flags Market Complacency
Moonshot AI Unveils Kimi K2: A New Open-Source AI Model
Martha Wells Says Humanity Still Far from True Artificial Intelligence
Nvidia Becomes World’s First Four‑Trillion‑Dollar Company Amid AI Boom
EU Delays Retaliatory Tariffs Amid New U.S. Threats on Imports
Trump Proposes Supplying Arms to Ukraine Through NATO Allies
US Opens First Rare Earth Mine in Over 70 Years in Wyoming
Bitcoin Reaches New Milestone of $116,000
Severe Heatwave Claims 2,300 Lives Across Europe
Declining Beer Consumption Signals Cultural Shift in Germany
Emails Leaked: How Passenger Luggage Became a Side Income for Airport Workers
Polish MEP: “Dear Leftists - China is laughing at you, Russia is laughing, India is laughing”
Western Europe Records Hottest June on Record
BRICS Expands Membership with Indonesia and Ten New Partner Countries
Elon Musk Founds a Party Following a Poll on X: "You Wanted It – You Got It!"
China’s Central Bank Consults European Peers on Low-Rate Strategies
France Requests Airlines to Cut Flights at Paris Airports Amid Planned Air Traffic Controller Strike
×