Shadow Theater: Villa on the French Riviera

When designing this villa on the Cote d’Azur, architect Joseph Karam took into account all the nuances of local architecture and landscapes, including the shadows cast by tall pine trees

Театр теней: вилла на французской Ривьере

Living room with panoramic windows. There is an outdoor swimming pool nearby.

Photo
FRANCIS AMYAN
Style
Gilles Daler

The rich ochre shade in which the facade of this villa on the Cote d’Azur is painted is well known to every Frenchman. “This is exactly the color of the plastered houses of the town of Roussillon in Provence,” says architect Joseph Karam, the author of the project. “There used to be quarries in its vicinity.” In the XIX century, about twenty different shades of ochre paint were exported. The architect used this color to highlight the facade of the villa against the background of the lush green landscape of the Riviera — the house is surrounded by trees.

Театр теней: вилла на французской Ривьере

The bright facade of the villa stands out against the background of the surrounding landscape. There is a decorative pond at the entrance. A street sculpture by artist Tariq Essalkhi is partially submerged in water.

Photo
FRANCIS AMYAN
Style
Gilles Daler

The entrance is decorated in a very unusual way. There is a small decorative pond here. You can get inside by bypassing it by walking along an elegant bridge. The walls on the sides of the door are not parallel. “They resemble the pages of an open book,” the architect comments. “For a greater wow effect, I added a sculpture here. Please note: on the right hand, on the stones knee-deep in water, there is a figure of a man trying with effort to push the wall even further. It symbolically opens our house.”

“When designing a house in nature, it is important to know where the sun rises and sets, how the shadows fall”

Театр теней: вилла на французской Ривьере

Canteen. Hand-painted ceilings. Above the massive oak table there is an elegant lamp: birds made of rock crystal sit on a bronze frame, as if on a perch. The floor is lined with stone slabs.

Photo
FRANCIS AMYAN
Style
GILLES DALER

The area of the villa is about 300 sq. m. It is forbidden to build larger residential buildings in these parts, French laws are very strict in this regard. Next to the house there is a swimming pool and an outdoor terrace where you can have breakfast right in the garden, bathing in the sun. The plot with tall pines, palm trees, cypresses and lush flowering vegetation was left almost untouched, adding gazebos where you can hide from the sun in the heat. “I tried to act very delicately,” says Joseph. — The task was to fit complex architectural volumes into the existing landscape as painlessly and organically as possible. I am inspired by the avant-garde. Playing with planes, I calculated where the sun would fall, how shadows would fall on the walls.

Театр теней: вилла на французской Ривьере

Kitchen. The cabinets are made to order according to the architect’s sketches, the matte facades are made of copper. Table top and apron made of corian. The floors are paved with stone.

Photo
FRANCIS AMYAN
Style
GILLES DALER

Театр теней: вилла на французской Ривьере

A fragment of the dining room on the first floor. Above the table is an elegant lamp made of bronze and rock crystal.

Photo
FRANCIS AMYAN
Style
GILLES DALER

“The mood of the interior is relaxed and carefree, in a word, summer”

Театр теней: вилла на французской Ривьере

Guest bedroom. The wall is painted in a rich shade of ochre — there is a parallel with the bright facade of the villa. Linen bed linen and bedspreads.

Photo
FRANCIS AMYAN
Style
GILLES DALER

All these moments are very important for a holistic image.” The interior is inextricably linked with the exterior. Here again you can see the same ochre, only already in the design of the bedroom. The shades of fabrics and Murano glass in the decor echo the colors outside the window. The layout of the house is quite traditional. On the ground floor there is a large hall leading into the living room and dining room. Upstairs, five bedrooms with their own bathrooms have been planned. There are also utility rooms and a playground for children.

Театр теней: вилла на французской Ривьере

An oasis in the garden. The ideal place for an aperitif on sunny days is an outdoor terrace.

Photo
FRANCIS AMYAN
Style
GILLES DALER

“I want to walk around the rooms barefoot, look out the big windows, enjoying the garden”

Театр теней: вилла на французской Ривьере

Living room. The palette of the interior is summer, sunny. The sofa is made to order.

Photo
FRANCIS AMYAN
Style
GILLES DALER

Театр теней: вилла на французской Ривьере

The villa is surrounded by a picturesque garden with sculptures and gazebos.

Photo
FRANCIS AMYAN
Style
GILLES DALER

The architect has been familiar with customers for a long time, so there were no difficulties in choosing furniture and decor during the repair. The objects were searched together, together, many of them were bought at flea markets and at local art studios. “For example, we have been thinking for a long time about how to design the headboard of the bed in the master bedroom in an original way. We went through the ideas one by one until we saw a screen of amazing beauty at the flea market in Nice,” says Joseph. “Elegant, in the Art Deco style, she fit in perfectly.”

Театр теней: вилла на французской Ривьере

Bedroom. The headboard is decorated with an Art Deco screen, bought at a flea market in Nice, Philippe Métaux. Bed linen, Linge Particulier. The table lamps on the bedside tables are made to order.

Photo
FRANCIS AMYAN
Style
GILLES DALER

“The shade of ochre in the interior is exactly like on the facade of the house”

Театр теней: вилла на французской Ривьере

Shower room. In the decoration — Kerlite porcelain stoneware.

Photo
FRANCIS AMYAN
Style
GILLES DALER

The house is used mainly in the summer, coming on vacation — this has also affected the interior. “The mood of the villa is light and carefree, in a word, summer. I want to walk around the rooms barefoot, look out the big windows, enjoying the garden,” says Joseph. “You know, this feeling when you come on vacation and wait for complete calm and relaxation.” T. +33144050606, www.josephkaram.com

Театр теней: вилла на французской Ривьере

A fragment of the bedroom. Antique chairs in the style of Louis XV. On the table there are Murano glass vases, Philippe Métaux.

Photo
FRANCIS AMYAN
Style
GILLES DALER

Kananykina Elena

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