Beautiful Virgin Islands

Thursday, Sep 04, 2025

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.

                

Newsletter

Related Articles

Beautiful Virgin Islands
0:00
0:00
Close
Putin Celebrates ‘Unprecedentedly High’ Ties with China as Gazprom Seals Power of Siberia-2 Deal
China Unveils New Weapons in Grand Military Parade as Xi Hosts Putin and Kim
Queen Camilla’s Teenage Courage: Fended Off Attempted Assault on London Train, New Biography Reveals
Scottish Brothers Set Record in Historic Pacific Row
Rapper Cardi B Cleared of Liability in Los Angeles Civil Assault Trial
Google Avoids Break-Up in U.S. Antitrust Case as Stocks Rise
Couple celebrates 80th wedding anniversary at assisted living facility in Lancaster
Information Warfare in the Age of AI: How Language Models Become Targets and Tools
The White House on LinkedIn Has Changed Their Profile Picture to Donald Trump
"Insulted the Prophet Muhammad": Woman Burned Alive by Angry Mob in Niger State, Nigeria
Trump Responds to Death Rumors – Announces 'Missile City'
Court of Appeal Allows Asylum Seekers to Remain at Essex Hotel Amid Local Tax Boycott Threats
Germany in Turmoil: Ukrainian Teenage Girl Pushed to Death by Illegal Iraqi Migrant
United Krack down on human rights: Graham Linehan Arrested at Heathrow Over Three X Posts, Hospitalised, Released on Bail with Posting Ban
Asian and Middle Eastern Investors Avoid US Markets
Ray Dalio Warns of US Shift to Autocracy
Eurozone Inflation Rises to 2.1% in August
Russia and China Sign New Gas Pipeline Deal
China's Robotics Industry Fuels Export Surge
Suntory Chairman Resigns After Police Probe
Gold Price Hits New All-Time Record
Von der Leyen's Plane Hit by Suspected Russian GPS Interference in an Incident Believed to Be Caused by Russia or by Pro-Peace or by Anti-Corruption European Activists
UK Fintechs Explore Buying US Banks
Greece Suspends 5% of Schools as Birth Rate Drops
Apollo to Launch $5 Billion Sports Investment Vehicle
Bolsonaro Trial Nears Close Amid US-Brazil Tension
European Banks Push for Lower Cross-Border Barriers
Poland's Offshore Wind Sector Attracts Investors
Nvidia Reveals: Two Mystery Customers Account for About 40% of Revenue
Woody Allen: "I Would Be Happy to Direct Trump Again in a Film"
Pickles are the latest craze among Generation Z in the United States.
Deadline Day Delivers Record £125m Isak Move and Donnarumma to City
Nestlé Removes CEO Laurent Freixe Following Undisclosed Relationship with Subordinate
Giuliani Seriously Injured in Accident – Trump to Award Him the Presidential Medal of Freedom
EU is getting aggressive: Four AfD Candidates Die Unexpectedly Ahead of North Rhine-Westphalia Local Elections
Lula and Putin Hold Strategic BRICS Discussions Ahead of Trump–Putin Summit
WhatsApp is rolling out a feature that looks a lot like Telegram.
Investigations Reveal Rise in ‘Sex-for-Rent’ Listings Across Canada Exploiting Vulnerable Tenants
Chinese and Indian Leaders Pursue Amity Amid Global Shifts
European Union Plans for Ukraine Deployment
ECB Warns Against Inflation Complacency
Concerns Over North Cyprus Casino Development
Shipping Companies Look Beyond Chinese Finance
Rural Exodus Fueling European Wildfires
China Hosts Major Security Meeting
Chinese Police Successfully Recover Family's Savings from Livestream Purchases
Germany Marks a Decade Since Migrant Wave with Divisions, Success Stories, and Political Shifts
Liverpool Defeat Arsenal 1–0 with Szoboszlai Free-Kick to Stay Top of Premier League
Prince Harry and King Charles to Meet in First Reunion After 20 Months
Chinese Stock Market Rally Fueled by Domestic Investors
×