Mediterranean Paradise Reborn From the Ruins
A couple restores a compound in the French countryside with historical sensitivity and a modern touch
Surrounded by nature and scrubland as far as the eye could see, we traveled the narrow roads that lead to this magical place in the Cévennes region in the south of France. On our visit last year we were welcomed by the intrepid Jansen family: Arnaud, an airline pilot who had just come home after a long flight, Béatrice, who takes care of the property and welcomes guests; and their two children, Romain and Manon.
The property, which includes a set of guesthouses as well as the family’s home, was little more than rubble when Arnaud and Béatrice discovered it. “We bought this ruin in 2005. We immediately started working on ideas we’d had in mind for a long time,” Béatrice says. “We especially fell in love with the view and the vaulted cellars. Since we were starting from ruins, we were full of doubt and uncertainty as to whether we could succeed in rebuilding this cluster of buildings. And, at the same time, we were excited about the idea of creating a unique place that would allow us to accommodate a set of guest rooms that really resemble us, and follow our own wishes.”
The property, which includes a set of guesthouses as well as the family’s home, was little more than rubble when Arnaud and Béatrice discovered it. “We bought this ruin in 2005. We immediately started working on ideas we’d had in mind for a long time,” Béatrice says. “We especially fell in love with the view and the vaulted cellars. Since we were starting from ruins, we were full of doubt and uncertainty as to whether we could succeed in rebuilding this cluster of buildings. And, at the same time, we were excited about the idea of creating a unique place that would allow us to accommodate a set of guest rooms that really resemble us, and follow our own wishes.”
Photos by Jours & Nuits
House at a Glance
Who lives here: Béatrice and Arnaud Jansen and their children, Romain and Manon
Location: Hérault, in the vicinity of Pic Saint-Loup, at the edge of the Cévennes region, France
Size: 10,225 square feet (950 square meters), about 2,900 square feet (270 square meters) of which is for personal use
Duration of work: About 10 years
Who lives here: Béatrice and Arnaud Jansen and their children, Romain and Manon
Location: Hérault, in the vicinity of Pic Saint-Loup, at the edge of the Cévennes region, France
Size: 10,225 square feet (950 square meters), about 2,900 square feet (270 square meters) of which is for personal use
Duration of work: About 10 years
Before: The vast plot and few remaining walls offered the couple a lot of freedom. However, looking at this photo it’s easy to imagine how much stress they must have felt about the sheer size of the project. At the bottom of this photo, we can see Béatrice holding son Romain — 15 at the time of our visit — who was only a few months old when the picture was taken.
After: All the vault structures were rebuilt identically to the originals. However, while this space was originally a cellar, the couple opened it up and added a staircase with a landing at the level of the main house. This makes it possible to pass from one level to the next and creates flow of movement on the property.
Before: Pierced into the rock like much of the architecture here, the stones were carefully pressure-washed to recover their original light color before the wall was repointed.
After: Spaces unfold in the original building through low arches — like the one seen here at the right of the photo — that open onto other rooms.
The building offers whitewashed guest rooms under newly built traditional framework ceilings. Each is designed to evoke the ambiance of faraway places, like this room with its beautiful canopy bed from Bali.
The building offers whitewashed guest rooms under newly built traditional framework ceilings. Each is designed to evoke the ambiance of faraway places, like this room with its beautiful canopy bed from Bali.
If you look at the previous photo of the ruins carefully, you can visualize how the new part is connected to the staggered roofs to the right.
The new buildings provide a home for the family in the spirit of the original compound. The three buildings that make up the family home are connected by glass structures that separate the living and sleeping areas.
The entire front of the house opens onto a raised terrace. Large sliding doors allow for free movement along the living room side of the house. The idea of creating continuity between inside and out was inspired by a trip the couple took to Japan.
The reed ceiling softens the light to smooth the transition from inside. This facilitates flow around the garden, which is between the two walls separating the kitchen from the living room.
The reed ceiling softens the light to smooth the transition from inside. This facilitates flow around the garden, which is between the two walls separating the kitchen from the living room.
In the kitchen, a central island lets family members keep whoever is cooking company. An immense countertop carved of stone from nearby Pompignan forms the cooking space. “The countertop alone weighs around [1,100 pounds]. It took 10 people to install it,” Arnaud says.
An oak slab tinted with a penetrating stain rests on top and serves as a tall dining table.
The magic of the open-plan room lies in its direct access to the terrace and garden. Dry stone retaining walls allow water to circulate through the Mediterranean vegetation.
A Japanese maple with delicate foliage, chosen by Béatrice, separates the two interior spaces.
Slabs of stone from Tarn continue on the floor inside. “Though slabs like this are traditionally arranged in a Roman opus tiling pattern, the ones here have been laid like wood flooring, in keeping with the aim of creating real continuity between the inside and outside,” Arnaud says.
A glassed-in interior garden, with a white pebble floor, stands between the kitchen and dining room. It creates a graceful transition and brings nature into the living space.
The furniture is simple and sleek. Paintings on glass by Aline Jansen double as light fixtures and are a focal point in this space. A low sofa creates a link between the raised living area and the dining room and anchors the rest of the decor.
One of the couple’s main aims was to create interconnected spaces: one dedicated to music, dominated by the Pleyel grand piano; one for meals; and a lounge in which to enjoy the warmth of the fireplace.
The family appreciates art, particularly music, and the two dedicated teenagers are enrolled in a conservatory. Romain is studying to be a professional musician.
The family appreciates art, particularly music, and the two dedicated teenagers are enrolled in a conservatory. Romain is studying to be a professional musician.
The living room has a beautiful chestnut platform with low sofas in the Japanese style, where Manon can read on the floor in front of the fireplace or the family can have dinner in front of the fire.
The bowl of the spectacular fireplace sits on the ground, creating a campfire feel. The handles on the side make it possible to close off the chimney at night.
The bowl of the spectacular fireplace sits on the ground, creating a campfire feel. The handles on the side make it possible to close off the chimney at night.
Access to the personal spaces is through a long glass structure that crosses the vegetation and divides the children’s level below from the couple’s space upstairs.
Inside it is a splendid staircase made of steel and wood. The steel was sanded and varnished by a craftsman.
The story of how this staircase was built is emblematic of the couple’s tenacity. “During the construction of the staircase, the metalworker did a lot of welding,” Arnaud says. “While I was flying, Béatrice was woken up in the middle of the night by a fire caused by a bit of hot grit that had flown into the plants. Within a few minutes, the fire had devastated the entire floor and we had to rebuild everything.”
Inside it is a splendid staircase made of steel and wood. The steel was sanded and varnished by a craftsman.
The story of how this staircase was built is emblematic of the couple’s tenacity. “During the construction of the staircase, the metalworker did a lot of welding,” Arnaud says. “While I was flying, Béatrice was woken up in the middle of the night by a fire caused by a bit of hot grit that had flown into the plants. Within a few minutes, the fire had devastated the entire floor and we had to rebuild everything.”
Upstairs, the master bedroom features an authentic traditional framework ceiling in Douglas pine, made by an artisan from Cévennes.
A carpeted module separates the bathroom from the sleeping area. “Since the height of the framing did not allow us to partition the space, we opted for a modest and ingenious solution to separate the two areas. The module has openings created to let in natural light and provide a cross view outward,” Béatrice says.
A carpeted module separates the bathroom from the sleeping area. “Since the height of the framing did not allow us to partition the space, we opted for a modest and ingenious solution to separate the two areas. The module has openings created to let in natural light and provide a cross view outward,” Béatrice says.
In the bathroom, an impressive basin carved out of Pompignan stone directs the water down a gentle slope. The couple chose the natural shades to give the room a poetic atmosphere.
The flooring in the space is faux wood. In the middle of the room stands a generous bathtub that subtly reflects the wall of bamboo outside.
Today every corner of the home is a source of pleasure to its owners, reflecting the spirit of balance and freedom that they sought to instill.
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