It would be difficult to live any closer to the sea. This exclusive villa on the southern coast of France seems to be almost immersed in the endless blue of the Mediterranean. The client’s wish was to be outdoors and enjoy the special Mediterranean glow while protected from wind and sun.
Approximately 30m above sea level, on a barren cliff, two awnings defy the marine climate as they keep a lookout over the deep blue sea. Securely held by spring hooks from a chandlery and two spear-shaped masts, this is no illusion, but rather the audacious construction of Belgian architect Amandus Van Quaille.
Top priority, however, was sheltering the sizeable outdoor area and the building from the intensive sun, heat, and direct light. For this reason, the upper of the two awnings is made from SEFAR Architecture TENARA® 4T40HF, a robust material able to withstand the strong winds, unrelenting sea air and coastal spray. It absorbs no moisture, as well as being permanently UV-resistant, colorfast and weatherproof. The lower awning, made from SEFAR Architecture EL-30-T1-UV with its special coating, is able to filter out UV light and protect occupants from heat radiation.
The stuff of dreams
As if two ballet dancers were gently touching, is how the architect describes the constant interplay between the two selected SEFAR fabrics. The ingenious construction and combination of different layers traps heat between the two awnings, using the chimney effect to ensure a markedly effective way of cooling; heat simply rises upwards. Indeed the lower awning only touches the upper one at its extremities, where the carbines grip and the fabric is anchored to the bare rock.
The old trees on the site have also been skillfully integrated and today, they still form a naturally growing part of the airy sunroof. The SEFAR fabric was tailored into the appropriate arched shapes and built around the gnarled tree trunks. Even the spear-like masts, which appear to pierce through the fabric at the top, have an almost organic presence within the sweeping lines of the awning.
For more information, please contact SEFAR.