A contemporary Ile-de-Ré villa, of more than 300 m², with a swimming pool and a fitness room on the outskirts of Les Portes-en-Ré - ref 175174
A contemporary Ile-de-Ré villa, of more than 300 m², with a swimming pool and a fitness room on the outskirts of Les Portes-en-Ré.
In the Charente-Maritime department, on the northwest tip of the island, the village of Les Portes-en-Ré is nestled between saltmarshes, a natural reserve and the shoreline of the Bay of Biscay, while the village, known for its peaceful atmosphere and meticulous city planning, is one of the most sought-out areas on the island, with its narrow lanes lined with white houses with colourful shutters, its green market and small port.
As for the villa, it is located on an inconspicuous street, near the beach and the coastal paths that traverse dunes and pine forests, whereas the nearby beaches of Trousse-Chemise and Le Petit Bec are some of the area's most emblematic landscapes and the bridge connecting the island with mainland France makes it possible to reach La Rochelle in approximately 45 minutes.
Behind a long white wall, the property is accessible via a gate that opens on to a gravel courtyard, while a pedestrian door provides access to a large covered, open-air structure, which gives on to the property. From here, an initial garden is planted with bamboo, palm trees, grasses and Mediterranean plants, whereas, past this verdant space, the dwelling, separated into different spaces arranged around multiple patios, gradually reveals itself in the style of traditional Ile-de-Ré houses.
Historically, these dwellings often resulted from progressively grouping together buildings linked to salt manufacturing or winemaking, and these homes, salt warehouses or former wine storehouses were then connected via courtyards protected from the wind. This property echoes this rationale, but with a more contemporary spin, with its lime-plastered exteriors, dark shutters and barrel tile roofs, which repeat the island's architectural codes, while its wide sliding glass doors create a fluid relationship with its exteriors.
From its overall proportions to its interior layout, the entire project was conceived by the architect Jeanne Dumont, whereas the materials used throughout confirms the dwelling's affluent, but understated character: black brick floors on the ground level, narrow-plank oak parquet floors upstairs, finely-crafted woodwork, wood-panelled ceilings and a variety of custom-made furniture.
The Villa
The ground floor
The large covered, open-air structure provides access to the dwelling's front porch, which gives on to the entryway as well as an initial sitting room used for reading, while, extending on from here, a central room includes a custom-built kitchen and a dining room facing the patios.
This pivotal space then communicates with two distinct volumes on either side: a living room with a fireplace as well as a patio extended by a second open-air covered structure, today used as a summer dining area, whereas this floor also includes four bedrooms, each with their own shower room, including one that could be used as an artist's studio or an independent space, as well as a utility room, storage cupboards and a garage.
The upstairs
An interior staircase ascends to the upstairs floor, dedicated to the more secluded sleeping quarters. An initial bedroom comes with its own bathroom and a private terrace, while a second bedroom, today converted into a dormitory, is located next to a bathroom and a wardrobe.The GardenAs one of the property's major features, it has been designed into a series of different landscapes and provides an enchanting backd-rop for the dwelling's various rooms and patios. At the entrance, an initial garden introduces the dwelling, while to the south, a second one, which is bathed in dazzling sunlight, resembles more of an English-style garden with grasses, flowerbeds and ...
