Le Pine, France

This family summer house in Saint Tropez, France designed by SAOTA, is a contemporary interpretation of traditional Mediterranean Riviera architecture. Free from the constraints of the historical vernacular, the project became an opportunity to advance the expression of form, space, and lifestyle associated with the location.

“Our first objective was to try to maximise the perception of space,” says SAOTA Director Phillippe Fouché, lead architect on the project. “We did that by creating generous outdoor covered spaces, which make it feel as if the interiors spill outwards and extend to the front of the site.”

The house is arranged between two rectilinear side wings that embrace a central courtyard. The bedrooms occupy all of one wing, plus the top level of the second, while the kitchen and dining areas are located downstairs. The main suite has a dedicated staircase that provides access from a double‐volume private lounge. The main living and entertainment areas are positioned in the central high‐volumed void between the wings, capped with a dramatically folded floating roof, which imparts a sense of grandeur to the interiors. The folded shape of the roof, formed using raw wooded planks in a subtle reference to the pines, not only echoes the cascading terraces of the landscape but also contrasts with the straight‐lined geometry of the wings on either side. 

The interior was conceived as a gallery‐typed space, which involved not only creating clear open areas but also inviting the light in, particularly from above. Frameless windows and apertures capture views of surrounding courtyards, further integrating interior and exterior and knitting the house into its setting.

The interior finishes contrast raw, expressive concrete on the soffit, for example, with dark marble cladding on the rear walls, lighter stone towards the front of the house and vein‐cut travertine floors. The natural materiality emphasises the architecture as an extension of the landscape, while the dark stone towards the back of the living area accentuates the illusion of depth, further enhancing the sense of space.

Architecturally, Le Pine explores the potential for a new expression of the spirit of Saint Tropez, drawing on SAOTA’s insights earned over decades of designing houses along Cape Town’s Atlantic seaboard, liberating its interior spaces and enabling a refreshing indoor‐outdoor lifestyle.