artelabo organizes secluded french villa around four internal courtyards

located on a tiny plot of land at the heart of the hérault valley, this country villa in the south of france has been designed by local architecture studio artelabo.

named ‘villa tranquille’ — or ‘quiet house’ — the structure is completely enclosed on three sides, with views oriented towards the picturesque rolling landscape. the overall geometry of the home is based on a repeated sequence of four volumes. contained behind a peripheral wall, each volume is paired with an adjacent courtyard that ensures natural light and ventilation.

designed for a mediterranean lifestyle, the house encourages outdoor living — particularly during warmer seasons. finished with a white cement render, the dwelling’s external shape refers to the archetypal image of a provincial french villa. internally, a system of sliding doors is aligned to create an enfilade, while a consistent use of flooring helps blur the division between indoor and outdoor space. the secret door that leads from the final courtyard to an open terrace recalls mashrabiya patterns, common to arabic architecture and design.

 

the dwelling is located on a tiny plot of land at the heart of france’s hérault valley

 

the entrance to the single storey home

 

living accommodation is organized around a series of internal courtyards

 

a door that leads from the final courtyard recalls mashrabiya patterns

 

a system of sliding doors is aligned to create an enfilade