MIGHT’VE EXPECTED AN ITALO-CANADIAN

couple to pick Tuscany as their European home, but it was an area northeast of Marseille in Provence that they chose instead. Dazzled by the beauty of the place and its historical heritage, for 20 years this globetrotting family had rented houses in the area, waiting for the ideal moment to buy their own. A few years ago, they were lucky enough to find a Provençal farmhouse in its original condition that had once belonged to the family of 19th-century French novelist Alphonse Daudet – and its renovation turned out to be a fascinating journey.

Steering the makeover was architect Pierre-Olivier Brèche,head of the multidisciplinary firm POBA. “I was immediately drawn to the wonderful topography of sloping land – it was an opportunity to play with levels of patios, terraced gardens and roof lines,” he says.

Laden with stories, punctuated by bories (dry stone huts) and famously painted by Van Gogh, the area is testament to a constant, soulful flow of energy and life. And throughout this farmhouse, everything was designed, developed and built by highly skilled craftsmen, all immensely proud to apply their knowledge of ancestral techniques.“We are particularly happy with the way our two additions complement the original farmhouse,” says PierreOlivier about the harmoniously integrated buildings.“Playing on the succession of spacious rooms, it is as if they had always been there.”

From the outset,Pierre-Olivier worked with landscape architect Jean Mus on rethinking the seven-hectare estate grounds. Jean imagined and designed an extraordinary landscape, displaying various combinations of Mediterranean flora and creating individual spaces that climb towards the surrounding mountains.

Interior designer Marie Laure Helmkampf, on the other hand, only became involved in the final stages of the journey, selecting a colour palette as well as furnishings, fixtures and light fittings, often custom-made, in warm combinations and complementary raw textures. The spacious lounge, for example, is a mix of soft materials and hues with designer furniture, custom-made pieces and vintage finds. In fact, most spaces in the house reflect this wonderful mix of old and new, with the dining room hosting a gorgeous raw-wood table commissioned from Laurent Passe of LPasse Design, as well as vintage Friso Kramer chairs that the owners acquired in Denmark.

“I like the combination of muted khakis and ochres against light shades, of vintage elements, which I ferret out, and contemporary pieces,” says Marie Laure. “It creates strong contrasts. The owners and I took the time to seek out the ideal items for their home.”

The result of these combined creative efforts is a country retreat that both acknowledges its heritage and embraces the contemporary chapters of the property’s story. PierreOlivier’s respectful approach,Marie Laure’s cleverly curated combination of the traditional, the vintage and the modern, and Jean’s peaceful Mediterranean landscape have resulted in a home that provides a cool, calm oasis during warm Provençal summers. poba.fr | mlhelmkampf | jeanmus.fr

"THE COMBINATION OF MUTED KHAKIS AND OCHRES AGAINST LIGHT SHADES, OF VINTAGE ELEMENTS AND CONTEMPORARY PIECES, CREATES STRONG CONTRAST" Marie Laure Heimkampf, interior designer

A comfortable Gervasoni Ghost sofa takes pride of place in the spacious lounge. The vintage black leather Butterfly chair is by Pierre Paulin. Artworks include an owl photograph by Franck Christen, candlestick sculptures in charred wood by Christian Caulas and vases by Paola Paronetto. The antique stone mantelpiece houses a 1950s ceramic lamp by Georges Pelletier and a wood engraving by Jason Middlebrook.

THIS PAGE, CLOCKWISE FROM ABOVE Designed by interior designer Marie Laure Helmkampf and custom-made by Laurent Passe of LPasse Design, a charred-wood sideboard displays sculptures by Christian Caulas; in the kitchen, dark cabinetry by Boffi is offset with Calacatta quartz countertops in a matte finish; charred-wood boards and shovels by Christian Caulas create interest, as do the pendant lights made of recycled gas cylinder tops. OPPOSITE For the dining room, Marie Laure commissioned a raw-wood table from LPasse Design.

The natural stone wall in the tranquil master bedroom provides a contrast for Ligne Roset’s curved Ploum sofa and pouf, and for the fine linen-upholstered headboard. The ceramics on the mantelpiece are carefully curated antiques, chosen by the owners.

THIS PAGE Designed and built by POBA, the 16m x 5m swimming pool, with its Ampilly flagstone decking, is surrounded by terraced gardens brought to life by Jean, and planted with olive trees, cypresses and pines. OPPOSITE The aged timber structure and reclaimed roof tiles of the stone pool house skilfully integrate into the surroundings and stay to true to the home’s Provençal style. The lava stone, metal and glass table by Paola Lenti and the Gervasoni pendant lights are all from La Maison F.