The Luberon, France
When La Gonette was acquired in 1999, this house was a "perfect ruin" - a sound roof with a magical facade and hundred foot terrace, but no floors nor much for doors or walls. Not deterred, by the project's end the burnt-out shell had been transformed into a magnificent house, full of comfort, attention to the vernacular style and rivalled gardens.
Set in a hill village in Provence, among lavender fields and goat cheese farms, the opportunities at La Gonette were not limited by any structure; the transformation of the shell at La Gonette was paramount. A simplicity of architecture unifies every room - no cornice, dado or skirting board confine the 12-foot distempered walls; a stone cantilever staircase leads to five comfortable bedrooms and bathrooms on the floor above.
Under the watchful attention of Robert and his team, a thoughtful, beautiful expression of the local vernacular by local craftsmen using their traditions makes the design of this project so pleasing. Wall-depth bookcases, tiled floors, planked doors and shutters are all simple layers of influence, shown in the new structure.
A stone scullery, a swimming pool constructed within a roofless barn, floors tiled with ancient and varied tiles, the cantilevered staircase as well as every beam, ceiling and wall had to be created.
Robert filled the house with pictures, rugs, lamps and furniture - enriching the atmosphere with associations of the Orient and the Middle East. The library is stacked with books and curtains made of eighteenth-century silk velvet hang alongside runners and carpets, all in Kime style. Fireplaces that give the impression that they were original to the house appear in multiple rooms, but all were installed by Robert. Loose lined curtains in the bedrooms and reading lights encourage relaxed moments. Like many kitchens in Robert's projects, this one gives the appearance of collected design, but is all purposeful and operates seamlessly without the strictness of a new kitchen. A vintage dresser with vestiges of original paint and a work table with shelves and storage drawers make up the main elements.
Outdoors, against the lime-washed wall of the 200 foot terrace, Robert and team transformed a builder's yard into a garden replete with fruit trees, irises and a monumental stone lion watching over all.
A stone scullery, a swimming pool constructed within a roofless barn, floors tiled with ancient and varied tiles, the cantilevered staircase as well as every beam, ceiling and wall had to be created.
Robert filled the house with pictures, rugs, lamps and furniture - enriching the atmosphere with associations of the Orient and the Middle East. The library is stacked with books and curtains made of eighteenth-century silk velvet hang alongside runners and carpets, all in Kime style. Fireplaces that give the impression that they were original to the house appear in multiple rooms, but all were installed by Robert. Loose lined curtains in the bedrooms and reading lights encourage relaxed moments. Like many kitchens in Robert's projects, this one gives the appearance of collected design, but is all purposeful and operates seamlessly without the strictness of a new kitchen. A vintage dresser with vestiges of original paint and a work table with shelves and storage drawers make up the main elements.
Outdoors, against the lime-washed wall of the 200 foot terrace, Robert and team transformed a builder's yard into a garden replete with fruit trees, irises and a monumental stone lion watching over all.
