Aquitaine, Dordogne, Brantôme, France

A43576LOC24 -
This residence is not just a house; it is an architectural sanctuary where wood, masonry and glass come together to offer an extraordinary living and working environment in a residential and woodland setting.
Set on over 3,800 m² of land, with flexible accommodation giving the potential for two separate living areas: one on the (entry level) floor and a second at the lower, garden level.
. The accommodation comprises a large living dining area, and separate kitchen with pantry, three bedrooms (one on each of the three levels). There is a large mezzanine, a study, two bath/shower rooms, a separate WC, a large studio, a workshop and a wine cellar, as well as a garage and greenhouse/ conservatory.
The house benefits from excellent thermal comfort, solar hot water, underfloor heating, year-round sunlight and a well-designed and flexible layout.
Full details available on request.
On arrival, the eye is immediately drawn to the interplay of volumes and the choice of materials.
The house is cleverly integrated into the natural slope of the land, creating living and working spaces that open-out onto garden and woodland. The use of timber framing and cladding for the entry-level façades and structures lends the whole property an immediate warmth, evoking the spirit of contemporary chalets whilst retaining a strong local architectural identity. The canal-style tiled roof, typical of the South-West, anchors the house in its local landscape. The exterior is designed for rest,socialisation and contemplation:
A terrace-area extends the summer living space with great potential for further development.
Partially sheltered by a pergola, it is the ideal spot for lunches in the shade of the oak trees.
Another balcony/terrace accessible from the living room gives you the wonderful sensation of floating amongst the oak canopy and captures the warm evening sunshine. A small stone-surround pond, a water feature nestled at the foot of the terrace, provides an additional element of freshness and serenity to the garden.
The conjoined entry-level ‘auvent’ - a covered entrance area between the large garage and south facing green-house - is both stylish and practical, used for storage of wood and shady mid-summer lunches.
Upon stepping inside the house, one discovers a spacious interior where the concept of ‘inside-outside’ truly comes to life.

The Living Room and Dining Room (51 m²)

The vast living room, extensively glazed on two-sides, is the beating heart of the house in both
summer and winter. It is a beautiful space, with large, dark, underfloor-heated tiles, contrasting elegantly with the exposed oak beams, high ceilings and huge glazed sliding doors. These flood the room with natural light, offering a panoramic view of the surrounding forest, providing shade
during the peak of summer but allowing the sun to shine through after the autumn leaf fall. Here, the changing seasons become a living tableau that can be admired whilst comfortably seated by the fireplace.

The Kitchen (16 m²)

Opening seamlessly into the living and dining area, the kitchen is thoughtfully designed to
create a natural flow through the space. It features a tiled floor with the added comfort of underfloor heating and is well-appointed with a gas hob, ample shelving, and generous cupboard storage. There is also space for a table, ideal for more intimate dining. A useful, compact walk-in pantry/larder provides additional storage.

Private Areas: Comfort and Serenity

The house has several bedrooms (12 m², 15 m², 16 m²) arranged to ensure everyone’s privacy.
There is currently one bedroom per floor. On the ground floor a door from the living room leads into a private corridor from which can be accessed a bedroom, large bathroom and study.
The Upper (gallery) Floor (40 m²)
Accessed via a sleek, minimalist wooden staircase, the upstairs area features ‘gable-end’ windows and elevated dormer windows that flood the space with light. It also provides a ‘double-height’ element adding to the spacious feel of the main living-area below. The mezzanine leads directly into a large west facing bedroom.
The Lower Garden Level (80 m²)
This level comprises a spacious lobby, a huge light filled studio, a bedroom with glazed doors
opening onto a small deck, and a large shower room. Following the slope of the site, the lower level also has direct access to the outdoors from all the rooms. This space is cool in summer and cosy in winter, with openings framing the woodland landscape like works of art, The large studio-space is ideal for an artist, or for someone who needs a gymnasium or a yoga studio for instance, or could be easily converted into a generous kitchen/living room as part of a self contained annex.

A Garden Suspended Between Light and Shadow

The property’s grounds are a true sanctuary of biodiversity. Mature trees (oaks, chestnut trees)
create a natural canopy that shields the house from prying eyes and the summer heat. The carpet of russet leaves in autumn and the soft green of spring make this garden a space in constant flux. The garden is low maintenance with open lawns around the house for relaxation, and wilder areas to encourage local wildlife.

Technical Specifications and Features

High-quality materials:
Premium timber including resilient larch cladding, locally-sourced chestnut flooring, high- performance double-glazed sliding windows and doors, natural stone. Bioclimatic design utilises the residual coolness of the ground-floor rooms during the summer and a cosy combination of high specification wall, floor and roof insulation plus heat retention by the thermal mass of the house in Winter. The rest of the structure is built using thick Monamur masonry. Clad with timber
panels and compressed gypsum boards (Fermacell) with high insulating properties. The owner/architect used all his accumulated knowledge and experience as an environmental architect in designing and specifying the mix and purposing of materials used. The timber used in the construction is locally sourced, and care has been taken to use natural products (paints, pigments, lime, etc.).
A rainwater harvesting system allows rainwater to be recycled for specified domestic uses.

Heating:

The design of the house maximises solar-gain in winter, and thermal comfort through the high levels of insulation, and a highly efficient system of heating and hot water.
Hot water is generated through solar panels supplemented by off peak electricity. Central
heating is via large hot water tanks that supply the underfloor heating and radiators, heated by a combination of off-peak electricity and the wood-burning stove (which has a boiler/insert with water heater)
There is a simple mechanical ventilation system and the house is designed to be fully airtight, following Passivhaus principles
Outbuildings: Lock-up garage and workshop adjoining a greenhouse,
Condition: The property is well-maintained and ready to welcome its new owners without the need for major works.

Why choose this property?
It is perfectly suited for:

A Primary Residence: For a family seeking a healthy and inspiring living environment, close to
the schools and shops of Brantôme.
A Second Home: An ideal holiday retreat, easy-going and perfect for recharging your batteries.
A workspace and home for an artist, artisan or those seeking physical fitness and wellbeing:
The workshops and studio offer the absolute tranquillity needed for a flexible, productive and relaxing working environment.
More than just a house, this property embodies a way of life. It celebrates the marriage of bold architecture and the untamed wilderness of the Périgord Vert. To visit this home is to fall under the spell of a place where the modern meets the traditional, embedded in nature. Don’t miss the opportunity to acquire one of the most unique properties in the Brantôme area. A rare setting