Casa Calada

This elegant late 19th-century house has been reinvented as a true artistic haven. Conceived around a bold architectural statement—a large white cube designed as a showcase for a collection of design pieces, artworks, and creations by Axel Chay—the space has been tastefully renovated, blending Mediterranean heritage with clean, modern aesthetics.

Behind its carefully preserved historic silhouette, the house reveals bright, open spaces where the original architecture naturally engages with a radical contemporary aesthetic. The renovation focused on preserving the original soul of the place while opening the spaces to a new way of living. On the ground floor, five rooms have been combined to create a vast, light-filled open-plan space that seamlessly connects the garden to the east with the terrace and sea view to the west. Opening up the load-bearing wall onto the veranda revealed a spectacular ceiling height and offered completely unobstructed views of the breathtaking horizon of the Bay of Marseille and the Côte Bleue. Conceived as the heart of the home, the kitchen is intentionally concealed behind a chlorophyll green Dibond panel. Its central island in terrazzo-effect Corian asserts a sculptural and minimalist aesthetic that engages with the carefully preserved period materials: marble fireplaces, terracotta tiles, cement tiles, original ironwork, and the garden fountain. Wood, concrete, and metal extend this contemporary design without ever erasing the history of the place. The overall effect is a decidedly artistic atmosphere where iconic furniture and artworks interact freely. The designs of Pierre Paulin, Warren Platner, Eero Saarinen, and Étienne-Henri Martin sit alongside antique plasterwork, vintage pottery, and kinetic art in a controlled interplay of contrasts where primary colors rhythmically define the spaces. One of the project’s major interventions concerns access to the upper floor. Originally served by an external staircase, this was completely redesigned around a new internal stairwell. Custom-designed, the staircase-office, crafted from steel, plexiglass, and oak, becomes a statement piece. Its deep blue structure, both graphic and sculptural, stands out as a work of art in its own right at the heart of the house. Upstairs, the atmosphere becomes softer and more meditative. Luminous whites meet the terracotta hues of antique floor tiles and the ever-changing blues of the sea. The bedrooms opening onto the garden share a bathroom clad in blue tiles, while the master suite features a wooden headboard inspired by Gio Ponti, facing an elegant marble fireplace. Completely open to the landscape, the master bathroom’s glass wall offers a spectacular immersion in the Mediterranean. Extending onto a deep blue terrace reminiscent of a suspended pool, it frames the Côte Bleue like a living painting.

Between architectural heritage, collectible design, and gallery spirit, this Marseilles house poetically blends eras, materials, and colors.

The cinematic sea view.
The inspired dialogue between ancient architecture and contemporary design.
The selection of iconic pieces and unique creations.
Information on the risks to which this property is exposed is available on the Géorisques website: https://www.georisques.gouv.fr/