A Villa Designed By The Architect Jacques Couëlle On The Castellaras Chateau Estate, Gazing Out

A villa designed by the architect Jacques Couëlle on the Castellaras chateau estate, gazing out at a Mediterranean landscape from hills above Cannes. The villa was built in 1961 upon the old terraces, edged with dry-stone retaining walls, of the Château de Castellaras estate, lower down from the chateau. It was designed by the famous French architect Jacques Couëlle. In fact, the edifice was originally designed for the Aga Khan. Its design bears witness to Couëlle’s architectural philosophy: forms following the land’s relief and straight geometric lines avoided. The dwelling faces south and follows the slope of the land, looking out at a sweeping vista of sky, sea and Provençal hills. From its different terraces, you can admire a panoramic view of the undulating landscape and the sparkling Mediterranean sea. Beyond a wrought-iron gate, a few steps lead up through a Mediterranean garden dotted with cypresses, oleanders and shrubs. The villa gradually comes into view as you wander along the paths and up through the different levels of the garden. It stands out for its successive rounded forms and its thick, uneven walls coated with pale rendering. The elevations form continuous curves. They are punctuated with arched openings of different sizes. The roofs of barrel tiles are of different heights. The building’s hillside position creates several entrances, both from the lower parts of the garden and the upper terraces. Inside, the spaces are spread out over three levels, centred upon a cavernous double-height lounge and a monumental staircase. The property is part of the private, secure Castellaras estate, which covers around 13 hectares. The commonhold owners here enjoy use of two swimming pools, four tennis courts and a fitness room.
Information on the risks to which this property is exposed is available on the Géorisques website: https://www.georisques.gouv.fr/