This house in Marseille sits at the summit of Le Roucas Blanc, a discreet and elevated residential area. Here, the city gradually gives way to the landscape, with winding paths, Mediterranean vegetation and uninterrupted views stretching out to sea. For the owner, the setting is deeply personal: they grew up on the adjacent plot, creating a strong and lasting emotional connection to this place.
When interior architect Sandrine Sarah Faivre first saw it, she was immediately struck by a sense of openness, with the plot framed by two magnificent pine trees. A unique view for Marseille unfolds in a sweeping panorama, from the Calanques stretching towards Cassis on one side, all the way to the Île Maïre, often referred to as the Tortoise Island, on the other. ‘It’s a rare, almost cinematic horizon, constantly shifting with the light,’ she says.
The house itself, she found, was modest – secondary in a way to the strength of its surroundings. That contrast, between a simple structure and an extraordinary setting, became the starting point of the project.
The homeowner has been a longtime client of Sandrine’s – this was their fourth project together. ‘Over time, we have developed a very intuitive and trusting relationship,’ she observes. The brief was to transform what was originally a caretaker’s house into a refined yet relaxed retreat — a weekend home for a family of four. ‘It had to feel intimate, timeless and deeply connected to its environment, rather than demonstrative or overly designed,’ she adds.
‘The starting point was the landscape — the pines, the light, and the horizon line of the sea,’ Sandrine says. ‘From there, I chose to work with restraint: simplicity, softness and clarity. Rather than imposing a strong architectural gesture, the idea was to let the house become a quiet frame for what is already there. The design is about balance — between inside and outside, between light and material, between presence and absence.’
The project involved significant architectural transformation, with Sandrine and her team tripling the floorplan, extending the original structure on one side in place of a shed, and excavating a new lower level beneath the house. This lower-ground-floor was particularly challenging; ‘Its proportions were difficult – low ceiling, linear layout – but at the same time it had one of the most spectacular views,’ recalls Sandrine.
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They divided the space into three distinct yet fluid zones: kitchen and dining area, fireplace lounge, and a reading area with a large bespoke daybed. Mirrors were used to create visual continuity and bring a sense of cross-light. Another challenge was preserving the two pine trees during construction. ‘They were essential to the identity of the project, so protecting them became a priority from the very beginning,’ she adds.
The material palette is deliberately restrained in order to create continuity between old and new spaces. Pine was used for the flooring, in resonance with the trees outside, while a fine beige stone was selected for the ground floor and bathrooms, its colour a nod to the white limestone of the Calanques de Cassis.
From there, Sandrine worked with variations in texture rather than contrast, opting for soft, warm and neutral shades to enhance the light rather than compete with it. For the furniture and artworks, she focused almost entirely on the contemporary creative scene in Marseille. This brought a strong narrative layer to the project while keeping it grounded in its local context.
Because of their long collaboration, there was a strong alignment between Sandrine and her client, whose trust allowed her to go far in terms of refinement and restraint. ‘There is an immediate sense of wellbeing – it’s a place that instantly disconnects you from the noise of the city, while still being very much part of Marseille,’ she says, adding, ‘what continues to surprise – even now – happens each time you step down to the lower level. The view is truly breathtaking, but beyond that, it’s the sensation of being immersed in the elements. It’s a very physical, emotional experience that renews itself with every stay. Even long after completion, the client still sends me occasional messages just to share that feeling again.’
