Jean Brophy and Neil Hutchinson’s gorgeous Villa Senaf come to market
We visit Villa Seynave by Jean Prouvé and Neil Hutchinson and its delicate modern architecture – currently on the market in southern France
Owning a historic home can be daunting. Part patron, part custodian, you are in danger of putting every aspect of your life, taste, and décor under intense scrutiny, with little or no options for alteration or expansion. Therefore, it is advantageous to find a property that is a complete masterpiece, without the need for substantial updating or restoration; Enter, Villa Seynave by Jean Prouvé and Neil Hutchinson and its finely tuned modernist architecture.
Upscale holiday villa in the south of France
This is a compact villa located on the edge of a golf course in Grimaud, a coastal town on the Gulf of Saint-Tropez in southern France. Designed as a vacation home, the house was commissioned by a businessman and completed in 1962. The design exemplifies the low-key and lightweight approach that characterizes Prouvé’s work. The use of new, lightweight materials such as plywood, glass panels and aluminum gives this tall, low building an airy feel, with subtly curved exotic wood panels on the facade, slender columns and large expanses of glass.
The facade has curved panels of tropical hardwood
Prouvé was steadfast in his pursuit of prefabrication methods and architecture. The Seynave home highlights some of its styles, such as the prefab concrete blocks that are distributed throughout the floor plan, containing the kitchen, storage areas, and bathrooms. Coupled with a lightweight and keel structure, the cores support the flat roof. Simplicity is the key. The house has no heating, as it is designed for use during the mild Mediterranean summer. Prouvé worked with architect Neil Hutchinson on the structure, and there are key interior elements, including the kitchen and cabinetry, designed by Charlotte Perriand, adding to the sense of occasion and historical value. There is also an integrated lighting system by industrial designer Serge Mouille.
Basic Elements of Ready Mix Concrete Home Services and Storage
The Hotel Villa Seynave is now on the market through the Paris-based architecture de Collection website. The designer himself was adamant that the building should not differ from a piece of furniture. In recent years, thanks to the tireless work of gallery maker Patrick Seguin, Prouvy’s reputation (and value) has transformed by highlighting the sculptural value of his rare pavilion projects, and bringing them to the international art market as two architectural pieces at the Château de la Tools Coste and a sculpture, collected by the likes Museum of Modern Art and Center Pompidou.
Unfold screens can divide space
The villa has been superbly preserved, with all the original carpentry and wall paneling, plus antique pieces like the steel fireplace, sunken conversation pit, and sliding partitions to divide the space. Despite the green view (and proximity to the golf course), the house is only 300 meters from the beaches of the area.
Prouvé is still known for its industrial housing systems, such as the aluminum prefab Métropole homes. This one-of-a-kind villa is rare, but still showcases the innovation and experimentation that has become the architect’s legacy. §
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