A house of approximately 200 m², in need of a complete renovation,
on tree-filled grounds of 7,500 m² in a residential neighbourhood near the centre of Aix-en-Provence
on tree-filled grounds of 7,500 m² in a residential neighbourhood near the centre of Aix-en-Provence
Aix-en-Provence,
BOUCHES-DU-RHONE
provence-cote-dazur
13090
FR
Location
The property, located in the south of the PACA region and the eastern part of the Bouches-du-Rhône department, 25 minutes from the Marseille-Provence airport, 20 minutes from the Aix-en-Provence high-speed rail station and five minutes from its most historic neighbourhoods, enjoys all the advantages of a lively and commercial downtown area, while still benefitting from a verdant environment.
The historical capital of Provence, with nearly 150,000 inhabitants in 2020, boasts a rich cultural heritage and has asserted itself as a major tourism hub, while the Aix-en-Provence urban area, focused on cultural and academic life, also enjoys an exceptional natural environment within close proximity to both the sea and the mountains, under the watchful gaze of the Sainte-Victoire Mountain.
Description
The property is accessible via a lane that connects Aix-en-Provence’s historical downtown to its first outlying areas. As the city’s main arteries gradually slip away into the background, one feels as if they are in the middle of the countryside, while the neighbourhood itself is divided into large parcels of land where beautiful buildings, typical of the region, have been constructed.
At the property’s entrance, the gate opens onto a courtyard paved in vertical river pebbles, which forms the upper terrace that connects the main house to the caretaker’s cottage. Further to the west, the terraced garden spreads out over approximately 7,500 m² and today includes a swimming pool area as well as a number of tall trees, between which the vestiges of the buildings once reserved for animals can still be glimpsed.
Made out of Rognes ashlar stone, a high-quality material, the buildings are cadenced by a number of windows, both large and small, while their different barrel-tile rooftops, in an array of varying slopes and heights, create an eye-catching interplay, which adds a touch of character to the whole.
Located in the centre of the lot, the main dwelling, built in 1971 with one storey except for its eastern section, which has an upstairs mezzanine floor, primarily faces south and east thanks to its many small-paned wood-framed windows and conservatory.
As for the one-storey caretaker’s cottage, located not far from the main dwelling, it was built in 1931 and then later expanded with its own conservatory.
At the property’s entrance, the gate opens onto a courtyard paved in vertical river pebbles, which forms the upper terrace that connects the main house to the caretaker’s cottage. Further to the west, the terraced garden spreads out over approximately 7,500 m² and today includes a swimming pool area as well as a number of tall trees, between which the vestiges of the buildings once reserved for animals can still be glimpsed.
Made out of Rognes ashlar stone, a high-quality material, the buildings are cadenced by a number of windows, both large and small, while their different barrel-tile rooftops, in an array of varying slopes and heights, create an eye-catching interplay, which adds a touch of character to the whole.
Located in the centre of the lot, the main dwelling, built in 1971 with one storey except for its eastern section, which has an upstairs mezzanine floor, primarily faces south and east thanks to its many small-paned wood-framed windows and conservatory.
As for the one-storey caretaker’s cottage, located not far from the main dwelling, it was built in 1931 and then later expanded with its own conservatory.
The Main Dwelling
Organised into two sections, the first part includes the living spaces, accessible from the north and the conservatory to the south, which provide access, on one side, to a living area with a rectangular terracotta tile floor that includes an open kitchen, dining room, sitting area and an office on the mezzanine level. On the other side, the sleeping quarters include two bedrooms, a bathroom and a tiled shower room, two separate lavatories and a laundry room, while cathedral ceilings with exposed beams contribute to the rooms’ overall luminosity and volume.
Back in the living room, a monumental masonry fireplace, which cadences the space, separates the sitting area from the dining room, the latter of which is accessible via an archway to the right of the fireplace. Above the dining room, an ashlar stone staircase leads to the mezzanine, which provides wonderful views of the garden’s verdant vegetation and the countryside around Aix thanks to a number of small-paned wood-framed windows to the west and two horizontal picture windows to the south. Lastly, the two vast bedrooms, one of which has a hardwood floor, are both topped with inclined ceilings.
The Caretaker's Cottage
Topped with barrel tiles over wooden rafters, the cottage includes a living room with a patterned cement tile floor, a large wood-framed window to the west and a corner fireplace. To the east, the room opens onto a small kitchen and pantry as well as a bathroom to the north.
In 1971, the caretaker’s cottage was expanded to the south with a large winter garden-like conservatory supported by Rognes stone pillars.
The Outbuildings
Located behind the main dwelling and next to the caretaker’s cottage, two annexe buildings from 1931 include, on one side, a storage area, next to which a pizza oven was installed, and, on the other, a small workshop with a wrought-iron atelier window.
The Garden
Extending over more than 7,500 m², the garden is divided into several stone terraces. The first upper terrace represents the parking area and provides access to both dwellings, while, below and behind the main dwelling and conservatory, a vegetable garden is still visible and leads to the swimming pool, in need of a renovation. The rest of the garden is planted with a variety of trees and shrubs, including a number of pines and olive trees. Sheltered from view with plenty of shade thanks to its tall evergreen conifer trees, it should be noted that the property’s overgrown garden is in need of some TLC in order to return the original olive grove, which includes several dozen trees, to its full splendour once again.
Our opinion
This property, which includes a house, an inhabitable annexe and useful outbuildings, is located in a bucolic environment only five minutes from the centre of Aix. In need of a complete renovation, these traditionally designed buildings, constructed on sound foundations, exude undeniable character coupled with quality materials. Ideally located, with local architecture that combines volume with luminosity as well as idyllic views of the surrounding countryside, this property boasts a number of considerable advantages that contribute to its overall exceptional nature, provided that a complete renovation is carried out beforehand.
870 000 €
Fees at the Vendor’s expense
Reference 812229
| Land registry surface area | 7660 m2 |
| Main building surface area | 147 m2 |
| Number of bedrooms | 3 |
| Outbuilding surface area | 80 m2 |
| including refurbished area | 50 m2 |
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NB: The above information is not only the result of our visit to the property; it is also based on information provided by the current owner. It is by no means comprehensive or strictly accurate especially where surface areas and construction dates are concerned. We cannot, therefore, be held liable for any misrepresentation.
