A Belle Époque villa with self-contained houses, in a 1,700-m² garden,
200 metres from the ocean, on the Côte de Jade coastline
200 metres from the ocean, on the Côte de Jade coastline
Saint-Brevin-les-Pins,
LOIRE-ATLANTIQUE
pays-de-loire
44250
FR
Location
This property is located on the Côte de Jade coastline, to the south of the Loire Estuary, between the ocean and pine forest, in the Loire Atlantique area in the Pays de la Loire region. This stretch of coastline developed from the second half of the 19th century onwards with the rise in popularity of seaside bathing and has retained its residential and holiday resort character. The edifice stands in an old district made up of elegant villas and vast tree-filled gardens. The beach, shops, markets and main services can all be reached on foot, in a living environment that is much sought-after throughout the year. The bus station provides links to surrounding municipalities as well as the high-speed TGV train station in Saint Nazaire. Nantes and its international airport are less than 1 hour away.
Description
This property is only 200 metres from the ocean and stands in an approximately 1,700-m² plot that is entirely enclosed. It includes a tree-filled garden with an orchard, a vegetable garden and several relaxation areas. It is made up of three main buildings and various outbuildings. The centre of the plot is occupied by a two-storey seaside villa erected in the late 19th century. It also has a basement level and its architecture is typical of the Belle Époque period. Its rendered facades are underlined by brick quoins plus window as well as door surrounds and are punctuated by tall windows fitted with wooden shutters. The steeply sloped, tiled roof is dotted with dormers. The most remarkable element is a polygonal bay window protruding from the southern facade into the garden. In a niche at the top of a gable, a statue of Saint Joseph has watched over the residence since it was built and pays witness of the builder’s desire to place it under the protection of the patron saint of families. On the western edge of the property, there is a wing that includes several adjoining constructions: a self-contained guests’ house, buildings housing various technical facilities and a second house built in the 1990s. This single-storey edifice stands around a patio and boasts a more modern appearance but fits seamlessly into the rest of the property. The buildings total almost 500 m² of living space spread over three separated but connected edifices. The main villa boasts a surface of more than 300 m², with vast reception rooms, four ground-floor area bedrooms and around 110 m² of a partially convertible attic level. The modern house and guests’ house possess living space of 140 m² and 150 m² respectively. On this part of the property, there is also a double garage, while a stone outbuilding stands near the vegetable garden.
The villa
The villa is among the most remarkable in the municipality and stands on a stone plinth course with a raised ground floor above a partial basement level, while beneath the roof frame there is a vast attic level. The patio is slightly raised above the garden, is bordered by a masonry balustrade, runs along the main facade and opens the house to the exterior.
The ground floor
This approximately 190-m² level can be reached via an oakwood entrance door that has been restored identically to the original one, including the removable ironwork. The entrance hall boasts straight pitch pinewood strip flooring, while the ceilings possess moulded cornices and a central rose. An alcove in the wall is used as a shelf and two double-leaf doors open into the reception rooms. A double, dual-aspect living room with a surface of around 55 m² boasts a ceiling height of more than 3 metres. The period straight wood strip flooring is accompanied by tall wood panelling climbing to the ceiling which is adorned with moulded cornices, wainscotting and roses. It is divided into two spaces which merge into each other, namely a lounge and a dining room, both of which are dual-aspect with uninterrupted views of the garden. A black marble fireplace, topped with a trumeau panel and now fitted with a closed hearth, dominates the room. Following on from the lounge, the bay window serves as a veritable conservatory. It has been renovated with anti-shatter glass, while the original stained-glass windows have been preserved as removable elements, enabling their upkeep and restoration. Tall interior shutters pay witness to the ingenious fittings of the late 19th century. When closed in late autumn and winter, they help to attenuate the effects of this vast opening onto the garden. From the entrance, a central corridor leads to four bedrooms of similar size, between 14 m² and 16 m², at the four corners of the house. Each bedroom is bathed in light through tall, small-paned, double-leaf windows made of painted wood, whose low-arched surrounds are faithful to the original design of the villa. A fitted kitchen is set out around a masonry stove with a baking oven, which is inspired by Finnish traditions and diffuses the heat it generates into the neighbouring rooms. The space extends into a veranda equipped as a dining area jutting out slightly over the garden, with direct access to the exterior via a flight of stairs. This level is completed by an office as well as a separate bathroom and separate shower room, both of which include a lavatory.
The upstairs
The attic level boasts a surface of approximately 110 m² and already includes two bedrooms, while the vast remaining space is delimited by simple and light partitions.
The basement
In part of the edifice’s basement, beneath the double living room, this level includes a boiler room, several storerooms and a cellar.
The guests’ house
To the north of the wing of buildings adjoining the villa, there is a self-contained house erected in the 1950s. The single-storey edifice with a tiled gabled roof boasts soberly rendered facades, which are enlivened by a small protruding section topped by a gable wall marking the entrance. The house contains a bedroom, a shower room with a lavatory and a vast, dual-aspect, around 25-m² living room. It opens onto a private patio leading to the garden and boasts several features that are typical of the time of its construction, such as the original flooring made up of small, coloured tiles and certain wooden fittings. It is already habitable but could be modernised according with its intended future purpose.
The modern house
To the south of the wing of buildings adjoining the villa, this edifice was built in the 1990s. Its rendered facades are underlined by brick surrounds and quoins without distracting from the architecture of the original villa. This single-storey construction is laid out around a shaded patio. The entrance leads to the kitchen, an office and an almost 45-m² reception room, beneath a remarkable cathedral ceiling. Underneath the exposed roof frame and bathed in light through the wide windows, there is a large, tiled masonry stove. The house also includes two bedrooms, a shower room with a lavatory, a separate lavatory and a vast utility room. To bring it into line with the architectural style of the villa, several adaptations to the decoration could be carried out.
The outbuildings
They adjoin one another, link the guests’ house to the modern house and include several storerooms as well as a summer kitchen. Near to the vegetable garden, the old stone outbuilding pays witness to the various purposes the property has been put to over the years. Today it has been transformed into a workshop with a forge but previously it housed a neighbourhood café. It has a floor area of 30 m² beneath the exposed roof frame. Next to the double garage, there is a secure parking area.
The garden
It is entirely enclosed and is set out around the various buildings, containing several different ambiances. To the south of the villa, a patio bordered by a balustrade stands slightly higher than the immediate vicinity of the edifice, while a cosier patio stands in front of the guests’ house. Near to the modern house, a remarkable magnolia provides a cools pace in the midst of the property. To the rear, the plot contains a lawn dotted with shrubs followed by an orchard made up of fig, apple, pear and plum trees as well as grape vines. An almost 200-m² vegetable garden with a well is laid out in raised beds and is adjacent to a hen coop. Thanks to its size and aspect, the garden would be ideal for installing a swimming pool.
Our opinion
This property has been built up over time, around a seaside villa which has remained its centrepiece. The condition in which the residence has been maintained, the presence of two self-contained houses and the layout of the garden form a coherent setting whose purpose could be developed without altering the place’s spirit. Whether as a family residence, vacation home or holiday let, the property meets all the criteria for flexible and long-lasting enjoyment. Some extra work could be conducted to further enhance certain parts.
Reference 310357
| Land registry surface area | 1707 m² |
| Main building floor area | 305 m² |
| Number of bedrooms | 9 |
| Outbuildings floor area | 266 m² |
| including refurbished area | 188 m² |
French Energy Performance Diagnosis
Information on the risks to which this property is exposed is available on the website: www.georisques.gouv.fr
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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.
