Hello everyone. I have been harbouring some thoughts for quite some time, and seek opinions (yeah, I know, a dangerous zone).
I sense a sharp distinction that dominates majority of property projects in France - restoration of an old building or new build. Either or. I really do not care for the modern style out there, yet a restoration project is also not my cup of tea. Is it possible to have it both ways – a new build but not in the new style?
I am thinking along the lines of getting a derelict property and demo it to a large degree on the inside, then rebuild with modern facilities yet with the attributes of the old style – parquet floors, crown mouldngs, arched passageways, wall paneling, etc-- you get the picture. I am not after faking an old house, or being true to a particular period – I just love the classic touches that I feel are on the way of extinction. I get high from well designed spaces, what can I do. Is something like this done in France?
It’s largely a question of budget and motivation. You can get a builder to build what you like (within the limits of planning system of course), but have to find right builder. Otherwise you will get the standard box which is relatively cheap and great for families.
Look at German prefabricated houses. Some are stunning.
Your bigger problem might be constructible land that’s not in a lotissmemt.
Something like this maybe? We restored a cottage at the bottom of our garden.
This shows before and after.
When I say “we restored” in fact it was done by a team of builders - as @JaneJones says, not your typical French builder but a team of Poles who normally restored Chateaux and so had a real feel for how to keep the characteristics of the original farm cottage and at the same time give us all our modern comforts - underfloor heating, double glazing, lovely wooden staircase.
You say a “restoration project is not your cup of tea” but then go on to describe exactly that. Just as ours was. Basically 4 walls, open to the sky, burnt out kitchen and chimney, interior divided into horrid little box rooms. We did nothing ourselves other than rush round choosing all the fittings and handing them over to the Poles to put in place. Everyone who stays here absolutely loves it.
Really appreciate your perspective and sharing successful bringing back to life of what would be still standing as an eye sore if not for your efforts. Most likely there are semantics at play since English is not my first language and I lived in the US for many years where there is a niche in historic home restoration with very passionate people salvaging staircases, stripping fireplaces to reveal original wood, sourcing plaster ceiling medallions from other buildings. They spend life time studying in Europe architectural plans, codes, manufacturers, etc, debate on specific fields be it Victorian or Georgian architecture, Italiante or Spanish colonial-- all the way to a door knob. It is less about aesthetics and more about historic precision. That is not what I am talking here. My interest is just in renovation --i.e. completely new build but in the visual style that incorporate classic elements.
I’m guessing the new build/old style applies to the outside as well as the interior. There’s a reason why you see very few new stone built houses, they are so very expensive (and traditional stone masons are sadly a dying breed).
The outer shell can remain original, especially if in a great shape. No reason to destroy what is designed to stand for centuries more…
This is what I am afraid that due to lack of demand, it is impossible to buy prefabricated architectural components and they have to be custom-fabricated. That is costly indeed, not mentioning even more time consuming than already incredibly long timelines due to shortage of artisans.
Sounds an interesting project.
will you be seeking the “architectural components” which would have made up the house/property originally??
… or simply putting in architectural components from “elsewhere” to suit yourself?
The latter. I am not obsessed with ‘authnticity’ – I happily enjoy visiting authentic manors and chateaux and not trying to emulate them in my own living surroundings, I just want something more beautiful architecturally than a plain box that I see so common in new construction. Am I a hopeless dreamer?
There’s an architect called Neil Vesma who used to write a monthly article in French Property News magazine, who I think does the kind of project you are thinking about.
I think he’s in the Dordogne.
OHHHH… thank you!!
depending on the dimensions of the “box” (new or old) you can put in what you like. Plenty to be found in recycling specialist places or you can buy “new” from the artisans.
Ahh, interesting. Well, you all are giving me sufficient hope.
I think I know what you mean and you might want to spend a bit of time looking through some renovations on this site:
Might help?
Takes me back when I had some stone mullions made for a building years ago, the moulds cost the money but had to be done £350 each
You must have been a mullionaire to afford those…
We have some French friends who are passionate about restorations. Currently on the third one, but for them authenticity is all important. Started with a 12C chateau, then 18C and now somewhere in 16C with the palace of an abbey. They (or their artisans) find what they need.
To me what you are describing is an American pastiche, and that is not really a thing here. Lots of contemporary interpretations that are very beautiful, and lots of authentic conversions.
If you have the money it’s achievable.
…saw some incredibly ugly stuff in the Far and Middle East with stick on ‘Classsical’ elements I think made of plastic. …come ot mind, also quite prevalent in the US too with stick on poorly proportioned tripe. (not the sheep stomach type of course)…
I know exactly what you are referring to. Yes, lots of tasteless grotesque out there regardless o style chosen. I suppose to each is their own though.
Aaahhh! The Disney school of design 