On the foothills of Tourtour in the Var region of France, a cluster of vernacular buildings forms the basis of PAREIL’s latest residential project. The site includes a Provençal bastide serving as the main house, an annex linked by a porch that functions as a studio, and a dovecote incorporating a garage. Together, these volumes rest within an agricultural terrain shaped by historic restanques and later interventions from the late twentieth century, including a swimming pool and added terraces.
HOUSING
The existing architecture carries strong climatic intelligence. Thick stone walls provide thermal inertia. Volumes and openings respond to Mediterranean sun and wind. The northern façade embeds partially into rock, shielding the structure from prevailing gusts. While the immediate terraces saw modification decades ago, much of the surrounding land slopes upward and downward in an undeveloped state, leaving room for a renewed landscape strategy.
PAREIL approached the 320-square-meter renovation as a process of clarification. The architects reorganized the interior layout to restore functional coherence while preserving the structural and thermal logic of the original buildings. Rather than impose a new architectural language, the project reinforces what already exists.
The interventions rely on traditional materials aligned with the local context: stone, earthenware, and lime plaster structure the interior atmosphere. The team integrated passive ventilation systems, underfloor heating, and biosourced insulation tailored to specific conditions within the complex. These technical upgrades operate discreetly, strengthening performance without altering the building’s character.
The exterior underwent a comprehensive transformation. Upper and lower terraces received renovation, extension, and spatial redefinition. The architects restructured the layers of land in dialogue with the tradition of Provençal restanques, reinforcing the stepped topography through landscape design.
An axonometric view of the completed project reveals a carefully articulated ensemble: the bastide anchors the composition; the porch and annex establish transitional zones; the dovecote and garage maintain their independent presence. Around them unfold a lounge area, pool house, summer kitchen with pergola, dining space, restanques garden, parking area, and a path reconnecting the property to the village. The reorganization clarifies circulation and establishes distinct outdoor rooms without disrupting the site’s agricultural memory.
Founded in 2023 by Caroline Weill and Laetitia Paradis, PAREIL operates between Paris and Marseille. The studio defines each project through close collaboration and careful drawing, grounding its proposals in environmental and human contexts. The Tourtour renovation reflects this position. The architects treat the existing fabric as a resource, testing representation tools and spatial strategies to articulate a contemporary response rooted in place.
With a land area of 4,130 square meters, the property now reads as a cohesive estate where architecture and landscape operate as a single system. The project balances restoration and transformation, reinforcing the climatic intelligence of the original bastide while redefining its spatial organization for present-day living.
