Our rental of the week is an antidote to excess – a modern rural retreat in southwest France designed by Vicky Thornton and Jef Smith of MELD Architecture.
Lauzerte House sits on a hillside overlooking the Tarn-et-Garonne valley and has been designed to melt into its surrounding landscape. Constructed using local materials, it features a rubble limestone base and a tawny-coloured upper volume clad in chestnut.
The heart of the French holiday home – for rent via The Modern House – is a light filled living space encompassing kitchen, dining and living areas. It spills out onto roof terraces on two sides, with views over the surrounding countryside.
Lauzerte House’s timber interiors have been paired with bold accents of colour from vibrant furniture, doors and wall panels.
Courtesy of The Modern House
Courtesy of The Modern House
Courtesy of The Modern House
Courtesy of The Modern House
Courtesy of The Modern House
Elsewhere, there are wood burning stoves to ensure a cosy winter, while for summer breaks there’s a swimming pool with views over the valley.
The three-bedroom retreat is up on its eco-credentials too: the French holiday home boasts a green roof, solar thermal panels for hot water and rainwater harvesting for irrigation and WC flushing.
