From the street, there is a small and steep stairway leading up to the garden. Situated on a hill, most of the property is invisible from the street. The five meters difference may not sound like a lot, but it protects us from the noise of the somewhat quiet street. It also lets the sea breeze cool us in the summer. In winter, of course, the west wing gets the strong winds, but the rest of the house sees the sun much earlier.

My father had the house designed by Mme. Gonfreville, a well-known architect of the “Ecole de Bordeaux” a (minor) school of architectural thought which focus on the integration between the building and its surrounding nature.

Since Mme Gonfreville also had a house on the Cap Ferret, she knew best about the climate and the local vegetation. She integrated the house in the vegetation, while fighting with the construction company to keep as many trees as possible around the house.

My father wanted to be able to give big receptions, both inside and outside the house, welcome his two children with their own families and nevertheless have a very quiet, southing place to live. Very unusual for Cap Ferret, he also insisted on a year-round house, where it is still pleasant to stay during the not so pleasant winter months.