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Building a southern French home in America

post #1 of 97
3/29/08 at 10:07pm
Thread Starter 
I recently bought a plot of land that's secluded and I'd like to build an authentic southern French home there. Is such a task possible? I am guessing I am going to pay double the sqft price if I were using construction materials native to the US. Also, dealing with regulations may be a problem, too, but a builder can figure that out.

Has anybody attempted this, or know anywhere I could read about taking on this project and/or advice on doing this?

Thanks.
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post #2 of 97
3/29/08 at 10:30pm
I know a couple of people who have bought the bricks or stones from falling down houses in France, and others who have bought beams from old churches. All of these people had mountains of cash to burn, so it wasn't a burden for them. In all reality, not much good is built in the south of France right now other than some interesting modern stuff, so there are not so many authentic materials, even there. You also need to know whether you are talking Riviera, Provence or Southwest, as the architecture is quite different in each area.
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post #3 of 97
3/29/08 at 10:37pm
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Quote:
Originally Posted by iammatt View Post
I know a couple of people who have bought the bricks or stones from falling down houses in France, and others who have bought beams from old churches. All of these people had mountains of cash to burn, so it wasn't a burden for them. In all reality, not much good is built in the south of France right now other than some interesting modern stuff, so there are not so many authentic materials, even there. You also need to know whether you are talking Riviera, Provence or Southwest, as the architecture is quite different in each area.

Well, I have fallen in love with every home I've visited in Provence, and would like to use the pictures I have from when I was visiting and construct something similar.

I don't have mountains of cash to burn, but was hoping I could build something for under 1.5m.
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post #4 of 97
3/29/08 at 10:43pm
I have no idea about this particular site, but look for things like this: http://www.chabaud-materiaux.com/old...materials.html You can get nice, distressed flooring from you local distributer, so that shouldn't cost too much more than normal. Perhaps something like this: http://www.elmwoodreclaimedtimber.co....aspx?pgID=873 From there, you kind of fill in the gaps. There should be builders and architects in your area, so they will be helpful.
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post #5 of 97
3/29/08 at 10:59pm
Thread Starter 
Thanks. I'll continue to look, though it seems like this dream could turn into reality. : )
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post #6 of 97
3/30/08 at 2:56pm
Are there pics online of similar houses? I guess part of my question is, how authentic does it need to be? How much stone work, stucco, post & beam, etc?

And how many sq ft total are you shooting for? Some builders build at $100 per sq while other homes are $500 or more per sq (depending on materials, amount of time required for detail and finish work, etc).
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post #7 of 97
3/30/08 at 3:02pm
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Quote:
Originally Posted by crazyquik View Post
Are there pics online of similar houses? I guess part of my question is, how authentic does it need to be? How much stone work, stucco, post & beam, etc?

And how many sq ft total are you shooting for? Some builders build at $100 per sq while other homes are $500 or more per sq (depending on materials, amount of time required for detail and finish work, etc).

Well, I went through various photos available through John Taylor real estate in Provence and am just in the brainstorming stage. I'd like it to be as authentic as possible while keeping it under 350$/sqft.

I am hoping for 2000-2800sqft, but that's not set in stone.
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post #8 of 97
3/30/08 at 4:20pm
normally i would say that when people build a home, they should look to the future, not the past, but i do applaud you for seeking out authentic materials.
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post #9 of 97
3/30/08 at 4:23pm
This is a Provencal home I could go for:



The tower of Philip the Fair, built across the Rhone from Avignon in order to keep an eye on the Pope...
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post #10 of 97
3/30/08 at 4:23pm
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Quote:
Originally Posted by matadorpoeta View Post
normally i would say that when people build a home, they should look to the future, not the past, but i do applaud you for seeking out authentic materials.

I will have modern stuff (ie. solar panels on the roof, a hot water heater that lasts more than five minutes, a real shower, and modern plumbing/kitchen fixtures), but I am going to try to keep it as close to a French provençal home as possible, aesthetically speaking.
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post #11 of 97
3/30/08 at 4:30pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by savvyibd View Post
I will have modern stuff (ie. solar panels on the roof, a hot water heater that lasts more than five minutes, a real shower, and modern plumbing/kitchen fixtures), but I am going to try to keep it as close to a French provençal home as possible, aesthetically speaking.

i wasn't referring to modernity, i was referring to, the future. if and when i build a house from scratch, i will build it to look like nothing the world has ever seen. a good friend of mine is actually building one of those faux tuscan villas, supposedly "designed" by his wife, and i'm finding it very difficult not to say anything insulting.

i suppose this could go in the "things you just can't understand" thread. i can't understand someone building something from scratch, and not taking the opportunity to design something unique to them.
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post #12 of 97
3/30/08 at 4:31pm
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Quote:
Originally Posted by RJman View Post
This is a Provencal home I could go for:



The tower of Philip the Fair, built across the Rhone from Avignon in order to keep an eye on the Pope...

Not my style.

This http://i26.tinypic.com/34s12zm.jpg with this http://i29.tinypic.com/2urmrdd.jpg with a bit of this http://i26.tinypic.com/b6390x.jpg and a touch of this http://i25.tinypic.com/29qgiyq.jpg

And an interior like this http://i32.tinypic.com/23m1ord.jpg with http://i28.tinypic.com/149ursx.jpg and a patio like this http://i31.tinypic.com/243ruol.jpg

One floorplan I was able to get my hands on (which doesn't look helpful to me at all): http://i29.tinypic.com/71mzaq.jpg

Now the tough part will be finding an architecture who can blend all of this together and not make it look like shit. : )
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post #13 of 97
3/30/08 at 4:32pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by matadorpoeta View Post
i wasn't referring to modernity, i was referring to, the future. if and when i build a house from scratch, i will build it to look like nothing the world has ever seen. a good friend of mine is actually building one of those faux tuscan villas, supposedly "designed" by his wife, and i'm finding it very difficult not to say anything insulting.

i suppose this could go in the "things you just can't understand" thread. i can't understand someone building something from scratch, and not taking the opportunity to design something unique to them.

Well, unfortunately, business requires me to be in America, though my heart is in Provence, so if I can build a little piece of Provence on this plot, I'll be rather happy.
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post #14 of 97
3/30/08 at 4:43pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by savvyibd View Post
Well, unfortunately, business requires me to be in America, though my heart is in Provence, so if I can build a little piece of Provence on this plot, I'll be rather happy.
you could start a new movement. thousands of years from now, architecture students would have to memorize your name and study your home, but to each his own. it's just one of those things i can't understand. again, i applaud you for seeking out authentic materials. there is already enough disneyesque architecture in america.
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post #15 of 97
3/30/08 at 6:49pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by matadorpoeta View Post
again, i applaud you for seeking out authentic materials.
Depends what you mean by it, but I am rather appalled at the idea of using vintage material pillaged in some abandoned house. I would much rather have the equivalent built by contemporary artisans, using traditional techniques.
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