Just a few cobblestone-throws away from the sea, two straight walls of ocher rock crest over the cork oaks’ canopy, as rugged as the island terrain. Instead of sticking strictly to the villa’s saw-toothed profile, delineated by a pair of red-cedar-clad gable roofs, the downward slope of the walls hugs that of the hillside, helping the house blend into the landscape.

 

One of these ramparts instantly appears wider than it should be: inspired by a fortification of Corsica’s Citadel of Calvi concealing a secret gallery, this veritable spine of the home accommodates the hallways that connect the west-to-east succession of rooms. Inside, both sloping sidewalls are left bare, giving the walls a rich, authentic texture and softening the distinction with the outside—an effect emphasized by the wide floor-to-ceiling windows; the expansive and partially eave-covered terrace with a view of the setting sun; and the presence of a patio studded with citrus trees at the heart of the house, adjacent to the master bedroom and its bathroom. This composition is enhanced by the site’s steep downslope, thanks to the various sections that do not hinder each other’s view, like a succession of mountain ridges stretching off into the distance.

 

From this main level, a flared gallery unfurls its steps down to the garden level—a stone pedestal housing four guest bedrooms, their bathrooms, and the kitchen—and enables access to a slender pool whenever the sun shoots its rays with excessive ardor. Its light-colored lining contrasts with the indoor floors, as dark as lava, while the gable roofs allow for vaulted ceilings in the living room and master bedroom. The classic Corsican house’s essence LS thus reprised and revisited, further anchoring the project in its context. Contemporary yet traditional, light yet dark, protective and massive from the south yet open and porous from the west, the villa ultimately finds its identity in the splits of its personality.

About

Studio KO is an interior design Studio based in Paris, France, with offices in Marrakesh, Morocco. It was founded in 2000 by Karl Fournier and Olivier Marty. Based in Paris and Marrakesh, the studio creates contemporary public and residential buildings around the world, inspired by the wisdom of place.

After meeting at the Beaux Arts School in Paris and founding the studio together, Karl Fournier and Olivier Marty applied their basic propositions to every dimension of the project. Rooted in classical training, the duo adhere to a global and immersive approach to their specialties, from architecture to interior design and furniture design. At the heart of their approach is the uncompromising freedom needed to create a unique story that is most in tune with the real setting.

 At the beginning of every project, there is a chance encounter. Most importantly, start with the initial conversation with the customer. Physical and sensory afterwards, by discovering a site, by imposing itself through its landscape, its social and economic structure. What follows is a dialogue between elements and experiments in uncharted territory. Working on the edge of archaeology, it leads the architect to explore the site and its history in order to grasp its essence. This continuous creative process allowed KO Studio to find its own path naturally. This is a prerequisite for the emergence of contemporary, appropriate and vivid forms.

 

Photography: © Dan Glasser

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