The charm and character of Basque houses
Bearing aloft the identity of south-western France and constituting one of the region’s major charms, Basque houses are today as popular ever. Spotlight on these colourful residences testifying to the flamboyant history of the Basque Coast which, without sacrificing their authenticity, have opened their doors to appealing modernity.
With its sturdy rafters and signature red, the typical Basque house flaunts a strong visual identity. These prestigious homes offer common features, as explained by Pierre Deglaire, director of the Coldwell agencies in Biarritz and Saint Jean de Luz : “The Basque house is characterized by its sloping roof, whitewashed frontage adorned with colourful woodwork, traditionally in red, blue or dark green, which are local colours, corner stones and red tiles. They often propose generous living space, from 200 to 500 m2, and benefit from comfortable grounds allowing for the bonus of a swimming pool. These houses of highly specific architecture are legion in Arcangues, Ahetze, Arbonne and Ascain, conservative communes which fly the region’s colours. Other towns such as Biarritz, Anglet and Bidart are more open to contemporary kinds of architecture, nevertheless retaining houses in traditonal style on the first rows along their coasts. There are many fans of Basque architecture, international clients are particularly fond of it : above all, the Spanish, English and Australians. A good number of these houses have been renovated, preserving their facades and outer authenticity while benefiting inside from modern appointments. They thus offer prestige and high quality, which attracts a top-notch clientele”.
Houses in the Basque country have evolved considerably over the years, from rural accommodation to middle-class villas. From the 1900’s to 1930’s, the popularity of sea-bathing in the region among a well-off clientele gave rise to a new kind of architecture : the “neo-Basque” style. Houses of remakable stylishness, designed by renowned architects such as Henri Godbarge, the Gomez brothers and André Pavlovsky . “It was a very marked architectural trend,” says Philippe Thomines Desmazures, director of the Barnes Côte Basque agency, “which coincided with the region’s most sumptuous years when a wealthy and cosmopolitan clientele flocked to Biarritz and the surrounding area. The design of the neo-Basque house was based on an old Labourdine farmhouse, transformed into a middle-class residence of Art Deco inspiration. The most iconic is that of Edmond Rostand in Cambo les Bains, one of the very first achievements in this architectural trend. As well as being set in a classic French park, it proposes large windows, loggias, columns and balconies, all letting in daylight and offering views of nature. This architecture is a real signature, a part of our cultural heritage. These houses are worth much more than contemporary homes, they are a guarantee of quality and can change hands at very high prices.”
Particularly coveted by fans of authenticity and old stone, neo-Basque properties have imposed their style throughout the region and are protected by strict legislation designed to preserve this heritage. “One rediscovers the contours of this architectural trend even in recent constructions,” says Nicolas Descamps, president of the Côte Ouest Christie’s agency in Biarritz, “especially in the most conservative communes, wanting to preserve their architectural homogeneity. The neo-Basque style is thus widely represented throughout the region, accounting for about half of the properties in the middle and upper range. This type of property posts a rather broad price range depending on its location, view, the size of the grounds, but also the classiness of the appointments and renovation. For some residences, it can start from 600,000 €, rising to 5 or 6 million euros for very beautiful houses in the most highly-prized villages. For the rarest properties designed by iconic architects of the era, sales are highly confidential : this kind of property never bears a price-tag. It’s also worth noting that when some of these neo-Basque houses with vast grounds have been sold, the land has been split up. By way of example, the property at the entrance to Biarritz that we are currently offering for sale is exceptional in that it has kept its original park intact. Which is pretty rare these days.”
