T.D.C: PAREIL Revives a Traditional Bastide in the South of France

In the foothills of the hilltop village of Tourtour in France’s Var region, a traditional Provençal bastide has been carefully reimagined by the architecture studio PAREIL. The project marks the practice’s latest work focused on historic buildings, following its noted renovation of Mas Baudran.

Commissioned by London-based owners seeking a relaxed family retreat in the south of France, the project involved a complete renovation of the existing buildings alongside a comprehensive redesign of the surrounding landscape. PAREIL — established in 2023 between Paris and Marseille — oversaw both the design and the site supervision, with a transformation that remains anchored in the region’s architectural traditions.

The property sits within a layered hillside landscape typical of rural Provence. At its centre is a stone bastide serving as the main house, accompanied by an outbuilding connected by a porch that now functions as a studio, and a small dovecote that incorporates a garage. Like many vernacular structures of the region, the house was originally designed with climate in mind. Thick stone walls provide thermal inertia with volumes and orientation adapted to the Mediterranean climate, while the northern façade is partially embedded into the rock, shielding the building from prevailing winds.

While much of the exterior had been altered in the late twentieth century, including the addition of terraces and a swimming pool, the project involved reshaping the terrain and terraces to adapt to the steep site. Inside, the architects reorganised the layout to restore a coherent functional flow, introducing a balance between generous communal areas and more intimate rooms suited to everyday living. The aim was to enhance the home’s original character, creating a timeless, elegant holiday atmosphere.

Though the renovation involved significant structural work, the interventions remain discrete. Traditional materials — including stone, terracotta, lime plaster and local woods — are used throughout, reinforcing a sense of continuity between the architecture, the surrounding landscape and contemporary use. Passive ventilation systems, underfloor heating and biosourced insulation were also integrated to improve environmental performance without disrupting the character of the house.

The landscape design forms an equally important part of the project. Working with Studio Nolet and Sigmap Jardin, the architects reworked the property’s stepped agricultural terraces — known locally as restanques — reorganising the terrain to respond to the steep site. Upper and lower terraces were redesigned and extended, establishing a more cohesive relationship between the house, the garden and the wider landscape.

Founded in 2023 by Caroline Weill and Laetitia Paradis, PAREIL’s approach sees them anchor themselves in both an environment and human context. This has led to them developing a unique and sensitive architectural signature. Their aesthetic combines the simple and appropriate use of materials, elegant details, and the celebration of regional and artisanal expertise.

That approach is evident here. Rather than imposing a new identity on the house, the architects have worked with its inherent qualities — its orientation, materiality and relationship to the land— allowing the bastide to evolve while remaining firmly rooted in its Provençal setting. The result is a home that feels both inviting and deeply connected to place: a timeless retreat shaped as much by landscape as by architecture.