It was in 2017 that Joran Briand and his partner, Flavia Rouger, discovered what, at first glance, resembled “a monolith emerging among the wild dunes”.
“It was originally my neighbour’s boathouse,” Joran explains. “One day, after a surfing session, I saw him holding up a for sale sign. I slammed on the brakes and asked him if I could visit. He opened the large garage door and the light flooded into the empty space in a beautiful way. I immediately imagined myself living there.”
The building, a former surf equipment depot, is in a privileged position on one of the most fascinating parts of the coast of Brittany, surrounded by sand dunes and facing the surf.
Joran, a French interior designer and founder and partner of the Parisian studio Briand & Berthereau, completely redesigned the space and the renovation work took three years.
The outdated roof was replaced to let in as much natural light as possible, and the west facade was knocked down to create a terrace and a porch, offering a magnificent view of the dunes and the sea.
Inside, the space is organised over two floors constructed using steel and minimal but essential concrete partitions. The steel grating structure is a distinctive element, as is the polished concrete flooring, which is finished with a transparent resin.
Another defining characteristic is the flow of colour. Outside is strictly black with the porch designed as a wet/dry space for use after surfing. The entrance area features large abstract oil paintings by Flavia, along with a wooden chest of drawers and an intriguing selection of objects washed up on the beach.
The central space is designed to be open and generous thanks to its double height, with natural light spilling in from the large skylights above.
The style of the living room is defined by the 1970s, as well as references to the oceanic world. The focal point is the vintage orange leather sofa by Charpentier for Roche Bobois, a piece so vibrant that it influences the colours of the dining chairs and perfectly complements the handmade terracotta bowls and sculptures.
On the floor is a large optical rug designed by Studio Briand & Berthereau and a Berber rug with a diamond graphic. The midcentury rectangular coffee table and the glazed ceramic vase with gradients are by HK Living, while two vintage chrome stools are from the Tisettanta company. In front of the wall is a 1970s floor lamp by Goffredo Reggiani, along with The Dog, a large green canvas painted by Joran.
Also evoking a 1970s atmosphere are a small vintage stereo system, a disco ball and two papier-mâché animal masks mounted on the wall.
Continuing from the living room, the kitchen opens up with a large dining table and its industrial-style pendant lamp, both custom-designed in steel and galvanised metal by Joran’s studio. Surrounding the table are six collectible 1960s Swedish teak and metal chairs and two 1970s enamelled aluminium Lynn armchairs, designed by Gastone Rinaldi for Rima Arredamenti Padova.
African figurines, wooden utensils and small ceramics from the couple’s travels add even more interest.
A steel staircase at the back of the kitchen takes you up to a suspended walkway that leads to the bedrooms and bathroom. The main bedroom has a sloping roof, glazed parquet flooring and a headboard and a shelf made from steel grating, mirroring the materials used in the staircase. The bed has a graphic print bedspread by Society Limonta. The bathroom is black and white and features optical white ceramic tiles, floating shelves and a small white enamelled aluminium sink.
Across the suspended walkway you reach the couple’s workspace, dominated by two large windows with a striking view out towards the sea.
The small outdoor terrace has vintage wicker chairs and a low stone table designed by the studio. The exterior, sheltered by a dark coloured wall, features a raised patio and dining table and a small garden of succulents and cacti emerging from the sand dunes, which seem to emphasise the sense of freedom and infinity emanating from the vast sea.