Spotlight on contemporary houses from Biarritz to Hossegor
All along the Basque Coast as far as Les Landes, the architectural landscape is being reinvented in pursuit of aspirations for a smart modern style. From Biarritz to Hossegor, enviable houses offering contemporary architecture are winning the approval of both French and foreign clients used to a tasteful lifestyle combined with a full array of comfort. Focus on a market experiencing a real boom…
By providing top-notch comfort and convenience meeting today’s most fundamental requirements, contemporary houses are taking centre-stage and drawing a growing number of buyers. As confirmed by Philippe Thomine Desmazures, director and partner of the Agence Barnes : “It is a market which is doing well, and increasingly so, with a rising number of sales. Contemporary homes are highly sought-after, though it is a very diverse market depending on the towns. Usually large, from 300 to 400 m2, they propose a full range of appealing features, spearhead equipment, huge picture windows and outdoor areas tastefully laid out, with swimming pools. These residences therefore attract a wide array of client profiles ; families, the actively employed in their thirties and forties, but also French and foreign retirees wanting to benefit from a modern way of life. Built over the past decade, these houses do not yet appear on the resale market, except in exceptional cases such as death or divorce. Which explains why today a good number of buyers with comfortable budgets are very willing to acquire an aging property which they demolish in order to build the home of their dreams. We recently sold two properties in Chiberta with houses built in the ‘fifties and ‘sixties for demolition, priced at 1.5 million euros. On average, one needs 1.5 to 2 million euros either to acquire building land and have a property built, or to buy a contemporary house ready to move in”.
Even though there is constantly rising demand for contemporary houses, some towns on the coast wish to preserve their Basque architectural identity, as explained by Julie Lamboley of Ateliers, Lofts & Associés : “In the interest of coherent and well-controlled urban development in the region, somes towns such as Biarritz, Bassussary, Arbonne and Arcangues impose rather strict specifications on new constructions, refusing roof terraces, for example. In the case of other towns such as Anglet and Hossegor, urban development policy is much more lenient, allowing for modern architecture in a variety of styles. These divergences between the towns and communes mean that compromises have to be made by architects, who attempt to reconcile their clients’ desires with urban regulations. However, some rather conservative towns, including Biarritz, are now making the rules more flexible in the name of ecology and environmental friendliness, authorizing the construction of ultra-modern “eco-homes” which consume much less energy. It is also important to mention that the interiors of a considerable number of houses with neo-Basque architecture have now benefited from modern renovation, offering luxurious appointments and winning the approval of numerous buyers who then benefit from the charm of period residences together with a full range of contemporary amenities”.
If contemporary houses are gradually becoming more pervasive on the property scene on the Basqe Coast and in Les Landes, it is because they correspond from all points of view to today’s way of living, and meet the requirement for a more “enjoyable” and comfortable home. “Clients who have a modern house built usually opt for a vast open-space area on the ground floor, comprised of a living-room, dining-room, kitchen, but also their en-suite bedroom,” says Didier Lepinoux of the Bliss et Foch agency. “The upper floor is then often dedicated to family members or guests. The idea is to have a practical, functional area for everyday life, much appreciated by buyers aged 50 or over.” Looking for maximum comfort, buyers are thus now turning away more readily from older or typical Basque houses and setting their sights on a building plot. “Demand for building land has exploded, especially in Biarritz and Anglet, which authorize the building of modern houses. Buyers are not necessarily looking for extensive grounds, 1,000 m2 on average, and their budgets range from 900,000 to 1.5 million euros, construction included. Prices vary depending on the location : Chiberta is one of the most expensive and highly-prized, while the neighbourhood of La Mairie and that of Les Cinq Cantons in Anglet, both very lively and go-ahead, offer good opportunities for buyers with more modest budgets.”
