Thomas Vielliard & Jacques Francheteau
French Architects of Luxury Living Concepts
French Architects
of Luxury Houses
01.
A PRESTIGIOUS ARCHITECTURAL FIRM FOR LUXURY VILLAS AND HOUSES IN FRANCE
EXCEPTIONAL VILLAS AND HIGH-END RESIDENTIAL ARCHITECTURE WITH ARCHITECTS THOMAS VIELLIARD AND JACQUES FRANCHETEAU
The firm’s hallmark is unmistakably the contemporary luxury villa: an abode with a distinct identity, unapologetically modern, defined by sleek lines and punctuated with concrete slabs on the rooftop terrace that cantilever over the entirety, shading expansive glass facades open to the outdoors, often framing breathtaking views of the landscape and the sea. Such masterpieces have been commissioned for primary residences, vacation homes, and savvy investors recognizing the financial allure of these modern, opulent architectural gems catered to a discerning global clientele. With a design philosophy that embraces dynamic sites, these architect-conceptualized homes are seamlessly integrated into privileged settings of Saint-Tropez, Cannes, Villefranche-sur-Mer, and notable locales like Cap d’Antibes or St Jean Cap Ferrat, commanding attention with their bold and elegant presence.
OUR BUSINESS: UNDERSTANDING & TAILORED
Our team of architects, interior decorators, and designers guides clients in pursuing distinctive, remarkable architect-crafted villas, ensuring comprehensive, personalized supervision of their vision. From the inception of the architectural scheme to the adornment of interiors, from the handpicking of premium materials to the crafting of fixtures and furnishings, from the blueprint of outdoor spaces, pools, and pool houses to the landscaping of gardens, and culminating in the complete handover of the site, our team orchestrates luxury professionals and craftsmen. We engage in specialized engineering to meticulously delineate and materialize every construction facet. “Be it in Lyon, Cannes, Corsica, or the island of Saint Barthélemy. We dedicate the necessary time to conceive each project as a unique masterpiece, harmonious with its environment, eliciting awe and emotion. Beyond creating works of art, we design architectures for life.” – Vielliard & Francheteau.
02.
AN ABODE TO “L’ART DE VIVRE”
SPACES OPEN TO THE OUTDOORS
Our creations bear witness to this constant attention to the relationship between interior and exterior, to views, and the ever-changing light outside, delivering a constantly renewed atmosphere. The architects’ precise work on framing panoramas is a constant feature of the agency, bringing the calm and restful serenity of landscape and nature into the domestic space. These living spaces subtly cater to a hyper-active clientele seeking well-being and rejuvenation in their own homes, experienced as intimate sanctuaries cut off from the hustle and bustle of the city.
DETAILED INTERIORS
The agency is also called upon for high-end interior architecture for house or apartment renovation projects, often including extensions, which it personalizes with attention to detail: luxury private properties, mansions, chalets, executive offices, and heritage sites… She remodels spaces, creates scenography, and designs layouts, introducing a new, streamlined, and elegant aesthetic to the singularity of a building’s history, keeping with its new function. It breaks down the large volumes, opening up skylights, garden patios, and double-height ceilings reminiscent of contemporary art galleries, and favors open-plan layouts like lofts, allowing for a fluid flow of uses. The design style gives pride of place to natural light and raw, noble materials, with a predilection for concrete, stone, wood, and leather.
NEW HORIZONS
In the course of exceptional commissions, the firm’s signature has opened up new worlds that renew the architects’ passion: the design of luxury chalets in the Alps, the restoration of remarkable old properties, and yacht decoration. Aspiring to be a benchmark in the art of living the luxury of responsible architecture, the agency approaches these subjects with the obligation always to include its values of respect for the environment and nature.
03.
ARTISTIC AUTHENTICITY
A NEW APPROACH TO THE FRENCH CLASSIC STYLE
Vielliard & Francheteau’s expertise also extends to designing grand homes and residences in classic or belle époque architectural styles to meet customers’ specific requirements with a passion for tradition and French luxury. Thomas Vielliard and Jacques Francheteau share their knowledge and taste for this exceptional heritage of richly decorated architecture, which they studied for several years in Paris. With an obsession for authenticity guiding the realization of these prestigious projects, whether in Saint-Tropez, Cannes, or Cap d’Antibes, the agency calls on the best French artisans and renowned houses to work on its villas with all the perfection of their trade in cabinetry, ironwork, saddlery, marblework…
ART, ARCHITECTURE, AND DESIGN
The dialogue between art, architecture, and design is a subject that fascinates the architectural duo. Whether contemporary villas or grand classic homes, the alchemy of art, architecture, and design objects sublimates the setting, somewhere between a jewel box for living and an exceptional elsewhere. The artistic direction provided by the agency for each project takes on its whole meaning when, in the design of the spaces, it integrates the customer’s art collection or advises on acquisitions. In the case of exceptional projects, whether new or renovation projects, the agency can go so far as to involve recognized contemporary artists or designers in the overall project. Paraphrasing Baudelaire’s invitation to travel, “Our homes speak first of order – of spaces – and beauty – of landscapes. From there, luxury, calm and voluptuousness can arise – making our customers’ dreams come true”. Vielliard & Francheteau
04.
AN AGENCY DEDICATED TO LUXURY HOMES
ORIGIN
Thomas Vielliard set up his practice in Lyon in the early 2000s, taking part in international competitions and winning numerous school and hospital projects for public and institutional clients. On the strength of the experience, he has acquired on these large-scale projects and to meet the demands of the passionate and demanding customers who call on him, he has developed a department within his agency dedicated to contemporary residential architecture. From Lyon to Geneva, St Tropez to Cannes, and Monaco, he designs exceptional villas and homes for the French and international gotha. Jacques Francheteau joined his agency in 2015 to professionalize this artistic direction. He joined forces in 2018 to create the architecture firm Vielliard & Francheteau, based in Lyon and Cannes, which specializes in large contemporary houses and luxury villas, mainly in the Côte d’Azur and the Rhône-Alpes region.
INSPIRATION
The first houses connected to the outdoors, designed by pioneering modern architects such as Mies van der Rohe and Le Corbusier, the avant-garde Californian-style villas of Richard Neutra, Saarinen, and Eames, and the projects of leading international decorators such as Peter Marino and Christian Liaigre, are all inspiring references. Nevertheless, it is above all the architect’s free spirits, their travels and encounters, the team’s insatiable curiosity for all forms of creative freedom, their taste for materials, their interest in technological progress, and their growing respect for mankind and the environment, that feed the agency’s conceptual and sensitive writing. Furthermore, privileged sites, always magnificent, such as the Côte d’Azur, the Riviera, or the shores of Lake Leman, also do the rest: the architectural project is born from the landscape to become a luxurious contemplative material.
“If architecture is an extraordinary art capable of offering powerful emotional experiences, it must be exemplary and responsible.”
