STORIES #8
More than a client
THE EARLY PROJECTS
Christophe Gebert, our Principal Architect, and Thierry Jauffret were classmates during their final high school year in 1991. A decade later, in 2001, Thierry reached out to us to design his first home on the mountain slopes of Sorèze, placing his trust in us at an early stage of our architectural journey.
The project offered us the opportunity to experiment with single-pitch metal roofs, establishing a design language rooted in simplicity and climate responsiveness.
In 2009, Mr. Jauffret shifted his career path toward real estate development and once again turned to G+F for his first venture: a townhouse project in Eureka. The design was a modern and minimal expression, blending natural materials such as stone and timber. It also allowed us to explore double-volume spaces and marked our first wine cellar design made of acrylic shelves.
That same year, we were also engaged to develop the Le Ravin site, previously occupied by a restaurant. The plan was to subdivide the land into three residences. Although this project was eventually shelved, it laid the groundwork for future ideas.
Also in 2009, we began designing a second house, this time in Providence, by the sea. Our client envisioned a thatch-roofed home, but rather than using traditional forms, we embraced the chance to experiment with a curved top roof. This unique feature gave the house a distinctive visual identity.
THE « RAVIN » SERIES – 2009 TO 2017
Originally conceived as a residential housing development, the first Ravin project, Ravin Riverside, was reimagined as a three-block apartment complex nestled within lush vegetation, on a site bordered by a winding river and a waterfall. This exceptional setting made the project truly one of a kind.
We developed a distinct architectural language and identity for the Ravin series, characterized by gently pitched metal sheet roofs with large overhangs, low-rise buildings with stone accents, and vertical timber screens. Ravin Riverside was completed in 2013 and laid the foundation for a series of developments that embraced this same design ethos.
We subsequently had the opportunity to further evolve this architectural language through other riverfront projects in the same area, including Le Ravin Bagatelle Apartments completed in 2014, Le Ravin Bagatelle Townhouses delivered in 2015, and Le Ravin Waterfall in 2017.
EUREKA HOUSES
While exploring various development possibilities around the historic Eureka House neighbourhood, we ultimately settled on a three-villa project situated on the edge of the ravine. Villa 1, featured as one of our nine highlighted projects on our website, is a celebration of site-responsive design.
The site itself is exceptional, flat terrain, mature trees, and sweeping views over the Moka River, create a serene and inspiring setting.
The villa adopts a classic layout: a central living core is framed by a bedroom wing on one side and a service zone, including the kitchen and garage, on the other. At the heart of the home, the main living space features a soaring ceiling and generous openings on two sides, allowing the interior to fully open onto the surrounding gardens. Large sliding doors enable natural cross-ventilation and offer the flexibility to close off the trade wind while maintaining a strong visual and physical connection to the northern garden overlooking the Moka range, particularly appreciated during the winter months.
The architectural form is defined by gently sloping pitched roofs, which reinforce the building’s horizontal proportions and integrate seamlessly into the landscape.
THE LIVING COLLECTION
Our first Living Collection project was developed in Cap Malheureux. Cap Living consists of 10 apartments and two beachfront townhouses, where we explored a curved façade language using vertical timber sticks. This design brought an organic feel to the architecture, softening the visual impact of the two-storey buildings when viewed from the sea.
We then moved to the opposite end of the island for our next project, Blue Bay Living, which offered a unique opportunity to establish a fresh design language and a distinct visual identity for the collection. Rooted in simplicity and clarity, the concept features vertical stone wall fins paired with horizontal floor plates. Natural materials such as stone and wood were carefully combined to create a refined, modern aesthetic, highlighting their warmth and texture in an understated yet elegant way.
We continued to evolve the Living visual identity in Mont Choisy (202), Pereybere (2022) and Belle Vue (2024), each time refining the architectural language while maintaining the core design principles.
While part of the same collection, Pointe d’Azur Living adopts a distinct architectural vocabulary shaped by the site’s unique constraints. Located at the far end of Pointe d’Azur and surrounded by the sea, the main challenge was fitting seven apartments within strict setback lines. This led to a distinctive triangular building plan and the placement of an elevated pool above the parking structure, an inventive solution that defined the project’s character.
Most recently, we completed Belle Vue Living, the largest in the collection to date. Set on Belle Vue Hill, the development includes 24 apartments nestled within a mature garden. Throughout the design process, we were committed to preserving the site’s most significant trees. Upon completion, the buildings settled so harmoniously into the landscape that it feels as though they were always part of it.
TEAM WORK AND LOYALTY
Over the past 24 years, we have developed a strong working relationship built on trust and loyalty, driven by shared values. Each team member is committed to maintaining the high-quality standards established from the very beginning, always striving to achieve client satisfaction. Our strength lies in our core team, which has worked together for many years, fostering a cohesive and efficient collaboration.
PROJECT LIST:
- House at Soreze 2001-2004
- Eureka Townhouses 2009-2012
- House at Le Ravin 2009 (Unbuilt)
- House at Providence 2009-2011
- Le Ravin Riverside Apartments 2009-2013
- Cap Living Apartments 2012-2015
- Le Ravin Bagatelle Apartments 2012-2014
- Le Ravin Bagatelle Townhouses 2012-2015
- Tidilo Trou d’Eau Douce 3 houses 2013-2015 (Unbuilt)
- Le Ravin Waterfall Apartments 2013-2017
- 2 Houses at Eureka 2014 (Unbuilt) 2014
- 3 Houses at Eureka 2015-2017
- Blue Bay Living apartments 2016-2018
- Mont Choisy Living apartments 2016 – 2020
- Pointe d’Azur Living apartments 2017 – 2022
- Pereybere Living apartments 2018 – 2022
- Belle Vue Living apartments 2021 – 2024
- Tamarin Living apartments 2023 – Construction started Nov 2025
