La Ligne Droite : a jewel of modern architecture in Saint Jean Cap Ferrat

The villa La Ligne Droite is an exceptional property located at the entrance to the peninsula of Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat. It is in the tradition of holiday residences, the field of experience of the great architects, making the Côte d'Azur a laboratory of modern architecture.

A privileged and exclusive destination, home to some of the most beautiful residences on the Côte d'Azur, Saint Jean Cap Ferrat has been renowned worldwide for over 150 years, with its postcard-like landscapes and illustrious residents. At its summit, this exceptional house on the heights of the prestigious Golden Triangle peninsula offering tranquillity in an incomparable setting is marketed by Côte d'Azur Sotheby's International Realty. In this unique environment, overlooking the bay, we offer for sale, this magnificent Art-Deco property built in the 1930s.

This spacious villa offers 594.55 sqm and stands on 4000 sqm of gardens, also enjoying three superb terraces from which one can enjoy panoramic views of the sea.

Construction and grading

The plans for villa La Ligne Droite are dated June 1931 and are signed by the French architect Jean Bouchet, originally from the Grasse region. The construction was carried out by a contractor from Nice and was completed in 1932.

The villa was built for Louis Le Sidaner, literary critic and son of the post-impressionist painter Henri Le Sidaner, who painted his picture "Nuit du Cap Ferrat" there (in private collection).

The villa was requisitioned by the German army during the Second World War because of its dominant position on the Cap and the sea, but was not damaged in any way. It was then acquired by a Belgian businessman who, aware of its heritage interest, and in particular its architectural interest, took steps to have it protected. On 28 November 2000, it was awarded the label of 20th century heritage by decision of the Regional Commission for Heritage and Sites (CRPS). In March 2001 the entire property was listed in the supplementary inventory of historical monuments and then classified as a historical monument on 10 December 2001.

The villa

The villa La Ligne Droite is reminiscent of Le Corbusier's contemporary research and takes on all the characteristics of the modern movement: white walls, roof terrace accessible from the outside, use of reinforced concrete, steel and glass, posts and beams.

There is also a nod to naval architecture - the porthole-like openings and the terraces with tubular steel railings, similar to a ship. At the top of the house, a skylight looks like a semaphore topped by a lookout.

The architect's main idea is to implant his construction perpendicular to the system of terraces that compensate for the significant difference in level of the land on which it is built. The Ligne Droite is thus an elongated rectangle measuring more than 30 metres in length, climbing the slope on four stepped levels. In accordance with the rules of the art, particular attention is given to the treatment of light. Indeed, an inverted funnel-shaped skylight floods the house in its centre and large windows adorn each room.

In a dominant position, not far from the Ephrussi de Rothschild villa, the panorama extends from Italy to the Cap d'Antibes.

The property's grounds include, to the west, the funicular leading to the various levels; a summer kitchen area - listed as a Historic Monument and built on the former site of a mill, topped by a lookout, offers a view of the Villefranche citadel as far as the Kerylos villa and the Baie des fourmis in Beaulieu-sur-Mer. As for the heated swimming pool, it adjoins the house on an old grassy restanque.

Modern architecture on the French Riviera

Fluidity in the distribution of the rooms and openings skilfully chosen to favour views and luminosity are the qualities of these spaces designed for holidaying on the French Riviera. The villa, with its architectural codes of demanding modernity, joins the icons of the Côte d'Azur architecture such as the modern holiday homes designed by Le Corbusier, Eilleen Gray, Barry Dierks, Robert Mallet-Stevens, Pierre Chareau, ...

For more information or for any real estate project on the Côte d'Azur, contact your experts in prestige real estate at Côte d'Azur Sotheby's International Realty: info@cotedazursothebysrealty.com