Les Bordes - Resplendent Real Estate Blossoms in France’s Loire Valley
Located 90 minutes from Paris, nestled within the ancient Sologne Forest in the beautiful and historic Loire Valley, the Les Bordes Estate has partnered with two of London’s pre-eminent design houses, as it transforms from a world-leading golf venue to a luxurious bolthole for international homeowners through the capsule collection of homes at “Cour du Baron”.
Leading architects Michaelis Boyd – known for their work designing interiors for Soho House (LA, Berlin, Oxfordshire), and The Groucho member’s club in London – and multi award-winning interior design studio Morpheus & Co. (Six Senses Residences Courchevel, Club Thirty Nine, Monte Carlo) have been commissioned by Les Bordes to collaborate on delivery of the much-awaited Cour du Baron residences, as well as breathing new life into existing buildings on the estate.
Taking inspiration from the historic priory and agricultural buildings dotted around the estate, Michaelis Boyd’s designs have retained original features – weathered stonework and clay roof tiles, dramatic high ceilings, exposed beams and rustic limestone flooring – whilst injecting a modern vernacular to create contemporary, light filled spaces.
In the Clubhouse Bar, Crittall-style external doors open the interior to the great outdoors, bringing nature and light in. Six brass latticed chandeliers dot the space to provide a soft glow by dusk and sculptural interest by day. The interiors combine deep teal walls, luxurious marble and walnut finishes and the original limestone flooring and stone fireplace. An eclectic mix of antique accessories, curated artwork and furniture upholstered in sumptuous velvets and warming leathers create a sense of home from home.
Cabins
Michaelis Boyd has reconfigured the layout of 24 lakeside members cabins. Low ceilings have been removed to reveal high-pitched ceilings, completely transforming the spaces, with openings created to allow light, and frame views toward the lake. A fresh, simple palette was used with smooth oak floors complimented by rich velvet-upholstered furniture, opulent chandeliers and Carrera marble surfaces. Bathrooms feature encaustic floor tiles, brass-hinted sanitary ware and glaze crackle wall tiles.
Cour du Baron Residences
The phase-one development of 45 residential dwellings sits in a secluded wooded area to the south of the site. Architects Michaelis Boyd designed three distinct styles which translate across the three to seven-bedroom homes with exterior materials favouring a simple palette, allowing a natural connection between the varied architectural languages. Each property boasts an extensive outdoor area interconnecting with the surrounding woodland, creating an authentic connection with the natural world. Each of the different styles is available in a variety of sizes to suit every individual and their family.
The traditional style uses local stone available in three different colours, featuring tiled roofs, stone detailing, painted timber doors and windows, traditionally proportioned roof pitches and dormer windows that bring a timeless quality to these exquisite homes. Inside, exposed rafters provide a touch of softness and a Gallic flavour to the impressive living spaces.
The timber-clad, gabled structures for the contemporary style are inspired by local agricultural buildings. Slimline metal windows and standing-seam zinc roof give a clean and contemporary accent to the modern barn vernacular. Exposed pitched ceilings internally and expansive corner windows add architectural drama to the generously proportioned spaces.
A twist on the traditional style, the classical homes feature a mixture of local stone and timber cladding, also available in a choice of three colors. Similarly, exposed rafters lend a countryside feeling to the living spaces, with generous windows creating an openness that connects the interiors to the surrounding landscape and beyond.
Morpheus & Co, the international interior design house behind some of the most exclusive hospitality and residential developments of the last 25 years, are the creatives behind the residential interiors. World-renowned for their turnkey delivery and groundbreaking interior architecture, interior design and highly tailored furniture solutions, from signature collections to completely unique pieces, they have designed a variety of bespoke “Cour du Baron” furniture collections to blend intimately with property design and the local environment.
They are in active consultation with owners from across the world – including the UK, US, Switzerland, France, Sweden, Germany and The Netherlands – to deliver their dream interiors at Les Bordes, combining tactile, relaxing interiors and timeless design with biophilic features for a feeling of comfort and inspiration, and immersion into the surrounding environment both inside and out.
Les Bordes was lovingly created in response to a growing demand for somewhere to escape, and answers this perfectly with its offering of community living centered around wellness and a wholesome, coveted lifestyle. Set amongst a woodland with a variety of natural features, the project is founded on core values of sustainability, respectfully using the unspoiled landscape to create areas for the community to enjoy.
Just some of the enriching amenities include natural fishing lakes, walking and cycling trails, an animal petting farm for children, outdoor play areas, and a natural swimming lake with its very own white sand beach – completely unique of anywhere else in the Loire Valley. Others include a renowned equestrian club, archery, tennis courts that will soon become a full club for training and leisure, and for younger family members, go-kart track and pony riding, with a kids’ club, ice-cream shop and zip lines coming later this year.
Governed separately from the residential community and rest of the estate, the world-famous Les Bordes Golf Club remains exclusively private. The opening of its highly anticipated second 18-hole course occurred in summer 2021. Named the New Course, it was created by globally acclaimed golf architect Gil Hanse. Some of the world’s foremost golf architecture critics are hailing it as perhaps Hanse’s finest work.
The original Old Course, designed by the legendary architect Robert Von Hagge, is already determined as one of Europe’s masterpieces and the enticing 36-hole combination is bolstered by a new 10-hole short course – the Wild Piglet – completed in 2020 by Hanse and already placed in the top-25 par-3 courses in the world by US authority Golf.com.
Near-term plans include the announced partnership with Six Senses for the transformation of the on-site 19th century ‘Château Bel Air’ into an 88-key boutique hotel and spa. Also, the creation of a community village square with restaurants, shops, a farmer’s market and outdoor amphitheater centered around the estate’s 13th Century priory.
Instagram: @lesbordesestate
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