Maco Magazine - Toute Bagai Publishing

Side by Side - Two houses combine to create a spectacular residence overlooking the sea in Saint Barth. Ellen Lampert-Greaux takes a tour

Photography by Philippe Hochart

A DOUBLE ROW of palm trees lines the path between the two halves of Villa Maco, a recently renovated project on the French Caribbean island of Saint Barth, where two teak houses designed
by French architect Philippe Stouvenout were combined by their new owner to create a sprawling home with two swimming pools and sweeping views of the Atlantic ocean.
Designed in the same general style of Stouvenot’s own nearby home in Saint Barth, Villa Maco (whose owner did not know the magazine existed when he chose the name for his vacationhome) provides ample living space and numerous bedrooms for a French couple, their children, and visiting friends.
“Villa Maco was originally designed as two houses,” says Stouvenot, pointing out that a driveway and parking area between the two were removed in the renovation. The new configuration has
parking on a lower level, with a stonewalled stairway leading to a wooden path that runs between the houses and out to a wooden esplanade that connects the dwellings with a walkway across the back of both houses.
Following the pattern for Stouvenot’s home, and a half dozen others he has built in Saint Barth, Villa Maco was primarily constructed using benkira, an exotic teak wood from Java. “The houses are built in Bali, then taken apart and shipped to Saint Barth to be reconstructed like puzzles,” says
Stouvenout. Peaked wooden ceilings are topped with green corrugated metal, a traditional roofing material on the island. In contrast to the wood and stone, the railings have a more contemporary look in stainless wire and mesh.

The warm wood is juxtaposed with brighter colours, such as a vibrant red wall and ceiling in the kitchen, where stainless steel and white cabinets add a modern touch. “The kitchen was originally in the other house,” explains Stouvenot. “Only this house has a kitchen now, so we reformatted the elements to fit.” These elements include panels of volcanic stone used for the sides and tops of some of the cabinets. “The stone is oiled, as it can be very porous,” the architect adds.
The kitchen opens onto an open dining area with a large wooden table and wooden benches of various Indonesian styles. In case of hurricanes, or to close the house when it is not in use, motorised metal hurricane shutters close at the touch of a remote control (the lighting in both houses can also be remote controlled). The large living room and terrace surround the infinity pool that seems to dip directly into the ocean. White curtains are attached to wooden pillars near the pool in both houses. “The curtains can be closed for privacy,” Stouvenout says

An interesting touch is the back wall of the living room, which is open to the garden behind the house, where a fountain gurgles into a stone lily pond. “There are large openings everywhere to let in the breeze,” notes Stouvenot, who points out that the windows in both houses have wooden louvres that can be closed when the air conditioning is used, but no glass.
A casual, comfortable feeling is created in the living room, where large beige sofas are accompanied by unique pieces of Indonesian teak furniture.
Adjoining the living room is an upstairs bedroom that has been transformed into a den for the family, with a large teak daybed as a sofa. An interior spiral staircase, freestanding yet connected to the walls with stainless steel rods, leads downstairs to the master bedroom, where cool grey stone floors contrast with the wooden floors in the upstairs living areas.
Creature comforts include a portable massage table, a stereo in a wall niche next to a large sofa intended for watching the flat screen TV recessed into the wall, and a jacuzzi. “The owners like modern furniture,” says Stouvenot, pointing out a moulded white plastic sofa and chair that are nestled in a sitting area that is part of the master bedroom. Substantial pieces of silver tribal jewellery, most likely from India, are hung in black shadow box frames above the sofa.

“This is the spot for a desk,” Stouvenout says, indicating an empty space along a boldly-painted magenta wall with a cut out that would allow someone sitting at a desk to see the ocean. The wall doubles as a headboard with a low modern bed set against it. A magenta wall in the large bathroom, where double white sinks are suspended from the wall, echoes the colour in the
bedroom. The other walls are grey, in keeping with the pale stone floors.
“The idea was to create a space for the family to relax and entertain,” says Stouvenot about the “main” house. “The owners didn’t want guests to stay in their own house and not interact.”
Slightly different in configuration, the “guest” house, was originally built with three bedrooms, one on either side of the living room/pool area, and one downstairs, each with its own bathroom. “The two upstairs bedrooms have outdoor showers,” says Stouvenot.

In its new iteration, the downstairs bedroom now has a recessed area with two sets of bunk beds for the family’s two children and their friends. The ‘’bunk’’ room opens to another bedroom, which
could be converted to a playroom. The design of this room and its adjoining bath is also very contemporary, with sliding glass and aluminum doors. “There is even a sandbox on the terrace for the kids,” Stouvenot points out.

While the kitchen in this house was mostly removed, a refrigerator and some of the original white cabinets remain so that drinks and snacks can be readily available in case the guests are hungry or thirsty. This extra little kitchen area adds to the flexibility of the house, making it a perfect space
for a party since (for the time being anyway) there is very little furniture in the living room.
A perfect home for Saint Barth, Villa Maco is open and airy (even though the bedrooms are air-conditioned) providing a bridge between indoor and outdoor living. “The house is a modern way to use traditional wood, with contemporary lines and forms,” says Stouvenot. From the architect’s point of view, “The house is not modern, except for small touches of modernity.”
Traditional elements—stone, wood, palm trees, and bright red bougainvillea— marry with the contemporary — stainless steel, modern furniture, state-of-theart electronics, remote-control shutters and lighting— to create an inviting home that is well adapted to island living, with plenty of room for entertaining.