South of France House Refurbishment by Studio XM.

The renewed walls of an old farmhouse stand as an intimate refuge, nestled amongst a tree-covered hill in the middle of the French countryside. Timothee Mercier of architecture firm Studio XM, has sensitively brought life back into its once weathered shell. His “renewal over reconstruction” approach halts the demise of the structure, ensuring it’s crumbling walls didn’t slowly fade back into the surrounding landscape.

The farmhouse refurbishment unfolds as a poetic narrative. Its romantic story possibly amplified by the rolling green hills of the French countryside that surround it. Mercier’s family bought the land in the early 2000s. At the time, a small farmhouse sat nearly completely camouflaged at the base of the hill, weathered and almost entirely engulfed by trees. His parents enlisted him to rebuild it, a request that became a meticulous process that unfolded over summer – a process of refined considered restoration.

Constructed from different sized stones, the façade echoes the architectural history of the region. The walls have been finished with “Chaux”, local lime plaster that leaves a textured and uneven surface. The result is a series of interior spaces that form a dreamy rustic escape.

Light bounces off white painted rooms. Regionally sourced oak becomes a warm element in the space, echoing the soft, raw language of the project. Timber lines window and door frames, as well as forming simple but beautifully designed furniture. The roof tiles are “tuiles anciennes”, including some that are more than 30 years old. Their muted colours range from green to red, blending seamlessly into the trees growing around it. The result is a building that stands almost as an homage to the landscape and heritage it surrounds.

Related: An Old Barn in Lormes, France Transformed Into a Contemporary Country House by Frank Minnaërt.

[Images courtesy of Timothee Mercier. Photography by Simone Bossi.]