Villa Mondoukou

This holiday house for a couple was designed by a young team of architects working between France and Côte d’Ivoire. It stands among tall palms, a short walk from the beach.

At its heart is a tropical rock garden. Every wall is built of earth and lime, and a central bamboo roof was made by traditional craftsmen from the region. The walls carry a moiré finish, and the shifting tones of earth and lime are the house’s only ornament. Earth, lime and bamboo, all low in cost, were shaped by local artisans.

Everything else is a play of levels. The entrance is a raised slab between two walls that leads to the living room, still carried on the same slab. The living room opens onto a patio under the bamboo roof, which works as a large skylight, and the patio leads to two independent bedrooms.

To reach the main bedroom, a stair climbs through a cut in the entrance wall that frames a direct view of the sea. On one side is a tropical bathroom. On the other, a bedroom looks out to the bamboo roof drawing a line across the horizon.