Inside Le Figuier: Bétyle Studio’s Modern Transformation of a Windowless Marseille Farmhouse

Summary

• Bétyle Studio converted an 1820 outbuilding in Marseille into a 45-square-meter home using an internal timber “architectural core”
• Red okoumé wood and glass bricks create a private, lantern-like interior without adding new windows
• Bespoke details, like a trough-inspired vanity, honor the site’s agricultural history

In Marseille, Bétyle Studio has transformed a historic 1820 agricultural outbuilding into “Le Figuier,” a compact 45-square-meter home that serves as both a workspace and a private retreat. Because the original limestone rubble walls were windowless and structurally sensitive, designers Carla Romano and Nicolas Cazenave de la Roche opted not to create new openings. Instead, they introduced an innovative internal “architectural core” – a hollow timber and glass framework set back from the original masonry – to define the office, bedroom and corridor without compromising the building’s historic envelope.

The design is defined by a striking palette of deep-red stained okoumé wood and warm brown stoneware tiles that echo the patina of traditional Marseille terracotta. To solve the challenge of limited natural light, the studio utilized a high band of sandblasted glass bricks along the edges of the central structure. These blocks act as a light filter, diffusing soft daylight throughout the interior during the day and creating a lantern-like glow at night while preserving the occupant’s privacy.

Every element within the home is a testament to bespoke craftsmanship, with the studio commissioning unique furniture, architectural hardware, and lighting specifically for the project. Many features offer a contemporary nod to the building’s agricultural past; for example, a stainless-steel bathroom vanity is designed to evoke old feeding troughs, and repurposed farm hooks serve as wall pegs. A standout custom piece is the handmade wooden bed base, which features an intricate star-shaped inlay referencing the “baetyl” stone from which the studio takes its name.