Chronology of Renovation & Works
01
Acquiring the estate
May 2022
The start of a new life on the outskirts of Albi with the acquisition of this magnificent property on its hillside. With our heads full of ideas and projects, we'll soon be getting down to the nitty-gritty.
Since the purchase of this estate in May 2022, not a single day has gone by without its fair share of work. We're hardly exaggerating, the pace has been so sustained.
Our aim is to elevate the property to become one of the region's must-see venues, offering refined and delicate accommodation and receptions.
02
Renovation of the "Maison de Maître"
Sept 2022 - May 2023
The first major project in our complete renovation of the estate. The maison de maître is in its original state, the spaces are there, but now we need to breathe a breath of modernism and class into it.
With a surface area of almost 250m2, the project is a big one. While part of the work will involve refreshing some of the rooms, there are also some big chunks, including opening up the kitchen, converting the attic space, creating sanitary facilities, installing air conditioning in all the rooms, redoing the floors and so on.
The main challenge for us was to respect the existing house and its charm, so as not to distort a typical interior with its beautiful stonework, fine beams and a few choice materials. A clever mix that our teams were able to achieve to perfection, if customer feedback is anything to go by!
The project took a long time to complete, with virtually every trade working on it.
Architecte d'intérieur: Atelier Waouh!
Maçonnerie: ETS Bouquerel
Plomberie: MT Confort
Électricité: Entreprise Bouat
Plaquiste: Benjamin Lemaire
Peinture et sols: ETS Mikael Tournier
Béton ciré: Brice Molluna
Cuisine et Buanderie: Raison Home
Menuiserie: Favero Menuiserie
Architecte d'intérieur: Atelier Waouh!
Maçonnerie: ETS Bouquerel
Plomberie: MT Confort
Électricité: Entreprise Bouat
Plaquiste: Benjamin Lemaire
Peinture et sols: ETS Mikael Tournier
Béton ciré: Brice Molluna
Cuisine et Buanderie: Raison Home
Menuiserie: Favero Menuiserie
03
Renovation of the "Vieille Tronque"
March 2023 - Nov 2023
La Vieille Tronque is the second major site in our ‘interior renovation’ project. This is a pleasant house that will require less work than the maison de maître. Previously renovated by the previous owner, the main task will be to rectify things here and there and complete the work.
We're bringing back the same team, and on the menu is a new kitchen, the smoothing of the previously plastered walls, new paintwork, the creation of a new living room in the estate's former stable, work to bring the staircases and other mezzanine railings up to standard, and the air-conditioning and sanitary facilities upgrade project.
04
Renovation of the "Four à Pain"
October 2023 - February 2024
Le Four à Pain, or the future gîte for the bride and groom, is a small one-storey house measuring 90m2. It has a real charm, a cosy little nest with its large fireplace, beams and terracotta floor tiles.
It needs a new kitchen, fresh paint, a new bathroom, updated plumbing and air conditioning. Our aim is to create a space full of charm and romance, a bubble of well-being, for the future brides and grooms of the estate.
The team in charge of the work won't be changing, because they're satisfied with the work they've done so far.
Architecte d'intérieur: Atelier Waouh!
Maçonnerie: ETS Bouquerel
Plomberie: MT Confort
Électricité: Entreprise Bouat
Plaquiste: Benjamin Lemaire
Peinture et sols: ETS Mikael Tournier
Béton ciré: Brice Molluna
Cuisine: Raison Home
Terrassement: Eco Terrassement
05
Roadworks
February 2024 - April 2024
Welcoming the public means having the infrastructure to do so. It's time to start work on the outside. Phase 1, earthworks for the parking area, the creation of a road around the estate and a parking area for caterers and other service providers.
We want to make the estate pedestrian-friendly, but we also want to provide access to the various strategic areas of the estate. Mechanical shovels and other construction equipment will therefore take their place and disrupt our landscape. The result? A 60-space car park, a network of internal paths and secondary parking areas.
06
The pool area
March 2024 - June 2024
The long-awaited project of 2024! We had a lot of ambition on our side to create more than just a swimming pool. Our aim was to create a space that would stand on its own, a space that would blend in with the existing landscape and enhance it. Digging a hole in the middle of the estate would have been simpler, quicker and less expensive, but we wanted something different.
The topology of the site made the work complex and massive. The first big challenge was the earthworks, on a slope that meant creating several levels, destroying in order to build again. The masonry was also a big job, if only to transport the materials. Construction of a retaining wall, the pool house structure, terrace and swimming pool, access staircases and so on.
Then it was the turn of the exterior fittings to create a unique atmosphere in line with the rest of the exterior. A few olive trees planted and a number of flower beds later, the whole place is ready and looking great.
The choice of service providers was crucial to this ambitious project, and we're proud and delighted with our choices.
Terrassement: Eco Terrassement
Maçonnerie: Solesbat
Aménagement extérieur: Créa Jardin 81
Electricité: Entreprise Bouat
Pisciniste: Techni Piscines
Terrasse: Groupe Consentino
Aménagement extérieur: Créa Jardin 81
07
Landscaping and Exteriors
April 2024 - August 2024
Following on from the earthworks and the construction of the swimming pool, the outdoor landscaping project was a major undertaking, and just as ambitious as the rest. We had a number of different objectives.
The first was to create distinct outdoor spaces for all the gîtes. The second was to create a real outdoor identity, a coherent atmosphere in keeping with the specific characteristics of the region. The third, and by no means least, was to create a park with the introduction of new species of plants/trees, lawn areas and different living areas.
The work was impressive and the result exceeded our expectations. Today, the exterior is on a par with the work carried out on the interior, and adds real value to the estate.