Benerville-sur-Mer, Calvados, Normandy, France

Facing the sea on the shores of Benerville-sur-Mer, this contemporary residence boldly reinterprets the International Style, where monumentality and transparency intertwine in a striking architectural fluidity. Designed to enhance its surroundings, it combines the nobility of materials, the generosity of volumes, and an omnipresent light.

Its west-facing orientation offers a rare privilege: flamboyant sunsets that set the sky ablaze with fiery shades of orange, powder pink, and deep violet, reflected on shimmering waves. Each room unfolds like a suspended belvedere, where vastness engages in a dialogue with the architecture in a perfect fusion of indoor and outdoor spaces.

From the very entrance, the monumental facade captivates the eye-its immense glass expanses, inspired by classic skylights reinterpreting modern minimalism, bestow upon the structure a sculptural presence. As the day progresses, light dances in shifting currents, revealing every texture with vibrant intensity.

The interior, conceived in the spirit of cathedral-like volumes, boasts a spectacular ceiling height. The majestic living room, centered around a black steel fireplace, seems to float between weightlessness and elevation. Vast glass walls dissolve the boundary between home and horizon, capturing the ever-changing reflections of the sea in a tableau of perpetual metamorphosis.

In the dining room, a table with organic lines-crafted to capture and refract the sun's reflections-transforms into a liquid mirror of both sky and sea. The open kitchen, where oak and stone converse with understated elegance, elevates the essence of its materials within a minimalist aesthetic.

On the ground floor, a suite opens directly onto the terrace, offering a sea-facing awakening bathed in the glow of the morning light and the gentle lapping of the waves-a cozy alcove where the horizon makes its delicate appearance.

The first floor houses four suites, each with its own private terrace and a unique perspective on the coastline. Designed as floating observatories, they evoke the timeless elegance of transatlantic liners. Here, the sea permeates every space, streaming through expansive glass openings and enveloping each area in shifting reflections.

A wrought-iron staircase, whose design evokes the lightness of a propeller, suggests movement and ascent. It leads to two spaces conceived for sharing and imagination: a warm dormitory-a dreamy cocoon where the young envision maritime adventures-and an immersive playroom, a sanctuary of creativity and laughter.

The basement accommodates a garage accessible via an external car elevator. A wine cellar, a true sensory cradle, safeguards fine wines in ideal conditions, adding a final touch of refinement. An elevator serves all four levels, while an advanced home automation system precisely orchestrates all essential functions-centralized control of windows, lighting, heating, and blinds, fully operable remotely. Every detail marries modernity and fluidity, allowing the ambiance to be tailored to the rhythm of the hours and one's desires.

This residence embodies the ideal of contemporary coastal architecture, where every space is designed to enhance the breathtaking view of the sea. More than just a home, it is an ode to the Côte Fleurie-a refuge bathed in light, where every moment seems suspended in the ever-shifting brilliance of the waves and sky.