A Spartera

Shortly before his solitary adventure, experienced in the vast silences of Alaska, transformed into legend with the book and film Into the Wild, Christopher McCandless had written in his notebook, "Happiness is only real when shared". These six words, destined to resonate far beyond the edges of the wilderness, have left a precious message: the certainty that every discovery, every achievement, even every pain, only has full meaning if it creates an echo in others. The same spirit reverberates through Homen Residences, a series of dream places scattered across the four corners of the globe, whose deeper meaning is in the idea of sharing. They are the vision of  project creator and owner Jérôme Picard. 
A residence, bearing the name “A "Spartera", which means "sharing" in Corsican, is one of these places. It is located in the Gulf of Pinarello a few kilometres from Porto Vecchio: an enchanting place with a small fishing port, white sandy beaches, and breathtaking views of the sea. The project fits perfectly with the context, embodying the values of conviviality and serenity. As Jérôme Picard explains, "It is a hybrid model of hospitality. The aim is to offer the sensation of feeling at home at the same time as creating opportunities for socialising. It's a place for experiencing unique moments with the people we love, for sitting around big tables, laughter, and all the moments of happiness that unite people. Pinarello charms me, it was one of those loves at first sight that happen very rarely. The sea, the imposing silhouettes of umbrella pines, the perfume of aromatic Mediterranean herbs: from the beginning I wanted the entire project to be open to the view and garden, for the architecture to look out to the horizon, and for the interiors and exteriors to become one. All this has been shaped by an architecture that has sculpted an environment conceived as an extension of self, while creating spaces with a communal air that favour daily exchange. There is a subtle balance between interiority and sociality, refuge and encounter. 
"A Spartera has been conceived to blend with the environment while remaining discreetly present, almost secret, in a synthesis of elegant, meticulously crafted contemporary architecture and Corsican traditions" explains architect Joseph Battistelli. This result was obtained with the use of granite, a local material that anchors the building to the ground in the same way as the island's ancient shepherd huts. "Minerality here becomes a language of its own, memory transformed into material, evoking buildings of the past and at the same time declaring a contemporary style. Stone walls interact with the metal's bronze colour, playing with light and reflections" continues Joseph Battistelli. The large, three metre high glass door, opens with a silent and sweeping gesture to let A Spartera embrace the view. The pergola canopy breaks up the main mass of the building, cutting through the stone precisely and creating subtle connections between the rear walls and the main volume of the building with its forward thrust. Two main wings and two guest houses are arranged around a pool, conceived as a water mirror capturing reflections, welcoming the sky, and acting as a point of balance between mineral and vegetal. "Light is omnipresent in Corsica, vivid and contrasting, it oriented our choices and became one of the materials of the project. The pergola canopies are inspired by patterns of pine needles, filtering the light, creating ever-changing shadows and modulating perceptions of A Spartera as the seasons pass. I like to think this architecture will live and transform, acquiring a patina that reinforces its connection with the island” concludes Joseph Battistelli. 
A Spartera is characterized by its equilibrium between solidity and lightness, a sensation reinforced by suspended terraces opening onto the pool and landscape from the living room and bedrooms. The interior design by Géraldine Contet, was carefully considered to create an environment offering maximum comfort. Precious materials such as Sardinian stone and a veined white marble have been used in each room, while the stuccoed ceiling and sculptural fireplace create a warm welcoming atmosphere. “A Spartera was conceived as an ode to freedom and conviviality” explains Géraldine Contet. “and the architecture melts into the background, transforming into a sensory journey. I chose to echo the technicality of the construction by revealing certain structural details so they become part of the story. I fell in love with the work of Alexandre Labruyère, a cabinetmaker whose sensibility immediately resonated with the spirit of place through his creation of custom-made pieces. Authenticity, for me, lies in a deep harmony with the environment." 
With its sculptural form, Edra's On The Rocks sofa establishes a natural presence in the space, combining aesthetic and comfort in a dialogue with the architecture. “For a long time I have loved Edra” Jérôme Picard explains, “I find it to be a strong and iconic brand, with solid values; a hallmark of Italian and international design. In the shade of the pine trees, lounging on the large sofas with a book between sea, garden and pool, I enjoy watching A Spartera come to life, come to life, our guests enjoying the spaces and feeling at home. The On The Rocks sofa was an obvious choice of sofa: its generosity invites us to share and contemplate. Its shape makes a spectacular focal point in the interior spaces, its curves contrasting with the residence's taut lines. It is present but discreet, its low lines let the view of the sea and the garden fill the whole of the spacious living room from the entrance.” 
A collection of art selected by curator François Leblanc di Cicilia and artist Le Sonneur accompanies the furnishings. "The art and the furniture form a dialogue, creating a uniquely sensory experience. Each piece contributes to narrating this place", explains di Cicilia. “To inhabit is to coexist. We decorate a space to make it our own, to sow fragments of life there, escape keys, and to be surrounded by friends, opening windows onto different horizons. If you remove the furniture the space seems deprived of its function; remove the art collection and you cancel a presence. This first collection has been curated to speak of family, of ties with this land, with the Mediterranean geography and minerality of this place. This dialogue between art and furniture, sometimes unexpected and sometimes an act of complicity, breathes life into the whole. We offer an experience of dwelling, an atmosphere that is personal but open to the world, an invitation to tranquillity and discovery.” 
Another distinctive element of the project is the garden. With a surface area of 3,000 square metres it is a natural refuge bringing together local plants of the Mediterranean maquis and century-old pines and olive trees that extends down to the beach with a private path, making it easy to access the wild white sand. 
A Spartera is not simply a place to stay in but an experience to be lived, with excursions into the maquis, water sports, yoga sessions at dawn and tastings of excellent local wines, from a wine cellar clad in backlit onyx and housing labels personally chosen by Jérôme Picard. “Living in Pinarello is a sensory journey,” he emphasises. "Every corner of A Spartera invites us to discovery and the pleasure of being together”, a microcosm, weaving architecture with art and nature in a perfect balance, designed for sharing intense emotions with loved ones, in one of Corsica's most evocative corners.