Villa

Buying your dream villa

An architect-designed villa high on a hill in Provence, in a wild coastal location, or with priceless art-deco finishes. Or perhaps a beach villa with heated outdoor pool in the Morbihan… The villa of your dreams is bound to be out there… somewhere !

According to the Faculty of Philosophy and Letters at the Catholic University of Louvain, the word ‘villa’ first appeared in 18th century Italian, when it was used to describe a sumptuous country retreat on an agricultural estate. Today, the term has lost some of its prestige, but still conjures up visions of a beautiful dwelling, often with a garden. In common parlance, it is sometimes mistakenly confused with the more modest term ‘pavilion’. Villas, regardless of age, are highly sought after, often come complete with pool and/or uninterrupted views of green landscapes as far as the eye can see, and combine the attractions of a character home with beautifully proportioned internal spaces. Today’s villas still retain the generous proportions inherited from their luxurious history. It is this kind of ‘detail’ that sets a villa apart from a house. Originally conceived as a farmer’s dwelling, the villa was designed to house both the family and its workers.