Studio: international art (85.1923)

DOMESTIC ARCHITECTURE AND
DECORATION. 4 0 a a

“ rT'iHE WOOLSACK/" of which we
1 give three illustrations, is the name
of a hunting lodge built for the Duke of
Westminster from the designs of Messrs.
Detmar Blow and Fernand Billerey, Archi-
tects, of Grosvenor Road, London. It is
situate at Mimi^an, a place about halfway
between Bordeaux and Bayonne, in the
Landes, where the pine forests are still
inhabited by wild boar, on the side of one
of the large lakes (l’Etang d'Aureilhan).
The one-storey accommodation, particu-
larly suited to the mild climate of the
district, provides for only four bedrooms
and bathrooms, two living rooms and
servants’ accommodation, all distributed

round a cloister and open court similar to
the Roman Atrium. This cloister affords
communication between the rooms, and a
fountain in the centre of the Atrium, sur-
rounded by camellias and oleander, com-
pletes the southern atmosphere of the
planning. The main side of the house is a
terrace overlooking the lake through the
tall pines of the forest, and broad flights
of brick steps lead to it. The most practical
access to the house is by boat across the
lake, the forest tracks formed with a bed
of pine needles being only suitable to the
local mule-carts. In building the house
all use was made of the materials and
craftsmen of this picturesque country.
The narrow hand - made wood - burnt
bricks and the oak posts of the half-
timbered structure dressed with the ad^e

u THE WOOLSACK,” MIMIZAN, FRANCE
THE TERRACE FRONT. DETMAR BLOW
AND FERNAND BILLEREY, ARCHITECTS

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