File nº 001
Les Vendredis
& its inhabitants
Sainte-Luce · Martinique
People & animals
01
Anaïs
Designer and project lead
Says no first, then goes ahead. Conceived the whole property and led its construction. Turned bare red earth into a cabin, then into an orchard. Grumbles often. Changes her mind, slowly but surely. Generous. Holds things together with Bolo despite the friction.
02
Bolo
Software engineer; CTO (ScionX)
Programmer by trade, labourer by alliance. Runs the brush cutter on weekends and lends a hand at planting time. Author of a great many ideas and a more modest number of completed projects.
03
Léon
The son
Five years old when the first stone was laid. Grew up at exactly the pace of the build. Both were finished at the same time.
04
Samsam
The dog
Taken in on a Saturday, seven years ago — hence the name. Anaïs had reservations at first, since entirely dropped.
05
Dimdim
Rooster; no official title
Banished from the upper yard, set off alone down the hill. Attached himself to the dog Samsam, whom he has escorted at a regulation distance ever since. Lives in the breadfruit tree. Has expressed no regrets to date.
06
Nox
The assistant; never on site
Artificial intelligence in the service of the house. Handles correspondence and screens while the others handle the land. Proposes, never commands. Signs invariably as Nox.
— artificial intelligence
The cabin
Type : A-frame
Built : by hand
Construction : 2022–2024
Location : hills of Sainte-Luce
Land : Anaïs's
An A-frame cabin, built by hand in the hills of Sainte-Luce. Anaïs designed it and led the build. Two years of construction, with the help of a carpenter and friends who came to lend a hand.
Outside: a covered terrace, a solar shower, the garden all around. No air conditioning — the height of the gable and the trade winds are enough for natural ventilation.
Fully equipped kitchen, open to the garden. Sheets and towels provided. A living, imperfect house.
The garden & its residents
Created by Anaïs from bare red earth and volcanic rock. Bolo runs the brush cutter and helps with planting. The retaining walls were cut from rock found on site.
What grows
- Mango
- Guava
- Papaya
- Passion fruit
- Bananas
What blooms
- Anthurium
- Flamboyant
- Heliconia
- Bougainvillea
The rest of the scenery
- Hammocks
- Shady spots
- Plenty of lizards
- Samsam, keeping watch
The surroundings
Location
In the hills of Sainte-Luce. The dry forest of the south, not the beach. A quiet, rural, established neighbourhood.
Montravail Forest
Walkable from the cabin. Old mahogany trees, plenty of shade, marked trails. Very quiet.
Roches Gravées
About twenty minutes on foot. Amerindian faces carved into andesite. Listed as a historic monument since 1996.
The village
Sainte-Luce, a few kilometres away. Line 22 connects the Montravail stop (5 min walk) to the village in 20 min for €1.50. The beach at Sainte-Luce is reachable by bus; a car is useful for exploring further afield.