SCAD Students Attend Class in a Spectacular Restored Medieval Village in Southern France

While some students opt for a semester abroad spent in Paris or Rome, 79 enterprising young creatives from the <a href="http://www.scad.edu/">Savannah College of Art and Design</a> (SCAD) have decided to take a break from the city, spending their school days strolling and studying in the streets of a historic medieval village in Provence, France. Basking in the beautiful light that once inspired the likes of Picasso and Van Gogh, these privileged few are experiencing an inimitable immersion in French art, architecture, culture and history. Ten years ago the board of the Lacoste School of the Arts donated their campus buildings to SCAD, and since then the school has meticulously overseen the site's preservation process. With the help of experts and students, the village has gone from a crumbling relic to a spectacular learning environment for the world's next generation of artists and designers. In celebration of SCAD's 10 years in <a href="http://www.scad.edu/lacoste/index.cfm">Lacoste</a>, we were invited to explore the campus and its most recent completed restoration, Maison Basse. Hit jump to see more images, and to learn the fascinating history behind this historic village that was once even home to the infamous <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marquis_de_Sade">Marquis de Sade</a>.

The stunning stone village of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lacoste,_Vaucluse">Lacoste</a> has changed hands numerous times over the last few centuries, and some of its oldest buildings date as far back as the 12th century. The region itself boasts over 20,000 years of occupied history, and it's geographic location has made it a cultural crossroads.<strong> </strong>

To date <a href="http://www.scad.edu/lacoste/index.cfm">SCAD</a> has restored 33 buildings, and during the process they have given historians, architects and sociologists a look into the evolution the building vernacular of the immediate area and surrounding region. The restorations has skipped modern architectural additions, instead opting for a preservation approach that maintains as many existing elements as possible. In areas where the buildings have been modernized, the aesthetic is very subdued and there is a concerted effort to bring forth some of the historic elements; brick is exposed through areas of re-plastered, windows are placed in the floor so you can view the previous wood and stonework that underlay the home, and the original timber has been kept intact where possible -- all <a href="http://www.inhabitat.com/materials">materials</a> used in the restoration process were locally sourced or recycled.

Now in its 10th year, nearly 3,000 students have passed through<a href="http://www.scad.edu/lacoste/index.cfm"> SCAD Lacoste</a>, and 79 are on site today, living, studying and working in the restored spaces.

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One standout building is Lacoste's former boulangerie, which is now a<a href="http://inhabitat.com/norwegian-students-build-airy-bamboo-and-teak-library-for-thai-orphans/"> student library</a>.

Students are not limited to the studio and you can see an number working al fresco with panoramic views of the Luberon Valley right before them. Unsurprisingly this historic locale is still a magnet for contemporary artists and writers looking for inspiration (bit of trivia: <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tom_Stoppard">Tom Stoppard</a> wrote "Shakespeare in Love" here).

The total population of Lacoste is about 300, 100 of whom are students or staff, and the remaining 200 villagers, guests, tourists or part time residents. Within its ancient walls, SCAD Lacoste offers a variety of modern facilities, including two computer labs and teaching studios dedicated to painting, drawing, sculpture, printmaking and photography come well-equipped.

The walls are lined with the colorful spines of books sourced from around the world, and a large dome-shaped oven serves as a little reading nook with enough room to fit a few students at a time.

The back room of the library.

Students attend classes and seminars in this former chapel.

Students work, eat and socialize on this terrace overlooking the valley.

Pieces discovered during excavation -- including <a href="http://inhabitat.com/15-green-lamps-to-light-up-your-life/">lamps</a>, statues and pots -- are placed throughout as a reference to the site's incredible history. But student work can also be found alongside these relics, infusing a contemporary language into the environment.

Before SCAD's intervention, Lacoste had its heydey in the mid 1600s, but the buildings were last fully inhabited in the 1880s, after which an economic slump in the area forced residents to out, leaving the structures to fall into disrepair.

The tide turned once again during the 1960s when the likes of designer <a href="http://inhabitat.com/pierre-cardins-plans-for-a-futuristic-venice-skyscraper-finds-opposition/">Pierre Cardin</a> and artist Bernard Pfriem began buying up buildings in the village and restoring them for occupancy.

Entrance to the Maison Basse.

The recently completed Maison Basse. The structure has been everything from a animal pen to a gambling den for the Marquis de Sade.

Finding a perfect balance between preservation, sustainability and contemporary sensibilities, we were impressed by not only SCAD's attention to detail and their commitment to restoring Lacoste sustainably, but their efforts to bring students and locals into the process.

With the revitalization now complete, the nearly 300 students who attend SCAD throughout the year will have the opportunity to live and learn in this unique village that boasts room for studio classes, seminars, demonstrations and housing.

Students are able to take courses in architecture, art history, painting, historic preservation, landscape design and more.

A view from below.