The exterior of Lacoste is filled with charms
By Rachel Chaikof
I recently arrived in Lacoste, and all I can say is that it’s a whole new world! Lacsote is very different from Atlanta. I feel like I’m living in an extremely tiny city surrounded by a charming countryside!
Lacoste is a quaint little village situated on the east end of a mountain spine, rising up out of the plains between the mountain range known as the Luberon and a plateau known as the Plateau de Vaucluse. Lacoste is in the Luberon, a region in Provence, located east of Avignon, an urban center in Vaucluse, a department in the southeast of France.
There is so much green here. When I walk out of the door, I step on a green grass, and I see many gorgeous trees including cypress. There also are vibrant green bushes all over the place. As I look out in the gardens, I see mountains and plains.
On a sunny day, I can see various shadows in the mountains, and the contrasts of shadows and highlights create splendid scenery. In fact, when there are a few clouds in the sky, there are noticeable shadows of the clouds on the land. Quite captivating!
The plains look like a huge patchwork quilt. There are a variety of patches of browns, reds and bright greens. There are not many buildings on the plains. It’s mostly filled with vineyards, grass and trees.
Architecture in Lacoste is magnificent. Buildings made of limestone and stuccos are what make the designs beautiful. They’re not boring like buildings made of brick, which shows too much repetition. The stones vary in size, which adds vibration to the buildings. Even though some buildings are made of stucco, which tends to create simplicity in the designs, it’s still beautiful because the colors are bright.
The roads are made of cobblestones and they are quite bumpy, unlike the smooth plain black roads made of tar. I must admit it’s a tough walk, especially since the mountain roads are quite steep. However, it’s a great exercise, and I feel like I am hiking up and down the mountain all the time. The bright brown cobblestones add so much detail and beauty to the village.
Also unlike Atlanta, there is no traffic in Lacoste. Actually, hardly any cars pass through the town. It’s quite nice, as I don’t have to worry about hearing the traffic noises — especially the annoying horn-honking and police officers’ whistle-blowing. Life is very tranquil in Lacoste.
Lacoste is a medieval town, and according to SCAD’s Web site, SCAD’s buildings date back to 15th and 16th centuries. Although the buildings do look quite old from the outside, the interiors are modernized and include a large number of computers and draft tables that look exactly like those used at SCAD-Atlanta. There also are very comfortable beds in the dorms.
