House under the pine trees

How to build and to keep out of the limelight at the same time in the middle of thisforested environment? The postulate is quite simple: by proposing two differentvolumes covered by a light « wooden sheet » used as a vegetal roof and linking towholeto its environment.

The first volume has got a dark and rough skin hiding purposefully among the vegetation. It is made of burnt wood (shou sugibanin Japanese) and when the shutters are closed, there is no entry to be seen from outside if needed, justlike asnug family cocoon. The bedrooms are there with a view on the pine trees and the gorce bushes in the for eground,leaving the remaining vegetation growing wild in the background.

On the contrary, the second volume shows lightness and total transparency. It facesEast (morning sun)and gives the family a huge open living space. The burnt wood epidermis of the first volume comes inside and this skin is now carved to put the fireplace, the kitchen and so on. The bay windows slide entirely open and the angles of the living room vanish giving way to the terraces and the garden.The technical spaces are sheltered in the center of the house and work as a spinalcolumn. It is the only place to be found with a plastered ceiling and where the wooden roof cannot be seen.

The house building techniques used are well thought and subtly developed. The roofis made of CLT (Cross Laminated Timber) and remains rough in all the living spaces to enlighten the intrinsic quality of the building material (pinewood). Just like avegetalized sheet of paper this roof caps the-house in the pine trees-protecting the bay windows from the elements.The working methods chosen enhance the architectural design. Besides, the choice of a prefabricated house helps to remain within the allotted building time (10months) thanks to locally grown materials showing the respect it deserves to the exceptional natural environment.

Photo credits :

Photos SANDRINE IRATCABAL

Night photos PKA