Ecohomes offer a new way of French living

An increasing awareness of environmental issues has led many people to seek alternative solutions to the way they live. For some though, eco-living becomes a passion they cannot deny. The result is homes that both support the environment and provide a welcoming living space. These excerpt from Cathy Strongman’s new book The Sustainable Home (published by Merrell) showcases three French homes, one in Paris, one in Brittany’s capital city Rennes and one in the Isère countryside, proving that ecohomes are ideal for any location. They may even provide inspiration for your own home.

PARIS

This collaborative project between three French architects has seen a run-down Parisian house transformed into a hightech and impressively sustainable home. The project is divided into two adjoining properties: Maison A, the family home of the clients; and Studio B, a smaller house, which they let out. The clients asked the architects to open the house to the garden and expand the existing floor area to create light and airy interiors with open but clearly defined spaces that encourage interaction between family members. They also wanted the houses to be energy-efficient and hence economical to run, with reduced carbon emissions.

The result is a dramatic transformation that combines sensitive renovation techniques with cutting-edge materials and gadgetry. While the street façade has retained its original character, the back of the property has been entirely reconstructed with extensive glazed areas and futuristic metal façades. Enclosed within this shell are two exciting, contemporary and environmentally-friendly homes. Built in 1860, the original house was small, not particularly attractive and configured so that nearly all the rooms looked out on to the road. However, it did have a garden, which is rare in Paris, and it backed on to a picturesque and quiet little passageway. The client asked architect Jacques Moussafir to turn the house into a family home, and when a studio overlooking the garden came up for sale, Isabelle Denoyel and Eric Wuilmot were employed to transform it into a contemporary apartment. The interiors of both properties were reconfigured to create more flowing and practical spaces.

Rennes

From the driveway, this house looks like any of the other stone buildings that line the streets of Rennes. But the back of the property offers something completely different. Architect David Juet has added a dramatic black extension to this family home, providing a new lease of life to the property and updating it to suit the living arrangements of his clients. By renovating an existing house to meet the demands of 21^st century living, he has also contributed to an important process by which the density of existing towns can be sensitively increased. The extension was built to the French Haute Qualité Environnementale (HQE) standard, a mark of sustainable practice consisting of 14 environmental criteria, including creating low polluting buildings and following a responsible waste management plan. Juet met the standard by incorporating low energy materials into the design and by orientating the glazed areas to gain maximum passive heat and natural light from the sun.

Isère

Architect Florian Golay was under considerable pressure when building this house in the Isère countryside to the east of Lyon. Not only were his parents the clients, but also the building was to be located on a tricky hillside plot. Golay’s solution was to work with the natural gradient of the land to build a series of terraced interior and exterior living spaces that cascade down the hill. To achieve this, Golay combined heavy masonry concrete with a lightweight timber frame, exploiting the benefits of both materials to create a visually interesting, durable and impressively energy-efficient home. The clients decided to buy the plot after becoming frustrated at the lack of interesting houses within their budget in the nearby town of Sermérieux.

They asked their son to design a house that would take full advantage of the views and provide fluid indoor and outdoor spaces. The result is a contemporary building that faces south but spreads over the hillside to the west so that, from almost every room, the clients can step out on to a terrace or balcony.


Written by Cathy Strongman.

---