Lacapelle del Fraisse

Project Description

The house nestles against the slope, partially buried to the north and opening to the south towards the Veinazes valley through a wide glass-panelled façade. The design of the house reinterprets several elements of the vernacular architecture from the Chataigneraie area in the Cantal region and seeks to integrate it into the environment, favouring responsibility and sustainability. Thus the concrete volume embedded in the soil benefits from an exterior facing in granite, on which rests a structure in Douglas fir. The joinery on the sides is a technique frequently used in the region. The green roof also contributes to blending the construction into the landscape. From stone to wood, from shade to light, its design also incorporates a bioclimatic approach. The north-south orientation of the construction allows passive solar gain. The masonry volume which shelters the buffer space adds inertia. In winter, the latter accumulates solar energy during the day and feeds it back at night. In summer, combined with a natural ventilation system, it cools the house. The living spaces are set in the wood volume. They extend outside onto a wooden terrace sheltered by a wide roof cantilever, which screens the sun during the summer months. At the intersection of the two volumes, a circulation space with a strip of natural light links the different areas.