Restoration Of A Farm In The French Alps

RESTORATION OF A FARM IN THE FRENCH ALPS

Pierre-doucerain + Adrien Felix-faure

Restoration Of A Farm In The French Alps
Courtesy Of Pierre-doucerain

WOODWORKER
M.berthuin, Invernizzi

ELECTRICIAN
Tmac

PLASTERER PAINTER
Creadecor

PLUMBER
Madisun

                     TILESETTERS
                David Grange

INSULATION
Bâti-vert

MASON, CARPENTER
Stgm

COLLABORATOR
Adrien Felix-faure Architect

PHOTOGRAPHS
Courtesy of Pierre-Doucerain

YEAR
2013

LOCATION
Villefranche-sur-mer, France

CATEGORY
Houses, Restoration, Renovation

Restoration Of A Farm In The French Alps
Courtesy Of Pierre-doucerain

In 2012, Mr and Mrs S. bought an old farm in a stone village located at 1550 meters high in the French Alps.

Being mountain lovers, this Parisian couple wishes to have at their disposal for their children and themselves a residential place in the core of the mountains.

Restoration Of A Farm In The French Alps
Courtesy Of Pierre-doucerain
Restoration Of A Farm In The French Alps
Courtesy Of Pierre-doucerain

The village is outstanding for its solid architecture, its stone squat houses huddled all together to protect themselves from the cold weather.

They are separated by narrow steep staired streets allowing the water to flow when the snow melts.

The walls are made whith flat stone slabs; they look dark and austere but they are brightened by the quartz veined granite.

Restoration Of A Farm In The French Alps
Courtesy Of Pierre-doucerain
Restoration Of A Farm In The French Alps
Courtesy Of Pierre-doucerain

The actual building is located at the south west extremity of the village and it opens on a large view to the south.

Like the traditional houses of the place, it sets in the rather steep slope like a balcony opening to the landscape. The living part, downstairs, opens in rue Ste-Anne. Upstairs, the barn opens northward on rue des Bienheureux.

The first sketches rapidly showed how important it was to move the main entrance of the house to the high street. giving therefore the feeling to lengthen the streets of the village through the house.

Restoration Of A Farm In The French Alps
Courtesy Of Pierre-doucerain
Restoration Of A Farm In The French Alps
Courtesy Of Pierre-doucerain

In the same mind, we chose to use stone for the grounds inside the house.

We played with the strates, layers, textures, colours (Luzerne stones and slates were mixed) and with a certain roughness of this material , so that you can imagine this ground has been there for ever and will survive walls and white hanging volumes.

Sheltered in these volumes, the bedrooms are separated by a vertical rift which crosses the house through and through.

Restoration Of A Farm In The French Alps
Courtesy Of Pierre-doucerain
Restoration Of A Farm In The French Alps
Courtesy Of Pierre-doucerain

Spectacular, this device offers sights toward the south from the first floor, flooded with light the living room, the kitchen and the dining room wich occupies the low level.


Restoration Of A Farm In The French Alps
Courtesy Of Pierre-doucerain
Restoration Of A Farm In The French Alps
Courtesy Of Pierre-doucerain
Restoration Of A Farm In The French Alps
Courtesy Of Pierre-doucerain
Restoration Of A Farm In The French Alps


Restoration Of A Farm In The French Alps
Courtesy Of Pierre-doucerain
Restoration Of A Farm In The French Alps
Courtesy Of Pierre-doucerain
Restoration Of A Farm In The French Alps
Courtesy Of Pierre-doucerain
Restoration Of A Farm In The French Alps
Courtesy Of Pierre-doucerain


Restoration Of A Farm In The French Alps
Location
Restoration Of A Farm In The French Alps
Location


Restoration Of A Farm In The French Alps
Table Plans
Restoration Of A Farm In The French Alps
Table Plans
Restoration Of A Farm In The French Alps
Table Plans
Restoration Of A Farm In The French Alps
Floor Plan
Restoration Of A Farm In The French Alps
Floor Plan
Restoration Of A Farm In The French Alps
Floor Plan
Restoration Of A Farm In The French Alps
Floor Plan