© Julien Kerdraon
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Located in the historic centre of a well-preserved village, opposite the church, a wine barn and its adjacent house were to be revamped in order to create an intimate and unique living environment.
Features of heritage and prestige stood in the prevailing house: the stone staircase, the cement tiles, and the wooden roof framing, while the barn’s immense volume and minimalist forms have twisted into an open-plan and fluid living space, opening right up to the exterior through a square patio at the back.
The prevailing house space is turned into the bedrooms, whereas the old wine barn welcomes the usual family life tasks. The archetypal barn form, all in one long structure, consecutively presents the kitchen, living room, and extensive table leading out onto the patio and the swimming pool. The position of the pool, abutting the building, sets up various spaces for each occasion of life, allowing to experience the seasonal rhythms throughout the natural vibrations of matter and air.
To design the open-air patio on the outside, part of the roof of the original barn was taken out. The composition of space created within the four walls reflects the Mediterranean lifestyle. Additionally, the decision was made to maintain one of the gable stone walls of the barn, a relic of the past, to ensure the thermal efficiency of the building. The limestone from the gable stone walls helps to maintain the appropriate humidity level throughout the night, specially in summer, keeping the place cool and pleasant to use.
The patio is designed such that it features half of the lap pool. “The half pool half patio” style offers this water slice its elemental posture: it is the turn of the overall outdoor composition and links it with the indoors.
The three dimensions of architecture, history, and technicity are in dialogue and this project writes a “tailor-made” narrative in each and every detail, giving the place its own unique spirit.
