Straw house

Built on a narrow plot, the long house is positioned so that it backs onto the northern boundary and opens onto the garden to the south. As soon as you enter, the glass door reveals an uninterrupted view stretching the length of the house. To the left is a poplar storage wall that enhances the insulation of the north wall. To the right are large floor-to-ceiling windows that punctuate the south façade. A long wooden terrace extends the interior out towards the garden.

The house has no heating. Its wooden frame is filled with thick straw bales in the walls and roof. An interior earth plaster covers the straw and contributes to thermal inertia. In winter, the south-facing windows allow the sun to warm the house by storing heat in the concrete floor. In summer, the overhanging roof, adjustable blinds and row of birch trees with shimmering foliage moderate the amount of sunlight that enters the house. A ceramic Canadian well located under the house ventilates the interior and naturally regulates the temperature. The use of healthy materials in soft colours, naturally regulated humidity and temperature, and filtered sunlight make the interior particularly comfortable. Apart from the glazed south façade, the other three façades are clad with wooden slats of varying widths. The shutters integrated into the cladding give the house a silent appearance when its inhabitants are away.

House, Pessac (33) - Private Owner – New build, 2024 - Living area 120 sqm - With Jean-Luc Barreau, architect