DETACHED HOUSE
The project is located in the village of La Claye, on a corner plot that had long remained vacant, forming a gap within the existing built fabric. Formerly attached to the neighbouring property, the site once accommodated the vegetable garden and henhouse of the adjacent house. Bounded by low stone walls characteristic of the village, the plot forms part of a built landscape composed of a succession of gable ends and local stone walls, which are closely intertwined with the identity of the place.
Several elements bearing witness to this history remained on the site: a former henhouse of approximately 25 m², as well as a well reputed to be one of the best supplied in the village. These heritage elements played an important role in shaping the thinking behind the project’s siting.
The project consists of a detached house built on this approximately 300 m² plot, carefully inserted into the historic fabric of the village. The programme includes a generous living space opening onto the outdoor areas, as well as two bedrooms, each with its own private shower room equipped with a shower and washbasin.
Despite the modest footprint available, the project seeks to provide a high quality of use, combining domestic comfort, privacy and a close relationship with the garden and the existing heritage elements.
The building follows the orientation of the neighbouring houses along a north-south axis, addressing Rue du Lay with its gable ends. This arrangement also makes it possible to preserve the existing elements of the site, particularly the henhouse and the well, while creating two distinct gardens.
The first garden, located at the corner of the plot, functions as a front garden, a threshold between the public realm and Rue du Bourg, providing a broad opening from the house towards its immediate surroundings. The second garden, located to the west, forms a more intimate and protected outdoor space.
The living space naturally occupies the centre of the plan, in direct relationship with these two gardens, which it extends towards. The two bedrooms, positioned on either side of the main living space, each have their own private shower room opening directly onto the bedroom, with a shower and washbasin. Each bedroom also has a mezzanine, which can accommodate an additional double bed above.
The house establishes a differentiated relationship with its two main façades, opening more generously onto the western garden than onto the eastern garden. This hierarchy is expressed through the design of the windows and doors, organised according to a full module on one side and a half-module on the other.
The building establishes a clear distinction between its façades. Those facing the plot boundaries, in relation to the public realm and the streets, are clad in reclaimed local stone, sourced both from the site itself and from a neighbouring plot. They anchor the building within its built context and reinforce its relationship with the village. The longitudinal façades, facing the gardens, are instead clad in timber.
The structure is entirely made of timber, resting on a raw, polished concrete slab. The design is based on a regular 0.60 m structural grid, perceptible both in plan and elevation, giving the whole project proportional coherence and a high degree of constructive legibility.
Each structural module is expressed on the façade by a post, revealing the grid and contributing to the architectural composition, forming a coherent rhythm. Between these elements, three-layer Douglas fir panels provide the infill and articulation of the external cladding. The shutters and the pivoting entrance door, made from the same material, allow the building, when closed, to present a homogeneous envelope and completely conceal the openings.
The cladding and external timber structural elements are treated with a natural product based on silicon and potassium, giving the wood a patina reminiscent of driftwood. The roof is finished with traditional curved clay tiles, including eaves tiles.
Inside, the wall linings, partitions and built-in elements are predominantly made from poplar plywood, with plasterboard limited to the wet rooms only, in keeping with a considered and environmentally responsible approach.
Certain pieces of furniture — tables, a bar and a bookcase — were also designed and made from offcuts of plywood panels left over from the construction process, following a logic of reuse and resource optimisation within the project.
The project was built almost entirely through self-construction by atelier iso, with the exception of the earthworks, foundations and concrete slab. This approach enabled close control of the construction process and the development of details directly on site, driven by a process of research and experimentation that allowed the architectural thinking to evolve and deepen throughout the construction.
The project was awarded the Prix de la construction bois des Pays de la Loire and was also presented as part of the JAPL travelling exhibition.
The project follows an environmental approach based on constructive restraint, the use of bio-based materials and a construction process largely carried out through self-build.
The building has a high-performance envelope combining a timber structure with wood-fibre insulation. The vertical walls are insulated with 200 mm of wood-fibre insulation, while the roof receives 300 mm of insulation, ensuring a good level of thermal performance suited to predominantly summer use.
The design follows a simple and effective bioclimatic approach. The through-plan organisation of the spaces along an east-west axis enables effective natural ventilation, reducing the need for mechanical cooling. Solar protection is provided by the building’s design and its overhangs, contributing to summer comfort.
The materials were selected for their low environmental impact and durability: timber structure and framing, wood-fibre insulation and plywood interior finishes. The project prioritises renewable, minimally processed materials that can readily be reused.
The project was largely built through self-construction, with the exception of the earthworks and the polished concrete slab, favouring a simple, controlled construction approach with limited reliance on technical means.
