angélique chedemois refurbishes barn into sustainable housing
all images © stéphane chalmeau

 

 

 

‘etoile noire’ or ‘black star’ in english is a sustainable housing project by french architect, angélique chedemois. the structure is located at the edge of the guérande salt marshes in queniquen, france. through extensive renovation of a decaying 360mbarn on the site, chedemois was able to create 4 duplex apartments and a 40m2 community area. black-matte cladding, influenced by the salorges style, was used to contrast the structure with its traditional village surroundings. 

angélique chedemois refurbishes barn into sustainable housing
all units at ‘etoile noire’ have access to and from the building via separate entrances

 

 

 

the space of the barn allowed each of the apartments to have separate entrances. windows were aligned to the layout of the façade, and inset gutters hidden from view. the interior walls are masonry, providing fire resistant qualities alongside superb soundproofing. a wood-concrete composite by guiheneuf framing was used for all flooring. exterior half-timber walls were prefabricated, and erected on site for quick construction. 

 

sustainability was pushed by way of energy. each unit’s heating and hot water is provided by a highly-efficient pellet stove. in addition, 100m2 of solar panels on the southern facing roof are present to supplement each unit’s own energy. total use and production was monitored for the first year after completion, and upwards of 20% more energy was being generated than consumed

angélique chedemois refurbishes barn into sustainable housing
black-matte cladding distinguishes the structure from its surroundings

angélique chedemois refurbishes barn into sustainable housing
the barn is one of the oldest remaining structures in the village

angélique chedemois refurbishes barn into sustainable housing
the ‘etoile noire’ home(s)

etoilenoirechedemoisdesignboom02
sectional

etoilenoirechedemoisdesignboom01
elevation

 

 

designboom has received this project through its ‘DIY submissions’ feature, which welcomes readers to submit their own work for publication. see more designboom readers submissions here.