christian pottgiesser architecturespossibles: maison L

‘maison L’ by christian pottgiesser architecturespossibles outside of paris, france all images courtesy christian pottgiesser architecturespossibles photographer: george dupin

paris-based studio christian pottgiesser architecturespossibles (christian pottgiesser, pascale thomas pottgiesser) has sent us images of their recently completed project, ‘maison L’, a private residence for a six-person family. located half an hour’s drive west of paris, the roughly 5000 m2 plot of old trees called for a design that would leave the spacious grounds predominantly untouched.

general view

the project works with a pre-existing 18th century orangery, a conservatory-like building with a seven-meter high ceiling line on the northern part of the site. to disturb the ground as little as possible, ‘maison L’ extends 50 m to the north-west to line the boundary, resulting in a general ‘L’-shaped plan.

considering the natural topography of the site, the house is buried up to two meters below grade with a garden roof covering the ground storey. this main level remains largely open and connected, with varying degrees of privacy depending on the depth of the zone’s placement. five three-storied tower-like volumes puncture through the green roof to stand almost autonomously with the main level. positioned to frame a specific perspective of the site, each tower houses a dressing room, storage space, a mezzanine, bathroom and a bedroom.

(left) among the trees (right) from terrace

though mainly underground, natural light is ensured to the main level through a stretching of the interstitial space between the tower’s structure and the garden roof. the steel-framed gazing blurs the boundary between indoors and outdoors, directly connecting the inhabitants with the outdoor elements.

interior view – main level

entry to a tower on the main floor

communal spaces

detail of tower surface

glazed openings in the ceiling

roof light

side entry

main entrance

to further highlight the presence of the towers, the exterior facade of the main level is lined with a curved stone wall which blends the structure into the site. elements of this stone wall is repeated further into the plot, becoming retaining walls for surrounding pathways.

outdoor space

exterior path and wall treatment

rendered 3D model of project and site

site plan

floor plan / level 0

section

project info:

design team: christian pottgiesser, pascale thomas pottgiesser area: 870 m2 (house), 4850 m2 (garden) engineer: joel betito general contractor: les constructeurs de suresnes carpenter: reinhardt S.A. iron work: serrurerie prestige wood, glazing: chaput S.A. landscape trade: bruns pflanzen landscape implementation: la generale des amenagements floor, walls, sanitary installations: les constructeurs de suresnes lighting: CPAP design