atelier mima constructs low profile timber dwelling in north-western france

atelier mima constructs low profile timber dwelling in north-western france
all images courtesy of atelier mima

this secluded dwelling designed by nantes-based practice atelier mima is built into the sloping terrain of north-western france. offering sweeping views across the forest floor, the house — titled ‘maison JJ&S.M’ — blends with the adjacent landscape, adopting a low profile. the residence is clad with vertically-aligned timber panels, a repeated pattern that echoes that of the surrounding tree trunks. windows and other apertures have been carefully placed in order to ensure privacy, while offering as much natural light as possible.

the house is built into the sloping terrain, offering sweeping views across the forest floor

internally, the home is divided into two primary zones: a communal living room with cooking and dining facilities, and an elevated area that contains the property’s private sleeping quarters. the open-plan volume includes a lounge arranged around a fireplace, and floor-to-ceiling windows that allow the space to spill out onto a large outdoor terrace. in warmer months, this decking encourages outdoor living, serving as an ideal setting for al fresco dining.

a large terrace encourages outdoor living in warmer months

bordered by a large storage unit, a small staircase leads to the dwelling’s more secluded areas where two large bedrooms share a centrally positioned bathroom. when one of the bedrooms is not in use, the two volumes can be connected, ensuring more natural light and ventilation. a limited material palette has been chosen, allowing the building’s form and astute configuration to take precedence.

the dwelling blends with the surrounding landscape, adopting a low profile

floor-to-ceiling windows allow the space to spill out onto a large outdoor terrace

the communal living room contains cooking and dining areas

a lounge is arranged around a centrally positioned fireplace

a small staircase leads to the dwelling’s more secluded areas

the ‘maison JJ&S.M’ is located in north-western france

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project info:

location: nivillac, france
type: residential
area: 90 sqm
budget: €120,000
completed: 2015