Les bômes
The project presented is a large house open to the ocean, on an island off the west coast of France. Its clients did not intend to inhabit it year-round but desired a comfortable place for their stay. The house was designed for one or twelve people, without the space feeling crowded. The organization of the house follows a strictly linear plan. Spaces are arranged side by side to offer a view from each room: the Atlantic Ocean and the horizon as daily scenery.
In the summer, natural elements seem to flow through this house. The interior recedes and becomes a serving space. Terraces and the garden take center stage. On inclement days, fireplaces and a palette of warm woods create the interior envelope.
Everything in this house is designed for movement, from the towel hung on the clothesline upon returning from the beach, to the sunshade unfurled for protection on the terrace, to the bedrooms lining a long corridor. These spaces together offer various views of the landscape.
Settling by the sea, building anew, is almost an anachronistic approach. It was important to understand as best as possible the elements shaping this natural environment, which has thus far been relatively preserved. Also, to understand that this space is ever-changing, even daunting. The landscape has been reconfigured, hedges are planted to mitigate west winds, and large sails ease the breezes from the terraces. The nautical inspiration is not hidden.
Balanced on its supports as if to reduce its impact and presence. Tall and taut, the poles establish the house in a dominance with the elements. The capsule of the outdoor toilets, designed like an unsinkable vessel, reflects resilience; the workshop, a small vernacular architecture built with local stones, burrows and reflects assimilation. Three postures or as many ways of inhabiting this place.
