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Sumit Singhal
Sumit Singhal loves modern architecture. He comes from a family of builders who have built more than 20 projects in the last ten years near Delhi in India. He has recently started writing about the architectural projects that catch his imagination. La maison-vague in Reims, France by Patrick NadeauJuly 1st, 2014 by Sumit Singhal
Article source: Patrick Nadeau The project context is based on experimentation, and initiated by the public housing council of Reims (HLM – l’Effort Rémois) – in a subdivision of 63 lots with heavy economic constraints. La Maison-vague uses vegetation for its architectural and environmental qualities, particularly in terms of thermal insulation. A fully vegetated shell protects the interior from summer heat and winter cold. The basic form is to encapsulate within a single mat of vegetation that undulates and floats above the ground, at sitting height (the rim surrounding the wooden shelf is kind of a big bench). The traditional relationship between house and garden is changed, disturbed even, the project encompasses both in the same construction.  Image Courtesy © Patrick Nadeau
 Image Courtesy © Patrick Nadeau Inside, the volumes are also very simple. The ground floor, living room, kitchen and multimedia space can be opened by sliding walls. Upstairs, two bedrooms are separated by a bathroom, which is accessed by a mezzanine. Particular attention is paid to interior and exterior relationships. The terrace at the back of the house extends to the areas of the ground floor, for example, to dry in the sun after bathing. Upstairs shower space is enclosed by a bay window opening onto a panorama of nature. A sectional view that shows the inner and outer volumes does not exactly follow the same form. The inner space is drawn, at the top, by a semicylindrical shell and, on the ground floor by large cabinets restoring vertical walls, which includes a wardrobe, library, media storage and kitchen furniture.  Image Courtesy © Patrick Nadeau The house is built entirely of wood (structure, hull and facades gears). Only the foundation is concrete. The thermal performance is ensured by the north-south orientation, the vegetation of the hull and double wall facades. The outer walls are made of polycarbonate and the inner walls of glass and wood. A small wood stove in the living room provides heating for the entire space.  Image Courtesy © Patrick Nadeau The vegetation has been designed with Pierre Georgel (Ecovégétal). The house is covered with soil that mimics that of a natural slope. The technical challenge lay primarily in the steep slope that required the development of innovative systems for the maintenance of land and water retention. The plants were selected for their aesthetic qualities and their ability to adapt to the environment (resistance over time and minimal maintenance). It is a mix of sedums, grasses, thyme, lavender and other perennials and small aromatic herbs that are distributed according to the inclination of the hull. An automatic watering system is provided but it is only reserved for periods of very severe drought.  Image Courtesy © Patrick Nadeau The house is alive, changing its appearance, color and odor with the seasons. New plants can be brought by the wind, insects or birds and gives the building a certain character or even a fallow ground-wave, hence the name La Maison-vague, which could equally and poetically signify an ocean wave or an open field (terrain vague).  Image Courtesy © Patrick Nadeau  Image Courtesy © Patrick Nadeau  Image Courtesy © Patrick Nadeau  Image Courtesy © Patrick Nadeau  Image Courtesy © Patrick Nadeau  Image Courtesy © Patrick Nadeau  Image Courtesy © Patrick Nadeau  Image Courtesy © Patrick Nadeau  Image Courtesy © Patrick Nadeau  Image Courtesy © Patrick Nadeau  Image Courtesy © Patrick Nadeau  Image Courtesy © Patrick Nadeau  Image Courtesy © Patrick Nadeau  Image Courtesy © Patrick Nadeau  Image Courtesy © Patrick Nadeau  Image Courtesy © Patrick Nadeau
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