Architectural Strategies and Solutions |
CONTEMPORARY CASE STUDY
ROOF SHAPES DESIGN
LE CLOS DES FÉES HOUSING PROJECT AT CONTEVILLE
ENVIRONMENTAL PRINCIPLES
UPPER-NORMANDY, FRANCE.
SOCIO-CULTURAL PRINCIPLES
Architects: CoBe Architecte | Landscaping: Mutabilis authors Nuria Sánchez, Enrique Sevillano
to respect environmental context and landscape to benefit of natural and climatic resources to reduce pollution and waste materials to contribute to human health and welfare to reduce natural hazards effects
to protect the cultural landscape to transfer construction cultures to enhance innovative and creative solutions to recognise intangible values to encourage social cohesion
SOCIO-ECONOMIC PRINCIPLES to support autonomy to promote local activities to extend building's lifetime to save resources
to optimise construction efforts
This is a housing project in Conteville, a village of about 500 inhabitants installed on top of a 70m cliff on the coast of Normandy. The whole place is conceived as an eco-district. Apart from its eighteen houses, it has a community house, three workshops, two hostels and 2ha of landscaping work. All these facilities, together with the use of local materials, seek to attract the nearby population and promote the local economy. These houses have been inspired on vernacular ones. They are oriented and shaped against the north wind. As in traditional local houses, their roofs are built with a timber structure and covered with local reeds. But here they use two different materials depending on which side of the slope they are located: thatched if they face north, because that is there where a higher capacity of thermal insulation is needed, while the side facing south is covered with zinc, a long lasting material that helps prevent premature wear and tear. This side is also provided with solar panels to heat water. Rain water is collected from roofs and canalised around the plot in order to water the groves (used instead of walls) as well as three parks, which also serve the purpose of attracting people and raising awareness about environmental matters. The use of vernacular techniques such as thatched roofs, helps reactivate a net of local artisans and entrepreneurs who can be active in a construction sector with a high ecological value.
• Detailed view of the roof structure. View of Le Clos des Fées village. General view of the houses of Le Clos des Fées village. (photos: L. Boegly)
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• Schematic cross section and West façade of the house. (drawings: L. Boegly)