A Prefab House Near Paris Is Designed to Be Bright and Open
This prefabricated home in France was built to embrace the neighborhood.
Along a tree-lined street in the small community of Marly-le-Roi near Paris, most of the homes have high fences on both sides, which hide and isolate neighbors from each other. But the owners of this 1,561-square-foot, three-level CLT prefab home wanted a more open atmosphere, as well as a better visual and spatial connection with its surroundings.
Courtesy of Schnepp Renou
Courtesy of Schnepp Renou
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Construction regulations in Marly-le-Roi don't allow houses to open up towards each other, so Paris-based practice Karawitz Architecture positioned the house near the front of the street and created an underground level of steel and concrete that essentially opens up the frontage, creating an almost cave-like entry point that begins on street level.
Courtesy of Schnepp Renou
Pre-grayed larch cladding wraps around the frame of the house, all the way up to the rafters. People walking by can look in at the garden through a perforated galvanized-steel fence along the pavement.
Courtesy of Schnepp Renou
The underground level serves as a carport and storage area for firewood.
Courtesy of Schnepp Renou
The ground floor is comprised of three linked spaces: the kitchen, living room, dining area. The connected sections are organized around a central fireplace that provides heating to the energy-efficient home.
Courtesy of Schnepp Renou
Courtesy of Schnepp Renou
A carved staircase made out for a single piece of prefabricated steel divides the kitchen and living room.
Courtesy of Schnepp Renou
From a crossing in the living space, two steps lead up to a large terrace, which cantilevers above the underground carport and looks out to the street.
Courtesy of Schnepp Renou
Courtesy of Schnepp Renou
Bedrooms with high windows that face skyward are located on the upper level for privacy.
Courtesy of Schnepp Renou
Blurring the boundaries between private and public, the house removes traditional "fences" to create a home that's visually welcoming with a bright and open feel.
Courtesy of Schnepp Renou
In her dream bathroom, Cyndi describes that a huge soaking tub would be a must. "For me, a bubble bath is one of the best ways to close out my day with mindfulness," she says. In addition, she would have a "really nice organizational unit by the tub and utilize it as a masking station," while mixing "lush greenery with airy colors and surfaces" for a "simple yet stylish" aesthetic.
Courtesy of Schnepp Renou
This prefabricated home in France was built to embrace the neighborhood.
Along a tree-lined street in the small community of Marly-le-Roi near Paris, most of the homes have high fences on both sides, which hide and isolate neighbors from each other. But the owners of this 1,561-square-foot, three-level CLT prefab home wanted a more open atmosphere, as well as a better visual and spatial connection with its surroundings.
Courtesy of Schnepp Renou
Project Credits:
-Architecture, interior design, and landscape design: Karawitz Architecture
-Contractor: Sacet
-Structural engineer: Ingénierie Bois
-Civil engineer: Solares Bauen
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