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Durable, economical, and easy to build, the simple A-frame was once the must-have midcentury vacation home. Today, the classic retreat has been propelled back to popularity, thanks largely to photo-centric platforms like Instagram and Pinterest. Read on for 20 charming A-frame homes that caught our eye.
Durable, economical, and easy to build, the simple A-frame was once the must-have midcentury vacation home. Today, the classic retreat has been propelled back to popularity, thanks largely to photo-centric platforms like Instagram and Pinterest. Read on for 20 charming A-frame homes that caught our eye.
Situated on a natural promontory in Coupeaux, France, the home’s plan and expansive windows open it to the beautiful surroundings outside.
Situated on a natural promontory in Coupeaux, France, the home’s plan and expansive windows open it to the beautiful surroundings outside.
“We really wanted to capture the ruinous quality of this old building rather than do something overtly new,” says Greg Blee, founding partner at Blee Halligan Architects. Before construction could begin, however, he and Halligan had to patch the remaining walls using stones found in the nearby river. Wherever a wall had collapsed, the designers inserted framing to create windows and doors. For the roof, they turned to the original tiles. “My father’s terrible at throwing things away,” Blee says. “We took the tiles off 30 years ago, as it was too dangerous to have them up there. They’ve been sitting in the fields ever since, and this was our last chance to use them.”
“We really wanted to capture the ruinous quality of this old building rather than do something overtly new,” says Greg Blee, founding partner at Blee Halligan Architects. Before construction could begin, however, he and Halligan had to patch the remaining walls using stones found in the nearby river. Wherever a wall had collapsed, the designers inserted framing to create windows and doors. For the roof, they turned to the original tiles. “My father’s terrible at throwing things away,” Blee says. “We took the tiles off 30 years ago, as it was too dangerous to have them up there. They’ve been sitting in the fields ever since, and this was our last chance to use them.”
The home’s interior design, featured in Vogue and widely celebrated, was an unusual foray into residential surrealism by Le Corbusier and his cousin, Pierre Jeanneret.
The home’s interior design, featured in Vogue and widely celebrated, was an unusual foray into residential surrealism by Le Corbusier and his cousin, Pierre Jeanneret.
The roofs of each of the three sections of the home are constructed of zinc and are insulated for added protection.
The roofs of each of the three sections of the home are constructed of zinc and are insulated for added protection.
The result: a house that looks like it’s just been dropped into a field, casual, with nary a path leading up to it and a front door that can barely be detected on the red-cedar-shingled facade.
The result: a house that looks like it’s just been dropped into a field, casual, with nary a path leading up to it and a front door that can barely be detected on the red-cedar-shingled facade.
One of the hardest things to do when looking at potential homes is to overlook existing finishes, colors, and materials.
One of the hardest things to do when looking at potential homes is to overlook existing finishes, colors, and materials.
Arba, the architecture firm founded by Jean-Baptiste Barache and Sihem Lamine, designed a 1,786-square-foot residence for Dominique Jacquot 45 minutes outside Paris. The house is her sanctuary from city life.
Arba, the architecture firm founded by Jean-Baptiste Barache and Sihem Lamine, designed a 1,786-square-foot residence for Dominique Jacquot 45 minutes outside Paris. The house is her sanctuary from city life.
Floor Bored Abbe and Davor worried that plywood floors in the mezzanine bedroom would feel monotonous, given that the walls and ceilings were ply too. So they sourced second-grade French oak floorboards and filled in the holes in the timber’s knots themselves. Then they used leftover boards to make a door to cover a small opening between their room and August’s and for the sliding pantry door in the kitchen. qualitywoodfloors.co.nz Don't miss a word of Dwell! Download our FREE app from iTunes, friend us on Facebook, or follow us on Twitter!
Floor Bored Abbe and Davor worried that plywood floors in the mezzanine bedroom would feel monotonous, given that the walls and ceilings were ply too. So they sourced second-grade French oak floorboards and filled in the holes in the timber’s knots themselves. Then they used leftover boards to make a door to cover a small opening between their room and August’s and for the sliding pantry door in the kitchen. qualitywoodfloors.co.nz Don't miss a word of Dwell! Download our FREE app from iTunes, friend us on Facebook, or follow us on Twitter!
We spotted this poster from French furniture brand Polit at Maison & Object 2014. 39 euro. Buy it here.
We spotted this poster from French furniture brand Polit at Maison & Object 2014. 39 euro. Buy it here.
The space was uninhabited for 20 years before Deau discovered it.
The space was uninhabited for 20 years before Deau discovered it.
Stade de France (Saint Denis, France: 1998 World Cup) While it was ostensibly built as a symbol of national unity and identity, French soccer fans will never forget how this stadium became hallowed ground when Zinedine Zidane led his team to a 3-0 World Cup victory over Brazil in 1998. Its straightforward, elliptical design and various modular features has helped to give it a second life beyond its staring role in a previous tournament. Photo by Alpha du centaure, Creative Commons
Stade de France (Saint Denis, France: 1998 World Cup) While it was ostensibly built as a symbol of national unity and identity, French soccer fans will never forget how this stadium became hallowed ground when Zinedine Zidane led his team to a 3-0 World Cup victory over Brazil in 1998. Its straightforward, elliptical design and various modular features has helped to give it a second life beyond its staring role in a previous tournament. Photo by Alpha du centaure, Creative Commons
“It had to be inspired by the 1950s, it had to be fun—not too crazy—and it had to have a soul,” Deau says of the space.
“It had to be inspired by the 1950s, it had to be fun—not too crazy—and it had to have a soul,” Deau says of the space.
In the living room fireplace, a bird turns on the antique French spit.
In the living room fireplace, a bird turns on the antique French spit.
Deau sourced the apartment's high-low mix of furnishings from flea markets, local antiquarians, international design fairs, and boutique shops online.
Deau sourced the apartment's high-low mix of furnishings from flea markets, local antiquarians, international design fairs, and boutique shops online.
Millau Bridge, France-From the photographer: "The new Millau Bridge is considered to be the world's tallest. One of the pillars reaches more than eleven-hundred feet into the air, making it more than 50 feet taller than the Eiffel Tower." Photo by: tibchris
Millau Bridge, France-From the photographer: "The new Millau Bridge is considered to be the world's tallest. One of the pillars reaches more than eleven-hundred feet into the air, making it more than 50 feet taller than the Eiffel Tower." Photo by: tibchris
Glass doors printed with a serigraphy technique (above) are on two sides of the house. Jacquot sits at a dining table and benches designed by Arba and built by Menuiserie Ressy.
Glass doors printed with a serigraphy technique (above) are on two sides of the house. Jacquot sits at a dining table and benches designed by Arba and built by Menuiserie Ressy.
French Doors Leading to 2nd Floor Deck Overlooking the Bay
French Doors Leading to 2nd Floor Deck Overlooking the Bay
Farrow & Ball’s Babouche yellow enlivens one of the bedrooms.
Farrow & Ball’s Babouche yellow enlivens one of the bedrooms.
Long before he moved into the historic building, Dutch architect Felix Claus admired 51 rue Raynouard, an apartment block in the Passy district of Paris designed and built in 1932 by Auguste Perret. One of the seminal architects of the 20th century, Perret is renowned for high-profile commissions like the Théâtre des Champs-Élysées in Paris and the post–Second World War rebuild of Le Havre, and for his pioneering use of reinforced concrete. He constructed 51 rue Raynouard to house the design firm he ran with his two brothers and created a 1,830-square-foot apartment on the seventh floor for himself and his wife. Here, the apartment’s balcony offers an impressive view of rue Raynouard.
Long before he moved into the historic building, Dutch architect Felix Claus admired 51 rue Raynouard, an apartment block in the Passy district of Paris designed and built in 1932 by Auguste Perret. One of the seminal architects of the 20th century, Perret is renowned for high-profile commissions like the Théâtre des Champs-Élysées in Paris and the post–Second World War rebuild of Le Havre, and for his pioneering use of reinforced concrete. He constructed 51 rue Raynouard to house the design firm he ran with his two brothers and created a 1,830-square-foot apartment on the seventh floor for himself and his wife. Here, the apartment’s balcony offers an impressive view of rue Raynouard.
The house has four varieties of wood that relate to one another with a similar material vocabulary. “It is all about finding ways to assemble pieces of the same nature,” says Lamine.
The house has four varieties of wood that relate to one another with a similar material vocabulary. “It is all about finding ways to assemble pieces of the same nature,” says Lamine.
The main volume of the structure houses a ground-level living space and a bedroom as well as a lofted bedroom, bathroom, and study above. Exposed beams and natural light provide rustic charm.
The main volume of the structure houses a ground-level living space and a bedroom as well as a lofted bedroom, bathroom, and study above. Exposed beams and natural light provide rustic charm.
Wood and stone elements add to the rustic atmosphere inside, resulting in a home that feels like a natural extension of the landscape.
Wood and stone elements add to the rustic atmosphere inside, resulting in a home that feels like a natural extension of the landscape.
A concrete wall between the garage and the main house is fortified with external insulation and covered with wood cladding and plaster. The additional protection prevents heat transfer between the concrete floor and heated living space.
A concrete wall between the garage and the main house is fortified with external insulation and covered with wood cladding and plaster. The additional protection prevents heat transfer between the concrete floor and heated living space.
The curtains are made from graphic Gastón y Daniela fabrics.
The curtains are made from graphic Gastón y Daniela fabrics.
A natural rock face supports the cantilevered addition from below, creating a fortress-like structure that sits lightly within the existing landscape. Neutral colors keep the home from standing out, while the glass reflects surrounding flora.
A natural rock face supports the cantilevered addition from below, creating a fortress-like structure that sits lightly within the existing landscape. Neutral colors keep the home from standing out, while the glass reflects surrounding flora.
POOL realized the graphic identity, interior design, and most of the furniture of Café Craft in Paris, France. While still remaining true to the spirit of the café, the designers highlighted the architectural lines of the building with the stark contrast of black and white. No longer is it a place just to grab a coffee and pastry to go. Photo by: Samuel Kirszenbaum
POOL realized the graphic identity, interior design, and most of the furniture of Café Craft in Paris, France. While still remaining true to the spirit of the café, the designers highlighted the architectural lines of the building with the stark contrast of black and white. No longer is it a place just to grab a coffee and pastry to go. Photo by: Samuel Kirszenbaum
Quick visit with up-and-coming French designer Benjamin Graindorge before leaving Paris. Remember his name!
Quick visit with up-and-coming French designer Benjamin Graindorge before leaving Paris. Remember his name!
Espro Press by Espro, from $80 at espro.ca This French press coffee maker uses a patented double filter to deliver full-flavored coffee without the grit. The vacuum-insulated stainless steel keeps coffee hot for hours, making it perfect for all-nighers and other marathon study sessions. Available in 8 oz, 18 oz. and 32 oz. sizes.
Espro Press by Espro, from $80 at espro.ca This French press coffee maker uses a patented double filter to deliver full-flavored coffee without the grit. The vacuum-insulated stainless steel keeps coffee hot for hours, making it perfect for all-nighers and other marathon study sessions. Available in 8 oz, 18 oz. and 32 oz. sizes.
Metropole Aluminum House (1949) The winner of a 1949 contest to create a portable classroom for French students, the gleaming metal structure might have resembled a sci-fi spacechip to '50s schoolchildren. Prouvé's meticulous metalsmithing is on display in this highly regarded example of portable prefab housing, crafted in his Nancy workshop and easily assembled with a few tools. He included a glassed-in garden and wooden accents to the interior walls to make the structure less imposing.
Metropole Aluminum House (1949) The winner of a 1949 contest to create a portable classroom for French students, the gleaming metal structure might have resembled a sci-fi spacechip to '50s schoolchildren. Prouvé's meticulous metalsmithing is on display in this highly regarded example of portable prefab housing, crafted in his Nancy workshop and easily assembled with a few tools. He included a glassed-in garden and wooden accents to the interior walls to make the structure less imposing.
Bibliotheque Nationale in Paris, France-Paris' Bibliotheque nationale de France consists of 4 open-book-shaped towers arranged around a dug-out mature forest courtyard. Constructed in 1996 to replace a previous library building that could no longer hold the expanding collections, the 22-story structures make this library one of the largest in the world. Photo: Panoramas
Bibliotheque Nationale in Paris, France-Paris' Bibliotheque nationale de France consists of 4 open-book-shaped towers arranged around a dug-out mature forest courtyard. Constructed in 1996 to replace a previous library building that could no longer hold the expanding collections, the 22-story structures make this library one of the largest in the world. Photo: Panoramas
The structure is characteristic of the town's architecture. The city was rebuilt by modernist architects from the nearby Bordeaux school after it was destroyed during World War II.
The structure is characteristic of the town's architecture. The city was rebuilt by modernist architects from the nearby Bordeaux school after it was destroyed during World War II.

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