cantilevered picket home by ciguë floats evenly above verdant area in france

revisiting the country house archetype

architecture atelier ciguë has built a small wooden house within a lush rural setting in haute-vienne, france. drawing influence from a wide range of references, from japanese architecture to californian case studies, the project revisits the archetype of a country house that scrupulously chooses its land, exposure, and height. the wooden structure is installed on a set of removable steel foundations, intervening minimally to the area, while large openings offer generous views towards the verdant surroundings.

all images © maris mezulis

made of local wood and removable steel foundations

ciguë (find more here) has designed a residential environment in which occupants can be carefree, unconfined, in direct contact with the landscape, and surrounded by bare necessities. the dwelling is anchored to its context, yet far from the traditional stone houses found in haute vienne. mainly made of locally-sourced wood, the structure takes shape as a two-toned cabin that is cantilevered over the lush field thanks to its removable steel foundations.

meanwhile, the large window openings allow light to permeate the interior, and adjusting the residents’ lives to the rhythm of the seasons according to bioclimatic principles. the color scheme of the project adopts a minimalist where mostly white surfaces are combined with the wooden frames and furniture that add warmth.