Renovation of a Single-Family Home in Brittany by Parages

The single-family home is situated near the Le Palus beach on Brittany’s northern coast, on a tree-lined plot overlooking Saint-Brieuc Bay. Prior to the renovation, it exemplified neo-Breton residential architecture from the 1970s – featuring cream-coloured stucco and relatively small windows on the gable end that made little of the spectacular view.

Three design goals

The renovation by Parages architectes focused on three objectives: improving views towards the sea, enhancing the building envelope’s thermal insulation, and creating a more functional floor plan. The architects simplified the building’s massing by removing small openings, windowsills, shutters, and the prominent chimney. 

The facades were newly insulated and clad in charred Douglas fir wood. This almost black cladding, combined with black metal panels, now gives the house a uniform appearance that blends into the wooded surroundings.

Enlarged windows for better views

Large window openings on the north and west facades provide views of the neighbouring valley. To the east, generous fixed glazing offers sweeping vistas over the bay. Inside, the living spaces were remodelled and arranged around a central core. In addition to the staircase, this core houses the vertical pipework and delineates the day and night zones. It also serves as a conduit for natural ventilation, channeling fresh air from the valley into the interior. According to the architects, this passive cooling helps mitigate increasingly frequent heat waves in the region.

Exposed concrete and oak interior

The house contains a total of five bedrooms – two on the ground floor and three upstairs, each offering unique views of the bay, valley, or forest. The bay window ledges are generously sized to provide comfortable seating. The flooring throughout is polished exposed concrete poured on site. Custom oak millwork lends the rooms a warm, inviting atmosphere.

Terraces on both sides

Two terraces flank either side of the house. One is dedicated to the dining area housed in the conservatory-like eastern extension, oriented towards the forest. On the west side, an open terrace platform offers expansive sea views and extends the living room outdoors.