WATA - World Architecture Technal Awards Edition 2019 | Page 92
AWARD UPCOMING ARCHITECTS
Wood House, Anglet,
France
Architect Agency
Beltza Architecture
Owner
Private
Technal Metal Builder
Labastere 64
96
Located in the wooded residential area of Anglet, on the
Basque coast, this prefabricated house was built on a former
agricultural land with a sloping ground. Its light and slender
wooden structure rises on stilts in order to have a minimal
impact on the environment and to orientate the different living
spaces to the south.
For this 130 square metres project, completed in two months
(excluding foundation blocks), the study phase was essential.
Beltza Architecture worked closely with various companies
for eight months to ensure that each solution delivered was
ready for installation. SOLEAL windows and sliders were
manufactured made to measure, in the workshop and installed
by the metal builder, Labastere 64.
The house is designed to live in/out, in tune with the mild
seasons of the region, and encourages a close relationship with
nature. While the north façade has seven SOLEAL tilt and turn
windows, the south façade is generously opened by SOLEAL
sliding windows that disappear into the partitions: at an angle
over 4 m wide for the living room, 4 m wide respectively for
the living room and the bedroom.
These spaces overlook the surrounding canopy, extend
onto wooden terraces and vanish into nets that are ideal for
relaxation. They also benefit from maximum solar gains in
winter, controlled in summer thanks to the thermal performance
of the joinery combined with the wooden roof. Owners are lowly
heating when it is cold and they ventilate naturally when the sun
comes out.
The slender, grained brown TECHNAL aluminium profiles merge
with the black steel posts of the corridors/terraces. A set of
vertical bands, which creates a rhythm between the local larch
clinkers.
The house is modular, designed as a succession of studios that
can be autonomous by the individualised access in the north
corridor and a pivot door system on the corridor. The interior
core is made of solid wood panels retaining warm tones.