Aix-en-Provence Vineyard Buildng, French Residential Architecture Images, South of France Accommodation Development

Photos: Studio Module & David Maurel

The Vineyard Extension is the addition to this family home was designed for the owners, who wanted more living space and panoramic views of sunsets over the vineyard.

The existing structure, a contemporary local-style villa, is an H-shaped house. Since its construction in 1998, the owners’ space requirements have changed. The goal of the project was to add more rooms, and to showcase the surrounding landscape.

Site integration The existing house overlooks vineyards dotted with training wires strung on steel stakes with a rusty patina. The contemporary structure of the addition is directly inspired by that landscape, characterized by strong vertical and horizontal lines.

The addition’s geometry is grounded in the proportions of the house in the extension of its existing façades. The flat roof is a line of force in the landscape.

The metal structure containing the new rooms is framed by the existing house and the load-bearing wall that braces it.

Metal and glass are intended to make the project disappear into the surrounding landscape. Moreover, the brownish-red colour coordinates with the house’s cornice and red shutters.

Interior/exterior A versatile, fully glassed-in living area benefits from its dual east/west orientation. A bedroom and a shower room complete the floor. The view through the windows is unaffected when the bedroom door is open. The bathroom is both well-lit and private, thanks to its frosted glass.

When the windows are wide open, the breeze wafts through, as in a hilltop cabin, and a cantilevered deck further extends the interior space. The boundary between inside and outside is thus obscured.

Music room A basement music room was built for rehearsals and private concerts. It is accessed through the existing house, making it possible to keep the addition independent, like a small dwelling unit.

The main room is a very well-lit space, thanks to picture windows that admit abundant natural light and create a powerful link with the outdoors.

The music room, measuring 30m2 (323 sq. ft.), was designed according to an acoustic study, and includes plywood bench seating, matching the adjacent floor. A wall of cabinets gives the room a variable geometry that absorbs sound, while also providing everyday storage space. Carpets and fabrics are also used to improve the room’s acoustics.

The tiered benches in the music room are the result of an interesting technical constraint: the foundations of the addition had to be offset from the existing façade. To avoid losing space, the architects decided to create seats that fulfill that structural requirement, while enhancing the interior space.

This versatile room can be transformed into a home theatre, bedroom, rehearsal space, recording studio, or intimate concert hall.

Technical challenges Coordination with the contractors and engineers throughout the design and construction phases changed and enriched the project in both its structural features and finishing work.

The project had a mixed framework, and the junctions between metal elements and masonry were handled with special care. The use of recessed joints, with U-shaped metal pieces, made it possible to forego the parge coat and highlight the normal-profile I-beams.

Rather than adding a new element to the project, the architects used the same structural modules to create downspouts, with rainwater flowing along the I-beams.

The security grates over the windows were replaced with a terracotta lattice, a very common feature in the region. This mashrabiya system mutes direct sunlight and enables continuous airflow.

Architect: Mahos architectes – https://www.mahos.fr/

Masonry, rough work, plastering, painting, electrical: Promazur Metal structure: Bernabeu ferronnerie Roofing/weatherproofing: Histoire de toit Plumbing: Energie PCS Structural engineering: I2C structure

About Mahos Mahos is an architectural studio co-founded by Lucile Maurel and Camille Hours in 2018. Both women are graduates of the Saint-Etienne school of architecture (École d’architecture nationale supérieure), and they share an optimistic and enthusiastic vision of their profession.

With great sensitivity to heritage and local history, they consider existing structures to be true project material. The studio is active in a variety of locations.

Photos: Studio Module & David Maurel

Vineyard Extension in Aix-en-Provence images / information received 110922 from v2com newswire

Location: Aix-en-Provence, France, western Europe

Le Pine Villa, Saint-Tropez, French Riviera, Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur, southeastern France Architects: SAOTA photo : Adam Letch Modern Villa in St Tropez

Dortoir Familial Ramatuelle House, Ramatuelle, Var department, Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur region, southeastern France Design: NADAAA, Architects image courtesy of architects office New Var Property

Cité du Corps Humain – architecture competition win Design: BIG + A+Architecture + Egis + Base + L’Echo + Celsius Environnement + CCVH image © BIG Museum of the Human Body Montpellier

Leonard De Vinci High School in Montpellier Design: Hellin-Sebbag, architects photograph : Benoit Wherlé Leonard De Vinci High School in Montpellier

Sailing Cube – Pavilion du FAV 2014 à Montpellier Design: Atelier Jérôme Lafond photography © Paul KOZLOWSKI Sailing Cube in La Grande Motte, Montpellier

Jean-Claude Carrière Theatre Design: A+Architecture photo © Marie-Caroline Lucat Jean-Claude Carrière Theatre

Logements Lez in Art dans la ZAC Rive Gauche à Montpellier Design: NBJ Architectes Logements Lez in Art dans la ZAC Rive Gauche à Montpellier

Pierre Vives Design: Zaha Hadid Architects Montpellier building + Pierre Vives Montpellier Project

French Architecture Design – chronological list

French Architect Offices – design firm listings

Comments / photos for the Vineyard Extension in Aix-en-Provence designed by Mahos architectes page welcome

Architecture Walking Tours in 82 cities around the world

Modern Architects I New Houses I World Skyscrapers

One of the largest architectural sites in the world - contact isabelle(at)e-architect.com

The e-architect resource has over 37,000 pages of architectural information + building news

Established in 2000 - architecture news added daily

Architectural projects searchable by country, city, building type or architect

Architecture Tours in Europe I Modern Houses

We run architectural walking tours in many cities across the world

Building walks are typically led by architects or architecture tutors and tend to focus on innovative buildings

Contact e-architect: info(at)e-architect.com / +44 (0)7952 149852

DecentWorld is a Swiss metaverse digital real estate platform built on blockchain technology

Modern designer furniture from Iconic Interiors - the furniture enthusiasts!