Share

The project that we present below starts from the need to extend an early twentieth century house in Vigneux de Bretagne, without any special features, apart from the solid granite walls, typical of Breton tradition. The architect Tristan Brisard chose not to force the similarities with the old house, but rather to create a stylistic liaison with an aesthetically autonomous volume, based on the archetype of the house, the icon typically drawn by children. A particularly good choice, which led to the creation of a sort of conservatory, basic and minimalist, a with "cathedral"-like volume, made entirely according to the principles of green building.

With the primary objective of maintaining a low environmental impact in terms of CO2 emissions, energy consumption and use of raw materials, the natural choice was to create a building made entirely of wood.

The beams are solid untreated chestnut and articulate the basic shapes of the room. The walls and the frame of the house are made of Finnish spruce wood, with natural wood fibre insulation, while the bright and basic furnishings, in true northern style, are also made of wood. Preference was given to materials made with raw untreated wood, or otherwise processed with natural solvent-free glues.

The result is a high level of comfort, thanks to the effect that these materials have on air quality inside the building. Low conductivity, high thermal inertia, breathability and outstanding hygroscopicity reduce the need for heating in winter and cooling in summer. 

The energy needs of the entire extension is very low, thanks to the use of natural lighting, both in summer and winter.

The environmental sustainability objective was also achieved thanks to pellet heating, chosen as a more environmentally friendly and cost effective alternative than diesel or natural gas, but also more practical than wood.

The owners Julien and Fanny Guérin chose the Thema stove by MCZ. With this little forced ventilation stove, which is just 80 centimetres tall, they are able to easily heat the entire room (over 70 square metres), while maintaining a constant 20°C during the day and 18 at night, with limited consumption (less than one tonne of pellets throughout the winter).

Thema has many positive aspects. Heating is instantaneous. The flame is stunning, even compared to other pellet stoves on the market. The temperature is controlled perfectly and easily. In addition, cleaning is fast and the pellets are added from the door at the top, easily and with no mess. - Fanny Guérin

PHOTOGRAPHS: Tristan Brisard

PROJECT: Tristan Brisard

HEATING: Atre au logis

Tristan Brisard Architecte

The studio of architect Tristan Brisard was founded in 2009 in Nantes and is involved in residential and public building projects. Expert in the green building and environmental sustainability field, this is how architect Brisard introduces himself:

"The core of the job of an architect is to reach a diagnosis. It's about trying to forget everything, avoiding any dogmatism, fully opening up your senses without preconceptions. This is where you put everything at stake. The universal nature of regulations and standardised approaches to building, full of good intentions, should lead us all the more to guarantee the general context and its specific features. The ability of a place of providing a good experience is not quantifiable and implies subjective notions where the theory of perceived space, the "emptiness", prevails over the "fullness" or what has been built. My job deals with collections with very different dimensions and issues. This diversity in terms of reflections seems to be the very essence of the job of an architect and what makes it exciting. Avoiding any routine to be even more capable of making the right questions."

Next Prev