Maison MAA

Auriol

Private dwelling prize

By Stéphane Durand

«This house is a hymn to the simplicity of sheltered living,» says architect Jean-Luc Fugier, who designed this individual home in the town of Auriol. What sets this home apart is its location, as it sits on a sloping plot once used for agriculture: «The land consisted of terraced walls, called restanques. Our entire focus was on how to live on and extend these terraces,» explains Jean-Luc Fugier. «We created transitions between indoor and outdoor spaces through slight changes in levels, a concept often found in Japanese architecture. Stone walls run through the house, creating distinct spaces through varying levels.»

This home also serves as a climate-responsive structure, prioritizing thermal comfort and adaptation. It features passive water management, high thermal inertia, enhanced ventilation, and a progression of protected outdoor spaces. The spatial layout adapts to its surroundings, with private rooms to the north and living spaces to the south, offering views of the stunning Provençal landscape.

Jury’s Opinion

Between integration or denial of the place, humility or the architect’s pride, building in Provence requires a deep and thoughtful choice.

The MAA house blends in elegantly, without ostentation. By making use of the slope of the land, the project enhances the site through the layout of its terraced gardens and the arrangement of its built volumes.

The purity of the design, its integration with the site, and the architecture unanimously impressed the jury. Its construction cost demonstrates that the alliance between architecture and thermal strategy can indeed go hand in hand with budget control. Isn’t it in this refined simplicity that true complexity sometimes lies

Maîtrise d’ouvrage : Privée

Architectes : PAN Architecture

Surface SHON : 140m²

Montant des travaux : 300 000€ HT

Date de livraison : Janvier 2024