Architects: Barbara Constantin, studio.AQUI
Area: 3200 m²
Year: 2024
Photographs: Bastien Treille
Manufacturers: Forbo, Orlo
Lead Architects: Pierre Chimits, Barbara Constantin
City: Fontcouverte
Country: France
Fontcouverte’s Child Village residential facility, designed in Fontcouverte, France, proposes a decentralized system of family-scale homes for children in care. The project integrates with its urban and natural context through a central common house facing a public square and adopts local agricultural typologies using concrete and timber. Passive ventilation and solar orientation enhance environmental performance. Intermediate and flexible interior spaces accommodate changing user needs, fostering community while maintaining domestic scale. Positioned near civic institutions and the forest edge, the development balances openness and privacy within a child-centered environment.
Fontcouverte’s Child Village was conceived as a collection of homes and shared spaces for children placed in care. Located at the edge of a forest and adjacent to the town’s civic infrastructure—such as the school, stadium, and community hall—the project prioritizes spatial and social integration. Each dwelling is designed to accommodate large sibling groups, with seven-bedroom houses arranged to avoid an institutional character by breaking down massing across the site.
The layout encourages openness and adaptability, with particular attention to user-friendly and functional configurations. A central common house anchors the development and opens directly onto a large public square, creating a civic interface between the village and the broader town. This area supports informal gathering and social engagement. A gallery space adjacent to the square reinforces this public dimension, extending the communal presence of the complex.
Each home is accessed through an intermediate threshold space that mediates between collective and domestic use. These semi-private zones encourage play, rest, and casual interaction. Inside, less-defined rooms serve as multipurpose spaces, able to function as offices or game rooms depending on evolving needs, accommodating a range of child profiles and uses.
The architectural expression reflects a deliberate fragmentation strategy, using local references and sustainable materials. A concrete base supports a timber upper level, referencing the region’s agricultural buildings while ensuring thermal inertia. This material choice aligns with a preference for bio-sourced construction. Large windows and generous openings are oriented for solar gain and outward views. Natural ventilation further enhances passive performance, reducing reliance on mechanical systems while improving indoor comfort.
Project Gallery
Project Location
Address: Fontcouverte, France
Location is for general reference and may represent a city or country, not necessarily a precise address.
