This old “mayennaise” farm, unoccupied for more than four décades, is one of the few specified building of the région not having been thoroughly restored over time.
The design takes advantage of the the slate tiles, being the main patrimonial characteristics of the buildings surrounding the squared courtyard. Those will be the common ground as their continuation towards a great gutter will reunite two buildings.
The traditional timber frame has been restored by a companion, do define the great volumes of the living rooms.
The new architectural interventions had to be perceptible. While the existing openings are traditionally implemented on the inner edge, the new ones are put on the outer edge of the masonry.
Two large sliding and folding doors allow to recover the initial functions of the farm, as well as creating a visual and physical relation between the courtyard an the surrounding fields.
Environmental approach
The existing wooden frames are conserved and restored. The building extension, conforming to the tradition of the local lower architecture, is made of a wooden framework and cladding.
Due to patrimonial requirements, insulation is made Inside with hemp and lime blocks in order to maintain the inertia of the existing walls. The inertia will add to the efficiency of the mass stove that is being placed, sole heating system of the house.
The thermal performance is improved by a balanced ventilation, thermal solar panels (for hot water)
Rainwater is being retrieved in two cisterns right below the great gutter. Black water is treated by phyto-purification.
Existing materials are being re-used as much as possible: démolition wood to restore the framework, terracotta floor-tiles ….
Technical descriptions
– The existing stone walls are 60cm thick. They are insulated on the Inside by hemp-lime blocks covered in lime. The coating also functions as a vapour-barrier,
– Partitioning and framework of the new extension coffered wooden structure of blown cellulose wadding of 30 cm thick,
– Wooden T blocks attached to the existing structures in order to recreate even coffers blown with cellulose wadding over 30cm,
– Hard rain caps in fiberwood fiber, interrupting the thermal bridges of the framework; thus participating to the thermal insulation,
– Insulated flooring with underfloor 8cm polyurethane concrete,
– Joinery wood with double or triple glazing depending on the exposure,
– A complete notebook detail, and a true teamwork with the Belgian thermal design office, as with the other companies allowed to obtain good results for the air-tightness, validated by 2 tests
– Used wood cube: 24.22 m3
– Vertical frame: wooden frame
– Horizontal structure: traditional joist
– Frame Carpentry; Historical framework; Coffered roof
– Tree species of the structure: Pin; Oak (Northern Europe)
– Cladding: Lame solid wood
– Species: Larch; Douglas (Jura, France)
– Exterior carpentry: wooden joinery; Wooden shutters
– Exterior carpentry tree species: Scots pine (Northern Europe)
– Wood Heating: YES (Wood logs – stove / insert)
– Energy consumption: 129 (including 92 heating)Infometric test results : 0,67
Project Details:
Location: Craon, Mayenne, France
Type: Renovation – Residential
Program: Home rénovation; transformation of an outbuilding into a habitation.
Area: 208 m2 / 682 Sq ft
Project Management: LADAA + JKA Architects
LADAA – Ludovic Delorme & Anne-Lise Aubouin (Paris), Main architects
JKA – Jérémie Koempgen Architecture (Nantes), Co-Contractor
Photo : Pierre-Yves Brunaud / Picturetank
