arba designs a 20sqm wooden house to inhabit a french garden in normandy

hidden among the bushes of a garden in longueil, normandy, is a small timber house designed by french architects arba. located close to the sea, the petite maison is a modest architectural intervention that seeks to make the most of a beautiful garden site.

all images ©  jérémie léon

the project is designed by arba as a shelter to inhabit the garden site in a comfortable yet dynamic way. despite measuring only 20 sqm, the micro two story building includes a kitchen, dining room, a living space in the form of a deep window-seat, bathroom, storage, and sleeping areas for up to five people. 

to bring maximum pleasure into this small area, the challenge for arba was to make users feel like they are inhabiting the garden. the architects achieved this using several methods: sliding windows which disappear behind the walls to bring the outside in; a large picture window to frame the sea and the village church and immerse inhabitants in the landscape; and a generous terrace to enjoy outdoor dining and views of the surroundings.

to blend into the greenery, the petite maison is formed in natural and blackened northern fir timber. the construction also uses concrete blocks, corrugated iron and polycarbonate, larch window frames and larch veneer.

project info:

project name: la petite maison

location: longueil, normandy, france

architecture firm: arba

lead architects: jean-baptiste barache, sihem lamine, pierre gourvennec

completion year: 2018

gross built area: 20sqm

photography: jérémie léon