a curved roof tops this wooden house designed by arba in rural france

convex on one side, concave on the other, the subtle gesture of this timber dwelling by arba makes a quiet statement amid the rural landscape of murat, france. ‘l’onde‘, which translates to ‘the wave’, has been designed by the french architecture practice to reveal the work of the four craftsmen who built it.

image © arba

the inspiration for l’onde’s unusual roof comes from the shape of old slate roofs that have bent under the weight of the stone. in opposition to the rigidity of flat roofs from the modern period, arba has covered the house with a deep pitch that slowly rises and falls. the design is not only for aesthetics as it also optimizes the site’s weather conditions. the concave side opens up to the south to catch the winter sun, while the convex side is sheltered to the north to protect the house from the prevailing wind.

image © pierre gourvennec

inside, the interior envelops residents in a warm wooden shell with furniture pieces crafted from birch plywood and local solid ash. in order to show and highlight the work of the four craftsmen who participated in the construction of the house, the concrete slab shaped by the mason is left untreated. the timber frame is showcased and visible from everywhere, and even the electric cables running along the structure are left exposed.

image © pierre gourvennec

image © arba

image © arba

image © pierre gourvennec

image © pierre gourvennec

image © pierre gourvennec

image © pierre gourvennec

image © pierre gourvennec

image © pierre gourvennec

image © pierre gourvennec

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project info:

project name: l’onde

location: murat, cantal, france

architecture firm: arba

lead architects: jean-baptiste barache, sihem lamine

completion year: 2019

gross built area: 807 ft2 (75 m2)

photography: arba, pierre gourvennec