MGG House by PAN Architecture in Greasque, France

Project: MGG House
Architects: PAN Architecture
Location: Greasque, France
Area: 1,453 sq ft
Photography: Sebastien Normand

MGG House by PAN Architecture

The architectural studio PAN Architecture designed the MGG house in the small French town of Greasque. This modern residence offers approximately 1,500 square feet of beautiful living space that seeks to convey views of the stunning natural surroundings. Thanks to its unique exterior design, the interior features a beautiful shell that encompasses an open layout.

The project is located in the small Provence town of Greasque, in rural areas mostly covered with oaks and pines.

At the boundary between the residential area and forest, our proposal uses the morphology of the site and its strong topography. Simple linear geometry placed on a hill allows for maximum effective use of the climatic and visual qualities of the site. This project aims to make this plot suitable for living, protecting against strong winds (mistral) and offering a view of the landscape.

Due to the narrow plot and proximity to neighbors, the house is positioned on the northern boundary to ensure privacy. Windows face north towards the local mountain (Saint-Victor) and south toward the garden area, which is freed up by the northern placement of the house. This 'Saint-Victor - Garden' axis becomes the foundation of the project.

The traditional gabled roof archetype here is distorted. These two directions divide the main volume into two separate parts: the northern side of the house (stable, protective, massive and solid) and the southern side (lightweight, bright and empty). This compositional dynamics underlines internal and external relationships. It creates uniqueness through the contrast of architectural features between two volumes while maintaining a common volumetric orientation.

Playing with variations of the environment, this project stands out as a clear challenge to the generalized, homogeneous, standardized and idealized 'Provence' housing. Our belief presented here: contextual uniqueness in architecture can create a unique place and add value to all surrounding elements.

Highlighting the professionalism of local craftsmen, the project plays with the expressiveness of concrete. Its application requires a high level of craftsmanship, creating a deep connection between the project and the limestone environment. The uniform appearance of concrete creates an effect of mass and tension typical for this place. This project seeks to maintain a strong connection with the landscape. It is an open house to the outside world, whose unusual form becomes apparent on this site.

–PAN Architecture