PRS House by Quinze Architecture in Mereville, France

Project: PRS House
Architects: Quinze Architecture
Location: Mereville, France
Area: 1,614 sq ft
Photography: MFL PHOTO / Matthieu Fiol

PRS House by Quinze Architecture

The PRS house located in Mereville, France is a beautiful wooden house designed by the architectural studio Quinze Architecture. It sits in the center of a valley surrounded by forest and a river. The project's goal was to position the house in such a way as to maximize positive solar exposure and minimize the impact of solar shadows from hills on the east and west. To achieve this, the house is oriented along a north-south axis with a fully glazed attic on the south side.

The living room is located on the south side and features a double height with excellent views of the river and meadows. The house is built from bio-based materials such as fiber wood insulation and cellulose, meeting the standards of the Passive House certificate. The entire house frame is made of wood, and all facades are clad in Douglas fir timber, creating a cozy yet modern look that connects the house with its surroundings.

The project is located on a very forested site at the center of a valley with a river below. Solar shadows come from hills on the east and west, while a poplar grove is visible on the horizon to the south.

Placing a Passive House, which operates solely with good solar exposure, is a challenging task. Therefore we chose to position the house along north-south axis with its long side, featuring a fully glazed attic on the south. Views of the river and meadows are thus mainly oriented to the east.

The arrangement of two rectangular parallelepipeds one atop another is the first architectural idea. This movement provides a dynamic facade surface and creates sun protection on the south, as well as empty space above the garage on the opposite side (preliminary planning for future expansion).

The volume of the first floor includes common areas, technical rooms and a garage. The living room located on the south is illuminated by the glazed attic and has a double height. The volume of the second floor includes only private areas, bedrooms and bathrooms.

The house located on this beautiful forested site integrates into nature in a modern way through form and volume. However, due to the entire wooden finish, it creates a connection with its surroundings. All facades are clad in Douglas fir timber; the entire house frame is made of wood (wooden beams, wooden frame, wooden walls). Wood is also used inside, in the form of spot finishing on walls in the large living room. The light wood color on the walls, wooden windows (from inside), and white walls give this space a cozy and modern feel.

A large part of the materials used are bio-based (fiber wood insulation, cellulose etc.). The house meets the standards of the Passive House certificate and operates with only minimal additional heating (small floor heating for winter). Fixed solar fans are installed on the south glazed attic. Combined with the eaves of the roof, they scatter summer sunlight and prevent overheating.

-Quinze Architecture