House on Lake Geneva

A 300 square meter house on Lake Geneva, designed by architect Pierre Moinès and studio au*m, is located in the city of Tonnerre-le-Ben, France.

The first floor features a living room, kitchen, and dining room, along with a guest room and office. The upper level includes a sleeping area with three bedrooms and bathrooms, as well as a children's playroom.

The house is built at the edge of a slope, right next to the shoreline. One of the main client requests was to ensure that the view of the lake from the upper part of the plot remains unobstructed. When entering the property, visitors should be able to freely observe the opposite shore, even if it is quite distant. Therefore, "transparency" became a key element of the entire project.

The building consists of two simple rectangular volumes stacked on top of each other. The intersection of these forms creates a double-height space where the living room is located. A narrow bridge spans this area, connecting the parents' bedroom on the second floor, which opens onto the lake, with the children's rooms overlooking the garden.

The western facade is decorated with a kind of modern mashrabiya — a sunshade made from artificial stone Corian. Besides its aesthetic function, it controls the amount of energy and heat entering the building.

The structure is highly eco-efficient and meets French energy-efficient home standards — BBC-Effinergie, thanks to an advanced thermal insulation system.

Photos: Erick Saillet