Farm Pailhe

Programme

Conversion to single-family homes

The hamlet of Pailhe in the Ossogne valley in the Condroz is still relatively well preserved: farms, little new housing development and traditional heritage buildings still in good condition. This chateau-farm had stood empty since it ceased life as a working farm, but still had a clutter of sheds and outbuildings. This is where the work of the architects began with a "good old rural common sense" approach: dismantling and reselling obsolete farm buildings for reconstruction on another site, allow- ing soil permeability to be improved. This attitude favors both deconstruction and reuse, working "with" rather than "against", choosing frugality and economy in the rural environment. A detailed study and a light touch approach to the existing buildings made it possible to limit the interventions required and to design to suit the specific characteristics of the site. Seven homes have been created, all different (on one or two floors, two or three bedrooms) and opening onto private outdoor spaces. The design for this very modest operation took account of the architectural and spatial characteristics of the farmhouse (presence of the courtyard, vaulted spaces, particular structural elements, etc.) while achieving good energy performance. This shows that there are alternatives to traditional housing developments which also create quality spaces in heritage buildings, while handling spatial, environmental and societal issues effectively. They offer an opportunity to live in a rural environment, offering a collective way of life in a preserved hamlet.

Norbert Nelles