The Kiosque House, This house stands at the bottom of a garden like a gazebo in a park. The shape and overhangs of its roof strictly comply (apart from the curves) with the local urban planning regulations for this neighborhood of Caen.
© Jérémie Léon
It consists of a wooden base supported by four concrete joists resting on pile foundations (and thus insulated from ground moisture), topped by a natural zinc roof with generous standing seams and a wide overhang.
© Jérémie Léon
Between the two, four private spaces (bedrooms and bathroom) at the four corners, the only ones enclosed by walls that support the frame, provide privacy and regulate heat exchange.
© Jérémie Léon
The resulting cross-shaped common space is simply a continuation of the garden, a sheltered garden, a kind of gazebo.
© Jérémie Léon
To simplify the installation of the zinc, the roof is a developable surface, i.e., resulting from the simple deformation of a plane. Each strip of zinc is twisted to follow the rise of the roof that houses the upstairs workshop.
© Jérémie Léon
The plan is simple, symmetrical along its two perpendicular axes, which makes it so clear that it disappears. The interior partitions are made of hemp bricks coated with earth.
Project Info
Architects: arba
Country: France, Caen
Area: 110 m²
Year: 2024
Photographs: Jérémie Léon
Isabelle Laurent is a Built Projects Editor at Arch2O, recognized for her editorial insight and passion for contemporary architecture. She holds a Master’s in Architectural Theory from École Nationale Supérieure d’Architecture de Paris-Belleville. Before joining Arch2O in 2016, she worked in a Paris-based architectural office and taught as a faculty adjunct at the École Spéciale d’Architecture in Paris. Isabelle focuses on curating projects around sustainability, adaptive reuse, and urban resilience. With a background in design and communication, she brings clarity to complex ideas and plays a key role in shaping Arch2O’s editorial