Maison X/Y

Renovation of a Barn into a High-End Contemporary Country House

This project concerns the renovation of an old barn located in Angles-sur-l’Anglin, France, for an English family composed of a couple and their three children. NODA studio supported these clients from England in the development of their architectural project in France, helping them understand the existing building, the local constraints, and the specific challenges involved in transforming an old structure into a contemporary family home.

The intervention is based on a simple idea: to preserve as much as possible of the existing barn envelope, particularly its stone walls, in order to retain the character of this country house. Rather than hiding or deeply transforming the existing structure, the project seeks to reveal the quality of the stone, the depth of the openings, and the strength of the original volume.

Inside, the architecture adopts a contemporary, understated, and luminous language. The house is organised over three levels, completed by an intermediate floor and a basement, allowing the family’s different uses to be clearly structured while taking advantage of the generous height and volume of the barn. The living spaces are designed to be open, comfortable, and functional, suited to the daily life of a large family.

The existing timber frame is a central element of the project. It is preserved and restored using traditional methods, maintaining the constructive memory of the building while integrating it into a contemporary interior. This dialogue between the old structure and modern design gives the project its identity: a home both rooted in its history and adapted to today’s way of living.

The window and door frames are deliberately ultra-minimal. Their discreet design highlights the stonework without competing with it. The large openings bring light, views, and comfort, while reinforcing the relationship between the interior of the house and the surrounding landscape.

Through this renovation, the architect does not seek to erase the building’s past, but to extend it. The project transforms an old barn into a contemporary country house where heritage, family comfort, and restrained architecture coexist in balance.