House in Cap Ferret, France

Set between the trees on the shore of the sea, the house is raised on slender piers and seems to hover above the site. The rigid structure is closed on three faces and open over its full width on the side overlooking the Bay of Arcachon. The existing vegetation, consisting of bushes and pines, provides natural shading and helps to prevent wind erosion of the coastal dunes. To preserve the vegetation, the steel structure was built around the trunks of the trees, which now stand scattered about the living space, forming an exciting contrast to the strict, orthogonal layout. The trunks pass through movable roof lights via rubber sleeves. In the event of strong winds, tree movements of up to six centimetres can be accommodated.