Mountain Rescue
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The Douglas fir window replaced a collapsed exterior wall
Sarah Blee Download Original
Small self-build hut situated within the outbuildings of a historic water mill in south-west France
An existing ruined outhouse, dug into the slate hillside, is patched up and a new timber bedroom, bathroom and dressing room are constructed within the rugged stone walls. This serves as an annexe to a mill house.
The history of the building is a reference point for the architecture. From the outside, the building still presents itself as a ruin except for the main Douglas Fir window, which replaces a collapsed external wall. This window faces towards the morning sunlight, which reflects off a sweeping curved soffit of cedar strips internally.
A long high level window opposite provides for cross ventilation and allows views of the surrounding mountains when lying in bed. In addition, a small wood-burning stove is located in a niche left by a defunct secondary door.
The bathroom and dressing room are housed within an existing lean-to addition. A wide oxide-red gutter forms the junction between the roofs of these two historic parts. A funnel rooflight provides daylight to the windowless interior.
Data
- Begun: Apr 2009
- Completed: 2010
- Floor area: 15m2
- Sector: House
- Total cost: £18,000
- Funding: Private
- Procurement: Self-Build
- Address: Mountain Rescue, Languedoc, France
Professional Team 
- Architect: Blee Halligan Architects
- Project architects: Greg Blee, Lee Halligan
- Client: Anthony and Gillian Blee
- Main contractor: Greg Blee and Lee Halligan
Suppliers
- Timber components: Holme Valley Joinery
- Photovoltaic installation: Bright Green Energy
- Metalwork: Benson Sedgwick Engineering