House in Corsica
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Southern exterior view
Nigel Young Download Original
Timber framed, single storey, wedge-shaped family home in both plan and section covered by a monopitched cedar shingle roof
Approached from the landward side, the house is dug into the contours of the site and sheltered by a monopitch roof. Organised on a single level, the house is wedge-shaped in both plan and section. Ancillary functions are confined to the northern edge of the plan, where the roof is lowest. While the grander communal spaces, main bedrooms and study are placed on the southern side to take advantage of the light and views.
The plan is bisected on the short cross axis by a circulation core, which separates the childrens' bedrooms from the communal spaces and extends northwards.
Glazed on three sides, the outdoors becomes an extension of the interior. Responding to its context, the house is timber-framed. The most prominent structural members are the long, laminated beams that support the cedar shingle roof. These tapering, rib-like beams extend on the southern side to form a brise-soleil canopy.
Data
- Begun: 1990
- Completed: 1993
- Sector: House
- Address: Corsica, France
Professional Team 
- Architect: Foster + Partners
- Client: Private
- Quantity surveyor: Davis Langdon & Everest
- Services engineer: Roger Preston & Partners
- Structural engineer: Arup