Rue Lyautey in Thionville (57), the pale sun is reflected in the windows surrounded by a surprising double opaque glass skin. This trapezoidal building has elusive, swaying lines. None of his swaying faces are alike. No wall is straight. This work-in-house arouses the curiosity of the passer-by and delights the architecture lover, undoubtedly because, at first glance, it defies understanding and breaks all the codes of construction. Since 2006, the Laurent family has lived in this unique place, designed by Parisian architects Emmanuelle Marin and David Trottin. “I had seen one of their work in a magazine. They had made a metal house in green color, another cubic, and still with interesting materials. When we decided to build, I called them to see what they could offer us, ”recalls Olivier Laurent.
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In this district of Thionville, regulations require that houses be located in the center of the plots. The architects therefore adapted to the rough perimeter of the land to draw their plan. The trapezoidal outline comes from there. To stay in the spirit, the duo of designers made the trays dance and the facades wiggle. “When they presented the model to us, we were speechless. It was a daring aesthetic and artistic choice, but we liked it. We said to ourselves that originality should not be reserved only for public procurement ”.
The metal frame is a real mechanic
The building permit was obtained without any difficulty. “The mayor at the time did not oppose it and the person in charge of town planning played the game with a certain enthusiasm”, says Olivier Laurent. The construction was more difficult. “Without the commitment of a local glazier, Patrick Salvino, we would probably not have succeeded in converting the architect’s plans. ” And for good reason. The metal frame is a real mechanic. It is used as a hanger for curtain walls on facades made up of aluminum profiles and glass panels. All the walls are at 20 degrees. 60% of the house is built with transparent or translucent bay windows. The rest are opaque walls, plasterboard on the inside, and galvanized steel for the outside.
“The main asset of this house is its brightness”
“In truth, this house is a prototype. Everything was made to measure and its construction was a real adventure, ”says the owner. The exterior is so amazing that you are almost disappointed when you step inside. Compared to facades, living rooms are more ordinary. The 250 m² of living space are spread over three levels. The top floor, the brightest, is reserved for the kitchen-living room which opens onto a large terrace. Unlike many homes where you have to go upstairs to sleep, here we go the other way. On the first floor, the bedrooms are located around the edge of the trays. Sanitary and technical equipment occupy the center. “The main asset of this house is its brightness. Even in November, when everything is gray, the interior remains very bright, ”emphasizes Olivier Laurent. And to add: “This house is not just curious, it has a soul. And even if the fact of living in a beautiful object becomes diluted over time, I still sometimes find myself telling myself that we have done something crazy ”.
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