In Chambovillard, from Robust Architecture to Residential Home

By Welding Helmet Lab Editorial Team May 29, 2025 Architecture Archive

COVE Architects transformed a 200-year-old farmstead in Chambovillard, Allier, into a residential home. Spanning 280 square meters, the project cost €650,000. Located in the village of Ébreuil, the farmstead features 9-meter-high stone masonry walls and a complex timber framework, creating a unique spatial ambiance.

Challenges of the Historic Structure

While the former farm building possessed material and spatial advantages, it faced significant challenges:

  1. Severe Degradation: Built in the early 19th century, the structure had seen minimal occupancy and maintenance. Partial renovations in the 1980s inadvertently exacerbated long-term damage. Situated in the riverbed of the Sioule River, the building suffered from severe dampness, worsened by these interventions. Cement plaster on walls and cement slabs with waterproof tiles caused capillary water rise in the stone walls of exterior and partition walls. Without addressing poor air circulation, the stonework risked rot.
  2. Compromised Roof: Though the timber framework was relatively sound, the roof showed signs of sagging and gaps. Multiple areas had lost waterproofing, allowing rain and birds to enter. The building was uninhabitable: while registered as a residence in cadastral records, its core was a vast space—originally a barn and stable for livestock and harvest storage. The once-habitable ends had become unsanitary. Three sections of the building were separated by thick partition walls, requiring outdoor passage between them.

Renovation Philosophy: Heritage Preservation

To grant the building durability and comfort, extensive interventions—including selective construction and demolition—were necessary. The architects emphasized: “Our priority was to ensure our actions respected the building’s heritage and preserved what we perceive as its essential character.”

  • Local Materials and Craftsmanship: The team prioritized minimally processed local materials and artisanal techniques inspired by the expertise used to construct the building two centuries ago, ensuring long-term structural viability.

Technical Interventions

  • Stone Wall Restoration: Thick stone walls were stabilized using lime mortar repointing and occasional repairs with rough granite stones.
  • Roof Reconstruction: The existing roof structure, including braces, was retained and enhanced with solid oak planks, collar beams, and rafters to ensure stylistic unity between old and new elements. Replacing roof tiles allowed exterior insulation to be added, while preserving the internal visibility of the roof’s structural components.
  • Central Social Space: The livestock partition wall dividing the central volume was removed to create a spacious shared area for kitchen, dining, and living. A large opening on the facade—symmetrical with an existing gate on the south elevation—opens to the north garden. The doorway features a dressed stone frame and a massive oak lintel. Externally, only white wooden shutters and light brown oak windows were added, while existing plaster and exposed stone were intentionally preserved.
  • Bedrooms and Bathrooms: All private spaces (bedrooms and bathrooms) were located in the formerly habitable east and west wings. Four openings were made in partition walls to connect them to the main building. These walls were extensively chiseled and reconnected, exposing the stonework internally to echo the materiality of the demolished barn walls.