Located in a residential neighborhood in Rueil-Malmaison, a western suburb of Greater Paris, the project creates a smooth transition between the street and the house through a landscaped buffer that balances public and private life. The design revolves around a sequence of three gardens with increasing levels of privacy.
The first garden, semi-public in nature, features a pathway that guides visitors along a route that highlights the house. The second landscaped sequence unfolds around two large lateral patios, seamlessly integrated into the living spaces. Here, the double-height living room features a monumental fireplace and a mezzanine library overlooking the space. At the rear, the largest garden, dotted with tall trees, connects to the neighboring forest and creates an intimate atmosphere.
The house is organized around terracotta lime walls that frame the landscaped sequences and anchor the main floor. Above, three weathered wood-clad volumes with pitched timber roofs house the bedrooms, evoking the archetype of domestic architecture.
The interplay of these simple volumes, each oriented differently to capture specific views of the surrounding landscape, creates spatial complexity within the double-height central hall, where overlapping rooflines extend into the interior.
The facades are designed to respond to their context, with minimal windows on the street side ensuring privacy through wood slats, while expansive glass openings facing the forest create a seamless connection between the interior and the exterior.
This design approach strengthens the home’s integration with its natural setting while shielding it from the bustle of urban life, creating a calm and peaceful living environment.
Distinction:Best House EverCategory:Private HomesYear:2025Location:Paris, FranceArchitects:Matteo Malatesta ArchitectureLead Architect: Matteo Malatesta General Contractor: MV PROClient: PrivatePhotographer: Renderings by Hauts Mirages
