Extension & Reconversion of an Old Farm by Martin Migeon Architecture + Anouk Migeon

A Dialogue Between Heritage and Modern Living in Charentes-Maritimes, France

Perched in a quiet hamlet of Chenac-Saint-Seurin-d’Uzet, overlooking the Gironde estuary in southwestern France, this project by Martin Migeon Architecture and Anouk Migeon breathes new life into a historic barn. Once dedicated to agriculture and animal rearing, the farm has been transformed into a contemporary holiday house, blending rustic authenticity with modern comfort.

Reimagining the Barn for a New Purpose

Originally, the farm buildings were grouped around a shared courtyard, prioritizing functionality over views. The architectural reconversion challenges this inward orientation, opening the home to the panoramic estuary landscape. The 150 m² extension now anchors the project, housing the main communal spaces—a kitchen, dining area, living room, and wood stove—leading onto a generous covered terrace.

This new volume becomes the social heart of the house, fostering family gatherings, while seamlessly connecting the interior to the natural horizon.

Creating Fluid Indoor-Outdoor Connections

The second key design gesture was the removal of a roof between two existing volumes, creating a sheltered patio. This new courtyard space expands the home’s circulation and atmosphere, offering an intimate outdoor retreat protected from coastal winds. Linked directly to the terrace, it extends the architectural rhythm of the project, creating layered spatial experiences for different seasons and uses.

Materiality: A Collage of Old and New

The extension’s architectural language is expressed through a careful play of contrasts and materiality. Three key design components define its identity:

• A timber façade on the street side, offering privacy while respecting the rural character.
• An exposed concrete portico of posts and beams, framing generous openings.
• A striking colonnade of five polished concrete columns, supporting a timber roof structure that defines the volume’s silhouette.

Inside, the architecture reveals a dialogue between old stone walls and new concrete frames, creating a tactile interplay of textures. These materials embody durability while celebrating the raw, rural aesthetic of the barn’s original construction.

A House in Harmony With the Seasons

The reconversion creates a home adaptable to seasonal rhythms. In winter, the wood stove becomes the focal point, offering warmth while occupants enjoy serene views of the estuary. In summer, large windows open wide, inviting breezes and movement throughout the house. The architecture encourages fluid circulation, weaving together interior rooms, terraces, patios, and the surrounding landscape.

This transformation is not just a renovation—it is a reinterpretation of rural heritage, turning a farm into a modern family retreat where tradition meets contemporary design.

All the photographs are works of Gion von Albertini