The offices of Mac architecture
In 2020, MAC Architecture relocated from Paris to Barbizon, on the edge of the
Fontainebleau Forest, in search of fresh air and tranquillity. The project is set in a landscape characterised by lush vegetation, sandstone rocks and fertile soil. The shade provided by the oak, hornbeam and birch trees naturally moderates the atmosphere, keeping things cool in summer.
In order to preserve the natural terrain and the protected sandstone rocks, the building has been constructed on stilts. A concrete post-and-beam structure supports a timber-frame infill. This stretches across the ground floor, with a raised section housing a studio apartment. The green roof provides good thermal inertia and enables rainwater to be fully managed on site.
Access is via a narrow path through bracken and brambles. After a few steps, the untreated oak vertical cladding on the façade becomes visible. This material directly resonates with the surrounding trunks, creating a continuity of tone and material. Large bay windows on the south-east and south-west façades immerse the occupants in the forest and allow light to flood in throughout the day.
From the outside, the windows reflect the surrounding vegetation. The light grey concrete echoes the shades of the sandstone rocks on which the building appears to rest. The concrete pilings encased in wood retain the imprint of the grain, revealing the memory of the material.
Inside, the building is characterised by a large open space housing the workstations. Depending on the day, the silence of this space is filled by birdsong, the rustling of leaves, and the passing of foxes, deer, and squirrels.
