NEUME, a Basel-based architecture firm, designed a vacation home in Romagny-sous-Rougemont, France, on the foundation of a former fisherman’s cottage from the 20th century. The structure includes a main house and an attached storage/utility room. Its grey, rough-textured base is visible from the village side but blends into the terrain near the pond due to elevation changes.
The exterior features dark-stained larch wood cladding and movable louvred shutters of varying sizes, allowing adjustable light, ventilation, and privacy. A covered terrace runs along the water-facing side, while a pond-side deck extends over the northwest pond.
Inside, smooth spruce walls and larch floors contrast with the dark exterior. The compact layout includes a living kitchen, bedroom with bathroom, and a loft sleeping area accessed via a ladder. Sliding elements function as doors and built-in storage, maximizing space. Large sliding windows and a double door connect the interior to the pond terrace.
The site retains its fish ponds, with continuous water flow shaping the landscape and providing a constant ambient sound. Photo by Daisuke-Hirabayashi. NUEME
