Set within a shaded valley in the Vexin, France, Pouilly project by Atelier Victoria Migliore combines the restoration of a historic stone house with the addition of a suspended, lightweight extension. Through a process of exposure, the existing structure’s material authenticity is revealed, while the new volume introduces light, openness, and elevation. Together, they form a balanced composition that explores contrasts between shadow and light, grounding and suspension, tradition and contemporary architectural expression.
Set within a valley at the foot of a wooded hillside, the house is embedded in a landscape frequently immersed in shade, protected by both the slope and the dense vegetation.
It is within this condition of chiaroscuro (a term originating from Italian—chiaro (light) and scuro (dark)—used to describe the strong contrast between light and shadow) that the concept of rehabilitation, combined with the addition of a suspended extension, emerged: a lightweight, permeable volume, oriented toward nature and designed to maximize the presence of natural light.
The original building, a structure of notable character, has undergone a comprehensive restoration.
The intervention does not seek transformation, but rather clarification and revelation.
Superfluous partitions and finishes were removed, liberating the interior spaces and allowing the original timber framework to reassert its presence. Layers of plaster were stripped back, shutters carefully restored, and the textures of the stone masonry and embedded flint fragments brought to light.
This process of subtraction re-establishes the house’s primary material expression and reinforces its connection to the Vexin landscape.
In contrast to this mineral and grounded presence, the extension adopts a complementary architectural language defined by lightness and luminosity. Positioned perpendicular to the existing volume, it extends beyond the shaded footprint in order to capture optimal sunlight.
Elevated three meters above the natural terrain, the new structure engages in a dynamic relationship with the slope and surrounding vegetation.
It is connected to the original house via a wooden footbridge clad in polished stainless steel, orienting views toward the forest while reflecting the sky and its changing conditions. The foundations, composed of flint-aggregate concrete, establish continuity with the materiality and resources of the site. Upon this base rises a triangulated pine structure — slender, rhythmic, and lightweight — defining the project’s elevated and articulated silhouette.
Balancing between anchoring and suspension, this house in the Vexin investigates the interplay of shadow, light, and materiality, proposing an architectural expression that remains in equilibrium — open to nature and responsive to the passage of time.
Renderings
Drawings
Short Bio
Founded in 2015 in Paris, Atelier Victoria Migliore (AVM) is a multidisciplinary architecture studio created and developed by Victoria Migliore, architect HMONP.
Independent since its inception, she single-handedly leads the studio and coordinates all projects, asserting a practice that is both rigorous and committed.
The studio designs architectural and interior projects throughout France, guided by a constant attention to constructive quality, light, and the relationship with the landscape.
Rooted in a contextual, creative, and environmentally conscious approach, AVM values local craftsmanship and resources, seeking to reveal the singularity of each place and each use.
Atelier Victoria Migliore embraces a form of radicality — not in formal provocation, but in the coherence between place, material, and use. Each project asserts itself through a refined and grounded language, rejecting excess in favor of precision. This quiet radicality gives every work a unique strength and a timeless identity.
Recipient of the Young Woman Architect Award 2022 (ARVHA) and the European 40 Under 40 Architecture Award, Victoria Migliore upholds a sensitive, rigorous, and deeply contextual approach to architecture
Facts & Credits
Title Pouilly
Typology Architecture, Renovation, Extension
Location Pouilly, France
Area 160 m² renovation + 110 m² extension
Status Completed, 2025
Architecture Atelier Victoria Migliore
Photography © Aurélien Chen
Text by the author