Architect Christian Pottgiesser of the Paris-based firm Architectures Possibles is the genius behind Maison L, an almost 9400-sq. ft. L-shaped home custom built for a family of six for which Pottgiesser was awarded the 2012 RIBA Award for the European Union (Royal Institute of British Architects). Set on a huge plot of land (nearly 54,000 sq. ft.!) thirty minutes west of Paris, Maison L is a modern marvel worthy of the accolades. The objective faced and met by the designer was to incorporate an orange greenhouse (called an “orangery”) dating back to the 18th century and to do as little damage to the existing land as possible. It is a unique construction not only because of the materials used and the engineering behind it but also because each family member is assigned his or her own three-story “tower,” all of which are connected by steel-and-glass ceilings that blur the line between indoor and out. A time lapse video on the Pottgiesser’s website shows the work in progress–including a worksite covered in snow. No information is given about the heating/cooling of the interior, though because concrete is such a big part of Maison L‘s construction, one can’t help but wonder how warm the space is in the colder months of the year.
