PAYZ House: A Contemporary Extension in Southern France
Located in Payzac, in the Ardèche region of southern France, PAYZ House is an extension project completed in 2023 by Alors Studio. With an area of 80 m², the intervention reimagines an existing holiday home through a careful dialogue between architecture, materiality, and landscape.
Originally built in 2007, the house consists of separate volumes set within a secluded site surrounded by Mediterranean vegetation. The architects introduced a new connecting structure that links two of the existing volumes, improving circulation while accommodating additional living spaces.
Concrete plays a defining role in the project. Its textured façades evoke the surrounding rocks and the traditional dry-stone walls characteristic of the region. Rather than contrasting with the landscape, the material establishes a visual connection with the site’s natural and architectural heritage.
Large glazed openings frame views of olive trees, pine trees, and aromatic plants, bringing the surrounding environment into the interior. The interplay between solid concrete surfaces and expansive windows creates a balance between shelter and openness.
Through its restrained material palette and thoughtful intervention, PAYZ House demonstrates how contemporary architecture can transform an existing home without losing its connection to place. The project offers a subtle exploration of continuity, where new and old elements come together to create a renewed relationship between domestic life and the Mediterranean landscape.
Photography by Lorenzo Zandri