La Boucharderie
for the next two months, I will call la boucharderie my home.
in 1764, the rectangular, two-story, cobblestone structure was best known to be a masonry, both in practice and in residence. small details in the arrangement of the stone around the doorway and amongst its massive fireplace gives indication to this, accompanied by a verbally passed down history of the generations.
situated just fifteen minutes west of the village bazouges la perouse, it is in a location that was once site of several downhill streams. though the water is now redirected through a single channel, it is possible that one of these streams passed directly beneath the structure (a feature typical of several of the homes in the area this day). if this was indeed the case, then it is thought that the fireplace and the kitchen were placed in such an arrangement to the stream so as to create a certain triad, thus leading questions towards pagan belief and other customs of the times.
in regards to the more practical layout of this residence, its original construction was modeled so that the now modern living room would function as a sleeping quarters for the masons. in planning for cold, wet winters and cool summers, the original north wall completely lacked in windows, and instead pressed against the bulk of the masons furniture. also, the structure was and remains naturally insulated simply by leaving a small gap down the middle of all outward framework... as I sit in my cool room uncompromised by air conditioning in the midst of summer, I am amazed at how well this slight moderation works by all modern standards.
la boucharderie's story is retold as best as possible via sandy's husband, yann, who in being a furniture maker/woodworker of the highest degree, has a great passion for the home's history. taken by this aspect and the quiet setting, they purchased their portion of this countryside hamlet only one year ago, while still being in need of a sizable amount of work, even despite its original craftsmanship.
with a hayloft as a second story and little way of accessing it, an amazing amount of handy work now provides three upper level bedrooms and a bathroom. my own room within this group is truly beautiful in its simplicity, having the same hardwood floors that exist throughout the house, and one complete wall consisting of loosely spackled stone. with the approximate dimensions of 3 x 9 meters and a trapezoidal wall to ceiling line; a massive, single-hinged window rests in the slant of the roof above the short, outer wall of the room... I open this window during the day and a cool breeze fills my pleasing space. closing it at night, the breeze is kept within.
this is just one of the many new additions to the already impressive home. soon to come also is the conversion of the remaining 9 x 9 meter storage space into a massive first floor kitchen and second floor studio. so to, and hopefully sooner, will be doors for the bathrooms (no accounting for privacy now), and the remaining two bedrooms. the walls will be painted, and a grand staircase will replace the temporary but nevertheless well crafted one. finally will be the extension of the laundry room and the expansion of a garden, for I have discovered that growing your own fruits and vegetables is a common french standard.
with such a strong impression already and a genuinely blessed feeling to call this my summer abode, I look forward to watching these transformations occur. unlike my urban setting in new york; here I find a more familiar vision of envoutante, authentique, naturelle, se vibre la lumiere at habille de couleurs les grands espaces.
in 1764, the rectangular, two-story, cobblestone structure was best known to be a masonry, both in practice and in residence. small details in the arrangement of the stone around the doorway and amongst its massive fireplace gives indication to this, accompanied by a verbally passed down history of the generations.
situated just fifteen minutes west of the village bazouges la perouse, it is in a location that was once site of several downhill streams. though the water is now redirected through a single channel, it is possible that one of these streams passed directly beneath the structure (a feature typical of several of the homes in the area this day). if this was indeed the case, then it is thought that the fireplace and the kitchen were placed in such an arrangement to the stream so as to create a certain triad, thus leading questions towards pagan belief and other customs of the times.
in regards to the more practical layout of this residence, its original construction was modeled so that the now modern living room would function as a sleeping quarters for the masons. in planning for cold, wet winters and cool summers, the original north wall completely lacked in windows, and instead pressed against the bulk of the masons furniture. also, the structure was and remains naturally insulated simply by leaving a small gap down the middle of all outward framework... as I sit in my cool room uncompromised by air conditioning in the midst of summer, I am amazed at how well this slight moderation works by all modern standards.
la boucharderie's story is retold as best as possible via sandy's husband, yann, who in being a furniture maker/woodworker of the highest degree, has a great passion for the home's history. taken by this aspect and the quiet setting, they purchased their portion of this countryside hamlet only one year ago, while still being in need of a sizable amount of work, even despite its original craftsmanship.
with a hayloft as a second story and little way of accessing it, an amazing amount of handy work now provides three upper level bedrooms and a bathroom. my own room within this group is truly beautiful in its simplicity, having the same hardwood floors that exist throughout the house, and one complete wall consisting of loosely spackled stone. with the approximate dimensions of 3 x 9 meters and a trapezoidal wall to ceiling line; a massive, single-hinged window rests in the slant of the roof above the short, outer wall of the room... I open this window during the day and a cool breeze fills my pleasing space. closing it at night, the breeze is kept within.
this is just one of the many new additions to the already impressive home. soon to come also is the conversion of the remaining 9 x 9 meter storage space into a massive first floor kitchen and second floor studio. so to, and hopefully sooner, will be doors for the bathrooms (no accounting for privacy now), and the remaining two bedrooms. the walls will be painted, and a grand staircase will replace the temporary but nevertheless well crafted one. finally will be the extension of the laundry room and the expansion of a garden, for I have discovered that growing your own fruits and vegetables is a common french standard.
with such a strong impression already and a genuinely blessed feeling to call this my summer abode, I look forward to watching these transformations occur. unlike my urban setting in new york; here I find a more familiar vision of envoutante, authentique, naturelle, se vibre la lumiere at habille de couleurs les grands espaces.
posted by Kellie Moore at 8:00 AM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home