Though the beach house gets all the glory—and we can't deny the appeal of living near the ocean—there's something to be said for a retreat in the forest.
This residence in Nivillac, France (about 4 hours from Paris on the country's northwestern coast), is the work of Nantes, France-based firm Atelier Mima, and makes as strong a case as any for forest living. For one, privacy isn't hard to find on a site like this: The 90-square-meter (about 968 square feet) house, which comprises two connected pavilions, nestles in a small clearing in the woods. And because it's clad in timber panels, it blends in with its wooded surroundings, cutting a discreet figure on its gently sloped site.
The interiors are airy and largely open-plan, including a combined kitchen, living, and dining room from which the homeowners can head right out onto a backyard deck. Timber abounds inside, in custom cabinetry and other accents. A small staircase to the left of the kitchen leads to the bed- and bathrooms. Take a look around.
∙ atelier mima constructs low profile timber dwelling in north-western france [Designboom]
∙ All Homes coverage [Curbed]