Four Sustainable Cabins Built on a French Estate

A tranquil retreat designed to connect guests to nature and protect the beauty of a gorgeous landscape in rural France.

Wilderness hotel company Coucoo Cabanes specializes in eco-friendly retreats that maximize the guests’ immersion in nature while preserving the beauty and integrity of natural sites. International architecture and interior design studio AW², led by Reda Amalou and Stéphanie Ledoux, shares the company’s dedication to a bioclimatic approach to sustainable architecture and design, so their collaboration came naturally. Located in the village of Chassey-lès-Montbozon in Franche-Comté, France, these four wood cabins join Coucoo Cabanes’ existing 25 cottages spread across 150 hectares on the Grands Lacs estate. Designed in perfect symbiosis with the natural setting, the four pre-built cabins feature an all-wood wood construction to complement the surrounding trees and vegetation.

Following Coucoo Cabanes’ mission to advocate for “a living biodiversity and a better interaction between humans and nature”, the cabins stand on stilts to minimize their impact on the site. Whether open or closed, a protective envelope shields the three levels from the elements while still providing uninterrupted views of the surrounding landscape, including a tranquil lake. Inspired by a blossoming bud, each cabin boasts an external structure that opens organically to connect the interiors to the setting.

Raised on timber stilts, the first level houses a terrace that provides a great way to enjoy the beauty of the location, sheltered from the wind and the rain. On the second level, open bay windows optimize access to views while enabling natural ventilation and cooling during the summer months. Here, the bed doubles as a space divider. Nearby, the lounge area features a curved bench and a coffee table, with coffee and tea amenities provided by Coucoo Cabanes. This level also contains a washbasin, a dry toilet, shelving and a wardrobe. The last level boasts a Nordic bath from Altipure, providing the ultimate relaxation space. From here, guests can soak in hot water while admiring the treetops and the lake beyond.

Focused on sustainability through and through, the cabins feature not only a timber build made with Douglas fir trees felled in the area, but also custom furniture crafted locally. Designed by the award-winning architecture practice, the indoor and outdoor benches, shelving, bed headboard, and work surfaces were crafted by MCF Bois, a workshop located an hour and 15 minutes away from the Grand Lacs estate. The prefab nature of the cabins also reduced the construction timeframe and the impact on the terrain. A high-performance insulation coupled with natural ventilation enhance the project’s green credentials further.

The four pre-built cabins were manufactured at the local MCF Bois workshop in four months, before being assembled on site over the course of only seven weeks. AW² and Coucoo Cabanes also chose sustainable brands to furnish the cabins, from the Window Paris felted wool curtains to the Tikamoon chairs and the Toscot terracotta lights. A triumph of sustainable architecture and eco-friendly tourism, the cabins protect the biodiversity of the site while allowing guests to take a break and relax in a serene natural landscape. Photographs© David Rosemberg, mikestravelbook.