Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The Maison Auriol, located in Gabaston, New Aquitaine, is a major architectural work of the 4th quarter of the 20th century. commissioned in 1978 by psychiatrist Guy Auriol and completed in 1983, it embodies a fusion between nature and habitat, designed by architect Edmond Lay. Its orientation towards the Pyrenees and its integration into the land make it a "signature house", where natural materials (Bidache stone, red cedar) and hexagonal lines create visual and sensory harmony.

Lay's inspiration was born during the visit to Bidache's quarry, where limestone strata dictate the final shape of the building. The stones, assembled manually, define fluid spaces and unique light sets, banishing straight angles in favour of a 60° frame. The furniture, designed by Dominique Zimbacca, fits perfectly into this architecture, while the curved bays and terraces extend the dialogue between interior and exterior.

Ranked a Historic Monument in 2022, the house reflects a close collaboration between Auriol and Lay, with successive modifications (extension in 1983, modernization of the kitchen). Although the Auriols left in 1982 to settle in Pau, they return regularly, describing it as a "house of passion", where each detail evokes architectural and sensory poetry.

The construction site, marked by a artisanal and intuitive approach, saw the active participation of the sponsor, especially in the assembly of stones. The house, often compared to a "stone boat" by architect Pierre Lajus, illustrates organic architecture, where the site and materials guide the creation. Its registration in 2018 (then ranked in 2022) underscores its heritage importance, combining innovation and respect for the Pyrenean landscape.

Split openings and light games, such as the oblique bays of the stay, create a changing atmosphere depending on the seasons. Floor heating and natural insulation (foam on balconies) are evidence of avant-garde ecological reflection. Today, the house remains a healing place for its former owners, a symbol of both functional and poetic habitat.

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