REAL LIFE


what it is now, but fortunately we found an English-speaking, reassuringly experienced architect in Toulouse, who was open to energy-efficient solutions. He understood and sympathised with our aim of capturing French style in a modern construction. He engaged a heating


Next to the pool is an interior terrace from which to enjoy the views


engineer who created a plan to serve all our needs – it was money well spent. Taking the most energy-efficient route was the more expensive option, but has repaid the installation costs in terms of energy-efficiency and lower energy bills than you might expect for a large house, easily withstanding the price rises we’ve all been facing in recent times. Initially, we hadn’t fully


The house has four shower rooms Tiled floors make cleaning easy


appreciated the impact that the energy solution would have on the overall design. The house is very well insulated. This, combined with the efficiency of the heating systems, meant the architect could include a lot of glass in the design, allowing easy access to the commanding views and giving lots of light. There are also skylights above the stairs and the shower in the master suite. Showering under the morning light is bliss. As a bonus, our energy


Local stone features on the terrace The kitchen is functional and modern solution means the house is


cool in summer and warm in winter, driven by sunlight and the air around us, with no need to resort to fossil fuels. It has also had an impact on


the day-to-day practicalities of living in our home. We laid tiles over the underfloor heating throughout the entire house. These are comfortably warm in winter and cool under the feet in summer. Most importantly, with lots of dogs around, they are easy to keep clean. It’s an investment that we appreciate every day.


HISTORIC CONNECTION We were concerned that being in a rural location we might not find the artisans we needed, but fortunately our architect was born in the area and tracked down the best people through his network. Our artisans all lived not far


from the village; in fact, our electrician is the current mayor. This enabled a timely and quality build as they were all on hand when needed and took a lot of pride in the construction, which will be in their midst for many years to come. Along with the lighting,


the electrician installed the solar panels for our hot water and fortunately our plumber was well up to date with the


4


The village of Castelnau-d’Anglès


Dramatic views are on the doorstep


The views from the energy-efficient heated pool are stunning


A lake just five minutes from the house is a great place to take the dogs for a walk FRENCH PROPERTY NEWS: March/April 2024 43


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