D.E.A.R.S. Democratic Eco Architecture, Versailles, France

Designed by the renowned French designer Philippe Starck and produced by the Slovenian wooden house manufacturer Riko, the line of prefabricated sustainable houses ’Democratic Ecological Architecture’ adapts Starck’s top-level design to the individual needs of the client, resulting in environmentally-friendly houses with low energy consumption and maximum comfort.

The layout of the load-bearing structure for the prototype followed the project’s guiding idea of simplicity. We chose cross columns and beams with visible bottom flanges to provide sufficient stability without the need to add obtrusive diagonal bracings used in conventional steel structures. By attaching a stiffened plated girder to the perimeter beams we provided support to the glass façade, while at the same time offering a discrete hiding space for the mechanism of the automated linen awnings.

We paid special attention to the visible surfaces of steel elements – columns, beams, and the entire spiral staircase, which is made entirely of thin steel plates – as they will remain visible throughout the entire lifespan of the building. All these surfaces were carefully sand blasted and protected with a transparent coating, which preserves the visible texture of steel and provides a unique and refined aesthetic effect.

Project typeResidentialLocationVersailles - Paris, FranceAreaLiving area 375 m², basement 214 m²Year(s)2009-2012ServicesPrototype development, building permit design, execution designArchitectureAuthor: Philippe Starck; Architect: Real Engineering d.o.o.InvestorRiko Invest d.o.o.PhotosRiko Invest d.o.o. archive