A Once-Dormant Stone Barn in the French Countryside, Reimagined by Saba Ghobanalinejad

Paris-based Iranian architect Saba Ghobanalinejad has an acute ability to reveal the inherent qualities of a building rather than overwrite them. Her renovation of a former working barn attached to a family country house in Montigny-Lengrain, an hour outside Paris, is no exception. Tasked with transforming the dormant 700-square-foot building into a flexible space for creative work and guest visits, Ghobanalinejad approached the project with a light hand and a particular sympathy for its historic, utilitarian character. Existing stone walls remain visible alongside newly sprayed hemp-lime insulation left raw beneath limewash finishes, allowing the building to remain breathable and creating a dialogue between rough stone, textured hemp, and smoother plaster surfaces. The interiors are layered with terracotta and wood flooring, a custom stainless steel kitchen, and a sparing selection of vintage and iconic furniture. Here’s a look around.

Photography by Alix Vossieg for Saba Ghobanalinejad.

For more projects from Saba Ghorbanalinejad, see our posts:

• A Considered Renovation in Old Versailles by Architect Saba Ghorbanalinejad
• Plan Study: A 1970s Apartment in Oberkampf, Paris, Reconfigured by Saba Ghorbanalinejad
• Multiplying Light and Space: A Compact Paris Apartment with a Vintage Quality
• Kitchen of the Week: A White-Out Kitchen Extension in Paris from Saba Ghorbanalinejad