Plume reimagines the home as an active environment that supports the body's physiological states. This renovation project explores how domestic space can enhance, and support its user through the integration of medicinal plants, scent, and localized thermal comfort.
Drawing on the historical typology of the lit-clos, selected zones of the house are insulated with feathers, an undervalued by-product of the avian farming industry that was once highly prized for its exceptional thermal performance. Rather than relying on uniform heating, the project creates localized thermal environments enclosed by quilted feather-filled walls, forming intimate and energy-efficient microclimates.
The exterior is transformed into a medicinal garden where scented plants are cultivated, harvested, and dried. Introducing fragrance as an architectural element, the project uses air as a medium for qualifying spaces and. Scent becomes an active spatial tool, supporting different bodily rhythms and activities.
The organization of the house follows a gradient of physiological states: stimulating environments for work and concentration occupy the ground floor, while calming atmospheres dedicated to rest and sleep are located on the upper level.
Geneva, Switzerland, 2026
Studio Phillipe Rahm Architectes,
led by Phillipe Rahm and Valentin Calame
Team
Aurèle Eliseo Stauffer
Nadia Rouèche
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