White Clouds is a minimal social housing project located in Saintes, France, designed by Poggi Architecture and More Architecture. A seemingly inhabited cloud effortlessly signals the entrance to a recently rehabilitated working-class neighborhood, known as ‘Les Boiffiers’, dating back to the 1970s. Landscape and architectural design come together in meaningful harmony, showcasing the new development. The building is positioned in such a way as to respect the site’s quality, rather than merely colonize the given space. A sense of depth has been created, structured by footpaths and enticing visual perspectives, with the landscape slipping effortlessly in and around the architectural volumes, offering multiple orientations for the apartments, all of which are secluded, standing well back from the road and enjoying open vistas over the surrounding spaces.

Photography by Javier Callejas