James Latter, Saturday, 25 March 2017
Pièce (room) : Not less than 9 m² (minimum habitable surface area), Ceiling not less than 2m20
(i.e. volume of 20 m³) and accessible with entrance (or stairs) of at least 60 cms width.
The number of rooms (pièces) is stated excluding bathrooms (salle de bains), WC, and kitchen. ‘Salle de bains’ comprises a bath and washbasin and a
salle d’eau comprises a shower and a washbasin. Either can include a WC or it is separate. The kitchen can be included in or open to a living room
(sejour) in which case it is described as a ‘cuisine américaine’.
A STUDIO comprises one single room, which serves as a bedroom, kitchen and living room with a separate bathroom either including a WC or with a
separate WC. A studette is sometimes used to describe the above with minimal habitable surface (T1), e.g. student’s accommodation.
APPARTEMENTS The adopted code for describing apartments uses a letter F (function) or T (type) followed by a number which indicates the number of
pièces, again excluding kitchen and bathrooms. The letters F and T effectively have the same definition, the first being in older use and the second
having some modern subtlety. You might sometimes see T1bis, T2bis or F 3/4. These denominations indicate a sufficient space to create an extra room
or which had another room but has had a partition removed to create a more open-plan arrangement.
A GARAGE needs to be enclosed and lockable. “Place de parking” is normally a shared space (basement) and “place de parking – privative” is a
designated parking place.
Plein pied - One floor only – e.g. bungalow
Mitoyenneté - Attached to another building/property. The separating wall can belong to either building or both.
Cave - Cellar
Insolite - Unusual
Anglo-normande (style) - Belle époque’style with high pitched gables, balconies, some half-timbering, frequently coastal (e.g.
Deauville)
Maison individuelle - Detached house
Sous-sol - Basement
Maison à colombage - Half-timbered house (Normandy/Gers/Pays Basque/Alsace)
Construction artisanale - Craftsman built, non-industrial
Bourgeoise - Residential, conformist
De caractère - Distinctive
Entièrement clos - Completely fenced
Renovée restaurée - Renovated / restored
En silex - Flint construction
Contemporaine, d’architecte - Contemporary, architect’s
Orée du bois - surrounded by woodland
Construction en bois - Timber construction
Ossature bois (MOB) - Timber framed
Passive - very low energy construction
Véranda - Conservatory
Office - Butler’s pantry
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