French studio Déchelette Architecture has completed Casa Franca, a townhouse and artists' studio in Paris distinguished by a large wall of rammed earth.

Located in the city's 18th arrondissement, the 400-square-metre space combines living spaces for its owner and resident artists with the headquarters of the charity Greenline Foundation, which uses art to encourage the preservation of forests.

In line with the foundation's mission, Déchelette Architecture said it designed Casa Franca as an "ode to the forest", prioritising biomaterials including cross-laminated timber (CLT) and rammed earth.

Casa Franca has a facade made of rammed earth

"In the heart of a group of townhouses, committed artist and founder of the Greenline Foundation, Sarah Valente, wanted to create a hybrid dwelling," explained the studio.

"[It is] between a place for artistic experimentation meeting place, exhibition space and residence, respectful of the ecological issues of our time," it added.

While honouring the foundation's ambitions, Casa Franca also aligns with a French sustainability law that ensures all new public buildings are built from at least 50 per cent timber or other natural materials.

Its upper levels are clad in aluminium and set back from the rammed-earth wall

According to the studio, the facade of Casa Franca is one of the first examples of rammed earth construction in Paris. The wall has been finished with steel lintels, sills and balustrades to contrast the roughness of the material.

"The use of the traditional, low-tech rammed-earth technique enables the whole house to benefit from hygrothermal, acoustic and thermal inertia," said Déchelette Architecture.