French couple share free plans for €40,000 modular eco-home

For years, Jonathan Attias, 39, and his partner Caroline Perez, 41, were career Parisians, working in the media and for luxury hotels respectively.

Few would have suspected that they would become ecological activists and pioneers in affordable housing.

“I grew up in Paris and I was in no way destined to go and live in the countryside,” said Jonathan, “but I kept seeing all the inconsistencies of today’s world, such as how we’re flushing toilets with drinking water, and I reached a point where I could no longer accept living like that.”

In 2018, the couple set off on a tour of France to visit places where people lived differently.

“We came across a man in Corrèze who was building huts with earth, straw, and reclaimed tarpaulins and we loved his way of life; he lived so close to nature.

“However, the council threatened to demolish his constructions, so we helped to defend him and lived with him until 2024, when he finally got a ruling to protect his land.

“This experience inspired us to create a space that would offer an unconditional, money-free welcome to those wanting to settle and live in harmony with nature.”

Low-impact housing

Jonathan and Caroline bought 10 hectares of agricultural land in Haute-Vienne, where you can currently buy an equivalent plot for between €52,000 and €75,000.

The couple chose an area known as the Diagonale du Vide, where there are no industrial estates, but plenty of forests, ponds and wildlife.

“We purchased the land through an association linked to the Désobéissance Fertile movement, which advocates for defending life above conforming to rigid laws,” said Jonathan.

Rather than individual property rights, the land is held by an association, where all residents act as co-presidents.

“We are a group of five adults and four children living across three households, and my own family consists of my partner Caroline, and our two daughters, Lia, 11, and Many, 7”, said Jonathan.

“Our goal is to ensure that our human activity actively restores and supports the local ecosystem, so we needed to develop low-impact housing.”

Their land is a showcase of experimental eco-housing, including yurts, mobile yourlottes (a yurt-roulotte hybrid), highly insulated structures built from reclaimed supermarket cardboard and a hand-woven, compostable home inspired by wicker basketry.

The Petal House

Jonathan and Caroline’s home is called la Maison en pétales. It features a central 40m² ‘pistil’ or core with modular ‘petals’ of around 9m² that can be added or removed as the family or communal needs change.

The house can accommodate up to 12 of these ‘petals’.

“It was inspired by Yves Desarzens, a craftsman who designed nomadic houses and shared the plans online,” said Jonathan.

“A team of two architects, two builders and two activists worked for months to design our version of an ecological home that used renewable and recyclable materials, in the lowest possible quantities. It’s a construction that is technically and financially accessible to the largest possible audience.”

Materials and cost

Wood is the central structural component for the frames, while OSB (oriented strand board) is used for structural support, flooring and the sub-floor platform for the modules.

The recommended insulation is laine de bois (wood wool), an ecological choice that ensures a relatively constant temperature throughout the year.

A reversible construction

A key part of the design was ensuring that the construction is ‘reversible’ – in other words, non-permanent and with minimal impact on the land. For this reason the foundation uses a system of stone-filled tyres, which also helps to prevent moisture from rising into the house.

Additional waterproofing comes from a synthetic rubber membrane (EPDM) that is recyclable, with an estimated 50-year lifespan.

Equally vital when designing this modular property was its affordability.

The construction cost is estimated at €500/m², meaning future homeowners could, after the initial outlay of buying land (and checking local restrictions), build a Petal House themselves for around €40,000.

‘Radical accessibility’

More than simply a quirky property, Jonathan’s family home is part of a larger mission to provide affordable housing alternatives that encourage people to invest directly in their own home rather than resorting to long-term rent or bank loans.

“We believe in radical accessibility,” he said.

“All our architectural plans, including SketchUp files and self-build guides, are available for free as open-source information.

“We also run a business producing custom, affordable mobile homes and tents to help others achieve housing independence.

“By teaching participatory construction, we aim to help people regain the practical skills necessary to build their own homes, reducing the need for long-term debt and allowing more time for meaningful community activities.

“We are actively working to change French housing laws, which are currently unsuited for this lifestyle. Through legal challenges and public advocacy, we hope to demonstrate that lightweight, ecological housing is a necessary, viable solution for the future.”