Can you change the colour of the shutters on a Basque house?

Often, but within the colours permitted by the local planning regulations. A prior declaration is generally required.

Do you need permission to redo the façade?

A change to the exterior appearance generally requires a prior declaration at the town hall, sometimes with requirements regarding colours and materials.

How do you insulate the walls of an old Basque house?

With materials that are permeable to water vapour and suitable renders, so as not to trap moisture in the walls.

Advice · Renovation

The Basque house revisited: keeping its soul, modernising the interior

8 October 2026 · 2 min read · By the Aldeak team

White Basque house with red shutters and a wooden balcony, after renovation — Basque house after renovation, Pyrénées-Atlantiques. Completed by Aldeak.

Lime-washed white façade, half-timbering, Basque red or green shutters, a gabled roof: the Basque house has a strong identity. Renovating it means keeping that soul while creating an interior suited to today's way of life.

Respecting what makes a Basque house

What strikes you first are the light-coloured façades, the exposed timber framing and the shutters in traditional colours. Municipalities in the Basque Country often govern the exterior appearance in their local development plan: permitted colours, roofing materials, the shape of openings. Before any work on the façade, these rules are checked and the necessary prior declaration of works is submitted.

Restoring rather than replacing

Half-timbering, wooden balconies and old joinery are often better restored than replaced. When replacement is necessary, the original proportions and colours are reproduced. Lime renders let the walls breathe, which avoids trapping moisture.

A more open, brighter interior

Older Basque houses often have dark, closed-off rooms. The kitchen can be opened onto the living room, a glass partition created, an opening on the garden side enlarged or a discreet roof window fitted at the back. Old beams and floors, when in good condition, keep the link with the history of the house.

Comfort and energy performance

Loft insulation, replacement of the windows and doors with high-performance models of traditional design, modern heating and ventilation: a Basque house can become comfortable without losing its character. Insulation for old walls is chosen with care, favouring materials that let water vapour pass through.

What we have learnt from our projects in the Basque Country

On the Basque houses we have renovated, the most successful result always comes down to balance: an exterior faithful to tradition, an interior that is bright and practical. We prepare the planning application with you, then coordinate all the trades through to handover.

Sources : Code de l’urbanisme, article R. 421-17 (déclaration préalable pour la modification de l’aspect extérieur) · Code du patrimoine, article L. 632-2 (avis de l’architecte des Bâtiments de France en secteur protégé) · geoportail-urbanisme.gouv.fr

Frequently asked questions

Can you change the colour of the shutters on a Basque house?: Often, but within the colours permitted by the local planning regulations. A prior declaration is generally required.
Do you need permission to redo the façade?: A change to the exterior appearance generally requires a prior declaration at the town hall, sometimes with requirements regarding colours and materials.
How do you insulate the walls of an old Basque house?: With materials that are permeable to water vapour and suitable renders, so as not to trap moisture in the walls.