French mountain chalet with a view: Dornbracht fittings and Alape washstands complete the minimalist design

Iserlohn/Goslar, 29 March 2022

The Mountain House chalet in Manigod, a village at the foot of the Aravis mountain range in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region, is not far from the French ski resort of La Clusaz. For their adaptation of traditional Savoyard housing, the architects from Studio Razavi Architecture analysed the historic buildings of the region, to find a modern way to reinterpret the local style in terms of cubature, materials and specific details. The utilisation of the base of the chalet, which measures 200 m² and is made from cast-in-place concrete, has the historic look and feel of stables and workshops. The wooden boxes stacked above the solid base are staggered, which protects them from the weather conditions in such a climate.

This clarity on the outside contrasts with the enjoyable air of excitement that accompanies the succession of indoor spaces. Floor by floor, the living spaces get higher and brighter, gradually fill with more light and offer better and better views. This comes to a climax on the top floor. The living area has a fireplace, and a room-high panoramic window that frames the snow-covered landscape outside in winter, and provides a breathtaking view over the mountains. Bedrooms with en suite bathrooms are on the first floor. The inside walls are covered with wooden panels, creating a warm, cosy atmosphere. The tone is set by the Black matt kitchen and the carefully chosen furniture that is sensitive to the local heritage.

The architects went for a combination of wood and large-sized dark natural stone slabs for the bathrooms and sauna zone. The areas are precisely arranged to create an optical illusion of interplay between light and dark, hot and cold. The wall-mounted variant of the Alape MC series was chosen for the washstands. They were combined with the Dornbracht icon, Tara. The clients opted for the Meta series for the shower. The minimalist design of the chalet is completed by the characteristic, clear lines of the Alape and Dornbracht products.

Location
Manigod / France

Architecture / interior design
Studio Razavi Architecture

Design / Dornbracht series
Tara, Meta

Design / Alape series
Washstand WT.MC800H

Completed
2017

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