Between the purchase of the chalet in 2012, the design phase, obtaining the building permit and the work, we had to wait until the summer of 2014 to celebrate a big inauguration party with the family, thus marking the start of a new life for this holiday residence.
A guitar making workshop
Of the original building, only the basement and part of the ground floor have been preserved. Although the general volume has been preserved, the structure and wooden frame have been completely redesigned. Two new wings have been added on either side of the chalet: to the west, on the ground floor, there is now the new main entrance and a guest toilet, while to the east a modern kitchen and a library-TV lounge area, extending from the main living room. The ground floor opens onto a large terrace with an elegant wooden deck. Its tinted concrete base blends harmoniously into the natural relief of the land. Perfectly oriented, the terrace offers a breathtaking view of the surrounding landscape and the majestic Dents du Midi. “Under this terrace, I brought to fruition a project that had been close to my heart for a long time: a guitar manufacturing workshop, with an office and a soundproof space for practicing music,” confides Jacques. To bring natural light to the workshop, a large skylight was integrated into the wooden covering of the terrace, a solution that is as functional as it is aesthetic.
For the exterior facade, the existing natural stone parts on the ground floor were preserved and harmonized with the extensions of the two new wings. Above this stone base, the entire exterior cladding of the chalet was made from raw, untreated larch. This horizontal cladding, in warm colors, gives a strong identity to the chalet while ensuring excellent resistance to bad weather and the passage of time, reinforced by generous eaves and a “whistle” roof, typical of Val d’chalets. Illiez. The balconies, decorated with traditional design palines, contrast elegantly with the terrace barrier, which offers a more contemporary interpretation of wood.
Winter garden
On the lower ground floor, a secondary entrance leads directly to the ski room, an essential space in a mountain chalet, as the architect points out: “It is an absolutely essential functional element!” This practical entrance is used in all seasons: in winter to equip yourself for skiing, and in summer for hiking or cycling. The main entrance, located on the ground floor on the north façade, opens into a magnificent hall with a panoramic window offering stunning views of the Alps, before leading to the living spaces.
As an extension of the living room, positioned on the west facade and well sheltered from the winds, an unheated glazed veranda, perfect for enjoying cheese dishes while avoiding odors in the rest of the chalet, constitutes a pleasant winter garden.
The first floor houses three bedrooms, each equipped with its own private bathroom, an essential layout to guarantee harmonious stays. On the top floor, under the roof, a fourth bedroom, a bathroom and a dormitory for children complete the sleeping area, creating a place perfectly suited to large families and groups of friends.
Wood or the identity of a chalet
For the interior, as for the exterior, the use of natural and local materials was favored if possible. Such as the Salvan stone, which comes from a quarry located just south of the Dents du Midi, a sublime green and matte stone, which was used for the floors of the entrance, the dining room and the kitchen, as well as for all water features.
The central part of the ground floor, which incorporates the through fireplace and the historic soapstone, is thus clad in Salvan stone.. The vision of a fireplace is also a fundamental element of the spirit and identity of a chalet: “I installed a large through fireplace between the living room and the dining room, my wife particularly appreciates eat with your back to the hearth!” laughs Jacques. He adds: “For me, in a chalet, we absolutely must favor the use of wood.” In fact, all the interior coverings were made from heat-treated and brushed fir. The entire framework is exposed, natural oak parquet has found its place in the living room and in the bedrooms. The teak kitchen was made by the Acuba company, in Lausanne, with whom the architectural office has already created numerous kitchens. The icing on the cake is that the magnificent cuisine was made in Ticino.
Graphic elegance and joyful colors
For the decor, we bathe in a gentle mix of mountain tradition and cutting-edge Scandinavian design. “I have always been attracted by Scandinavian design from the 1950s and 1960s and I tried to integrate as many pieces of this vintage furniture as possible that I found with great care,” says Jacques. This elegant, timeless style brings a modern touch that blends perfectly into a mountain interior. The teak of the furniture matches that selected for the kitchen layout, the same teak used for the bookcase and the bench in the reading/TV area, the latter covered in a fabric in warm tones of yellow and red.
I have always been attracted by Scandinavian design from the 1950s and 1960s and I have tried to integrate as many objects from this movement as possible.
On the walls, we discover the works of several artists friends of Jacques. You can admire, among others, drawings by Cosey, a close friend of the architect, by Micaël, Mix and Remix, paintings by Armand Avril and Eric Martinet, and Muma Soler.
In the living room, against the wall, a strange object catches the eye: “My friend Jean-Michel Capt, luthier in Le Brassus, installed a JMC soundboard, a magnificent resonance speaker made of wood from the Risoux forests. He was the one who introduced me to violin making and guitar making! I really enjoy being surrounded by my friends and their creations.”
During the end-of-year holidays, a tradition was born: the whole family comes together to celebrate Christmas together, this chalet offers all the comfort and much more!
