This mountain chalet realised by SeARCH took my breath away. It features a dynamic architecture with forceful visual effects on its facade and it enjoys amazing views, being located on top of a hill in the Swiss Alps. The building is owned by a Dutch entrepreneur, hobby pianist and racing driver who was not satisfied with its cluttered look when he bought it. The studio offered a new vision: a compact, site specific layout which will perfectly fit into the steep hillside. The mountain chalet consists of a solid wooden house with shutters and gable roof, located on a stone foundation. Inspired by the spectacular ‘Grand Chalet Balthus’ in Rossinière (CH) with large roof overhangs, the 500 sqm house was designed within one clear volume. Firstly, the garage was installed ‘downstairs’, allowing access from the lower road. A hallway and an elevator carved into the mountain permits full access to all three levels of the mountain chalet: the guesthouse downstairs, the main living areas in the middle and a private apartment in the attic.
The living and the dining area share one open space, and enjoy amazing views over the Alps.
The garage was moved from the back of the house to the lowest level.
