Mountain House

Located within an idiosyncratic French Alpine village is a traditional chalet delineated by modernity. Mountain House performs as a holiday retreat for a family to enjoy year-round; the perfect base from which to hike and ski.
A collage of existing, reclaimed and contemporary elements, the agricultural grange was once occupied by livestock on the vaulted ground floor and hay in the loft. Clerestory windows have raised the roof substantially, providing wrap-around natural light and accommodating a double height mezzanine from which bedrooms stem. One experiences the project through a diversity of old and new thresholds, some of which give rich insight into the buildings former use.
Existing stonework has been patched and framed by mortar and timber, the soft granular render of the internal walls harnessing a warm, serene atmosphere, taking influence from the surrounding mountains. A steel staircase is the connecting spatial element between the upper floors, mirroring a concrete stairwell descending to the vaulted kitchen; an experiential distinction between communal and private spaces.