Alpine Mountain Home Shaped By History And Nature

Located in the French Alps, this beautiful single-family home is a hybrid, a structure that on one hand follows the architectural guidelines of the traditional local structures while on the other hand is meant to have a strong modern character. It’s a combination that allows the house to blend in and stand out at the same time. This unusual style was the creation of Studio Razavi.

The house sits on a slope in the French Alpa, being surrounded by trees
The house sits on a slope in the French Alpa, being surrounded by trees
Structurally speaking, the building is composed of two elements: a concrete base and a wooden volume
Structurally speaking, the building is composed of two elements: a concrete base and a wooden volume

The combination of styles we mentioned is reflected in the palette of materials used throughout. Wood and concrete are the two main ones. The house is structured into two volumes. One is a base made of concrete and the other is a two-storey structure made of wood, placed on top of the base, slightly cantilevered at the front.

The entrance is positioned on the ground floor, being embedded into the concrete base
The entrance is positioned on the ground floor, being embedded into the concrete base
The views are wonderful and they can be admired from the living area thanks to the large windows
The views are wonderful and they can be admired from the living area thanks to the large windows

The two floors with wooden facades may appear to form a single, seamless volume but there’s actually a clear visual difference between them. The middle floor has the facade boards placed horizontally while the top floor has them arranged vertically. There’s also a slight difference in color between the two. The entrance is positioned inside the concrete base, on the ground floor.

All the social spaces are gathered on the top floor from where they capture the most beautiful views
All the social spaces are gathered on the top floor from where they capture the most beautiful views
The walls are covered in wood and this establishes a warm and comfortable ambiance
The walls are covered in wood and this establishes a warm and comfortable ambiance

The social/ communal spaces are all gathered on the top floor. From up here they take maximum advantage of the views. They have large windows, compared to the bedrooms and they form a cozy and open space. All the wood that covers the walls, ceilings and floors infuses the spaces with warmth and creates a very comfortable atmosphere.

A terrace offers a closer connection to the outdoors without being exposed
A terrace offers a closer connection to the outdoors without being exposed
All the wood used inside the house makes the rooms feels like cozy cocoons
All the wood used inside the house makes the rooms feels like cozy cocoons

This unusual combination of styles has a lot to do with the strict regulations that are in place in that particular area. The architects had to work around these limitations related to the width and high ratio of the building in relation to the roof slope, the materials used and even the dimensions of the windows.

The bedrooms are placed on the middle level. One is small and has bunk beds
The bedrooms are placed on the middle level. One is small and has bunk beds

The house mimics traditional mountain homes and its design is based on the analysis conducted by the architects on historical buildings in the area. They wanted to first understand how these structures shaped the local architectural culture so they can then be able to replicate those effects in a way that suited their clients needs and modern lifestyle.

The master bedroom is small as well. It has exposed ceiling beams and a tiny window
The master bedroom is small as well. It has exposed ceiling beams and a tiny window