_International Property Digest: A Glance at Alpine Architecture
Traditional alpine architecture has its roots in the wooden barns and stone buildings where for centuries, the farming community lived. When these small hamlets and villages evolved into popular ski resorts, the chalet style was seen as both a romantic and practical alpine home, sourced from plentiful – and beautiful local resources.
The Alps
The stellar French resort of Val d’Isere is a perfect example. It is the only high altitude French resort built around a historic village, and while skiers love it for its technical, demanding and snow sure slopes, it is the authentic mountain spirit – still clearly on show – that makes it especially atmospheric.
Above: Val D'Isere, French Alps.
Val d’Isere tops the Knight Frank ski index this year, a tribute to its long-term popularity and street-smart ability for reinvention. The resort is consistently upgrading its infrastructure, adding new concept bars and restaurants and is not afraid to use modern architecture, all while retaining its true Alpine soul.
Currently in planning, Le Coin de Val is a hugely ambitious €200 million redevelopment of the heart of Val d’Isere that will eventually add two hotels and some 100 private homes in a prime location. Meanwhile this winter sees the opening of La Mademoiselle Val d’Isere, a five-star sister hotel to palace hotel Airelles in Courchevel with a design based on a medieval castle.
Local resident Jean-Charles Covarel is an architect and hotelier who has built some of Val d’Isere’s best-known uber-chalets. He is responsible for Le Refuge, Europe’s highest hotel and spa, in the shell of a former lift station at the top of the Solaise piste. His elegant contemporary design with vast picture windows owes a clear debt to traditional chalet-style buildings yet provides totally modern living.
A five bedroom ski in and out apartment in the Legettaz district of Val d’Isere for sale at €3,200,000 has been recently renovated to showcase the best of both Savoyard and contemporary mountain style. Generous and open-plan living areas, cosy wood-panelled bedrooms and all the conveniences of a modern kitchen and bathrooms, private parking and ski lockers.
Above: ski apartment, Val D'Isere.
In Switzerland too, buyers like to acknowledge the past yet live with the finest modern day conveniences. While some ultra-modern architecture still appeals, there has been a noticeable return to authentic mountain homes, somewhere residents truly feel they are in the mountains and where, after a hard day on the slopes, they can relax in cosy, beautiful interiors.
That means wooden chalets and the quality of the wood is paramount. Owners want beautiful, old wood, carefully handcrafted by seasoned artisans. Gstaad has plenty of prime chalets that fit this description but look also to smaller resorts such as Grimentz and Villars.
Alpine homes in the USA
Above: Willoughby Way, Colorado, USA.
The story is different across the Atlantic in the ski resorts of the USA where demand for highly contemporary properties is strong. In Aspen for example, where among the many beautifully-styled older chalets there are also some strikingly different mountain homes. On prestigious Willoughby Way, a seven-bedroom architectural masterpiece by celebrated local firm David Johnston Architects is for sale for $30,950,000 and a six-bedroom property in private two acre grounds on West Buttermilk Road, for sale at $21,900,000.
Above: Buttermilk Road, Colorado, USA.
Both have soaring high ceilings and offer flexible living spaces with an easy inside-outside flow ideal for entertaining. Both also provide the best breath-taking views, the first from Independence Pass to Pyramid Peak and the second over Owl Creek Valley, Buttermilk and Snowmass.
“When Americans buy a home in the mountains they want to actually see the mountains,” says Jason Mansfield Associate Partner at Knight Frank. “Being nestled in the Rocky Mountains almost everywhere in Aspen has incredible views and contemporary homes that use large expanses of glass are currently in demand.”
For further information on Knight Frank’s entire portfolio of Alpine homes contact our International Team.
Download Knight Frank's Ski Property Report 2020.