LUXURY SKI CHALETS 69 What Europeans occasionally forget, is
that there are ski resorts beyond the Alps. Turn to Canada or even Australia, and you’ll find an aesthetic that merges a nod towards the European with the local vernacular. In the Laurentian Mountains of Québec, Canada, for example, both La Tierce by Atelier Boom- Town and Laurentian Ski Chalet by RobtailleCurtis are made with local cedar wood, blending into the mountain landscape, with contemporary interiors and a focus on sustainability. Similarly, at Lac-Sainte Marie near Ottowa, Shean Architects has created a ski cabin perched on natural boulders and combining a cedar porch colonnade with an asymmetrical hip roof and metal cladding. Inside, white oak floors and a wood burning stove hint at Alpine après-ski cosiness but with a contemporary twist. MU Architecture faced strict local
regulations to build La Flèche in Mont Tremblant, Québec, which meant not only using natural wood and stone to create the chalet, but evolving a design that eliminated
light pollution at night. Meanwhile, in British Columbia, Openspace Architecture had the challenge of creating a luxurious, seven- bedroom chalet that was the highest ever built on Whistler Mountain. Described by the architect as ‘a West Coast Modern interpretation of a Bavarian ski chalet’, Mountainscape, wrapped in a palette of stone, cedar and copper, featured every luxury imaginable, including an infinity pool. Elsewhere, in Australia, architect Peter McIntyre was inspired by both traditional European ski chalets and Australian cattlemen’s huts as he created Dinner Plain Alpine Village in the 1980s. One home, Blairs, has recently been updated by Britt White Studio, preserving the original stone, timber and corrugated iron construction, while adding contemporary colour and texture. Dobree has worked on chalets across the
world, and while noting the different aesthetics and priorities, believes that ultimately, atmosphere transcends geography. ‘Wherever it is – in the Alps, Canada, or
Australia – it must feel like a refuge. Cosy, atmospheric, a place where you curl up by the fire surrounded by timber and nature. Tat’s the essence.’ In fact, there’s a case to be made that for
some clients, less might actually be more. According to Knibb: ‘I think we’re at a turning point. Tere will always be a market for ever-bigger chalets with cutting-edge features, but there’s also a growing appetite for pared-back, restorative spaces that focus on quality of life and a stronger connection to nature.’ Which is exactly what Earthboat chalets, designed by Pan-Projects, aim to achieve. Tese foundation-free, transportable chalets, complete with sauna, offer the ultimate peaceful retreat in ski resorts across Japan. With the potential to move with the snow, while sitting lightly on the landscape, it’s an idea that could disrupt the race to the top in the Alps. According to Knibb: ‘Te “luxury” of the future may be simplicity – a quiet, sustainable retreat that feels rooted in its landscape.’
CASE STUDY LAURENTIAN SKI CHALET
One of the highest buildings in the Laurentian Mountains of Québec, this family ski chalet has 100-mile panoramic views over Lac Archambault, enjoyed through the 27ft bay window in the kitchen/ dining room. Built on cedar stilts to limit its impact on the landscape and allow snow to melt underneath it, the entire building is clad in dark-stained cedar, with a metal roof.
Architect: Robitaille Curtis Structural engineer: Lateral, Thibaut
PHOTOS: MARC CRAMER
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