Lakeside Chalet
Geneva’s dreamland is extending its boundaries more and more towards nearby France along the northern and southern shores of Lake Leman. This project commission refers to the total indoor and outdoor restyling of an existing house of anonymous style into a contemporary chalet in Divonne les Bains.
Aim
For the clients - a young trendsetting Middle Eastern family with three children used to spending their summer and winter breaks around Europe - the “cool, modern chalet” was to be their favorite boutique hotel while transiting from one destination to another.
The Plan
The project response was to create a pleasant neutral space in which all areas on the ground floor could be seen from any angle as a single welcoming and comfortable space to be used for different purposes.
The outdoor area is quiet and shady, especially pleasant in spring and summer time. There are two small terraces from which to admire the beauty of the landscape (Lake Geneva in the front and the private hill at the back).
The sophisticated monochromatic makeup of the existing building (façades, terraces and roofing) in various shades of grey tone contrasts the flourishing green of the garden. This has been improved and restyled with progressive terracing on added ground protected by glass parapets, new pathways of wooden steps, new plants to cover the sloping front garden and around the perimeter of the property to emphasize the green fence concept.
A pleasant interior environment with an attractive entrance door that gives access to a mezzanine lobby through an unusual bespoke wooden cabinet and parapet made to fit in the center of an existing spiral staircase. This leads directly to a series of quiet cozy rooms on the upper level and to a welcoming open living room on the lower level.
