The Mountain Chalet: a new,
environmentally-sound interpretation.

In August 2003 Pascal and Suzanne Immediato were fortunate enough to purchase some land in the Val d’Abondance. The spectacular site, found through family connections, was just a field but had once been the site of a fortified château. It also enjoys sun all year, with no nearby buildings to interrupt the views of the stunning mountain scenery. “We both passionately believe in the protection of nature, and were determined to create an ecological family home to share with visitors”, says Suzanne.

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On their list of priorities were volume and spaciousness, with high ceilings and large windows, creating a bright and airy interior to echo the location. Pascal and Suzanne therefore decided to design the chalet themselves. As Pascal explains: “We both had a lot of experience in renovation so we chose to act as site managers, organizing the intervention of each contractor. First we considered the basic design, and how best to integrate it into the local architectural style. We then thought hard about the orientation, to gain the best views while maximising benefits from solar energy. Before starting to build we consulted a Swiss geo-biologist who placed copper wires in the ground to earth the iron reinforcing rods of the concrete base. He also measured the energy level of the land and located underground water sources”.

A Constructive Approach

On top of the one-metre base, the walls of the ground floor are constructed from 300mm thick monomur bricks offering honeycomb insulation.

The structure was clad with local stone in lime mortar incorporating details and symbolism created by a sculptor and master stonemason experienced in renovating churches and historical buildings. The two timber storeys above employ whole logs felled in the mountains, then shaped and test-assembled, each joint being hand-chiseled. The logs were then dismantled, numbered and transported to the construction site, then assembled and packed with lambswool insulation. The resulting structure had to dry for over a year, and settled by some 15 centimetres, a figure factored into the sizing of all vertical parts and connections during construction.

The Eco-Balance...

The roof (traditional Canadian red cedar shingles with copper guttering and drainpipes) and external walls of the top floor are insulated with cork, hemp and wood-fibre, selected for their thermal and acoustic qualities.

A complex network of pipes serves the various bathrooms, showers and toilets required to meet guests’ expectations for high standards of comfort and convenience. Rainwater collection allows use of this free natural resource for toilets and the washing machine if required. “Although in terms of water and electricity, the ideas of 'luxury' and 'ecology' may appear incomcompatible, we’ve done our best to combine them, with the support of our conscientious guests”, says Suzanne.

A highly-experienced solar energy specialist installed two kinds of solar panel unobtrusively on the barn roof; one heats the hot water tank while the other produces electricity. Any surplus is then sold back to the electricity company EDF. Energy requirements are cut still further by the chalet’s large, double-glazed windows on both south and west facades, trapping natural solar warmth.

The main sources of winter heating are wood-burning stoves, complimented by fluid-filled electric radiators. The heart of the chalet is undoubtedly a Finnish Tulikivi stove, complete with bread oven. Its use of double combustion means that just 2-3 hours of burning allows it to radiate gently for 24 hours from its stone base, creating a cosy ambience.

Pascal and Suzanne have succeeded in building an environmentally-friendly home and business, with their children providing youthful enthusiasm and encouragement (plus practical help) to complete this enormous project. As Pascal says: “We are very privileged to live in such a fantastic part of the world, and we like to think that we have contributed to it just a little by building this traditional mountain chalet on an historic site”.

Contact Details:
Pascal and Suzanne Immediato
Chalet Châtelet
Route d’Abondance
74360 Bonnevaux
France
0033 (0)4 50 73 69 48
0033 (0)6 87 07 30 24 (mobile)

E-mail : info@chalet-chatelet.com
Visit website : www.chalet-chatelet.com