The interior design brings a 21st-century sensibility to a very traditional form, emphasising the original architecture and style
The apartment is a civil conversion of a rural barn of “chalet hameau”; because of this peculiarity, the requests of the client were to maintain the atmosphere of the building. The choice, after constructive dialogues with the property, was to favour the conceptual-ideological rather than the lexical-stylistic approach, brings a 21st-century sensibility to a very traditional form, emphasising the original open plan distribution with its pilasters, its beams and open fireplaces. What had struck the property was the rustic chic style that was evident both from the spatial distribution and from the specific use of wood, each of them typical of this architectural typology and that, in owners, evoke an idea of warmth, intimacy and refinement. The approach was to return an interior that recalled the rustic visual connotation of the chalets, but within a conceptual and stylistic composition of international breadth characterized by materials and shapes sought after by sartorial and artisan realisation and finishes. Central to the chalet apartment is its large, airy, and bright one room space connotation. To achieve into chalet volumes this sensation, the planimetry is structured like a large and open plan with all features in it, no blind partition has made; different function area (living, sleeping, connective) are dived by wood pilaster. The boiseries reproduce the planing finishes typical of the indigenous hand crafted process, but realized with a gouge to obtain more intense aesthetic effects. The wood-swathed interior is a showcase for the carpenter’s art, with walls, ceilings and steps created from meticulous joinery. Cashmere and suede upholstery and padded items serve to give refinement and comfort to rustic and simple shape furniture. The composition of the elements refers to the distribution without formal and functional relationships of traditional historical mountain’s interiors where the different furnishing elements are used for multiple functions. The reciprocal dialogue among materials of different cultural-stylistic extraction (wood, metal, mosaic in gold leaf glass, leathers and fabrics) recreates in a modern and personal key, according to the wishes of the client, the original atmosphere of the “chalet hameau” rooms. The fulcrum of the interior is achieved by the oppositional relationship of two registers: one leaded by materials and neutral approach with strong references to rural and traditional connotations (composed by furnishings and surface finishes) and the other, as scenic counterpoint (light fittings), characterized by sculptural forms with a strong contemporary design.
“21st-century sensibility for a very traditional form cosy mountain living”
The main interior design material is sustainable, natural and renewable oak wood. Timbers are selected from the very best suppliers and come from Sustainable forest and compulsory replanting of replacement trees. All the wood finishing and texture are hand-planed. Our caring about quality materials is also caring about environment suitability, as like for wood, we use as such as possible local materials as timber (for structure pilaster) and stone (for cladding), which create a homely, earthly look and feel. All the paint and treatment are water base and structural glues, used in joinery and in mosaic, contain no toxins and chemicals; all material are chosen among no VOC list. The fitting furniture is bespoke and handmade out of solid oak. The seamless floor is made by microtopping finish coat (water-based polymers with cement-based ingredients). Upholstery Tissue are in suede or cashmere and carpet fabric in wool so instantly add warmth and high quality atmosphere. Layering textures, as gold leaf glass mosaic and bronze, add such depth to interiors. Hydronic Radiant heating systems supply heat directly to the floor warming the room, let owners free to walk barefoot to feel a cocooning, and snuggling up atmosphere.