Chalet Hameau

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”
Elliot Forson

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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.

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Archittettura Tiberio

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Archittettura Tiberio

The Architettura Tiberio firm, born in 1979, in Turin has distinguished itself for its unique multi-disciplinary, transversal, imaginative and comprehensive approach in meeting the needs and in resolving the problems of the clients, combining specific skills, techniques and creativity, but having always as purpose the respect of the client and his requests. This interdisciplinary, transversal, holistic, open and dynamic vision has allowed the firm to be among the forerunners of new architectural solutions (ex: the first indoor sports climbing gym in 1980) and to anticipate the new architectural needs (ex : identification and project for the resolution of public sport facilities architectural barriers in Turin, 1984, the study, research and analysis of new housing models in relation to the new social needs, 2010), but also to have collaborations, workshops with world-renowned architects (ex. R.Piano…). For these aspects and to be consistent with our mission of "conscious and open architecture" we have always opted for a professional choice that goes beyond business logic persevering on the more than thirty-year rule of establishing a personal relationship with customers. This allows us to be flexible and competitive for every type of work. Our wealth of knowledge, our technical, artistic and professional skills have developed in an international cultural context, as well as our continuous research, comparison, training and our sources of inspiration. All this, integrated with our personal design approach, has allowed us to meet the needs of heterogeneous customers (both typological and geographical, both public and private, both stylistically and economically) operating in projects and in contexts very different from each other. Arch. Massimo Tiberio, graduated from Turin Polytechnic, is a PASSIVEHAUS (nZEB) expert and FLEXIBLE ARCHITECTURE (the capacity of buildings for physical and technical change and adaptation according to changing circumstances against building’s obsolescence) expert. English and French spoken.

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