A Family's Home in the French Alps Skirts Traditionalism for a Modern Look

When a family of avid skiers sought a chalet of their own in the French Alps, they were drawn to the preserved alpine valley community of Manigod. But the area's charm came at a cost: strict architectural guidelines restricted how the couple and their four children could build their property. As art enthusiasts who run a gallery, the owners didn't want another cookie-cutter mountain escape — they wanted something with meaning. "The clients wished to retain all the dimensions usually associated with mountain homes, but clearly expressed their wish to do it with respect to the zeitgeist, not through a nostalgic approach of mountain architecture," architect Alireza Razavi said. When he and his namesake studio were brought on board, they studied the motifs of local historical buildings and used their findings to bypass many of the area's design rules. They kept their eyes on outlines for roof slopes, window sizes, and building materials as they crafted the address's three stories, which are outfitted in contemporary concrete and timber. And when they were finished, they unveiled a 2,150-square-foot residence that looks modern while making a nod to the past.