BY AMÉLIE VERMERSCH

Comprised of thirteen ski resorts, Les Portes du Soleil is a major skiport destination that is located in the Alps, and is shared between the borders of France and Switzerland from Mont Blanc and Lake Geneva. Amongst the thirteen resorts is Avoriaz, the most modern skiing destination in the Alps that was developed in the 1960s. Avoriaz is unique in its own design as the buildings were constructed as high rise buildings bearing acute angles and seemingly from a far, appear to blend within the mountain horizon.

Nestled at an altitude of 1800m in one of the oldest buildings in the resort, at the foot of the slopes, a completely renovated apartment by interior architect Amélie Vermersch, is surrounded by the magnificent mountains. The apartment, located in the Hotel des Dromonts, was the first of the buildings that was constructed in Avoriaz in the 1960s and today remains iconically known. As Vermersch describes it, “most of this building is dedicated to the eponym hotel, the other flats are private, owned by very lucky people! The Dromonts building architecture is perfectly representative from the Avoriaz stations’ style : wooden facade, eccentric shapes, ...from the valley, the Avoriaz buildings are almost invisible as they look like they are part of the mountains.”

Measuring at 55 sqm, the apartment has been owned and has been kept in the same family since the 70s. The Dutch clients, a brother and a sister, have been skiing at Avoriaz and spending their winter holidays since their childhood years, and so they have a strong emotional attachment to the place. The siblings who now reside in Holland and Australia, desired to keep the family tradition and the apartment to share with their families, however, the wanted to create a new identity for the same home.

Prior to the renovation, the apartment only contained one bedroom and was quite dark due to an absence of natural light. The space in the apartment was not well optimised. As Vermersch states the clients aspired “to create a new identity for the apartment, that was more cosy, sophisticated and convivial at the same time. They dreamt to be able to come for vacations in real comfort with their respective kids or with friends.”

Vermersch’s challenge for this project was to create a new floor plan by customising the space to accomodate for two bedrooms; one for the parents and the other for the children, with an entirely new aesthetic. By redesigning the floorplan, she had to think about how to really optimise and maximise the apartment. She succeeded in offering natural light to all the rooms, which was important for the interior architect, as well as offering a large bathroom with both a shower and bathtub, and more importantly, views of the mountains.

The interior architect’s intention for the apartment was to create two distinct spaces, which one involved the open lounge and kitchen area. Whilst, the second space offering a more warmer and intimate atmosphere for the private quarters of the apartment. Vermersch injected an air of drama to the entrance by incorporating a velvet curtain, serving as an important design element to the interior architecture of the apartment.

“The very scenographic round corridor and its burgundy carpet perfectly shows this transition between these two spaces. The grey concrete floor of the lounge disappears for this soft touch carpet. For the mood I wanted a strong design - raw materials (as an echo of the powerful surrounding nature) combined with more feminine and delicate accents, the round arches, the round kitchen island, the carpet, the linen wallpaper in the corridor, etc ). This apartment had to be a perfect mix between a warm atmosphere and a very graphic aesthetic. I love to create contrasts, it makes the project more interesting and impactful.”

Vermersch used a mix of natural light oak, grey marble and cream cork for the curved island in the kitchen. This mix of warm and natural materials confer warmth into the space, and create a harmonising balance with the red velvet curtain entrance. In keeping with the 60s heritage of the building, she added timeless pieces such as the charming vintage dining chairs that were found at a flea market, and were reupholstered. Other notable pieces that keep in with the 60s charm are the pendant lighting by Space Copenhagen, suspended over the Saarinen Tulip dining table that were purchased through &Tradition.

“The corridor leading to the private spaces is very scenic. Curved, narrow, adorned with natural linen wallpaper and red carpet, it allows access to the bedrooms and the bathroom while enjoying a mysterious light and a privileged view of the surrounding chalets. The bathroom uses the same graphic language with the presence of soft curves, the use of stone for the whole shower and the creation of thin black wooden rods that run along the walls and punctuate the space.”

What Vermersch has achieved for this project is a unique and refined apartment with noble materials; a haven of warmth and softness in the middle of snow-capped mountains. It offers one serenity and a place to recharge their batteries after a long day on the slopes of the French Alps.

PHOTOGRAPHY | AMÉLIE VERMERSCH