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A Cottage in France Gets Updated

What once was a summer cottage in Chamonix-Mont-Blanc, France is now the updated Chalet ‘Dag’ in Chamonix by Chevallier Architectes and readied for winter. Like other homes in the region, this one was not originally insulated for winter and nothing had been done to the property since it was built 70 years ago. The firm was to turn all of the existing floor space into livable areas, as only the middle floor was in use before. It was clear they needed to modernize the home while keeping it in line with the other Swiss cabins in the area.

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With the home’s location in an avalanche zone, the firm chose to create a green rooftop which solves the issue. The entire house was insulated and a heat pump was installed to control the temperature.

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The new home is built from glass, metal, and traditional larch wood that was stained to match other raccards (small cabins used as a shed) in the area. The main facade is built with lots of glass to make the most of the mountain views.

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Floor-to-ceiling sliding glass doors open the main floor up to the wrap around deck outside.

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The middle floor is an open concept design for easy living. A central stove floats in the middle of the space offering a division between the dining room and the seating area.

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They were inspired by Scandinavian design and kept the interior warm and inviting without overdoing it.

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The upstairs is now livable and houses the bedrooms under its slanted roof.

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Photos by Alexandre Mermillod, courtesy of v2com.

Caroline Williamson is Editor-in-Chief of Design Milk. She has a BFA in photography from SCAD and can usually be found searching for vintage wares, doing New York Times crossword puzzles in pen, or reworking playlists on Spotify.