This Alpine Modern Swiss Chalet Is a Minimalist's Dream

Switzerland is no joke. In fact, it’s super serious. The people are serious, the mountains are serious, the architecture is serious. And while we generally consider such seriousness a turn off, in the case of Les Jeurs House, we’re OK with it. In fact, we love it.

Designed by Swiss architecture firm Lacroix Chessex (no relation to the seltzer), the angular alpine chalet sits perched high above the tiny town of Col de la Forclaz high in the Alps near the French border with Chamonix and Mont Blanc well within reach.

To avoid dramatically impacting the surrounding natural landscape the cabin was divided into two structures angled at 45 degrees from one another. Each form is set atop an elevated concrete platform seemingly balanced above the valley below.

The exterior is clad in black stained larch—reminiscent of traditional Japanese shou sugi ban wood burning technique, of which we’re a huge fan. The interior provides a stark contrast, with light, untreated wood featured throughout in a nod to typical Swiss chalet construction. The resulting balance of light and dark is dramatic and beautiful, simply put.

With sweeping views of the surrounding valley, direct mountain access from the from door, and a world of bright, natural wood throughout, it doesn’t get much better than this.