Chalet La Forclaz by Jaccaud Spicher Architects reinterprets local vernacular through its verticality and spatial interplay, bridging historical and modern Alpine architecture in the Val d’Hérens.
Bridging the historic fabric of the old village and the more disparate chalet developments of the 1970s and 1980s, the project operates as a mediating presence. Its assertive volumetry extends the architectural language of the past while embedding itself within the evolving local vernacular. This sensitive negotiation between continuity and reinterpretation underscores the architects’ approach to context-driven design.
Internally, the two-dwelling structure explores spatial complexity through an interwoven sectioning that breaks conventional floor heights. The arrangement fosters dynamic interior perspectives, where vertical shifts create a sense of expansiveness despite the building’s compact footprint. Large bay windows and south-facing balconies establish a fluid transition between interior and exterior, framing the Alpine landscape as an intrinsic element of the living experience. This interplay between constraint and openness, density and lightness, gives the project a unique spatial identity.
The chalet’s reinterpretation of historical typologies speaks to a broader architectural concern—how to engage with tradition without succumbing to pastiche. The scarcity of land in the village has historically dictated vertical expansion, and this project echoes that pragmatism while refining it for contemporary inhabitation.
