Header: Nicolas Sedlatchek
High up in the Vaud Alps of Switzerland, sitting on a steep slope, is a house that takes the classic idea of a mountain cabin and flips it on its head. This is the Gryon Chalet. Designed by David Montalba and the team at Montalba Architects, this 2,600-square-foot home manages to look brand new while respecting the history of the village around it. It is a modern take on living in the mountains, finished in 2024, that uses the landscape to define how the house looks and works.
A fresh look at local materials
The house is built using a wood panel system that sits on a masonry basement level. The architects made sure to use local materials and hired local builders to get the job done. The most noticeable part of the exterior is the pre-blackened cladding. This dark wood makes the home look like a single, solid shape against the mountain background. It draws inspiration from old chalets where the sun darkens the wood over time, but here, it feels intentional and contemporary.
To top it off, there is a standing-seam metal roof with solar capabilities. Wood louvres wrap around parts of the house. These slats are practical because they provide residents with privacy in an exposed area, yet they also create a nice visual texture without blocking the light.
Layers of living space
The interior is just as carefully planned as the outside. The house is split into three distinct levels. The bottom floor is a studio space that is wedged right into the hillside. The middle floor is the main living area, and the top floor holds the private rooms.
Inside, the team used natural stone and wood to make the rooms feel warm and intimate, just like you would expect in a traditional Swiss lodge. However, the vibe is brighter and more open. The dark exterior creates a cool contrast with the light-filled rooms inside. The design is so well-received that it was named a Winner in Architectural Design – Residential at the BLT awards.
Framing the mountain
The position of the house is all about the view. The structure is angled perfectly to face the Grand Muveran massif. In the living room, floor-to-ceiling windows turn the mountains and the nearby ski slope into a giant picture. This glass wall keeps the people inside connected to the outdoors all day long.
The back of the house remains open to these views, while the geometric screens on the other sides handle the privacy. It creates a flow where you feel safe and enclosed, but never shut off from nature.
The Gryon Chalet proves that you don’t have to copy the past to fit into a historic area. Montalba Architects took the basic shape of a Swiss chalet and gave it an abstract, modern update. By using a mix of dark wood, big glass, and smart positioning on the slope, they created a home that honors the region while offering a completely modern way to live in the Alps.
Project info
Design Company: Montalba Architects
Lead Designer: David Montalba
Architecture Firm: Montalba Architects
Location: Gryon, Switzerland
Size: 2,600 square feet
Project Year: 2024
Photography: Nicolas Sedlatchek
