Located in Monthey town in Switzerland, high up in the favourite skiing space of the winter lovers, the Swiss Alps, Whitepod, Eco-Chalets represent a group of wooden structures. More specifically, 21 chalets completed in 2020 are meant to host families and groups who want to spend several days in the alpine landscape. The designers Montalba Architects focused on using local materials and products exclusively, starting from the larch wood panelled exterior (meant to age with time), to the interior millwork, made by a local manufacturer.
Energy and Isolation
Apart from the foundation, the cabins were fully premade offsite. Water supplies come from the local well, while a nearby hydroelectric turbine converts rain and spring water into electricity, creating a reliable, renewable energy source. The place is heated through radiant floor heating supplied by an air-to-water heat pump. Passive cooling is achieved through triple-pane glazed openings, which are oriented across from each other for cross ventilation. These large glazed openings also serve as daylight entry points, illuminating the space before the sun sets. The ground floor entrance encourages walking into the building instead of driving to the front porch, thus increasing the interaction with the surrounding nature. Wood and moisture-resistant Oriented Strand Board panels (OSB), accompanied by external laths, wind barriers and two layers of insulation, bring maximum thermal and sound comfort to the design.
One-story and two-story chalets
The designers achieved a seamless transition between the wooden houses and their surroundings while simultaneously making a nod to traditional Swiss chalet design. Whitepod, Eco-Chalets come in two versions: as a single-story 1,100 square feet units, or as a two-level structure spanning 2,150 square feet, cleverly incorporated into the inclined landscape. The buildings contain a central block where all services are located, including the entrance, dining room, and living room on one side, and the night area with three bedrooms on the other side.
Montalba Architects Acknowledgement and Prizes
Whitepod, Eco-Chalets were completed in 2020 and in the last 5 years have accumulated a series of awards, including Interior Design’s Best of Year 2021, Architecture MasterPrize, Architizer A+ Awards, DNA Paris Design Awards, Rethinking the Future, and American Architecture Awards, Chicago Athenaeum. The design by Montalba Architects made it to the shortlist of finalists at the Hospitality Design Awards and the World Architecture News Awards in 2021, as well as the Frame Awards and The PLAN Awards the following year. Montalba Architects’ design has topped the Architectural Design – Hospitality category at BLT Built Design Awards.
Montalba Architects use space and scale to create new forms of expression, uncover new ideas and processes. Founded in Switzerland in 2004 by lead designer David Montalba, the company focuses on material integrity, volumetric landscapes, natural light, and pure spatial volumes. Over the past 20 years, the company has created an array of responsive, progressive designs, primarily in Europe and North America. The team includes a variety of architects, designers, and professionals across three offices, which construct buildings in the residential, retail, commercial, hospitality, and urban categories.
Photo Credit: Delphine Burtin
