Refuge du Goûter, Saint Gervais Les Bains Building, French Mountain Hotel, France Architecture
Refuge du Goûter, French Alps Hotel
Rhône-Alpes Mountain Building in France – Alps design by Déca-Laage + Groupe-H
post updated Apr 13, 2020 with new photos
French Mountain Hotel
Location: Saint Gervais Les Bains, Haute-Savoie, Rhône-Alpes, south-eastern France
Design: Déca-Laage + Groupe-H
photo : Nikolay Bersenev
This precipitous Alpine building was one of our picks from the Buildings of 2013 : Architecture of the Year – e-architect’s selection of key architectural developments posted on the site in the last year.
French Alps Building
Built at an altitude of 3835m, on 2000m2 of land above a west facing rock spur, subjected to winds of up to 250 km/h and temperatures of down to – 40°C, the architectural concept was conditioned by the harsh environment. This situation meant that we had to adapt to such forces, which determined the shape and orientation of the refuge.
photo : Pascal Tournaire
To withstand the winds, we studied fluids mechanics and the aerodynamic properties of the exterior structure. Our research on convex structures lead us to decide on an ellipse form, which, once projected into three dimensions, became a spheroid. The principal axis of the ellipse was placed facing the prevailing winds in order to deposit the snow in a snow melter at the back of the refuge.
photograph : Gudrun Bergdahl
To transpose this form into a structure, the elliptique shape was transformed into seg-ments of a circle, divided into equal sections of 128 trapezoidal or rectangular facets. This smooth and simple shape was proportioned using the most harmonious lines posible, with a plan and the long profile corresponding to the golden triangle and the short profile to a square. The aesthetic dimension therefore equals the ingenuity of the building.
photo : Gudrun Bergdahl
The global wooden structure represents a volume of 400m3. The 720m2 of hollowcore wood panels lie on a grill of beams fixed to 69 piles. The assembly is carried out with resin fixings. The exterior facets are insulated with wood composite panels and covered in stainless steel. Sized for ease of transport, the prefabricated modules are all assembled on site.
photo : Gudrun Bergdahl
Thermal energy comes from solar water heaters and the electricity from photovoltaic panels. The air treatment and heating are provided by a dual flow extraction system and heat exchangers. Designed to accommodate 120 people, the refuge functions in complete autonomy.
photo : Gudrun Bergdahl
Refuge du Goûter France images / information from Déca-Laage + Groupe-H
Location: Saint Gervais Les Bains, France
New Buildings in France
French Architectural Projects
French Architecture Design – chronological list
Another spectacular Alps Building on e-architect:
“Hut of the Future”
Design: ETH Zurich and the Swiss Alpine Club (SAC)
photo : ETH-Studio Monte Rosa/Tonatiuh Ambrosetti
Neue Monte Rosa Hut
More French Alps buildings on e-architect:
Chalet Dag, Chamonix-Mont-Blanc, Haute-Savoie, France
Design: Chevallier Architectes
photograph : Alexandre Mermillod Onixstudio.com
Chalet Dag in Chamonix – French Alps Property
Espace Killy Chalet Husky, Val d’Isere, Espace Killy mountain range, French Alps
Design: Jean-Charles Covarel
photograph © Athena Advisors
Chalet Husky, Val d’Isere – French Alps Accommodation
Paris Architecture Tours by e-architect
French Architect – design firm listings
Comments / photos for the Refuge du Goûter – French Alpine Architecture page welcome