Iridescent Solar-Thermal Panels Give This €2.85M French Chalet Its Shine – Dwell

Location: Menthon-Saint-Bernard, France
Price: €2,850,000 (Approximately $3,330,595 USD)
Architect: Patrice Mottini
Year: 1980
Footprint: 2,985 Square Feet (3 Beds, 6 Baths)
Lot Size: 0.8 Acres
From the Agent: "This family home enjoys unobstructed views of Lake Annecy and the surrounding mountains. A manifesto work designed by architect Patrice Mottini in 1980, it creates a dialogue between the vernacular architecture of wood and tiles typical of alpine chalets and innovative solar-thermal design. Spread over four levels, the home is composed of distinct, modular volumes—‘duplex’ units—that offer intimate retreats within a family home. Adjacent to the house, an outbuilding includes a workshop and parking space for three cars. The south-facing home maximizes sunlight through a Trombe wall—a passive solar heating system developed by CNRS researcher Félix Trombe and architect Jacques Michel in the 1950s. This ingenious device captures and stores solar heat behind a glass panel, then redistributes it inside the house via a system of vents. Beyond its thermal advantages, the iridescent aesthetic of this facade blends perfectly with the site and the dark wood cladding of the rest of the house. The design thus adopts and reinterprets the vocabulary of the chalet while incorporating a sustainable and original technical process. Inside, the living spaces are spacious and offer great flexibility in layout. In every corner of the house, the duplex units frame views of nature and ensure each family member has their own independent and peaceful space."
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In addition to the main home, the property also includes a separate garage and a shed.
The ground floor features a kitchen, a living area, and a dining room and an entrance to the first of four duplexes, which function like private wings.
The duplexes are distributed across the three levels of the home. 
Purple carpeting, red door frames, and a turquoise pool table complete the lively game room.
Each of the four duplexes has a flexible living/sleeping space and a bathroom.
The wood, brick, and tile interiors are a warm complement to the iridescent exterior. 
The Patrice Mottini house in Menthon-Saint-Bernard, France, is currently listed for €2,850,000 by Architecture de Collection.
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