Haute Montagne – the sister company to Bramble Ski – has added to its portfolio with the opening of Étoile du Nord – two adjoining chalets (East Wing and West Wing) located in the heart of Val d’Isere, France.
10 years in the making, the chalets have been envisioned by Manuel Nogueira, Founding Director of London-based Architecture firm AndArchitects, who has led the project in collaboration with interior designer Nicky Dobree. Using contemporary design principles to reinterpret the traditional chalet, no corner of the development has been overlooked.
The overall design has been elevated to create a rural-chic space, from the floor-to-ceiling, 7m window façade that fronts both chalets to open-plan kitchens featuring fumed oak cabinets and large stone islands, full-height marble slabs lining the bathroom walls, and bespoke furnishings crafted from local talented artisans.
Reached via a private tunnel driveway, Étoile du Nord sleeps up to 14 guests, with seven guestrooms in the East Wing and six in the West Wing. The development also features spa areas, cosy cinemas and games rooms, while the East Wing boasts an indoor/outdoor swimming pool. A Hammam room means guests can relax their muscles after a day on the slopes, while a private chef is on hand to whip up speciality dishes before residents kick back beside the open log fire and faceted chimney breast.
On the sustainability front, the chalets have integrated automated controls and energy-saving systems. The hot water for the heating and the pools is powered by the underground river I’sere through a single 25m deep borehole, which takes advantage of a constant water source temperature, making the project less dependent on fossil fuels. Meanwhile, the large north-facing windows also allow for minimal solar gain to occur in the mornings to help control the temperature.
