SeARCH Crafts Its Own Take on the Traditional Swiss Chalet

Luxury chalets are nothing new, but Amsterdam-based SeARCH recently put its own spin on the prototypical Swiss design, constructing a four-story home in the Swiss village of Anzère — known as the sunniest spot in all of Switzerland. Inspired by the Grand Chalet Balthus in Rossinière and its large roof overhangs, the 400-square-meter villa was built for a Dutch entrepreneur, hobby pianist and racing driver — one who wasn’t happy with the cluttered layout of the original space on the property. Started from scratch on the steep hillside site, SeARCH’s completed project boasts a bottom-floor garage that offers access to the lower road while a hallway and elevator — both of which are carved directly into the mountain — offer direct connections to all three of the structure’s upper levels. As per the client’s request, each of the floors — a downstairs guesthouse, main living area and private upstairs apartment — feature an open plan and offer access to three-meter-wide terraces with views of the Matterhorn, Dent Blanche, Dufourspitze and Weisshorn over the Dent Blanche Massif.