A project driven by passion
What does Gilles do for a living? He's a lawyer. But this architecture and interior design enthusiast loves meeting people from all walks of life and sharing his passion with them. For many years, he nurtured the idea of opening a place combining architecture, decoration and sharing, until he finally found the land of his dreams, in this still-authentic valley of the Champsaur.
Then, with the help of an architectural firm, everything came together very quickly. Gilles knew exactly what he wanted: a timber frame, high ceilings and glass façades so that he could literally be in nature, in the heart of the mountains.
A project rooted in the region
The construction of Chalet Coste Belle is deeply connected to its region. Gilles aimed to showcase the local talents that captivated him. It all began with the choice of the architectural firm: Laurent Escanez, a specialist in mountain architecture, understands the constraints and knows how to enhance constructions in this environment.
Artisans from the valley were selected for the project. The construction of the wooden framework is particularly notable: Gilles did not want an overly massive truss, so everything relies on a central beam positioned more than 7 meters high in the cathedral-style living room.
All the interior joinery is made to measure by a French company.
A project mixing mineral and wood
Wood is predominant at Chalet Coste Belle. It is used not only for the structure of the building, the staircase and its railings, but also for the decoration.
The chalet is even in the running for the FIBOIS prize, organised by the forestry and timber industry's interprofessional body.
To counterbalance this, the floor is made of stone, as is the huge kitchen worktop.
A bold choice of lighting
To create a warm atmosphere with a play of light, Gilles chose to use wall lights. These can be found in every room in the house: living room, staircase, bedroom, etc. RIF Luminaires can be found next to the Secto wall lights, which we love. Only 4 pendant lights were used: 3 in the kitchen and 1 in a bedroom.
A place for family holidays
With its 2 bedrooms, suite, and dormitory, Chalet Coste Belle can accommodate up to 10 guests. Activities abound: skiing and snowshoeing in winter, hiking and biking in summer. Gilles even has some great recommendations. It is said that the restaurant "Le Temps des Mets" in Saint-Bonnet-en-Champsaur serves refined dishes made with local ingredients. Delicious!
