Iridescent Solar-Thermal Panels Give This €2.85M French Chalet Its Shine
Designed by Patrice Mottini, the experimental ’80s home features a Trombe wall that captures warmth from the sun for heating.
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."
Designed by Patrice Mottini, the experimental ’80s home features a Trombe wall that captures warmth from the sun for heating.
Photo by Filip Dujardin - Architecture de Collection
Photo by Filip Dujardin - Architecture de Collection
Photo by Filip Dujardin - Architecture de Collection
In addition to the main home, the property also includes a separate garage and a shed.
Photo by Filip Dujardin - Architecture de Collection
In addition to the main home, the property also has a separate garage and workspace.
Photo by Filip Dujardin - Architecture de Collection
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.
Photo by Filip Dujardin - Architecture de Collection
The duplexes are distributed across the three levels of the home.
Photo by Filip Dujardin - Architecture de Collection
Purple carpeting, red door frames, and a turquoise pool table complete the lively game room.
Photo by Filip Dujardin - Architecture de Collection
Purple carpeting, red door frames, and a turquoise pool table complete the lively game room.
Photo by Filip Dujardin - Architecture de Collection
Photo by Filip Dujardin - Architecture de Collection
Each of the four duplexes has a flexible living/sleeping space and a bathroom.
Photo by Filip Dujardin - Architecture de Collection
The wood, brick, and tile interiors are a warm complement to the iridescent exterior.
Photo by Filip Dujardin - Architecture de Collection
Photo by Filip Dujardin - Architecture de Collection
Photo by Filip Dujardin - Architecture de Collection
The Patrice Mottini house in Menthon-Saint-Bernard, France, is currently listed for €2,850,000 by Architecture de Collection.
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