Home Tour | Verbier Chalet by Studio Piet Boon

Bringing the Outside In

At the foot of the Swiss Alps lies Valais, an L-shaped village in south-western Switzerland bordered by Italy to the south and France to the west. It’s here where the cosmopolitan town of Verbier lies, home to the largest holiday resort and ski area in Switzerland. Framed by white mountains, rows of chalets and snow-capped pine trees, the picturesque village appears something out of a postcard. 

Piet Boon explains it was important to translate the innate and versatile beauty of the landscape into every aspect of the design. “The mountains start with rough layers and jagged edges that eventually end with soft and smooth curves,” Piet Boon says. “We ensured this concept was carried through each layer of the home.” The exterior reflects the rocky mountain foothills; clad entirely in stackstone and timber beams. Light tunnels in the basement and repositioned windows in the main living area introduce a natural light source into the once-dark home. The existing central fireplace has been removed and replaced against the wall, inviting spectacular views of the slopes inside.

The Modern Chalet

To coax the ski lodge into the present day, Studio Piet Boon finished the walls of the four bedrooms, hallways, kitchen and living room in a warm grey plaster, cultivating a soft palette akin to, as Piet mentioned, the smooth peak of a snow-covered mountain. Layers of tactility punctuate the blank canvas such as the plush carpet and sheepskin and leather furniture; a subtle nod to the traditional furnishings in these winter homes.