Iridescent Solar-Thermal Panels Give This €2.85M French Chalet Its Shine

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."