Pavillon D'acceuil De Flaine / R-Architecture

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Text description provided by the architects. Referring to Marcel Breuer’s architectural form, the “Pavillon d’Accueil de Flaine” (visitor centre) revisits Flaine’s concrete facade diamond shapes.  The buildings sides unfold according to function. Taking the stations perforated metal logo, the "Signal" northwest side, is directed to the departmental road so as to be clearly visible to visitors arriving upstream. Northeast the front entrance side opens onto the square with oblique embrasures that shelter the entrance of the pavilion from wind and snow.  It evokes the  Whitney Museum window in New York built by Marcel Breuer. Finally, the " view " side , facing west , is cut by a large projected opening framing the landscape: the opening to the Flaine valley.

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If the mineral base refers to the slope in infrastructure, the woods were selected for the buildings structure, framed by a relatively complex geometry. The timber frame is subject to snow (700kg per m²) but can meet the formal requirements of the cut volume.  The entire pavilion is clothed in a metal siding. The same care is given to the roof treatment as to the façade treatments, Flaine’s mountainous terrain induced a diving view on the buildings roofing. By a game of reflexions, the metal cladding recalls the natural surroundings; the pavilions facades evolve with seasonal and daily rhythms. In the daylight the pavilion reflects the  surrounding view, thus translating the willingness to strongly integrate itself to its site while keeping its contemporary character.  At night, the pavilion transforms itself into a lantern : Flaine’s city logo appearing on the entrance façade, the volume illuminating as a beacon. The building evokes a spacial architecture, and so unfolds the story of Flaine, a timeless ski resort, prototype of architecture and mountain design.

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