Building APASSION – APASSION

Again? More Footings = Another Chalet

robin.tarr — Sat, 11 Dec 2021 15:06:40 +0000

When we dreamed of giving-up the corporate world and moving to the French Alps it had never been part of the plan to build anything more than one chalet and to operate it as a catered chalet as a husband and wife team. Our passion to achieve a lifestyle change resulted in the building of Chalet APASSION in 2011 . However, within 7 years of moving to Samoëns we’d built two further properties, Chalet ALLURE in 2014, and Apartment ACCORD in 2018.

Each time we’d loved the excitement of planning, building and furnishing a new chalet and, it seems, quickly forgotten the stresses and stains of building to such tight timescales given that in each instance the chalets had to be started and finished in the time between one winter season ending the next one starting; Just an eight months window!

So as the footings were dug and the concrete walls started to emerge on our forth chalet in 10 years we were both excited and apprehensive for yet another manic year ahead!

Given we’d chosen to work with all the same local artisans as for our previous projects we were confident that the work would continue at speed. The artisans have also grown accustomed to our endless questions and exacting standards (some might even call it OCD!)

As before, whilst the ground-works and the concrete ground floor level were taking shape on-site, the jigsaw puzzle of timber work was being cut, jointed and treated at the Chalets Carme factory ready for delivery as soon as our concrete box was complete.

Benefitting from a warm, and more importantly, dry Spring the carpenters made tremendous progress such that by the end of June the external work on the chalet was largely finished. Once the structure is effectively closed to the elements, work can progress internally, unhindered by any potential adverse weather.

Internal walls, electrics, plumbing and even the latest innovation in mousse floor insulation followed through the summer, before the teams of painters and tilers – who both had massive jobs ahead, arrived at the beginning of October.

As soon as the tilers and painters had finished a bathroom the plumbers were back to fit the showers, basins and toilets, transforming the empty spaces into what would ultimately become five luxury ensuites.

As one team of carpenters finished off the flooring, a second team arrived with the hand-built oak staircase; Always one of the final tasks to take place before the massive clean-up operation commences and when you build a property out of wood rest assured that there is an awful lot of dust!

With the building work complete (ish) and the clean-up operation underway the internal fit-out can commence. Bring on the installation of the kitchen, the fit-out of the bedrooms and the dressing of the living room.

And whilst both a little greyer (well certainly Rob!) from the stress, we even had time to ‘relax’ with a coffee to celebrate completion in advance of our first guests!

Are we Crazy? Building Apartment ACCORD

robin.tarr — Mon, 10 Dec 2018 13:39:48 +0000

Given the success of both Chalet APASSION (2010) and Chalet ALLURE (2014) we decided in 2017 to start building again!

With planning permission in place to develop the land adjacent to the original Chalet ALLURE we demolished the remnants of an old farm building and cleared the land during the Autumn of 2017 ready to start the ground work for a new building in Spring 2018.

The creation of a spacious two-bedroom / two bathroom apartment provides an alternative offering to our larger chalets and perfectly suits either a small family, two couples or even a group of friends through the use of configurable ‘zip-n-link’ beds.

Using the same architect that we’ve used for both Chalet ALLURE and Chalet APASSION the exterior is designed very much in the same traditional timber style whilst the spacious, open-plan interior maximises the stunning views through the addition of large picture windows and French-doors that open out on to a wrap-around balcony.

Guests can expect to find the same high quality finish and attention to detail that you’d find in our existing chalets along with all the usual luxuries in the bedrooms and ensuites and the latest gadgets in the kitchen and living areas.

Being only a 200m walk from the foot of the Grand Crêt piste and the Vercland bubble the apartment could not be more conveniently located for those that love to ski!

After just 6 months, Apartment ACCORD was complete and ready for the arrival of the first guests over Christmas / New Year 2018-19.

Another Digger – The building of Chalet ALLURE

robin.tarr — Tue, 10 Feb 2015 19:47:32 +0000

In 2012, less than two years after the completion of Chalet APASSION, we were offered a plot of land in a superb location, just 200m from the lift station, in the popular hamlet of Vercland. Having already blanked-out the stresses and stains of our first building project we jumped at the opportunity and so the dream of building a luxury chalet in the French Alps suddenly expanded into a far larger proposition!

After a period of almost 2 years covering the buying of the land, the design and approval of the chalet plans and finally the re-location of the current inhabitants the diggers arrived on-site in March 2014 giving us just 8-months to be ready for the start of the 2014-15 winter season! No pressure then!

April and May were a whirlwind of groundworks, block-work and concrete such that by early June, after just 10 weeks from the start of the works, we were ready for the carpenters, plumbers and electricians.

Being based in Samoëns meant we had the opportunity to visit the factory of Chalets Carme to watch the first of the timbers being cut ready for delivery to site. As much of the framework of the chalet as possible is pre-prepared to create a massive jigsaw puzzle ready for speedy on-site construction.

By the end of June the jigsaw puzzle was truly taking shape. We’re always amazed at the skill of the local artisians and their apparent disregard for their own safety as they walk tight-rope style along the beams.

Two months later, by mid- August, the roof was on and tiled, the external walls and windows were in place, and much of the first fix of the interior walls, electrics and plumbing was done. Amazing progress but still along way to go and already halfway through the project timeline!

September and October were mostly spent installing the multiple layers of insulation before closing the internal wall such that the walls could be plastered and painted and the bathrooms could be tiled. It is during this period that the chalet really begins to take shape ahead of the final fitting of the kitchen and bathrooms.

Finally, after almost 8 months to the day, the chalet has finished; The furniture was installed, the wood was stacked and, right-on cue, on the 9 December the snow fell ready for the guests arriving just a week later!

Where it all Began

robin.tarr — Thu, 10 Mar 2011 17:20:37 +0000

In the Spring of 2009 a plan for a luxury chalet was conceived, the designs were finalised and submitted for approval to the Samoëns Mairie and finally, some 18 months later, the diggers turned-up on site! It was the start of the Building of APASSION.

From a field on the side of a hill, a luxury 5-bed chalet, would quickly start to take shape . . . . .

After just 8 weeks the ground works were finished, the majority of the concrete base was complete and the first deliveries of timber started to arrive.

After just a further 2 weeks the timber frame was complete the timber roof was on and work was starting on the walls and adding the insulation and tiles to the roof.

Four months into the build and the internal walls were all in place and the underfloor heating was being laid . . . just in time for the first dump of snow . . . . the 5 December!

January 2011 was manic!

Everyone from electricians, to plumbers, to carpenters, to painters and even a team of fireplace installers from the UK were working at a tremendous pace to finish the build in time for our first booking; February Half-Term!

By some miracle (and after an amazing amount of work and stress) just 6 months after diggers arrived on site we were close to the luxury chalet we’d imagined 2 years before!

In February 2011, after 18 months of planning and 6 months of building, we opened the doors to Chalet APASSION.