Val d'Isère Activity Center
A New Hub in the Tarentaise Valley
2024–
Introduction
Snøhetta’s proposal for the new Val d'Isère activity center aims to create a place where architecture, nature, and local life intertwines to create a responsibly designed hub that is respectful of its Alpine roots and heritage.
Settled within the breathtaking landscape of the Tarentaise Valley in southeastern France, Val d'Isère is a charming village renowned for its world-class ski resort. Positioned at the base of the resort's slopes, on the village outskirts, the new Val d'Isère activity center aims to accommodate the celebrated local ski club, a multi-purpose hall, ticketing facilities, and spaces dedicated to the community.
Technical details
Mairie de Val d'Isère
The ski club is now temporarily hosted in the former town swimming pool building, which will be replaced by the new activity center.
Snøhetta’s proposal made it to the final round of the competition, but was not chosen.
The Val d'Isère sports club has played, and continues to play, a central role in the development of the village, raising the profile of skiing and other mountain sports in the area to an international scale.
With its gentle slopes and distinctive roof, Snøhetta’s design reinterprets local architecture, while demonstrating environmental respect. Embodying the club’s dynamic spirit, the activity center aims to offer a place where locals and visitors alike can meet and interact.
Merging the modern with Alpine heritage
The structure's timber framework and wood-clad façade draw inspiration from classic alpine buildings, modernized with a dynamic silhouette that gives the building a contemporary expression.
Following the contours of the site, the architecture of the Val d'Isère Activity Center emphasizes thoughtful landscape integration, offering unobstructed panoramic views of the surrounding mountains and sports park. Using local materials, such as stone and wood, reinforces this dialogue with the environment, while the green roof plays an active role in meeting environmental challenges.
The center’s folded roof brings together the various programs, crowning the building with a layer of indigenous mountain flora and connecting it to its natural surroundings. It further helps to integrate the structure of the nearby Olympique cable car in a holistic manner.
The beating heart of the building
The design centers on a communal area open to locals, tourists, and staff: a triple-height, glass-roofed atrium known as the “Heart”. Designed to be a central gathering point, the “Heart” physically emerges from the roof as a glass prism, becoming a lantern and a landmark for Val d’Isère.
Clearly visible from the outside, the symbolic “Heart” serves as the starting point for the various activities offered, guiding and welcoming users while encouraging interaction. Functions and activities are planned around this connecting hub, leading visitors to gradually discover the different facets of Val d'Isère.
From the reception area to the multi-purpose hall, each space is designed to evoke a memorable experience for the users. A club house, complete with a restaurant and bar, opens directly onto the slopes, offering unique views of the panorama. Seeking to immerse visitors in the site's sporting, cultural and natural treasures, the aim is to elevate their understanding and appreciation of the place.
Responsible design
In direct response to environmental challenges, the center’s green roof naturally integrates the building into the landscape, allowing it to adapt to the changing seasons. A built-in system is incorporated to recover and reuse water from melting snow.
By opting for a wooden structure and façade, the Val d'Isère activity center honors the the region's cultural and architectural identity, while meeting the area’s low-carbon criteria.
Reused stone from the existing building will clad the lower part of the façade, harmoniously blending it into its immediate environment, while repurposing materials already present on the site. This way, the building maintains its historical link with the existing building, while promoting environmentally friendly solutions.
The green roof plays actively contributes to meeting environmental challenges, blending harmoniously into the mountain landscape and helping to integrate the structure of the nearby Olympique cable car.
