Mont-Blanc Base Camp / Kengo Kuma & Associates

Mont-Blanc Base Camp  / Kengo Kuma & Associates - Forest
© Kengo Kuma & Associates

Mont-Blanc Base Camp  / Kengo Kuma & Associates - BeamMont-Blanc Base Camp  / Kengo Kuma & Associates - Beam, Handrail, SteelMont-Blanc Base Camp  / Kengo Kuma & Associates - Column, BeamMont-Blanc Base Camp  / Kengo Kuma & Associates - Windows, BeamMont-Blanc Base Camp  / Kengo Kuma & Associates - More Images+ 17

  • Mechanical And Concrete Structure Engineer: Egis
  • Quantity Surveyor: LTA
  • Façade Engineer: AR-C
  • Team: Kengo Kuma, Yuki Ikeguchi, Matthieu Wotling, Silvia Fernandez, Chizuko Kawarada
  • City: Les Houches
  • Country: France
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Mont-Blanc Base Camp  / Kengo Kuma & Associates - Image 6 of 22
© Michel Denancé

Text description provided by the architects. Les Houches is a small village situated in the French Alpes, close to one of its most important peaks, the Mont-Blanc. The aim was to integrate as naturally as possible the project into the extraordinary mountainous landscape.

Mont-Blanc Base Camp  / Kengo Kuma & Associates - Table, Chair, Beam
© CAUE / Béatrice Cafieri

The project host Blue Ice company which design and manufactures product for climbing and mountaineering as well as a business incubator. It constitute thus a micro hub in mountain equipment creation.

Mont-Blanc Base Camp  / Kengo Kuma & Associates - Beam, Handrail
© Michel Denancé

Our idea was to create a wide roof perforated by lines of light running from north to south, following the natural slope, under which the program is implemented. The terrace in the middle of the roof offers a panoramic 360 degree view to the mountain ranges surrounding the building.

Mont-Blanc Base Camp  / Kengo Kuma & Associates - Image 16 of 22
© Michel Denancé

Wooden boards of natural oak envelop the building creating an irregular rhythm both in the façade and in the roof. The intention was to keep the natural and rough aspect of the oak, so we decided to keep the bark as well as to not add any treatments so to highlight the natural aspect of the wood.

Mont-Blanc Base Camp  / Kengo Kuma & Associates - Beam, Forest
© Michel Denancé
Site Plan
Mont-Blanc Base Camp  / Kengo Kuma & Associates - Image 15 of 22
© Michel Denancé

The large atrium creates a link between the north and main entrance with the views towards the mountains on the South. A maximum of modularity is foreseen for all the working areas and a double height space ensures maximum views to the exterior while giving the users bright and generous working spaces. 

Mont-Blanc Base Camp  / Kengo Kuma & Associates - Image 9 of 22
© Michel Denancé

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Project location

Address:336 Route du Nant Jorland, 74310 Les Houches, France

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Location to be used only as a reference. It could indicate city/country but not exact address.
About this office
Cite: "Mont-Blanc Base Camp / Kengo Kuma & Associates" 19 Apr 2016. ArchDaily. Accessed . <https://www.archdaily.com/785767/mont-blanc-basecamp-kengo-kuma-and-associates> ISSN 0719-8884

© Kengo Kuma & Associates

勃朗峰大本营 / 隈研吾都市建筑事务所(Kengo Kuma & Associates)

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