Description

This studio apartment is located in Versant Sud at Arc 1600, one of the residential buildings designed by Charlotte Perriand as part of the seminal Les Arcs development in the French Alps. Built in 1974, Versant Sud reflects Perriand’s shift from early industrial modernism to a more organic, locally rooted design approach. Les Arcs is now one of the largest ski resorts in the world, and Perriand’s legacy is still visible in a number of preserved interiors like this one.

Perriand sought to bring her egalitarian values into the architecture and interiors of Les Arcs. She designed rental apartments to be both affordable and thoughtfully detailed, with robust, well-crafted objects that were specific to each building. She championed open-plan kitchens to ensure women weren’t isolated from family life during holidays.

The apartment retains many original features, including built-in pine furniture, enamel finishes, and green felt carpet. It’s arranged as a long, open-plan space with floor-to-ceiling glazing at one end and a set of integrated bunk beds designed by Perriand, with an additional pull-out bed for a child. Adjacent is a WC with her signature round mirror and built-in medicine cabinet.

In the centre of the plan is a compact kitchen with original tiling and shelving. It includes two induction hobs, an oven, fridge, and dishwasher — well suited for preparing simple meals.

The main living area features two single beds and original Perriand-designed fitted storage and furniture, including enamelled height-adjustable tables, black straw chairs, swivel wall lights, and Sori Yanagi stools. At the far end, a sliding glass door opens onto a private south-facing balcony with uninterrupted views of the mountains and forest.

Off the living space is a bathroom with a bath and overhead shower, along with a washing machine.

The apartment is ski-in depending on snow levels and just a few minutes’ walk from the ESF chalet and the Combette chairlift. There’s a shared garden with a sledging slope for children, and guests can access the spa and swimming pool at the nearby Hôtel Arcadien.

The area is popular for skiing in winter (a ski locker is included). Arc 1600 offers ski-to-door access, allowing guests to enjoy winter sports directly from the apartment. In summer, activities include hiking, mountain biking, rafting, canyoning, and golf.

Available year-round. Linen hire and end-of-stay cleaning can be arranged through Le Comptoir des Arcs. Access is via funicular from Bourg-Saint-Maurice (7 minutes).

Ski resort open from mid-December to end of April.

History

Les Arcs was one of the most ambitious ski resort developments of the postwar era, built between 1967 and the early 1980s with a vision to combine modernist architecture and mass tourism without sacrificing the integrity of the mountain landscape. Architect and designer Charlotte Perriand played a central role in shaping the project, bringing together a team of architects and urban planners to create buildings that responded to both their Alpine setting and the evolving needs of leisure living. Drawing on her long-standing interest in modular systems, Japanese design, and vernacular materials, Perriand helped to establish a language of architecture that was at once modern and rooted in place.

Versant Sud is the largest residential building at Arc 1600. Designed by architects Regairaz and Rey-Mille under Perriand’s supervision, it was built gradually over several summers and completed in 1974. The building is set into the mountainside, with stepped terraces and flat roofs that become buried under snow in winter, making the structure nearly invisible when viewed from above. This terraced arrangement was a deliberate strategy to minimise visual impact while accommodating 232 holiday apartments.

Amenities

Two single beds Bunkbeds
 Fully equipped kitchen: two induction hobs, oven, fridge, dishwasher, cookware, original crockery, a stovetop espresso maker, toaster and kettle. Wi-Fi Sledges A selection of board games, DVD player and DVDs Desk/workspace There is outdoor parking next to the residence

Cost

Weekly rate Peak: €1,200 Off-peak: €910

Optional concierge services End-of-stay cleaning: €60 Linen and towel hire: €15 per person

Short stays (minimum of 4 nights) €160 per night (including cleaning, sheets, and towels) €130 per night (without cleaning or linen)

Available year-round. Linen hire and end-of-stay cleaning can be arranged through the concierge service.