Flaine, an unusual history.

An encounter between Man, Mountains and Art .

The site was discovered in 1959 by the geophysicist Eric Boissonnas and the Swiss architect Gérard Chervaz, who went on to succeed in their bid to create a fine example of urban development, architecture and design, where short-term profitability would be second to aesthetics and care of the environment.

Eric and Sylvie Boissonnas entrusted Flaine’s design to Marcel Breuer (1902-1981). The eminent Bauhaus architect designed well-known buildings around the world. (The “Palais de l'Unesco” in Paris, the Whitney Museum and the Flushing Meadow Sports Park in New york, the Bijenkorf in Rotterdam) as well as furniture (the Wassily chair).

Functionnality and integration

Right from the design stage, Eric Boissonnas and Marcel Breuer were careful not to disturb the natural surroundings and integrate the resort into the receiving mountain. In other words, the general layout blends in with the environments contours, and the different levels which make up the resort can not be seen from one to the other. The result is a feeling of privacy and tranquility.

A whole string of innovations

Breuer not only used his imagination but also the best and most innovative techniques of the time:

• Technical tunnel network : not a single electric cable is visible from the exterior;
• A cable television network showing Flaine television programmes from 1981 to 1986,
• Snow making facilities guaranteeing artificial snow cover from 1973 (the first in Europe).
• Cable car and gondola lift stations on the same level as the ski runs. 
• Pedestrian centre with links between the different levels of the resort.
• A non-polluting gas heating plant (the first one in the mountains).