Alpine aesthetics

This apartment overlooking the mountains of Courmayeur is built around a palette of three materials: larch wood cladding for the ceilings and walls; porcelain stoneware flooring throughout; and raw iron, used to create the central fireplace.

The project was led by architects Sabrina Tonino and Edoardo Rocci, principals of the Ivrea-based practice internilab, which they established twenty years ago. Partners in life and work – she an architect, he an interior design entrepreneur – they bring together aesthetics and functionality, creativity and managerial skill.

“We wanted to bring the contemporary elegance that characterises all our projects to the 140 square metres of this home,” explains Rocci. “But above all, we wanted to create that sense of serenity and harmony that is so essential in an Alpine retreat. The first step was to line the walls and ceiling with wood panelling, which also incorporates fixed furnishings such as wardrobes, cupboards and storage units. The challenge was to achieve seamless visual continuity, even where furnishings interrupted the wood grain pattern.” The result is a high level of clarity, which in turn ensures a strong sense of space, harmony and cohesion. “Craftsmanship and attention to detail have always been the hallmarks of our work,” adds Tonino.

Porcelain stoneware plays an equally important role. A dark shade was chosen to contrast with the wood and extend across all floors, including the bathrooms. In the kitchen, Laminam’s I Naturali collection was used to clad the island and cupboard doors. These large, thin panels proved ideal, especially due to their distinctive colour which “recalls the black hewn slate of the Ligurian quarries”, Rocci notes. This palette complements the colour of the raw iron used for the fireplace volume. The visible lamination veins echo the wood grain, striking a balance between the warmth of the timber and the industrial look of the raw metal.

As for the layout of the home, “The spaces were divided up according to the light, which floods in through the large windows of the main façade,” explains Tonino. “The living room and kitchen share an open-plan space, creating an almost osmotic connection with the Alpine landscape.” The sleeping area is more intimate and private yet still airy, with three bedrooms each served by its own bathroom. The space beneath the staircase to the mezzanine conceals a functional laundry area.

Most of the furnishings are custom-made, with a few exceptions such as the beds, sofa and chairs which are sourced from Italian design brands. Works of art add further value to the interiors, including a striking wall installation of a forest of laser-cut pine trees created by Turin-based artistic atelier Studio C&C. Art is a constant presence in internilab’s projects. Their own showroom studio, housed in an elegant historic building, regularly hosts exhibitions and events dedicated to emerging local artists.