From 13 December 2012 to 11 January 2013, the Ministry of Culture and Communication will host «La neige et l'architecte, stations de sport d'hiver en Rhône-Alpes».
This exhibition, composed of thirty photographs, highlights the architectural and urban heritage of Megève, Courchevel 1850, Flaine, Avoriaz, Les Arcs and Karellis.
These six stations, each with its specificities and innovations, reflect the diversity and richness of the development of the Alps throughout the 20th century. They are the work of pioneering urban architects such as Henry Jacques Le Même, Laurent Chappis, Denys Pradelle, Marcel Breuer, Gaston Regairaz, Guy Rey-Millet, Jacques Labro and Charlotte Perriand.
This exhibition is the result of a study carried out since 1994 by the General Inventory of Cultural Heritage, in collaboration with the École nationale supérieure d'Architecture de Grenoble on the creation of winter sports resorts in the Alps, as part of the national “Resort Architecture” program.
The exhibition is curated by Françoise Lapeyre-Uzu, regional curator and Éric Dessert, photographer of the General Inventory of Cultural Heritage service (Culture Directorate of the Rhône-Alpes Regional Council).
This survey also served as a guide to the implementation of proposals for the management and protection of this singular heritage: label heritage of the twentieth century, protections under the title of Historical Monuments, creation of urban and landscape architectural heritage protection zones (ZPPAUP).
The publication of a book intended to make known this little-known heritage is at the origin of this exhibition. Winter sports resorts; Urban planning and architecture - Rhône-Alpes was published in September 2012 by Editions Lieux Dits.