Flaine

The site was discovered in 1959 by the geophysicist Éric Boissonnas and his wife Sylvie Boissonnas, who wanted to combine outdoor recreation with architecture and design, with the goal of prioritizing aesthetics and care of the environment.^[4] Éric and Sylvie Boissonnas entrusted Flaine's design to Marcel Breuer, the eminent Bauhaus architect whose structural designs are well known around the world. He designed the resort using brutalist architecture, with details such as sculptural fireplaces and door handles to hang a ski glove.^[5] Ski runs designed by champion Émile Allais, while gondola lift stations were kept on the same level as the ski runs.^{[citation needed]}

Right from the design stage, Éric Boissonnas and Marcel Breuer were careful not to disturb the natural surroundings by integrating the resort into nearby mountains. The layout blends in with the environment's contours, and the different levels which make up the resort can not be seen from one to the other. While cables and wires were hidden in tunnels to achieve a feeling of privacy and tranquillity.^[6] They invited urbanist Laurent Chappis who helped influence their plans in order to preserve the natural landscape.^[5]

Construction

The construction of the resort was not without difficulty. Chappis and Pradelle left after Breuer joined the team, Boissonnas fell out with the government official in charge of planning France's winter sports industry and when local landowners found out that Boissonnas was a billionaire they threatened to block the building of the access road to the resort until they received adequate compensation. The result was a three-year delay and huge cost overruns, and led to greater state involvement in French ski resort development. By the time the resort was opened on 17 January 1969 it had probably cost Boissonnas the equivalent of around $250 million from his personal fortune at 2005 prices.

The site is divided into two areas which are joined by two free lifts. The upper area, Flaine Forêt, at an altitude of 1,700 metres (5,600 ft), consists of a number of apartment buildings named after constellations, the Éric et Sylvie Boissonnas Auditorium, shops, offices and restaurants. The lower area, Flaine Forum, at an altitude of 1,600 metres (5,200 ft), has more restaurants, shops, bars and accommodation.^[7] It contains Europe’s first snowmaking system.^[6]

The resort boasts a wealth of monumental works of art - "La Tête de Femme" by Pablo Picasso, "Le Boqueteau" by Jean Dubuffet, and "Les Trois Hexagones" by Victor Vasarely.^[8]

Flaine is about 1 hour and 15 minutes away from Geneva Airport, approximately 3 hours drive from Lyon, and 30 km from the A 40 motorway (l'Autoroute Blanche). It is close to resorts Les Houches, Les Contamines, large ski area Chamonix-Mont-Blanc as well as the Portes du Soleil region — notably resorts Les Gets and Morzine. Trips to Italy via the Mont Blanc Tunnel to Courmayeur are also possible.

Bus services are available several times a day to Taninges in the Giffre Valley (where resorts Morillon and Samoëns are situated) where buses to Geneva and Chamonix can be accessed. The bus service is run by Transdev Alpbus.

The ski area contains 64 trails and 24 lifts.^[9]

In each different grade of run (green, blue, red, & black) there is a theme in the Flaine bowl. For example, most of the blue runs are named after metals/jewels (e.g. Serpentine, Turquoise, Dolomie, Cristal, Tourmaline, Émeraude), nearly all the reds are diabolically named (e.g. Faust, Méphisto, Belzébuth, Lucifer) and most black runs after stones (e.g. Diamant Noir, Agate). Most green runs are named after trees (e.g. Mélèze, Pin, Epicea). This only occurs in the Flaine valley though; the other resorts' runs are named separately. However the same names are repeated in different resorts. For example "Combe", valley, is a popular name because of the many runs leading into valleys. Arête, ridge, is also popular.^{[citation needed]}

There is a free lift (Télébenne) which links up the upper and lower parts of Flaine. Flaine is in the process of implementing an upgrade program to its lifts and trails called Flaine Perspectives 2006–2010.^[10] For 2006, new gondola cabins were installed on Aup de Véran, whilst the base station was renovated for 2007. For 2008, the Les Gerats lift was installed to allow better access to the new Intrawest village (Flaine Montsoleil). In addition the Tête des Verds 6-person detachable chair was installed from the main base area. For 2009, Flaine aim to renovate the Télébenne, installation of a 4-person chair to replace the Bois button, to be called Aujon and the installation of a 4-person chair to link the western part of the Intrawest village.

Flaine is situated on a geological plate of rock called the "Désert de Platé".^[12] This type of rock formation is extremely rugged and cracked looking, creating a large number of crevasses and potholes in the area, which are particularly visible in summer.