Chalet Constantia is a substantial standalone chalet at the lower end of St Martin de Belleville, looking uninterrupted across alpine meadows towards the mountains on the opposite side of the Belleville Valley. Traditional stone and timber on the outside give little indication of what lies within, where the design becomes much more contemporary and individual.

The main living floor is extraordinary, with almost 113m² devoted to the open-plan kitchen, dining and living areas. Floor to ceiling glazing runs across the front of the chalet and opens onto wraparound balconies, giving the mountains a commanding presence throughout the room. At its centre is a striking four-sided glass fireplace, surrounded by generous seating, with a separate TV nook and bar creating smaller spaces within this enormous room. The kitchen is properly equipped for a chalet of this size, with plenty of space for preparing meals for a larger group and a striking dining area alongside. A one-of-a-kind wooden table sits beneath a cluster of Tom Dixon lights, making dinner at the chalet feel rather more special than the usual self-catered supper.

Chalet Constantia has plenty of personality too. African-influenced artwork, vintage posters and unusual pieces collected from around the world sit alongside contemporary furniture and natural materials. It feels sophisticated without being overly formal. There are six ensuite bedrooms for twelve adults, including an impressive principal suite with an Emperor bed, dual aspect windows and two balconies. A seventh room has four full-size bespoke bunk beds and doubles as a games room, with pool table and darts, with direct access to the terrace. This gives groups of up to sixteen considerable flexibility without compromising the adult bedroom accommodation.

Elsewhere, a cinema room provides somewhere to disappear for a film, while outside the hot tub and sauna form a private spa area overlooking the mountains. The ski room has heated boot warmers and the scale of the chalet means there is plenty of room for everyone to spread out rather than every activity taking place in the same living space. For all that space and privacy, Chalet Constantia is surprisingly close to the skiing. The St Martin gondola and village are less than 200 metres away, putting the Three Valleys within easy reach, while the chalet sits into the hillside, facing away from the main road and opening onto remarkable views.

Chalet Constantia is a chalet with real presence, from the huge glass-fronted living room and central fireplace to the mountain panorama beyond. And the space becomes particularly appealing: you have somewhere exceptional to spend the week, but complete freedom over how you choose to use it.