About

4d Architecture is a French registered Architectural practice, operating here in the heart of the French Alps for almost twenty years. It was initially established as a partnership between myself, Melanie, and my partner Peter, both RIBA UK qualified Architects, who had worked for a number of years in & around London in both the commercial, public and residential sectors. Peter retired in 2024, and since then I have continued as a sole practitioner Melanie Batchelor EI with Peter providing consultancy services from time to time. 

We first came to France in search of a different lifestyle, and with a shared desire to combine our love of skiing & the mountains with the possibility of setting up our own Architectural practice. We established 4d Architecture in 2004, and having registered with the French Ordre des Architectes, have since worked on many residential new build and renovation projects here in the Alps. 

As long-term residents of the area, we are well versed in the complexities of the local French planning systemand have a deep understanding of both traditional & contemporary building techniques. We have also built up a network of local builders & consultants over the years and find great satisfaction in guiding our clients through all the stages of a building project’s design and construction. 

The goal is to work with clients to produce designs that maximise both the enjoyment, liveability & value of their properties, including imaginative ways of integrating modern life-styles & design with the traditional Architecture of the region.

4d Architecture itself stands for design in 3 dimensions, but also the 4th dimension which is time itself. How does a person want to use their building? How do they navigate their daily lives through the space? How does a chalet become a home, a retreat, a holiday destination? How is it used in winter, in summer, for privacy, for gatherings? How does the building change throughout the day, as the sun moves across the sky, as light & heat enter in different ways, during the cool of night-time? How will it adapt over the years as fashions change, as the environment evolves? All these questions and more, are as important to us as form & function, and come together to create an Architecture that we can be passionate about and which brings pleasure to our many clients.

I look forward to collaborating with you on future projects!

Melanie Batchelor