Purchase of the Avoriaz plateau 1960 (≈ 1960)
Jean Vuarnet acquires the site for the station.
1965
Plan of the first quarter
Plan of the first quarter 1965 (≈ 1965)
Design of the six buildings towers of the Dromonts.
1967-1968
Construction of High Forts 2
Construction of High Forts 2 1967-1968 (≈ 1968)
Directed by Jacques Labro, the first building of the project.
2003
20th Century Architecture Label
20th Century Architecture Label 2003 (≈ 2003)
Heritage recognition of the building.
18 février 2025
Registration for Historic Monuments
Registration for Historic Monuments 18 février 2025 (≈ 2025)
Protection of facades, roofs and common areas.
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui Aujourd'hui (≈ 2025)
Position de référence.
Heritage classified
The building Les Hauts Forts 2, facades and roofs, as well as the common and public parts of the interior of the building, located 238 corniche des Hauts-Forts, on parcels Nos. 315 and 324 in the cadastre section O, as delimited in red on the plan annexed to the decree: inscription by order of 18 February 2025
Key figures
Jean Vuarnet - Alpine skier and promoter
Initiator of the Avoriaz project in 1960.
Gérard Brémond - Entrepreneur
Vuarnet collaborator for the station.
Jacques Labro - Architect-urbanist
Designer of High Forts 2 and d-Avoriaz.
Origin and history
The building Les Hauts Forts 2, located in Morzine in the Avoriaz station, was built between 1967 and 1968 by architect Jacques Labro. It is part of the project to extend the Morzine ski area initiated in the 1950s. The building, of type "pyramid fan tower", is distinguished by its 11 levels of housing arranged in radius to offer a panoramic view of the valley. Its tavaillon-covered facade and inclined roofs are inspired by the geological folds of the surrounding mountains, while its structure rests on thirteen fine columns evoking local vernacular architecture.
The Avoriaz project, led by skier Jean Vuarnet, entrepreneur Gérard Brémond and architect-urbanist Jacques Labro, aims to create a fully pedestrian resort, integrated into the landscape by an organic architecture. The tops forts 2, the first building of this type realized, marks the edge between the plateau of Avoriaz and the cliff overlooking the valley of the Ardoisières. It is one of six tower buildings planned to structure this inaugural district, designed in 1965. In 2003, the building was awarded the "Twentieth Century Architecture" label, now converted into "remarkable contemporary architecture".
The building is characterized by a public traffic space crossing, connecting the cable car square to the centre of the station via an elevator and a passageway. Each apartment has a radiant arrangement to maximize brightness and view, with the exception of the northern facade, treated with the same materials (tavaillons). The coronation, in strongly inclined "roof façades", unifies the whole. An apartment retained part of its original furnishings, reflecting the original spirit of the project.
Les Hauts Forts 2 has been managed in condominiums and protected since 2025: its facades, roofs, common areas and interior public spaces are listed as Historic Monuments. Its official address, 238 corniche des Hauts-Forts, is located on cadastral parcels 315 and 324 of section O of Morzine-Avoriaz. The accuracy of its location is estimated as "passable" (note 5/10), based on available data.
