Le Balcon de Belledonne / La baleine

Le Balcon de Belledonne, also known as "La Baleine," is a leisure center located at 3 Rue du Doyon, 38660 Sainte-Marie-du-Mont, France. Designed by architects Claude Costy and Pascal Haüsermann, the building was completed in 1966. Perched at an altitude of 1,200 meters, it was originally conceived as a vegetarian restaurant complemented by a swimming pool, solarium, and sauna. The structure features organic, spherical forms constructed using shotcrete on steel reinforcement, a technique that economized materials and reduced the building's footprint. Over time, the building has been repurposed and restored, now serving as a private residence. (balcondebelledonne.com)