Kazakhstan's capital city will soon be home to an urban ski resort that is unlike any other in the world. While Astana residents currently have to drive for several hours in order to hit the slopes, they will soon have fresh powder right at their doorsteps.
The urban ski resort in Astana is currently being designed by Shokhan Mataibekov Architects. The slope will be located on top of a massive apartment building and will wrap around the exterior to add length to the artificial hill. The curved design and grade changes mimic the experience of skiing down a real mountain, while Snoflex is used to recreate the winter environment. Additionally, the 21-floor building will feature a number of shops and restaurants in order to accommodate both skiers and apartment dwellers.
Although there are a number of man-made ski resorts, this rooftop ski slope will be the first of its kind.
Why This Trend Is Growing
- Urban Ski Slopes
- Opportunity for architects and real estate developers to incorporate unique, leisure-based amenities to luxury apartment buildings in other cities.
- Artificial Ski Design
- Innovative slope designs and materials will significantly decrease the space required for creating an artificial ski slope, paving way for smaller cities to have their own ski resorts.
- Mixed-use Developments
- Further integration of lifestyle and leisure options within mixed-use buildings through the use of innovative designs and amenities.
Industries Being Reshaped
- Real Estate
- Incorporating unique amenities, such as urban ski slopes, into luxury buildings will be the way forward in designing state-of-the-art properties.
- Architecture
- Architects and designers will experiment with space-saving and cost-effective designs for developing artificial ski slopes in unconventional locations.
- Leisure and Tourism
- The integration of leisure-based amenities into mixed-use developments will increase in popularity among tourism and entertainment-focused industries.
