New Apartment Building Will Have 1,000′ Ski Run

Would you sign on to an apartment that included a 1,000-foot ski run?  We would…

A new apartment building planned for Kazakhstan’s capital city of Astana will include a 1,000-foot ski slope that runs from the roof to the ground.  The building will be 21 stories high with shops on the ground floor, 421 apartments, and an outdoor ski slope that runs alongside the building.

The proposed project was thought up by a group of architects, led by Shokhan Mataibekov, who were inspired by Kazakshtan’s brutally cold, long winters.The city of Astana experiences temperatures averaging around -5ºF during its winters that generally last from November through April.  Unfortunately, there are no nearby ski resorts for skiers and snowboarders to take advantage of that cold.

Skiers and riders would be transported to the roof via elevators, accessible from a special entrance to the building.  It hasn’t yet been confirmed if the skiing will be open to the general public or not. The ski run has been designed to offer year-round skiing.  The run will be contructed from Snoflex, a synthetic material that simulates the slip, grip, and feel of real snow.  This way, you can ski all summer.

The building has been shortlisted in the Future Residential category at this year’s World Architecture Festival awards, which took place in Singapore in early November. The building is currently awaiting approval from city officials.  If approved, this building would be the first of its kind in the world.