Despite Astana’s bitterly cold winters, the Kazakh capital doesn’t offer much for winter sport enthusiasts—the closest ski slopes are located a four-hour drive away. That’s why architect and avid skier Shokhan Mataibekov proposed the Slalom House, a 21-story apartment building mounted with an artificial ski slope that wraps around the rooftop in a U-shaped formation. The proposed ski slope would be built from artificial snow called Snowflex to allow for year-round skiing.
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The project may look far-fetched, but Mataibekov told CNN that he’s already in talks with parties interested in taking the design proposal to the next level. The Slalom House design was also recently recognized as a finalist in the residential category at the 2015 World Architecture Festival. In addition to 421 two-bedroom apartments and the ski slope, the mixed-use structure would house shops and restaurants on the lower floors.
+ Shokhan Mataibekov Architects
Via CNN
Images via Shokhan Mataibekov Architects
