Archinect - News

Safdie Architects and PWP Landscape Architecture reveal design for mountainside Vermont village master plan

2023-11-30T12:13:00-05:00

Safdie Architects and PWP Landscape Architecture have unveiled their design for a master-planned residential development in Killington, Vermont. Developed by Great Gulf, the “mountain village community” will include the largest ski beach in the Eastern United States.

Image credit: Great Gulf

The 450-acre development is framed by the 4,241-foot Killington Peak, one of six mountain peaks to surround the village. The first phase of the community will see 32,000 square feet of commercial space accompanying 225 residences, comprising condominiums, townhomes, and single-family homes. The residential community will also feature ski-in/ski-out access.

Image credit: Great Gulf

“We aim to capture the spirit of, and character of, the Vermont village in a contemporary rendition of vital public spaces for all seasons,” Moshe Safdie is quoted on a website dedicated to the development.

Image credit: Great Gulf

Pre-construction is currently underway on the site, with sales for the first residences exp...

Beijing's big air slope offers Olympics viewers a captivating example of adaptive reuse

2022-02-08T15:55:00-05:00

Freeski big air opened its Olympic competition Monday at the world’s first permanent, city-based big air facility, a repurposed steel mill on the west side of Beijing that’s made a stunning backdrop for one of the Games’ newest sports.

The venue is the one-time home of a steel production facility that was shuttered ahead of the 2008 games to create a generally greener picture of the country to Western news outlets. Its former grounds have been transformed into a greenery-laced headquarters for the games’ Organizing Committee, with an additional industrial sound-installation infused multi-use museum and office development occupying its former blast furnace.

The transformation of the site will eventually include the overhauling of one of its ominous cooling towers into a wedding venue. The Copenhill-esque slope is slightly larger than similar structures seen in Boston and Atlanta and is noteworthy as the first venue to host the newly-added event, which has been described as a “high-risk home run derby for snowboarding and freestyle skiing.”

'Of course we're not closing!': CopenHill ski slope operator pushes back against potential closure

2021-08-25T20:37:00-04:00

Following recent reports in the local Danish press that the famed CopenHill ski slope atop Copenhagen's Amager Bakke waste-to-energy plant could face temporary, or possibly permanent, closure due to unexpected wear and tear of its skiing surface, the operator of the BIG-designed attraction has now publicly denied the need to close.

CopenHill published a statement titled Facts about the ski surface on Amager Bakke: Of course we're not closing! on its website in which it acknowledges the faster than expected deterioration of the slope's surface fibers but assures that the damaged parts would be replaced soon without the need to close the slope.

"Yes, we experience that the steep part of the ski slope's surface wears faster than expected, and therefore, parts of the surface must be replaced," the statement reads. "When the ski base needs to be replaced, it is done in smaller areas at a time. It will therefore not go beyond opening hours, and you will continue to be able to ski in the ...

BIG's CopenHill ski slope may be closing after unexpected wear and tear incites insurance dispute

2021-08-24T12:00:00-04:00

Bad news for architectural tourists as local Danish publications are reporting that the ski slope atop the famous Bjarke Ingels-designed CopenHill waste-to-energy plant may have to be dismantled and repaired thanks to unseen wear and tear that could potentially close the popular urban destination until 2024.

The Copenhagen Post is reporting that an expected 9.5 million Kroner ($1.5 million) overhaul may loom for the feature pending the resolution of a dispute between the Amager Bakke Foundation and the Danish insurance company Tryg.

Located on the city’s Amager island, the multipurpose slope was central to the design of the nearly $670 million conversion plant which opened in March of 2017.

The slope itself opened two and half years later and is now facing a total reinstallation after a Foundation statement in June cited safety concerns that were the result of continued deterioration.

Previously on Archinect: BIG's waste-to-energy ski slope, Amager Bakke, is now open

Because Tryg ha...

Our first annual 'T-Bars for T-Squares' ski retreat was a huge hit

2020-03-06T15:39:00-05:00

We're just catching our breath after an amazing four days of skiing, drinking, eating, and hot tubbing in Utah's beautiful Snowbird/Alta ski resorts. Architects, designers, and artists came together from around the country, representing SHoP, Brininstool + Lynch, K&Co, Imbue Design, Artistic Tile, LOC, Ball-Nogues, & Gensler. We even had some ex-White House staff with us, telling stories of their time helping to get Obama elected!

Snowbird Mountain, photo by Matt Swindel

We're already starting to plan next year's retreat. If you'd like to be the first to hear about it, sign up to our T-Bars for T-Squares mailing list for updates.

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Like to ski? Join Archinect and Designer Pages next month for some of the best powder in the country

2020-01-21T12:24:00-05:00

Calling all architects and designers that love to ski or board! Archinect's Paul Petrunia and Designer Pages' Jacob Slevin have blocked several rooms at the Cliff Lodge at heavily reduced rates for Thursday, February 27 to Sunday, March 1 (reduced rates may also be applied to the night of February 26, for early birds). The Cliff Lodge is not only the sole ski-in, ski-out hotel at Utah's world-class Snowbird and Alta Mountains, but it's also a stunning piece of architecture by Utah modernists Enteleki, Architecture, Planning, Research, and Brixen and Christopher Architect.

The Cliff Lodge at Snowbird

For the last few years Paul and Jacob have put aside their busy schedules to recharge on the ski slopes of the American West. It’s been an opportunity to share business knowledge, plan new ventures, and, most importantly, ski! This year they’ve decided to turn this into an official retreat, "T-Bars for T-Squares," with fellow architects, designers, and friends. For more information, chec...