Architecture

Indoor ski resort to feature 2,297 foot downhill slope with a drop of 525 feet

Indoor ski resort to feature 2,297 foot downhill slope with a drop of 525 feet
The spectacular Skipark 360 - set to be the largest indoor ski resort in the world (image from skipark360)
The spectacular Skipark 360 - set to be the largest indoor ski resort in the world (image from skipark360)
View 12 Images
The resort features a 3.5km cross country skiing tunnel; arenas for biathlons, ice hockey, bandy and figure skating; and a snowboarding park (image from CF Moller)
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The resort features a 3.5km cross country skiing tunnel; arenas for biathlons, ice hockey, bandy and figure skating; and a snowboarding park (image from CF Moller)
The spectacular Skipark 360 - set to be the largest indoor ski resort in the world (image from CF Moller)
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The spectacular Skipark 360 - set to be the largest indoor ski resort in the world (image from CF Moller)
The project is estimated to cost between 1.5 to 2 billion Swedish kroner, with work to start at the end of 2013 (image from CF Moller)
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The project is estimated to cost between 1.5 to 2 billion Swedish kroner, with work to start at the end of 2013 (image from CF Moller)
The spectacular Skipark 360 - set to be the largest indoor ski resort in the world (image from skipark360)
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The spectacular Skipark 360 - set to be the largest indoor ski resort in the world (image from skipark360)
The resort features a 3.5km cross country skiing tunnel; arenas for biathlons, ice hockey, bandy and figure skating; and a snowboarding park (image from CF Moller)
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The resort features a 3.5km cross country skiing tunnel; arenas for biathlons, ice hockey, bandy and figure skating; and a snowboarding park (image from CF Moller)
With an impressive height close to 135m, the sporting facility will create a striking landmark (image from skipark360)
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With an impressive height close to 135m, the sporting facility will create a striking landmark (image from skipark360)
Skipark 360 features restaurants, shops, spa, hotel and conference facilities with panoramic views (image from skipark360)
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Skipark 360 features restaurants, shops, spa, hotel and conference facilities with panoramic views (image from skipark360)
The indoor ski slope meets the requirements for hosting the World Cup, measuring 700m long and with a drop of 160 meters (image from skipark360)
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The indoor ski slope meets the requirements for hosting the World Cup, measuring 700m long and with a drop of 160 meters (image from skipark360)
The resort will allow the country's elite athletes to train continuously all year round (image from skipark360)
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The resort will allow the country's elite athletes to train continuously all year round (image from skipark360)
The spectacular Skipark 360 - set to be the largest indoor ski resort in the world (image from skipark360)
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The spectacular Skipark 360 - set to be the largest indoor ski resort in the world (image from skipark360)
With an impressive height close to 135m, the sporting facility will create a striking landmark (image from CF Moller)
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With an impressive height close to 135m, the sporting facility will create a striking landmark (image from CF Moller)
The park may be the biggest in the world but the architects also hope to make it the greenest (image from CF Moller)
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The park may be the biggest in the world but the architects also hope to make it the greenest (image from CF Moller)
View gallery - 12 images

Sweden's CF Møller Architects has just signed off on the new and spectacular Skipark 360°- set to be the largest indoor ski resort in the world. The winter park will house the only indoor ski slope to meet the requirements for hosting the World Cup, measuring 700 meters (2,297 feet) long and with a drop of 160 meters (525 feet). With an impressive height close to 135 meters (443 feet), the sporting facility will create a striking landmark, positioned in a forest located in Balsta, 45 minutes outside Stockholm.

The man-made ski resort is designed to ensure that there's still plenty of skiing to be had during bad winters and it will also allow the country's elite athletes to train continuously all year round.

Obviously the downhill ski slope will be the resort's main attraction, however the facility will also feature a 3.5-kilometer (2.2-mile) cross country skiing tunnel; arenas for biathlons, ice hockey, bandy and figure skating; a snowboarding snow park; restaurants; shops; spa; hotel and conference facilities with panoramic views.

The resort features a 3.5km cross country skiing tunnel; arenas for biathlons, ice hockey, bandy and figure skating; and a snowboarding park (image from CF Moller)
The resort features a 3.5km cross country skiing tunnel; arenas for biathlons, ice hockey, bandy and figure skating; and a snowboarding park (image from CF Moller)

The park may be the biggest in the world, but the architects also hope to make it the greenest. It is envisioned that the building will be 100 percent self-sufficient, by incorporating renewable energy from sources such as geothermal heating, solar power, wind power and hydro power.

Skipark 360° is estimated to cost between 1.5 to 2 billion Swedish kroner ( US$219- 292 million), with work to start at the end of 2013.

View gallery - 12 images
5 comments
5 comments
Mindbreaker
What possible advantage could there be to making the legs angled. Looks like fishy engineering. There would be forces directing it into the ground in the angle it points toward the ground. Ah well, I am sure it works just wastes materials in all likelihood. If it did fail...man! It also seems like they could find better use for the roof. The water run off could be very dangerous in heavy rain. Water can have a lot of momentum at that length and steepness. And if it actually snows that snow could slide and bury people. I would think a stepped roof would make more sense.
BigGoofyGuy
It looks like a giant ladder on its side. :) It looks way cool; pun intended. :)
mommus
don\'t they have actual ski slopes in Sweden?
VirtualGathis
Mindbreaker has a good point. In a good rain this roof would provide a good water run. As part of the hydro force mitigation they could put a turbine the length of the bottom and reduce their electric bill significantly.
Jelmer ten Hoeve
they have some ski slopes, but the problem is that the have to ski in the dark, the pists have street lights. this is near the biggest population off sweden.
hydropower from the roof isn\'t usefull, you need realy a lot of squash KM2\'s for some power, solar and wind will provide more i think.
If they make a waterpark with it, (cable ski, raft, waterjump) its a compleet eXtreme sports faccility.