Skip to main content

This apartment complex in Kazakhstan could have a 1000-foot ski slope on its roof


I don't know how practical this is but if given the green light, this apartment block in Astana, Kazakhstan would be the world's first residential building that doubles as an outdoor ski slope. Designed by Shokhan Mataibekov Architects, the 21-story Slalom House will feature shops and restaurants on the ground floor, 421 two-bedroom residences on the upper floors, and a 1000-foot-tall artificial slope descending from its roof. 

Unlike at your average ski resort, House Slalom's track could be used during the entire year, because the slope will be powered by artificial snow. Skiers could even use it at night, because the track would be brightly lit. In case you're wondering, the project will cost roughly $70 million. 


Comments

Popular posts from this blog

The Adorable Sculptures of Yen Yen Lo

These images are from a series of wall sculptures created by Yen Yen Lo . Here you can see her intricately textured ceramic pieces, looking downright adorable. Yen Yen Lo's eye for the unique and whimsical is delightful. Apparently they are not intended for kids under 16. Fifteen-year-olds cannot be trusted with fragile stuff. Get them a Funko Pop instead.

'Star Wars' cutaway illustrations by Hans Jenssen and Richard Chasemore

These illustrations by Hans Jenssen and Richard Chasemore explore the inner workings of some of the most famous Star Wars vehicles, from the AT-AT walker to the Millennium Falcon. The interesting part about these images is that they're completely hand drawn, with no help from a computer whatsoever. Prepare to marvel at these wonderful examples of sci-fi art!  [h/t: Galactic Academy ]

This app turns freehand sketches into realistic photos

Artificial Intelligence is undoubtedly changing the nature of creative processes. Computer algorithms have generated numerous paintings, poetry, music, and even movie scripts. While some people could not keep their hands off these innovations, the question whether AI-created art can really be deemed as art still lingers around. If you want to create photorealistic portraits but you're struggling to see improvement in your depictions, AI seems to have an answer to your problem. As stated on its project page, the DeepFaceDrawing app "allows users with little training in drawing to produce high-quality images from rough or even incomplete freehand sketches." Check out the demo video below: Impressive. But I still believe that while machines can produce stunning visuals, it doesn't mean they will replace artists.