This Aquatic Center in Courchevel Is an Oasis in the Middle of the French Alps
Not your average après-ski.
Courchevel — a ski resort located smack-dab in the middle of the French Alps — is largely known for its snow, but architect Auer Weber and his team took it upon themselves to build an aquatic center between the neighboring towns of Courchevel 1650 and Courchevel 1850 (FYI: the towns are named after their respective altitudes in meters). The result is an oasis, perfect for a pre-ski warm-up or post-ski relaxation.
The center is built on a clearing between two mountains, so it faces a valley on one side and an alpine vista on the other. The structure itself is integrated into the natural surroundings with a roof designed with local topography in mind, which in turn fills the space with natural light, while allowing visitors to look out on their environment. The structure’s facilities are divided into two separate areas — amusement and relaxation — over the space of two floors. The pool area features a 100-foot waterslide, a 330-foot wild-waterslide, a lagoon, not to mention an indoor and outdoor pool.
