Hitting the roof will take on a whole new meaning as a modern green power plant in Denmark is about to be turned into one of the world’s longest ski slopes.
Copenhagen will provide the novel feature on its state-of-the-art natural power plant from early next year. The Daily Telegraph reports that the addition to designer Amager Bakke’s waste-to-power incinerator plant will make it a site of major interest for the public, while also being central to the Danish capital’s ambition to be the first zero-carbon city by the year 2025.
The plant is projected to provide ample clean energy to power 60,000 homes per year by burning 400,000 tons of waste. It is due to be operational from the beginning of next month. When opened early in 2017, the facility will provide a year-round ski slope for locals, featuring three skiing lanes of varying difficulty.
With an 86-metre drop from the very top of the building, officials say that safety will be a priority. The head of the project Patrik Gustavsson, has assured the public that they have employed experts in ski security to ensure that the highest levels of safety are met. As well as the beginner and intermediate runs, the roof will hold a 180-metre black run, sloping in places at a 45-degree angle. Skiers and snowboarders will be able to move up to the top of the plant whether by elevators from inside or via moving carpet ski lifts.
Skiers and snowboarders will be able to move up to the top of the plant whether by elevators from inside or via moving carpet ski lifts. Copenhagen, however, is not the first place to feature an unusual artificial ski slope. In Kazakhstan, plans were announced last year to have a ski slope running from apartment roofs. The Finnish ski resort of Levi, this year launched a development strategy for a ski run on the roof of luxury apartments.
Danish architects (Bjarke Ingels Group) designed those buildings and are also behind the project in Copenhagen.
