Luxury Igloo Pods and Private Skiing At Switzerland's New Whitepod Resort & Spa.

Brand new, Switzerland's Whitepod resort has just opened (on the 20th of December 2011) featuring 15 private geodesic pods that resemble igloos anchored on wooden platforms, a recently built spa, a central chalet and private skiing for the guests.





The 15 Luxury Igloo Pods








Inside the pods:




Each pod has a large double bed for 2 people. Five of the pods are equipped with mezzanines that can hold 2 extra beds. However, the mezzanine beds are not intended for adults, they are more appropriate for children from 8 to 16 years old.

 




All pods are equipped electricity, a floor lamp, wood-burning stoves and organic luxury bedding. The bathrooms are heated with an electric heater and equipped with fully fitted bathrooms; shower, sink, toilet, hairdryer, towels and amenities. And each pod has two pairs of Crocs™ (plastic clogs) at your disposal, lol!




The Central Chalet (chalet Les Cerniers)



At the center of the 15 pods, stands a charming early 1800s wooden chalet where guests meet for breakfast in the morning or gather in the evening around its central fireplace for evening drinks and socializing.








Note: The pods are not equipped with WiFi but there is free Wi-Fi in the Pod-house and in the chalet Les Cerniers.

Pampering and wellness:
Whitepod offers two different wellness areas...


The Relaxation area, which is inside the Pod-house, at the center of the pods, has:
- One Finnish sauna
- One Japanese bath
- Changing rooms
- Showers
Open every day from 15:00 to 20:00 or on request


The Treatment area, which is on the first floor of the chalet Les Cerniers, holds:
- Two massage rooms
- One massage room with a double bath

Skiing:

The Whitepod ski estate is made of 7 km of ski pistes with 700m altitude difference and caters for beginner and intermediate levels.

The two private lift installations can be opened from 11 am to 3 pm upon demand and ensure the guests benefit from a perfectly maintained and safe skiing experience.

The domain also has excellent snow conditions from December through to March.

The Whitepod Welcome kit:


Whitepod is located in Switzerland, in the canton of Valais, in the village of Les Cerniers, at the foot of the Dents-du-Midi mountain range (the beginning of the Swiss Alps), and faces the international ski resort Villars.





Included in the price:
Buffet breakfast at the Pod-house
Access to the relaxation area
All equipment necessary for the stay – back bag, headlights, snowshoes, sledge
Access to our private ski slopes
Free WIFI at the Pod-house
Tea-Time – afternoon tea & pastries served everyday
Parking
All taxes



images courtesy of Whitepod, Photographer: Vincent Hofer | Jean-Marc Palisse – Designer: Angelique Buisson

Whitepod Concept SA
Les Cerniers | CP 681
CH-1871 Les Giettes - Switzerland
reservations@whitepod.com

The LEAP (Living Ecological Alpine Pod), a Prefab Modular Hut for High Altitudes & Mountain Living.

A new modern bivuoac for mountain living. Designed in Italy by Luca Gentilcore and Stefano Testa, the Alpine huts are modular, highly sustainable and complete with a comfortable interior. The LEAP (an acronym for Living Ecological Alpine Pod) is a technologically sophisticated shelter, prefabricated and assembled offsite, that does not alter the environment in which it is placed.





This type of installation represents an interesting form of support to trekking and mountaineering activities with a much lower environmental impact than the traditional mountain shelters. LEAP solves all the problems of existing types of bivouac. It is entirely built off-site, suitable for transport by helicopter and easily installed on location at high altitude requiring a limited number of operations. It is built using state-of-the-art technology for durability and to withstand all kinds of mechanical and atmospheric stress. It offers comfort beyond any present proven standard.

3D models:






Designed to resist the stresses of extreme altitudes the pod has photovoltaic film incorporated in the outer shell to provide the energy necessary to run the installed equipment:





The Interior Space:


Even if limited, the interior space is furnished for a pleasing and rewarding stay under all aspects. The selected materials guarantee durability, hygiene and safety (class A1 fire-reaction) while providing a warm and welcoming interior of refined design. The proposed solutions are fully customisable both for the functional layout and the finish of the materials used. LEAP can be equipped with technological systems for the production of energy and a unit to measure local conditions (self-diagnosis, weather conditions, web-cam, emergency rescue communication) connected with logistic and rescue headquarters. A sanitary module is available, equipped with a biological toilet that disposes of all sewage without polluting the environment.


above: Entrance unit with thermally isolated inner door, storage/drying rack and rescue equipment compartment.




above: Living/dining unit with pantry and cooker (electric induction hob).




above: Sleeping unit with adjustable bunks for maximum comfort, according to the number of users.

Effective and Flexible


Each module is identified by a specific function. It is possible to organise the best layout for each location in terms of sleeping accommodation, living room space, number of entrances. Different accessories allow the choice of the outside view, including impressive scenic solutions. This kind of layout also gives the opportunity to change the layout of the bivouac over time: increasing the size or swapping around the functional units. In the case of serious damage it is very simple to remove modules to be taken off-site for repairs or replacement.







Respects the Environment
The aesthetic features of LEAP don't try to mimic or resemble any traditional alpine structure. On the contrary, the intention is to effectively declare its unrelated look in the surroundings through the expression of its high-tech features. The ecology of LEAP lies in its transitional nature and total reversibility. At the end of its "life cycle" the pod can be lifted away by helicopter without leaving any permanent trace of its presence in the natural environment. The industrial off-site construction makes use of ecologically certified materials and processes and leaves no production waste.







• All materials used throughout production are rated with a certificate of ecological origin and recyclability.

• The overall cost of LEAP is highly competitive with the traditional solutions thanks to a fully industrialised production and its high-end engineering process.

• The construction technologies are derived from the nautical and aeronautical industry. The remotely controlled diagnosis equipment reduces running costs for higher effectiveness.


Information and images courtesy of Leapfactory