As summers get hotter, savvy buyers are trading sea level for elevation—and heat waves for mountain air.Courtesy Slifer Smith & FramptonThe ‘coolcation’ travel trend—swapping southern European summer holidays in countries where temperatures are hitting record highs for cooler Nordic destinations like Iceland and Norway—seems here to stay. And where travel leads, real estate follows. Historically, mountain properties were trappers’ cabins, logging outposts or alpine dairy herding HQs. Eventually, humble ski resorts popped up among the peaks, and by 1941 French architect Henry Jacques Le Même, who recognized the appeal of alpine living, elevated the functional ski chalet by building a 650-square-meter Art Deco chalet in Megève, France. Buyers and builders took note, and soon enough supply met demand. Megève is now considered France’s answer to St. Moritz.Think 10 to 20 degrees Fahrenheit cooler in higher elevations than at the seaside, plus the comfort of far less humidity and cleaner, fresher air.
Fast forward to the 21st century and exceptional modern-mountain properties have taken starring roles on the screen, notably HBO’s recent Mountainhead, written and directed by Succession creator Jesse Armstrong and featuring Steve Carell and Jason Schwartzman as tech bros facing both global and personal crises. In the 2014 sci-fi film Ex Machina, Oscar Isaac played a reclusive AI-tech billionaire dwelling in an architectural masterpiece—the Juvet Landscape Hotel—and a private summer home in Valldal, Norway. Meanwhile, celebrities opting for real-life mountain living include Tom Cruise with his staggering 298-acre mountain estate, as well as Oprah Winfrey, who both chose Telluride, Colorado to build in, live in and escape prying paparazzi.But there are other benefits of life among the peaks, namely as a hub for health and rejuvenation. Architect and wellness professional Kenzie Tillitt of Tenzie Architecture works with ultra-high-net-worth clients creating spa-like wellness centers in their mountain homes. “The concept has become extremely popular because people want to be able to enjoy the outdoors year-round, but then come back home and relax, plus rejuvenate their bodies. They want a sauna, a cold plunge, a hot tub and some kind of gym space at home instead of going into town.” At this Lake Tahoe home, the air stays cool enough that even summer has use for a firepit.DX MediaTillitt’s clients share these spaces as gathering spots for guests, “but people want private sanctuaries too—a space in the house that's truly separate. Usually with a lot of glass and light and as far away from the kids' rooms as you can get,” she laughs. And in this year’s long hot summer? Think 10 to 20 degrees Fahrenheit cooler in higher elevations than at the seaside, plus the comfort of far less humidity and cleaner, fresher air. Cooler nights offer better sleep with a window cracked vs. the dehydrating effects of non-stop air conditioning. Privacy and craggy mountain views, plus the health benefits of forest bathing, summer farmers’ markets and ski runs that melt to reveal hiking trails. The boundary between indoor and outdoor living is nearly erased as floor-to-ceiling glass windows and walls are flung open to redefine the term cross-breeze. 7 Inspiring Mountain Homes Worth a PeekThe Moment House | Lake Tahoe, NevadaThis 2020 Lake Tahoe home uses glass liberally. The view, after all, has earned the exposure.Courtesy Tahoe Mountain RealtyDesigned by Lake Tahoe’s Walton Architecture + Engineering, this contemporary 5,600-square-foot residence’s name nods to the exposed steel ‘moment’ frames that allow floor to ceiling walls of glass to appear like a dramatic alpine-art triptych. Slide open and step outside to sit at the deck’s fire table immersed in towering evergreen trees while resting your eyes beyond to the Sierra Nevada. Situated in prestigious Incline Village, this 5-bedroom home was wellness-intentionally designed with a massage therapy room, sauna, gym and outdoor spa inviting privacy and restoration.Year-Round Retreat | Whistler, British ColumbiaThe snow eventually leaves Whistler, and with it, skiing. The silence, scenery and this stylish slope-side home, however, stay put.Courtesy rennieBeyond ski-in-ski-out access during the winter months, even though this 8,000-square-foot home has its own private gondola, this residence was built for year-round enjoyment. Located in Whistler’s exclusive Kadenwood neighborhood, the modern Scandi-style home has soaring chalet ceilings and an open-spaced airiness that defines the term ‘chill’ during the warmer months. Here, ski runs morph into mountain biking trails, nearby frozen lakes warm to refreshingly swimmable, and the snow melts to reveal the greenest world-class golf courses. Close proximity to Vancouver by car or helicopter makes for a spectacularly scenic commute too.Modern Tyrolean Luxury | Merano, South Tyrol, Italy Even the Dolomites can’t entirely escape the Italian summer heat. Fortunately, this chalet comes with a stylish swimming pool.MICHAEL PEDEVILLAOn a secluded hilltop near the edge of the Dolomites, this villa offers panoramic views year-round, and in the summer months the dreamy light is just Madre Natura’s way of showing off. Hot summer afternoons will be spent in the outdoor infinity pool, with cooler evenings ending with a sauna or a soak in the hot tub. The charming market town of Lana is a five-minute drive for some summer strolling, taking in Merano’s Austrian and Italian influences over a long, lingering terrazza lunch.Rustic Laurentian Wellness Estate | Val-Morin, QuébecWith six bedrooms, a guest house and 23 acres, this is less cramped cabin than private mountain province.Courtesy Profusion Immobilier This 23-acre estate set in the forest of the Laurentian Mountains consists of a 6-bedroom main house plus a 3-bedroom guest house. But it’s the detached outbuilding that sets the property apart. A wellness sanctuary that could double as an artist’s studio, the structure is built from wood grown on the land, has a serene yoga space, and its quiet nearby pond invites meditation. It also shares a property line with the Sivananda Ashram Yoga Camp. Inside the main house, a homestyle vibe prevails: Tiffany lamps, antique furniture, and a walled-in gazebo with wicker wingback chairs. Plenty of outdoor patio spaces with classic garden benches and umbrellaed tables beg for relaxed summer gatherings.Chic Alpine Chalet | Villars-sur-Ollon, SwitzerlandThe Swiss Alps may belong to skiers in winter. Come summer, this chalet hands the keys to gardeners, loungers and long lunches in the sun.Courtesy FGP Swiss & AlpsDesigned by the Swiss practice Bayrou Architects, this 5,000-square-foot multi-level chalet sits on a sunny half-acre lot in the always spectacular Alps. Modern, alpine-airy and with knotty butterscotch-hued beams and walls playing off roughly textured white stone brick and cognac leather furniture throughout. Al fresco dining under the cooling shade of a detached pergola near the landscaped garden is where many a summer evening will be spent.Crossroads Custom Estate | Breckenridge, ColoradoTrailheads, fairways and Main Street sit nearby to this modern mountain mansion. Nosy neighbors, thanks to 6.5 secluded acres, do not.Courtesy Slifer Smith & FramptonSummer in Colorado’s high country can be spent at this Highlands at Breckenridge estate, meandering across 6.5 acres. Residents seeking privacy and seclusion will appreciate how this 8,000-square-foot residence feels completely tucked away. A sense of place prevails here, with oak floors, a great room outfitted with Douglas fir timber trusses, and glass walls that show off exactly where you chose to call home. A stand-alone cabin speaks to the Summit County mining era, now offered as a guest suite—ideal for those who value the art of the disconnect.Lahontan Retreat | Truckee, CaliforniaAt this Lahontan golf-community home, the views are breathtaking. Thanks to the cool Sierra air, the back nine isn’t.Courtesy Tahoe Mountain RealtyInside Truckee’s gated golf community of Lahontan, this 5,000-square-foot renovated residence is perched in a pretty meadow surrounded by the Sierra Nevada mountains including a view of the Northstar resort. As a four-season property the home’s cooling, tactile features enhance the vibe here: like the stone patio, airy and exposed cedar beams throughout, plus flex spaces like a fresh-air reading nook that appears with the simple finger slide of a door. Summer hiking trails lead right out of the back door, and the clubhouse at Lahontan is within a short walking distance.Featured properties represented by members of Forbes Global Properties, the invitation-only network of top-tier brokerages worldwide and the exclusive real estate partner of Forbes.
