2020 Property Portfolio FOREWORD CONTENTS Jeremy Rollason Showcase 3 Traversing the Alps HEAD OF SAVILLS SKI 5 Capturing the Deep Blue 10 Monkey Bars to Dinosaur Skeletons 14 10 Questions with Charlie Raposo What is the allure of the Alps? Is it the From Chalet l’Hotse in Val d’Isère The French Alps beauty, the serenity, the magnitude, (page 4) to a family home in The Tyrol 19 Chamonix the excitement or the escapism? Moreover, (page 54), there is something to whet 22 Courchevel why do so many people choose not just everybody’s appetite. 25 Méribel to take their holidays here, but to invest 28 Les Gets & Morzine in a second home or even a principal On page 5, Arnie Wilson takes a snapshot 32 La Plagne home? For those passionate about into the incredible world of Melody Sky, 33 Val d’Isère skiing, the outdoors, a healthy lifestyle skier, photographer, free diver and soon- and the challenges of the mountains, to-be film producer. Meanwhile, page 16 The Swiss Alps these are easy questions to answer. sees Eve McGowan ask Laughland Jones 38 Four Valleys It is a combination of all of these and more. what it takes to be the leading Interior 47 Saas-Fee Designers in the Alps, and we interview 48 Villars-Sur-Ollon Buying a ski property is an aspiration Charlie Raposo, The No.1 GB Giant Slalom of many and for those fortunate enough skier on page 10. The Austrian Alps to realise this dream, is an investment not 50 Salzburgerland just in bricks and mortar, (or stone and We hope very much to see you on or off 52 Styria wood), but an investment in mountain the piste this season. 53 Tyrol living. In this latest Savills Ski Portfolio, we showcase a selection of the best The Italian Alps property that the Alps has to offer. 58 Dolomites Insights 59 Market Report 60 Buying Guide 61 Global Network 61 Ski Expertise 62 Key Contacts Key Number of Bedrooms Number of Bathrooms Square Metres Distance to Ski Lift Altitude Ski Area Distance to Airport 2 INTRODUCTION Savills Savills Savills Meribel Milan Zell am See MUNICH Germany SALZBURG Savills Morzine KITZBÜHEL ZURICH Savills SEEFELD Courchevel Austria LECH INNSBRUCK ZELL AM SEE Savills Verbier DAVOS KLOSTERS Savills Ski covers not just one country France Switzerland or resort: we traverse the Alps. Savills ANDERMATT VAL GARDENA has dedicated offices in Courchevel 1850, CORTINA DAMPEZZO Méribel, Verbier and Zell am See. Morzine GSTAAD ST MORITZ Immo represents Savills as their International Associates on the French side of Les Portes CRANS-MONTANA VILLARS SELLA RONDA du Soleil. We are also pleased to work with GENEVA SAAS-FEE preferred, best-in-class agents in many MADONNA DI CAMPIGLIO MORZINE Savills other key Ski resorts including Val d’Isère, VERBIER ZERMATT Venice Chamonix, Zermatt, St Moritz and Kitzbühel. ANNECY CHAMONIX Whether you are buying, selling, renting or LYO N LA CLUSAZ MEGEVE investing, we are here to help you across the Alps and beyond. CHAMBERY LA PLAGNE MILAN Italy VAL D’ISERE VERONA Savills Valbonne Savills Antibes Traversing Savills Nice Savills Savills St-Tropez St-Jean-Cap-Ferrat Savills Monaco the Alps 3 SHOWCASE Chalet l’Hotse VAL D'ISERE, FRANCE €13,000,000 Click for more An exclusive chalet in the heart of Val d’Isère, Chalet l’Hotse is a unique opportunity to acquire one of Val d’Isères finest ski chalets. 6 6 Recently renovated and built in a typical Tarentaise style with old wood and stone throughout, the chalet’s spa facilities are just one of the many incredible features, with an indoor swimming pool, sauna, gym, Jacuzzi 2 500m 100m and outdoor hot tub. The main living area opens out onto the terrace and gives stunning views towards the infamous Face de Bellevarde. A unique opportunity to acquire one" "of Val d’Isère’s finest ski chalets. 4 INTERVIEW Capturing the deep blue An in-depth discussion with photographer and free diver Melody Sky Interview by " Arnie Wilson I am constantly framing and composing things I love. I see the world through a rectangle! “I took my first photo when I was four I capture that moment. It’s likely you’ll time of day, but the snow just looks flat. The name Melody Sky brings to mind and got my first camera when I was nine,” shoot it over and over – at different times It’s best to shoot early or late when the low someone special. Concert pianist? she says. “As a child, I’d spend my pocket of the day and various angles – until you light creates definition and shadows. Then Ballerina? Ski champion? money on developing film. It was always a get the perfect shot. you also get that lovely sparkling snow.” passion and now it’s my profession, so I’ve had a lot of years to practise!” “It’s important to be in the right place I asked Melody how tough it was to stand Well you’d be right about the skiing. She’s at the right time. Something often catches around with her cameras while other far too modest to say so herself, but I can When asked for some insider knowledge my attention and I wish it were earlier people gallivanted down the slopes. vouch for the fact that Melody skis like a on taking good photos, Melody shared a "in the day. The light is also key: the lower dream. So how did lingering on the slopes few of her tips and tricks. the sun, the better light it casts, hence “Yes, this used to really frustrate me!” taking (admittedly stunning) photos of shooting in the ‘golden hour’! she admitted, “Especially when the “Shoot what you love,” she says. “I am snow was really good. I’ve had to avoid other people on skis come to be? constantly framing and composing things “The snow can be tricky, but it can also nice untracked powder and leave it for I love. I see the world through a rectangle! be fun when you get it right. The trick the skiers so many times. But actually, When I see something interesting or is to avoid shooting when the sun is at its I think my love of a good shot just slightly beautiful or something I want to share, highest – it’s beautiful to experience this outdoes my love of skiing powder.” 5 " INTERVIEW I never expected to end "up where I am today. Of course Melody gets very cold standing with a view of the mountains. I love coming around with no gloves while filming, so home from a day on the mountain, being I wanted to find out how she deals with it. cosy and warm and still having that view. Relaxing accommodation and good food “I’m Scottish!” she says. “Although nourishes the mind and body, just as skiing occasionally my hands do get unbearably nourishes the body and soul!” cold to the point I can’t feel them. I really need to get myself some of those gloves I wanted to learn more about Melody’s that you can quickly and temporarily love of diving and where it came from. remove the finger tips from!” “I did a few seasons after school as an underwater photographer in Cyprus, After mentioning that heli-skiers in Canada Turkey and Egypt,” she says. “I absolutely who spend a week in a heli-skiing lodge love the ocean and photography, so the are pandered to with terrific cuisine, she combination was perfect. beamed with delight. “My original dive instructors always spoke “Oh my gosh” says Melody. “I love relaxing about their winters skiing in Tignes in the accommodation and good food! It French Alps, so in the early ‘90s I decided completes the picture and also makes to visit Tignes. I fell in love with the it possible to ski all day long for days on mountains and ended up working in the end and not feel exhausted.” famous Harry’s Bar in the evenings. During the day, I was guiding people under the ice “And as editing is almost as enjoyable as in the lake for a major French ski school, filming, I have my computer set up at home as well as eventually filming for them.” 6 INTERVIEW I think my love of a good " The potential fear of seeing ice above “I can’t reveal too much just yet, but “Believe it or not, I’ve never skied shot just slightly outdoes you while ice diving played on my mind, it’s a movie I’ve dreamed of making in Scotland!” she says. “I spent much so I had to ask her about it. since I watched The Big Blue. They actually of my youth in Cornwall where my dad filmed the ice diving section for the movie surfed, so that’s where the love of the my love of skiing powder. “Yes, for some people it sounds terrifying in Tignes and that inspired me massively! ocean came from. I never expected to and claustrophobic” she says. “I was a diver end up where I have today. It’s been and underwater photographer, so the ice “Over the next year, I will be following such an interesting and diverse journey!” above my head never bothered me. a world champion free diver around " the world and filming some of his mind- Arnie Wilson (former Financial Times “There was always a safe spot for divers blowing escapades – I’m so fortunate ski correspondent who skied every day to come up if they felt uncomfortable and and incredibly excited to get back into of the year in 1994 in 240 ski resorts I would take one diver at a time just in case the water.” in 13 countries).