Nestled in the Alborz Mountains at an altitude of 2,500m is Shemshak ski resort, Iran’s second biggest ski area. Unknown to many western skiers, Shemshak is home to the coolest mountain hotel in the world. The Barin Hotel’s bone-like appearance and curved structure are designed to help it blend into its mountain surroundings.
The Barin is designed to look like a windswept ice-rock formation on the mountain side.
The ultra contemporary design is meant to the image of skiing in Iran and show that the region can rival more popular destinations in terms of modern, upmarket accommodation.
The Barin hotel has 67 rooms of different sizes that mirror the exterior with unusual, curving, igloo-like rooms.
“The Barin ski resort picks up on the philosophy of designing buildings so that the form emulates the immediate environment in a fluid way,” said RYRA Studio’s Farinaz Nikoo.
