In the heart of the breathtaking Dolomites, an architectural project is attracting worldwide attention, not only for its innovative and daring design, but also for its illustrious owner: Elon Musk. According to a detailed report by Alessandro Costanza, an architect from Bolzano and co-founder of the BlueArch studio, Elon Musk has decided to establish his residence in one of Italy’s best ski resorts: San Cassiano in Badia, inspired by the beauty of the mountains and his passion for skiing.
The article, which explores in depth the creative process and unique details of this residence, reveals how the combination of cutting-edge technology, sustainable design, and luxury intertwine to create a space that not only reflects Elon Musk’s personality and interests but also redefines the concept of mountain living.
From a suspended glass swimming pool to a cryogenic chamber, every element of the house has been carefully designed to offer an unparalleled experience. This article not only takes us on a journey through Elon Musk’s dream home, but also delves into the minds of the architects behind this impressive creation.
Elon Musk’s house in the Alps will feature a suspended swimming pool and fifteen bathrooms.
“The project? I dreamed it up at night: it’s a turtle shell with explosive floors, two basements, and three stories. A total of 800 square meters divided between 15 bedrooms, 15 bathrooms, a large living room, and an underground wine cellar and spa. The most daring details? The cryogenic chamber at -100 degrees, the underground dressing room hidden in the ground, and the 30-meter suspended glass swimming pool,” smiles Alessandro Costanza, an architect from Bolzano, showing the Italian media outlet Corriere del Trentino the renderings of the project sketched out for magnate Elon Musk.
photo @bluearch.studio via Instagram
After coming to ski in South Tyrol a few years ago and being dazzled by the Dolomites, the boss of Tesla, SpaceX, Neuralink, The Boring Company, and Twitter, one of the richest men in the world, decided to put down roots in San Cassiano in Badia, entrusting the design of his new residence to the BlueArch studio, which architect Costanza founded with her partner Alberto Montesi in 2000. Back from the Venice Biennale, where they presented their hyper-technological modular habitat “The Swarm,” the two architects are lifting the veil on their ambitious eight-figure project.
Elon Musk’s project in the Alps
Elon Musk, a 21st-century visionary, has established himself as one of the most influential and disruptive figures in many industries. Founder of SpaceX, he has revolutionized space exploration with the launch of reusable rockets and the ambitious goal of colonizing Mars. With Tesla, Musk has been at the forefront of the transition to electric vehicles, redefining the automotive industry with innovations in autonomy and sustainability.
This project is not just a house, but a masterpiece of modern architecture, designed specifically for one of the most visionary entrepreneurs of our time.
Furthermore, with projects such as Neuralink and The Boring Company, he is exploring the frontiers of neurotechnology and transportation infrastructure, respectively. His ability to anticipate and shape the future, combined with his focus on sustainable and technologically advanced solutions, has made him a pioneer of the modern era, driving significant changes in the way we interact with technology and our environment. Today, Elon Musk is making headlines for his affinity for snow and skiing, specifically in the magnificent Italian Dolomites, considered one of the most beautiful mountain ranges in the world.
“We were contacted in November, not directly by Elon but by an intermediary,” admits Costanza. ‘His international broker asked us to design a building on a piece of land for sale that interested Mr. Musk’: a green meadow sloping down 4,000 meters. They didn’t tell us anything else. But that was enough for the visionary designers in Bolzano, who presented their idea within a few weeks.
“Everyone wonders what the home of a space traveler with an infinite mind like Elon Musk might look like,” reveals the co-founder of BlueArch. ”We thought of a dynamic composition of overhanging and flying aircraft and unstable balances. It’s as if the hull is exploding. It is entirely metallic, with wooden crossbeams, solid masonry buttresses, and a spur made entirely of glass. The materials are traditional, but there will be a reinforced concrete skeleton because the structure has very daring inclinations: it is a house that must rewrite the codes of Alpine architecture.”
The suspended swimming pool
The huge swimming pool stands out from the futuristic exteriors: “An infinity pool made of concrete and glass, completely suspended and with a transparent shell because vertigo always accompanies dreams,” explains architect Costanza. “It will be heated and will be 30 meters long, extending into the void, suspended towards the mountains.”
photo @bluearch.studio via Instagram
Starting from the bottom, there are “the wine cellars, areas dedicated to fitness with a spa, sauna, Turkish bath, and a cryogenic chamber with liquid nitrogen at -100 degrees, and upstairs, a huge living room with large fireplaces, just like the Americans like. A fully automated house, controlled by smartphone: this is top of the line.” The challenges come thick and fast. “We have adopted a very advanced and unconventional architectural language,” admits the designer. “It would seem reductive to offer Elon the ‘baitina’, the Swiss chalet revisited and corrected. On the other hand, our hallmark is precisely to break the existing rules in projects that think big but appear small, that take off on a global scale but are rooted locally.”
Luxury skiing: how Elon Musk imagines his ideal mountain home
The design phase went very quickly and the idea seemed well received. The inclusion in the renderings of Tesla’s new Cybertruck and the tycoon leaning over the terrace may have helped. After several months of “press silence,” as Costanza put it, the broker confirmed that interest remained. But it seems that in the meantime the area has been sold, and I don’t think Elon has finalized the purchase. However, the end of the world is already happening in the valley in terms of land prices. So we found a second area, very discreet, off the market, which suits him perfectly.
A period of dialogue will now follow. “Musk liked the project: he contacted us again and would like to continue,” confirms the creator. “Honestly, I think it’s the most beautiful work we’ve ever done, and our most valued clients, American billionaires for whom we manage projects, have given us very flattering feedback. We’ve developed resorts, residential complexes, and skyscrapers, even very large ones, but since the news about Elon broke, it’s like a bomb has gone off: everyone is looking for us.” However, Alessandro Costanza reveals, “the architect’s hand is minimal.” “At a certain point, the project takes on a life of its own, it’s as if it escapes us, we are merely the executors of an idea that develops on its own, that generates itself. We are simply obeying a design idea: that’s why the best projects are never completely understandable,“ concludes the designer, ‘it’s a Faustian curse.’ And we welcome it with open arms, dedicating ourselves to it with passion and having a lot of fun.”
