An Extraordinary Place
A few years ago, one of our founders Nathan was skiing in the area. After his last turns of the afternoon, we wandered down a gently sloping, snowy road, making his way through the Village at Sugar Bowl. As he made his way down the trail, he spotted some cross-country skiers shushing along the trail out toward Van Norden Meadow, as their dog gleefully chased behind them. Just beyond them was a thick wedge shaped pine forest that widened outward. He meandered through the land, and discovered a magical piece of property at the foot of Sugar Bowl and on the doorstep of Royal Gorge. We call this place Norden Cross.
An Austrian Living in the Sierra Nevada
An idyllic European village nestled high in the Sierras, Sugar Bowl is a resort unlike any other. Originally built in the 1940’s by a famed Austrian ski racer with the help of professional athletes and visionary friends like Walt Disney. Today Sugar Bowl remains a dreamy snow-bound village of unique Alpine homes clustered around a historic lodge. It is the first and last of its kind.
Troll Hus — Designed by Mork-Ulnes
Design Potential
We saw a glimpse of what was possible.
The homes of Sugar Bowl Village are a diverse mix of design vernaculars. An intimate village representing each families unique relationship with living and recreating in the mountains. We see the potential to push design even further and reinvent mountain modernism in the West. Taking inspiration from Sugar Bowl’s earliest alpine vision, and adding to it with thoughtful collaborations and daring architecture to create the most iconic estate in the Sierra Nevada.
a Momentous design Collaboration
Norden Cross is more than an estate, it’s a culmination of a momentous design collaboration. We sought out the leading minds in Alpine architecture, from local pioneers up to the mountains of British Columbia, all the way to Norway and Sweden. We asked them to come together with us to envision the most unique property possible. We choose them for their expertise in ecological sensitivity, masterful planning, stunning designs and a shared quest for adventure.