MODERN CHALET | ASPEN — W ASPEN & THE SKY RESIDENCES AT W ASPEN REINVENT THE ALPINE ESCAPE
By Linda Hayes
Anyone who remembers the 2017 ski season closing party at The Sky Hotel knows that what now stands in its place, the new W Aspen and The Sky Residences at W Aspen, has a lot to live up to. Specifically, a reputation as one of Aspen’s foremost places for fun and frolic. (Its ’80s iteration, the Aspen Club Lodge, held its own as well.)
Launching this summer as parent company Marriott International’s only alpine resort escape property in the United States, the W Aspen and The Sky Residences at W Aspen promise a youthful, energetic vibe and conviviality for locals and visitors alike. Aspen’s historical and cultural legacy lives on, right at the outset. “W Aspen and The Sky Residences at W Aspen are a great example of how the true spirit of a property can be maintained, while elevating the experiences of the next generation of travelers and residents,” says John Rowland, of Rowland+Broughton, architects on the project. “The design concept of a modern ski chalet—including long, sloping rooflines—that was prevalent in Aspen when skiing was first introduced, links Aspen’s past, present and future.”
Interiors within the 88-room hotel and 11 W-branded fractional Residences feature bespoke furnishings, details and accents that speak to both Aspen’s heritage and inherent decadence. Well-being of body, mind and spirit, an ode to Aspen’s historical credo, is addressed via a split-level living room-lounge, the 39º lounge (think high-style cocktails and light fare), topped off by the 8,000-squarefoot WET Deck’s heated pool and hot tub, firepit and cabanas, and 360-degree town and Aspen Mountain views.
