The anti-ski house

Traditional outside, modern inside

Located in the French Alps, in Les Trois Valées, Chalet La Transhumance has a traditional exterior with a gabled roof and balconies and an ultramodern interior. The 5,000-square-foot home was designed by French architect Noé Duchaufour-Lawrance.

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Futuristic fires

The home features concrete floors, stone and plaster walls, suspension beds and a metal and concrete staircase. The great room, pictured here, has a futuristic fireplace that's made from resin, concrete and metal.

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French modern

In Courchevel, France, Chalet Eden has five bedrooms and 5.5 bathrooms, complete with stone sinks, metal-lined fireplaces and sleek kitchen cabinetry. The swimming pool is surrounded by a stone-ledged wall. The home is on the market for $11.2 million.

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An Olympic view

With views of the 2010 Winter Olympics alpine downhill finish line, this 5,750-square-foot home in Whistler, British Columbia, has five bedrooms and seven bathrooms. The home was completed in 2012 and has been on the market for $11.5 million.

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Outdoor area

The Whistler home also features a 13-foot concrete outdoor fireplace.

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Cleaner look

Technology has also eliminated the need for some signature styles of alpine design. Steeply pitched roofs aren't mandatory for heavy snowfalls because many new metal roofs are designed to hold the snow for insulation, says Ann MacQuoid, an associate broker in Deer Valley, Utah. Instead of small windows with thick shutters, large windows with triple panes can keep the heat in. Often, they are strategically placed in parts of the home that let in the most sun, thereby reducing heating costs.

Part of the design evolution also relates to the aging of the population, as a sleeker and cleaner look is often popular with empty-nester homeowners, says Debbie Evans, an interior designer in Whistler.

"When you have children, there's chaos and things are busy, so design reflects that," Evans says. "Now, it's more sophisticated."

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'Anti-modern' sentiment persists

Building modern in a mountain town has its challenges. Review boards and public opinion can still be "anti-modern" — particularly in resort communities where specific home styles dominate the identity of the place.

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A prize at auction

Pa Gomo, which sits on 35 acres in Telluride, Colo., was designed by architect Jack Snow of RKD Architects. The 10,000-square-foot home has a master suite that floats above a pond, a custom-made stained-glass and steel wine rack and curved glass walls. In July it was auctioned off for $13.2 million, a record sale for Telluride.

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'Anti-mountain' sentiment

Stuart Ross and his wife, Valarie, the former owners and builders of Pa Gomo, say they specifically looked for an "anti-mountain" architect.

"We told him, 'No antlers and no logs,'" Stuart Ross says.

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Designer duplex

Architect Willis Pember designed this 7,500-square-foot duplex for an empty-nester couple in Aspen, Colo. Called Ur.2, the home cost around $3.8 million to build.

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A home for all seasons

A variety of changes, from technology to demographics, are driving the design shift for ski homes. As the digital age makes telecommuting more common, more owners are living in resort areas year-round, Pember says.

After all, the bear rugs and pine floors that were so comforting over Christmas vacation can seem a little kitschy in July.

• Fitbie: Ultimate ski-and-snowboard tune-up workout

• Video: How to plan a family ski trip

• On our blog, 'Listed': 1895 carriage house turned artist's loft

Open and modern

Ur.2 features sprawling windows, a maple-and-glass staircase, an open floor plan and stained concrete floors.

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• Video: British woman completes solo ski trek across Antarctica

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• On our blog, 'Listed': Builders push 'Made in America' homes

Hiding the highway

In Woody Creek, Colo., this residence was designed to mask the views of a nearby highway. At approximately 5,700 square feet, it features a limestone fireplace and bamboo flooring.

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Stairs of steel

The contemporary staircase is made from custom-formed steel, bamboo treads, brushed-steel railings and glass panels.

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• Fitbie: Ultimate ski-and-snowboard tune-up workout

• Video: How to plan a family ski trip

• On our blog, 'Listed': 1895 carriage house turned artist's loft