White Christmas goals: Must-visit snow covered architecture around the world

Is White Christmas just a Hallmark movie trope? We beg to differ. Imagine this: a crisp winter morning, the air still, the world blanketed in pristine white. Now picture your favourite architectural masterpiece transformed by the snowy embrace – a sight that would make even the Grinch grin!

ELLE DECOR India plays Santa and rounds up the iconic architecture from around the world in full throttle of the winter glory. Scroll to spin the design globe.

Church on the Water, Japan

By Tadao Ando

One of Ando’s most profound masterpieces built in 1988, Church on the Water in ​​Hokkaidō, Japan transcends mere architecture and serves as a dialogue between the built environment and the natural world. “The horizon divides the sky from the earth, the sacred from the profane. The landscape changes its appearance from moment to moment. In that transition, visitors can sense the presence of nature and the sacred,” says the master himself. In the months of winter, the surrounding landscape transforms into a white wonderland, extending an altered spiritual experience. 

Fallingwater, Pennsylvania

By Frank Lloyd Wright

Deriving its name from the waterfall it’s partly built upon, Fallingwater was designed as a weekend home in 1939. Set amidst the mountains of Southwestern Pennsylvania, the project the architect’s one the most celebrated works exemplifying his philosophy of organic architecture: the harmonious union of art and nature. The staggered built form of the buildings transforms and blends into the snow covered landscape of the mountains. 

Edith Fransworth House, Illinois

By Ludwig Mies van der Rohe

An iconic project in the history of modern architecture, the Edith Fransworth House was constructed as a one-room weekend retreat in the 1940s. On the outskirts of Plano, Illinois, the building represents the emergence of a glass house structure with a clear span interior. As the surroundings get covered in snow, the building blends in displaying a noir effect.

CopenHill, Copenhagen

By Bjarke Ingels Group

The CopenHill in Copenhagen is an exemplary step towards sustainability in architecture. Repurposing a 50-year-old power plant with a destination for the public – featuring a ski slope, hiking trail, climbing wall, and urban recreation center and an environmental education hub – the architect’s design is a response to the notion of hedonistic sustainability.

Glass House, Connecticut

By Philip Johnson

Built on a hill in Connecticut, Philip Johnson’s Glass House built in 1949 is yet another masterpiece known to be a landmark in modern architecture. The innovative use of materials, incorporation into the landscape and pioneering an odyssey of architectural experimentation renders its mark of iconicity. A visit to the pavilion in the winter season is a great time to witness such snow-covered views.

Audemars Piguet, Switzerland

By Bjarke Ingels Group

Winters in Switzerland are truly one of the most magical experiences in the world. And the Audemars Piguet Hôtel des Horlogers designed by BIG Architects optimises these majestic snow-covered view to the fullest. The zigzag slabs softly embrace the site and create a stunning viewing point at various levels. A stay at the property is simply a mesmerising experience.

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