Ski slope could be built on top of apartment block

 It's not quite a cozy chalet ensconced in the Swiss Alps' snow-peaked caps, but for residents of Kazakhstan's capital Astana the Slalom House residential project -- an eye-catching new winter sports facility -- could bring the slopes to their front door. Despite suffering bitterly cold winters where temperatures regularly fall below minus 15 Celsius (5 Fahrenheit), Astana has few places where local ski and snowboard enthusiasts can hone their skills. A group of local residents have even been reduced to fashioning their own mini-slopes in public parks by packing snow together during the winter months, according to the Astana Times.