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25 years ago, returning to the UK after a decade in New York, Sarah and Harry Tyser were on the lookout for somewhere they could indulge their passion for skiing and that could also become a by-word to their children for healthy living, excellence, privacy and family-orientated downtime. Having spent several happy holidays in the Arlberg Valley with the Dutch Royal family, they were familiar with the region’s warm welcome, superlative skiing, world-class restaurants, Evian-quality tap water and ‘the fact that it is not at all clannish.’
St Christoph held a particular appeal, due to it status as a skier’s haven, receiving as it does, on average annually 60% more snowfall than the neighbouring resorts of Lech and St Anton. As the birthplace of Alpine skiing in the 1900s and the home of the Austrian Ski Academy to this day, it is a reputation it is justifiably proud of. Indeed, the Tyser’s son, Caspar, having been a one-time British National Championships teammate of the record-setting junior Olympic and Team GB quintet of Zak, Freddy and Luca Carrick Smith clearly availed himself of these facilities and stunning conditions!
‘What I love about St. Christoph is that you will find remarkable people here, united simply by a love of family, skiing and a desire to go back to basics.’
Traditionally properties in the Arlberg have tended to trade by word of mouth and building permits have been even more vanishingly rare. So, when the piece of land that Skyfall was eventually built on became available, Harry and Sarah knew they needed to act quickly. Floor plans and window positions were sketched on napkins with the London-based architect Richard Found over lunch and then executed by local Austrian architect, Jurgen Kitzmuller.
Skyfall Penthouse from its 1850m eyrie occupies a central, discrete ski-in, ski-out location at the Arlberg’s highest point. From a skiers perspective Lech, Zurs and St Anton are all as easily accessed via the St Christoph Bahn lift, outside Skyfall, whilst those who want access to Lech’s shopping, or the Hospiz Alm’s wine or the action of the Mooservirt are also easily satisfied. Nothing within Austria’s largest ski area and the fifth largest ski area worldwide is out of reach.
To Harry, St. Christoph brings a wonderful small village-community feel to his life, as well as an alternative summer base, complete with its associated soundtrack of squealing tires and swimming pool splashing. Although as he puts it, ‘a house isn’t a chalet unless the views are white in every direction most of the time,’ which certainly makes Skyfall a chalet! White never goes out of fashion in St. Christoph.
To Sarah, being in the resort means being able to disconnect and reconnect with her family – a kind of 'control, alt, delete for their minds and bodies'. Skyfall is not only a hub for their young, but also for their friends, as they continue to make wonderful memories here together.
But above all, time spent at Skyfall is about being active. As she adds, ‘nature is after all the world’s oldest gym.’ To her, this can often mean langlaufing around the sunshine infused 2.5km cross country ski track, complete with its stunning views which passes directly behind Skyfall.
Sarah’s career had encompassed high profile roles at Sotheby’s and LINLEY prior to becoming an interior decorator and it is these eclectic influences - a fusion of art, taste and relationships that she has combined so expertly at Skyfall. It is a fun fact that Skyfall possesses the only bespoke LINLEY kitchen in the Alps.
She also did a lot of the interior design of Skyfall from London, working closely with design houses such as Pierre Frey, Bennison, George Spencer, Poltrona Frau and many more. But when it came to the actual build it was the local artisans, all passionate about their respective crafts that elevated the project out of the ordinary. For instance, Markus Weiskopf was not only the ‘genius carpenter’ responsible for Skyfall’s panelling but also as the record holder for the famous White Ring challenge, a race covering 22 kilometres, and an invaluable ski advisor to their son during his ski racing days.
When pressed to reveal her most treasured pieces in Skyfall, she turns without hesitation to the Teddy Millington Drake series that line the sitting room walls. Having previously been a traditional interior and landscape painter, Millington Drake got to know Cy Twombly at the 1964 Biennale in Venice when Rauschenberg won the prize. He was won over by the simplicity and complexity of his American expressionism, and had a damascene conversion. Perhaps these paintings are also an allegory for what the Tysers have achieved at Skyfall, where all the scratches and scribbles on their canvas of life give way to a certain order and calmness.
HARRY AND SARAH'S LIST OF THE BEST THINGS TO DO, SEE, AND EAT:
- Murmeli, in Ober-Lech, owned by a husband and wife team Wolfgang and Ann Marie Strauss. The warmest welcome combined with the best food in the valley.
- The Hospiz Alm created by Adi Werner, is a mecca for wine aficionados, foodies and party lovers alike.
- The Verwallstube, at 2000m on the Galzig, is one of the highest gourmet restaurants in Europe and a favourite post-ski rendezvous for Harry and Sarah
- Lenai + Linai in Lech, a boutique run by Sonia who makes everything by hand – from lanyards and bags to clothing in wool, felt and loden.
- Hagens Dorf in Lech run by Kuno, Doris and Florian Hagen, this family-run butcher and deli with a small restaurant is a joyous find.
- White water rafting, canyoning, and kayaking that Harry and the sons love
- Downhill biking, climbing, hiking, and fishing in the summer.
