SAM Magazine--December 1, 2006, Snowhunter--The first stone of "Les terrasses d'Eos," the first building within the new Intrawest resort village being built at Flaine in France, has been laid.

Les terrasses d'Eos is a four-star tourism residence made up of 91 apartments, the first part of Flaine Montsoleil village, which will ultimately have 2,400 beds.

As with Intrawest's first European development, Arc 1950 - Le Village beneath Arc 2000 in Les Arcs, which is now virtually complete--the development pre-sold prior to construction within hours.

Again in similarity to the Les Arcs development, the new Intrawest development will be a marked contrast to some of the original 1960s and 70s French concrete architecture in adjacent resorts. The original Flaine development was built in a stark Bauhaus architectural style.

The completion date of "Les terrasses d'Eos" is summer 2007. The full resort is due to be completed by 2012. Intrawest is looking at other existing European ski areas to build lift-linked resorts within, including a site on the Swiss Four Valleys, near Verbier.

Since the announcement of the Flaine development, Intrawest has been sold to an investment company and its founder and boss Joe Houssain has decided to retire after 30 years running the company.

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