Snøhetta

Top of Alpbachtal Viewing Tower

Top of Alpbachtal Viewing Tower
© Christian Flatscher

Top of Alpbachtal Viewing Tower 

Snøhetta

CATEGORY
Watching Tower, Landmarks & Monuments

LOCATION
Alpbach, Austria

CABLE CAR MANUFACTURER
Leitner Ropeways

ARCHITECTS
Snøhetta

AREA
316 M²

YEAR
2022

CABLE CAR PLANNING AND CONSTRUCTION SUPERVISION
Kitzbühel

CLIENT
Alpbacher Bergbahnen

COLLABORATOR
Seilbahnbüro Di Andreas Gröbner

STRUCTURAL ENGINEER
Plantec

To celebrate the tenth anniversary of the Ski Juwel Alpbachtal Wildschönau ski resort, the ski area invested in a new chairlift, the new Hornbahn 2000, to replace an outdated ski lift and invited Snøhetta to design a viewing tower on top of the service room of the cable car to create a landmark that enhances the mountain experience for visitors.

Top of Alpbachtal Viewing Tower
© Christian Flatscher
Top of Alpbachtal Viewing Tower
© Christian Flatscher

Called “Top of Alpbachtal”, the design concept for the 13-meter-high timber tower in the Tyrolean Alps references alpine building traditions.

“Timber buildings have a great tradition in the Alpbachtal region. It was obvious for us to use these references and create a modern interpretation.

Top of Alpbachtal Viewing Tower
© Christian Flatscher
Top of Alpbachtal Viewing Tower
© Christian Flatscher

Based on traditional construction methods, the structure could be realized as resource-conserving and sustainable as possible”, says Patrick Lüth, Partner and Managing Director of Snøhetta Studio Innsbruck. “Just as importantly, we developed the design in dialog with the alpine landscape.”

The new timber structure, which becomes narrower at the top, is clad in shingles handmade by a local shingle maker.

Top of Alpbachtal Viewing Tower
© Christian Flatscher
Top of Alpbachtal Viewing Tower
© Christian Flatscher

A panorama room is available for skiers and also for snowshoe walkers, ski tourers, and hikers in summer.

Passing the lift control room, located in the concrete base of the timber building, visitors reach a lounge that is open to the public.

Top of Alpbachtal Viewing Tower
© Christian Flatscher
Top of Alpbachtal Viewing Tower
© Christian Flatscher
Top of Alpbachtal Viewing Tower
© Christian Flatscher

Traditional Tyrolean farmhouse parlors inspired the design of this panoramic room on the first floor.

The lower part of the two-story room is clad with wooden wall paneling and thus refers to the traditional parlors.

In the upper part, on the other hand, the open construction of the roof structure is visible – a reminiscence of the tradition of agricultural building.

Top of Alpbachtal Viewing Tower
© Christian Flatscher
Top of Alpbachtal Viewing Tower
© Christian Flatscher
Top of Alpbachtal Viewing Tower
© Christian Flatscher

The contemporary Tyrolean parlor offers an informal seating landscape with seating areas and wooden platforms.

Everyone can choose their own individual place to rest in the freely accessible gathering place. The space is sheltered from the wind but not heated.

Top of Alpbachtal Viewing Tower
© Christian Flatscher
Top of Alpbachtal Viewing Tower
© Christian Flatscher

Here, everyone can take a break without having to consume anything. Large panorama windows provide light and a far-reaching view of the breathtaking scenery and surrounding mountains.

As a keyless structure, it also builds on the alpine tradition of shelter structures that can be used during summer and winter.

Top of Alpbachtal Viewing Tower
© Christian Flatscher
Top of Alpbachtal Viewing Tower
© Christian Flatscher
Top of Alpbachtal Viewing Tower
© Christian Flatscher

At the very top of the viewing tower, you can enjoy the unique 360-degree panoramic view of the alpine landscape in the fresh air.

And as confidently as the tower on the mountain rises into the sky, the equally shingle-clad valley station nestles into the landscape.

Top of Alpbachtal Viewing Tower
© Christian Flatscher
Top of Alpbachtal Viewing Tower
© Christian Flatscher

All in all, the new structures of the new Hornbahn 2000 cable car present themselves as an ensemble that consciously reacts to the respective surroundings and landscape.

Snøhetta
T +47 24 156060
Snøhetta
Skur 39, Akershusstranda 21, 0150 Oslo, Norway