Upper Station: Schartenkogel Express

With the new mountain station of the Schartenkogel-Express, a structure has been created on the Glungezerbahn in Tyrol that seamlessly blends technical infrastructure and Alpine architecture into a harmonious whole. The designated site combines the mountain station of a 6-person chairlift with a restaurant and blends sensitively into the high-Alpine landscape.
The design took its inspiration from the traditional mountain huts of the Alpine region. Their clean lines, robustness, and use of materials were reinterpreted in a contemporary way and form the design foundation of the project. Equally influential were the views of the surrounding mountains: The building is deliberately oriented toward the striking vistas of Innsbruck—including the Hafelekar and Seegrube peaks—the Lower Inn Valley, and the Haneburger, Malgrübler, Sonntiger, and Glungezer mountains—thereby making the landscape itself an integral part of the architecture.
The choice of materials reflects the goal of combining durability with regional character. A natural wood-shingle façade defines the main elevations, while the sides most exposed to the elements are protected by a standing-seam metal façade. At the base, washed or bush-hammered exposed concrete forms the building’s robust foundation. The traditional combination of wood, metal, and concrete is reinterpreted here in a clear, contemporary architectural language.
A structure that meets the demands of the alpine climate just as well as it harmonizes with its scenic context.

To the project overview