CABLE CAR OLANG

In the Pustertal valley in the east of South Tyrol, the Kronplatz is among the largest skiing and hiking areas in the Dolomites. One of the cable cars belonging to the recreational area is the Olang cable car, which takes sports enthusiasts and tourists from the village of Olang directly to the summit of the Kronplatz at almost 2,300 metres above sea level.

Through a design competition, the stations of the cable car were to be redesigned, extended and given an identity-creating appearance. For the project, the urban feasibility was examined and the movement flows of individuals and families were analyzed.

The proposal aims to integrate the existing structures into the new buildings. The three stations are encased in a polyhedral steel shell. The result is a mosaic of triangles that – like a boulder – imitates the edges and corners of the surrounding mountain ranges and thus becomes an integral part of the alpine landscape. The perforated membrane allows sunlight to flow into the building’s interior and at the same time offers protection from strong solar radiation. The dark metal is contrasted by light wood, creating a harmonious ensemble.