Technology: The New Wildspitzbahn on the Pitztal Glacier
- Frank Kaltenbach
Building in a glacial region of the Alps poses special challenges with respect to the extreme temperature fluctuation, wind force, snow loads and the limited space available for the foundations on the rock outcroppings amid a continually moving ice crust. At an elevation of 4554 m, the Capanna Regina Margherita on the summit of the Signalkuppe in the Pennine Alps in Italy holds the record for altitude. The Gouter Lodge, perched on a secondary summit of Mont Blanc (3817 m), and the Monte Rosa Lodge (2883 m) in the Monte Rosa Massif of the Pennine Alps are examples of recently completed structures – many of them requiring the assistance of a helicopter during construction – that employ timber construction. In contrast to these mountain shelters that are accessible only to mountain climbers, this summit station (3440 m) of the Wildspitzbahn am Pitztal Glacier um a panorama café is located in a ski resort that is easily accessible – one need only step into one of the 61 heated gondolas. The architects’ intention to achieve maximum transparency in the floor-to-ceiling glazing presents a special challenge to the structural engineers: the load-bearing members must be slender, yet able to absorb the considerable loads. Therefore steel was selected for the parts of the building above grade: at the roof, which is clad, in the form of a lattice truss; in front of the glazed facades, as slender round columns.
