Hungerburg Funicular, Innsbruck, Austria

Planned and designed by star architect Zaha Hadid, the Hungerburg funicular with its unique stations sets new standards in international architecture. Each station was designed according to the specific site conditions at various altitudes, whilst maintaining the coherent overall architectural language of fluidity. The shell structures for the terminals are covered with thermoformed glass roofs that seem to float above the ground. With their flowing organic shapes and their ice-like surfaces the buildings imitate the landscape of the Alps in winter.

In addition to the stations Zaha Hadid designed the suspension bridge over the river Inn, a ‘S’-shaped steel structure with two 34-meter high pylons. Due to the skilful illumination the bridge seems to be a floating band of light hovering over the river and the passing railcars dash across it like bright dots of light.