Over the coming years, the pioneering spirit will be both tangible and visible on the peak. The internationally renowned architects Herzog & de Meuron have redesigned the mountain station and the iconic tower. By 2029, Titlis will be home to world-class architecture for future generations. And there's more! As part of the Titlis Project, the environmental sustainability of the infrastructure is being significantly improved and new opportunities for catering, hospitality and events are being created. The safety of our guests and staff remains a top priority throughout the construction phase. At the same time, we're doing everything we can to guarantee the usual peak experience during this time.
A first milestone will be reached at the end of 2024 with the opening of the new single-line cableway between Stand and Titlis. The Linie II will primarily be used for evacuations and the transportation of materials. At the same time, it will make it possible to access the peak 365 days of the year as it will also be able to transport people during the Rotair's annual maintenance period, which lasts around two weeks. The top station of the Linie II is around 70 metres lower than that of the Rotair. The two buildings are connected below ground by a tunnel. In terms of architecture, they speak the same language. However, the top station of the Linie II will not require a roof or additional infrastructure, thus emphasizing its nature as a secondary cableway.
One of the main attractions of the Titlis Project is the new viewing tower, which is set to be completed by 2026. The steel construction erected by Swiss Post in the 1980s is part of the unique character of this mountain peak. Herzog & de Meuron are now transforming this huge piece of infrastructure into an iconic cross design by adding two horizontal, glazed steel beams that will accommodate a restaurant, bar and exhibition space, among other things. Guests will be able to access the tower via a lift and then make their way to the viewing terrace where they can enjoy unrivalled views of the glacier and surrounding mountains at over 3,000 metres above sea level.
The final phase will see the construction of a new mountain station between 2026 and 2028. This will replace the existing buildings on the peak, which date back to the 1960s and have reached the end of their life cycle. Made of steel and glass, the new mountain station will be fused to the rock like a crystal and its spacious architecture will offer lots of room for arriving guests. In addition to businesses and two restaurants seating up to 600 people in total, a panoramic walkway is planned below the mountain station that will reveal the previously concealed view of the west side of the peak. In many respects, therefore, the Titlis Project is opening up new perspectives for peak experiences on Titlis.
With an investment volume of around 120 million Swiss francs, the Titlis Project will generate substantial, regional added value that will benefit the people and businesses in the Engelberg valley and the whole of Central Switzerland. The construction project is a promise that future generations will also get to experience Titlis in all its beauty and uniqueness. In addition to architectural and aesthetic upgrades to the infrastructure, the TITLIS Project will also significantly improve environmental sustainability. Although the new building will offer 85 percent more floor space, heat consumption will be reduced by half. CO2 and particulate emissions will be reduced by 98 percent in total and energy consumption will be reduced from the equivalent of 40 detached houses to just 3.
Visualizations: © Herzog & de Meuron