Durability
Valais, Switzerland
Prof. Alexandre Theriot – FS22
Master Thesis
ETHZ
A quarter of the world’s tourism takes place in the Alps . Here, every 3rd Swiss skis or snowboards at least once a year. With the emergence of skiing as a popular winter sport, the mountains became increasingly connected, forming a high-altitude network of leisure infrastructures. The Alps were transformed from a sublime landscape into a gigantic playground. Through climate change and the rise of temperature, the ski machinery is in danger, as most of the revenue is generated in the winter season. Alpine tourism seeks to consume the landscape but at the same time causes a significant amount of CO2 emissions and is the cause of many interferences in this fragile mountain landscape.
4 Vallées is one of the largest ski areas in Switzerland. Despite its many ski lifts, it is insufficiently connected to the valley and to public transport. Up to 75% of the emissions of a skiing holiday are caused by the travel to and from the mountains, as the car is still the preferred method of transport.
By linking the high alpine resorts to the valley with a cable car, a time-saving and low-emission mobility can be created. Connecting directly to the city of Sion, visitorflows can be distributed throughout the season and flows of goods can be managed efficiently. The cable car station provides a direct link to the ski area in order to prevent the further overbuilding of the Alps. The lowest station is located above the railway station in Sion and connects the new urban development in the south with the existing residential areas. It forms a mobility hub that connects the various means of transport in one building and reflects the flows of people and vehicles.
