Austria’s highest construction site has been completed: the Dachstein mountain station was completely renovated at a cost of 14 million euros and features a number of new highlights. From Friday, the cable car will take guests to the roof of Styria again after nine months of renovation work.
A special 40 meter high crane, 350 tons of demolition material, 150 tons of steel and 170 cubic meters of concrete – all in an exposed location at 2700 meters, with no access. The renovation of the outdated Dachstein mountain station was a huge task for everyone involved. After nine months, the highest and probably most spectacular construction site in Austria has now been completed; The completely renovated building was ceremonially opened on Thursday.
“Around this time last year we were faced with the question: which companies would dare to do this? “You are almost at 3,000 meters and you need staff with experience in the high mountains,” explains Planai Bahnen boss Georg Bliem. “Fortunately, we found very nice companies, especially from the region, that the employees wanted to be part of.”
Welding where others climb mountains
More than 130 employees, plus another 40 employees from the Dachstein team, have been working at dizzying heights since the beginning of September. welding outside,” says Bliem. And adds: “The logistics were also crazy. We transported most of the items up and down by cable car and sometimes we also used a helicopter, for example for the large window fronts.”
The result is impressive: a highlight is the new photovoltaic installation, cleverly integrated into the facade and yet an absolute eye-catcher. PV modules were installed on approximately 600 square meters, which generate approximately 100,000 kilowatt hours of electricity annually and thus cover approximately 80 percent of the energy required for the mountain station.
An El Dorado for those hungry for views
The heart of the interior renovation is the new glacier restaurant for approximately 240 guests. “With large glass facades that go all the way to the ground, you are actually in the middle of the mountains, with a fantastic view,” says Planai boss Bliem enthusiastically. There is also a new terrace and ‘the highest seminar room in Austria’. And for visitors hungry for views, it goes even higher: as a counterpart to the popular ‘Stairway to Nowhere’, there is now also the new ‘Himmelsleiter’, a panoramic view. glass platform that rises seven meters above the building.
“Thanks to the new mountain station, the Dachstein becomes even more attractive to guests from all over the world and offers even more breathtaking views,” said State Governor Christopher Drexler during the opening ceremony. “The focus on sustainability is particularly nice,” said State Tourism Councilor Barbara Eibinger-Miedl.
The pressure on glaciers is increasing
Despite all the cheering, difficult challenges are also discussed: “We don’t want to hide the problems of climate change and glacier retreat,” says Bliem. Exhibitions and installations on these sensitive topics were created in collaboration with the Universalmuseum Joanneum and Ars Electronica Solutions (Linz).
The estimated budget of 14 million euros must be respected. “It looks like a precision landing, so we calculated correctly,” says Bliem happily, adding with a wink: “Now it should work again for the next 50 years!”
Source: Krone
I am Wallace Jones, an experienced journalist. I specialize in writing for the world section of Today Times Live. With over a decade of experience, I have developed an eye for detail when it comes to reporting on local and global stories. My passion lies in uncovering the truth through my investigative skills and creating thought-provoking content that resonates with readers worldwide.
