Architectural firm Snøhetta has been selected to design a base and summit for a cable car at the foot of the Italian Alps, offering visitors commanding views of the surrounding area.

The views of the mountain range surrounding the city of Bolzano had previously been inaccessible to anyone but the most experience climber since the cable car to the peak of Virgolo mountain was closed in 1976. However, once Snøhetta’s vision is realised, the summit will become re-accessible, making the mountain a lucrative tourist attraction once again.

Snøhetta’s design is comprised of two doughnut-shaped terminals at both the summit and base of the mountain. The project at both its base and peak will be themed around nature, with the station at the top forming a tourist attraction in its own right, to include a restaurant, café, infinity pool a mountain square for hosting special events and finally meeting rooms. Both rings will be embedded into the existing topography of the land and will include additional facilities for exploration, recreation and relaxation.

According to Snøhetta, the journey from the centre of Bolzano to the top of the mountain will take just 5 minutes, including a 1 minute 11 second ascent from the mountain base.