We talk a lot about station profile and architecture here at The Gondola Project. So I thought it might be fun to track down some little know systems that most of us have probably never even heard of (let alone seen).
As these are all systems with little publicly available information or research, we’re basically judging books by their covers. But it’s just for fun, right?
Not all are necessarily located in urban locations (in fact, most are not), but their individual qualities point to a myriad of ways to implement cable stations into a variety of different urban environments. Take a look:
St. Anton's Galzigbahn funitel is both futuristic and elegant at the same time. Most unique is the 'ferris wheel' loading mechanism that allows users to load at ground level - no stairs or elevators necessary! Image by flickr user Dionetian.
This Israeli lift in Rosh HaNikra happens to have a terminus built into a rock face abutting the Mediterranean. Creative Commons image by By goisraelgermany.
Barcelona's Montjuic gondola station manages to both sit parallel with a road while allowing vehicles to depart the station at a roughly 45 degree angle. Smart use of cable infrastructure separates architecture from infrastructure allowing vehicles to depart on a guideway which is cantilevered over the roadway. Image by flickr user enguany.
Here's something interesting: A couple years ago, a ski resort in Livigno, Italy opened a new gondola system that had an entire terminus underground with an intermediary station partially underground. Unfortunately, images of this system are incredibly hard to come by and this is the best we could track down so far. If anyone can track down anything better, we'd be happy to have it. Image via Alpinforum.
Back in Barcelona, the old portlands gondola eschews all conventional wisdom and chooses to put the gondola station a dozen stories in the air. Image by flickr user Joachim S. Müller.
Perched high atop Mount Machinchang in Langkawi, Malaysia, this tented gondola station is clean, simple and organic - the perfect compliment to its natural surroundings. Image by flickr user Khalzuri.
Hong Kong's Ngong Ping 360 gets a lot of attention, but its station architecture is typically ignored. Image by flickr user Razlan.
Telluride, Colorado's mini-network of gondolas is well-known. What's rarely discussed are their gondola stations which appear to blend perfectly into each village while maintaining the area's vernacular architecture. Image by flickr user Chazz Layne.
Malaysia's Genting Skyway cleverly integrates its lower station into the top floor of a parking garage and shopping mall. Image by flickr user Wohin Auswandern
And just to prove that not everything that's "fascinating" is "good," there's this thing - whatever it is. Image by flickr user Ibán.
3 Comments
I think you might have made an error about the Ngong Ping 360.
I drew an arrow (in white) showing the roof i think you have pictured.
http://i995.photobucket.com/albums/af80/Scozzax/DSC04207crop_arrow.jpg
Sorry about the image quality, its a very wide shot that has been cropped aggressively.
After the staircase you picture there is a long elevated covered walkway (with tapes set up so they can triple the distance for queuing).
I think the walkway bridges a major road, and makes the station much more accessible from the MTR station and outlet mall in the background.
Good spot.
Have a look to this station !
http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?p=77331891