Central Switzerland's Pilatus Bahn. All images by Steven Dale.
Having just recently witnessed the Pilatus Bahn, I’d have to say the question is no longer “are gondolas compatible with urban residential uses.”
Maybe instead the question should be phrased as “how are gondolas compatible with urban residential uses?”
And I’d be willing to go out on a limb here and say it’s just a question (like many things) of design . . . Take a look:
Note: Houses and Apartments. Lots of them.
Take a look at the bottom left hand corner - That's a rooftop patio.
Notice the height - just high enough not to peer into people's windows thereby maintaining their privacy within their residences.
Greenery and foliage used to mask towers. Not perfect mind you, but not too bad either.
Street level station in a residential area - adjacent to a parking lot.
Just a vehicle like any other.
Before entering the residential areas depicted previously, the line's configuration passes over a street and small parking lot.
As before, but with a wider perspective.
The end station as seen from a vehicle.
Note the other roof-top patio. Admittedly, if you're into nude sunbathing, these suites probably won't be for you.
Any thoughts?
5 Comments
The station looks like it boards at ground level, others seemed to have have people take stairs to a second level to load. Is there more strain on the bullwheel and cable to have an elevation bend in the system?
Ground level boarding seems like it would make the system superior to other station designs that require elevators for hanicapped people.
Most houses where built after the gondola. The gondola is quite old und was recently converted from BCD to MCD. Building a complete new gondola would almost be impossible because of NIMBYS.
Except maybe those hideous towers and bright red cabins…. but in its favour, the height of the system and short setback from buildings do provide a good example of how to minimise visual and privacy effects on residents.
Why the “privacy” issue comes out only in the case of a Gondola?
Look to the first two photos .. take away the Gondola like its non-existent.
What remains ? a lot of medium-rise buildings not far away one from other distribuited on a slope , so from any of the two/three top floors is possible to
see into the neighbouring houses more or less than from Gondola.
Same, and probabily worse on the other side of the valley where the slope is more pronounced.
Impact? what impact on privacy? in an urban situation where’s the difference ?
I think that’s an excellent point, Giorgio. But I think you have to consider the differences between North Americans and Europeans and their perceptions of what privacy means.