Zugspitze cable car summit and valley stations, Eibsee
Chemistry to build on
Project © dpa
Construction of superlative-defying cable car to Zugspitze summit New work and alterations to summit and valley stations Large-format tiles laid in large parts of public areas Use of Sopro system solutions for waterproofing and tiling
Signboard Design practice
Hasenauer.Architekten ZTGmbH, Saalfelden
Applicator
Fliesen Röhlich GmbH, Wendelstein
Client
Bayerische Zugspitzbahn Bergbahn AG
Contract volume
Approx. 4,000 m² of tiling
Completion
Partial opening on 21.12.2017
Products Sopro GD 749 primer Sopro DSF 523 one-component flexible sealing slurry Sopro FL flexible tile grout Sopro FDB 524 flexible sealing tape
Zugspitze cable car summit and valley stations, Eibsee I www.sopro.com
www.sopro.com
Construction phase
Zugspitze cable car summit and valley stations, Eibsee I www.sopro.com
Construction phase
Zugspitze cable car summit and valley stations, Eibsee I www.sopro.com
Construction phase
Zugspitze cable car summit and valley stations, Eibsee I www.sopro.com
Construction phase
Zugspitze cable car summit and valley stations, Eibsee I www.sopro.com
Construction phase
Zugspitze cable car summit and valley stations, Eibsee I www.sopro.com
Zugspitze cable car, Eibsee
An engineering sensation
The new, superlative-defying Eibsee Cable Car to the summit of the Zugspitze, Germany's highest mountain, is a serial world-record-breaker: the 1,945 m elevation gain without intermediate stop, the free span of 3,213 m between supports and the 127 m tall steel pylon are all unmatched by any other cable car in the world. The € 50 million project to build the new ropeway involved the installation of mostly large-format tile coverings in the modern summit and valley stations using numerous products from Sopro Bauchemie GmbH's trade range. For cable car operator Bayerische Zugspitzbahn Bergbahn AG and the regional tourism managers, the cable car's maiden journey to the summit on 21 December 2017 not only heralded a new era, but was the culmination of an unparalleled investment in the region's future. The new attraction will offer visitors from across the globe a unique cable car experience the whole year round. The large cabins, with full-height glazing and capacity for 120 passengers, glide effortlessly from the Eibsee lake up to the summit station of the 2,962 m high Zugspitze mountain that straddles the border between Germany and Austria. The distance of 3,213 m between the single 127 m tall pylon and the summit station is the longest cable car span anywhere in the world.
First-class comfort, also in summit and valley stations However, the ropeway system itself is not the only engineering tour-de-force: the summit and valley stations similarly testify to the technical and aesthetic ingenuity of the design team. The valley station of the new cable car, which replaced a previous facility in operation since 1963, was completely reconstructed and allows passengers to get on and off the cabins on a single level. A movable central platform also improves comfort and efficiency during boarding and alighting. The spacious entrance area offers unobstructed views of the Eibsee lake and Zugspitze. The new summit station takes the form of a futuristic glass and steel assembly projecting 30 m beyond the mountain top. The three visitor levels provide access to the Zugspitze Glacier Cable Car, the restaurant facilities and the summit terrace commanding panoramic views. From the terrace, visitors can reach the "Münchner Haus" Alpine Club hut and the Tyrolean Zugspitze Cable Car. Particularly spectacular are the fully glazed cable car platforms that afford sweeping vistas of the Alpine summits
for boarding and alighting passengers. The same is true of the glazed stairwell, located on the summit station's southern front, which is topped by a sun terrace with seating steps overlooking the mountainscape.
Large-format tile coverings as key design element For large parts of the public areas in the summit and valley station interiors, the project team opted for functionally efficient, though no less visually appealing tile coverings in various shades of grey. The walls and floors of the two stations feature large-format (45 x 90 cm, 75 x 150 cm and 30 x 60 cm) fully vitrified stoneware tiles by Marazzi. The extensive tile finishes lend the public spaces a contemporary and welcoming atmosphere. The tiling works were performed by Fliesen Röhlich GmbH. The family business from Wendelstein has, in recent years, established itself as one of Germany's biggest tiling contractors. Now employing almost 300 tile and natural stone layers, it specializes in the prompt and expert performance of large-scale national projects. The wall and floor tiles were laid with numerous products from Sopro Bauchemie GmbH's trade range – products offering the supreme performance necessary to cater for the extreme conditions encountered on Germany's highest construction site. The tiling works were hampered by a series of complex logistical problems and challenges that specifically arose from the exposed location and special site conditions. For example, storage space at the summit was very limited. Moreover, the transportation of construction materials to the mountaintop site – via a specially installed aerial ropeway, with three days' advance notice required for each journey – was extremely weather-dependent. Not only did wind speeds of up to 180 km/h play a major role, the extremely low temperatures, down to -20°C, that prevailed on some days meant that even the heated interior sometimes remained in the sub-zero range. Overall, the weather in its many different manifestations, from snow and ice in mid-summer to mist and permanent drizzle at other times, proved a formidable force to be reckoned with. Not surprisingly, the extreme site conditions placed the utmost requirements on products and applicators alike. On occasions, the works even had to be suspended.
Reliable waterproof membrane installation The first step involved pretreatment of the screeds with Sopro GD 749 primer, a rapid-drying, highly concentrated, solvent-free synthetic resin primer for high- and variable-suction substrates, and particularly suitable for the subsequent application of mineral adhesives, surface fillers and waterproof membranes. The tiling operations were preceded by the installation of a standards-compliant waterproof membrane, as required, in all moisture-exposed areas, e.g. in the public toilets and over the entire valley station platform area. The specified product, Sopro DSF 523, is a flexible, one-component, cementitious sealing slurry for the installation of impervious, crack-bridging membranes. Suitable for water action classes W0-I to W3-I under DIN 18534, the vapour-permeable sealing slurry can be used to install wall and floor membranes in damp and wet spaces as well as in tanks and pools. The material can be roller-, trowel-, brushand spray-applied.
Frost-resistant grouting of tile coverings The joints in the coverings were finished using Sopro FL, a flexible, frost-resistant, rapid-set, trassbearing, cementitious tile grout (meeting CG2 WA requirements to DIN EN 13888) for ceramics, fully vitrified stoneware, natural and cast stone coverings, and glass block assemblies. It is suitable for 2 – 20 mm joint widths. It excels by its rapid initial set, is ideal for low-suction tiles and is very easy to wash off. This easy removability helps to minimize the consumption rate. Being particularly suitable for balconies and patios, Sopro FL offers high water repellency and – of paramount importance for the Zugspitze cable car project – frost resistance. Throughout the project period, from design to completion, Sopro's Project Consulting and regional management teams were at hand to provide the staff of Fliesen Röhlich GmbH with advice and support.
Zugspitze cable car summit and valley stations, Eibsee I www.sopro.com