Austria‘s highest gondola lift stands on the Pitztal glacier in Tyrol. It represents an extraordinary feat of architectural design and technological achievement – not least in view of the limited space available at the top station, the thin air at an altitude of 3,429 meters and the lift’s exposure to extreme wind and weather conditions. Additional challenges when building the new Wildspitzbahn were the short time frame of just four months available for the construction and the difficulties involved in accessing the glacier. The time had nonetheless come to replace the previous lift which dated back to 1988. "First, the old installation no longer offered the level of comfort that guests have come to expect nowadays," explains Dr. Hans Rubatscher, managing director and shareholder of the operating company, Pitztaler Gletscherbahn. "Second, it was standing room only in the gondolas. And third, the intermediate loading on the old lift meant the trip took even longer."All this has now been fundamentally changed. The new cabins are not only higher and longer but are also fitted with seats. In addition, ski holders are provided so that passengers no longer have to hold onto their skis during the ride. Once at the top, guests can enjoy a breathtaking view of the Alps and visit the restaurant housed in the top station. This modern structure in steel and aluminum was designed by the architectural practice Baumschlager Hutter.