Rigi Scheidegg, Goldau

The new cable car station, which replaced the original narrow-gauge railway line Rigi Scheidegg, is an amazing example of how contemporary architecture can blend into the beautiful Swiss landscape. The main building is a combination of several materials: wood, aluminum, and concrete, and it resembles a diamond, precisely set in the picturesque village of Goldau. The perfection of the entire construction is especially thanks to the folded roofing - square roof templates, which optically appear as if they were made of leather.

Creative Mathematician

Brigitte Wullschleger has been very creative since early childhood. When she was still in school, math was one of her favorite subjects. "I enjoy combining creative activities with technology," specifies Wullschleger, who even developed black-and-white photographs in her home studio as a young girl. She considers it her life mission to always seek functional solutions to problems and then creatively bring those solutions to life. After completing her high school diploma, she began studying at the Federal Institute of Technology in Zurich, but unfortunately, she did not start her career in a very easy time. At the end of the 90s, there was relatively little opportunity for Swiss architects in their country, high competition, and many qualified architects were therefore trying their luck abroad. Just when Wullschleger was considering her career prospects, she learned that an architectural competition was announced in her canton. With the thought that it would be good to participate in the competition, Wullschleger was also approached by her colleague and later professional partner. Perhaps it was a fortunate stroke of fate that these two young and promising architects won the tender, which motivated them to establish their own architectural studio, which has since seen considerable growth. "Partly it was coincidence, and that famous bit of luck definitely played a role," the architect adds in hindsight. Today, the range of projects that the office works on is very wide and includes diverse projects: from private commissions for friends to public benefit buildings or even just office buildings. Architect Wullschleger, along with her business partner, enjoys participating in public tenders and competitions because it excites her. "I am interested in comparing with our competition, I am interested in their perspective and work, which always shows in public competitions. Moreover, we Swiss are naturally very competitive," the architect further states.

The Main Requirement: It Must Blend In!

"The task of renovating the Rigi Scheidegg line was simple yet complex at the same time. Everything must be original and new, but it must still perfectly blend into the surrounding landscape. It was to be a building that, while being visually completely unique and modern, would also give the impression of being part of the landscape forever," the architect recounts about the challenging task. It was important how the stations would look from the outside. "What will be the shell that we will wrap the whole station in," was the very first question Wullschleger had to ask herself right at the beginning. The distinctive design turned out to be not so difficult to design and create, but the material used would play a much more significant role. The combination of natural wood, elegant aluminum, and sturdy concrete proved to be the optimal choice. The presented proposal and combination of materials clearly excited the administrative council, confirming that the path Wullschleger and her team decided to take was the right one.

A House of Leather

"The aluminum cladding literally fit into our concept both figuratively and literally. The individual square PREFA templates resemble scales and overall the building's shell gives the impression of being made of leather," Wullschleger explains. An undeniable advantage of these templates is that they allow the use of the same material for both roof coverage and facade. The transition between the wooden parts and the folded cladding could be made with absolute precision, and without unnecessary complications. "The resulting effect is very natural, almost obvious, and that was actually what we aimed for all along," Wullschleger delights. "Many people ask me about this project, and I am proud that the locals' reactions are very positive. They appreciate that it did not destroy the character of the local landscape and that it naturally blended into it instead. Moreover, the building has also become a popular excursion destination, which of course makes us doubly happy."

Honest Craftsmanship Across Generations

The history of Anton Ulrich's plumbing company in Arth am See dates back to 1810, and until the 40s of the last century, the firm primarily focused on processing copper. Today, the portfolio of services is much broader, including not only plumbing work but also flat roof insulation and lightning rods. For the current bearer of the plumbing tradition, Tony Ulrich, his work is also a great hobby, and he always speaks with enthusiasm about the projects he works on. "I am glad that I can be outdoors in fresh air while working. And when the weather is bad, I can "hide" in the office for a change," he says with a smile. Tony Ulrich was born exactly 200 years later than the company's founder, Josef Leonhard Ulrich, and represents the eighth generation that upholds the family business tradition. Thus, a great responsibility rests on his shoulders to maintain the family's prestige. And it's no small commitment: after all, the former copper smithy was known in the wider region, and in 1883, the company even participated as an exhibitor in the Paris World Fair. During the construction of the valley and upper station of Rigi Scheidegg, Tony only collaborated with one colleague, yet they managed to complete the work in just one month. "During the construction, Rigi became our home. It was a great experience that one doesn't experience every day," recounts the amiable plumber, who always gets a beautiful tan from working in the sun.

Everything Went Smoothly

"We used the PREFA folded roof template 44×44, which is just as easy to work with as the other aluminum roof coverings from this manufacturer," Ulrich adds. The material's pliability played a key role: "We could execute the roof fold absolutely precisely and smoothly, without any problems. Maximum care was necessary during measuring, so we properly measured everything and marked it on the wood to ensure everything fit perfectly," concludes the plumber, who contributed to ensuring that everything indeed turned out perfectly.

About the Project

Project Name: Rigi Scheidegg
Object, Location: cable car, Goldau, Switzerland
Type of construction: new construction
Architects: Dettling Wullschleger Architekten AG, Arch. Brigitte Wullschleger
Execution: Anton Ulrich GmbH
Type of roof: PREFA folded roof template 44 × 44
Color of roof: P.10 slate
Type of facade: PREFA folded facade template 44 × 44
Color of facade: P.10 slate
PHOTOGRAPHY: Croce & WIR