Sölden's stunning new Giggijoch gondola is set to open next week. The Austrian Tirol resort is already open and the powerful new gondola will transport up to 4,500 people per hour; the highest capacity of any lift in the world.
The gondola will whisk skier and boarders up from a new base station (1,362 m) to Sölden's top terminal and hot spot Giggijoch at 2,283m.
The shorter transport time (nine minutes from bottom to top), smooth barrier-free access and modern amenities will dramatically reduce any queuing time for the lift.
The building's main body is an eye-catching construction designed by Obermoser, the same architectural office that planned and built both the Gaislachkogl Mountain Gondola and the ice Q Gourmet Restaurant at Gaislachkogl peak that featured in the James Bond blockbuster Spectre last year.
The slim, tower-shaped building with a mirrored surround reflects the Ötztal Alps panorama and will become a new landmark in the resort.
Not only is the lift focused on comfort and speed, but the new terminal at the top of the lift houses a sports shop and a convenient ski storage area, which means skiers can hop on the gondola in regular footwear and pick up their skis and heated boots from the lockers at the top. www.oetztal.com/en