Mountain Peak Platform

The mountain station Schaufeljoch at 3180 metres above sea level is reached via the mountain station. The path to the mountain peak platform starts from the funicular. One climbs up a number of steps to the ridge leading to the Great Isidor. After another 70 meters walk through natural landscape one arrives at the platform. The Great Isidor is centrally positioned in the Stubai Glacier and divides the Stubai Glacier into a western and an eastern half. Only by creating access has a panorama view become feasible enabling the onlooker to grasp the dimensions of the landscape. The platform invites the visitor to take a rest and to enjoy the peace and beauty of the mountains.
As unusual as the panorama from the platform might seem, so crucial is the question concerning the solution to the invasion of nature or natural space. The platform is intended to represent a reaction to, and also form part of this natural environment. So the design goal was more the design of a situation in space rather than a building. By setting in scene and exaggerating the existing topography the landscape generates shaped architecture, in other words, artificial landscape. It expresses both a dynamic and static aspect and forms part of its transformation: an obstruction interacting with the landscape, each reflecting and influencing the other. The panorama platform on Mount Isidor is a drawing in snow, architecture as a walk along and transformation of a ridge. Path and platform are found in the brittle rock; for six months the lamellas will disappear under the snow; only the swords extending beyond the northern cliff will remain visible all year round.
Due to its high iron content the rock has a red hue. It is clearly textured and serrated, which gives it a unique character. The choice of materials emphasises a contrast to the zinc covered steel structures of the surrounding ski region.

The architecture office LAAC Architects was founded 2009 as update of astearchitecture. astearchitecture was founded in 2005 and tries to provide an intersection point between teaching, reasearch and realisation, apart from covering conventional architectural projects. The aim is to use suitable projects to conduct basic research, which can then be transferred to construction systems and systems of spacial design. On the one hand research is conducted in the design studios of the Technical Faculty of Innsbruck University and on the other hand the office deals with possible practical applications of the respective projects. The name BUILT BY VELOCITY covers projects such as ski jumps, bob runs and sprint toboggan runs as well as panorama platforms.
This is construction work that usually focuses on the development of the construction. With a few exceptions the shape of such buildings and the significance of their presence for their environment have so far been considered of secondary importance. BUILT IN VELOCITY creates architecture bridging the gap between nature and construction, and represents concepts based on dynamic parameters. Our prime interest is devoted to the intensification and staging of the context and redefining architecture in terms of artificial landscape. The first stage in every design project lies in the analysis of the location and position followed by the analysis of the relevant phenomena and parameters. The prime aim is to determine the crucial elements in this interrelation. The main focus is placed on dynamic and cyclical parameters. Architecture is determined by changing contexts and changes with these. Time plays a significant role.