Zermatt

In 2001, Ecosign was commissioned by the Gemeinde Zermatt to study the existing and future building zones in the Village of Zermatt to document the density and location of residents and tourists and, importantly, the skier walking distances to each of the existing access lifts in Zermatt Village.  Currently only about 60% percent of the land zoned for development within the Village of Zermatt has been built on.  Therefore, one can expect that residential and commercial tourist bed base will grow by approximately 165 percent by the time the natural build-out of the Village of Zermatt is reached.  This natural growth will create significant pressure on the pedestrian streets and walkways, the train system from Täsch, the delivery of goods and baggage and the provision of services to the various shops, hotels and private homes in Zermatt.

Ecosign has recommended that a total of four new systems be implemented over time to assist the efficient and comfortable movement of residents, guests and goods and services within the Village of Zermatt.  These include two moving walkway systems in tunnels; a people mover 600 meters in length from the bridge on Kirchstrasse to the elevators at the Schlumatten Talstation; an improved pedestrian network segregating pedestrians from the numerous electric carts and busses on certain important pedestrian thoroughfares; and a freight delivery concept similar to the one constructed in Oberlech, Austria which includes a 3,000 square meter underground Shipping and Receiving Center at the train station and 1,140 meters of tunnel systems  This concept is that all freight, baggage and service vehicles would use these tunnels to reach the center of key neighborhoods, thereby freeing up the Village streets for pedestrians.

The proposed pedestrian network and streetscapes, as well as the tunnel systems and people movers, can be implemented over time in phases through a gradual Village enhancement program with the goal of keeping the Village of Zermatt one of the most desirable places to visit or reside in a mountain environment in the world.