Zermatt Switzerland

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Zermatt valley winter hero
Client
Zermatt Matterhornbahnen AG
Gemeinde Zermatt
Zermatt Bergbahnen AG
Location
Valais, Switzerland
Year
1998, 2002
Services Rendered

Ecosign’s visionary Master Plan for Zermatt Matterhornbahnen AG, initiated in 1998, has transformed the resort into Switzerland’s largest cable car network. Through strategic planning and CHF 556 million in investments, skier visits surged by 75% following construction completion, cementing Zermatt as a world-class destination.

Ecosign's visionary planning has helped Zermatt consistently rank among the top ski areas in the world, offering seamless access to the slopes and an exceptional experience for visitors year-round. Through thoughtful design and forward-thinking, Zermatt remains a beacon of alpine excellence.

1998

In 1998, Ecosign prepared a Master Plan for Zermatt Matterhornbahnen AG, one of the five lift companies that operate in the Matterhorn region. Zermatt is one of the oldest and most well-established mountain resorts in the European Alps, with an alpine skiing culture that started in the 1880s. Ecosign's 1998 Master Plan included an inventory of existing facilities, area facilities balance assessment, and development analysis of future expansion.

2001

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. In 2001, only about 60% percent of the land zoned for development within the Village of Zermatt has been built on. Therefore, one can expect that the residential and commercial tourist bed base will grow by approximately 165% 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. The 2001 Village Master Plan documented existing and future density and provided solutions for enhancing pedestrian connections as the village grows over time. 

2002

In 2002, the five lift companies in Zermatt merged into one company, Zermatt Bergbahnen AG, and Ecosign was retained to prepare a Master Plan for them. Zermatt Bergbahnen AG is the largest cable car company in Switzerland with an offering that attracts sports enthusiasts and holiday-makers from all over the world. Ecosign’s Master Plan included several alternative concepts for expansion and renovation of the lift system, landing a preferred Master Plan that has guided long-term investment in the resort. Since the merger completed in 2002, Zermatt Bergbahnen AG has invested more than CHF 556 million in implementing Ecosign’s Master Plan. Zermatt is consistently rated one of the top ski areas in the Alps, and as one of the best ski areas in the world by Ski Resort Info.

2009

In response to rapid growth in Zermatt in the early 2000s, neighbouring ski areas turned to Ecosign to assist in several connection studies, expanding Zermatt’s ski circus. Ecosign worked with Saas Fee on a three-lift Ski Area Master Plan to connect Saas Fee to Zermatt through Täsch. Ecosign was retained jointly by an Italian-Swiss cooperation to prepare the TraverseAlp Connection Study, a Technical Analysis of solutions linking Valtournenche Cervinia to Zermatt and Breuil. This detailed study included a framework for maintenance and investment of mountain infrastructure that extended over exposed, high alpine environments, crossing over international borders. 

2019

The Matterhorn Glacier Ride was envisioned in Ecosign's 2011 Mountain Concept Plan as part of the connection to Cervinia. This lift was built in 2019, becoming the highest 3S cable car in the world, linking Trockener Steg and Klein Matterhorn. This CHF 60 million project took two years to build due to harsh environmental conditions.

2023+

A second 3S cable car, the Alpine Crossing that connects the Klein Matterhorn to Testa Grigia, was completed in 2023. This lift was originally envisioned in Ecosign’s 2002 Master Plan for Zermatt's Matterhorn zone.

Ecosign’s is proud that our work has contributed to Zermatt being consistently rated as one of the top ski areas in the world.

"Ecosign worked out different successful master plans in Zermatt. First for the former Matterhorn-Bahnen AG, then for the former Zermatter Rothornbahn AG and finally, after the fusion of the companies in Zermatt, for Zermatt Bergbahnen AG. This plan was the basis for a very successful relaunch of the Zermatt ski area with an investment of over 300 Million. CHF.

Hans Peter Julen e1421097164970
Hans Peter Julen Past President Zermatt Bergbahnen AG
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