Lech Mountain Mirror
In the Lech mountain region in Austria, Snøhetta has designed a landscape installation on the roof of the Zugerbergbahn’s mountain station. The art intervention plays with visitors’ perceptions and reinforces Lech’s status as a year-round destination.
Since August, the “Lech Mountain Mirror” has been offering visitors a unique mountain experience. The artistic installation designed by Snøhetta at the Zugerbergbahn provides a somewhat different perspective on the impressive mountain landscape. The surrounding natural landscape is reflected in a shallow water basin on the roof of the mountain station. These reflections showcase the mountain and cloud panorama and play with the viewers’ perceptions. In designing the installation, the focus was not only on its appearance but rather on how visitors’ behavior could be influenced to encourage them to engage with and interact with their surroundings. This interplay with perception inspires them to experience the mountain landscape in a new way.
Stepping stones on the water’s surface lead to a natural rock rising out of the water. This exposed lookout point, set amid a play of light and reflections, invites visitors to pause and marvel. Its location in the middle of the water basin offers a moment of tranquility and a sense of closeness to nature. The weather becomes part of the experience, constantly altering one’s perception of the surroundings. On sunny, clear days, you see a precise reflection. When the wind blows, the reflection blurs, and the ripples on the water’s surface create a new natural experience. The reflections of mountains and sky, clouds and people merge into an image that changes with every breath of wind and every shift in light.
The “Lech Mountain Mirror,” with its viewing stone in the water, also makes for an impressive photo spot. In addition, the water basin is surrounded by a green area with various seating options as well as lounging areas made of larch wood and natural stone boulders, which invite visitors to relax. The site offers guests a high quality of stay and can be enjoyed free of charge.
The Zugerbergbahn mountain station was built several years ago and has been operating in the summer as well since 2024. The “Lech Mountain Mirror” is part of a long-term strategy aimed at increasing the region´s appeal in the summer and establishing Lech as an attractive year-round destination. The installation fits seamlessly into a series of high-quality, creative art initiatives that engage with the mountain landscape and reach new target groups. Other projects under this strategy include the art project “Horizon Field” by Antony Gormley and “Sky Space Lech” by James Turrell.
