The Les Grands Montets ski area is one of the most important winter sports areas in the Chamonix-Mont-Blanc Valley. Its lifts, which are operated by the Compagnie du Mont Blanc, together with the Plan Joran cable car, provide access to the highest peaks in the valley and lead up to 3,275 m directly below the Aiguille Verte, with a view of the Argentière Glacier.
The cable car, which was built in 1963 and damaged by fire in 2018, and the visitor areas are being reconstructed. Three new stations are being built at the locations in Argentière (1,275 m), Lognan (1,950 m) and the Grands Montets Pass (3,200 m).
The buildings, designed by architect Renzo Piano, are inspired by pyrite, a natural mineral found in the Mont Blanc massif. They have a cubic shape, consisting of a modular timber and steel structure. Following the example of pyrite, which occurs as a perfect cube in the rock, the cable car stations are embedded in the periphery of the so-called “Topos”, whose appearance blends harmoniously into the surroundings. These buildings are made of concrete and house all the functions associated with the operation.
The contract awarded to sbp includes the design, detailed planning and site supervision of the supporting structures and façades of both building types. The extreme weather conditions, the listed surroundings and the complex site conditions in conjunction with the project’s high mountain location pose particular challenges.
