Top Mountain Cross Point | Michael Brötz
Hochgurgl / Austria / 2015
A fairly ambitious plan: a Motorcycle Museum, a state-of-the-art mountain gondola terminal, a road toll station for one of the country's most popular high Alpine panorama routes and a stylish restaurant with table service under one roof! The twin brothers Alban and Attila Scheiber stand behind this outstanding concept unique in the whole world. The two hotel keepers and mountain lift owners from Hochgurgl have been totally enthusiastic about the "Top Mountain Cross Point" project right from the start. Their business group also comprises a ski school and the scenic Timmelsjoch High Alpine Road. Definitely, this building was on top of their wish list. Alban Scheiber senior who died in 2014, was one of Tirol's very first tourism pioneers in the Ötztal. As soon as in the 1960ies, he laid the foundations of the highly successful hotel village of Hochgurgl at the rear end of the valley. The senior racing pro and tourism expert passed on his passion for engines and motorcycles to his two sons.
Museum of Superlatives
Over the last years, the Scheiber family has collected some of the most precious historical motorcycles in all of Austria. It was their great desire to show their 170 classic exhibition pieces also to the public – exactly in the most inspiring place where loads of vintage vehicle fans can visit the museum: the panoramic Timmelsjoch High Alpine Road ranks among Europe's undisputed highlights for motorbike aficionados when it comes to Alpine crossings. Tens of thousands pass the Timmelsjoch every year – as it is Austria's highest cross-border road. And in the future, they will also pass the new Cross Point hosting the superb Motorcycle Museum. The Top Mountain Motorcycle Museum will be the highest of its kind in all of Europe, nestling right at the border between North Tirol and the Italian South Tyrol. The Scheiber collection includes some of Austria's most precious vehicles. Incredible 170 exhibition pieces will be on display from next year onwards. The official ground-breaking ceremony was made the patronage of Italy's famous Giacomo Agostini, fifteen-time Motorbike World Champion and most successful motorbike racer ever. He congratulated on the splendid idea of setting up the Top Mountain Motorcycle Museum in Hochgurgl.
Real Gems displaying over 100 years of Motor Biking History
The huge exhibition area of 2600 m² offers enough space for varied motorcycle jewels, among them Motoguzzi, MV Augusta, Ducati, BMW, NSU, DKW, Zündapp, Triumph, Sunbeam, Norton, Matchless, A.J.S., Brough Superior, Vincent, Honda, Henderson, Indian and – of course – Harley Davidson. Vehicles of all historic decades and all of big motorcycle brands are on display, for example Harley Davidson bikes constructed in 1914, 1926, 1938, in the 1940ies and 1950ies. The choice of Triumph, Indian and BMW motorcycles is equally varied. Among the very special highlights are the ultimate Brough Superior built in 1939, owned and constructed by the legendary racer George Brough, or the Indian two-cylinder engine constructed in 1912. The splendid MV Augusta owned by Giacomo Agostini can be admired as well. The oldest exhibition piece dating back to the imperial-royal period is a fabulous Laurin & Klement (1905), the Bohemian motorcycle producer preceding Skoda. Besides rare two wheelers, the Museum pts on display a couple of exclusive cars deeply rooted in racing history: a Ferrari Californian Spider, a Porsche 959 or a Lotus 23 B.
Kirchenkarbahn Terminal: New Highlight at the Diamond of the Alps
Together with this awe-inspiring collection of rarities and the high alpine location, a top modern mountain gondola station adds to a truly unique Mountain Motorcylce Museum experience. The same building also hosts the base terminal of the brand-new Kirchenkar mountain lift, a detachable gondola featuring 10-person cabins giving access to the unrivaled Obergurgl-Hochgurgl ski area, one of Austria's most renowned winter sport destinations. Also called "The Diamond of the Alps", the region boasts 110 immaculate slope kilometers open from mid-November through early May. During the winter season snow is always guaranteed thanks to the high altitude location between 1800 and 3080 meters above sea level. 24 top modern mountain lifts including one ultimate new highlight – the new Kirchenkarbahn gondola (built by Doppelmayr) with an hourly capacity of 2400 people takes winter sport aficionados to one of the ski mountain's most pristine slopes. "The ski trails in this area are among the favorite ones. reason enough to build a truly outstanding, new mountain lift," states Alban Scheiber, managing director of "Liftgesellschaft Hochgurgl".
Building Envelope: Inspired by a Snow Cornice – Built in Wood
The Top Mountain Cross Point captivates visitors with its contemporary design elements, created by the Tirolean architect Michael Brötz responsible for the building's fairly wavy, organic lines. "I thought of gently curved snow cornices. In my opinion, it is the perfect way to integrate the huge building into the pristine landscape. Natural construction materials were of utmost importance," the architect explains. Almost the entire facade is built in wood. "Everything under one roof" is the slogan of this multi-faceted high Alpine world of the Top Mountain Cross Point. "After a couple of fun-filled hours on the ski slope, visitors can enjoy a tour of the wonderful Museum, followed by mouth-watering culinary delights served in the adjacent restaurant," enthuses Michael Brötz. The Top Mountain Cross Point promises manifold mountain adventures.
A fairly ambitious plan: a Motorcycle Museum, a state-of-the-art mountain gondola terminal, a road toll station for one of the country's most popular high Alpine panorama routes and a stylish restaurant with table service under one roof! The twin brothers Alban and Attila Scheiber stand behind this outstanding concept unique in the whole world. The two hotel keepers and mountain lift owners from Hochgurgl have been totally enthusiastic about the "Top Mountain Cross Point" project right from the...
- Year 2015
- Work finished in 2015
- Status Completed works
- Type Bridges and Roads / Museums / Restaurants
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