The 'ice floes' of Innsbruck that transport you from the city to the peaks.
The Hungerburgbahn is a hybrid funicular railway in Innsbruck, Austria, connecting the city district of Hungerburg with the city centre. The current line opened on 1 December 2007, replacing a previous alignment that operated from 1906 to 2005. The new Hungerburgbahn is one of the landmarks of the city, with stations designed by Zaha Hadid, and built by Leitner AG.
Featured in Zaha Hadid Architects's definitive monograph, ZHA: Redefining Architecture & Design.
Visitor Guide
Take the funicular from the 'Congress' station; it's the most dramatic underground-to-above-ground transition.
The Löwenhaus station roof at sunset, where the curved glass reflects the surrounding Nordkette mountains.
Funicular ticket: 11.40 EUR (round trip). Operates Mon-Fri 7:15 AM - 7:15 PM; Sat-Sun from 8 AM.
The four stations use 'double-curved' glass shells inspired by the formations of glaciers and ice floes.
1-2 hours
Design & Structure
Developed using early parametric scripts to optimize the shell geometry for snow loads and visual lightness.
White glass and reinforced concrete; the 'ice' shells sit on heavy, sculptural concrete plinths.
The stations were the first major application of thermoformed glass on such a large, complex scale.
See Together
Buildings that pair well with Hungerburgbahn — they're nearby or share a compelling architectural conversation.
More by Zaha Hadid Architects
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Port of Hamburg
Vienna University of Economics and Business
St Antony's College, Oxford
Rosenthal Center for Contemporary Art
Spittelau Viaducts Housing Project
BMW Central Building
Nearby in Innsbruck
Frequently Asked Questions
Who designed Hungerburgbahn?+
Hungerburgbahn was designed by Zaha Hadid Architects and completed in 2007. It is located in Innsbruck, Austria.
Where is Hungerburgbahn located?+
Hungerburgbahn is located in Innsbruck, Austria. Its coordinates are 47.2830°, 11.4010°.
When was Hungerburgbahn built?+
Hungerburgbahn was completed in 2007. It was designed by Zaha Hadid Architects.
Can I visit Hungerburgbahn?+
Hungerburgbahn is a real building in Innsbruck that can be viewed from the outside. Check local information for interior access and visiting hours. Use the Parametric Atlas walking tour feature to plan a route that includes this building.