Seilbahn / Cable Car in Göteborg

THE COMPETITION TASK
Invited teams were asked to present a design concept for the Gothenburg cable car that was well crafted, feasible and had the potential for future development.
Entrants were asked to develop a generic design concept for the structures comprising the cable car line, exemplified as:
• two types of stations (one terminal and one intermediate) and their entrances;
• two towers of different heights (65 meters and 100 meters);
and a lighting design for the line as a whole.

DESIGN
The cable car buildings and towers will become symbols of Gothenburg – landmarks associated with the city. It is important that they are designed specifically to suit the
character of the city, based on an analysis of its distinctive features and urban identity. The cable car should have a site-specific design of very high quality that relates to other
important landmarks (existing and future) in the city and the Göta River area.

FUNCTION
The cable car should operate smoothly and be an obvious, functional link between different parts of the city. Particular care should be taken to achieve high standards
of safety, accessibility and comfort. Actual security and perceived security are both paramount. The cable car design should meet high environmental standards with respect to construction time and operation.
Other important parameters to consider are features that influence comfort, such as noise, vibration, swaying, rocking or other motion, etc.

ACCESSIBILITY AND SOCIAL SUSTAINABILITY
Accessibility requirements in Sweden are among the strictest in the world. As a fully integrated part of the Västtrafik public transit network, the cable car must meet the highest standards for accessibility, as defined in Region Västra Götaland’s Riktlinjer och standard för fysisk tillgänglighet (Guidelines and Standards for Physical Accessibility). Accessibility solutions should harmonize with the overall design and create an inclusive space.
Buildings and outdoor environments should be designed to allow independent use by as many people as possible.
Solutions that require later additions to ensure accessibility should be avoided.

FEASIBILITY
Conditions for the cable car include an investment budget of SEK 1.1 billion and a low life cycle cost. Safe and creative solutions should be used in its construction.

DEVELOPMENT POTENTIAL
It should be possible to adapt the design concept to future needs or new functional, technical and economic conditions. The concept should have development potential
and the design idea proposed should be flexible and workable along the entire future route of the cable car.

PUBLIC EXHIBITION
Submitted proposals were put on public exhibition at multiple sites in Gothenburg. They were also published on the municipal website and the website of Architects Sweden.