In December 1999, Zaha Hadid Architects together with OVI won an international competition to design a new
ski jump on Bergisel mountain. Overlooking downtown Innsbruck, the jump is part of an Olympic arena refurbishment for the
Tyrolean city.
While developing the competition entry, we advised on selecting architectural finishes to enhance the natural and artificial
lighting of the ski jump. Cladding the curved ramp, a matte finished metal catches daylight in a smooth gradation from
luminous areas to shadow. This was chosen over a more polished finish, which would have produced only glare.
The dramatic nighttime lighting of the 50-meter high structure makes it stand out against its Alps backdrop. From the city
of Innsbruck, the 360-degree windows of the restaurant form a luminous slice in the solid structure, revealing silhouettes
of activity within. From the adjacent autobahn, the illuminated underside of the spiral form becomes visible. A glow of
colored light radiates from the jumper’s starting point, hinting at the structure’s sports function.
During nighttime ski events, specialized non-glare lighting on the ramp closely replicate daylight conditions, allowing
athletes to evaluate minute variations in the snow surface and perform at top speeds. Additional luminaires provide the
lighting necessary for technically demanding television broadcasts.
