Funimag photoblog

Author: Funimag

  • Guangzhou Twin Towers project, by Hervé Tordjman

    Guangzhou (ex Canton ), China. July 2004.Hervé Tordjman, a young French architect, was chosen among the 15 candidates invited to present their architectural project for the Guangzhou Twin Towers ( West Tower ).What a beautiful breathtaking project!

    The twin towers will be the highest towers in the world with 514.8 meters!

    Each tower has a helical edge which turns around the tower at a 180° angle like a DNA structure.

    A funicular will run inside the helical edge, it is composed of two rotating ‘capsules’ which can transport 20 passengers each. It will take 6′ to reach the top of the tower.

    If this project wins the competition, the funicular will be the steepest inclined lift with a 420% slope!


    Copyright HTA-Architecture

  • Tréport – Terrasse, the Resurrection !!!

    Le Tréport, Seine maritime, France. February 3rd, 2005.After the funicular Evian-Neuvecelle which was rebuilt and re-opened to the public in June 2002 after 33 years of inactivity, another french funicular will be rebuilt and will be re-opened to the public in 2006.The funicular Tréport -Terrasse was built in 1902 to link the seaside of the Channel to the top of the cliff with a twin tunnel thru the rocks. The funicular was stopped in 1939. In the 60s an aerial cable car was built to re-open the way to the top of the cliff, the gondolas was passing through the same twin tunnels but this experience was stopped after some few years.

    In 2004, the town council of Le Tréport decided to build an automatic lift on behalf of the site of the old funicular but thru one of the twin tunnels.

    The inclined lift will be used by the clients of a pay and display car park which will be built on the top of the cliff.

    The first works started on February 3rd, 2005. The objective of these first works is to consolidate the cliff to prevent falling rocks.


    In 1902, the first funicular was climbing to the top of the cliff thru two parallel tunnels.


    In the 60s, the twin tunnels were shortly used by an aerial cable way.

  • Happy New Year 2005 !


    Ligerz, Switzerland

  • Gardena Ronda Express – Inauguration

    Val Gardena, Alto Adige, Italy.December 4, 2004.
    The new underground funicular railway “Val Gardena Ronda Express” was unvieled today… with new snow on the Dolomites, 20-70 cm.
    The public opening will take place on December 15, 2004.
    The inauguration ceremony.

  • Heidelberg – Good news !

    Heidelberg, Baden Wurttemberg, Germany.Following the Kaprun tragedy, the upper section of the funicular of Heidelberg (Koenigstuhlbahn, in service since 1907) was closed on April 30th 2003 for security reasons. Fortunately it was decided to restore the wooden cars and to keep their old-time appearance. November 2004, the new wooden bodywork of the saved Koenigstuhlbahn. The lower section of the funicular of Heidelberg (Molkenkurbahn) is being completely rebuilt and will have two new cars. The inauguration will take place in the spring of 2005. More information: www.koenigstuhlbahn.de November 24th, 2004, the new cars, designed by Swoboda (Oberweis, Austria), are installed on the rails of the first section (photo Dagmar Welker).

  • Beatenberg, a complete reconstruction !

    Beatenberg, canton of Bern, Switzerland.The funicular Thunersee Beatenberg Bahn (TBB), built in 1889 at the edge of the lake of Thun, is stopped since October 25th, 2004 and will undergo a complete reconstruction.The construction work is planned to last until about the end of June 2005.


    The future new car designed by Gangloff, Bern.