Visitor Guidance: Elevating Stoos Mountain Railways with Vestre

Nestled in the serene, car-free village and ski resort of Stoos in Switzerland, the Stoos Mountain Railways embarked on a transformative journey to enhance visitor guidance. With its idyllic location on a high plateau nearly 4,300 feet above sea level and serving both tourists and locals as a vital mode of transport, the Stoos cable car stations required a solution that would not only provide direction but also create an inviting atmosphere.

A wave of visitors

Seven years ago, Stoos introduced the world's steepest funicular, attracting a surge of visitors. In its first summer season alone, the village was packed with guests. However, the lack of proper visitor guidance and signposting left guests disoriented, sometimes crisscrossing private property and alpine pastures. To address this challenge, SAINT ELMO'S Tourism was commissioned to develop a comprehensive visitor guidance program. This process engaged local residents, business operators, gastronomy, and alp owners, with support from the Stoos Lodge. The goal was to channel the flow of visitors, provide orientation and reinforce the Stoos brand. A color concept based on the railway company’s yellow and charcoal grey livery was requested, as well as a good balance between design, simplicity, and contemporary zeitgeist.

The entire Stoos mountain was divided into three zones, each represented by an animal, guiding visitors on their journey:

Cat: Comfortable, safe, suitable for bad weather, and family friendly.

Goat: Suitable for children from primary school age and older individuals.

Eagle: A sporty peak for experienced hikers.

The furniture solution

The Stoos project team, in collaboration with SAINT ELMO'S Tourism, found Vestre to be the ideal choice for furnishing the railway area.

“We appreciate the clear design language and expressive designs, as well as the sustainability approach, which already accords with the criteria of the Swiss sustainability label, Swisstainable,” says Renate Bauer, Head of Experience Design at SAINT ELMO'S Tourism.

The circular design elements of the funicular are reflected in the choice of furniture, with STRIPES seating and APRIL GO planters. The bicycle parking structures, which are important to the car-free village, and BUZZ picnic tables at the valley station were incorporated to create spaces for visitors to linger and enjoy their surroundings. A color scheme was required to reflect the colors of the funicular – yellow and charcoal grey – and to strike a balance between design, simplicity, and purpose.

Situated at key arrival points and places to stay, the furniture constitutes guests’ first encounter with the Stoos brand’s visual identity and marks the transition between cultivated farmland and the unspoiled mountain landscape. The furniture significantly enhances the overall experience of visitors to Stoos. The Stoos Mountain Railways project stands as a testament to the benefits that effective visitor guidance and well-designed public spaces provide for tourists and locals alike.