Bahnmuseum Albula Bergün

“The magical realm of the imaginary is indeed fantasies,
to which one must travel from time to time,
in order to become seeing there.
Then one can return
to outer reality, with a changed consciousness,
and transform this reality,
or at least see and experience it anew.”
(Michael Ende, Jim Knopf)

The building history of the Albula Railway is of national as well as international significance, and the museum site in Berguen assumes a significant role in this chain of places rich in tradition. The design of the railway museum is oriented toward the mobility of the railway and the idea of progress. Instead of a static structure, the expanded track field creates a direct confrontation between exhibition objects and visitors. This track field relates to the existing RhB tracks and the arsenal, while the new experience hall is placed as a binding element between museum and railway operations. Through the linking of all tracks and the deliberate use of individual carriages for exhibitions, the project reaches beyond the boundaries of the plot. Salon, party, or exhibition carriages can accompany events in St. Moritz, Scuol, or Chur and represent the Rhaetian Railway far beyond Berguen. The museum square itself remains the station forecourt, where older and newer railway carriages are presented permanently.

Pictorial memory: At night, the new hall assumes iconographic features. A child describes the lights of the wagons in the dark landscape of the night. The individual windows dance playfully along the topographically varied lines, hiding behind black trees that separate the performers, before merging at higher speed.

The new vehicle hall, with basic dimensions of 85.40 by 12.40 meters, stands on equal footing with the arsenal without touching it. Between the buildings arises a space for exhibitions and activities, where draisine tours or temporary uses can take place. Kiosk, beverage car, or sled car enliven the area in direct relation to the railway. The elongated hall alters the circulation, combining horizontal and vertical movements. Visitors gain insights from different perspectives, walk through the maintenance pit, and from the roof structure experience views over Bergün. At night, the hall transforms into an iconographic image: the lights of the carriages dancing in the darkness, merging into a poetic memory of the railway journey.

The listed arsenal is adapted only minimally to meet the requirements of a museum. New stairwell zones with sanitary facilities enable flexible use. Access takes place via the railway ramp into a generous foyer, combining information, waiting area, and antechamber to the multimedia room. Permanent built-in elements zone the space and create transitions to the exhibition area. Matte surfaces alternate with translucent projections, producing a varied scenographic atmosphere.

The material concept follows industrial approaches. The hall is carried by prefabricated steel trusses resting on steel columns. Sheet steel panels, translucent and transparent glass form the envelope, already hinting at the exhibits from the outside. The paving of the museum square continues into the hall, while recessed tracks with sleepers and ballast connect to the network. The roof edge façade functions as a diffuser, reflecting daylight and at night unfolding a striking light effect with durable luminaires. Inside the arsenal, aluminum sandwich element’s structure the exhibition, supplemented by display case glazing.

The load-bearing structure of the hall is based on a simple girder grid with rigid frame corners and a grid of 4.25 by 2.40 meters. Loads are transferred directly into columns and foundations, while bracing is achieved through horizontal and vertical ties. The variable beam system responds to the slightly bent floor plan and allows distinctive cantilever.

The Berguen Railway Museum unites history, technology, and experience in a compelling way. With the combination of arsenal, track field, and new hall, a vibrant center emerges that both strengthens regional identity and makes the Rhaetian Railway visible far beyond the site itself.

Client: Verein Bahnmuseum Albula

Planning: Rossetti+Wyss Architekten, Lüchinger Meyer Partner AG

Competition: 2004, 2. Prize