A One-Kilometer Walkway Will Take Us to the Top of the World

The Project: Beyond Every Limit

Presented on June 20, 2024, the project is promoted by the Skywalk 1000 Association and designed by architect Filippo Broggini in collaboration with the École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL).

To achieve this thousand-meter leap, we must push further: in the design and formal approach, in materials and technologies, in knowledge and financing models. This single-span alpine walkway is destined to become a global landmark, a work that marks an era.

Designed to connect the two sides of the Lumino Valley crossed by the Riale Grande, the structure integrates the extensive existing trail network with the mountain regions of Ticino and Graubünden, in the shadow of Pizzo di Claro and Piz de Molinera, between Riviera, lower Mesolcina, and Val Calanca. A horizontal solution that unites territories and realities in a way that could only be imagined here, between the valley floor and high altitude.

An endeavor that redefines standards: the Sementina Tibetan bridge measures a quarter of the planned length (240 meters versus 1000) and has half the elevation difference compared to the 289 meters planned here. Even the bridge being designed at Ritom, with its 413 meters and 160 meters of elevation difference, pales in comparison.

"A Record Destined to Rewrite the Place"

On June 20, 2024, at the BancaStato auditorium in Bellinzona, designers, partners, authorities, and supporters gathered to witness the presentation of what was described as a "choreographic walkway": a work capable of "rewriting the place in its geographical, physical, geological, and anthropic aspects."

The promoter is the Skywalk 1000 Association, based in Lumino, supported by a multidisciplinary team led by engineer Patrizio Ghidossi, president and visionary of the original idea. At his side are prominent personalities from Ticino and Moesano who believe in this ambitious project.

The principal designer, architect Filippo Broggini from Bellinzona (Blue Office Architecture), works closely with EPFL, particularly with Professor Thomas Keller, a specialist in composite materials. The presentation also featured contributions from Parisian philosopher David Zerbib and Floriano Righetti, Executive Board Member and Co-Owner of XDRIP Digital Management LLC.

From Mini to Maxi: An Extraordinary Scale Leap

Ten years ago, Filippo Broggini received the national Flâneur d'or 2014 award for the 'Ponte di Lumino', a 16-meter walkway over the same Riale Grande. Today, that same architect is designing a work 60 times longer, a thousand meters higher (at 1,243 meters elevation), suspended between the Monti di Vatiscio and the arrival station of the cable car connecting Lumino to the Monti di Saurù.

From mini to maxi: a leap that testifies not only to the evolution of an idea but the ability to dream big. The team, with BancaStato as a supporting partner, will also coordinate fundraising efforts to transform this vision into reality.

Supported in the Void by 47 Arches

For lightness, mechanical quality, and resistance to time and environmental degradation, carbon fiber was chosen for the arches, the deck structure, and the passage boards. Other parts will be made of fiberglass.

The 47 highly efficient static arch modules, independent from each other and with an attractive design, will be suspended from main upper metal cables and horizontally stabilized by lower horizontal cables, anchored to the respective mountain slopes.

The modular composition will facilitate efficient and economical construction capable of bearing the weight of the structure itself, users, and snow (which alone represents more than half of the theoretical load), as well as multidirectional wind stresses. The lighter weight compared to steel will facilitate the transport of materials to altitude via helicopter flights: first the installation cable, then the ropes, the railing net, and finally the pre-assembled arch modules on the ground.

The thousand-meter line will be clearly visible even at night, from Bellinzona and lower Mesolcina, thanks to careful lighting that will transform it into an alpine beacon.

Destined to Enhance the Region

As happened with the Sementina Tibetan bridge, inaugurated in 2015 and immediately proving to be a significant attraction for hikers and tourists, projects like this are destined to exponentially increase the area's attractiveness, well beyond cantonal and national borders.

"The tourist appeal will be significant," explains the Skywalk 1000 Association, "and will allow us to further extend and enrich the reputation of our territory. The hospitality and catering sectors, seeing the opportunities, will extend their offerings and benefit from the new demand, allowing visitors a fantastic experience."

Local authorities "will reap much more than mere image benefits. They will be custodians of a continuously growing legacy." They will be able to promote new territorial enhancement projects and emphasize those already existing. The economic impact generated by tourist flow will produce a positive return in terms of financial and human resources.

Directly interested are the Val Calanca regional park, the Brogoldone refuge, the Pizzo di Claro cable car, the mountains of Claro, Lumino, Buseno, and San Vittore with their alpine pastures. Ultimately, the walkway is destined to "represent much more than simple infrastructure: it is an opportunity for our community to distinguish itself with its creativity, aiming to attract international attention and offer an unforgettable experience."

At this stage, the association intends to gauge the interest of municipalities, patriciate, and stakeholders involved in territorial development to refine the project, submit the construction application, and promote the fundraising campaign. The cost estimate will emerge from the next design phase, which will need to detail all technical, construction, and assembly aspects.

Participate in Success and Share the Proceeds

One of the planned financing methods is through decentralized finance, where anyone can contribute and support the project's objectives. The Skywalk 1000 Association, in collaboration with XDRIP Digital Management LLC for blockchain solution development, has developed and tested a revolutionary approach, complementary to traditional financing systems that will be implemented locally.

"Unlike conventional models where contributions are often one-directional, here we want to ensure that contributors are part of a financially sustainable model. A digital platform will transform them into 'original founders' of the project, offering them digital rights to participate in the ongoing success and the Skywalk 1000 community once it is operational. This creates dynamic and continuous engagement."

One of the main advantages of this model is its global reach: "This means that people from all over the world can easily contribute to the project and share in its development, fostering a sense of international community and collaboration."

A secondary goal is to leverage emerging technologies so that important projects can be architecturally and financially sustainable, paving the way for future initiatives that aim to merge extraordinary engineering feats with innovative financial models.