Me inside Aerial Ropeway Junction Building

The Aerial Ropeway Junction Building in Longyearbyen is part of the transport system bringing coal from the mines in the valleys Longyeardalen and Adventdalen to the vessel loading area. Designed by German engineers the building is situated on top of the hill, above the part of Longyearbyen called Sjøområdet, where three aerial ropeways met. The building rests on tall steel frames and posts and consists of four narrow wings with convex floors. The structure has sculptural qualities and may from a distance look like a huge insect just landed. However, the expressive shape and position are simply the result of purely technical considerations.