Experiencing nature is a pretty straightforward undertaking - it requires little if any technological intervention to take in all the grandeur the environment has to offer. But a hike into the depths of the forest is not what the architects at Sturgess Architecture have in mind for those who come to Alberta, Canada. They recently took first place in a competition to design a new tourist attraction with their Discovery Walk -- a sky-high design that suspends visitors thousands of feet above the earth upon a transparent walkway. More than a mere concept in the clouds, the project is already under construction and will be completed by the end of the year.
Absolutely stunning!
Absolutely horrifying.
This is a second-rate facility being built in a second-rate landscape as a hedge against the day when the nearby Athabasca Glacier melts sufficiently that Brewster cannot run their snow-coach attraction on the glacier anymore. Oh, it’s also being built in an National Park which is dedicated to protecting the environment. This is an attraction that should be fought against, not lauded.
@brilang. I completely agree, this is nothing but an intrusion on nature that serves no real purpose. We should all learn from what a disaster Niagara Falls a has turned into when it comes to the commercialization of nature. Protect i, not exploit it.
AAAAAARGH! Nice feature and design work, but horrible location. Similar in concept to a “skywalk” built at the Grand Canyon in Arizona, USA. How much environmental degradation will happen for the “benefit” of this little project. The AZ project allegedly benefits the native American tribe that “owns” the land in the area. Who benefits from this? Why was this a design competition in the first place? Or am I mis-reading the situation here?
Either way, HORRIBLE CHOICE. This area of the Rockies is simply amazing. I have spent several vacations there (You MUST see it in Summer and Winter!!!) and the positive impact to my soul is immeasurable. Cool project…needs to be placed somewhere else!!!