James Bond movies are known for their spectacular locations and action sequences that push the boundaries of what is technically and humanly possible. Now the production company behind the films, EON (short for Everything or Nothing), in partnership with MGM Studios and cable car company Bergbahnen Sölden, is unveiling the first dedicated, permanent Bond building in the world—the "007 Elements" cinematic installation on top of Gaislachkogl Mountain, almost 10,000 feet up in the Austrian Alps. It opens on July 12, and the story behind its build-out is just as exciting as the end result, involving a design and construction team who themselves read like film credits.
The ice Q restaurant that featured in Spectre , designed by Johann Obermoser.
This new installation will share the remote mountaintop location with a cable car top station and the transparent ice Q restaurant, both of which are featured in the latest Bond film, Spectre . All three structures were designed by award-winning Austrian architect Johann Obermoser. For the new visitor experience, Obermoser conceived a Bond villain’s lair built into the mountaintop. The only parts that will remain visible are the entrance, exit, two projecting windows and a "plaza," giving a panorama of the Alpine peaks and Tyrolean valleys.
Alpine vistas from the new cinematic installation.
Neal Callow, the London-based art director who worked on all of the Bond films starring Daniel Craig, highlights the influence of Sir Ken Adam (production designer for the early Bond films), notably the combination of circular and rectilinear forms. “We paid particular attention to textures and contrasting light and dark,” says Callow. “Using a reduced palette of concrete, steel, and glass, we marked out the various spaces using oversize stainless steel doors and suspended ceilings of perforated black steel that enhance the soundproofing. Inspired by Ken Adam, we set out to elevate the visitor-going experience to the artistic level.”
Vintage Bond: a Sir Ken Adam set from the first 007 film Dr No .
Adds Los Angeles–based Tino Schaedler, head of design at brand-experience agency Optimist, Inc.: "The goal was to move away from the conventional museum experience to an immersive spatial sequence that speaks to the senses and feels more like a walkable movie—a cinematic experience. The journey through nine chambers leads imperceptibly downward, through various theatrical presentations and soundscapes. There is the ability to interact with exhibits, some of which show how the action sequences from Spectre , shot in the area, were choreographed. So visitors will get an insider’s look at the making of these iconic films."
The Lair, one of the nine atmospheric chambers inside.
The project faced significant construction obstacles. "The permafrost at this elevation, the geological fault lines, and the exposed location on the peak created huge challenges during the build,” says architect Obermoser. “Crew could not work there for more than a few weeks at a time, meaning we continually needed to rotate them.”
The challenges of building on permafrost at almost 10,000 feet.
Then the weather turned, bringing one of the worst winters in recent memory. “The snowfall prevented us from getting vehicles to the site, so we ended up having to fly the concrete in by helicopter,” Obermoser continues. “It is a deceptively large structure—320,000 cubic feet in volume.”
The building will be kept at 33.8 degrees Fahrenheit to avoid any risk of disturbing the frozen foundations. So keep the ski gear on or wrap up warm, and marvel at the end result.
As in the movies, helicopters were required to finish the job.
Concrete being delivered to the site.
The Tech Lab, another of the finished chambers forming part of a journey.
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