This Popular, Remote Ski Village In Europe Has Plans To Build A Controversial Skyscraper

When you think of skylines filled with tall skyscrapers jutting into the sky, your mind might wander towards busy North American cities such as New York City, Miami, or Chicago. Europe only has a handful of cities with skyscrapers, with the likes of Paris, London, and Frankfurt being home to most of them, and being some of the continent's largest financial hubs, it makes sense. What if we told you that right now, there are plans to build a controversial skyscraper in a popular, remote ski village in Europe that are causing concern and raising eyebrows?

Located close to the Italian border and famous for the iconic Matterhorn, Zermatt should be part of your bucket list ski vacation to Switzerland. The cute and cozy vibes that Zermatt offers its visitors could potentially be disrupted with a massive architectural project in the works called Lina Peak. Planned to stand 853-feet high in direct view of the Matterhorn, the 65-storey mega skyscraper is putting a bad taste in some people's mouths, causing debate as to why Zermatt needs a building this large and modern, in a place that's considered to be one of Switzerland's most beautiful villages.

Tourists typically flock to Switzerland for the stunning natural scenery, traditional wooden homes with flower-filled balconies, and quaint villages surrounded by mountains. Exploring the best of Switzerland on a scenic train ride of bridges, tunnels, and endless views of the Alps is the perfect way to see the country, but in a town which has an approximate permanent population of about 5,800 people, will this out-of-place glass and metal skyscraper the height of Rockefeller Center designed by local hotelier and designer, Heinz Julen start a trend of building high-rises in quiet mountainous settings moving forward?

Not all those that live in Zermatt are against the project, as Julen states that the mega-tower, or "vertical village" is set to alleviate Zermatt's dire need for additional housing, especially for those that are seasonal workers in the village and often have difficulties locating affordable housing, or a place to live at all. Julen revealed his architectural plan to the public in mid-November 2025, and states that due to the lack of space within the mountainous area that Zermatt's village is located, the design is set to sit on farmland, over 2,600-feet away from Zermatt's village entrance, at an elevation of just over 4,900-feet.

With a base taking up an approximate 130 x 130-foot space, Lina Peak will have a tall, yet small footprint, and be the tallest skyscraper in Switzerland. Julen's plans lay out how each area of the high-rise residential building will be used for. From the 2nd to the 32nd floor there will be affordable units, and from the 33rd floor to the 62nd floor there will be luxury apartments, which are geared to attracting high-spending foreign buyers looking to get into the Swiss real estate market, with a view of the Matterhorn that sells itself.

Lina Peak's base is set to incorporate up to 1,000 parking spaces, a concert hall, retail shops, restaurants, a health center, and much more. The building will also have high-speed elevators, which will whisk people to the rooftop terrace where they'll have unobstructed views of the surrounding area including the Matterhorn and Zermatt's village. Lina Peak's design showcases a gondola that'll take people directly to the Kumme cable car, which will alleviate traffic and congestion within Zermatt's tiny streets.

The estimated cost of Lina Peak is set to be around $632 Million, but since it's a large controversial project, if construction gets approved, the build will take approximately five to 10 years to complete. With the farmland already acquired, building on it cannot take place until 600 signatures are compiled with a public referendum in order to change the land from agricultural to residential and commercial. If and only if the 600 signatures of the Zermatt community are collected, can construction of Lina Peak move forward.

So the question is, will Lina Peak happen, or be destined as a fragment of the developer's imagination? With the fate of the mega structure's construction left up to the public, this wouldn't be the first time a skyscraper had plans to be built in a small Swiss village and failed due to the fear of modernity ruining the cozy and traditional feel of Swiss' Alpine village attractiveness.

While Lina Peak is believed to help with Zermatt's current housing crisis, and attract high-paying investors, some locals can't help but wonder if the construction of a flashy glass skyscraper will take away from the natural beauty that not only Zermatt is famous for, but Switzerland as a whole. Only time and signatures can determine if Lina Peak comes to fruition.