"A 65-Story Skyscraper on the Matterhorn in the Alps"... Proposed Solution to Housing Shortage Faces Local Opposition

[Financial News] A proposal to build a 65-story skyscraper on the Matterhorn (4,478m), one of the four highest peaks in the Alps, has sparked controversy in Switzerland. While the project aims to address the housing shortage, local residents are expressing negative reactions due to concerns about damage to the natural landscape and overtourism.
According to foreign media including The Times, on the 2nd (local time), Swiss architect and entrepreneur Heinz Julen (61), who is from Zermatt, officially announced the 'Lina Peak' project—a skyscraper reaching 260 meters in height. The 500 million euro (about 850 billion KRW) project would dedicate the first 32 floors to affordable housing for local residents, while the upper 30 or so floors would feature luxury apartments targeting foreign investors. The building would also include a 2,500-seat concert hall, a parking lot for 1,000 vehicles, a sports center, daycare, shops, restaurants, and various other amenities.
The village of Zermatt, nestled along an Alpine valley, is renowned for having one of the most beautiful landscapes in Europe. The sharp peak of the Matterhorn rises on one side, while the Gornergrat ridge is visible on the other. Although the permanent population is only about 5,800, the number of people in the area swells to 40,000 during the winter tourist season, leading to a housing shortage. The average price of housing is also among the highest in Europe, reaching 20,000 Swiss francs per square meter—approximately 36 million KRW.
In an interview with Swiss Radio and Television (SRF), Julen stated, "The housing crisis is so severe that local residents are leaving the village," and emphasized that "more residential space is needed for the future of Zermatt." He proposed the skyscraper as a solution to the housing shortage and has already secured farmland in the valley below the village through a public hearing.
However, local residents remain opposed. They worry that the skyscraper would ruin the natural scenery centered around the Matterhorn. There are also concerns that overtourism could worsen. Given Switzerland's history of failed large-scale projects due to reckless development, some residents argue that a referendum is needed to approve changes in land use.
Critical comments have also appeared online.
One netizen sarcastically suggested, "Why not dig into the Matterhorn itself, build apartments inside, and install an elevator to the top?" Another remarked, "If the building is so tall that the Matterhorn can no longer be seen from the village, tourist numbers will drop and so will housing prices."
y27k@fnnews.com Seo Yoon-kyung Reporter