Giant animals may soon take the place of power grid pylons across Austria. These concept models, called the Austrian Power Giants, are the result of a collaboration between the Austrian Power Grid, GP designpartners, and BauCon. The entire project is an attempt to make new power structures more aesthetically pleasing for the public, with Austrian Power Grid saying they aim to increase “public acceptance of grid expansion projects in their respective regions.”
While they are still just concepts, two of the giants, the stork and the stage, have been pre-tested statically and electrotechnically to verify their technical feasibility, says the Austrian Power Grid. The design teams working on the project say that they hope to have the giants spread across all nine of Austria’s federal states. The designs of the animals are a tribute to each of the state’s reputations.
“For example, the stork symbolizes Burgenland, where these birds return each year, while the stag embodies Lower Austria, reflecting the region’s forested Alpine foothills.”
“This nature-inspired approach aims to make electricity infrastructure more relatable and accepted by the public,” explains the Austrian Power Grid. “By transforming functional structures into regional landmarks, the Austrian Power Giants seek to promote sustainable infrastructure, strengthen local identity, and enhance business and tourism potentials across the country.”
