Salzburg Nord thermal power station

On the walk along the sixteen "secret pillars" to the Maria Plain pilgrimage church, the striking architecture of the Salzburg Nord thermal power station immediately catches the eye.

The building is a fine example of modern, visually appealing 20th century industrial architecture in Salzburg.
The smooth, polished stainless-steel surfaces reflect the sun"s rays and bathe the imposing structure in a kind of sacred luminescence. It immediately brings to mind mystical Gothic sacred architecture, with its transcendent and diaphanous characteristics.
The plant, owned by energy supplier Salzburg AG, is located in Itzling, between the Alterbach river and the motorway. It went into operation in 1972 and underwent a complete renovation and expansion in 1994 to improve its environmental impact, energy efficiency and cost-effectiveness.

Modern architecture in Salzburg

The building was designed by Swiss architectural firm Bétrix & Consolascio (Marie-Claude Bétrix and Eraldo Consolascio) in collaboration with Eric Maier.

The trio also designed the Mitte (1989–1995) and West (1997–1999) substations, as well as the controversial, less visually appealing Salzburg Mitte thermal power station.

The structure – made of concrete and stainless steel plates – has won multiple awards and often served as a backdrop for cultural events.
This huge block, with its rectangular floor plan, nevertheless appears organic and amorphous. This effect is, in part, due to the curved shape of the roof line. The 70-metre free-standing chimney is tapered and features a square ground plan and ends in a triangular shape at the top. The chimney"s outer structure is made of exposed concrete and serves as an impressive contrast to the building"s striking façade made of raw welded stainless steel. The slightly uneven surface is characterised, in particular, by its shimmering appearance; its movement creates the impression of shimmering, glistening water being gently blown by the wind.

The interior of the turbine hall makes an impression through its distinct design language.

This building represents a transition from harsh Brutalism to a more free, postmodern design language.
Due to their location on the West Autobahn, the duo serves as a kind of "landmark", in antithesis to the status of Salzburg"s Bar
oque historical city centre as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The "secret pillars" comprise sixteen wayside shrines that line the historic pilgrimage route from the city of Salzburg to the Maria Plain pilgrimage church. This pilgrimage route led from the "Mirabell Gate" (roughly where the "Fünfhaus" is today) to the pilgrimage church.
Columns bearing depictions of the three mysteries of the Rosary served as signposts for the pilgrims.
The walking tour begins at the Elisabeth-Apotheke and ends at the Maria Plain pilgrimage basilica.
The tour lasts around two hours and includes a stroll through modern Salzburg, with its contemporary architecture, and the "villas" of the Elisabeth-Vorstadt suburb dating from the Gründerzeit.

The Baroque secret pillars contain interesting details and information about their locations. They also offer insights into the practices of Marian devotion during the Baroque period, which can be viewed as a Habsburg state cult following the tradition of the "Magna Mater Austriae".

The tour is concluded with a guided tour of Archbishop Max Gandolph von Kuenburg"s favourite church, Maria Plain.