The Fragranter Project

by Janet Britnell, Hut Fund Representative

The Fragranter Jugendherberge (1770m), the Holler-Stöckl and Hernaus-Stöckl (1765m), and the Fragranter Schutzhaus (Neue Fragranter Hütte, 1810m) are set in 4 hectares of idyllic Alpine terrain in the Goldberggruppe, Hohe Tauern, belonging to Sektion Klagenfurt since 1929.

The Jugendherberge was renovated in 1967-1970 and 2003-2004 but has remained virtually unchanged since it was built in 1932. Together with the two Stöckl it has provided a self- catering facility for S. Klagenfurt youth camps for 90 years, enabling countless children and young people to learn about nature and the alpine environment and to enjoy hiking and mountaineering. However, the buildings do not meet modern health and safety standards and they have been threatened with closure by the local authorities. A competition was set up inviting architects to submit a plan for refurbishing the existing buildings, improving the water supply and sewage systems and to provide an extension with indoor space for seminars and games and sports activities in bad weather. The winning design provides for a multi-purpose, largely barrier-free, single storey extension to the main building and upgrading all three buildings to modern standards. Replacement of the Materialseilbahn (MSB), vital for winter operation on the site, is included in the project.

The estimated cost for the whole project in 2020 was 2.3M€, which includes 700k€ to replace the MSB. S. Klagenfurt, a medium sized section with 14K members, has to find 10% of the cost from their own resources, a further 40% will come from the central Alpenverein (AV) hut pot, 200k€ from the EU, 280k€ from the Carinthian government, and the Bundesausschuss agreed a further 650k€ from central funds. In return the facilities will be available to the AV Youth department and youth groups and young people, up to the age of 30, from other sections. In addition, the summer and winter seasons will be extended.

The plan was to carry out the work over two years, 2021 and 2022, with a grand opening in September 2022 to celebrate the section’s 150th anniversary. By March 2021 the planning was complete, however contracts could not be signed as various permissions (from 9 authorities and 16 neighbours) were still pending due to the ‘corona effect’. Once the approvals were in place, work on the MSB could start and must be finished before winter sets in so the tenant can supply the main hut. The new cables should arrive at the end of October. Preparing for the MSB proved to be very complicated, because it crosses both very difficult, steep terrain and the land of several neighbours. Preparation of the sites for the pylons is being done by a digger using forestry paths, but obstacles such as waterfalls, and very steep rocky paths, require diversions on to neighbouring land (and extra cost). A specialist helicopter will then be used to pour in the concrete and position the pylons. The original plan was to leave at least one of the MSB cables in place so that it could be used to pull the new cables onto the new pylons, however difficulties with the terrain make this impracticable. A special helicopter will have to be employed to pull a very light rope through the system, over a distance of 2.8km, followed by slightly heavier ropes and so on, at an additional cost of approximately 20k€. The original estimate included replacement of the old wooden MSB top station, with the valley station to just be renovated, partly to avoid objections to a new building from neighbours. It turns out that the foundations are in poor condition, and the neighbours support putting a new building on the footprint of the old. The only problem is that this will add another 15 – 20k€ to the cost of the project. It is not possible to get definite estimates because of the ‘corona effect’. The original costing for the MSB project was 700k€, and even this could rise for the same reason.

There will be groups using the Jugendherberge until mid- August so construction of the multipurpose annex cannot start until late August. In 2021 this will just involve dynamiting and clearing the ground for the foundations for the new annex. Building the annex, renovation and refurbishment of the old building won’t start until early 2022, when it is hoped that the price explosion due to the ‘corona effect’ may have subsided a bit.

The Board has agreed to make a trouble shooting Hut Fund donation of 20k€ towards the additional costs for the MSB (installing the ropes and replacing the valley station) estimated to be about 35-40k€.

Thank you for your continuing support for the Hut Fund. It is much appreciated both by the sections we help and by the Hauptverein. Please keep the donations coming in.onations coming in.

Fragranterlagendherberge (March 2021)
Photoes Georg Unterberger

Fragranter MSB Top Station (March 2021)

Examining and starting to dismantle the MSB (June 2021)

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