These prestigious awards recognise architecture, design and innovation projects on a global scale
The Cuca de Llum was created by the Barcelona studio MIAS Arquitectes, based on a design by the prestigious architect Josep Miàs
The funicular railway at the Tibidabo Amusement Park gained the award in the same week that it notched up a million passengers, a milestone which will be celebrated on Saturday 3 June with a public celebration
The funicular railway at Tibidabo Amusement Park, Cuca de Llum, has won an award for the best sustainable transport project in the eleventh edition of the prestigious Architizer A+ Awards. The online architecture platform Architizier, which organises these important awards, has published the verdict of the professional jury and the result of the public vote to determine the most significant international projects in the sphere of architecture, design and innovation.
Created by the architect Josep Miàs, the Cuca de Llum was the winner in the ‘Sustainable Transport Project’ category, included in the competition for the first time to recognise, among other aspects, forms of transport that include sustainable systems and materials while also following best practices in regard to design, construction and ethical operations. The jury appreciated the unique and exclusive design of the funicular, which connects Barcelona with the summit of Tibidabo.
The innovative design of the Tibidabo funicular took the award ahead of the urban project ‘One Green Mile’ from Bombay, conceived by the Studio POD, and the ‘Vendôme multimodal hub’, a transport interchange by the Bisson Fortin and Provencher studio for the Montreal Metro, in Canada.
From historical funicular to recognised sustainable transport system
When the Cuca de Llum became operational, it marked a major change in the park’s mobility, in line with the goal of reducing pollutant emissions at the top of the mountain and fostering the use of collective transport.
The Cuca de Llum entered service in 2021, replacing Tibidabo Amusement Park‘s old funicular railway inaugurated in 1901 and the first in the Spanish state.
The Cuca was created by the Barcelona studio MIAS Arquitectes, based on a design by the prestigious architect Josep Miàs, who had already worked with Tibidabo a number of times on projects such as the Espai Lego, the Embruixabruixes ride, the Marionetarium and Plaça del Jardí.
With a capacity for 252 passengers, the new funicular allows users to reach the top of Tibidabo in just a few minutes, cutting the journey time considerably compared to other transport options. The Cuca de Llum also boasts an innovative design that offers unique panoramic views, excellent passenger comfort, digital devices to augment their experience during the journey and a modern lighting system inspired by the future. Thanks to this award, the new funicular now becomes an international example of the latest technology applied to sustainable mobility. It was built by the multinational company Leitner.
Cuca de Llum notches up a million visitors
This important recognition comes in the same week that the Cuca de Llum will carry its millionth passenger to the top of Tibidabo, two years after its inauguration in June 2021. The Amusement Park is marking this double landmark with a big celebration on Saturday, 3 June, starting at 10.30 am.
The event includes music, performances, shows and surprises for everybody present.
