<strong>Center stage</strong>: The Julier Tower is a new Swiss theater that cuts a striking figure on the Julier Pass -- a mountain road in the Swiss Alps.
Center stage: The Julier Tower is a new Swiss theater that cuts a striking figure on the Julier Pass -- a mountain road in the Swiss Alps.
Courtesy Origen Festival/Bowie Verschuuren
<strong>Tall order: </strong>The impressive building is built at an altitude of 2,300 meters, and is surrounded by spectacular mountains and turquoise-colored lakes.
Tall order: The impressive building is built at an altitude of 2,300 meters, and is surrounded by spectacular mountains and turquoise-colored lakes.
Courtesy Origen Festival/Bowie Verschuuren
<strong>Avalanche-buster:</strong> The theater can weather the elements. It's designed to withstand strong winds of up to 240 kilometers per hour and even resist avalanches.
Avalanche-buster: The theater can weather the elements. It's designed to withstand strong winds of up to 240 kilometers per hour and even resist avalanches.
Courtesy Origen Festival/Bowie Verschuuren
<strong>Iconic location: </strong>The historic Julier Pass is an important mountain road in the Albula Range of the Alps. It was once home to a Roman temple and a medieval chapel.
Iconic location: The historic Julier Pass is an important mountain road in the Albula Range of the Alps. It was once home to a Roman temple and a medieval chapel.
Courtesy Origen Festival/Bowie Verschuuren
<strong>Festival fun:</strong> The tower is the brainchild of Switzerland's Origen Festival. This large-scale cultural event celebrates ballet, opera and music.
Festival fun: The tower is the brainchild of Switzerland's Origen Festival. This large-scale cultural event celebrates ballet, opera and music.
Courtesy Origen Festival/Bowie Verschuuren
<strong>When theater meets sky: </strong>The new Origen theater wants to allow "a direct dialogue between the performances and the landscape," according to the organizers.
When theater meets sky: The new Origen theater wants to allow "a direct dialogue between the performances and the landscape," according to the organizers.
Courtesy Origen Festival/Bowie Verschuuren
<strong>Four seasons, one theater: </strong>The Julier Tower will host performances in all seasons, with performances beginning when daylight ends, which naturally changes with the season.
Four seasons, one theater: The Julier Tower will host performances in all seasons, with performances beginning when daylight ends, which naturally changes with the season.
Courtesy Origen Festival/Bowie Verschuuren
<strong>Natural light:</strong> There is no need for theater spotlights. Instead sunlight brightens the stage and the ever-changing Alpine weather provides a dramatic backdrop.
Natural light: There is no need for theater spotlights. Instead sunlight brightens the stage and the ever-changing Alpine weather provides a dramatic backdrop.
Courtesy Origen Festival/Bowie Verschuuren
<strong>Inaugural performance:</strong> The theater's inaugural performance starred Ukrainian dancer Sergei Polunin, who performed a dramatic new solo in honor of the opening.
Inaugural performance: The theater's inaugural performance starred Ukrainian dancer Sergei Polunin, who performed a dramatic new solo in honor of the opening.
Courtesy Origen Festival/Bowie Verschuuren
<strong>Dance: </strong>Polunin has performed with the Royal Ballet, the Bolshoi Theater -- and was featured in the Hozier music video "Take Me to Church."
Dance: Polunin has performed with the Royal Ballet, the Bolshoi Theater -- and was featured in the Hozier music video "Take Me to Church."
Courtesy Origen Festival/Bowie Verschuuren
<strong>Theater in the round:</strong> The theater designers wanted the tower to evoke the biblical Tower of Babel. Its cone shape lends itself to theater in the round.
Theater in the round: The theater designers wanted the tower to evoke the biblical Tower of Babel. Its cone shape lends itself to theater in the round.
Courtesy Origen Festival/Bowie Verschuuren
<strong>Immediacy:</strong> The theater's intimate setting complements the vast openness of the surrounding natural landscape.
Immediacy: The theater's intimate setting complements the vast openness of the surrounding natural landscape.
Courtesy Origen Festival/Bowie Verschuuren
<strong>Transient theater</strong>: The Julier Tower is not a permanent structure. It is described by Origen as "an ephemeral project that reflects the transience of every living thing."
Transient theater: The Julier Tower is not a permanent structure. It is described by Origen as "an ephemeral project that reflects the transience of every living thing."
Courtesy Origen Festival/Bowie Verschuuren
<strong>Seasonal additions:</strong> The current construction will serve summer performances, but a winter expansion is planned in the fall.
Seasonal additions: The current construction will serve summer performances, but a winter expansion is planned in the fall.
Courtesy Origen Festival/Bowie Verschuuren
<strong>Fleeting memories: </strong>However the Julier Tower won't last -- in 2020 the building will be removed and the landscape will be re-natured. "The building corresponds to the fleeting art form of the theater and will live on in the memories of its visitors," say the organizers in a statement.
Fleeting memories: However the Julier Tower won't last -- in 2020 the building will be removed and the landscape will be re-natured. "The building corresponds to the fleeting art form of the theater and will live on in the memories of its visitors," say the organizers in a statement.
Courtesy Origen Festival/Bowie Verschuuren