High-altitude design requires attention, listening and direct knowledge of places. During a technical site inspection carried out as part of the design of the new Breuil-Cervinia / Plan Maison / Plateau Rosa cableway, the team had the opportunity to access one of the most extraordinary Alpine environments: the Matterhorn Glacier Paradise in Switzerland, at an altitude of 3,883 metres.

The transfer took place via a cableway system similar to the one planned for the project, offering an important opportunity for direct observation. In addition to photographic surveys, the inspection included acoustic measurements and access to both the highest panoramic viewing platform in Europe and the ice palace, carved approximately 15 metres beneath the surface of the glacier, between the Piccolo Cervino and the Breithorn.

It was inside the glacier that a truly rare experience took place. In a setting characterised by deep and absolute silence, within a crevasse, the sound level meter recorded a value of 21 dB(A) for a few seconds—an extremely low level, largely attributable to the electrical noise of the instrument itself and the heartbeats of those present.

To understand how exceptional this figure is, it is useful to note that:

• a quiet library measures around 35–40 dB(A);

• a very quiet house at night is around 25–30 dB(A);

• a normal conversation reaches 55–60 dB(A).

A value of 21 dB(A) lies just above the threshold of human hearing and represents an exceptionally rare condition of deep silence, especially in environments frequented by people. This measurement highlights the extraordinary acoustic quality of the site and contributes to defining its environmental uniqueness.

This technical datum goes beyond the number itself: silence becomes a sensory experience, an integral part of the place’s identity and of its natural and landscape value.