Austria has taken a bold step in the integration of infrastructure and environment with its animal-shaped electricity pylons project. It is a redesign of the pylons so that, instead of being unsightly gray metal structures, they become animal sculptures representing each region of Austria.
The project proposes to install one of these sculptures, called Energy Giant, in each of the country’s nine federal states.
A solution to an acceptance problem
The construction of new power power lines often face public rejection because they visually affect the natural landscape. Austrian Power Grid’s project seeks to generate greater public acceptance of grid expansions, fusing art and functionality to minimize the visual and social impact that this type of infrastructure often generates.
The first two models have already been built and successfully tested, one in Burgenland, a steel stork representing the annual visits of this species to the region, while in Lower Austria stands a stylized deer, the emblematic animal of its lush alpine forests. Both designs have been evaluated to ensure structural stability and electrical performance within the required standards. standards required by the standards required by the transmission system.
International, tourism and economic impact
In 2025, the project received the Red Dot Award, an international seal of quality that recognizes excellence in design, in the category of conceptual design linked to electrification and decarbonization. The models of the giants will be on display at the Red Dot Museum in Singapore until October 2026.
The towers will also serve as tourist destinations, becoming new visual icons of the Austrian landscape while boosting the local economy. Austria is transforming its often-criticized pylons into animal-shaped sculptural works of art, combining sustainability, innovation and functional design.
Source: Austrian Power Grid
