"The digital fabrication process began with a 3D scan of existing rock formations in the Alps, creating a precise model of the landscape to inform the bivouac's geometry. The objective was to minimize visual impact while improving functionality and integrating tools for self-sufficiency, including energy production, storage, and water harvesting through air condensation. The resulting shell structure is composed of cross-laminated timber ( CLT), aerogel, and metal, featuring a 5 kW peak photovoltaic system with energy storage to enable independent operation, including network connectivity."
"The shelter also employs an air condensation system that produces potable water daily, ensuring a reliable supply for climbers and trekkers. Principles of circular design are embedded in the project's versatility, allowing the structure to function both as an urban pavilion and as a durable alpine shelter. To fulfill this dual purpose, the structure departs from the traditional image of a bivouac. Its form evokes the crystalline formations of the Alps, while its material treatment leaves the wood visibly exposed."
Design aims to dissolve the boundary between nature and human-made structures. A digitally fabricated wooden bivouac will debut as an urban pavilion during the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan and later be airlifted to a permanent high-altitude site in the Italian Alps as a mountaineer refuge. A 3D scan of existing rock formations informed the geometry to minimize visual impact while improving functionality. The shell uses cross-laminated timber, aerogel, and metal. A 5 kW photovoltaic system with energy storage enables independent operation and connectivity. An air condensation system produces potable water daily. Circular-design principles allow dual urban and alpine use.
Read at ArchDaily
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